1 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody, This is Jordan Rodrigan. 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 2: I am so excited to share that we are trying 3 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 2: out a new capsule series for NFL Daily called NFL 4 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 2: Daily Power Players. As many of you know, I love football. 5 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 2: One of my favorite things about the NFL is learning 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 2: about how teams are built out, decision makers from coaches 7 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 2: to executives to scouts to players think, and the process 8 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 2: itself of the sport. How football people do football is 9 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 2: the coolest thing ever. So in these episodes of NFL 10 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 2: Daily Power Players, We're going to talk to football people 11 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 2: and learn from them and pull back the curtain of 12 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 2: the sport for you just a little further. We'll sprinkle 13 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 2: these into your feed from time to time a little 14 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 2: surprise extra treat for our listeners, be sure to check 15 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 2: out a fantastic first episode with Carolina Panthers Executive vice 16 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 2: president of football Operations Brant Tillis. And today, I am 17 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 2: so thrilled to be speaking with Los Angeles Charts assistant 18 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 2: GM Chad Alexander. Chad has helped build NFL teams for 19 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 2: twenty seven years, with two decades in Baltimore in various 20 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: roles in that storied front office and five years with 21 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 2: the New York Jets. Now Chad is GM Joe Hortiz's 22 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 2: right hand man as the Chargers establish themselves as one 23 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 2: of the best teams in the AFC. The playoff hunting 24 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 2: Chargers have obviously had more than their fair share of 25 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 2: injuries all season, but as Chad likes to say, there 26 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 2: are no style points in this league, and. 27 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: Especially the way that these Chargers are built. 28 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 2: And they keep finding ways to win games even unconventionally, 29 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,759 Speaker 2: and even before the injuries started rocking their offensive line especially, 30 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 2: you could see the clear vision to be bigger, more physical, 31 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 2: tougher than their opponents. I refer to them often as 32 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 2: a modern throwback because they blend progressive ideas with vintage 33 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 2: football qualities. We're going to talk to Chad today about 34 00:01:57,280 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 2: helping to build that ethos within the team, which of 35 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 2: course starts with the players, but it's also an important 36 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 2: responsibility for the front office and coaching staff too. I 37 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 2: think you guys are gonna love this. Let's get right 38 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: into it, Hi, Chad thrilled to have you here today 39 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 2: on NFL Daily's Power Players. 40 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for joining me. 41 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me. Joan's great to see I. 42 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 2: Feel like we should have just had you come right 43 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 2: up the street from Elsagundo and come into the studio. Here, 44 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 2: I'm staring right across the street at your home stadium. 45 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 3: I know, I know, that's crazy. 46 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 4: It's I love La It's it's been cool since being 47 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 4: here for a couple of years. 48 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:32,359 Speaker 3: And I never lived. 49 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 4: Here before, but obviously visited it quite a few times. 50 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 4: And this is just a great area. It's a lot 51 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 4: of fun. 52 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: I know, warm winters. Man, you can never go back. 53 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 3: You can never go back, never go back. I mean, 54 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 3: I'm not used to this for sure. 55 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: You know, I want to get right into this idea. 56 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 2: It's so fun watching what you guys have built with 57 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 2: the Chargers over the last couple of seasons, because when 58 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 2: you talk about team identity sometimes it's hard to describe. 59 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 2: You know it when you see it, and you know 60 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 2: it when you feel it. And I would say that 61 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 2: what you guys have built over there has been the 62 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 2: epitome of establishing a tone, establishing a culture, and I 63 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 2: sort of describe your team. 64 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: And we've talked about this as a little bit. 65 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 2: Of like a modern throwback, right, like you sort of 66 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 2: pivoted a little bit when the rest of NFL's defenses 67 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 2: got a little bit smaller, you guys decided to load 68 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 2: up and be bigger, stronger, tougher than everybody, and to 69 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 2: be really multiple schematically in the ways that you also 70 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 2: did that. So take me back to the installation of 71 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 2: this process, what you wanted your identity to be, and 72 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 2: what you started doing, the little pieces you had to 73 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 2: put in place to start trying to figure out how 74 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 2: to get the guys in the building that would epitomize that. 75 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think we always knew that we wanted our 76 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 4: identity to be a team that was extremely tough, extremely physical, 77 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 4: and we wanted our identity to really kind of emulate 78 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 4: the identity of our head coach. You know, Jim Is 79 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 4: every every program he's been associated with has been one 80 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 4: that has been recognized as being extremely tough, violent. Uh, 81 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 4: players that are you know, gritty, players that are versatile 82 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 4: like you talked about, and guys that just you know, 83 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,480 Speaker 4: have this unselfishness about them and it's really a next 84 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 4: man up mentality, And you know, we wanted to enforce 85 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 4: our will on opponents, and I think you kind of 86 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 4: see that. 87 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 3: You know, the last couple of weeks have. 88 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 4: Been really inspiring for for everybody in the organization. You know, 89 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 4: I mean, we won six of our last seven, but 90 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,919 Speaker 4: the last two games have really been kind of fistfights 91 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 4: with the two Super Bowl teams from from a year ago. 92 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 4: And I feel like we we you know, we we 93 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 4: try to enforce our identity. We try to kind of 94 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 4: make teams play our style of football and it's not 95 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 4: necessarily conventional in today's football. But at the same time, 96 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 4: we're not really interested in style points and and we 97 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 4: were just really trying to trying to build a book. 98 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 4: And I feel like we're we're trying to establish that. 99 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 2: Well you see it because even with you know, injuries 100 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 2: happening and there's there's this sort of resilience. I think 101 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 2: that that comes through and certainly has this season, including 102 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 2: from the quarterback, who I think when justin Herbert and 103 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 2: especially kind of being in LA and the last you know, 104 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: before Jim came in and before you guys installed your 105 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 2: staff and the rest of this roster, some of a reputation. 106 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 2: You know, he being a finesse thrower, right, but you're 107 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 2: seeing him put his foot in the ground, You're seeing 108 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 2: him lower's shoulder. What we talked about a lot on 109 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 2: this show was we're like, Justin Herbert's out of the 110 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 2: house right because he's pointing the first down marker and 111 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 2: he's letting some of that personality show. So with him, 112 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 2: how have you seen him grow and start to really 113 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 2: be the face of this, like this more physical brand 114 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 2: of football that you guys are playing. 115 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, and we never when we got here, we never 116 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 4: associated him really with anything that's based on being finesse. 117 00:05:57,520 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 3: You know, first of all, the guy's a specimen. 118 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,359 Speaker 4: I mean he's here huge, uh physically and you know, 119 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 4: really tough mentally, really tough physically, as he displayed by 120 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 4: by by playing through you know, several injuries and most 121 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:13,679 Speaker 4: recently the non throwing hand. But uh, Justin is extremely rugged, 122 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 4: you know, as a as a player. And yeah, he's 123 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 4: a quarterback that has all the attributes. He's got the 124 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 4: big arm and and he's he's a really athletic player 125 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 4: and a good athlete and guy that can run. But 126 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 4: but at the same time, he he's extremely tough, and 127 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:30,039 Speaker 4: you know, it's inspirational to his teammates, you know, for 128 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 4: for them to see a guy like that play through injuries, 129 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 4: just for them to see a guy like that who's 130 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 4: really tough, minded, and and and just has a no 131 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 4: nonsense approach to pretty much everything. I think it's it's uh, 132 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 4: it's it's really it's empowering for the rest of the team, 133 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 4: and and it's someone who people can look to and 134 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 4: draw inspiration from. So, I mean, he's an outstanding leader 135 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 4: and he really kind of embodies everything that we're trying 136 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 4: to accomplish here. 137 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 2: I love that response because you're also describing traits right 138 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 2: that you were really very much much needed to go 139 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 2: and scout to bring more players into the building as 140 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 2: you guys were establishing what you wanted this roster to be, 141 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 2: whether it was veteran players in free agency or retaining 142 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 2: some of the veteran players who are already on the roster, 143 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 2: or drafting guys who who have these traits. You have 144 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 2: worked for twenty five years in the league at the 145 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 2: highest levels of scouting and pro personnel, and I always 146 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 2: find that scouts are scouts. 147 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: For life, right, Like you are. 148 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 2: Always looking and assessing, like how a part can fit 149 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 2: to a whole. Right, So when you're looking for trades, 150 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 2: what is the process, like how do you prove beyond 151 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 2: interviews and tape? How do you prove that a guy 152 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 2: has these types of qualities that can sometimes be considered intangible. 153 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 4: You know, we do a lot of background, a lot 154 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 4: of research on every player that we discuss in terms 155 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 4: of the draft. Specifically, we spend as much time on 156 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 4: the player this is at the top of our draft 157 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 4: board as we do a player that's. 158 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 3: You know, really the last player on our list. 159 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 4: And it's really all about sequencing guys and putting guys 160 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 4: in an order, but we do we look for those 161 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 4: those core principles and we look for toughness, We look 162 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 4: for resiliency, We look for grit, We look for guys 163 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 4: who have overcome some sort of adversity, you know, anything 164 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 4: like that, you know, just just key tells that they 165 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 4: can let us know, Hey, this is the type of 166 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 4: player that we want to bring into this program because 167 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 4: it's really not for everybody, you know, it's it's it's 168 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 4: for those, you know, the rare players that are that 169 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 4: are the toughest of the tough, the guys that are 170 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 4: extremely h you know, durable guys that are extremely tough minded, 171 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 4: and you know, those are the type of individuals that 172 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 4: we look for. We uh, we talk to you know, 173 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 4: several different people when we go into these schools, and 174 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 4: we like to you know, compare notes and and bring 175 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 4: everybody into the discussion. And it's all about, you know, 176 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 4: really open and honest communication amongst the coaches, amongst the scouts, 177 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 4: and you know, we do, you know, draw on our experiences. 178 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 4: So myself being in the league for as many years 179 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 4: that I've been in it, you know, there's there's not 180 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 4: very many things that I haven't seen, so you know, 181 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 4: we we we kind of look at that and and 182 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 4: and think about, you know, how's this guy going to 183 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 4: project in our program, you know, and also what's us 184 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 4: our development plan that we have for them, and so 185 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 4: all that stuff is taken into consideration. You know, obviously 186 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 4: we consider analytics and you know, the player development part 187 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 4: of it. But I think that you know, for us, 188 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 4: we the best part about Jim and about Joe Hartiz, 189 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 4: our general manager, is that you know, they have a 190 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:36,199 Speaker 4: clear identity and a clear h you know, set of 191 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 4: you know, standards that they have for each player that 192 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 4: comes into the building. And so we know, based on 193 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 4: the comments from the school, based on the comments from 194 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,559 Speaker 4: their coaches, if they've transferred to comments comments from the 195 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 4: last school. We know which type of players are going 196 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,199 Speaker 4: to survive and thrive in this building, and those are 197 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 4: definitely the types of players that we try to draft, 198 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 4: the types of players that we try to bring in 199 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 4: through free agency, on the practice squad and on any 200 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 4: avenue in terms of building the roster. 201 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 2: I like what you said about getting you have such 202 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:09,559 Speaker 2: clarity from Joe and Jim right. Can you speak more 203 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 2: about the importance of that type of clarity in communicating 204 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 2: what an identity is for a team, so that the 205 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 2: entire building has no question. The scouts who are all 206 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 2: over the country, you know, the people who are drawing 207 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 2: up the contracts, the players themselves. What is the importance 208 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 2: of like knowing what you're about and being able to 209 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 2: communicate it. 210 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 4: I think it's vitally important, you know, it's it's extremely 211 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 4: critical that there's a lot of open and honest communication, 212 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:40,319 Speaker 4: particularly between the scouts and the coaches, right between the 213 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 4: coaching staff and the personnel staff. And you know, Joe 214 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,439 Speaker 4: and Jim have done a great job of connecting those 215 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 4: dots and you know, explaining to everybody, Hey, this is 216 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 4: our vision, this is our identity. These are the types 217 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 4: of players we want, and we need. And so when 218 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 4: we come into the draft room, when we discuss these players, 219 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 4: there's open and honest communication. 220 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 3: There's there's a lot. 221 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,439 Speaker 4: Of people that are giving their opinions, and you're encouraged 222 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 4: to give your opinion and not encouraged to you know, 223 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 4: your group think is not opinion is not encouraged. Uh, 224 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 4: you know, discussing things and silos is not encouraged. You're 225 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 4: encouraged to just throw it out out on the table. 226 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 4: And from there we just kind of come up with 227 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 4: a list and in order of how we like, you know, 228 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 4: these guys and and so you know that there's a 229 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 4: lot of detail that goes into every discussion and every 230 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,959 Speaker 4: every player that we pick. So so yeah, it's it's 231 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,680 Speaker 4: great to be a part of an organization where we 232 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 4: have a clear cut identity. We know what types of 233 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 4: players we want to bring in, and we know what 234 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 4: types of players that they may they you know, they 235 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 4: may they may fit fit elsewhere, but you know it 236 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 4: probably wouldn't be a fit here. 237 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 3: So I think that that that's important. 238 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, so much a team building. 239 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:48,960 Speaker 2: One of the pieces of it that I think is 240 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 2: so underrated is knowing what you also don't want, right 241 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 2: and that's a that's a life lesson too, as you. 242 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: As you grow up. 243 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 2: And so I'm curious, you know, on NFL Daily, I 244 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 2: warned you about this, Chad on NFL Daily. We like 245 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 2: to play, We like to gamify things. We love game theory, 246 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 2: we love testing out ideas and debating ideas with analysis 247 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 2: behind them. 248 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 1: Of course we don't shout here. 249 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 2: When you think about like what you've been a part of, 250 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 2: and your life and you and your journey in coaching, 251 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 2: I guess I would ask, like, if you were going 252 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 2: to build a franchise from scratch, Let's say it's on Mars. 253 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 1: You have a climate. 254 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 2: Control, oxygenated environment, right, it's you're starting totally from scratch. 255 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 2: I want to know what the top three or the 256 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 2: first three decisions you would make, starting with the very 257 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 2: first one, the most important decision you think somebody building 258 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 2: a franchise from scratch needs to make when they come 259 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 2: into an organization. 260 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 3: Wow, that's a good question, I think. 261 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 4: I think when you're talking about building a franchise from scratch, 262 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 4: I think you're not necessarily concerned about individual players, but 263 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:58,080 Speaker 4: you're really concerned about the culture. You know, culture certainly 264 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:02,319 Speaker 4: matters most theoality of the people in the organization is 265 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 4: always going to determine the success of the organization. And 266 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 4: I think you want to start with alignment. You know, 267 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 4: you want to start with alignment with ownership. And you know, 268 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 4: everybody wants to win, but and everybody wants to do well, 269 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,959 Speaker 4: and everyone wants to compete for championships. But how do 270 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 4: you want to win? You know, what do you want 271 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 4: your team to look like? What are your sacred yeses 272 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 4: and those? You know, what do you what are your 273 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 4: non negotiables? How are you going to build an environment 274 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 4: to where people are comfortable having uncomfortable conversations and talking 275 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 4: about every department and throughout football ops and you know, 276 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 4: the analytics, the coaching, the player development, scouting, everybody. How 277 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 4: are we all going to communicate? And you know, how 278 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 4: are we going to have these discussions? You know, the 279 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 4: best decisions really do come from discussion, and I think 280 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 4: that's you know, vitally important. I also think that from there, 281 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 4: you really want to talk about the leadership structure. You know, 282 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 4: you want to decide who's going to come in and 283 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 4: and and be the head coach. You know, who's going 284 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 4: to be the leader of of of men who's going 285 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 4: to come in and and and preach his philosophy and 286 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 4: who's going to be aligned with our vision. 287 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 3: I think that's extremely important. 288 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 4: And it's also important to have someone who's a great communicator, 289 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 4: who is a great leader, who's a great teacher, who's 290 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 4: a great motivator, and someone who is extremely authentic. And 291 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 4: I think we're very fortunate to have Jim here. 292 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 3: He's he's extremely authentic. 293 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: And seen we've seen the clips. 294 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's exactly who is you know, people ask me 295 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 4: all the time, you know what's he like? And I'm like, 296 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 4: all you got to do is watch one of his 297 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 4: press consages. 298 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 3: That's who he is. 299 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 4: You know, he's all ball all the time. And uh, 300 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 4: he's extremely authentic. And that resonates in the locker room. 301 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 4: And I truly do believe that, you know, the locker 302 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 4: room is the most important room in the building, but 303 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 4: also believe that the locker room is the smartest room 304 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 4: in the building. 305 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 3: And they didn't get. 306 00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 4: To where they are just by you just on our 307 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 4: athletic ability and football ability alone. They also got to 308 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 4: where they are by being able to read people and 309 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 4: being able to read the room, and being able to 310 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 4: adapt in certain situations. So you have to be extremely 311 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 4: authentic and and your message has to resonate with the 312 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 4: locker room. And you know, it's uh, I think I think, 313 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 4: I think that's really important. And you know it's also 314 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 4: it's not just a head coaches bringing in coaches who 315 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 4: are able to develop talent. And I think we've done 316 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 4: a great job with that here too. Our coaches have 317 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 4: done an outstanding job of developing talent and getting the 318 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 4: best results out of players that they can. And I 319 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 4: think you see that the results are are are are 320 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 4: easy to see. I think the third thing is you 321 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 4: want to talk about what type of players that you're 322 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 4: going to bring in. 323 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 3: You know, how are you going to build a roster 324 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 3: and how are you going. 325 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 4: To build a developmental blueprint for the roster? You know, 326 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 4: everyone has to be involved in these discussions, and you 327 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 4: know it has to be uh, you know, it doesn't 328 00:15:57,600 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 4: matter who gets it right, as long as you know, 329 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 4: you're going to a room and you decide what's what's 330 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 4: the best decision for the organization. And each player has 331 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 4: to have their own individual developmental plan, you know, whether 332 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 4: it be you know for you know, through the analytics, 333 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 4: through you know player development, the strength and conditioning, the 334 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 4: medical plan. Each player has to have their own plan, 335 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 4: So I think I think that's really important. And we 336 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 4: have to decide, you know, where where are you're going 337 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 4: to spend the resources, where the resource is going to 338 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 4: be allocated. You definitely want to have a draft centric approach. 339 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 4: You want to build through the draft. The draft has 340 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 4: to be the bloodline of your organization. And you know, 341 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 4: but you're always trying to upgrade the roster, always trying 342 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 4: to churn the bottom of the roster, always trying to 343 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 4: you know, upgrade the practice squad, and you know, just 344 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:49,239 Speaker 4: trying to create an environment where, uh, you know, competition 345 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 4: is paramount. So I think I think those are probably 346 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 4: the three things that you want to establish it. 347 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 3: When coming in. 348 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 2: Well, sign me up. First of all, I'm a fan 349 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 2: of this team already. And second of all the things 350 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 2: that you mentioned culture, leadership, structure, starting with the head 351 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 2: coach down to the assistance and the type of players 352 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 2: that you're scouting and that you're bringing in. I appreciate 353 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:10,640 Speaker 2: the way that you've presented it because if you think 354 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 2: about it, all of those things have to be so 355 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 2: connected to each other. 356 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,640 Speaker 1: You mentioned earlier in our conversation no. 357 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 2: Silos, right, How and when you're building in this way 358 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:26,880 Speaker 2: where you're creating like an environment less so different departments, 359 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 2: how do you in your role because one of your 360 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 2: main roles is to build bridges through between all of 361 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 2: these places, to know everything that's going on, to be 362 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:39,400 Speaker 2: able to make clear decisions or assist in making clear decisions, 363 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 2: to understand the people of the building as much as 364 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:43,920 Speaker 2: you're understanding. 365 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:44,680 Speaker 1: The process of the building. 366 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 2: Right, So how do you in your personal journey, Like, 367 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 2: how do you go about connecting or reaching into other 368 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,640 Speaker 2: parts of the building in order to create that environment 369 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 2: that you're talking about. 370 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think you have to try to just force collaboration, 371 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 4: force communication on every level. And like I said, in 372 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 4: particular between you know, coaching and personnel. Uh, you know, 373 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,199 Speaker 4: we're not going to be in all the meetings with 374 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 4: the coaches, but I'd like to, you know, talk to 375 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:13,160 Speaker 4: the coaches and talk about how the players are performing 376 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 4: in those meetings. You know, how how is this guy 377 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 4: taking notes? You know, how's he watching film? Is he 378 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 4: you know, does he communicate well? Does he learn well? 379 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,239 Speaker 4: Like what are the things that he needs to work on? Uh? 380 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 3: What's his attitude like all those things. 381 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 4: I mean, you have to you know, you have to 382 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 4: try to bridge the gap and you have to try 383 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 4: to connect those dots. And you know, likewise with with coaching, 384 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 4: you know, when we get into those draft meetings, they're 385 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 4: asking a lot of questions as well. You know, they're 386 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 4: asking the scouts, you know, what's this kid's background, what 387 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:41,120 Speaker 4: makes him tick? 388 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:43,680 Speaker 3: You know, how is he motivated? How does he learn? 389 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:46,720 Speaker 4: And I think those types of questions constantly have to 390 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 4: be asked in order to come up with with with 391 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 4: a great developmental plan for each player that's on our roster. 392 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:55,840 Speaker 3: So I think that's that, you know, it's really important. 393 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:58,400 Speaker 4: I think you know, there's no quick fix to any 394 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:00,719 Speaker 4: of it, but it all comes to know, just constant 395 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 4: communication about you know, everything and everyone in the building 396 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 4: and trying to develop you know, the players, but but 397 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 4: also trying to develop us as as people that work 398 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 4: in football. Opposite trying to develop coaches, you're trying to 399 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 4: develop scouts and you know, come up with the best 400 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 4: plan for for for everyone to improve and ultimately just 401 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:21,359 Speaker 4: to improve the team as a whole. 402 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,360 Speaker 2: I like that you included the scouts in development too. 403 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:26,639 Speaker 2: I think when people think of scouts. They think of 404 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 2: like the grizzled guy living out of his car somewhere 405 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 2: in Alabama, right, scouting between Aubert and Ala on that 406 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:36,440 Speaker 2: long highway, right, probably flew into Atlanta in the process, right, 407 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,199 Speaker 2: And that's true too, Yes, yeah, that's true too. But 408 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:41,919 Speaker 2: but still, like I think that that I like what 409 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:47,160 Speaker 2: you said about because they're they're like in little satellite 410 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 2: worlds all around, all around the country. And part of 411 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 2: managing the talent identification process is communicating despite the fact 412 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 2: that their job is very much remote for a lot 413 00:19:57,320 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 2: of the year, and they are finger on the polls 414 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 2: of these buildings. And I know from your own experience, 415 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,639 Speaker 2: and then also what you're doing now in managing a 416 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:09,400 Speaker 2: lot of these people, how what was the biggest most 417 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:13,120 Speaker 2: important thing in terms of your development of Like I'm 418 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 2: I'm learning how to identify talent, to I identify talent, 419 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 2: and then how do you sort of apply that now 420 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:24,120 Speaker 2: to bringing together a collective of people that are all 421 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 2: in different places at once. 422 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 4: That's a good question, I think, you know, and you 423 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:32,920 Speaker 4: know obviously in starting out, uh you know, twenty seven 424 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 4: years ago. Yeah, you're you're you're learning how to identify talent. 425 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:40,439 Speaker 4: You know, you're looking for what traits, uh each coach 426 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 4: specifically wants for their position. And you know, again it's 427 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:46,920 Speaker 4: through communication. So you're talking to the coach, Hey, what 428 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 4: what are you? What are you talking to the linebacker? 429 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 3: Coach? Hey, what are you? 430 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 4: What are you looking for in terms of the linebacker 431 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 4: reading is run fits? What are you looking for? In 432 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 4: terms of you know, what what keys are? Are are 433 00:20:57,119 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 4: they looking for? And I think you know, you have 434 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 4: you have those discussions, and you know, we do a 435 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 4: great job I think, and it's been it's happened throughout 436 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 4: my career at the various different spots. We do a 437 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 4: great job of during the times that the coaches and 438 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,639 Speaker 4: scouts are together, like training camp and mini camp and 439 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 4: whenever scouts are in the building, forcing collaboration, forcing conversations, 440 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:22,360 Speaker 4: forcing you know, discussions, and so I think that through that, 441 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 4: you know, we get to kind of learn each other's world, 442 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 4: you know. And I have a great appreciation and great 443 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 4: respect for scouts because I did that for years and 444 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 4: uh yeah, I think that that that's the only way 445 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 4: that you're going to grow and develop as someone in 446 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:40,159 Speaker 4: uh in personnel and football ops in general. Is just 447 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 4: really through a lot of communication, and that's that's what 448 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 4: we do. That's what we preach and uh, you know 449 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 4: that that's kind of how we operate, you know, that's uh. 450 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 4: And and once you're in it for a long time 451 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,679 Speaker 4: and you feel like you've been through a lot of 452 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:56,440 Speaker 4: different scenarios and you've seen a lot of different, uh, 453 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 4: you know, situations, that helps you from a management perspective 454 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:03,120 Speaker 4: as well, you know, because you can you know, talk 455 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 4: to the scouts and hey, you know what, you know, 456 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:07,719 Speaker 4: what did you see here? And offer suggestions and but 457 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 4: you always you always want to kind of let the 458 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,679 Speaker 4: scouts give their own opinion and you know, give you know, 459 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:14,919 Speaker 4: their own assessment of the player. You don't want to 460 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 4: you know, try to you know, force or influence you know, 461 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:20,199 Speaker 4: the scouts to to see things your way. But you 462 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,200 Speaker 4: also want to kind of open their eyes at times 463 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,159 Speaker 4: to you know, different you know, things that are going on. 464 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 4: So I think it's really important to you know, have 465 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 4: those discussions. 466 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 3: You can never communicate enough about players. 467 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 4: I think it's it's really important to talk about each 468 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:39,159 Speaker 4: player individually and talk about you know, different scenarios and 469 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 4: try to you know, cast a wide net when it 470 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 4: comes to discussing players for the draft or for a 471 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,919 Speaker 4: free agency or or any part of like the the 472 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:48,160 Speaker 4: onboarding process. 473 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a tough line to walk. You have to 474 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 2: be open as open minded as possible while still being 475 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:57,640 Speaker 2: incredibly decisive in in crunch time, and that takes time 476 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 2: to Chad. You're you're at the top of your game here, 477 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:02,280 Speaker 2: at the top of your field. Your team is about 478 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 2: to I hope, knock on wood here, make a real 479 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 2: playoff push here and down the stretch run What still 480 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 2: makes you curious about football? Like, what still kind of 481 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 2: makes you excited about the not just the sport, but 482 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:17,159 Speaker 2: the process of it everything. You know, I. 483 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 4: Love the process and love love football and have you 484 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,159 Speaker 4: know since I was a little kid, you know, and 485 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:27,880 Speaker 4: when I first fell in love with the game. And 486 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:30,640 Speaker 4: you know, it's ever evolving, you know, and it's kind 487 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:32,640 Speaker 4: of like the more things change, the more things stay 488 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 4: the same. 489 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:33,399 Speaker 3: You know. 490 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 4: Like I said, I think I've seen a lot of 491 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 4: different scenarios involving the game. But at the same time, 492 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:46,880 Speaker 4: you know, there's always new strategies, new techniques to explore, 493 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:51,880 Speaker 4: and so yeah, I'm always interested in, you know, anything 494 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:55,680 Speaker 4: that's you know, cutting edge and analytics or coaching or scouting. 495 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 4: I just have a passion to learn. I think I've 496 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:01,639 Speaker 4: I've always had that passion. And for me, it doesn't 497 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:04,919 Speaker 4: feel like work, you know, it really is. We have 498 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:07,199 Speaker 4: too much fun, Like we really have a great We 499 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 4: have a great time, you know, but we have a 500 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 4: great time. 501 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,400 Speaker 3: And we also we're not going to let anybody out 502 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 3: work us. 503 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 4: And I think that's a major part of why we've 504 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:18,679 Speaker 4: had success here and hopefully while we're going to continue 505 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:19,360 Speaker 4: to have success. 506 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 2: Awesome, you're listening to Chad Alexander, the assistant general manager 507 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:26,639 Speaker 2: of the Los Angeles Chargers. 508 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: Chad, awesome, awesome stuff. 509 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for joining me today on NFL 510 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 2: Daily Power Players. 511 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. Thanks Jordan. 512 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 2: That of course was Chargers assistant general manager, Chad Alexander. 513 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: We thank him for his time. I could have talked 514 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 1: to him all day. 515 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:45,920 Speaker 2: Because what they're building over there this combination of sort 516 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 2: of vintage like. 517 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: Old school ideas. 518 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 2: And traits and toughness and then this really modern way 519 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 2: of blending analytics and coaching and certainly some cutting edge coaching, 520 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 2: especially on the defensive side of the ball. With what 521 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 2: Jesse minter is doing and under Jim Harbaugh, how all 522 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:04,679 Speaker 2: of those departments and all of those variables have to 523 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 2: interconnect together, and. 524 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 1: Chad obviously has a huge role in that. 525 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:12,200 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to NFL Daily Power Players. We are 526 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:14,520 Speaker 2: thrilled that you all seem to be liking these episodes 527 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 2: so far, and thanks again to Chad Alexander and the 528 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 2: Los Angeles Chargers