 Hey Shane appreciate your time. I know Mike has spoken highly of you this off season said that when he's in a different room Maybe you're gonna be the voice for the defense Can you speak to maybe the confidence that he has shown in you? And what do you think that means from you know? I guess in a Job description role when he says You're gonna kind of be the voice when he's not there. Yeah, I mean automatically my job First and foremost is to get these outside linebackers to play to highlight I want to develop them and continue to make sure they're doing what they're supposed to do and contributing the way they're supposed to do on our defense, but Mike's got a lot almost played so he needs somebody to help him out and I've been with him a long time The one thing I will say I think I'm a an extension of him when it comes to our defense and what he expects And what he wants I think that's where his confidence and comfort level comes With me just because we've been around each other for a while now So I think that's kind of where it stems from but Automatically for me man, it's it's about these outside linebackers first between myself Matt Edwards who's helping out with the inside and outside backers Making sure they're playing at a high level and then doing what I came to echo and reiterate some of the messages of what Braves Once done defensively as a unit And I want to ask you a one on the Andre Walker, I know he's a guy that probably could have benefited from the off-season after missing last season but From what you're seeing in him What are you hoping to see from him in camp and what does he need to show you the team in camp? Yeah, I'm excited for whenever we start start back in terms of going out there and actually Practice and seeing how he performs. I think he's learned and that's come a long way in terms of his mental mental aspect and understanding what we're trying to do at the position and defensively Automatically, it's about going out there and doing it. So I'm excited to see I think he's got some tools to work with He looks like an outside linebacker. He's what we're looking for It's just him being able to go out there and execute and do it at a high level Toronto So coach With Vic Beasley there were some different things being said about his work ethic when he was in Atlanta Is that something that you thought about as far as like as you develop your approach on how you're going to work with him as an individual? Honestly, I have never even met Vic I guess I think it's unfair for me to even have any assumptions about Anything whether he works or whether he doesn't work hard like once we get him here Whenever that is We'll kind of see and I the one thing I will say I think our culture as a team and as a defensive unit like If you ain't a hard worker, it's probably not going to work out too well, you know, and I think a lot of guys can form and What no matter whether they are or they aren't like they're going to fit into our culture and it's kind of the expectation level here I'm going to go about the same way I go about coaching all these other guys like there's going to be high expectations So whether you make it or not make it if you're not a hard worker You're probably not going to reach my expectation level. So that's just the nature of the beast But uh, the one thing I will say I think just our culture in general new guys, whoever they are whether it's big or anybody else I think we've got a good culture established established here from From John Robinson coach rabble from the top down in terms of what we're looking for what we want from the team And that from an X and O standpoint He did a really good job just as far as like those those TE stunts Is that something that you guys would would like to utilize him on because as I said, especially last year He did a really good job from that perspective. Yeah, absolutely. I think any time Anytime you watch these guys and you feel like they do things well like we want to incorporate those things Like we're trying to get every single player here in a position to do what he does best And I ultimately help help us play good defense and help the team win So, you know, somebody does something good We're gonna try to give them every opportunity to do that in the games and in practice and kind of go from there John I was gonna ask you I guess on the on the corner situation as well You know with Logan gone obviously something's gonna have to step in there at slot I know as you said your first responsibility as the backers But wondered if you could take a shot also there at you know Who might be the most likely candidate at this point to kind of get the bulk of the snaps in slot That be a Dory Jackson or you know, is it still TBD? Yeah, I think I think once we get out there come Mid-August I think we're going to try a bunch of different guys out there We've got a bunch of guys on the roster right now that we feel comfortable with in terms of competing for that role So it'll be interesting. We're gonna have to be creative as a staff offensively Just in terms of rotating guys and giving guys a chance with with this new structure that we have in terms of practice and everything else But we got to find ways to put Different guys in those situations so they can show what they can do and automatically compete to see who earns that role Had one quick follow on a different tack Jeffery Simmons Wondering again, I know you guys haven't been on the field But just in terms of getting a look at him maybe and you know spending some time with him Have you noticed the difference in you know, given the extra time that he's had to heal and strengthen up from from last year Yeah, right now. We haven't even seen those guys yet come back in because they've been a protocol I think I think their first time actually allowed in the buildings tomorrow in terms of us being able to at least see him But I mean just like you guys who seem to see in the videos and seeing some of that stuff So I think with coach Williams Myself and breakers and everybody our defensive staff are excited to get him back and actually have a healthy Jeff Simmons who has confidence in his health and everything else. So we're excited to see where he's at once he gets back in here Luke Hey Shane, you all lost a couple pieces at inside linebacker over the offseason to play Big roles for you all both on defense and special teams. I was wondering do you see that as maybe a position where because of Just the volume of what you lost is that somewhere where maybe an undrafted player or someone whose name We're not familiar with yet might have a chance to make an impact Yeah, I think with all these guys it's like we had this conversation the other day Like if these guys weren't here to compete to try to make the team And I know they're a little behind the eight ball compared to most years, but like they're still here Like we still got every opportunity ahead of them to make this team. We're not cut until I think September now So there's gonna be some time frames. They're all gonna get plays and get reps and obviously we lost some guys in that room and Whoever it might be whether it's second year guys, whether it's rookies Somebody's gonna have to step up and kind of claim that role and I think special teams plays a big part in that too Paul Carthage Hey Shane How much have you gotten to know Vic despite not meeting him? Yeah, so obviously we had the spring and we have some meetings and we do a lot of stuff and talk to me It's just it's a unique situation In terms of getting that's your first interaction and talking to him and you got all the other guys around too So it is a little unique, but maybe we've had good conversations. We've talked about things throughout the spring and before to get in here See Active participant that stuff we hear he's kind of a shy laid-back guy When you're in a meeting room in a zoom situation with a guy you haven't met like you said I'm curious about how a how a shy guy might be in that kind of yeah Yeah, I think I see he got more and more comfortable as a spring went in terms of that Honestly, we probably met with him a lot more one-on-one than in a group setting even just because All the other guys have been here, you know, so we're kind of trying To kind of expand from 100 level learning to 200 level learning so to speak so in terms of being able to Expand their horizons a little bit where Vic was starting out at ground zero in terms of our defense There's probably a little bit more one-on-one that even group Thank you. Yeah David bow Clark Shane is I understand that you started coaching in college when you got hurt Had you been thinking it at some point that you were gonna get into coaching or was that sort of an Accidental detour that has led you to this point. Yeah, ultimately man I thought I was gonna be a high school coach to be honest and then I got injured and had to do something to keep my scholarship and Paul Johnson asked me if I wanted to help out and stay on the program and From there some other guys got jobs and took the GAs away and there's a GA job and Kind of just went from there. So Much like Dean. I think Dean used to say he wanted to be a high school coach too, so Eric Hey, Shane, I just wanted to kind of follow back on, you know, you being that the voice in the room Are you planning? Are you preparing at all to call plays at any point during the season? Will you you know get practice at that during during practices walk-throughs during training camp? Yeah, I think right now. We're just everything scripted. We're going through everything as a defensive staff and I mean everything's there as we progress in the practice and there's some Overseas the unscripted periods. I think that's something me and Braves are just gonna kind of work through and see where things are at and Just comfort level with how we want to be able to get the call into the defense Again, ultimately, like I'm an extension of Mike when he ain't around. So however that ends up playing out We'll just have to see as we kind of work through it here once we get out there and get in some of these competitive situations Where we actually have to call some things that aren't scripted and Just one other question on a unrelated topic. I'm curious about your evaluation of Reggie Gilbert last season and how big a boost He could be just as a depth piece for that unit Yeah, I was pleased Reg came in and he actually gave us something like we Got here late. He was playing catch-up and he was coming off a knee injury But he came in and he produced and he contributed so I'm excited to get him back. I think he feels good health-wise So I'm excited here. He's here. He has a better presence. He's smart I think he could play multiple positions for us and do multiple things. So Yeah, he definitely has some value in our room just being a little bit of the older guy and being around a little bit So I'm excited about him. I'm excited to see what he does here this this training camp Gentry. Yeah, Shane. Obviously with Dean no longer around. That's a you know That's a pretty influential guy that you're having to replace and without the clear line of succession there I mean you're on here getting asked about cornerbacks and the line I mean is your role changed in terms of needing to take a little more oversight on the entire defense? I would say when when Mike's not around I mean just so we can function and get through what we have to get through Somebody's got to take the role in terms of Organizing the meeting and making sure we're checking all our boxes off as we prepare for practice for a season everything that comes with that But like I said, I think I said in the spring man, we got a great defensive staff I mean, I we all lean on each other with all that stuff has has done it He's been a head coach. He's been defensive coordinator. I mean, I'm very familiar with Midget and book and I've been around all these guys for the most part other than has I've been around all these guys at some point in my career. So I mean, I think as a group We're doing a good job in terms of collaborating as we've worked through some of this stuff But yeah, like when push comes to shove and we got to kind of move on to the next next task Like I'm going to push it that way Terry got a couple here for you Shane. First of all in regards to how things will work You've said that you'll be an extension of Mike and be his voice when when he's not around How will that relate to your involvement in first of all putting game plans together throughout the week? And then the play calls on on game day Yeah, I think I don't see game plan being much different. I mean Mike was involved last year Obviously not to the extent that he's going to be this year with having Dean But he was still involved in Game plan it is a group effort through and through like everything we're talking through everything together We're coming up with the best plan because ultimately every coach has to be comfortable with what we want to do and Feel comfortable teaching it to their players and that their players can actually execute on Sunday So that's a I think that's a group deal. So I don't see that changing a whole lot In terms of play calls on game day, like I said, I think that's just something we got to work through here This training camp and kind of see where things are at in terms of what Braves feels like he's comfortable doing on game day and Everything else. So I think that's going to be something that we work through here this next month before we get to September 14 the other thing was Derrick Rogerson he came on last year at the end of the season though had the some some good past rushes and things like that even Played a lot in the playoff games and all what's the next step for him to become more of a Factor in the rotation. Yeah, I think for him, man, it's ultimately just Developing on first second down. I think he can rush and he's still got to improve as a rusher He's got to take it to the next level, but that's where he's flashed early on in his first year but with missing the spring and Kind of with everything going on now Like he's got to turn the page pretty quick and get back here and hopefully he's been working this off season just in terms of His development and the first second down run and pass game I think that's that's really where I want to see him take the next step and where ultimately he will develop a little bit bigger role Last couple Shane John Glenn Obviously no preseason games this year considering you guys are working in some consistent coaches and and you know some some players also at key positions What's the challenge there of being able to do that smoothly without any preseason games? Yeah, I think you've got to be creative with how you practice and you've got to simulate As many game-like situations as you can for these guys I mean, it's it's a unique. It's a unique year the timelines totally different Everything I mean, it's all different. We talked about it being the new norm and we got to get adjusted to it But I think in terms of the schedule, it just comes down to being creative and Braves is already on top of all that stuff He has a plan together and it's it's finding ways to simulate games in practice and doing it safely Smart all that comes with that But we got to put these guys in competitive situations to see who who rises to the occasion and who kind of disappears so to speak We got it. We got to find ways that to figure out who we want here when when it's all said and done. I Wonder if there's any example that that you might be able to think of that that you can do that You know simulating games further than then than most years Yeah, I mean we've done it in the past with some of those scrimmages, whether it was a centennial or for a Stadium scrimmage or all all those types of things. I think we got to make sure we do some of that stuff I mean, we are just talking even for the coaching staff like how we're gonna operate on game day We're not having all those practice runs either. So whatever it might be like I think we we have to find a way to Simulate it in terms like it's gonna be on September 14th when we go to Denver as best we can Just to get a trial run make sure everybody's on the same page like little things from where you go warm-ups like all that stuff goes I know this but you want to make sure you cover your basis So these guys are prepared and not not all over the placement. They need to be focused on winning a football game in Denver Last one Jim what? Shade I know coach is always looking for different ways to help players improve their technique help them improve as a player overall You've always been a hands-on coach I mean with the COVID-19 any challenges or if you thought about even things you'll need to do differently moving forward Do you think it's it's still? You can operate and teach this way you have over the years Yeah, I mean we'll have to see how this thing goes I mean I'm sure I'll have a mask on a practice if I have to have a mask on a practice And ultimately whatever whatever these guys need these players need to make you feel safe Like our organization has went out their way from the top down man Like it's it's it's unbelievable what they've done the planning Structure the facility the protocols and procedures that are in place like Ultimately, it's about the players and whatever they feel safe with Ideally, I want to be able to coach how I've done in the past by the same time Like if they're not comfortable with that then I'll have to adjust and go from there because Last thing I want them to have to worry about is There's all that stuff when I'm worried Worried about them putting their hands in the right spot and some of those other things that we could probably get away with doing a different way