 Derek, Brian's got his pilot's license. Has he offered to take you up, and if he did, would you? Oh, no, I'm not going up there. I pray for him, though, to pray that he's safe. It's been going well, so it's cool things that guys, hobbies that guys have, it's a cool one, but I won't be up there at all. Like, chill, watch movies, work out. It's simple stuff. I don't get too crazy with it. I ain't even flying on planes, I know that. I had to pick up some other ones. It's time to go on, but flying on a plane ain't one of them. What's your regular interaction with Kevin Ackside, or are you, for him, to get this opportunity? Yeah, of course, he's a great coach. He's very cool. Of course, very forgiving opportunity. And I feel like he's worked hard for it. You know, all his guys, they love him on a D-line. And, you know, it's a blessing. And I hope it pays for it to give him another opportunity when that time comes. How much do you value the practice time you get during special teams when you work with your position coach around your own? Yeah, just trying to come out and get better, and just get some work in when they're doing special teams, and know anything that I feel like I need to work on. Just try to do that at that time. Do you predetermine what you're working on in the locker room, or? No, no, no. Just whatever comes to my mind that I want to do, I try to do it. The field's here, grass. In the East-On-State, you've had the grass to make the change over the turf. Having worked on the same turf in the bubble, what's your thoughts on facing the season being on that this year? Yeah, I mean, we've got to play on it. That's what the field is now. I've been, we've been on it for a year since last year. So kind of used to it, and then get a feel for it as the season goes on once we start playing on it, going full speed, and tackling and all that. But we've played on turf throughout the years, coats, and then Houston-Texas have turf. So it's not really way too hard to get used to. How do you use it from some of the other turfs in the league? I think you've got to keep watering it. I don't think it has the, I think it's more like coconut pebbles or something like that. It's different from the normal turf. So I think that's a little different from it. So we'll see how it goes when we get up there. You look at this offense over the last four years, so it's revolved around you. What was pride to you taking the fact that you're the focus on it all? Man, man, I think it's going to take everybody. I'm very fortunate to be able to help this franchise and be a big part of this offense. But it's going to take everybody. We're going to need everybody on hand, everybody make plays, and it's enough ball to go around for everybody and get opportunities to help us each and every week. And some great guys make plays for us. So excited about that. Do you feel like that puts a lot on your shoulders in fact that you're guaranteed to, you're always going to get the ball and then they run to serve, pass, and stuff like that? I embrace it all. I mean, it don't matter. Pressure makes diving, so I ain't tripping at all. So whatever it takes, I'm going to go out there and do what I can to help us win. Has Tim created ways to lighten the box more frequently with formations, with personnel and stuff like that? It's been awesome to learn and being this new offense challenged us to know a lot of things. So it's just been fun with that. And coming out here as an offense, you know I'm not going to give you anything, but just coming out here learning, putting the plays together from the meetings, guys making explosive plays, guys improving every day, and then whatever new plays that we got, come out here and work on them and try to get the best out of each and every day. So you're at Tim was obviously in the building last year, but as a play called, what are maybe these defining attributes that you would notice as well? Um, I think the energy Tim brings every day. You know, that's the first thing I can think of. Energy he brings, making sure that we're locked in every day. You know, trying to give guys opportunity to make plays in different ways, which I think is very cool and a lot of guys are excited about that and just come out here and put the plays together around the field. With that example of talking to Taniel, receiving the same grants and sense of urgency, does it do the same thing for you? Like as a running back, how does that temple work out with that team? Yeah, you got to have a sense of urgency. You know, especially where you want to run the offense and the things you want to do. I think everybody has to have a sense of urgency at each position. And I think everybody feels that everybody knows what to expect and then go out there with a sense of urgency to get it done. Derek, do you remember in your first three-season game, like so long ago, obviously, but the feeling you had and then maybe some of the stuff you could share with the players going into this weekend? Yeah, I was very antsy. I couldn't wait, I couldn't wait to get in the game. You know, playing in the NFL has always been a dream. Oh my, I know these guys are excited. They've been talking about it, so I can't wait to see them go out there and ball. So, I know the feelings and anything I can help with them. I mean, I try to help. But yeah, it's a fun moment, very cool. And you just want to go out there and play well. There are a lot of new faces on this offense. So, want to house the elites in this family-band group as you go on to practice after practice, or as you go to the police? Yeah, it's been good, man. Guys working, trying to get better. Working great collectively, it's a new group. And just trying to get used to our culture and how we do things and playing to our standard and fight those guys and trying to do it every day and getting better every day. That's all you should want. Derrick, at this point in camp, at age 29, how does it feel different from age 25, 26? Still feel 21. But no, no, it's not really that much different. Work is work, no matter what age you are. You got to come out here and put the work in to get the results. And that's always been the main focus as I came in this league. And that's what it'll be until I'm done playing. But the work is the work, no matter what age you are and how you feel. Got to come out here and work and get it done. Here's an assumption that when running backs hit Thursdays, that they're not going to be the same anymore. And I do wonder how much do you look at other backs or other backs or feel that you're different from the stereo type of runner? Yeah, man, I can't worry about somebody else. I'm my own man, I'm my own person. I mean, everybody has their own story, their own journey. And I'm just focused on mine. Whatever it says, I can't worry about that. I can't worry about coming out here and getting better. I mean, the best player I can this year and continue to grow and get better. Getting excited for that first pre-season game is a real key. At what point now in your career do you start to get excited for the season start? I'm always excited when football comes back around. Been excited since I was a little boy and I won't stop. There was a big cheer in the huddle on the end of practice, what was that about? Sit again? At the end of practice, you guys were in the huddle and it was a big cheer. How did you come up with that? Oh, Hailey, one of our strength coaches, you guys' coach put on staff for the year and it was very cool to have a woman on staff and empowerment for young women to, you know, see that, you know, there's a chance for women to work in the NFL and have an impact. And that's very cool for her to get the opportunity to be here. She's been doing a great job, so we're all just excited for her. Practice more than usual in camp. Is that related to the third day being a walkthrough? Is that related to being one to be out there for the new offense? Is that because you got tired of the sand pit? No, it's the new offense, man. You gotta get reps in and, you know, get used to everything and, you know, want to be out there with the guys, but just really just getting the reps in with the new offense and getting used to everything and come out here and trying to get better. Relative to the competition with the defense right now? I mean, all you can want as an offense is come out here and give effort every day. Each is every single one of us and try to get better. Some days it's gonna be better than others. Some days it's gonna be worse than others, but at the end of the day, launch a growth mindset and try to come out here and do the best you can and everything that happened the way it's supposed to, but everything's not gonna be smooth every day. That's the point of training camp. How did it maybe differ this year from the past and how much do you think it's helped you at this point in camp? I mean, it was very different, you know, just a different setting, you know, different training, different ways to take care of my body. I feel good. I feel like I was in better shape, you know, coming into this camp and I think it shows, but I was able to, you know, really just put together a full off season, you know, of training, strictly training and not necessarily just rehabbing something or coming off of surgery. So I think that's like the biggest difference for me coming into this off season. You feel like this is the best shape you've ever been in for training camp? Yeah, and I definitely, you know, I felt like I had a good conditioning run and then come day one, you know, I was ready to go. And I think it's shown, you know, with me being out there every day, I think my first, you know, three camps, you know, I kind of went down maybe a day or two, you know, early, whatever it was, you know, but this off season, you know, I've been able to, you know, stay out there day by day and be out there with the guys. Anything different for you? South-wise, you're bigger. You're feeling weight coming in this season. It's so, should I make you even more durable? Yeah, probably more leaner, you know, probably put on more muscle. I'm pretty much the same weight, but like I said, just bigger, you know, muscle-wise. And I think that's helped me on the field, like with my play, you know, as far as being physical, you know, whether that's at the line of streaming or, you know, at the top of the route, which is where the route's one at mainly. What kind of a measuring stick is it for you, practice to practice, don't you have to against a guy like Deandre? It's a big measuring stick for me, you know, just because he's a guy, you know, that put up great numbers yearly, you know, since he's been in the league. And he's not, I don't think he's going to slow down. So with him being one of those top guys, you know, one of those top five receivers in the league, it is a great measuring stick, you know, to go against him, you know, and see what he can get from me, you know, where I could be better at or where I could make him better at. So, I mean, I've been looking forward to, you know, every day, definitely can't come, you know, slow any day, can't come off. Chris, you want to prove this year, do you think you're taking your game to the next level? Yeah, yeah, definitely. I'm coming into every season, you know, with something to prove, but definitely this year. Besides, I mean, not really worried about the contract, but just as a corner, you know, I feel like I am one of those top guys in this league. And I mean, I got to go out there and show it week to week. Obviously, I know that, but I feel like my talent is there. And I feel like I can go with the best of them, you know, whenever I went up against one of those top receivers in the league, I pretty much held my own since I've been in the league, but it's just about doing it consistently. The coaches have said that they've preached to you in the systems issues. How important is it to you to be consistent from what you did this offseason? Are you sure you're able to every down there, anything like that? It's very important, you know, they could drill it in my head, you know, as much as they want, but, you know, I got to be the one to want to be consistent. I got to do things off the field consistently. And that's going to lead to, you know, consistently me playing, you know, obviously only on Sundays is the surface level, but, you know, I got to do everything about eating right, taking care of my body on my off days, doing what I can after practice, you know, stuff like that, you know, that's going to like push me to be consistently day by day. You mentioned eating right. Me and Lee, for the muscle, have you done any dietary change? I know that pops, you know, that's true. Oh, yeah. I know that pops, you know, have you changed the diet? Yeah, yeah, you know, just not eating as, you know, as much like meat as I can. I mean, as I should, you know, did, you know, in the past, but, you know, eating certain things, you know, I got a chef this past off season and he's been in contact with our nutritionist, you know, to put together a plan on what will keep me, keep me ready to go week to week. So definitely watching what I eat, you know, and, you know, like I said, just being consistent with eating three meals a day, you know, not eating, you know, a lot of junk food, all that, you know, comes into play. What was the junk food that was the tough give up? Fried food, fried. I mean, it's not junk food, but, you know, just fried food, you know, I feel like, you know, that kind of, you know, had an effect on me. I don't eat as much snacks, you know, as I used to. Just little things like that, you know, just trying to perhaps make sure that my body is in the best shape that it can be, you know, week to week, you know. How do you feel like this secondary is taking the biggest steps here? Communication and our confidence, you know, I feel like we're always a good group, but Coach Harris has came in, Coach Book, you know, they've all seen us. They see our potential as a group, you know, not just individually, and once we communicate better, you know, it leads to less bust, you know, in the back end and us being on the same page to where we're confident, you know, just building trust in each other. We're confident in each other, you know, that we're all going to do our job. And I think that's where we, you know, took the next step. And like I said, everyone out there, you know, flying around playing with confidence, you know, that's, you got confidence, you know, you can go against anybody, you know, and that's the biggest step I think we took. How important has Sean's voice been in the secondary just having somebody who wasn't here last year kind of helping you guys out? Yeah, it's been big. Me and him, you know, just been building, you know, together. I feel like we know kind of in the same position, you know, where we trying to prove ourselves in this league, you know, we've shown that we can play with the top guys. And, you know, we just try to build off each other, you know, on and off the field. And I feel like it's definitely, like I said, we kind of growing together, you know, because, you know, my first few years, you know, I always had like an older vet, you know, that pretty much know what he's doing, he has his regimen, whatever. And like I said, me and him are growing, you know, and trying to be a leader for the young guys, you know, in the mean room, you know, and on the field. KB's still there, you don't get to pick that one. I mean, I pretty much see myself as a vet now, you know, because sometimes, you know, we meet as just corners and sometimes we meet together. So when we are meeting as just corners, you know, I got to make sure that I'm vocal to the younger guys and making sure, you know, showing them that I'm on my stuff, you know, and the calls, making the checks and stuff like that to show them, you know, that's how I got to go. You know, we can't always rely on KB and hook, you know, to make every call. And like I said, just being a voice in the mean room and on the field, you know, I feel like I've pretty much shown that during camp and just got to continue to show it. Some of the other stuff, maybe gotten better, maybe even crushed you so far, can you? Obviously, you know, Trellin, you know, he took a big leap this year, this, what is off-season. Kyle, he looks good, you know, I feel like all our receivers are pretty much, you know, giving us a good look, you know, what is different things going against him. And, you know, Hobb is a new face, you know, and he's a veteran guy, he's seen it all. So, he's going to go against my weaknesses. And, you know, obviously I have my strengths, you know, that I'm going to use to my advantage. So, I mean, really just going against all of them has, you know, allowed me to watch the film and see where I can improve at going against them. We asked a couple of guys, so we asked a couple of guys, just about their thoughts on HT's opportunity on Saturday. What kind of a coach is he here at? Coach, he's a great coach, you know, he's a guy, you know, that treats everybody the same. He's going to give everybody a fair opportunity. He's very vocal to the D-Line men, you know, and letting them know where they went wrong. And he's a guy, like I said, he wants everybody to be better. So, you know, I'm excited for his opportunity, you know, coming forward this Saturday. Have you ever been a part of the defense that has dominated as much in camp as it feels like this defense has in great office? Honestly, you know, I just think the energy is different, you know, as a whole for the defense. You know, we've been pretty good these past few years, but I think it kind of like showed, once the season hasn't really showed, like, you know, in camp and I feel like every day, pretty much so far, we've brought it. So that's kind of our goal. We know that we're going to have to win games, you know, this coming season, because obviously, you know, we're going to have to shut down a lot of great offenses, you know, going against those guys. So it's good to, you know, fill that energy and to know that it's not just brought on Sunday, you're going to break it every day. And that's why I could, like, trust them and rely on them. Last one. Now with this defense, what about someone who only stands out to you that's like, wow, he's having a game? Defense. I mean, I'd definitely say, you know, Aziz, he's definitely made some plays. I'm excited to see him go. And really, the whole front seven, you know, they've been going crazy this whole camp. And I'm excited to see them go come to season, because that's only going to help us out in the back end. So definitely the front seven, you know, they definitely stood out to me. I bounced a big tee yesterday. No new announcements today, Trisa, sorry. So no cheers there at the end of practice there for a new addition or a full-time addition to the training staff? To strengthen conditioning. So we've decided to keep Haley on. She did a fantastic job. So we'll get you guys all that information. But that was just, I wanted to let the team know. So that's what we did. Aziz has been from the start of camp. Like he's around the football a lot. Yeah, he is, I think just, you know, his intensity and his leadership has been really good. Again, I've always enjoyed the conversations with him off the field. So, you know, sitting down having lunch, having breakfast, getting to know him personally. So I've enjoyed coaching him. And again, he's playing with some speed out there. And you know, not that it was perfect every snap, but you know, I think he's understanding what we're trying to get done. I like the communication that he's playing with. Christian Fulton mentioned the challenge going up against DeAndre Hopkins, also the other wide receivers. How have you seen kind of that challenge of the receivers and the DB's progress? Yeah, I mean, it's back and forth. You know, this is who we have to go against in training camp. So I've said this before, whether it's an offensive lineman or defensive lineman, you're trying to build a profile for that player to give yourself a chance to go out there and do your job, who the skill set is, what the player's strengths and maybe the areas of focus are, no different than receivers and DB's especially. You know, is it Kyle Phillips? Is it DeAndre? Is it Trelin? All different types of play styles, alignments, routes, some guys run routes a little differently. And so I think that that can be good. You know, that's part of the reason we like practicing against other teams is you're going to see other players with different skill sets and have a minimal time to figure that out through the course of practice or the course of two days. When the defense has a day like today, does that make it tough for you to evaluate the offense or seeing it? Like, what do you mean? Like, I guess, what day? Where they jumped off sides and gave up a 30 yard play on the second play of the day? Or no, I mean, again, I didn't move the ball down. So, you know. I mean, like, when the defense has a good show Well, I don't know, I wouldn't necessarily agree that this is some like dominant performance by the defense. You know, there was plays and whether we move it up or we hit some plays or defense jumped off sides twice didn't cover anybody in the hurry up again. So your evaluation is probably a little different than mine. It was some good on both sides. You know, and the first group with an interception in a two minute, but the other groups were pretty functional. And much different than yesterday, much better than yesterday. And so that's why we practice and we get down there and we're able to execute the hurricane and just run it in there and, you know, work that operation and try to create those situations where I see fit. Last year you, I remember it can't be, can't be for Jack as Dr. Gibby. So he obviously kind of caught your attention. Then how much has he grown in just one year? I think physically, I think physically he's probably been his biggest, you know, improvement. Just, I think he's moving better. I think he's just running better year older or mature. Maybe a different weight program. Again, he transferred and, you know, probably just got to Minnesota whenever he did a short amount of time there, you know, preparing for the draft, his pro day, things of that nature. And probably just having a year under his belt and not having to train for the combine and just work and get ready for football. So I think that's, I've seen the biggest improvement. We see different fats work on specifics during special teams that they're not involved in. How much do you like the way they attack stuff during that and the cumulative effect of that over the course of the season, I imagine, can be sustained? Hope that it pays off. And I think just being smart, you know, that's a good time for receivers to spot up with quarterbacks or, you know, working on some unique plays or special plays between, in our case, Derek in the quarterback or different ball handling. So hopefully that's something that over the course of the season and hit some of those specific things or, you know, try to take jig and gift today and just, you know, work with them specifically myself. We got a lot of people out here. We got a lot of coaches. So hopefully everybody can grab and make sure that everybody's working. Is there a position or a position group that's especially important when it comes to preseason games for evaluating maybe compared to practices? So the question is, do the games help a certain position better? I think defensively, you got to be able to tackle. I mean, I think that that's certainly you can see where, you know, some of the skill players maybe can do something with the football, see who can break some tackles. I think running backs are critical to be able to take that contact and take hits and take care of the football. So skill players, I think they're all important, but I think the tackling is really where, you know, we'll see guys who can come down and tackle and get off blocks and stay on their feet. What kind of goes in the decision on who plays, maybe who doesn't at the preseason? Seeing where guys are, health-wise, seeing where guys are with the work they've gotten out here, trying to allow me to identify the work that they've gotten in and then say, OK, well, this is what we haven't gotten in. Let's get this player some more work in this particular situation. With the carded stuff, Chicago? No, not yet. That's just, oh, the carded stuff. No, those are just periods that we just try to exchange that maybe the offense isn't going to be able to run eight screens through the course of practice. So we'll just jog through the screens instead of having a coach or a backup offensive line and be a pass rusher. We just bring some of the other guys down there, explain to them what we're looking for, that this is just to service the offense or the defense may need eight plays empty and that they wouldn't get that. So it's kind of just based on what we need and Shane and Tim and myself just trying to figure out what that is. And it's a little, Brett, you know what I mean? I think it's just a teaching progress that takes some of the speed off, some of the contact, some of the collisions, and allows us to, you know, working a jog through pace. Sorry. How do you see it from Willis just as far as his ability to move within the pocket and not to leave? Well, again, there's times where, you know, you have to use your ability. And that's his movement and being able to escape and run is something that he has to be able to do. But then also being able to keep his eyes downfield and being able to win guys break like they did today. I thought that really cool play there with Wiley, which would have been another long game for the offense if you're keeping score to run. But I thought that was a really cool play, like just sliding over there and not just taking off and running, which he probably would have gained some good yards. But being able to look downfield and keep his eyes downfield that really forces the defense into coming out of coverage or plastering. And then at that case, and then Malik's got to make a great decision and take off. What do you think Willis is improved on? Well, I've seen him make some really good throws. I've seen command at a huddle. You know, I think that just explaining one of these quarterbacks that the other 10 players are responsible for your performance. And so you need to make sure that they know where to line up. Sometimes guys make a mistake and a lot of formation. But quarterback's jobs make sure that everybody's helping them do their job. Starts with lining up the operation at the line of scrimmage. I think it's better. I've seen him move receivers into splits that they're supposed to be in. You know, throwing with different speeds and layering the football or being able to use his arm talent when he has to and put it in there and, you know, tight windows. But, you know, again, there's some other things that have to improve. And, you know, as he progresses on and seeing, you know, out in front of crossers and things like that. Mike, you've said how Malik has done a better job of burying himself like an NFL quarterback this season. What exactly are being assembled as examples inside the building of what he's doing now that he's shown growth from year one to now? Well, I just think it's the way he walks into building. I mean, I think that you know when he's there. And I'll just leave it at that. I think that's the biggest thing is that you know when he's in the building that, you know, there's a presence to him, you know, kind of bopping around and, you know, that's the biggest thing to me is, you know, that you know he's there and not just being there. He's there, he's engaged, you hear him, you see him. You know, those are all positives. Tempo is one of the things. We've always had tempo, you know what I mean? I think just being able to have a presence, you know, just like we talked about with the quarterbacks, but having a presence to it, having a versatility to it and the tempo is certainly one of those things and being able to dictate that tempo and not just going fast for the sake of going fast, but you know, there's good work today trying to take advantage of, you know, those situations when they're there and then being able to back off and just having a lot of multiplicity and having versatility in our offense and working through some of those things in the run game. Other guys seem to miss very much. What are you going to be looking for there? Probably just ball flight consistency, right if they go in, but what, you know what I mean? We have to look at, right now we haven't really rushed. We really rushed them. So the ball flight on some of those longer kicks, leg strength, you look at golf, right? You know what I mean? It's just trying to straight ball flight and not, you know, curving them in. I think you just risk missing them every now and then and trying to, I think, a consistent ball flight. How important is leg strength through that? Craig didn't really feel like it was a deciding factor when we first talked to him, but you kind of see in these two minute drills how important having some range to be. Yeah, I think that the further you can kick them and the straighter that you can kick them, the better. You know, I'm just making them as the most important, but certainly having the ability to make some of those longer kicks could always help you. You know, the difference between, you know, getting to the 35 and getting to the 40 is a big deal. You see that they're all the same. You're right around that same area. You can put it down in 42 yard line and put 25 seconds on the clock every single time we almost do the drill. So those are critical yards. Mike, there was a lot of talk yesterday after you said that coach team is gonna be coaching on Saturday about the opportunity that it gives a minority potential head coach to show the league and the owners who make those decisions what somebody can do. Was that part of your thought process? And as a coach, do you think about how actions like this can help minority coaching candidates get head coaching jobs? One thing I can't, you know, concern myself with is what, you know, other people think or say, my intent was to do what was best for T in this situation. It wasn't send any sort of message. This wasn't anything, you know, I did what I thought was best for him and for us at this particular time, that's what I wanted to do. And it's well deserved, it's earned, and again, even like today, we had him go through this talk to the officials about, you know, the officials meeting that happens 90 minutes before the game. And you know, I didn't know what the hell to do the first time we met with the officials. They asked for the punt card. I'm like, well, where the hell's the punt card? I mean, something little as that. And just, you know, just making sure that we give application to things that we're trying to coach and to teach and develop each one of our coaches and players here. Because you do have a big staff and you've added a lot of different diverse pieces. Is that something that you wanted to do as you grow as a coach? Well, it's, you know, diversity is critical. Diversity of ideas and diversity and personalities is critical. For me, it's always been about, you know, making sure that we can find a way to reach every player that we bring in here and having plenty of points of contact for our players, whether that's with Chick, and Egiasi, with Mitch and our player engagement, you know, myself, Frank and his staff, our coaching staff, right? We ask that they find somebody that they can feel comfortable with and trust to reach out to. So that's the biggest thing for me is that diversity provides that. And we're, you know, we're looking for the best candidates always and we'll do our best to continue to make sure that, you know, we're hiring, you know, based on merit and that's what we're trying to do. Tim B, upstairs or on the sideline? I'm sorry? Well, Tim Kelly, the upstairs or on the sideline? Tim will be on the sideline. You took same to ask his question at the podium but he's being shy, don't you? He said, TikTok, I got nervous. Maybe, Mike, what do you have your wife saved in your phone as? Jen, Jen V. Nope. No, no ringtone. You'd have to talk on the phone to have a ringtone. I don't even, I don't know if I could tell you what the first pre-season game was. I could tell you that the eight hour game in Miami was the first real one. So, but I don't remember the first pre-season. Thanks guys. Thank you.