 Good afternoon. How you guys doing? Doing great. Doing great Marcus. How did it first, the attorney camp go for you all today? It was great. I thought offensively we were efficient. I thought it was great to just come out here and compete. The guys were flying around. It's just fun to play ball again. Coach London was saying, hey, now you all couldn't come back and start from scratch. Do you feel that, you know, the retention was there and you all can start building on what you all did in the offseason. Absolutely. And I thought guys coming out here weren't a lot of mental errors. Guys were comfortable with what they were doing. We're confident in it and a lot of guys play fast. How was the offseason for you, you know, reflecting on the fact, hey, I got a big time opportunity in front of me here starting July 27th? Yeah, the offseason was great. I went back to Oregon, saw some family just really hung out. And for me, I really look at these five weeks as an opportunity just to get ready physically and mentally. So training, doing things, getting ready to go. So all in all, it was a great time for me to get away. And I feel great. I'm looking forward to this opportunity. When you think about this opportunity and the offense, the system, and you've worked with Art before, what's your level of comfort with the strategy of the offseason? I feel very comfortable. And being around Art for all that time in Tennessee, I think that's where it comes from. But I think he's done a great job of collaborating and creating new things. And for us as an offense, it's exciting. It allows us to go and just play fast and do some creative things. But for the most part, all in all, I feel really comfortable. I feel really confident and I'm excited where we're at. Did you describe your chemistry with confidence and where it's at, how it's going? Yeah, it feels great. You know, he's an easy guy to throw to, you know, without how range he is and his physical attributes. So for us as quarterbacks, he makes it easy. He's such a great athlete. We just got to find ways to get in the ball. Yeah, absolutely. I think, like you said, you kind of see it day in and day out. So for us, it's just knowing where he's at, giving him an opportunity to make plays like that, because he's just, he's a force. Marcus, who played with Rashana this morning? Intensity and I think just a level of confidence just all across the board for the defense. When you've got a guy like him, flies around, makes plays, he creates just a mentality for that defense. So being around him for a little bit in Tennessee, I think he's going to bring that type of culture here and I think it's going to be good for us. Marcus, that delay may have just touched on it, but can you define what this opportunity means for you personally, career-wise, is to get that opportunity to be the starter again? Yeah, I think it's for me, it's a great opportunity just to kind of prove not only to myself, but to those who have believed in me. So I'm excited. You know, the last couple of years is a great reset. I learned a lot from Derek. I learned a lot of being there. But I feel ready to go. And again, I'm excited for this opportunity. I'm going to do whatever I can to help this team out and just be the best that I can be. You're scared to go out of your shot? Well, first of all, Atlanta's hot. You know, and then secondly, it really comes down to this is the foundation that you're building for the entire season. And it's really just helping these young guys come along. You know, for rookies and even like first-year players that don't have a lot of experience, you got to try to emulate game-type scenarios out on the practice field. So that once they get to the game, they feel comfortable. So, you know, we're going to do whatever we can to help that, speed some of that process out for our young guys so that when game day rolls around, we're ready to go. How are you dealing with the game? I'm good. I'm good. It's not too bad. To that end though, what types of things have you done as a professional over the years to acclimate your body to the heat and the elements? Well, first and foremost is hydrating. You know, trying to drink as much water as you can. And then really, you know, you try to come out a couple of days before, especially because I spent a lot of time out on the West Coast. So just getting adjusted to the time, getting adjusted to the heat. So just making sure from a physical standpoint that I'm not missing anything. I'm not, you know, lacking in any fluids or anything like that. So that when I get on the field that I can just trust what I can do and be confident in my body. So you're talking about adjusting. So a week or two from now, the heat, whatever the heat index, you'll be better. Yeah, yeah, I think, yeah, and I think that's kind of, it goes across the board for everybody. You know, once you get out here, you kind of get used to it. And I think it's an advantage for us, you know, especially early on in the season when you're going to places and it is hot to be able to have this on a day-to-day basis. I think it allows us to have an advantage. What's it like seeing the offensive line in the tight end, kind of a push from the capsule? I know, is it because they're going to throw it or are you just going to have to run and do it? No, it's obviously for player safety. I never really noticed it. You know, I just give, I give those guys a bad time because I know it is tough to wear. Mark, did you mention that the young, what do you make of this one today? I thought he did well. Again, I think for guys, young guys, it's just being able to take what you learn in the off-season and then apply it to training camp. I thought he did a great job today. I thought he was getting out of the huddle, operating well. So again, for a young guy, I think that says a lot. He took the time off and really kind of focused on getting into playbook, making sure that he was prepared. Because all in all, it just makes us all better. You know, when you can operate at that level, you know, all the guys are going to kind of raise their play too. So, I thought he did a great job. What's your thought on sharing information with a younger guy who could be competing for your job one day? Different people different ways. I've learned a long time ago and I left my ego at the door. You know, I really try to help wherever I can, even if it's Desmond, if it's Drake, if it's a younger guy like KP. I just try to do and give all that I can because I think I've been in so many different scenarios in my career. I've been a starter. I've been benched. I've been a backup. I've been hurt. I've been kind of all these different things. So being able to take those experiences and try to help wherever I can, I think will also make our team better. So that's really what I'm focused on. I don't care. I just try to help wherever I can. Yeah, and I also realized how old I am too, right? I mean, it's kind of funny. Drake just had his 21st birthday the other day and I'm like, sheesh. All in all, you know what? I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I learned a lot and it's provided me information and provided me experience to be able to pass on to people and hopefully help them along their way. Great. Another guy I feel like, you know, took these five weeks and took it seriously, came out, looked great, made some plays for us today. So again, it's just kind of continuing to build one day at a time, build these guys up so that when we get out there, guys can just roll with confidence. How about you guys spend a lot of time together and, you know, I kind of feel that's every older player's role is just kind of help the younger guy. I think that's the culture that's built here. I've been in places where it's not necessarily that way. But ultimately in the end, you know, I think if you can help guys, especially the younger guys out, it's going to ultimately make your team better. So I'll do whatever I can. I'll pass on as much information as I can to him, whatever he wants to absorb. But our relationship is great and, you know, I'm excited to work with him. I mean, we're in meetings all day together. They got us rooming together, so down near 24-7. Is it out there that it's just you two taking reps, which is kind of unusual at this time of the year? Mark said this because there aren't many reps to go around. So usually there's three-quarter reps maybe before they're in training. Do you notice that at all? A little bit. And I think it's great. You know, I love reps. I think the more that you can do, the more that you get out on the field is better. So I'm grateful for it. And I think it's ultimately making both of us better. So how's it feel just getting out there for State Training Camp? It feels good. I mean, just back with the boys, going around and stuff like that. This is what we do. We live for it. Now, as a kid, you dream about this moment. So I'm just taking it all. I'm taking up that for granted. Talk about your opportunity kind of walking into this season, a different kind of year for you now? I mean, it's going to be everything. Everything I've ever wanted. You know, I've been complaining and, you know, moaning and complaining for the last two years. So, I mean, just coming here day by day, trying to prove myself to be the star every day and try to lead this group. So how do you do that? How every day do you kind of like actively, all right, I got to do this differently or I got to step up in this way? I mean, I've always been doing it. You know, I just have a bigger role this time. So it's kind of good to put in spotlight. But I mean, anytime you really feel tired or like that, you just got to tell yourself, you know, a year ago, how do you feel like, you know, you wanted this a year ago. So I think that's just kind of self-motivation. How different is it just your two with this coaching staff and in that side of it as well? Is there a different kind of vibe around the team? Well, it's just, everyone's more comfortable. You know, we'll get to fly around a little bit more. People have more fun. In the last year, I feel like everyone just didn't want to make a mistake. You know, everyone was just kind of trying to get their job and then make a mistake. Now we're flying around having fun, kind of putting our own twist on it. So, I mean, I think I'm really excited for this year. There's still a lot of new faces though around this team. I mean, is there still, do you kind of catch yourself like, wait, who's that guy? Yes, I got, he means you. Counting my boy D-Bo, we got six guys left here on defense for my rookie year. So, I mean, everybody's brand new. But I mean, I'm just comfortable here. You know, I'll play this home for me and I mean, I'm trying to spend the rest of my career if I can. From the outside, you know, there's not a lot of expectations for this team. How does that sit with you and maybe guys in the locker room in terms of where this franchise is? I mean, for us, we don't care about that. You know, like, for us, I mean, nobody comes here and says, you know, we're just going to lose this week. You know, let's just go home. You know, practice is going to be up to be here. Like, we're here to have fun. We're here to, I mean, no one thought such a thing was going to be Super Bowl last year, but we did it. So, for us, we don't really care about the outside noise. We're just trying to get ready here. You got the Guardian cap. I hate it. It's terrible. It's the worst thing that ever has been. I don't know who did it. It's got no airflow. It's terrible. It's heavy. I hope they take that document back and go take this down loud. But it's optional, right? No. No? Not for the first two weeks, right? So after the second pre-season game. Is there some value you think it would help? I mean, we didn't start hitting yet. So I'll see you next week. But I mean, as far as just elements, I like to maybe, you know, people who get paid way more money than me made this decision. I mean, it's hot enough out here, right? Right. I think that today was a good day. Yes. Today is probably the best day we're going to get. It's down here from there. As a professional athlete, what do you do when it comes to heat and preparation and your training, even before you get here, to deal with the heat factors that you're probably going to care? I mean, it's just hydration. In the day, like, I mean, nothing prepares you for football. You know, you could... Everyone has their own training facilities. We have our own. People play basketball. Some people like to do boxing and training. Nothing prepares you for this. I mean, in the day, the more times you come out here, the better you're just going to get used to it. For me, it's just hydration, but knowing that I got it. It's not going to start until I get it. That being said, what do you kind of focus on these first couple of days without pads and kind of just getting back into the motion of it? Communication. That's like huge. Because I mean, everybody here, if you're in this building, you can play football. You know, so everything's about communication. Bigger than everything. We went all the way back, but it's about one. I mean, Dean does a great job. We're going from the basics. I've seen the same install one probably 100 times now. So, like, just this year. So, I think that's great. Just make sure everything's down. We still have a couple of mistakes out there. So, just make sure we get that out when we start hating because that's a hole in their mental factor. How was your first end of football? It was great. Went out there, you know. Just did what we needed to do. And that's execute. I felt like we did a good job through the jaw group period, through 7-on-7, through team. I felt like we did a good job getting in and out of the huddle and just getting the play executed. You know, just you do something and I didn't see it today. Take the snap in 11-on-11. You look down and look back up and you do it a couple times. Is that just so you sort of readjust to the picture? You got to get the picture again to simulate pressure? Like, look down at the ground? Yeah. Just take your eyes off the secondary and pop back up. No, I didn't know that. Probably not trying to look down at the ground. Or maybe it looks like I'm looking down at the ground, but maybe it's just kind of catching the ball real quick. But then, yeah, obviously we want to have our eyes kind of just in the secondary, in the backfield, see what's going on. How do you approach the competition? Do you think I'm 1A? Do you think I'm going to be the starter? Do you think I'm the backup and I have to close X amount of gap every day? Yeah, no. We talk about it as a healthy competition. Not just in our room, but in every single room that we have. So, and what that means for us is just, you know, going out there, it's not rooting against, you know, one another. Oh, Marcus goes out here and throw a pick. You know, I go out here and throw a touchdown or vice versa. But just, you know, making each other better. So picking each other up when we're both down or, you know, giving each other praise where praise is needed. So, you know, just really fitting in where my role is fitting in. You know, Marcus has been in Coach Smith's system before. So, you know, he knows a lot more. So I'm really just trying to learn from him and learn how he goes about, you know, learning the game plan and learning how we do things each and every week just to better myself as best as I can be. Congrats on being a married man. How was the wedding? Good? Great. It was a little small wedding down at the courthouse. So I had both sides of the family come down. So it was a fun day. That's awesome. Congrats. Thank you so much. Also, congrats on being in your personical practice today. How different was it from the last couple of times you've been out here today with, you know, everyone else out here? Yeah, you know, a little more live action. Obviously being able to actually get in team periods and actually go and throw the ball. So, you know, from that standpoint, the speed picked up a little bit. But other than that, you know, we're seeing things very clearly. Had a good grasp of the script for today and what we were supposed to do. And like I said, I thought we did a good job of executing and doing what we needed to do to come out here and take the next step forward. What's the vibe kind of on day one? Is everyone just kind of excited to be out here? Yeah, definitely. That's day one of any camp. You know, if you ask us maybe on day, you know, 15, 16, it might be a little different vibe. But no, day one, obviously everyone's excited to be out here. You know, coach has to tell us to slow down sometimes in the jog group. Got a little juice to us. So, you know, we were definitely excited to all be back out here and just playing the game we love. Take us through the end of OTAs. To now, what did you work on during that time for it? Yeah, so for me, it was more so just, you know, the play action, getting out from under center out there with Jordan Palmer. And then, you know, Drake Leonard was able to come out there and work with us. Being from, you know, about an hour away from when we work on Orange County, you just drove down every day. So just really trying to build that connection to just trying to be on the same page, being seen. How much did that help the fact that you and Drake worried about getting some work in? Yeah, it helped tremendously, you know. You know, I think me and Drake have a great connection off the field. And then obviously on the field, you know, we're continuing the building and continuing to, you know, see where we can be. But it helps help tremendously when you can just go away from, you know, the facility and be able to connect up on and off the field with players. In the little time we've spent with you, I think I have a good grasp in the fact that your head is always in the boat. You're studying and you're studying up on football. How much of it is that and how much of it is just focusing on what you've got to do on the field now? You know, it's obviously, I'd say, you know, it's a lot more in the books. And then because if you put your preparation and everything you need to do in the books and you just come out here and play football, you don't have to think about a lot of things. It just comes easily to you. So, you know, it's camp. So we're here from early in the morning to late at night. And, you know, the only time we're really doing, you know, hard practice, whatever you want to call it is out here for an hour and a half. So the rest is all mental work for us. And, you know, that's why we play the game. That's why we love the game. Okay, so in the downtime when there's guys playing video games and stuff, I'm assuming you're in the corner studying? Yeah, no. So there's a couple of people, you know, brought the Xbox and stuff. But, you know, it's quarterbacks. I've never been the guy to bring my Xbox. I brought two iPad chargers and a couple of notebooks. So that's about it for me. No Xbox for you. Do you have any personal goals throughout training camp that you've got before things got started? No, not to say. Really just to, you know, master the offensive as well as I can. Going into preseason to, you know, not have any questions to second guess myself once I step on the field. Like I said earlier, once I step on the field to be able to go out here and play fast with no thinking. I think if I remember correctly, everyone was saying you were the first one out here during rookie camp. Are you the first one out here during training camp? Or is someone speaking to you today? There was a couple of people. I know Marcus, we have talked about it this morning. I think he got up like 10 minutes before me. But, you know, the roommates are me, Marcus and Felipe. So then we all got in the hot tub at the same time. And I talked about it. We'll just drop in together tomorrow. So, you know, you don't have to make the long walk. But now, you know, there are a few other guys. You know, there comes a certain standpoint when, you know, there's getting here really early. Just to say you get here early. And then you have to think about the restaurant recovery part of it as well. Do you coordinate the alarms? No, you know, Marcus came in my room last night and it was like, I was in my dormitory. So it was like, you know, not a clock. And he was like, oh, I see you. I'm like, where are you going? He's like, sleep. I'm like, okay. It's early. At least got like another 30, 45 minutes. So no, I'm sure I'll be a lot more tired tonight. But no, we didn't coordinate. So among the things you've learned from him is when to go to bed, right? Yeah. No, exactly. Exactly. And you know, yeah, yeah. Understands the game, you know, incredibly well. Obviously, you know, well, more well than any of us. And, you know, he comes in and drops in the meetings and gives us tips and pieces of, you know, this and that. And it really just truly, you know, shows us the knowledge that he has of where he's been, where he's came from and how he won't see he's done. So I'm excited to be and work under a guy like him. And, you know, I'm just excited to continue our relationship and continue to keep pulling. Is there anything he did or said? Yeah, I mean, you know, he just told me to be myself. You know, he told me that, you know, I was, I was doing, you know, pretty well for where I was at the time and just continue to keep going, continue to lead, continue to be yourself, continue to get better. Wait, what about your film session? No, I wouldn't say so much about him. And he's going off a little bit specifically with the coach. What's it like working with Charles London? Yeah, Coach London is like, he's a great guy. You know, he helps us out tremendous ways. Whether it's on the field, off the field, I think we'll see a lot more of his help when we talk about game planning and being able to come in and break down another team's defense. So I'm really excited to kind of get into that game where you can see where he does with that. But you know, Coach Rides, Coach London, Coach Smith, all four of those guys really come in and make us the best we want to be. Hey, Desmond, Mark is just saying that you guys are rooming together. I know it's early, but how's that chemistry presenting itself to you? Yeah, it's been great since the day I stepped foot here and the day he arrived here as well. Like Coach said the day out on the field, he said iron sharpens iron. That's all we want to do is make each other better. We obviously know that there's a competition. Like I said earlier, we want it to be a healthy competition. That doesn't mean cheer when he does a bad thing and he celebrates when I do a bad thing, missing that. But make sure that we're keeping each other up in good times and bad times. But no, it's been great. We've got a great camaraderie, obviously the same style of play. So when we get in the meeting rooms and like to joke, there's not as many athletic people in that room as us two. It kind of gets fun. How would you say your first training camp day went? Is everything you dreamed about? I mean, going into your first one, what was it like? Yeah, it definitely went well. I feel like when I was here I was able to execute, was able to articulate the plays and get everything in and out of the huddle on time. And just get up. And like I said, XQ run the play swiftly. And yeah, I think I had a pretty good day. We've been putting out a lot that there's really only two quarterbacks getting a lot of reps. We'll be able to get some. But how is it really to get a majority of the reps? Normally there's three guys getting split. Yeah, no, I'm grateful for that. You know, sometimes you look out here, you might be a little tired out here because there's just two guys. But then you know, you think and you know, you're working up to this point, you know, our entire lives. And you know, before I stepped foot on the Falcon, you know, you think there's, you know, three, four guys coming to the training camp. And, you know, you hear the stories of might only get one rep. So you better make sure that rep counts. And so, you know, I'm just blessing grateful to be able to come here and, you know, just be one of the two guys for right now. And obviously like you said, they come in later. But to just learn the reps and take the reps where they are. Appreciate it.