00:00:00
Speaker 1: What areas of the run game do you feel like you guys have been able to excel at through six games, and where do you feel like you need to improve?
00:00:08
Speaker 2: Yeah, first off, I hope you're doing well also.
00:00:13
Speaker 3: I feel like.
00:00:15
Speaker 4: For us, we've got to improve on just setting up our blocks. For me, I would say, I can't speak for everybody else, but I think for me it's just setting up plays, and I feel like watching myself, I feel... I like look kind of stiff and uptight. I think if I like loosen up, um, I can kind of help, help out, uh, all around. And then, uh, what was your, what was the other, the other part of your question?
00:00:40
Speaker 5: Well, just, just in terms of, of what do you feel like you guys can improve at?
00:00:44
Speaker 2: Just what have you excelled at though?
00:00:47
Speaker 5: Yeah.
00:00:47
Speaker 4: Uh, what have we excelled at? I feel like is, uh, honestly is a new line of scrimmage. You know, we say that from the old lineman standpoint, um, you know, the best runs is when you can, get those guys off the ball, and create a second line of scrimmage. And I feel like we've done a pretty good job of that. And for me, I just say running downhill, trying to get back into a rhythm and flow of being who I am and being who got me.
00:01:13
Speaker 2: Here, essentially.
00:01:15
Speaker 1: And last thing for me, just, and, and Liam talked about this yesterday, wanting to get more explosives out of the run game, 15, 20 yard gains. How do you feel like you guys can, can get there? And do you feel like it's close?
00:01:29
Speaker 2: Oh man, it's there. I mean, you just watch the film. Like it's there.
00:01:32
Speaker 4: There's been plenty of times where, you know, me and Basil have talked and we're like, man, if we just, you know, slowed down a little bit or had a bit more patience, or if we would have, read it out all the way through the, you know, through the guy and not just reading our first read, but our second read, man, we'll have so many explosive. And we talked about it today, man. There's so many yards that we left out there in this past game.
00:01:56
Speaker 2: And, you know, it's, it's over. We can't get them back, but the only thing we can do is learn from it.
00:02:01
Speaker 6: Move on.
00:02:03
Speaker 5: I appreciate you.
00:02:04
Speaker 6: Yes, sir.
00:02:04
Speaker 2: Appreciate you.
00:02:09
Speaker 7: Hey, Chris, thanks for doing this. Just at, It seems like the run game has been, you know, efficient, you know, since the season started. What was kind of the mindset this whole training camp offseason on, you know, the run game and kind of picking it up? I know you weren't here last year, but it was a big emphasis for the team improving it. Just what do you think has made you guys, you know, so efficient and so much improved at running the ball this year?
00:02:31
Speaker 4: Well, first off, I think it starts up front, you know, with those guys up there getting the right points. And then it just kind of, you know, just got to get our reads as a running back. I think going through camp, uh, it was also a big emphasis on like, you know, we, we know we have the guys coming back, um, Parker, BT, uh, Jacoby strange and all those guys and Trevor. Um, and you know, I feel like last year, like you saw like kind of like a little spark of tuning and, uh, you know, I feel like he, he kind of wanted to just, you know, make a name for himself this year, which he has, and he's done a great job of it. Um, I feel like as a running back group, we could be so much better. I think just going into this bye week, we're going to have to just try to focus on a few things, myself included. There's a bunch of things I need to focus on, but just picking a few. At the end of the day, man, we've been successful because of those guys up front. I pride myself in getting what's blocked first and then whatever happens after that happens.
00:03:41
Speaker 3: Thanks, Chris.
00:03:42
Speaker 5: Yes, sir.
00:03:42
Speaker 2: Thank you.
00:03:45
Speaker 5: We'll go D-Rock and then Justin.
00:03:49
Speaker 3: D-Rock.
00:03:53
Speaker 6: Hey, Chris. How are you?
00:03:55
Speaker 2: Hey, doing good. How you doing?
00:03:56
Speaker 5: Pretty good.
00:03:58
Speaker 6: When you were with Liam at Kentucky, did you guys run a lot of screens? Did he call a lot of screens then?
00:04:03
Speaker 5: Yeah. Yeah.
00:04:07
Speaker 2: If I remember, yes, he did.
00:04:11
Speaker 4: He had a few of them that were more so for the receivers. But we did run a few of them while I was there.
00:04:21
Speaker 2: We also had a dude. I don't want to say a dude.
00:04:24
Speaker 4: We also had a player who was the second running back who did most of the screens.
00:04:33
Speaker 5: Okay.
00:04:35
Speaker 6: What's the biggest thing? that has to happen on a screen for it to work. I mean, is it, is it as simple as timing? Um, it's just been a struggle the last year and a half, uh, screen wise here. And I'm just trying to figure out what, what could potentially be one of the things that's holding it back from being really successful.
00:04:54
Speaker 5: Um, yeah.
00:04:56
Speaker 4: So I don't know what it was like last year, this year, um, from a running back perspective. Um, yeah, it's about timing, but, uh, there's more that goes into it. Uh, It's a great sale by everyone on the offense. I know for me, it's about being a great actor, especially if the screen is to me. It's about being a great actor and getting out to your landmark, of course. And then, like you said, it's timing. Other than that, I mean, you just got to get it rolling.
00:05:31
Speaker 6: What's maybe the biggest difference personality-wise in Liam that you've noticed? since the last time you were with him, or is there anything?
00:05:40
Speaker 2: There's nothing different about Liam.
00:05:42
Speaker 4: He's still going to, you know, tell you when you're wrong. And, you know, me and him have had a conversation plenty of times about, you know, what he expects out of me. And, you know, he's one of those dudes who, I mean, he's known me for a long time now, and he's always kept it real with me.
00:06:05
Speaker 2: Is that.
00:06:07
Speaker 6: I don't want to say rare, but I'm sure you've probably been around coaches where it's maybe not as honest face to face as it is with Liam.
00:06:16
Speaker 5: Yeah.
00:06:17
Speaker 4: Uh, I mean, I've only had what I guess two other head coaches now in the league. Um, none that I've known since I was, well, I guess I was like 19 years old. Uh, but you know, I think just having that, you know, Liam is, um, He's an offensive guy, so it makes it that much easier, especially, like I said, I had him at Kentucky.
00:06:42
Speaker 2: Thanks.
00:06:44
Speaker 3: Appreciate it.
00:06:44
Speaker 4: Yes, sir.
00:06:51
Speaker 5: What's going on, Chris?
00:06:52
Speaker 2: Thank you for doing this.
00:06:53
Speaker 5: Yes, sir.
00:06:56
Speaker 8: I just wanted to know, you know, you've had six games here and then the whole offseason. Just kind of how has it been being in Jacksonville and kind of being back with Liam for you?
00:07:05
Speaker 4: Yeah, man, being in Jacksonville is nice, man. I love it here, you know, and I plan on staying here as long as I can. You know, it's a different type of vibe, man. I like it here, you know what I'm saying? But, you know, being back with Liam, man, it's a good feeling, especially, like I said, being with him in Kentucky, you know, we have that mutual connection, you know, we can talk crap about Kentucky football or whatever it is. And, um, you know, uh, it's just, it's just great. You know, I know him and I know, uh, what he expects as a coach. And, um, he's just one of those guys, again, like he can sit there and basically me and just, you know, tell me like, yo, you supposed to be doing this like this. And I expect you to do it like this. Um, And I won't take it to heart, you know, because I know the type of guy he is and the type of coach he is. And at the end of the day, he doesn't mean any bad intention behind it. He just wants what's best for us.
00:08:16
Speaker 8: And then how has it been playing with Trevor? Yesterday, he had a good game. Liam brought up several times during this press conference just how dialed in he is right now.
00:08:28
Speaker 2: Dialed. Man, Trevor, honestly, man.
00:08:33
Speaker 4: Having him as a quarterback, man, it's honestly like it's a blessing, honestly. You know, not too often you have a quarterback who, I mean, the whole team is, you know, basically riding on his back and he's locked in, laser focused the whole time. You know, he can have a bad play and he'll come up and he'll admit it. He'll be the first to admit it and be like, hey, we got to go back out there.
00:08:57
Speaker 2: We got to score.
00:08:58
Speaker 4: And, you know, having a guy like that where he's on his stuff all the time, every game, every practice, every walkthrough. Um, you know, it makes it easy to go out there and play, you know, at your fullest because you see him giving it all he's got.
00:09:15
Speaker 8: And then last thing for me, what was the celebration that you guys did? I didn't know what it was.
00:09:21
Speaker 2: Uh, shout out to my shout out to Amir.
00:09:24
Speaker 4: Uh, I had no idea until I think Friday, what that video was.
00:09:31
Speaker 2: Um, Amir showed us.
00:09:34
Speaker 4: We were actually out to dinner with the running backs, and we were in the Uber back to the hotel, and Amir showed me and Basial.
00:09:44
Speaker 2: There's a video.
00:09:45
Speaker 4: It's from the movie Rumpelstiltskin, and basically he does that, and somebody made an edit over it where they put the tip toeing in my jaw that little thing so Amir was like man we gotta do it he was like man if either one of us score we all gonna run out there and do it so kind of caught me by surprise hence why I'm in the back of the group we were supposed to be like in a line but caught me by surprise Amir ran out I don't even know if it's legal to run out on the field after somebody scores but when I saw Amir run out all.
00:10:19
Speaker 2: Right, all right, this is happening. So we all ran out, did the celebration and, uh, and honestly it was pretty funny.
00:10:26
Speaker 5: Yeah, it was a good one.
00:10:28
Speaker 3: Thank you, man.
00:10:29
Speaker 6: Yes, sir.
00:10:29
Speaker 2: Appreciate it.
00:10:31
Speaker 1: Hey, Eric, appreciate you doing this. Um, just in terms of the, um, in the secondary, what, what in your opinion have been some of the issues you guys have, have had?
00:10:41
Speaker 9: Uh, I would say like the biggest thing would be communication. Um, just in terms of a lot of moving parts, um, with the people that's playing. Sometimes, you know, lack of time on task with certain people, it can get.
00:10:56
Speaker 3: The best of you.
00:10:59
Speaker 1: And then just in terms of how Travis Hunter has progressed since you have been here, since he had been here last year, what have you seen in terms of the growth? What maybe is he doing this year that maybe he wasn't necessarily doing last year?
00:11:11
Speaker 9: He's just comfortable with whatever role that they've given him. I think in the beginning, it was a lot of uncertainty on what position he would play, right? So giving him a little bit more certainty on defense and with a sprinkle of offense, you just seeing him be who he's always been.
00:11:27
Speaker 6: So, yeah.
00:11:27
Speaker 5: Appreciate it. We'll go DRock and then Justin.
00:11:44
Speaker 6: Hey, Eric, how do you take stock of where the defense is right now heading into the bye?
00:11:50
Speaker 9: I thought, you know, just in terms of the games we played, we strung together some good performances. I think the biggest thing going forward is just hitting on consistency and just getting back to what we do at a more consistent basis. Not necessarily, you know, putting ourselves in bad positions to where, you know, we can't make plays and going off of that, but just being more consistent. I mean, we 4-2 at Dubai. There's nothing to, you know, be crazy about. It's just lock in and keep going.
00:12:20
Speaker 6: Was that kind of Liam's message before, you know, whatever day you guys got back Monday, yesterday? I'm not even sure what day it is.
00:12:27
Speaker 5: I got back yesterday.
00:12:29
Speaker 9: That's just the overall thing going forward. I mean, it's a football season for a reason. So there's going to be a lot of ups and downs. And, you know, you can't get too caught up on, oh, we wanted to win like this or we wanted to do it this way.
00:12:40
Speaker 3: It's, you know, just do it and execute better.
00:12:45
Speaker 5: Thanks.
00:12:52
Speaker 8: What's going on, Eric? How are you doing? What have you seen out of Antonio this year? It seems like he's making plays everywhere, and he's really kind of in this year two in camp defense really taking to his role.
00:13:06
Speaker 3: Antonio's a big rangy guy.
00:13:07
Speaker 9: I think, you know, just in year two, like being the second year as a full-time starter in the role that he was entering, it's just really helped, you know, continue his growth.
00:13:18
Speaker 6: I mean.
00:13:19
Speaker 9: Um, he started off really well last year and, uh, it's just continuous trajectory.
00:13:25
Speaker 8: What's your favorite thing about camp's defense?
00:13:28
Speaker 9: Uh, the versatility and, uh, the communication. I think, you know, when we all out there and we all communicating at a high level, um, you know, we're really potent defense in this league and it's hard for, you know, offense to move the ball. Um, and then on the inverse, a lot of the times, like when we don't communicate well, you.
00:13:44
Speaker 3: Get games like how we had. So, um, I love it. Uh, it's a love and hate relationship, but it's, it's good overall. Cause I know how we're going to respond.
00:13:53
Speaker 5: So.
00:13:54
Speaker 8: Oh, you kind of mentioned it. You guys are four and two. There's nothing to get crazy about with those two games. Kind of just how, how can you shift the mindset knowing that you left kind of meat on the bone, so to speak?
00:14:09
Speaker 9: Um, I mean, it's just a lot of football left. I mean, that's exactly what you said. Like it's, it's tons of football left. Um, how can we get better at those reps and how can we get better at our techniques going forward? So the things that showed up in those two games don't continue to show up throughout the course of the season.
00:14:26
Speaker 6: Thank you, Matt. Enjoy the pod.
00:14:27
Speaker 5: Thank you. We'll go John and then D-Rock.
00:14:40
Speaker 7: Hey, Eric. Thanks for doing this. You mentioned the communication in the second, Eric. How is that something you guys can continue to work on throughout the week, even during the bye week? Is it just something as simple as just being on the field together, time on task, like you said?
00:14:54
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.
00:14:54
Speaker 9: Yeah, just being on the field together, watching more tape together, you know, simplifying the acts that we're being asked to do during the week so, you know, those reps are more intentional and more concentrated and those looks are more dialed in.
00:15:07
Speaker 6: So, yeah.
00:15:08
Speaker 5: Thanks, Eric. Mm-hmm.
00:15:18
Speaker 6: Eric, what's your favorite saying from camp?
00:15:21
Speaker 2: What's your favorite thing that he says?
00:15:25
Speaker 3: Wow.
00:15:27
Speaker 9: I probably would say probably one of the boxing quotes he would probably put up there. And just in terms of like, you know, it may be a 17-round fight or, you know, something like that in terms of if you're putting that into the context of a football season, right? And during the boxing match, you take a lot of hits. You give a lot of hits, right? So I probably would say that's the favorite thing about him is those analogies and just to keep on persevering through, you know, punches. And a lot of people don't have, you know, the mental fortitude to when they get punched in the face or something like that to keep going forward.
00:16:04
Speaker 5: I mean.
00:16:08
Speaker 6: I'm assuming when you were in high school and stuff, you played some offense too. Most of you guys were two-way stars, right? So you've been around some offensive coaches. Is it just really the defensive coaches that seem to really load up on those sayings and stuff like that in your experience?
00:16:22
Speaker 3: Yeah, defense and special teams, for sure. Those are those type guys.
00:16:28
Speaker 6: Why do you think it's just limited to those two or maybe mostly those two?
00:16:33
Speaker 3: I think on defense you've got to hit people.
00:16:34
Speaker 9: And then in terms of special teams, a lot of the times you're going against people who may be 20 pounds more than you, 15 pounds more than you. It's been times where I've been on special teams and I've got to block an end or I've got to block a linebacker. So those are those type of heavyweight hits that you're taking throughout the course of a year. that you just got to keep on swinging. You might not win every rep, but you got to take every punch for sure.
Speaker 1: What areas of the run game do you feel like you guys have been able to excel at through six games, and where do you feel like you need to improve?
00:00:08
Speaker 2: Yeah, first off, I hope you're doing well also.
00:00:13
Speaker 3: I feel like.
00:00:15
Speaker 4: For us, we've got to improve on just setting up our blocks. For me, I would say, I can't speak for everybody else, but I think for me it's just setting up plays, and I feel like watching myself, I feel... I like look kind of stiff and uptight. I think if I like loosen up, um, I can kind of help, help out, uh, all around. And then, uh, what was your, what was the other, the other part of your question?
00:00:40
Speaker 5: Well, just, just in terms of, of what do you feel like you guys can improve at?
00:00:44
Speaker 2: Just what have you excelled at though?
00:00:47
Speaker 5: Yeah.
00:00:47
Speaker 4: Uh, what have we excelled at? I feel like is, uh, honestly is a new line of scrimmage. You know, we say that from the old lineman standpoint, um, you know, the best runs is when you can, get those guys off the ball, and create a second line of scrimmage. And I feel like we've done a pretty good job of that. And for me, I just say running downhill, trying to get back into a rhythm and flow of being who I am and being who got me.
00:01:13
Speaker 2: Here, essentially.
00:01:15
Speaker 1: And last thing for me, just, and, and Liam talked about this yesterday, wanting to get more explosives out of the run game, 15, 20 yard gains. How do you feel like you guys can, can get there? And do you feel like it's close?
00:01:29
Speaker 2: Oh man, it's there. I mean, you just watch the film. Like it's there.
00:01:32
Speaker 4: There's been plenty of times where, you know, me and Basil have talked and we're like, man, if we just, you know, slowed down a little bit or had a bit more patience, or if we would have, read it out all the way through the, you know, through the guy and not just reading our first read, but our second read, man, we'll have so many explosive. And we talked about it today, man. There's so many yards that we left out there in this past game.
00:01:56
Speaker 2: And, you know, it's, it's over. We can't get them back, but the only thing we can do is learn from it.
00:02:01
Speaker 6: Move on.
00:02:03
Speaker 5: I appreciate you.
00:02:04
Speaker 6: Yes, sir.
00:02:04
Speaker 2: Appreciate you.
00:02:09
Speaker 7: Hey, Chris, thanks for doing this. Just at, It seems like the run game has been, you know, efficient, you know, since the season started. What was kind of the mindset this whole training camp offseason on, you know, the run game and kind of picking it up? I know you weren't here last year, but it was a big emphasis for the team improving it. Just what do you think has made you guys, you know, so efficient and so much improved at running the ball this year?
00:02:31
Speaker 4: Well, first off, I think it starts up front, you know, with those guys up there getting the right points. And then it just kind of, you know, just got to get our reads as a running back. I think going through camp, uh, it was also a big emphasis on like, you know, we, we know we have the guys coming back, um, Parker, BT, uh, Jacoby strange and all those guys and Trevor. Um, and you know, I feel like last year, like you saw like kind of like a little spark of tuning and, uh, you know, I feel like he, he kind of wanted to just, you know, make a name for himself this year, which he has, and he's done a great job of it. Um, I feel like as a running back group, we could be so much better. I think just going into this bye week, we're going to have to just try to focus on a few things, myself included. There's a bunch of things I need to focus on, but just picking a few. At the end of the day, man, we've been successful because of those guys up front. I pride myself in getting what's blocked first and then whatever happens after that happens.
00:03:41
Speaker 3: Thanks, Chris.
00:03:42
Speaker 5: Yes, sir.
00:03:42
Speaker 2: Thank you.
00:03:45
Speaker 5: We'll go D-Rock and then Justin.
00:03:49
Speaker 3: D-Rock.
00:03:53
Speaker 6: Hey, Chris. How are you?
00:03:55
Speaker 2: Hey, doing good. How you doing?
00:03:56
Speaker 5: Pretty good.
00:03:58
Speaker 6: When you were with Liam at Kentucky, did you guys run a lot of screens? Did he call a lot of screens then?
00:04:03
Speaker 5: Yeah. Yeah.
00:04:07
Speaker 2: If I remember, yes, he did.
00:04:11
Speaker 4: He had a few of them that were more so for the receivers. But we did run a few of them while I was there.
00:04:21
Speaker 2: We also had a dude. I don't want to say a dude.
00:04:24
Speaker 4: We also had a player who was the second running back who did most of the screens.
00:04:33
Speaker 5: Okay.
00:04:35
Speaker 6: What's the biggest thing? that has to happen on a screen for it to work. I mean, is it, is it as simple as timing? Um, it's just been a struggle the last year and a half, uh, screen wise here. And I'm just trying to figure out what, what could potentially be one of the things that's holding it back from being really successful.
00:04:54
Speaker 5: Um, yeah.
00:04:56
Speaker 4: So I don't know what it was like last year, this year, um, from a running back perspective. Um, yeah, it's about timing, but, uh, there's more that goes into it. Uh, It's a great sale by everyone on the offense. I know for me, it's about being a great actor, especially if the screen is to me. It's about being a great actor and getting out to your landmark, of course. And then, like you said, it's timing. Other than that, I mean, you just got to get it rolling.
00:05:31
Speaker 6: What's maybe the biggest difference personality-wise in Liam that you've noticed? since the last time you were with him, or is there anything?
00:05:40
Speaker 2: There's nothing different about Liam.
00:05:42
Speaker 4: He's still going to, you know, tell you when you're wrong. And, you know, me and him have had a conversation plenty of times about, you know, what he expects out of me. And, you know, he's one of those dudes who, I mean, he's known me for a long time now, and he's always kept it real with me.
00:06:05
Speaker 2: Is that.
00:06:07
Speaker 6: I don't want to say rare, but I'm sure you've probably been around coaches where it's maybe not as honest face to face as it is with Liam.
00:06:16
Speaker 5: Yeah.
00:06:17
Speaker 4: Uh, I mean, I've only had what I guess two other head coaches now in the league. Um, none that I've known since I was, well, I guess I was like 19 years old. Uh, but you know, I think just having that, you know, Liam is, um, He's an offensive guy, so it makes it that much easier, especially, like I said, I had him at Kentucky.
00:06:42
Speaker 2: Thanks.
00:06:44
Speaker 3: Appreciate it.
00:06:44
Speaker 4: Yes, sir.
00:06:51
Speaker 5: What's going on, Chris?
00:06:52
Speaker 2: Thank you for doing this.
00:06:53
Speaker 5: Yes, sir.
00:06:56
Speaker 8: I just wanted to know, you know, you've had six games here and then the whole offseason. Just kind of how has it been being in Jacksonville and kind of being back with Liam for you?
00:07:05
Speaker 4: Yeah, man, being in Jacksonville is nice, man. I love it here, you know, and I plan on staying here as long as I can. You know, it's a different type of vibe, man. I like it here, you know what I'm saying? But, you know, being back with Liam, man, it's a good feeling, especially, like I said, being with him in Kentucky, you know, we have that mutual connection, you know, we can talk crap about Kentucky football or whatever it is. And, um, you know, uh, it's just, it's just great. You know, I know him and I know, uh, what he expects as a coach. And, um, he's just one of those guys, again, like he can sit there and basically me and just, you know, tell me like, yo, you supposed to be doing this like this. And I expect you to do it like this. Um, And I won't take it to heart, you know, because I know the type of guy he is and the type of coach he is. And at the end of the day, he doesn't mean any bad intention behind it. He just wants what's best for us.
00:08:16
Speaker 8: And then how has it been playing with Trevor? Yesterday, he had a good game. Liam brought up several times during this press conference just how dialed in he is right now.
00:08:28
Speaker 2: Dialed. Man, Trevor, honestly, man.
00:08:33
Speaker 4: Having him as a quarterback, man, it's honestly like it's a blessing, honestly. You know, not too often you have a quarterback who, I mean, the whole team is, you know, basically riding on his back and he's locked in, laser focused the whole time. You know, he can have a bad play and he'll come up and he'll admit it. He'll be the first to admit it and be like, hey, we got to go back out there.
00:08:57
Speaker 2: We got to score.
00:08:58
Speaker 4: And, you know, having a guy like that where he's on his stuff all the time, every game, every practice, every walkthrough. Um, you know, it makes it easy to go out there and play, you know, at your fullest because you see him giving it all he's got.
00:09:15
Speaker 8: And then last thing for me, what was the celebration that you guys did? I didn't know what it was.
00:09:21
Speaker 2: Uh, shout out to my shout out to Amir.
00:09:24
Speaker 4: Uh, I had no idea until I think Friday, what that video was.
00:09:31
Speaker 2: Um, Amir showed us.
00:09:34
Speaker 4: We were actually out to dinner with the running backs, and we were in the Uber back to the hotel, and Amir showed me and Basial.
00:09:44
Speaker 2: There's a video.
00:09:45
Speaker 4: It's from the movie Rumpelstiltskin, and basically he does that, and somebody made an edit over it where they put the tip toeing in my jaw that little thing so Amir was like man we gotta do it he was like man if either one of us score we all gonna run out there and do it so kind of caught me by surprise hence why I'm in the back of the group we were supposed to be like in a line but caught me by surprise Amir ran out I don't even know if it's legal to run out on the field after somebody scores but when I saw Amir run out all.
00:10:19
Speaker 2: Right, all right, this is happening. So we all ran out, did the celebration and, uh, and honestly it was pretty funny.
00:10:26
Speaker 5: Yeah, it was a good one.
00:10:28
Speaker 3: Thank you, man.
00:10:29
Speaker 6: Yes, sir.
00:10:29
Speaker 2: Appreciate it.
00:10:31
Speaker 1: Hey, Eric, appreciate you doing this. Um, just in terms of the, um, in the secondary, what, what in your opinion have been some of the issues you guys have, have had?
00:10:41
Speaker 9: Uh, I would say like the biggest thing would be communication. Um, just in terms of a lot of moving parts, um, with the people that's playing. Sometimes, you know, lack of time on task with certain people, it can get.
00:10:56
Speaker 3: The best of you.
00:10:59
Speaker 1: And then just in terms of how Travis Hunter has progressed since you have been here, since he had been here last year, what have you seen in terms of the growth? What maybe is he doing this year that maybe he wasn't necessarily doing last year?
00:11:11
Speaker 9: He's just comfortable with whatever role that they've given him. I think in the beginning, it was a lot of uncertainty on what position he would play, right? So giving him a little bit more certainty on defense and with a sprinkle of offense, you just seeing him be who he's always been.
00:11:27
Speaker 6: So, yeah.
00:11:27
Speaker 5: Appreciate it. We'll go DRock and then Justin.
00:11:44
Speaker 6: Hey, Eric, how do you take stock of where the defense is right now heading into the bye?
00:11:50
Speaker 9: I thought, you know, just in terms of the games we played, we strung together some good performances. I think the biggest thing going forward is just hitting on consistency and just getting back to what we do at a more consistent basis. Not necessarily, you know, putting ourselves in bad positions to where, you know, we can't make plays and going off of that, but just being more consistent. I mean, we 4-2 at Dubai. There's nothing to, you know, be crazy about. It's just lock in and keep going.
00:12:20
Speaker 6: Was that kind of Liam's message before, you know, whatever day you guys got back Monday, yesterday? I'm not even sure what day it is.
00:12:27
Speaker 5: I got back yesterday.
00:12:29
Speaker 9: That's just the overall thing going forward. I mean, it's a football season for a reason. So there's going to be a lot of ups and downs. And, you know, you can't get too caught up on, oh, we wanted to win like this or we wanted to do it this way.
00:12:40
Speaker 3: It's, you know, just do it and execute better.
00:12:45
Speaker 5: Thanks.
00:12:52
Speaker 8: What's going on, Eric? How are you doing? What have you seen out of Antonio this year? It seems like he's making plays everywhere, and he's really kind of in this year two in camp defense really taking to his role.
00:13:06
Speaker 3: Antonio's a big rangy guy.
00:13:07
Speaker 9: I think, you know, just in year two, like being the second year as a full-time starter in the role that he was entering, it's just really helped, you know, continue his growth.
00:13:18
Speaker 6: I mean.
00:13:19
Speaker 9: Um, he started off really well last year and, uh, it's just continuous trajectory.
00:13:25
Speaker 8: What's your favorite thing about camp's defense?
00:13:28
Speaker 9: Uh, the versatility and, uh, the communication. I think, you know, when we all out there and we all communicating at a high level, um, you know, we're really potent defense in this league and it's hard for, you know, offense to move the ball. Um, and then on the inverse, a lot of the times, like when we don't communicate well, you.
00:13:44
Speaker 3: Get games like how we had. So, um, I love it. Uh, it's a love and hate relationship, but it's, it's good overall. Cause I know how we're going to respond.
00:13:53
Speaker 5: So.
00:13:54
Speaker 8: Oh, you kind of mentioned it. You guys are four and two. There's nothing to get crazy about with those two games. Kind of just how, how can you shift the mindset knowing that you left kind of meat on the bone, so to speak?
00:14:09
Speaker 9: Um, I mean, it's just a lot of football left. I mean, that's exactly what you said. Like it's, it's tons of football left. Um, how can we get better at those reps and how can we get better at our techniques going forward? So the things that showed up in those two games don't continue to show up throughout the course of the season.
00:14:26
Speaker 6: Thank you, Matt. Enjoy the pod.
00:14:27
Speaker 5: Thank you. We'll go John and then D-Rock.
00:14:40
Speaker 7: Hey, Eric. Thanks for doing this. You mentioned the communication in the second, Eric. How is that something you guys can continue to work on throughout the week, even during the bye week? Is it just something as simple as just being on the field together, time on task, like you said?
00:14:54
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.
00:14:54
Speaker 9: Yeah, just being on the field together, watching more tape together, you know, simplifying the acts that we're being asked to do during the week so, you know, those reps are more intentional and more concentrated and those looks are more dialed in.
00:15:07
Speaker 6: So, yeah.
00:15:08
Speaker 5: Thanks, Eric. Mm-hmm.
00:15:18
Speaker 6: Eric, what's your favorite saying from camp?
00:15:21
Speaker 2: What's your favorite thing that he says?
00:15:25
Speaker 3: Wow.
00:15:27
Speaker 9: I probably would say probably one of the boxing quotes he would probably put up there. And just in terms of like, you know, it may be a 17-round fight or, you know, something like that in terms of if you're putting that into the context of a football season, right? And during the boxing match, you take a lot of hits. You give a lot of hits, right? So I probably would say that's the favorite thing about him is those analogies and just to keep on persevering through, you know, punches. And a lot of people don't have, you know, the mental fortitude to when they get punched in the face or something like that to keep going forward.
00:16:04
Speaker 5: I mean.
00:16:08
Speaker 6: I'm assuming when you were in high school and stuff, you played some offense too. Most of you guys were two-way stars, right? So you've been around some offensive coaches. Is it just really the defensive coaches that seem to really load up on those sayings and stuff like that in your experience?
00:16:22
Speaker 3: Yeah, defense and special teams, for sure. Those are those type guys.
00:16:28
Speaker 6: Why do you think it's just limited to those two or maybe mostly those two?
00:16:33
Speaker 3: I think on defense you've got to hit people.
00:16:34
Speaker 9: And then in terms of special teams, a lot of the times you're going against people who may be 20 pounds more than you, 15 pounds more than you. It's been times where I've been on special teams and I've got to block an end or I've got to block a linebacker. So those are those type of heavyweight hits that you're taking throughout the course of a year. that you just got to keep on swinging. You might not win every rep, but you got to take every punch for sure.
