played with the falcons,
Anthony, hey, Anthony as the first official round I've ever played with
the fountain.
Um
good stuff today. Um We appreciate Zurich and four kids every year. We do
this and we've had great weather.
I know everyone's looking forward to a good tournament. Any questions?
No golf questions, I'm sure. Go ahead. What are you? All right? A giraffe, Why
offensive go after changes all with greens leader actually taste the murder
has taken um the profile didn't change. Certainly we're mindful of our depth at
each position. Um
and we're currently in our final board readings on the defensive side of the
ball.
Um Yeah, I think relative to that position though, it still stays the
same and traits that we're looking for. Um
You know, I don't, I don't think it's a must position. We feel like we've got
real good players in the building,
firewood,
I'll work well, coaching style and
mhm, real close. Um Jeff and I were together for three years in Dallas and
I think, look, the scouts sir
in the building that have been for the last two weeks the coaches are in, so
there's a lot of hours right now and just coming up with the final grades, a
lot of work that has gone into this point save before
like a
where you just like
keep on going. What? Absolutely. There's a lot of first off, Jeff does a
great job at heading up the process because there's a, you know, we might
read a player that has seven reports. Um, maybe more than that and a little
bit more challenge to this year with some of the opt outs. Um, no official
combine. Um, so there's a little less information on average per player that
we got to work through both medically and, and also from a testing standpoint,
but that's just part of it. 6th quarterback is not a month correct?
Higher priority. And it would have been last, I feel like we've we've got to
real good candidates under contract and we feel strongly about those guys how
much decision for players, maybe not have the voluntary workout affect
everything. That simply something like that. When you're going to have an open
position of Horton's, it's good question. Look, there's a little bit of
um
little bit of flexibility.
We're in constant communication with our team. Um
you know, there's some things that are important I think as we ultimately get
ready for training camp and that's our vaccination, great. We're doing really
well in the building, were close to 99 of football operations Phase one and
Phase two. So we're really down to two or three people and that's it. Everyone
else has been vaccinated. And look, our state's done a great job. We're kind of
at that stage now, we're, you know, they're everyone's got that opportunity
and we're obviously encouraging that our players are in the midst of going
through that. So we, you know, we we set out sent out information
relative to that. But back to the off season program, look, a year ago, these
guys train extremely well at home. Um I know that Jamison taste in both, Those
guys are going to be guys that work hard at it. And you know, if this
shifts in a way where there's some guys coming in, some guy's not that we're
not gonna worry about that, we'll focus on, you know, obviously the training
camp, but the players that are in the building now rehabbing and getting
ready for training camp, that's really where our attention is drawn
this year
obviously. Yeah, Go Stephen program. I think a lot, I mean, I think that
that year was important for him but I also think it was important for him to
to see kind of our program and so both sides I think benefited from that year.
He came in and pick things up. Someone that picks it up quickly and no testing
has been with us for a while now. So you know both those guys, you don't
have to worry about their approach and how they work sean if there were
injured players and medical information this year without the good enough. Yeah,
I would just say to be fair to the process that there's just a little less
information. So, um, we had our medical meeting the other night
and so it's it's a little bit a little bit like the workout information.
There's just a little bit less that you have to go by and and you might have to
follow up with with phone calls to trainers and doctors.
So that's that's just what this year presents
like you have
right
release full of starters. Yeah
Fair question I don't there's one I mean look corners of an area that that
we have to address here between now and the start of the season and I think
we'll be able to find that. But yeah we lost some good players that mhm. That
you know we knew we might have to to get our numbers below. So I think
that's part of operating in the salary cap to the same size of threat
coordinate
volume.
Yeah but
look at it helps and
you know we every every article every tv show you watch deals with the top 32
picks and and obviously that's important but those other rounds are
have a real good draft. I think you have to, you have to select, well
95 of the discussion is about the first round, I know that the first time I
apologize, we've seen you since the whole kevin James thing. If we could
just maybe get your thoughts on first and then we'll look,
it's inspired by a true story, I've read the script and those guys, I've
gotten to know a little bit,
but I'm really removed from it, but it's, look everything everything adam
does and Kevin does. Those guys always do a great job of, there's a story
story always behind the movie that it's entertaining and uh I know it's going
to be here and made in june filming is going to be in Louisiana, so that's
exciting. But um,
I, outside of just reading the script, um
you gotta, you gotta wait. But there's a lot of
unique storylines that maybe you're a little different than, but it is, it is
kind of fun. Like a challenge. Was the salary captive managing the rock, I
think each year is a little different. This year.
This year was any time you have to call up a player, maybe that has played well
for you. It's always difficult. That never gets, um, never get used to that.
So,
um,
but I, I think for the last 2, 2.5 years, you know,
we knew, you know, there was going to be this post breeze period of time and,
and I think overall, I'm kind of pleased with how we've been able to
manage the numbers in mickey and chi and those guys, all of us are working
hard on different equations, you work on position equations relative to the
draft and that's the, that's the keys. So when the, when the the process is
complete and you're going to training camp, you're hopefully pleased with the
what you've been able to do with some of the losses there. You got to feel
like are particularly beat MR
in this class.
Look, I think there's a few more tight ends than I'm used to. That's my
opinion. Um, I think that
problem
for some line depth, offensive line, depth, I haven't, you know, we haven't
gotten through, we're still working through the defensive element of it. Um,
but, and a lot of it's just depending on who you talk to, but
I felt like the online read, but also the tight end read I felt was a little
deeper than most. The biggest challenge.
You haven't seen him for college players. Yeah, look, you'll read a
player and then you'll hear all right, this guy started 17 games in his career.
He didn't play last season. And, and there's just that that's a lot of time.
Um,
The workout becomes important. What kind of shape is he in? Sometimes? I
think you go around the country, some players opted out because their
conferences were opting out initially and then they were back in and so each
each case is different and we're in the projection projection business to begin
with. So
we're just having to do a little bit more work there. But it is something
you pay attention to and not the decision to opt out, but just the idea
that somebody might not have played football for the better part of a year,
year and a half. There anything you guys were sure does guys well, you
learn just about a person, you know, his personality, his intelligence, how
he is in the locker room, how he interacts with his teammates, how he
picks things up, all of those things. But from the surprise standpoint, um,
no, I don't think so. I think it was, yeah, it's good, it was good process
and watching him come in, obviously he's got tremendous, tremendous skill
set and you know, he's someone that I think did a good job of his teammates
level from your sample and for the first time in
what challenge of the new quarterback and is a fresh look at it. I don't know.
Look, there's an excitement level honestly. Um,
every time you turn the page and you start a new season. Yeah,
I don't think we've hit that stage yet where something happens and you realize
that, um, you know, Drew Drew's not here will be playing in the pro and
tomorrow. Um, mm.
Yeah, I think the approach, the approach is still the same though. I
think we've got a good core group of young talented players that have won a
lot of games and that have experienced that taste of the postseason and, and
uh, and I think you build your team around that. Um,
but someone asked me the question you're asking, is there an elevated
level of excitement? I think it's the same as a coach. You owe it to that
roster to work hard and put them in the best position to have success and, and
that's our responsibility.
All right, thank you guys, yep. Your hat little so high there. I didn't like
it. I wish, I wish I could go play out this from my, oh, you've never played
there. Okay. Yeah. one day I'll tell you, I play that scooter.
No
questions. I'm sorry. What
do you think this quarterback competition will be like this? I see.
Do you think it will be a straight every other day, take turns? How do you?
Okay. Yeah, I think that, that I don't, I don't have an answer for you. You
know, I think historically
as a competitor, as a player, the competition really becomes with
yourself, you know, is it's not between you and one other players man. You're
trying to be as good as you possibly can that day and every day and be as as
consistent as you can. And so as an athlete and as someone who's been in a
lot of competitions,
the mindset is always the same. I know from the outside people might, well, we
got to see quarterback because it was poor game for you. So you feel like
that was just sort of the tip of the iceberg. And how much does that prepare
you? Yeah, I think that's a fair, fair comment. You know that, yeah, it was
the tip of the iceberg and I would also say, I think the mindsets different
where hey Drew went down, you're called in to step in and really just do
everything you can to not really mess it up right as a backup. And,
and that was, that was my mindset.
I think the mindset shifts when you become the guy and,
and that's something that, that I'm looking forward to because last year it
was always like a means to an end. Like, hey, when it's true going to be healthy
and when is he going to be ready because your time is then over?
So I think it's a different mindset and sometimes looking forward, you're
staying here, you're in competition with yourself. What are some of the
things that you're working to beat the sausage and yeah, I think, you know, I,
you guys probably get bugged me because the answer is probably the same every
year, but I think as you study the great quarterbacks, I think what makes
them unique is decision making, accuracy, timing and so to me, like
those things never change. I have the things that I think make me a good
quarterback that I continue to work on and I'm trying to enhance and I've got
to work out protocol that allows me to throw better, more accurate and all
that stuff. But you know, the timing, decision making accuracy to me, those
is what encompasses a really great quarterback.
And so those are the things that I'll continue. Do you feel like you learn
more about yourself as you're given that you've got those four games to
start? Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I think you can't replicate game experience,
you know, you can't replicate game time And so I finally had that opportunity
to be the guy where I was playing every down every situation where before it
was hey you come in for a couple snacks and do that and that was, that was an
invaluable experience for me
mindset. Just that like the toxins and mindset changed at all when you're
going into it knowing that not going to be here and Children.
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. You know, I think historically for the last four
years my workout routine has been different. You know, it's been
structured to be the Swiss army knife and do all these other things that I
was going to be called upon doing right now. My emphasis, my focus is just
being a full time quarterback training training place, same place, same place,
but it's definitely been taylor, taylor different for sure. Newtown house,
Susan and Utah Yeah. Okay guys that look out with that, how different do
you think it'll be the first time you walk in building? You will see True,
okay.
Yeah, it's gonna be a weird feeling, you know,
I can't say enough good things about drew, he's been a mentor friend, you
know, he's been like a brother to me, I still view him as a brother and to walk
into the building and Nazi and will be very, very hard. I mean that dude has
done so much for the city of new Orleans, so much for our team and
guy like that. You don't just replace,
I wish you anticipate this off and leading,
shine, look at the playbook and like changing or evolving a little bit more
sound like what works well with your skin set and make, I don't know, I
would imagine which would be maybe a little bit different flavor. It would
have to grease. Yeah, there would probably be something that are similar
to, but yeah, you know, I haven't really had a long conversation with
coach about that, but there has been little things that we've talked about.
You know, I think
I would guess that, that we will start to do a few few things a little bit
differently. But again, that's, that's a question for coach and I don't really
know where his mindset is on that
here in the next couple weeks, we'll start to clear that picture.
Good. Thanks guys.