when you know, it looked like it was set up for the Lions.
Right? If the Jags pass. And
yeah, I know hoping deep down. That's how it went but it just
felt like it was meant to be. Oh yeah, that you'd be aligned.
It feels like you can be alone forever. It was also storybook
man. Now I'm I'm living 10 minutes away from my parents
house and
taking the same. Expressway I took to high school, it's just,
it's honestly ridiculous. The whole thing is wild, right? And
you've got that's a positive right? You love that, right?
I like some people I think would be like, man, I didn't want to
be back in my hometown but, you know, so you're
a well, that's why, you know, you can vacation in
the offseason that you get, you can get out a little bit. But, you
know, when I go to work and stuff, I'm, I'm home, right,
right? All right. So like
a great year. Like Mike said,
I'm first thing is just like,
what NFL football? What was the biggest shock? I mean, I know
you Michigan, Big, Ten, awesome. But, like, what was
that moment? You know, after you sang Billie Jean
did all that and training camp? Yeah. Where you were just like,
wow, the NFL games different
You know, I just think there's no real drop-off and talent,
you know, from game to game compared to college, right?
Yeah. I mean, in the NFL there's some Elite offensive
lineman, but for the most part it's like a very steady, steady
line across all teams. So
I think that's the biggest difference for me between NFL
and college is just dude week by week. You got to be ready.
Physically, mentally, but like, there's no ecology at a few
games. Like I'm gonna guess halogens like you Saxton. Yeah,
there's a big disparity between
team so you had a
right? Yeah. Fighting every weekend. Got to be ready. Yeah,
the last game of the season and you know, they say in the NFL
only one team is ever happy, the team that wins the Super
Bowl but you guys
it felt like a bowl game. It did you get selected to play in
the last game of the regular season? You know, going in that
you're not going to get to the playoffs even if you win but
still there had to be something special about going into
Lambeau
Field. Knocking them out. Being able to walk off the field last
game. This season is Winners. Yeah, I mean that's that's
that's what I was taking. Get away from me, you know, if we
did make it to the playoffs and you don't win the Super Bowl,
you're going to end the season on a law. So, you know, I took
it as a positive, took it as a, we got wheat. And we stopped
Aaron Rodgers for making it. We won the lines fan showed up
after that game was amazing
and so on it was it was ridiculous and that's
I just love our fans man and so that whole game and it was
a great way to go out with my rookie year.
Rookie year, like you go from John Harbaugh are Jim Harbaugh,
excuse me.
Did Dan Campbell.
Oh yeah. Like tell us like the first experience Dan Campbell
were you like, what the hell? What is? This was a shock.
I mean, his personality, I factious, it seems, I think
it's what he showed on Hard Knocks right when he was
talking about,
just when you see the light
at the end of the tunnel,
it's a freight train coming your way. That's kind of, literally
what that's Dan Camp right there. That's, that's him. And
that's what that's what he does, man. That's that's who he
is. Yeah, it's intense, he is whatever you see.
Use anything like that. That's gonna totally is hell. Yeah.
What was the spark when it was 1 in 6 and it just felt like it
was going to be another Same Old Lion season. What caused it
to flip?
I think you know we came together as a defense and we
really got accountable for each other and that's something
that's not easy to do.
Necessarily got necessarily calling guys out but every guy
saying what they think they're responsible for and what they
got to get better at and stuff like that and just hearing here
and your teammates say that you know it's
It's something kind of vulnerable and it's something
that I think it propelled us. So it's like a team meeting.
Did you have? It was, it was like a rezoning me a
defensive me who took charge
some of the captains to some of the captain's got up. But
I mean at the end of the day was it was a majority of the guys
talking. Yeah yeah
what? Alright, so for you personally
you know rookie year great. What's second year where you're
like? Okay I gotta this offseason. I got a ho not on
hone in on this. Yeah I gotta get a little bit better. What
is the element you're looking?
It's got to improve. Yeah.
Man. I'm I mean obviously I'm looking all around the board
but I know you are I'm licking my chops already at your to.
Yeah I can't wait man II think more pass rush moves you trying
to get more powerful I mean anything like that but is
I think I got a pretty good
pass rush but yeah, I mean more moves you don't need that many
more. You're right. It's more perfecting what you have got
you and obviously
getting faster stronger than all those. All those little
things but also focusing on the mental side of the game,
the visualizing the meditate.
Okay? Grinder, the year get to you a little bit as like
a rookie, was that a tough thing. You know, my know, my rookie
year. I was like,
holy crap. We still got five games left. Right?
To be honest with you. It didn't hit me too hard
because for me, when I was sitting there, I was. So every
week, I was so motivated. Right? But just produce. Yeah.
And keep getting better. And so I was so
just fired up every week, right? And I know that might
sound a little cliche, I got you fired every day. You went
after like you know when you get a sack of the game, you
were like I want to do that every week, you know, you want.
To keep doing that. So I wish someone evaded by that but when
I was watching the playoffs especially I was like dude
these are long like you play you make of the Super Bowl,
right?
It's a lot of football. Yeah. It's a lot of football, huh? So
yeah. How do you deal with any frustrations you had to be
feeling when and there are two Dynamics for pass rushers? You
get held all the time. Yeah.
And it feels like the tackles we watch all the games, it
feels like they get off. Just enough just a half second. The
old Warrior pass block said, what's
Know that, right? It's
it's one of those things in the NFL. That's kind of just
a thing. And in college, they'll pull the flag in time, right?
But in the NFL, if I get a little half second jump, that
flags flying definitely, but if they get a half, second
trumpets
will stand with the quarterbacks at the delay game.
Yeah. Long as they don't see it hit zero. Yeah, it's not delay
a game. So, you know,
this, the NFL is made for the offense. It is you say that to
the rest during the game though. Like are you bring it
up to? I don't even think. I don't even feel if you give up
on it, there's no point lock. It slam your helmet to
the ground and then your coach can pick it up and give it
To you can slam your helmet to the ground again like Joy post.
That's, and, you know, others have said. Max Crosby said it,
you just have to deal with it because that's just the way it
is. It seems like that's the attitude. You have watching it
and
I felt his I felt that same that same feeling, you know,
you feel your use, trying these spin moves you know, wide
hands. He was wrapped around him. But dude, they're never
gonna.
I mean, 90% of those when you're going inside, they'll
never will. They will never call those. They only call
the ones when you're reaching outside and you you're-you're.
Yeah. Sometimes out that Blaze this lady had to be very
blatant. Didn't sell it in order to even get it. Who's
the toughest guy you face this year? Yeah, let's see. Who's
the guy that shot? Here I go. Whoa,
I mean week one, I we played Philly week, one. I offensive
line was like, arguably the best in the league and even in
Camp, we I played against our offensive line, the hole
in the whole Camp. So
I had a really good start to my year. So I think
I'd say maybe Lane.
I wonder I want to play laying again, that was week one.
I don't really, you know, I was getting like yeah, he's
the master of the early. Early departure from the line, I have
no doubt. Oh, yeah, he's real good at that. So, but
I definitely am looking forward to playing land again. Yeah,
that mean. I know it. I guess it's I wanted to ask you like
the best team you played all year. I know they were early on
in the year, but I guess that would be the best team. You
play till ya all around man. Yeah I wanted were you
shocked by the size of their offense of line? Like it was
that a shock to you a little bit? Like well I want to say
the size. I will say just look all around you. Look at that
whole offensive line. Right. There's no weak spots, no
weakness. Yeah essentially you're right. I mean
they got what three or four Pro bowls
Right. Right, right? Yeah. How many interceptions you have
this year?
Three each intercepted, Aaron Rodgers and the end zone like,
I hope you kept that ball. Oh, of course. Where is it? I've
kept all my intersection
right. My little, my little case in my living room, we saw
a penny Sewell, make the catch against the Vikings to ice
the game. Are you doing any lobbying for a little tight
end? Little
put me out there. Coach. Well, I got some I show. Now, you do
have some hands man's now. So, you know, maybe
maybe my MVP or and A few years when it's coming up I'll get
some touchdown. Receptions that's how you win. MVP is
a defensive player Jake, that's the j.j. watt model. I mean he
didn't win it but that was the year. He was a real candidate.
He
was he was playing some tight ends. Is there anybody you
watch during the year as far as players like where you go only
see what they're doing pass rush wise? Like
is there anybody that you study as the season goes on
to steal anything from?
Or is it just going to happen naturally when watching film?
I wouldn't say any moves. Yeah.
There's only so many moves you can do is wear a structure. It's
Instinctually watching them and seeing how they get out. It's
more like the little things like, you know, maybe how their
stances, maybe how they're lean this way. But
yeah, I mean even the amount of film you watch you. You see
enough of yeah, enough of so many guys, you kind of I just
take little things like oh if he's doing that to this,
I might try that to that right, you know? So it's kind of like
that,
right? It's, it's not necessarily taking moves. It's
more
helping my instincts. Yeah, but yeah. What about go ahead. Go
ahead. Are you a get Aaron Rodgers out of the division guy
or are
Are you a hey we swept them last year. Bring it on again guy
I'm a whatever guy
he doesn't care. If are waxing place, feel that way to stay if
he wants to leave C'est La Vie you know,
I love it. Alright. So I mean, we know, you can rush
the passer but what do you got? What do you sell them today?
Let's see what you can do this department. Yeah, so I'm here
on behalf of Courtyard by Marriott and
the official Hotel, the NFL. And they are showcasing
the courtyard. Sleepover Super Bowl Suite
in this. Idiom in one, lucky fan gets to sleep in
the stadium and the sweet wake up on Super Bowl Sunday. Damn, and
be the first ones in the stadium. Wow, overlooking
the whole, the whole thing. So it's a great deal.
That is a great deal.
Damn, I should have signed up for that, he'll know it me to
you know it was pretty good. All right. II last one in
the way out other than offensive linemen and defensive lineman,
right? Tell me a guy like,
you know, carrying the ball receiver running back where you
were just like, whoa. And here's your schedule. If you
want to look at it where you were like they're this, that
guy was the truth or I had no idea. She,
I always loved. To hear that kind of thing from a guy like,
you know, you got good perspective, you know, who's
a sneaky one for? Yeah, I missed. I missed like two tackles on in
the Bears game, right?
David Montgomery.
Oh, that power. Those legs guys. He's so he's so small and
he's got the quick. I go to wrap him up and he's just kind
of like he's so small and it's a little bowing bright, so
I missed a couple tackles on him. So I'd say,
I got to get, I got to get back and get back and he should be
a little bit. Yeah. And I remember meeting with you last
year. It was early in the week for us and we both agreed. Were
really impressed. You had a ton of confidence you to come in
and tear it up and you did,
we're watching it.
It's been great so far and we have a feeling that the ceiling
is unlimited, so we wish you all the best. Congratulations,
the NFL Rookie of the Year. Not offense, not defense. Yeah,
Rookie of the Year. Who's your tight end of the trail line?
That's a VP candidate. Hayden Hutchins.
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