Did LSU not recruit you? What happened with that? Why are you not a hometown hero?

You know, it's crazy.

They did recruit me, but it was kind of late.

It was late in my, like, recruiting process.

oh, you had offered me Kane top three, I want to say.

And then I felt like the scheme at that time, it wasn't for me.

I ain't going to lie.

know that's a wild guess bro

So Bob mentioned Clayton Adams, and what has that meant to the run game last year going into this year, whether it's Javante, whether it's Scheme, O-line? There's so much talent, obviously, like you said, but what does he bring that's a difference maker?

a scheme scheme is amazing oh my god he's I mean I'll be up there in the meetings I'm taking notes but I'm just watching him design and then when we get in the game planning obviously is much more shorter so right now we're we're just reinstalling everything in which we did in minicamp and you know we just we put the plays on film so we can go over it in film and see what we're going to carry over to the season so just watching The different ways of him hitting the outside zones, inside zone, gap schemes, just different ways of getting into it and just watching how he's using the leverage of one another's defense.

The defensive line alignment and our O-line alignment is fire.

I don't think I've ever seen anything like that or anyone really just put so much effort into it.

So for me to see that Tay ran for 1100, I keep saying him because he had a great year and It was his first year really being healthy off his ACL.

And just watching them guys really just put the pieces together and make it come to life, it was amazing to see.

Obviously, my back is to them.

But for you coming into this year with him on the other side or on the same side, wherever you guys are lined up, just how, after living with it for a year and knowing what it actually brings, how happy does it make you knowing that that guy is right there?

But what does he bring that's a difference maker?

The scheme.

The scheme is amazing.

Oh, my God, he's ...

I mean, I'll, I'll be up there in the meetings, um, I'm taking notes, but I'm just watching him design.

And then when we get into game planning, obviously it's much more shorter, so right now we're, we're just reinstalling everything in which we did in mini camp.

And, you know, we just, we, we put the plays on film so we can go over it in film and see what we're gonna carry over to the season.

[laughs]

How would you describe the chemistry between you and, uh, Derek kind of growing right now?

We're getting way better, man.

I mean, it, it was our first year last year, so it was, it was kinda up and down.

But, uh, that's, that's what comes with the game of football.

So, uh, we worked a lot this off season.

OTAs was, was really good.

And we got off to a good start these first two days of camp getting extra work in.

Like how, how hard is it to kind of shed that label or that perception like?

Kent and playing there?

Man, Dre, that dude special.

There's a reason why he's there, you know.

There's a reason why we're going to see him, um, be in the Hall of Fame, man.

The dude, he's a legend.

You know, so I watch a lot of big body receivers.

Him, Julio, Larry Fitzgerald, uh, Michael Thomas.

... and focus on football.

that.

I feel like I always feel good.

Not always, but I mean, it's week one.

It's week one.

So, I mean, definitely fresh.

But, you know, just got to, you know, continue to, you know, build on that and take care of my body.

And we want to be feeling good in December and January.

When you were sitting on the bench in between plays, what did you think about Mike Zimmer's defense and the way that they put on that down?

Do you feel fresh right now?

Um, I feel like I, I always feel good.

Not always, but I mean, it's week one.

Uh, [laughs] it's, it's week one.

Um, so I mean, definitely fresh.

But, uh, you know, just gotta, you know, continue to, you know, build on that and, uh, take care of my body, and, uh, we wanna be feeling good in December and January.

When you were sitting on the bench, uh, in between plays, what'd you think about Mike Zimmer's defense and the way that they put on that domination today?

Oh, wow.

Was it tough not to get frustrated when you guys were putting up so many points and still losing some of those games?

Well, for me, brother, I was in the Big 12.

[laughs] And I mean to say that with all due respect.

I love...

My guys know I love them.

But, like, I'm used to putting up these kind of numbers.

Like, offensively, okay, if our defense get a stop, we look at it like, "Oh my God, yes, we can run away with this game." If they don't, we still gotta go score.

Okay.

Do you

guys feel that in the locker room? Not really, because I feel like we're all under pressure.

Right.

Like, you get to a point to where, like, you play for the Dallas Cowboys, there's going to be some pressure.

Everybody's going to love you.

Everybody's going to hate you.

Well, a lot are going to love you.

That's real life stuff.

Uh, do you care who wins?

Mm, honestly, no, I don't.

But congrats to them, though, 'cause obviously they worked so hard to be here.

And, um, obviously, I wish me and my team was there.

So, like, there's a bit of jealousy, you know, but they...

Again, they deserve it.

They worked hard, they stayed healthy, they did everything they need to do throughout the season.

Everything you do is under a microscope, during the game, after the game, when, you know, social life, all of that.

Like, how do you see that difference for your own game?

I had answered this, um, I wanna say yesterday.

Uh, I feel like, okay, so being on the outside, I feel like is mandatorily win now.

Like, you have to- like, you're gonna nine times out of ten pre- see press coverage, right? And then you're going, you're racing against the D line.

So you got one one-thousand, two one-thousand, three, then you should be open.... uh, that makes it a little difficult, especially if you got guys like Patrick Tain.

Yeah.

You got Sauce, that's who over here, like, you got Stingley.

You gotta beat these guys in three seconds.

Do you care who wins?

Mm, honestly, no, I don't.

But c- congrats to them, though, 'cause obviously they worked so hard to be here, and, um, obviously, I wish me and my team was there.

So, like, there's a bit of jealousy, you know, but they...

Again, they deserve it.

They worked hard.

They stayed healthy.

Everything you do is under a microscope, during the game, after the game, when, you know, social life, all of that.

Do you care who wins?

Mm, honestly, no, I don't.

But congrats to them, though, 'cause obviously they worked so hard to be here, and, um, obviously, I wish me and my team was there.

So, like, there's a bit of jealousy, you know, but they...

Again, they deserve it.

They worked hard.

They stayed healthy.

You know, social life, all of that.

Mm-hmm

...

the leaders.

Um, I was in Miami when it, when the news had broke, and he had called me.

And, um, we had a brief conversation as to what we expect out of our offense and out, out of our team.

Obviously, we fell short of our goal, but offensively, I felt like we took a great step, whether it's the running game, whether it's play action, whether it's holding up or Dak just balling.

Right.

But as for me, and as everyone know, I was pretty upset when Micah left.

Right.

I, I, like, it get to a point to where, like, you play for the Dallas Cowboys, there's gonna be some pressure.

Everybody's gonna love you, everybody's gonna hate you.

Well, a lot are gonna love you, a lot are gonna hate you.

So, like, regardless, you're gonna be watched.

Just go out there and put your best foot forward.

I feel like it's almost like a why not situation, and, um, as for me, man, I don't really...

What, what did the arrival of George Pickens, just nuts and bolts, X's and O's, how did that change the offense to have him out there on the field?