Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome into the Ravens Press Past podcast. It is Monday,
April twenty first, and the Ravens kicked off their voluntary
off season conditioning program today. This is the start of
the team's off season calendar. It's the first team activity
since last season ended, and this is a chance for
the Ravens to really build a foundation for the upcoming season.
Today we had a chance to hear from some of
the team leaders. Let's kick things off with Strength and
Conditioning coordinator Scott Elliott.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Thank you guys for coming out and allowing us to
talk a little bit about this phase a year. I mean,
I think it should go without saying maybe the look
on my face. We look forward to this time all
year long, especially through February and March. We had a
great session today, day one of week one. I was
(00:49):
able to talk to the guys as a group. Defense
was first, while the offense met and then we had
offense second. But in talking to the guys before we
got started, three points of discussion or notes with them.
One was an appreciation for them being here during the
voluntary period.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
How much we take that to.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Heart and how excited we are to progress the work
that they've done on their own during the dead period
while wherever they were, whether it was in sunny climates
or close by, but we looked to build on that
going into Phase two and Phase three get into OTA's
and Mini Camp. The second part of it was just
(01:30):
talking to him about how the schedule lays out so
phase to phase and then really broke it down into
the weekly and day schedule. So we had some new
guys here that haven't been a part of this process yet,
so just broke that down for them to kind of
give them a lay of the land to understand how
we devise the workouts and the runs, just high level
stuff of two days a week, we focused on acceleration, deceleration,
(01:55):
change the direction, top end speed. The other two days
of the running sessions were worked and we're focusing more
on conditioning, so on how those two will compliment each
other and we'll progress some week over week getting into
Mini camp, you know, to culminate it in June. And
then the same thing, just talked about how the lifts
will start the foundation phase in the weight room, how
we'll progress those in two separate phases to get to
(02:16):
the end of June. And then the third thing I'd
talked to him about to finish it out before we
got moving today was what our mind frame was in
here when we ran in the weight room, and then
to carry it throughout the building was earn the right.
So we've got a big screen as you enter the
weight room and each year I try to put a
message on there and this year what's stuck with all
(02:37):
of us as the strength staff was earn the right.
We've been fortunate, but the Ravens to earn a lot
along the way and this year it's all about earn
the right, so.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
And it's up to them to decide what that right is.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
So it is it earned the right to start fast,
to finish games, to play winning football, to earn the
right for one more rep, one more set, whatever that is.
So we're taking in that as kind of our stance
from a mental and perspective standpoint to start this Phase
one and hopefully grow it, get into a training camp
(03:10):
and then a successful twenty twenty five campaign. So if
that'll open up to questions.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Anything different this year that you've kind of added, especially
in Phase one, based off of anything from last year
that you.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
Know you decided to change out.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah, foundationally the phase from last year and then the
year prior. It's it is the same in what we're
working on now. Tools and toys that we've added along
the way we have we have done that. There's a
cool down the way here in the way in the
indoor as a cool OHM machine. It's an isokinetic machine
that allows us to get real time data on their
(03:47):
force output, whether they're doing heavy work or speed work.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
So that's a tool we've put into play in the
weight room.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
We integrated it last year, being more comprehensive with it
this year with a perch system that will measure the
bar speed and again it's all in the notion of
giving the athlete real time feedback for whatever we're trying
to do in that day.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
If they need to move the bar faster, we've got
it on the iPad. If they're moving it too fast for.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Whatever strength quality we're trying to get out of them,
we know that we can add more weight and slow
it down and talk to them about the why. So
it's kind of exciting to add those new toys, you know,
in here and in the weight room, but still keep
the foundations the same.
Speaker 6 (04:27):
Can you use that kind of technology during the pre
draft process that I don't know how involved you are,
but like your team's bringing guys in and maybe getting
a sense a better sense for where they are strength wise,
at the athletic wise.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Absolutely in our scouting department.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
I mean, I'm a biased opinion up here standing in
front of you, guys is the best in the business.
And so what they'll do is we'll bring in top
thirty guys. We'll sit and visit with them. We won't
put them through any of the assessments in here. During
that time, we'll take a lot of their data from
their pro days and combine numbers and then utilize that
as we if they're UDFA, if they're a draft pick.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
And then we'll be able to implement that with our
system when they come in.
Speaker 7 (05:06):
When they bring in.
Speaker 8 (05:07):
Free agents, do they ever inquire about the weight training
that you have here?
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yes, yeah, Yeah, that's been a big thing over the
last i'd say five five plus years.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Is when you're getting free agents.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Now they're looking at the whole picture of the building, right,
It's not just contracts a huge part of it, but
they're looking at your training room, your weight room, how
you operate in those rooms. Because they're looking at the
entirety of the package as they're in that free agent process,
and that's been big, let's say, over the last three years.
It's really coming to play when we bring in free agents,
you know, prior to signing they're on the visit, we'll
(05:41):
talk to them about how we train you know, historically,
who we've worked with that may be similar to them,
maybe it's at that point in their career position wise,
but that we've become much more comprehensive in that regard.
Speaker 9 (05:53):
And now year one, the year two is often seen
as a critical year for body kind of transformations, these
guys getting acclimated to the NFL, specifically to Nate Wiggins.
You know, what did you see from him in the
weight room this past season, and then what hopes do
you have for this.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Offsson hope, my hope for Nate is to continue the trajectory,
the vertical trajectory of the kids already on.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
You got to see it on the field.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
He is a physical freak in his ability to go
display his attributes out on the field and all year
last year Nate did not just everything that we had
asked of him, but did it to the to the
fullest degree. And I think you saw that as a
young kid coming in you know, young body, right, young mind,
(06:36):
and you saw how he was able to play all
seventeen games and in the playoffs and play at a
high level. So I'm excited for Nick that as we
go onto year two, you'll see even more physical maturation.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Especially coming out of year one.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
You have a lot of draft prep, so you have
a lot of you know, in that process.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
You know, in the February and the March, they're doing
a lot of.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Really their drills and their their training sessions are really
centered around what they're going to do in Indianapolis, right,
So what we're now and then that's to your point, Ryan,
is when we've worked through the season last year and
we get into now this offseason, moving to this year,
now we can work more specifically to his game and
playing you know, playing football. So I'm looking forward to
his step he'll make from a physical standpoint, he's seen.
Speaker 6 (07:20):
How have you seen the program overall?
Speaker 1 (07:21):
It's evolve in your time being here and taking over
the leadership, How has this program evolved?
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Fortunately, truly truly blessed to see the evolution over the
last couple of years. Of you've got this time of
the year, then you've got training camp, you've got in season,
and the buy in that the players have allowed us
to have and their you know, daily routine and let
us truly kind of step into their world and say,
(07:50):
what we're trying to do in here, whether it's in
the indoor or in that weight room, is to help
you be the best version of yourself. So when we've evolved,
that's allowed us to get more detailed with the guys
because as we're working, you know, in training camp, we
got ninety so you know, we divide and conquer. Fortunately,
I'm very, very blessed to have a great staff in
that regard, just to you know now that I'm talking
(08:11):
about and I'll come back to your point. Ron Shrift,
Kevin Hartman, Kaylen Busky, Anthony Watson have been with me
the whole time, and so with that buy in, we're.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Able to get more detailed.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Now We've i brought up the fun tools and toys,
but now we've got the dialogue that each year, I
feel like we've gotten even better and we still have
room to grow in helping individualize their program to progress them. Obviously,
the spring is huge, but in training camp and throughout
the season.
Speaker 10 (08:42):
It's got related to that, but more specifically, injury prevention
is so massive for NFL success. The team had a
very healthy season last year, but you know, over the
last few years, because I mean that was a major
topic a few.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
Years back with injuries.
Speaker 10 (08:56):
Where do you think as an organization from a strengthen
conditioning standpoint, that you've made strong that maybe have meshed
with seeing fewer injuries, you know, whether it's ramping up
more slowly, whatever it might be.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Where do you guys think that.
Speaker 10 (09:06):
You've made some progress that that that you've seen that
kind of you know, yeah, the decrease in injuries.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Yeah, that's a that's a great question. And we have
been fortunate in that regard. And I always remind you know,
anybody that that allows me to talk and we get
on this this subject is you know, you got to
have great preparation and whatever you know, each team or
each weight rooms preparation is you've got a great preparation
and that's got to be matched with great luck. And
I truly believe, you know, over the last couple of years,
(09:34):
we've seen both of those come together.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
At the end of the day, it's a very physical game.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
You know, things do happen that are outside of your control,
and we've been fortunate to avoid those and if we haven't,
you know, incurred those situations, they've been more on the
short term side of things.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
We've returned guys to play.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
But I think it comes back to, uh, just the
point prior to this with the buy in of the players,
and we're able to individualize kind of there their structure
of either their lift or their run.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
That's part of the preparation process.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
And then I think we've had a great turnout over
the past couple of years and this year included of
this phase. And I truly believe this phase is the
foundation of which training camp the whole year is predicated on.
So I think those are those are kind of two
things that I I hang my hat on that that
that's allowed success. And obviously you got to pray for
the best with the rest.
Speaker 9 (10:29):
Derek Hennery here last year, and did you adopt anything
from what he does and you know, incorporated into work.
Speaker 7 (10:34):
You guys see.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Yeah, Actually, so having Derek in is incredible and I'd
say the most fun was Derek. He stayed around after
the season for a couple of weeks before heading back
down to Dallas and talking to him even more at length.
You know, through the season, as you guys probably saw
Derek's appro he comes in, he does his work, he goes,
you know, goes about his business. He's out and getting
(10:55):
to know Derek and getting to dive in even more
about you know, what he does. And Die tells, it's incredible,
and yeah, there's some things that we've taken in.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
And I'll say this about Derek.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
It was, you know, this time last year we were
talking and I kind of asked him that question, and
I'll ask you know, vets that have been around, and
I know they have a real detailed off season program.
A lot of times I'll talk to the trainer strength
coach that they work with, and I said, what do
you want to what do you want to include from
you know, what you do in Texas back here, and
they said, give me everything he got. He said, I'm
a clean sat give me everything he got. So and
(11:28):
I think about that that period in the off season
when he stuck around for heading back to his family,
he brought up there was a workout that he had
asked me to write before going on break last year
between mini camp and training camp, and by the end
of it, long story short, he had his brother doing it,
everybody in the weight room doing it, and so there
was this this nice connection between what he does in
(11:49):
Dallas and what we do up here. And as you
can see, you saw what he did last year on
the field, and it's working for the guy.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
I don't think we got a chance to ask you
last year about Lamar losing his weight remaking this by
what was the emphasis for him?
Speaker 3 (12:01):
And I guess is it the same kind of emphasis
this year with Lamar?
Speaker 2 (12:05):
It's is to take what he did last year and
continue that that process. As you guys saw, he was
in great shape at this point last year. He is
again this year. And then we wanted to just lay
down some lean muscle tissue as we got into the season,
and you saw that as you know we got into
the season, he was up a few pounds and then
(12:25):
played at that MVP caliber level. You know, obviously, if
I had a vote, I know what I would have voted.
But that's a plan for this year as well.
Speaker 11 (12:33):
Are there any general benchmarks that you look to hit
this early on.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
In the process in terms of what I.
Speaker 11 (12:39):
Mean just each fathe.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Yeah, of course, of course, yeah, yeah, so benchmarks. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
So in the weight room, what we're looking to do
is is this is called our general preparation phase. So
we'll break it up in two four week blocks and
it'll progress and in each four week block week over week.
But this first phase is first four weeks we're looking
for immetry, so no matter what they have done or
not done, you know, the last couple of months on
their on their free time, we're looking to bounce out
(13:07):
right to left, front to back, so quad to hamstring,
right leg, left leg, so we're looking to kind of
rebounce everything out, essentially pour the foundation. Then as we
get into that that next four weeks we get into
OTAs in a mini camp, that's when we'll get into
our power phase, so the movements will become a lot
more explosive, and then we'll it'll it'll shift from unilateral
focus into bilateral so two hands, two arms or sorry
(13:29):
to two legs barbed on the back, so much more
compound explosive lifts.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
So that's how it progress.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Going through the spring with a break and then essentially
we'll do a similar notion once we start training camp
kind of rebounce the tires on these ferraris and and
trucks and then build the speed, build the power, and
we just kind of we undulate through that throughout the
entire year.
Speaker 7 (13:50):
Scott.
Speaker 6 (13:51):
Obviously, Daniel Pilotly is a big ball of clay. Has
the programming for him changed going from a tackle into.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Inside Yeah, yes, And the program is for him is, Yes,
it's evolved, but it's it's always been the same. Daniel
is such a big, strong and mobile guy. So as
we've worked with Big Dan, it's it's to get him
to unlock that that next level that he's got into
dominating every time he steps out on the field. And
(14:19):
what you guys saw it this year, having the opportunity
to start and play you know, all every every offensive
series of every every game this year, you saw how
much better he got so in the way when we're
tailing his ability to do that from a physiological standpoint.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Next up, we heard from veteran linebacker Rokwan Smith.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
At this state your career, what are you taking from
when you come back phase one of all seas and workouts,
What's what's.
Speaker 5 (14:49):
Kind of your big takeaway from the States.
Speaker 12 (14:51):
Yeah, honestly, I think first and foremost just like being
around the guys, guys who you truly care about, being
being back around the game that you truly love, and
obviously knowing that you know, things didn't go the way
you wanted to go the last out and so it's
about improving on that. And then you know, also coming
in and getting great work from.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
Scott and his staff.
Speaker 12 (15:14):
You know, normally follow their plan anyway throughout the off season,
but it's pretty cool when you been able to get
to work with the guys also out on the field.
So it's just something that I enjoy to.
Speaker 10 (15:25):
Help your off seasons evolved from you know, maybe your
first couple of years in the league too. Now, I mean,
do you feel like you just have a much better
idea of what you need to get done to be.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
Ready to play?
Speaker 5 (15:34):
Yeah? Absolutely.
Speaker 12 (15:34):
I think experience is the best teacher in life, and
I think, yeah, at this point in my career now
it's kind of crazy, like thinking back, I still remember
my first ota just a wide our rookie.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
In a sense, and you're just like saying, oh, what
do I expect?
Speaker 12 (15:49):
How good of a shape should I be in in
April may like and things like that. But like now
It's kind of like you've been through the fire, been
through the ringer.
Speaker 5 (15:56):
You've gone through it.
Speaker 12 (15:57):
So now it's just about Okay, making sure I got
a great foundation, uh, and then just building on that
foundation throughout the off season and then making sure you're
ready to roll come training camp, but also knowing that
that's a ramp up period as well before the season,
because it's a long season.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Bro, what what do you look to accomplish during this
time that like along your kind of what you're you're
talking about that, like, what do you want to accomplish
during this time of calendar?
Speaker 12 (16:23):
I think there's a lot of things you can accomplish
throughout this time and for myself personally throughout like this
eight week program. Uh, you know, get stronger, getting better shape,
create a better.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
Bond with my guys.
Speaker 12 (16:35):
Uh, just enjoy Maryland for what it's worth, and just
be around the people, be around the building. Uh, enjoy
all the free food uh stuff like that. So I
would say a lot of those things and just happy
to be here.
Speaker 8 (16:49):
Oh cool, And you talked about trying to work on
getting that bad taste out of your mouth. How long
does it take to kind of turn the page from
how last year ended to move and looking forward to
what's next.
Speaker 12 (17:00):
Yeah, absolutely, I think you just have to use the
letdowns in a sense as a motivation and few for
your fire. And I think, honestly it's different for each
and every person, But for myself, I would say, you know,
there's a sour taste in your mouth until you're able
to actually play another game, and like because you can
go against your guys and things like that, but it's
(17:20):
different when you're actually trying to unleash on someone else
in a sense. So I think it'll always be there
and you just got to use it as fuel until
we're able to line it up and scrap it up
later in the year.
Speaker 13 (17:32):
How do you assess your season individually? Individually last year?
What do you need to want to take from that? Say,
all right, this is where I need to improve or
that was that was great?
Speaker 14 (17:40):
What did you take away?
Speaker 12 (17:42):
Yeah, a lot of ups and down last season, first
and foremost from the defense perspective. Didn't start the season
the way we wanted to start, including myself, like with
certain games and things of that nature. So like just
having that motivation and knowing that you don't want the
season something you're able to control to start out this way,
and that's something that we all can control and build
(18:04):
on right now in this moment. So it's about like
doing that, making sure we're in the best possible shape,
but also making we're making sure that we're mentally there
and ready to go through the ring or whatever the
case may be.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
And just having a tighter bond.
Speaker 12 (18:16):
Even though it was really tight despite the adversity that
we face throughout the season last year, not a single
person you know, drop their head looked for a way out.
So just like building building on that and just hitting
hitting the ground running and for myself, just like you know,
improving just being better, Like yeah, all pros this that,
all that stuff is fine, but it's about like you know,
(18:38):
getting hardware and like that's something you accomplished as a team.
So that's more of like what I want, like because
all the individual accolades that stuff will come once you're
successful as a team.
Speaker 11 (18:51):
How important is this time period in building chemistry and
just be connecting.
Speaker 12 (18:56):
Yeah, no, I think this time period is amazing for
like actually in a better relationship with the guys and
you know, going through the different workouts and things like that.
You know when you see your guys tired next to you,
and you know you're tired as well. But it's about
that's how you create that thick bond amongst each other,
just knowing, you know, we're going through the ringer together
and it's not just a one sided thing, and it's
(19:17):
about like, okay, if we're gonna truly be a brotherhood,
it's about fighting through it together and overcoming it as well.
Speaker 15 (19:23):
It's just what message you think that sends that you
being a VET and someone that's you know, far along.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
Into your career.
Speaker 15 (19:29):
That you're here during this optional period to get to
work in with the guys what do you think that
says to everybody here?
Speaker 12 (19:35):
Yeah, I'm not quite sure what that says to people.
I just know it's more so about like how I
feel and how I do my thing, and how I
enjoy being here, enjoy working with the screen staff here,
how I enjoy being around the guys here, and like
just being able to blessed enough to be on a
team to be able to do something that I truly
love and like, when I think about it from that perspective,
(19:57):
that's more than enough like motivation for me to get
my butt up and come up here. It's like, yeah,
I can be doing a lot of different things, but
at the end of the day, I still will be training.
Like it's awesome to be able to train here with
like great people. So I would say that we're a couple.
Speaker 9 (20:11):
Of linebackers left in free agency again this off season,
another one to Pittsburgh, just with Trenton Simpson. You know,
he'll get another crack at that certain job next to you.
What are your expectations for him as he enters year three.
Speaker 12 (20:22):
Yeah, first and foremost for those guys that are that's left.
Speaker 5 (20:26):
You know, very happy for those guys.
Speaker 12 (20:28):
They got them some a nice little payday as well,
so like, you know, happy to see those guys do that.
CB very happy for him the leak and all of
those guys. But yeah, Trent Man, I got a great
deal of respect for him, got some good sessions in
with him this offseason as well, and just trying to
build on our bond with each other as well, knowing
(20:49):
what he's thinking a certain situation and also like just
knowing what I'm thinking as well, and just getting out
and doing more things to create a tighter bond. But
I think like the guy has all the athletic ability
in the world, everything you want, and like I got
great faith that he's gonna be able to put it,
put it all together, and with the addition of all coach,
I'm very excited about that as well. Trend is so
it's gonna be awesome and we're excited to get to
(21:11):
work and you know what's gonna happen is gonna happen,
but we know we're gonna prepare like every day is
our last day. So that's the mindset and I'm very
excited for him in his future though.
Speaker 8 (21:23):
This weekend it is said to be a very talented
on the defensive side of the ball. Do you give
your take your opinions on what you would like to
see the organization do do they even asks your ideas.
Speaker 12 (21:36):
Like, you know, you'll see some guys, maybe some guys
from Georgia or you know, some guys that I may know.
But if I'm being completely honest, like when I first
came into the league, I was more so in tune
with the draft and everything like that. But like if
I'm being honest, like right now, like probably the top guys,
but like with no disrespect to anyone, I probably can't
(21:58):
I probably can't tell you the backers how many backers
like inside backers that are coming out this year if
I'm being perfectly honest, because like I don't really you know,
during my I'll try to get away from the game
in a sense I love the game, but it's also
about getting away and then you know, when the guys
get here, that'll be my focus. Then then I'll like
do my research and see what guy, what each and
(22:19):
every guy's about.
Speaker 6 (22:21):
I think you were on the sideline for a couple
of Georgia games this past year. One of those guys
who's been linked to the Ravens is Malachi Stars. Did
you get a sense for what he meant the culture
there and stood to meet him or anything like that.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
Yeah, I think I met him, topped him up and
everything like that.
Speaker 12 (22:37):
But you know, when those guys are, you know, right
before going to going into a game and stuff, those
guys are focused on what they're focused on, and that's
like getting a w SO got a great deal of
respect for him. I heard a lot of great things
about him, like Georgia guy, like really really mature for
his age, really good player. Also, I know Kirby Schuman,
(22:58):
all those guys have a great respect for him in
the way he played a game of football, But like,
I don't really know him personally. I've watched the games
and stuff, how he always shows up on film. But yeah,
so if he HEP does comes here, that'll be a
great addition for us. But like you know, DC and
those guys up there, man, they they know what they're doing,
(23:19):
so I'm sure they're going to get the best possible
fit for the team as well as person So yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Next up is safety Kyle Hamilton.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
So what was the best thing you've done from you know,
the end of the season to coming back to that.
Speaker 16 (23:42):
Went on a golf trip with me and three of
my high school buddies. Went out to Pebble Beach, played
Pebble Beach, Spyglass, Spanish Bay. He was able to play
Cyprus past that. That was probably the best thing I've
done so far.
Speaker 7 (24:01):
The goals?
Speaker 15 (24:02):
Is that the thing you didn't say that you're mar
Oh yeah.
Speaker 16 (24:04):
I mean I just went to i Guessa for the
Masters too. I went on Friday and Sunday and that
was my first time going, so it was pretty cool experience.
Speaker 13 (24:12):
Did Rory hitting it into the creek inspired maybe I
couldn't do this too.
Speaker 16 (24:16):
Yeah, I was actually sitting on twelve when him and
Bryson came up. So he saw Bryson go in the
water on eleven and I was walking on thirteen and
then saw Rory go in the water and that was
I think that's the crazy part about golf, Like the
leader sets the pace for everybody. So I mean once
(24:36):
he came back to the field, then they got really
really interesting after that. But you know, he got it done.
Career Grand Slam is pretty cool. What does Marlin have
to do to get there? Marlean's got to have a
talk with God or something to get there. He you know,
he's gotten better. He's always blowing up our group chat
about his golf swing and like how he can get
(24:56):
better and asking me for tips. I was like, I
don't know why you're asking me, Like I'm not the
person you should be asking.
Speaker 7 (25:02):
But he has gotten better.
Speaker 16 (25:03):
He said he just broke one hundred for first time
ninety nine, So I was like, you're one step close
to the tour.
Speaker 6 (25:10):
Like defense with the second chattings are a golf cup chat.
Speaker 16 (25:13):
It's a Marlin, Tony Jefferson, Gino Stone group chat. So
you know we were once Ravens, but we all got
scattered all over the place.
Speaker 7 (25:21):
But Tony's got the.
Speaker 16 (25:23):
Golf bug right now too, and Gino has been golfing
for a while, so we just talk about it from
time to time.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Kyle, there's been a lot of talk about possible contract
extension for you. How much do you know about it?
Do you think it's something that could happen and you know,
over the course in the next few months.
Speaker 16 (25:39):
What do you kind of know about a contract EXTENTI yeah,
I mean obviously would be my first one, so not
too much. But I haven't had too many talks about it,
to be honest. You know, they're busy draft stuff and
all that stuff going on. I'm not in a big rush.
So if it happens, it happens, cool. And if it
happens to off season, cool too. But I'm not in
a rush too get it done necessarily.
Speaker 15 (26:01):
Is that something you whatever happens, like, is that something
you want to have kind of resolved one way or
the other, like before you get into the end of
the season.
Speaker 7 (26:09):
Yeah, I mean I would, I would like to.
Speaker 16 (26:11):
I just I don't really like worry about outside stuff
during the season. That's been since high school honestly, whatever
it may be, and this is obviously a different beast,
but yeah, I kind of just want to be able
to play football and focus on that, and you know,
if that stuff is going on during the season, then
that's what I have agent's for, so they'll do a
good job with that. But you know, that's such a
(26:32):
hypothetical at this point that I'll just cross that bridge
when I get there.
Speaker 14 (26:36):
How do you approach the off season now compared to
maybe year one year to established you know you've had
success in the league.
Speaker 10 (26:43):
How do you view this time of year now compared
to being a rookie year, second year.
Speaker 16 (26:49):
Sold Yeah, I don't think too much has changed. I mean,
rookie year, I went back to school, so that was different.
But you know, it's definitely poor to take some time
off and kind of let your mind and body decompressed
from the season, kind of just black out for six
months there from July till January February, so you kind
(27:11):
of gotta chill a lot. I think that's a big
thing for me, just be able to see people that
I've grown up with and kind of connect with family
and friends and stuff like that. It's huge for me
mentally be able to golf a little bit. But then
you know, you for me, you're kind of sitting on
the couch one day and you're getting that itch. You're
getting to go start working out and start getting back
into it. And for me, that happened earlier this year.
(27:33):
I just felt like I was more excited to get
back to work, so didn't take too much time off
after the Bills game. But the philosophy I feel like
has been the same and we'll stay the same in
the future. I feel like it's kind of the same
for a lot of people in the league, just you know,
find your family again and just talk to people that
you haven't had time to during the season.
Speaker 13 (27:52):
Election of the way the season ended, wanting to get
back at back there sooner.
Speaker 16 (27:59):
Yeah, I think a little bit that a little bit
of me maturing. You know, at this point in my career,
I've had three years in now, and you know, every
off season, I feel like I've been more and more
wanting to get back to it, and I feel like
I've started working out more quickly after the season has
(28:19):
ended each year. So who know, its maybe like year ten,
we'll start working out the day after seasons over. But
but yeah, I feel like it's a little bit of that,
a little bit of sour tays, a little bit of just,
you know, want to get back into it.
Speaker 7 (28:31):
How soon did you get back into it though? How soon?
Speaker 16 (28:33):
Yeah, I'd probably say it was like two three weeks,
And I mean it wasn't going crazy hard, but just
getting my body back moving, thrown some weight around, stuff
like that.
Speaker 11 (28:45):
Performanshing, you know, the rough starts to last season.
Speaker 4 (28:48):
Have you guys this secondary.
Speaker 11 (28:50):
Or see if you group you talked about how to
come back to start faster this year.
Speaker 16 (28:54):
Yeah, it's funny you say that talking about golf. I
was literally just thinking about this randomly. But I don't
know if you followed the Masters this year or golf
in general, but the past two tournaments, if you guys
are want to listen to my soapbucks the Masters, Rory
didn't have a great finish on Thursday, first day of
the tournament, and then had a really good Friday Saturday,
(29:16):
put himself in the lead and kind of set the
pace for Sunday. And you know, for him, obviously he's
one of the best players ever. But I feel like
it's kind of synonymous with our sport. You know, you
don't really want to compare yourself to others, but when
you put yourself behind the eight ball, and now you
got to kind of seehere everybody else is at and
know what you have to do to get get in
(29:37):
the playoffs and ultimately win Super Bowl. And this past tournament,
Justin Thomas came out and tied the course record and
didn't play amazing the final three days, but ended up
winning the tournament. So you kind of put yourself in
an advantage if you start off hot, because I mean,
those games count for the same amount of wins and
losses at the end of the season. So last year
didn't get off to a great start. It's kind of
(29:58):
behind the eight ball, but you know, we found our
way at the end of the season. But who knows
if we Uh, Tyler's telling me to hurry up, So
who knows if we started off well, we would have
a chance with the one seed and stuff like that.
So it's important for us this year to kind of,
you know, I think it's important that we've gone through
that and understand how hard it is to climb out
of that hole and how would change that this year.
Speaker 11 (30:19):
Both coming up your name came up quite a bit
at the combine among the safety groups as someone that
they emulated their game after someone that they watched. What
does it feel like knowing that you're pretty much becoming
a prototype for guys coming behind you.
Speaker 7 (30:36):
It's kind of weird, honestly.
Speaker 16 (30:38):
I saw like a couple of clips of some guys
at the combine saying that, and it's flattering. One and two,
I feel like it's happened so fast because I feel
like I'm rookie. Year was yesterday and for tap people
saying that they whatever, maybe emulate their game or try
to pick my game. Apart to that, to their it's
(31:00):
it's it's pretty cool to hear, and you know, just
hopefully try to continue that trend, and not only just
football wise, but as a person too.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Speaking of the drafts with either talk about it with
one of those safeties of the alongside next year, do
you plan to watch the draft with your thought on adding,
you know, another safety to play alongside you.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (31:20):
I don't.
Speaker 16 (31:21):
I don't plan on watching every pick. It will probably
be on I'm not gonna be like actively watching. Maybe
I'll watching the Ravens pick, but uh, I don't really
have a huge preference on who they pick or where.
You know, they have done a great job before I
was even born. So I'm gonna let them handle that
and I'm gonna play football and do my job. Uh
(31:42):
probably be with my friend Nick Jackson who plays for
or played for Iowa. Howe had a really good protest,
so he'll probably be with him around that weekend. But yeah,
I'm not gonna be uh up tweeting about it. Probably
I would be a preference.
Speaker 10 (31:58):
I mean, we all made a big deal out how
you know your role shifted midway through the season.
Speaker 14 (32:03):
If you weren't, you know you took it as no
big deal.
Speaker 10 (32:05):
You played plenty of deep safety before.
Speaker 14 (32:06):
But all things being each year, do you have a
preferences whether you stay in that kind of a role
or going back to much more of the hybrid play,
more nickel play, you know, much more of a Swiss
army knife stories.
Speaker 16 (32:18):
Yeah, I mean I've gotten that question a lot, and
my answer has been the same every time. I really
don't care, like at all, whether it's game to game
or drive to drive, play to play, whatever it needs
to be, I'm more than happy to do it. And
I feel like I'm more than capable of getting the
job done. So I appreciate the coaches and the staff
(32:39):
for and trust me with all that responsibility and try
to do my best with it and do as well
as I can at all those positions. But it really
doesn't make a difference to me, and I'm just trying
to go out there and make football plays.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
Next up is center Tyler Linderbaum.
Speaker 4 (32:58):
So for this all season, do you feel like it
went faster slower than last year? Just comparatively, you know,
from last game to hear how do you think the
off season went for you?
Speaker 7 (33:09):
Yeah, I feel like it flew by. I trained here
this off season, so yeah, before you know it, now
we're starting off season. So I'm excited. It's always fun
getting back, you know, seeing all the guys got to
go work out in today. So it's got to keep
stacking build off for next season.
Speaker 10 (33:28):
Tyler, after last offseason, there's so many changes on the
offensive line, How happy even if McCarry left, but to
keep Ronnie Stanley, you know, knowing how important he is
a left.
Speaker 14 (33:37):
Tackle, How how good was that for you to see that,
knowing it wasn't gonna be another off season where it
was so much turnings.
Speaker 7 (33:44):
Yeah, I mean it's awesome to have a a Ronnie Back,
you know, a player his caliber, you know, playing at
a really high level. He helps our team out tremendously.
So you know, excited hav him back, you know obviously
you know Pat going on to Jacksonville. Excited for him
his opportunity there. You know, the more more people you
can get back, I feel like, the better it's going
(34:04):
to be. Obviously the be pieces that we add, but
you know, we have the foundation. I just got to
keep building off of that. If you had.
Speaker 6 (34:11):
Any conversation with the front office about your fifth year option,
which is deadline's coming along with the potential contract extension.
Speaker 7 (34:19):
Yeah, no conversations yet, and you know, let my agent
handle that. And I'm just focused on just getting becoming
as good of a football player as I can be
for this team, Just coming in here every day and
put my best foot forward and let all the other
things take care of itself. Did you take note of
the Jurgens deal that was signed today, Yeah, I mean
(34:40):
I was. I was just made aware of that. You know,
he's obviously one of the best centers in the league,
a really high caliber player, so excite for him.
Speaker 15 (34:48):
Is that something you'd like to have whatever whatever happens,
didn't happen, et cetera, have some you know, clarity before
the start of the season, just seeking put it out
of line.
Speaker 7 (34:56):
I guess honest, I'm really not even focus on that
right now. No, That's that's why we have agents agents,
you know, Neil Cornwich will handle that all for me.
And like I said, I'm giving my all to the
team right now and that's my focus and that's how
it should be.
Speaker 13 (35:13):
You guys have been close throughout your time here, not
quite any of the hump where you want to get
to in the Super Bowls. After some reflection, what do
you Is there anything your pinpoint? You're like, that's what's
keeping us from getting where.
Speaker 7 (35:25):
We want to go? Yeah, I mean, you know there's
a there's a lot of things though that we can
get better as a team collectively. At the end of
the day, when it comes down to it and we're
in these big games in those situations, you know, we
got to be playing our best football. You and obviously
I don't. I don't think we did that against against
the Bills, just you know, costly turnovers. But at the
(35:46):
end of the at the end of the day. You know,
we're right there towards the end of the game to
where we have a chance. So you just got to
build off of that, you know, get over that hump
and you know, confident with the group that we have,
the guys that we have on this team, and I'm
excited to build off of that.
Speaker 5 (36:02):
Is it emotional for you a little bit and knowing
how close you've become when Patrick signed elsewhere and you
realize who's no longer going to be back in your
locker mate?
Speaker 7 (36:11):
Yeah, you know, I'm excited for him. Obviously, it's gonna
be a little different without him. He's helped me tremendously,
uh you know, my first three years. But I know
he's going to kill it down there. So super happy
for him.
Speaker 6 (36:24):
You know, I know most off at the line and
by nature are pretty humble, but is there any kind
of new pride to seeing how many teams want to
do what you guys have done with the Eagles have
done in his best offensive lines, that you kind of
have that foundation for the championship level offense defense?
Speaker 7 (36:40):
Yeah, I mean, I think you know, games are one
in the trenches. I think no defense and offensive side
of ball. You have have to have really good players
and you have to play at a high level. You know,
So in the Super Bowl, two really good old lines
and D Line's going at it. At the end of
the day, it's a it's a it's a tough position.
You gotta do everything possible to be elite at that position.
(37:04):
You gotta be obsessed, obsessed with getting better, and that's
what makes a position so fun. So you know, I
think it's it's not an easy position. It's something that
has to be worked on. And you know, there the
lead players that you can have a position, I think,
the better your team's going to be the key parts
of fresh Have you in.
Speaker 8 (37:22):
The other linement been following the debate at all season?
Speaker 7 (37:25):
Is there a debate or some people are trying to honest?
I mean I love the I love the play. I'm
sure defenses don't. But you know, anytime you know you
can excel and have a high percentage on short yardage
and if that's the play that you go to, then
you know, I enjoy the play.
Speaker 8 (37:45):
So you guys were last offseason, you guys had to
replace three starters along the offensive line. This year, it
seems like only one What's how important is that continuity
along the offensive line to be able to stick with
the same five guys.
Speaker 7 (38:02):
Yeah, I think it's big. I think whoever's in there
has to play, you know, no matter what, we're expecting
to play at a high level. You know. Obviously, having
Roger step in and you know, play at a high
level like he did last year was was super big
for us, especially being a rookie. That's not an easy
thing to do, especially the guys in our division. I'm
super proud of him. And you know, obviously those guys
(38:24):
who you know, played their first year, we got to
expect another big jump. And the guys you know who
have been playing have to take another step. You know,
anytime you can get more reps together, I think the more,
the better you better off you're going to be. But
at the end of the day, the five guys that
are out there have to be playing at a high
level to you know, make make things to go.
Speaker 15 (38:43):
Speaking of you know, guys taking steps, what did you
see from injury before he's last year and uh out
injury early and then in a hat stepped in. What
did you see from him last year and what are
the conversations been in turns of him, you know, you know,
being in that mix to start there next to.
Speaker 7 (38:58):
You and left that. Yeah, you know, Andrew's a starting
caliber player. Obviously. The thing with him just obviously coming
off the knee injury. I think OTA's last year was
the first reps he's gotten in like two years, so
he's just making jumps and jumps each and every day.
I thought he played at a high level for the
games that he was in, and then obviously doing with
the ankle injury was unfortunate. I know, he's another guy
(39:22):
that you know, have ut most confidence and when he
steps in there that he's going to play at a
high level.
Speaker 1 (39:29):
You're listening to the Ravens Press Pass podcast. It's a
busy week for the Ravens. The players are back in
the building this week for the voluntary conditioning program, and
of course, the NFL Draft is coming up starting Thursday
night and extending through Saturday evening. It's gonna be a
lot of fun over the course of this week, so
make sure that you were tuned in across all of
our platforms. Also, head over to the Lounge podcast feed subscribed.
(39:50):
There we're gonna be breaking down everything related to these
offseason workouts and of course, the draft later this week.
Thank you so much for listening. We'll talk with you
again on Thursday, after the first round the NFL Draft.