1 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Ozone Podcast presented by by Star Credit 2 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: with Jaguars senior writer John Osan. All Right, welcome Toute 3 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: this week's Ozone podcast presented by by Star and this 4 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: week's guest I'm looking forward to We talked to him 5 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 1: last year around this time, similar format. A lot has happened, 6 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: major changes in the organization, Jaguars General Manager Trent Balky. 7 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: I appreciate you doing this very much. Trent. Thanks. So 8 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: I've got to ask I love asking gms this question. 9 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 1: I want to get a chance. You walk out there 10 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: after the draft, you've had your off season, you've seen 11 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: what you wanted to do, and then you walk out 12 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:48,480 Speaker 1: for the first day O T A S and it's 13 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 1: a chance to see them in action. What's that feeling 14 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: like as a GM? Well, you hope it's a good feeling. 15 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: But you hope they when you get out there, they 16 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: look how you felt they were gonna look. And this 17 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: is a good group. It's a really good group of guys, 18 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: a high character group. They get along well, they've they've 19 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: meshed really quickly together. Uh, it's a it's a very 20 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: smart group. They got an excellent football I Q. So 21 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: that's been fun to watch thus far. I've always heard 22 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,680 Speaker 1: from scouts and gms and I'm gonna assume this didn't 23 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: happen this year. But what you don't want early on 24 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: from a rookie in many campus to walk out the 25 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,320 Speaker 1: field going oh about a guy, Well, I've had that 26 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: feeling before. No, I mean, it's it's a it's a 27 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: unique feeling, right, it's the first chance to really see 28 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 1: them out there and how they stack up with with 29 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 1: the guys that have already been here. So you know, 30 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: there's always a little angst when when they're they're arriving. Um, 31 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: but again, this is a this is a group that 32 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: when they showed up from day one, they came to 33 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: work and uh, you know, we have a team right 34 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: now that's really putting in the heart a lot of 35 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: a lot of good quality time. And again, uh, we 36 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: got a lot of work to do. But it's fun 37 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: to watch them go to work every day because they 38 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: enjoy doing it. GM's are always asked so much about 39 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: the draft because that's sort of what people talk about 40 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:15,119 Speaker 1: in the offseason. I'd love to know your assessment of 41 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: the veterans who came back this year. Uh, with a 42 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: fresh start with Doug, what have you seen from that 43 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,679 Speaker 1: group in terms of their dedication and their commitment to 44 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: restart all of that package. What have you seen from 45 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 1: that Well, a lot of good things. You know, this 46 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 1: was a group that became very tight through the course 47 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: of last year, and it showed up in the final 48 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: game obviously, the way they went out and played, and 49 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 1: they stayed together through through a lot of a lot 50 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: of off the field stuff. And uh so when you 51 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: look at how they approached last season and how they 52 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 1: went about it day to day and to come back 53 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: into a new setting and to continue to work hard. 54 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: The one thing I think we do sense out there's 55 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: a little more sense of urgency, and that's because there's 56 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: more competition. More competition breeds urgency, and that's where we're 57 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: at right now. Um, you've talked a little bit. I 58 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: don't think we've gotten to know you as much of 59 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: your background over the last couple of years as we 60 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: probably should have. Um, your biggest football influence, I've heard 61 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: you talk about parcels a lot. Is that fair? Is 62 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: there another influence there? I'd love to get to know 63 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: a little bit of about your background on that front. 64 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: And and I built Parcels. Well, I mean, I've been 65 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: very fortunate to work with some of the best football 66 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: minds in the in the business, and you know, from 67 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: coach Belasia, Coach Parcels, Coach Schottenheimer, you know, Coach Spurrier, 68 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: Coach Gibbs. I mean, I've been fortunate to be around 69 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: a lot of very good football coaches and and personnel guys. 70 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: When I broke into the league, Mr Haley with the 71 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: New York Jets, you know, one of the finest men 72 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: and one of the finest you know, personnel evaluators. You know, 73 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: the league's probably ever seen. You know, so when you 74 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: when you get a chance to be around people like that, 75 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: you try to absorb as much as you can. Certainly 76 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: don't put myself in those that category, but again, just 77 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: blessed to work with guys like that that, uh continue 78 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: to help me. I talked to Coach Parcels probably you know, 79 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: once a month at least, and uh, just banner back 80 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: and forth and try to pick his brain. Uh. He's 81 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: probably forgotten more football than I'll ever know. So, you know, 82 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: when you have a resource like that, you use them. 83 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: That's an unbelievable list. Gibbs Parcels Belichick. Um, it's probably 84 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: a fair question because there's so much you learned from 85 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,840 Speaker 1: all of them. But is there a thread that you 86 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: think of, um that runs through all that in terms 87 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: of what it takes to be great in this business? Yeah? 88 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: I mean there's some core things that they all believed in. Uh, 89 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: you know, it's a big man's game. Is one theme 90 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: that rang true for for the people I'm talking about. 91 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: You know, football intelligence is extremely important. Uh grit, you 92 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:10,360 Speaker 1: know what you know in that? Where does that come from? 93 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: You know some people say the mind. I say it 94 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 1: comes from the soul. But you know, guys, you want 95 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: guys that can overcome adversity. You want guys that are 96 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: are comfortable being uncomfortable. And when you get that and 97 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: you get a locker room full of those kind of guys, 98 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: you got a pretty good chance to go out on 99 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: Sunday and play winning football. I grew up a huge 100 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: Washington football team fan. So at some point you've got 101 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: to tell me some games Parcels stories because that was 102 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: my drug when I was a kid. So that's fantastic stuff. Um. 103 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: Is there a Trent ballky player? Meaning? Is there is 104 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 1: something you look for that defines what you like in 105 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 1: a guy. Well, I think I just you know guys 106 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 1: and yeah, the same stuff. The guys that with great 107 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 1: work ethics. Uh, guys that love the game of football, 108 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: they play it for the right reasons, play it for uh, 109 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: not for what it brings to them, but just the 110 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 1: love of the game. You know, Guys like Frank Gore, 111 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: Justin Smith, Uh, you know Pat Willis. You know, I 112 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: could go on, and I don't want to leave anybody out. 113 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: Guys that just they love the game, and that's what 114 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: you're looking for. Guys that that love it, that's uh, 115 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 1: that want to be very good at it, very successful 116 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 1: at it, and you know winning is extremely important to them. 117 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: Do you find yourself spending more time during the draft 118 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: trying to get to the bottom of that than you 119 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 1: do the physical stuff because you can see the physical stuff. Absolutely. 120 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: I think the physical the film doesn't lie. You know, 121 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 1: it shouldn't take you a hundred hours to watch a 122 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: player to figure out whether he can do it physically. 123 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: What you're trying to do is connect all the dots 124 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 1: on the psychological profiling that you do. Uh, you know, 125 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: all the background work that you do digging into these guys, 126 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 1: all the conversations you have along the way, you're you're 127 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: just trying to, you know, make sure the stars aligned, 128 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: connect the dots as you will, and if if they 129 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 1: they align, chances are you're gonna get which you think 130 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: you're gonna get. When they don't, you know, you're sometimes 131 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: you gotta take a shot. Tell me about the process. Um, 132 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: Obviously you and Doug, it's well documented that the relationship 133 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: is going well. Uh when you're trying to get to 134 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: know a coach earlier in the offseason and mainly trying 135 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: to get your scouts and your personnel people to understand 136 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: what that coaching staff wants. What is that process entailed? 137 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: Are their meetings? Are their questions? You want to ask, 138 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: how do you get you know, an entire staff of 139 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: people on one sense knowing what matters to these guys? Well? 140 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: I think you you work together, You collaborate, You have 141 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: sessions where the coaches you know, are are letting you 142 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: know what they're looking for. You watch film with them 143 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: so they can point things out, like like we did 144 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 1: in free agency, like we did in the draft. You 145 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: get together and you know, uh, as as evaluators, we 146 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: can't get caught up in in the xs and ohs. 147 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: You know, we're caught up in the Jimmy's and Joe's. 148 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: If you will, it's nothing you say a lot. You 149 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: bring a player in and it's up to the coach 150 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: to use him, right. Yeah. You know one phrase I 151 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: you know, I take from coach Parcels all the time, 152 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: as you can't coach the team, you know when you're 153 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: when you're a GM or you're an evaluator, it's not 154 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: your job, it's not your role. Let's let the coaches 155 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: coach and find players that fit what they want to 156 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: do from a schematic standpoint, you know, and and trust 157 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: that once you've given them a player that can do 158 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,200 Speaker 1: certain things, they're gonna ask that that player does those 159 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: things and keep them away from things that he maybe 160 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: doesn't do well, you know. And that's I mean again, 161 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: it's just the collaborative effort that you go through to 162 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: make sure you're getting the right players that fit yourself, 163 00:08:57,559 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 1: your your organization from a cultural stand point and a 164 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: physical standpoint. I guess we're almost four months into Doug 165 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: being here. Um, what's your biggest takeaway in terms of 166 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: what he brings what you like about his approach, there's 167 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: a lot to like. I mean, he's a he's an 168 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 1: excellent football coach. He's put together an excellent coaching staff, 169 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 1: he knows exactly how he wants things run, and uh, 170 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 1: you know, the he's a he's a player's coach, but 171 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: he's also he's also a stickler. He wants it done 172 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: a certain way. So he's just got a great demeanor 173 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 1: about him. The players have taken to it well. And uh, 174 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:43,840 Speaker 1: you know again, you know, the the collaborative nature that 175 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: of how we works has been has been really good. 176 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: And that's something you say over and over again. I 177 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:52,319 Speaker 1: was laughing during the draft because at one point you've 178 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 1: been asked four or five different times and you finally said, look, 179 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 1: this is not Trent Baky's draft, this is the team draft. 180 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:00,719 Speaker 1: And that's a big deal to you, right, yeah, I 181 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 1: think you know, it always gets overblown who makes the 182 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: final decision. Well, if you're working together and you're building 183 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: a winning for you know, a winner, you have to 184 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,440 Speaker 1: work together. You have to make decisions together. You have 185 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: to see things and have a vision for what what 186 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 1: you wanted to look like. And you know, Doug and 187 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 1: I share that. You know, are we always going to 188 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 1: agree on on every decision. No, I don't think that's 189 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: healthy either. But when we when we don't, we figure 190 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 1: it out. And uh, there's been very few times where 191 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: we haven't agreed on something, you know, And I just 192 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: really enjoy the working relationship that we share. When you guys, uh, 193 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: I'm sure it's a process. There's not a specific moment, 194 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:44,959 Speaker 1: but you come out of your meetings when you first 195 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 1: start talking, Uh, what was the biggest thing you thought 196 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: you had to accomplish in the off season or I 197 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 1: know there was a lot, but position groups, speed, something 198 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: like that that you really wanted to get better before Jim, Well, 199 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 1: we had we had the improve the roster in every 200 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: aspect in terms of competitiveness, you know, Uh, you can 201 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: never have enough competition in those rooms. So we had 202 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 1: to make we had to take a look at each 203 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: room and figure out a way to make each room stronger. 204 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: And I think if you look through what we did 205 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 1: in free agency, you look through what we did in 206 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:25,559 Speaker 1: the draft, and you combine, combine that, especially with college 207 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 1: free agency, we're a deeper team. We're a more competitive team. Now, 208 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:33,679 Speaker 1: what's that gonna How is that going to translate? On 209 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 1: the field to wins and law you know that's anyone's guests. 210 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 1: But you know, our whole goal was to make this 211 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 1: team stronger and more competitive in every room, and I 212 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 1: think we accomplished that. It's it's an obvious question, but 213 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 1: I haven't heard you talk about and specifically in a while. Uh, 214 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: Trevor Lawrence. Um, obviously the key to everything. Tell me 215 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 1: what you've seen from his progress, his growth, and what 216 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: do you think he stands right now? You're just more confident. 217 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 1: You know, he's carrying himself with more confidence. He's he's 218 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 1: delivering the ball quicker, Uh, continuing to do that. I've 219 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:11,679 Speaker 1: I've seen that through the course of the the offseason, 220 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: getting the ball out of his hands, being more decisive. Uh. 221 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: You know, there there's a lot there's a lot of 222 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: growth that has to continue to take place for him, 223 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: just like there is for a lot of these young guys. 224 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 1: Were a young football team and you know, we've got 225 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:30,719 Speaker 1: to We've got some older veteran guys that uh, that 226 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: have stepped up in the leadership roles, but this is 227 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: still a young football team. So there's a lot of 228 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 1: growth that has to take place both in the locker 229 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: room and on the field, and I think you're gonna 230 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: see that with it with every outing, how how impressing. 231 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: A lot has been made of it. But his ability 232 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: to handle last year, you know a lot of loss 233 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 1: and a lot of tough situations, and it was notable 234 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: how much poison maturity he showed um as a GM. 235 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: How import is that to you to have that kind 236 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,319 Speaker 1: of guy in that position? Oh, I was. It's critical. 237 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: You know, he's he's mature beyond his years. You know, 238 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: he's a he's an old soul, he's a he's he's 239 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: a leader, you know, and he does it in his 240 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 1: own way, like any any good leader does. He's got 241 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: his own style. But the maturity showed last year was 242 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: was very impressive, and he's continued to build on that 243 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 1: as we work through this offseason. How as a second year, 244 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: he always here second year at the time for a 245 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 1: jump in terms of the entire class, entire one class. 246 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: How critical is that class? How do you feel about 247 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: that class going into their second year? I feel really good, 248 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 1: you know right now with what we're seeing on the field. 249 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: I think we've we're seeing the maturation of that that 250 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: class before our very eyes. I think It's been nice 251 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: to see Travis out there. He's shown uh, some really 252 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: good things early on in camp and it's early. Uh, 253 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,319 Speaker 1: you know, the d Ebs, Tyson and Cisco, both of 254 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 1: those guys are you know, way ahead of where they 255 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: were last year when when we ended, you know, and 256 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 1: j to Fele you know, Jordan Smith. Guys like that 257 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: are are competing and they've taken another jump, you know. 258 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 1: So it's gonna be interesting, interesting to watch these guys 259 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 1: as they go through this season, and you know, if 260 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: they can continue to build off where they're currently at, 261 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: I think that the future is bright for all those guys. 262 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: I love asking general managers this, and I'd meant to 263 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: ask you earlier. When you see a draft grade, what 264 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: is your first thought? Whatever cares what I think? You know, 265 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: it's it's impossible to grade a draft class. Uh, it 266 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: really is, you um, you know, because if you go 267 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: back and you look at those grades two years, three 268 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 1: years later, you know, sixty seventy of them are dead wrong. 269 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: You know. Let's let these guys get out there and 270 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: play ball and then let's grade you know, the performance 271 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: as we as their careers unfold. It's not fair to 272 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: grade them now, and uh, you know, so I don't 273 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: put much stock in anything that's that's printed, you know, 274 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: the day after a draft or a week after the draft, 275 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: it means nothing to me. I've always told people when 276 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 1: I was with the newspaper, manitors made me great the 277 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: draft for like all thirty two teams, and after doing it, 278 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: once I put it down, I called my matters. I said, 279 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: that's the most ridiculous process I have seen in my life, 280 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: because I don't know. You know, you're grading them based 281 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: on what you know people like you have seen them 282 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: far more than I. You're trying to figure out all 283 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: teams needs. So it's always been one of the most 284 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: absurd things about the NFL to me, and I I 285 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: can only imagine what the people actually involved in the 286 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: process think of them. So that's just my little thought. 287 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: I don't know many people that that even pay any 288 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: attention to them. To be honest with you, if you're 289 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: in this business, you've learned from a long time and 290 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: not so you know it's it's it's for the fans. 291 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: I guess as you go into this, Uh, again, probably 292 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: a fair question, but how much better do you feel 293 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: about this roster now? Then? You did in March or 294 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: March seven for example. Again, we feel better, you know, 295 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: and I really like the group that's running around on 296 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: that field right now. We've we've got almost full participation. 297 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 1: You know, we're sitting at ninety one on the roster 298 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: with the international edition. So uh you know, on any 299 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 1: given day we'll have guys out there running around usually 300 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: uh so it's fun to watch him. You know. I 301 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 1: don't put any you know, Let's let these guys go 302 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 1: out and practice and develop and come together, and let's 303 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 1: throw it. Roll out the ball and in late July, 304 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:49,520 Speaker 1: early August, and let's see where we're at. You last 305 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: thing I like to do here, I caught the ozone five. 306 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 1: It's buy fun questions, a chance for fans to get 307 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: to know Trent Bulky a little bit. Are you game? Yeah? 308 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:05,159 Speaker 1: Throw them at throw them at me. I don't know 309 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,959 Speaker 1: if I'm game or not. Your last binge watch, if 310 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,719 Speaker 1: a GM has time for a binge watch, yellow Stone, 311 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 1: how excellent, fast love the show? Your favorite musical artist. 312 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,200 Speaker 1: I don't listen to a lot of music, so it's 313 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: music country Western, So i'd say Tim McGraw, someone like that. 314 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 1: Got your your best and for me. It's tragic this answer. 315 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: But I'll ask you your best on field athletic memory 316 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:38,199 Speaker 1: as an athlete with me playing you play? Uh, probably 317 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 1: my freshman year in college when we had the longest 318 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 1: losing streak in division to football at the Midgee State 319 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 1: and uh it was a fourth downd play to a 320 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: on a crossing rope by a tight end and I 321 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,639 Speaker 1: made the tackle at the at the one yard line 322 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: and we won the football games. Probably that's fantastic stuff. 323 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 1: Now I got asked, I happen to know, Uh, your 324 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 1: school huge hockey power? Are you hockey fan at that's 325 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: something you follow? We're a big hockey fan. Love love hockey. 326 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 1: One of my closest friends is Doug Wilson, who's uh 327 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 1: was it with the San Jose Sharks for a long 328 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,159 Speaker 1: time as a generalman or a former player? They're former 329 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 1: player with the black Hawks. Uh. Spent a lot of 330 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 1: time up in his suite watching games with him during 331 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 1: during the hockey season. Now is that as my next question, 332 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 1: your best or favorite sport other than football is in hockey? 333 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: I'd say hockey? Yes, if not football, what do you 334 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,879 Speaker 1: have done it? This wasn't your path? U'm probably a 335 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: high school principal or a high school athletic director. You know, 336 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:46,679 Speaker 1: I'm in the in the teaching. My my wife's a teacher, 337 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: my her father was a teacher, my daughter is a teacher. 338 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: So definitely UH into the education. Fantastic Trent Ball. Okay, 339 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,919 Speaker 1: I appreciate you playing along. I appreciate the time, I know, 340 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 1: and what is it? Busy time of year. Not as 341 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: busy as a draft, but a busy time. I appreciate 342 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 1: it very much. Thanks for revenue.