 I'm here to play football. I got a team around me that handle my contract situations and my future and all that. So I'm focused on training them, focused on getting ready for the season. I'm on a plan with, I've been talking to Coach Raeb and Todd and everyone. Like you said, I'm unavailable to practice out here if anyone wanna ask that. But I just been on a plan with them to focus on how much can I improve, not just doing drills right now, but in the film room, in the weight room or anything like that. So my focus is not on my contract. That's why I got a team around me to actually, they can focus on all the contract talk and whatever it may be if it is contract talk. So like I said, my focus is on football right now. Williams said you're not hurt, so if you're focused on football, how come you're not on the field? Because we are on, I kinda just said that me and Raeb and them came to a plan where they think best for me right now and that's where I'm a player and I believe in Coach Raeb and I believe in Todd and them that since I've been here, they've been putting me in a great position to be the player I am today. So we're just, I'm on a plan with them right now. Unless it's over his contract. Well, I'm not, like I said, if it is about contract, I don't know because I'm not talking about, I'm not talking to them about my contract. I have a team placing that if it is about contract, they gonna talk about it with whoever upstairs. But like I said, Raeb don't handle the contract. So I think, like I said, my job is to be a player, be a leader in the, not just on the field, but in the weight room and the locker room or whatever it may be. So like I said, I'm on a plan. I'm sticking with it and I'll see you guys in camp. What have you done, Jeffery, I guess over the last couple of months, maybe to kind of start gearing up for the season? Well, I mean, it's just been a lot of things that me personally that I want to work on to take my, take my game to the next level. And that's, you know, if it's, you know, just trying to be more disrupted, get up to feel more, you know, try to keep my feet moving, not just in the run game or not just in the pass game, but also in the run game. I think a lot of speculation around that, you know, I'm just working on a lot more pass rush, which I'm not. So I think that's been my biggest thing this off season. Even in the run game, how can I keep my feet moving when I make contact and stuff like that? It's just a small detail that could take my game to the next level. And like I said, it's always, you know, good to be around, I guess, you know, I guess for instance, my uncle who played in the lead that could, you know, break down film with me that could show me, okay, this is why you missed, you know, didn't make the player in the backfield. This is why you missed the sack. So I think that just been my biggest thing this off season. How can I speed my footwork up? How can I, you know, take the small things to take into my game to actually make them, you know, tactful also sacks. So. Where does the weight reduction play into where you're trying to get as far as taking your game to the next level? I think it's, I mean, not just, you know, on the field. I think it's for me when I, you know, walking around or, you know, I think when I get more later into my career, you know, like I said, having guys like my uncle around that says and have experienced, you know, especially playing in the trenches, it's like, you know, all that weight on them joints and stuff like that. I think take a toll on your body. And I think, you know, if I could keep playing at a consistent level, I mean, weight that, I think that it helped me, especially later in the season from getting even banged up or whatever it may be. And I think that just, you know, with me, you know, I feel good when I'm like, I feel good, you know, cause I feel, I still feel strong. I still feel like myself. So I think just me getting down and being consistent at, you know, right around, you know, maybe two, nine and five, but right around 300 in that range, I think that'd feel good for me. And I'm just being able, you know, to help the team the best way I can by staying healthy. So. How was it with Vaughn Miller, the past wrestling summer? How was that for you? Oh, it was great. You know, of course, you know, with Vaughn Miller, he'll tell you that, you know, we didn't do really drills. You know, I walked through a lot of stuff with D-Ware, but, you know, just to be around them guys, you know, Caledis Campbell and all them older vets, you know, just to hear their perspective on the way they rush and the way they attack guys. I think that was good for me because especially being a young guy, you know, I'm there with a lot of guys who have a hundred sex. I think it was like three or four guys that in a hundred sex range. And of course, it's a pattern of something. So, you know, I'm all ears to it. And also, it just went on the field. It was also, you know, we did, went to the film room. So I think that was my biggest thing to get around them guys, to see how they think, you know, how to do a approach, you know, certain blockers, if it's a jump set or whatever it may be. So I had a great time just to learn. You know, I took a lot of notes. I made sure I had me a notebook and pen. So I took a lot of notes from them guys. And, you know, it was just great to be around all them vets. What would you play at last year, Jeff? I was, I would say I was up like 312, 315. You know, I wanted to come in a lighter, but that wasn't the case, I guess, all season. I think that's where I said, the consistent of with my weight, I guess watch what I eat later in the season would help me out as well. Aaron Donald's been the standard for a decade on the defensive line. Do you think in your mind, you can be that next guy? I mean, everyone played a game different. And I can say when I, when a lot of guys, and I get asked a question like that all the time, you know, I'm my own player. You know, I feel like I played a game different than Aaron Donald or whoever the next guy may be. So I think that just when, when I'm playing the game, you know, I want to, I want to be around the ball. I don't want to just make sacks or tackle for loss. I want to chase the ball down the field. And a lot of people ask, how do you separate yourself? I say turn on the field and see that. Like I'm, I'm, I like to chase the ball. I like to be around the ball. Like Coach Ray already say, you never know, you know, big guy running to the ball always create, you know, good things, good things happen. And that's fun, both of whatever it may be. So, you know, pick up a thumb and somebody knocked the ball out. So I think with me personally, you know, I try to separate myself by doing the other things from that I see, you know, like I said, I must respect to all them guys, you know, that like Aaron Donald, you know, you know, he lists that the best, best player in the league. And, you know, quite frankly, you know, the way he played the game and disrupt the game is different than everyone else. So, like I said, I consider myself as a different player, you know, than Aaron Donald, of course. So like I said, my, my job is to be the best version of Jeffers Simmons for the Tennessee Titans. What do you think? Pay attention to the contract extension that he got, though? I mean, we all see that, you know, it's in the media, but, you know, like I said, when it's time for the talk contract, you know, I don't want to be a part of it. You know, that's why I got a team around me to handle that. Like I got a, like I said, the team that I have, you know, I know that they want the best for me. And, you know, like I said, that's, it's not in my control. You know, that's for them to handle. I think that's why they get paid the way they do to go talk to them guys upstairs. So, like I said, I have a team in place to, you know, when it's time to talk contract, they'll be ready to talk to them. The reason, Jeff, that as far as we know now, do you think you'll start training camp on time? Is there any reason to think you wouldn't start training camp on time? My goal is to be here when they tell us report. And, you know, like I said, I see you guys at training camp. I'm, I said, I'm, I'm been on the plan with Coach Ray, you know, telling me, like I said, when it's time to report, my plan is to be here. You've done something like Kay, that you was talking about, who did that? Just to make sure that consistency stays throughout the season? Yeah, I think with me, like I, I think my biggest thing is just being able to, I guess, not cheat with it. You know, you have them days where you just want to say, forget it, you know, especially late in the season where you're like, I'm feeling good at this weight. It's no sense of trying to do extra. So I think my thing is just staying strict on myself, you know, because I think been going, trying to stay strict or, you know, having a Dodd. I don't think I wouldn't call it a Dodd. You know, I, I call it just letting stuff go, you know, or, you know, it's been snacks or whatever it may be. Now, just putting the right thing in your body, you know, not just for football, but, you know, you're held. So I think that's my biggest thing. How can I just stay, you know, consistent with what I put in my body? Who loves ball and talked about how much you love ball, how difficult is it for you? You have the plan, but you want to be out there, right? How difficult is it for you? I mean, it's always difficult not being on the field, no matter if it's OTAs, mini camp or whatever it may be, you know, it's always great to be around your teammates. And I think, you know, building a team, not just on the field. You know, I think it's all about, you know, the special relationship, you know, with your teammates. It's in the building, you know, in the locker room and not just at the football facility. How can we get together? You know, we've been, I talked to a couple of guys this week. You know, how can, what can we do to, especially, you know, on defense, that's where I'm playing at. How can we get together on defense, especially the front four, to burn more? Because that's one of the things that I talked to, you know, some of the vets at Van Miller Camp, I was talking to Justin Heason, he was like, he was just telling me, man, y'all got some special, you know, y'all got, you don't want to lose that because y'all don't jail together. And that hit me because I'm like, you know, we do have a special group, but you know, we're not going to jail all together just on the football field. How can we, you know, get away from the building, join together, you know, fellowship together outside of football? And I think that's, you know, where that coming play at. You know, I want to be on the field true enough, but, you know, it's not about just being on the field. And I think that's what I've been doing since I'm not on the field, bundling with them guys in the locker room and, you know, hopefully outside of the building. This team, a contract was a part of that. Honestly, man, that's, I'm my own player. You know, we're going to miss AJ right here, but I mean, that's, that's don't have nothing to do with me. I think my goal is to do my job. And I don't play receiver. I play D-line. So, you know, I'm still here. I got to still be a leader for this team and just play my role. Christian, you're only going into your third year, but all of a sudden you're one of the more experienced guys in the room. All of a sudden, how does it feel to be maybe giving some advice to a lot of the younger guys and less experienced guys? I mean, it's cool. You know, it's a cool thing, cool feeling. It's cool. Because, you know, like you said, it was a new system for me coming in these first two years. So just being an older guy, you know, I look forward to that, you know, because it's something that I needed. KB, Kenny, when he was here, those guys helped me. So I look forward to it. And I'm just here, you know, to compete with all the other guys, you know, that's the only way we're going to get better is if we compete. So, I mean, it's a fun thing, you know, to help those guys out. Have you found yourself having to be more vocal? And if so, is that something you're comfortable with or something you're trying to get accustomed to? Yeah, I'm still getting accustomed to it. Just as far as like being off the field on the field, you know, I'm vocal, you know, I just have to make the checks. That's what the game, you know, a lot makes me do. But off the field, you know, I'm definitely, you know, still getting accustomed to it. Like I said, just talking to those guys, you know, and just fixing corrections that we have, you know, as a DB group, you know, motivating those guys, you know, just keeping them up, you know, letting them know that's a process, but you know, they have to be ready. What was your plan, maybe Christian, maybe this offseason, I still got several weeks before camp starts, but what was your plan coming in at the start and maybe how do you feel like it's going? Like, well, like you said, just being more vocal, you know, being taken on a bigger role for the team, you know, and playing my part and also just helping those guys, you know, catch up the speed. For the most part, most of the guys, you know, we play, we got a group that's played together. But like you said, Caleb hasn't played much. Rodgers, you know, those other guys, you know, just trying to make sure that they're caught up, you know, once camp comes and making sure that, you know, we can catch and stay in rolling early so we don't have to make adjustments, you know, when the season comes. And OTA's been a camp you've worked on from a technique standpoint that you focused on? Just being more patient, just trying to take on a bigger role as far as reading the offense, you know, once they come out in the formation, you know, getting my pre-snap reads so I can play fast once the ball snaps, you know, like I said, I wanted to be around the ball more this season. So that's what it's going to take to get lined up, knowing what's coming to me. Pre-snap, that way I can play faster. What do you think of the depth of the cornerback group now? Yeah, the depth is pretty good. You know, we got a young group and everybody's, you know, coming in, you know, ready to compete. Guys are trying to get a starting spot and just find their roles on the team. So I think I like the group that we have. Very competitive. And like I said, guys that want to have a starting role. Blake, you who played SEC competition, how much does that help going against high class, you know, caliber receivers week in, week out? Does that help make the jump? I mean, it's a pretty easy jump, I would say. It's not easy, but it's easy because you played against some of the guys that you're going against. But he knows that he's going to play against, you know, big physical receivers. He's done that already. The main thing, you know, is just getting the defense down, you know, and making sure you can play fast without thinking. So I don't think he'll have a problem, you know, with the competition that he's going against, because he's played against some of those guys. What do you do between now and the top camp stars? You saying what I'm doing now? What do you do, maybe to kind of get yourself geared up? Just making sure, you know, body is, you know, 100% healthy, you know, I won't go into the season, you know, healthy. With a clear mind, you know, just focused strictly on football. And that's going to be allowed me to, you know, play fast, you know, play in the defense. And just me with my trainers back at home, so I could be in shape for that 17 game. So I have a few guys back at home in New Orleans, NXT. And I have my trainer, Mo Wells, and Austin. Christian, how do you get the build off of the way you finished last year as a defense and carried over and be even better this year? Yeah, yeah, we all feel like, you know, we were decent. You know, it wasn't good enough on the defense side. So we see that there's potential. You know, we see what we brought back this year. Mostly everybody really. So we just want to keep that going. You know, we know we can be a special group. So that's just our challenge to us every day. We're not worried about last year, but we know what we got, you know, the potential that we have. If you reach that potential, how good? Go all the way. That's our goal, you know, that's the best. The best defense usually gets to the Super Bowl. So I think that's the potential. At the DB Room, what kind of, is there a challenge? And we've talked to some of the guys up front in the front set and they talk about how that group, you know, really came into its own last year. What about you guys in the back? Like, what's the feeling there? Yeah, like I said, I feel like the last year that we had what I was playing together, I feel like that would be a big plus for us, you know, because you got to have a lot of communication. You know, guys are coming in. Everybody has a different style, even though you have to play together. But I feel like we all have a feel for each other. We have a great feel for the defense with all of us having a year under our belt. So I feel like that would be, that's very big for us, you know, in the back end that'll help us. You know, I know the front seven is going to take care of their jobs, but it was some games, you know, where we had a bus in the second there. So I feel like that's helpful for us, you know, coming into this season, where we had that experience. And we could talk about those things and we just know where everybody's going to be at. How do you feel about the culture of this team? We still, we're still building our culture. You know, we got some new guys in. But I mean, I like where we headed at, you know, a lot of guys came in for a training camp, you know, just to get a feel. I mean, many camp just to get a feel, you know, what the culture is. I think we're headed in the right direction. But, you know, we're still building that throughout this time while we're here. He's on board with a plan with you and everybody else here to, you know, at this point during this mini camp, but is it all designed to help him be at his freshest come training camp in the season at this point? No, just doing exactly what we asked him to do, like everybody else, everybody's got a different plan and that's where we're at right now. What is it that he can accomplish, you know, being in the film as opposed to, you know, not having to fieldwork like some of the other guys? Well, we always ask guys that aren't, you know, practicing to be doing and working just as hard. That's gonna go on through training camp throughout the season. There's gonna be times where guys aren't with us on the field, but we're gonna need them on Sunday or whenever they can come back. So, you know, just stand up on the installation, you know, some guys have gotten, you know, eight weeks of it, some guys haven't. I would say that the guys that haven't been here have gotten caught up, you know, they got caught up pretty quickly. Can players do, by the time they leave here until camp starts, what your message be on how to get? Well, this is the most critical time of the off season. We talk about the nine weeks of OTAs, but, you know, these next five weeks will be the most critical time from the end of the season because, you know, we'll have the rookies here, Jim. We talked about that yesterday. You asked about that yesterday, you know, so Frank and everybody in the weight room will be working hard with them. It'll be hot. That'll be great for these guys to get out and get some of that and training that, you know, but then everybody kind of goes away. And so you don't wanna lose what we've put in and then come back and be ready to go, mentally and physically. With Traylin where he is at this point, is there a separate plan for him from the other rookies or how are you going about just getting him ready to go this off season? He'll be here on Monday. He'll be here tomorrow. You talked about how guys like Hilliard and Foreman had come in and how motivated they were by having been out of the league and on the street. Do you sense some of that same motivation and hunger in Josh Malone as he's coming here? Yeah, I think so. You know, I think that, you know, we'd all, you know, we're all trying to work as hard now that we have a job as when we didn't. And that's my responsibility to make sure that we're not getting too comfortable and complacent because we do have a lot of those guys that have, like you mentioned, that have come in here, bust their screen and Texans didn't, you know, they parted ways with Zach with Cunningham. There's just a lot of guys that have been, whether they're undrafted or somewhere else that things didn't work out that they've come here and take advantage of whatever opportunity that they've gotten. So, you know, Josh would be, you know, one of those guys in that category. Like for the onset, then two, three guys who are in the last month or so that's kind of stood out to you from the under group? You know, the only way that they would stand out is that they would be able to handle the installation quickly, make improvements. And again, physically, I think that that would be hard to determine, you know. So we'll reserve judgment for, you know, when we start playing. Beyond the operational stuff, what kind of strides has Malik made in revising the things that you guys want to? Well, I think there were some good, quick decisions yesterday in the red zone. I thought that there was, you know, did a nice job holding the safety's eyes and, you know, delivering ball on time. You know, again, it's hard and I watched it again after we finished, but, you know, it's hard in the jog through. We're doing the jog through to just get, you know, these plays in. And so I think that the timing isn't, it's not fair for the receivers in the quarterbacks. And, you know, and that's on me just to try to take care of those guys. The closer you get to the goal line, you know, guys are gonna start becoming more competitive. And I just reminded them like, let's just get these plays in, let's get them installed. And, you know, so I was conscious of the pace. You know, we don't have pads on and tight quarters. And so I think some of the timing, you know, down there wasn't very good. And they probably shouldn't even be throwing some of those balls. I just don't want to create bad habits. But yesterday there was some really, really good, quick, decisive decisions in the red zone. How about mechanically footwork, throwing motion? Well, just trying to get some things, you know, obviously when you progress through and you work from one read to the next, everything's gotta be in tune. You know, you gotta be able to move your feet and get your shoulder set. And then, you know, you teach them that and then at some point in time, they're gonna go out and play and manufacture some plays on their own and just be talented and be instinctive. And so there's a fine line between both of those. Are you not in the book or... With the occasional side arm throw or some of that impromptu stuff he does? Or would you like to be more consistent? I mean, we don't want to coach robots. I mean, we certainly want to make sure that that we're sounding what we're doing. But there's gonna be times in every position where guys are gonna, you know, if Harold comes under or gets a sack or, you know, bud runs around the back of the pocket and gets a strip sack. I mean, some of these things, and we've been through it as we're trying to create these poised and instinctive players that, you know, you gotta give them an opportunity to make plays, but they can't be reckless and affect, you know, what the entire team's doing. So that's just one example of a guy that feels like, you know, hey, I saw the guy jump up and I needed to change my arm angle. You know, we're gonna try to coach them and teach them, but then they go out and play and, you know, make sure that the results, you know, are there. Mike, the money-booker, what do you see as being the next step for him after a full year as a starter? Well, I mean, I think just continue to improve and take some ownership and, you know, continue to cover and, you know, when you have to get matched up with some bigger tight ends and, you know, we ask a lot of them and, you know, I think there was a, you know, he does a lot for us, he plays different roles and, you know, Blitz is and plays in the back part of the field. He's pretty versatile. Is there anything you say to the rookies before you all break, just preparing them for this first time before they go into fall camp and just kind of giving them... I mean, we'll have conversations with them the next couple of weeks. I'll be in here just watching them and, you know, seeing how they do. And, you know, now's not the time to go to the Bahamas and, you know, take long vacations. How big will the room with regard to the soft tissue injuries that we've talked about over time and you've talked about this being a crucial period on that? And I think you have to be able to train. You have to train in this heat. You have to stay hydrated. You have to go out there and, you know, train the way that you're going to practice and practice the way that you're going to play. So, conscious that the volume that they're going to be doing in the off season in those next couple of weeks are there, the speed, you know, we're able to track their speed. We were trying to get everybody up to, you know, at least 90% of their max game speed once a week throughout the off season, showed them the numbers, communicated with the players so that all of a sudden we're just not asking them to to run fast and then, you know, shock their system. So, you know, we took time and we have, you see all these things that are set up so that we can track it. If they're not hitting it in practice, we get them over to the side and get them that speed work and hopefully they're conscious of that while they're away from here. In the last three years in the post season, fans have very high playoff expectations. But what are your playoff expectations for this year? You know, first make them and then and win. It's a lot of the red zone drills. Austin Hooper specifically, from what you've seen here as well as maybe even before, what in your opinion, what's made him an effective red zone player? He's got good catch radius. He really, you've seen those contested throws where he's doing what we asked him to do and go and attack the football. He's athletic. I mean, it's not the fastest tight end, but I don't think you have to be fast to get open. I think you have to be crafty. I think you have to be athletic and use different speeds, use route craft, use, you know, different moves that, you know, match coverage that are going to help you get open. How has it been getting those groups biggest challenge going into camp? Probably just coming in shape, you know. Mike, this has kind of been a construction zone for two and a half years now. Is light at the end of the tunnel at this point and how hopeful are you that the third field? Yeah, no, those guys are working hard. It's going to be great. It's, you know, we're not on the best, you know, land here, but it's going to be amazing. I think that that should be ready to go here in middle of July. Hopefully transition over here, start working on this one at some point in time and, you know, give us, you know, the best surface that we can possibly have in this location. But we didn't mind the construction one bit. We have amazing offices, great place to teach. You know, our coaches are right by the building. We think, you know, Ms. Amy and her family all the time and we have the space, we have our entire organization. I've gotten to meet people that we haven't seen and we've hired during COVID or before COVID that I never got a chance to meet. And now they're in the same building and we have an organization is right here. So are you saying you'll have two fields during camp or are you going to do this one sometime down the road? Sometime down the road, I think, eventually. We're not going to do it during camp. No, we'll still have our three fields and then the bubble in there. Thanks, guys.