 Good afternoon. How you guys doing? I thought it was great. Again, you know the intensity rises a little bit. I thought guys went out there, especially coming off a day off and played well. You know, we're just going to continue to stack these days and get better. One of the things that necessarily changes my mindset, I think as a backup you have to prepare like you're the starter. So the last couple of years that's been my mentality. So for me, nothing's really changed. Just continuing to build chemistry with our guys and making sure that everybody's on the same page so that when we get out there we're rolling. Do you feel like maybe you have more of a vocal leadership though in this position or voice? Yeah, I would say so. That comes with the position. But I think, especially with the Raiders, it was a lot of guys kind of and we all collaborated and tried to make the offense what it was. So I don't feel like I'm saying more than I need to or if there's any sort of weirdness or awkwardness for me. So I'm very comfortable with where I'm at. And you know, just continue just trying to help these guys feel comfortable and so we can go out there and play well. Marcus, how long were you with Coach Smith before you realized what his family background was? Right. Honestly, I think probably a couple of years. I had no idea. So obviously it's not something that he talks about at all? No, not at all. He talks though in sort of business language. He does appear with us sometimes. He uses phrases that you would most closely associate with business stuff. Is that ever popped in your head? Not necessarily. He might be a little different when he's with you guys than maybe in a team meeting. But no, I think art has always been very personal with all of us and has been straight since the start. If you were born into a billion dollar corporation or whatever it is called? I'm a little weird. I love the game. I think that's what's really cool with Coach Smith is that his passion, obviously he doesn't need to be doing something like this, but I think his passion, his drive, his motivation is so great. And I love being around it. And I think when you're a guy that's in that situation and that position and you're out here every day pushing your guys and leading the way that he leads, it's fun to be around. Maybe make him a little bit different as a coach or maybe other coaches you've been around because, like you said, he doesn't necessarily need to be here. Yeah, that's hard to say. I think if you ask a lot of guys, if you didn't know his background, you would have no idea. I think that's kind of how he carries himself. So as a coach, the way that he leads, the way he communicates, isn't any different. And I think what stands out in my mind is the way he leads. I think he's always pushing guys to be the best that they can be. And it's a privilege to be around it. Does anybody have a robust as chops about it? Like UPS jokes or anything like that? I wouldn't say it's off limits. We were trying to get Dez to get a snack shipped in UPS, but I don't know, we'll see if that happens or not. How does the competition change? I'm sorry. How does the competition change when you're on a team with a lot of players on these kind of one-year proof of ideas? I don't necessarily, I think for one, it creates an atmosphere when you're out at practice where guys understand that this might be their last opportunity or this might be the best opportunity they've gotten in a couple years. So the competition on a practice is at a high level. And when you're able to do that, it creates game-like situations and game-like scenarios that when this team gets out there and we start week one, I think guys will be very comfortable with where they're at. Even though you're not necessarily in that situation with your two-year contract, do you feel like that in some ways too? No, no. I think one of the biggest lessons I learned while I was in Tennessee is that it is a merit-based business and you have to perform. And in this position, there's always going to be guys that are coming in that want to play in your spot. So I think day in and day out, you have to continue to prove not only to yourself but to the people around you that you can play and you can lead. So I don't take this opportunity very lightly. Is there an unspoken bond between people like that, players like that, where you kind of know that we're both in it, maybe we've been overlooked or underlooked and now we can help each other? Yeah, I think that's a great point. I think a lot of guys, you know, I've played with a few guys over the course last couple of years that are kind of in that situation. So there is a bond, I think there's a relationship, there's an easy rapport. So I would agree with that. But I think what's kind of cool about this team is everybody gets along really well. You know, you're not clicky, there's not like different groups of people. I think really everyone just likes to hang out with each other, which I think in the long run will be good for us. No, I wouldn't sit here and compare him to anybody else. I think he's got a very unique skill set, one that benefits us and we just got to find ways to get in the ball. I have to treat this a little differently. Not necessarily, I think he really makes it easy on us. For a guy that his size, his catch radius, his length, his ability to get in and out of cuts, you know, makes it easy on us. His body language as a receiver makes it simple. So we know when he's coming in and out of breaks. We know when he's going to break down. So it's a credit to him and I think as we continue through camp, that's just going to continue to grow. In terms of that scale, is he a pretty mature route runner for a year or two guy, you think? From what I've seen, yeah. You know, everyone's got a skill set. Everyone can always get a little better at some things. And, you know, for Kyle, it's just continuing to push some of those things so that, you know, he can run really anything on the field that allows him to get in different situations in different matches. How close do you think he is to being able to learn anything? I would say he's pretty close, yeah. What is it that makes him problematic? I think from a standpoint that he is physical. He's very athletic, obviously. You know, just being around him, his football IQ is very high. You know, you can see that he's pattern reading. He's kind of understanding what's going on. So, you know, it's for a young player, at least for me. I think it's pretty impressive. Marcus, Mr. McGinnon here is with Keith. What was it like having the first day of padded practice today for you guys? Yeah, it was great. It was great. You know, anytime the pads come on, intensity rises a little bit. But I thought guys came, especially coming off a day off, guys were out there ready to go. As a vet, do you like how you're kind of eased back into things with the pads and kind of ramping it up as you go, I guess? I mean, for me, I don't get touched. Pads, for me, don't really make a difference. But no, I think you can, you look around, guys are fresh, especially coming off a day off. You know, guys are running around great. So, I really like with how our schedule is going and how Coach Smith has, you know, built it. You might not get touched, but you feel some heat. You're talking with Jake about the competition overall on the line. You sense those guys a little bit more, just knowing that there's some open spots and then collectively compete a little bit more. Yeah, and from a standpoint too, I think they all understand that if they push each other, the whole room's going to get better. You know, so when you have leaders like Jake in there that can kind of rally the troops and get guys going, you can see the play on the offensive line has really elevated and makes us all excited. Marcus, what would you say? We heard Arthur and Dane both talk about culture and building and all these things that are not on the field. Can you speak to what that feels like now that you're part of this? Can you see where that is violent to the success overall this team? No doubt. I think if you look across the league, everyone's very talented. I think, you know, gaming and game out, there's going to be guys on the other side of the ball that you're like, he's a great player, this and that. I think we have those type of players here, but what it comes down to is, you know, talent can only take you so far. When you have a group of guys that are willing to sacrifice and go out there and put in the work, that's when your team gets better and, you know, you start getting guys that really believe in what you're doing. So it's fun, it's fun to be around. I think we got a young group of guys that really just enjoy being around each other, enjoy coming out and competing. And that's half the battle, man. If you can get that out of your young cats, I think you're going to do pretty good and do some good things. I know you wouldn't admit it when you were with previous teams and previous cultures, but have you seen a disconnect and how bad culture, you know, what it is right now leads to bad success or performances and fights versus... Yeah, no doubt, no doubt. You know, unfortunately with how the NFL is, like we talked about a little earlier, it is a merit-based business and you're paid accordingly. So, you know, guys sometimes will think selfishly and will focus on what is, you know, their motives. And it makes it tough, you know, if a guy is not going to be willing to sacrifice, you know, maybe not to get an extra yard on that third down because he's worried about getting hurt or, you know, something along the lines of that. You know, it is tough because, you know, you're sitting there, you're kind of climbing an uphill battle. But what's fun about this team is it is young and some of those guys don't necessarily understand that part of it yet. So you can kind of help mold them a little bit and try to help them understand that if you just come out here and compete and if we win games, you know, around you, we'll get what they want. A lot of learning, like a learning curve and all that, you know, especially seeing how physical everything is and how fast-paced it is, so it's good. What did you learn? You said learning curve goals, some of the things on that curve. Yeah, you know, just like, obviously you're still learning on offense and still learning on special teams, you know, just trying to build that mode, build the player that I'm trying to be. We always hear that the first day pass is that kind of intense, more intensity than the last couple of days or whatever. Did you really feel that today? Honestly, it's just a lot more physical. We've been competing like the whole last week, so you know, it's really just adding more pads onto it because, you know, this group of guys, we're a really fast and physical group and that's what we strive to be, so we went good. What's it like every day in practice kind of having that high level of intensity and competitiveness, even without pads? Sure, it keeps you on your toes for sure. But you know, I think everyone just has the right mindset, so you know, it's been good. What's been the adjustment for you, just as a rookie? I mean, obviously first, there's been a lot of practical practice and pads, but just this whole thing has been the first for you. Yeah, honestly, all of the above, all of the above, but you know, I'm getting the hang of it now, getting the hang of it now and it's been going pretty well. What's been the maybe biggest surprise or kind of thing you weren't expecting? I don't know. I'm not sure, actually. That's a good question. You gotta come back, yeah. A couple weeks or so. Yeah, no, for sure. Does it seem a blur up there? Does it seem like you're just going too fast? No, I think once you get a hang of the playbook and all that, now you can just play fast and literally just, okay, what do I got? Boom, and then just do what your coach did. When did you start to feel that way that you could play more than one? I would say probably after... No, no, rookie mini-cam. No. I'll say once you got the playbook, so like probably like the last couple weeks of OTAs and stuff, once you get the playbook. No, actually during the break, because once you got the break, you have so much time just to study the plays and all that. I think after that, now it's just, okay, I got this. Boom, and then on to whatever it is. I'm glad that you brought up the offseason. What was kind of your goal, I guess, the five weeks that y'all were away from Flurry Branch? You were away from camp? What were you kind of doing during that time? Yeah, getting in the best shape in my life, that and studying the playbook really. Literally just doing that day in and day out. Because the faster you learn the playbook, the faster you'll be on the field. So that's really how it is. Have you had your welcome to the NFL moment yet? What's that supposed to be? We're not in college anymore. Um, yeah, I would say for sure. Which was? Um, I don't know. I don't know. But it's for sure clicked. So I know it happened one time. I just can't remember. What have you seen out of the group of running back so far and the way that you guys are able to compete? Shoot, we have a lot of vets in there. Just really just learning from them, learning how they work, learning what they strive for and all that. It's been a good group. What have you learned in just observing those guys? Yeah, really just what they look at, what they look at in the whole, how they pursue practice and stuff, how much they treat their bodies and stuff. It's literally treating your body. That's literally the moneymaker right there. So really just watching them do what they do. On Saturday, Arthur Smith was talking about how it was the most competitive practice that he's seen since he's been here. What was different about Saturday? We've been competing all week, but Saturday, I don't know. It was like a whole different mindset. I want to say it was the same mindset, but the intensity just kicked up. Offense was on defense throw, defense was on offense throw. It was just everything. How does that help you in the adjustment to get to the NFL? The fact that everyone's competing, everyone's hungry, everyone's kind of on the same page early. I think it's good because I just feel like everyone has that same mindset. I think it's all just a mindset thing. If you want to, we're really competing for a job. Shoot, everyone's competing. I think that's really the main thing. Just having a whole group of guys competing just brings the intensity all the way up. How do you personally approach competition? Shoot, just going against the other guy and trying to win that rep. I'm assuming you like competition. I wouldn't be here if I didn't shoot. You mentioned learning from the other running backs. You guys all have very different skill sets. What have you maybe taken from some of those guys that you didn't have maybe before? Shoot, I would say just trying to be that all around back because all of them have different skill sets. We have some scats, some that are pretty good at options, some that can go out of empty and stuff. You know, just learning those things and trying to implement those into my game while still playing with my style as well. Just kind of nitpicking all of those, really studying that and then just trying to build the player. Now that you've had a bit of time to get to know Arthur Smith, what do you think about him and who he is as a head coach but also as a play caller? No, yeah, no coach. Smith is a great guy, shoot. There's actually really just great listening to him and just hearing what he has to say and really his mindset with everything. I think he wants us to be like the most physical fast and like just like mentally tough team and I think he's really showing that especially with how practice and everything's been going, especially in meetings as well. So it's been good. I don't remember who I was talking to but they made the time. It may have been Kyle. Coach Smith laid the ground for us on day one that we are going to come out here and be competitive. Is that something that you felt that very first day coming out here? Oh, yeah. Coach Smith says the best people, the best 53 or 40, whatever they think, they're going to play. So that's what literally flames everyone's head. That's what the mindset that's going to be. So I think that with that being said, it just brings everyone, it just puts a fire in everyone at that level. It's funny because I think Arthur has always been very open and honest with what you're saying. The best guys are going to play. He's not really a guy about like seniority. You're like, oh, you've been here for 10 years. I don't care. For you coming into this, in your rookie year to hear that and to be like, you know what, we're all on the same level. What does that kind of make you feel that day? Honestly, I honestly just take it day by day because anything could happen. I just got to make the most out of every rep that I get. And I think that's probably the most important thing because you can't say and just take it. Like I said, take it day by day. If you have a bad practice yesterday, then just don't brush it over. Today's a new day. You're still doing what you're doing and just learn from that mistake and just be coachable. I'll put one more if that's okay. Can you give a specific example of this competitiveness because you keep hearing that, like maybe some of you experienced a story or something. Yeah, I would say like within the running bit or just in general. Is there anything maybe that you've experienced or seen that you're like, oh, wow. There's a bunch of fights. Like we don't fight just because we, like it's just like just being competitive, like knocking each other's heads and stuff. It's really just being physical. Like we wanted to be the most physical team and that's how we're being physical against each other, but obviously being safe as well. Is it like someone's like talking trash? Is that kind of how that happens? There's trash talking all over the place, but I think that's what fires up everyone as well. But you kind of have to keep yourself level because you don't want to freaking just start. Like if someone talks trash, you just want to start fist fighting, but you just got to keep level but still talk trash as well. So, you know, it's just a dog in everyone. So, you know, yeah. Thank you, thank you. Yeah, a lot to be thankful for just getting back into the groove of things after the injury and everything. Missing OTA's kind of sucked, but you know, it's part of, it comes with the territory injuries and stuff and I take care of my body and I feel like I'm getting back into the groove out here with the fellas. How, I think Coach there was a knee. You had to get a knee operation? Yeah, I had to get a little minor knee scope. I'm saying knee that I heard back in 2019, but it's all, nothing I haven't been through before but it's just a little bit of maintenance stuff. I get older, so. But I feel like a kid again almost and just ready to get back into the groove of things. And then, how did you kind of do the off-season? Just 30 in and, you know, how did you try to do it? I know they gave you a time off and so put the rehab, but I know you don't want to just not do nothing. Yeah, I mean, I tried to stay up on top of the playbook and everything, just making sure that I was mentally still grinding and getting my mental reps and whatnot. That's the most you can do when physically you can't perform out there with them. So I was just trying to be there, be a veteran presence in the locker room for these young guys. We've got a young squad and stuff, so I think it's important to have that and I just wanted to be there as much as I could. And how is the offense, 30 year offense, do you sense y'all guys are, you know, everybody was here, a lot of people back, not on the outside, but of course back, do y'all feel this nation better? Yeah, 100%. It's just like anything, as you get more repetitions, it starts to become second nature and I think being in the second year in the system is only going to help us in the long run. You know, we kind of had a young line last year and just being, like I said, being in the second year, everybody's kind of gelling more and you can feel the energies there. And your role in the run game, I know they want to get the run game going and I know that probably what you want to hear. Where is that at and how do y'all think you have to get it going? I think that's where our offense revolves from, you know, and I think it all stems from the run game and I think that's a big important piece that we're working on this summer, just trying to refine all the details and like I said, second year in the system, just trying to get as good as we can to be ready for the season. Where you see Tyler, you know he's a rookie, but he looks like he leans and sponges on a lot of guys too. Tyler, you're running back. Tell me a little bit about what you see from him and just how he's picked everything up. He's real conscious. I think he just pays attention and he's on his details and he's got a real humble spirit and I think that's what young guys got to have when they come in. You know, coming from a big program or whatever, all the success you had as a young guy, it doesn't really matter at this level. You know, it's all about what have you done for me lately. So I think he approaches the game as a professional and he's a great teammate. You feel like you're back a little deeper this year. I mean, it's not just one guy you guys have brought some people in. It could be just a balanced running attack rather than number 84. Yeah, no, 100%. But I think that's the beauty of it. It's going to be a committee type group, you know, and I think as we start to build this thing, we'll all start to get our own roles and we feed off each other. So I think it's a good thing. Someone might have asked about this before I got here, but the competitiveness of this training camp so far, I mean, we obviously have self-saturday. Arthur Smith talked about how this is, you know, the most intense camp he's kind of seen so far. I mean, what's your perspective on that? I think it is. It's a high energy atmosphere and I think that's what we need, especially coming off the season that we had. There was a lot of disappointments, you know, and I think we did a lot of good things, but I think we're building off of those and just correcting these mistakes and I think it starts with the energy and just having that mindset. Mindset is key in this game all across the board. So I think poaching it the right way every day like we have, I think we're on to something. Because you've been here a couple of years, I'm sure you've seen kind of that progression of how it's gotten to this point. Do you have like a story from this camp so far that you're like, oh wow, it's different this year? Just a little... I don't know how accurate the statistic is, but I heard that there's only 30 people out of the 90 people that we had last year and I think that just kind of goes to show like how young and how fresh a lot of it is, but I think it's a good thing too because we got fresh new faces, new personality and we're just building off of it and I'm excited about it. And to go off that, you're seeing a lot of new guys, young guys, some of the players are saying it almost has a college practice like atmosphere, a lot of trash talk. Can you go a little crazy? Did you say that? Yeah, 100%. You know, we just, like I said, we feed off each other and I think the competitiveness is good for us. It makes everybody better. So it's always a good thing when guys are kind of going at each other. What's it like to be surrounded by a bunch of guys that are really on these kind of one-off fields and trying to fight to keep a roster spot? I think it's just, it comes with the game. I mean, you know, nobody really cares about the contract. It's all about what you're doing and staying in the moment, you know what I'm saying? And I know guys are working for different things, but at the same time, it's like the ultimate goal is to win and win the championship. And I think if guys continue to stay on that mentality, we're going to be successful. Even though it's super early, you think that this defense is going to be more competitive this year? You just see, you can see the energy, you know what I'm saying? And that's one thing that being a defensive guy from the core, starting my career as a defensive guy, you know that, you kind of feed off of that energy. You know, and that young, youthful, just sporadic, you know, you want that, you want that spontaneous. And I don't know if that's a word, but anyways. It is now. All right. But I think it's a good thing for us. Did you see Dean Pease's comments from Saturday? I didn't. I missed them. Did you hear about it? No, I didn't. Basically, he was super fired up about the fact that a lot of people sleep on the Falcons. Oh, yeah. Yeah, no. I mean, we just shut out the chatter. You know, nobody can judge us. You know, like, we know what we have. We know what we're putting in the work every day, day in and day out. And that's what it's going to be. And we'll prove it when the lights are on. So we're not worried about none of that. Congrats on the baby. I heard people say it to you. Everything going good? Yeah. No, everything's blessed. My lady's good. She's recovering. My son, he's healthy. So all is good. Does it give you a fresh perspective of life? 100%. You know what I mean? Just, this is my first boy. So it's near and dear to me. He's going to be a third named after me as well. So I'm excited just to have that legacy of my last name continue and it's just a blessing. Love that. Congratulations. Thank you.