Green Light with Chris Long - Tuli Tuipulotu On Facing Patrick Mahomes + Kamari Lassiter Talks Texans' Daunting Defense

Episode Date: June 11, 2026

Today's Green Light features a dual interview. The LA Chargers' Tuli Tuipulotu and the Houston Texans' Kamari Lassiter join Chris to talk the upcoming NFL season. Tuli dives into pass rush moves he's learned from Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, Justin Herbert's leadership and Jim Harbaugh wearing cleats during games and full clothes in the hot tub. Kamari dives into the Texans' 2025 season, Houston's stout defense and what we can expect from CJ Stroud this upcoming season. (00:00) - Intro (04:07) - Tuli Tuipulotu on Justin Herbert, Jim Harbaugh and the LA Chargers (25:57) - Kamari Lassiter on CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans Defense Have some interesting takes, some codebreaks or just want to talk to the Green Light Crew? We want to hear from you. Call into the Green Light Hotline presented by Zone Nicotine and give us your hottest takes, your biggest gripes and general thoughts. Day and night, this hotline is open: ‪[phone]‬ With the return of the Layup Line, make sure to check out the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1olmCMKGMEyWwOKaT1Aah3?si=YP1-ffQ3T_yUDRnJRhDtOw Check out Green Light's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can catch all the latest GL action: Green Light with Chris Long: Subscribe and enjoy weekly content including podcasts, documentaries, live chats, celebrity interviews and more including hot news items, trending discussions from the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA are just a small part of what we will be sharing with you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And I had a vet teach me a swipe, and it was like an aha moment, you know, the target of the swipe. And that's what was there any one move that either Joey or Khalil passed on to you? Yeah, for sure. I mean, Joey, of course, is known for a swipe. So that's something I've been trying to work on. And KMack power, you know what I'm saying? Just setting a tone and just making another man just feel like a lesser man. It's just about winning.

Like, I feel like it just comes down to whenever it's crunch time, like, you have to be at your best, but never your best as neither. and there's no better time to be at your best in the playoffs. So I feel like the playoffs is whichever teams are at their best the most, those are the teams you win. You know, and there's a lot of good teams who don't make it far, and we're probably a testament to that, but we weren't at our best whenever I best was needed, and that's just how I go.

Welcome to the show, everybody. I am on vacation. I'm at the beach. It's not my standard setup here. But yeah, I'm on beach time, But I still got time to interview two of the best young players in the league. Shout out to our booking guru Nolan, who got us, Kamari Lasseter, and Tully, Tui Poloto today on the show. We got a double header for you.

We'll start with Tully, and then we'll finish with Kamari. Just two great players on two great defenses. A lot of fun to watch. and, you know, actually getting, I know two of Camari's coaches, you know, when a lot of times I'll call and ask for a story or, you know, some insight on a guy and I can really tell how much the coach likes the player. In this situation, like Camarie Lasseter, coach's dream is what it sounds like, just all ball, very mature for his age when he stepped on the scene, you know, at, you know, at,

you know in houston the meiko ryan's was like hey you got to play right now and you got to help us right now and um i think with young players walking into a locker room like the veteran standard is important i think it brings out the best in the young player you know if if you don't have a great room if you don't have a a great culture you know that player might flounder but but a guy like camari laster it's obvious to me he's not only a you know an adult out there but he's got a lot of good vets and a great culture in Houston. And the same thing with Tully. I mean, Tully's 23 years old. I mean, he's got, let me do the math. And he had 13 this year, eight and a half the year before and four and a half the first year. So he's, he's closing in on 30 sacks three years into his career.

He's got 20 plus over the last two years. He rushes up and down the line. He's 23 years old. That's a big deal for, you know, where his career might go, his earning potential, what the charges can get out of them, but also just makes it all the more impressive that he's been able to walk in and be a productive player from day one on a team that's got a good culture and has got a good defense. And, you know, I talked to him in the interview about this, but you walk into a room with Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Giff Smith is your coach. You know, you got a lot set up for you. And, you know, I think he seems like a sponge. It's pretty cool hearing him talk. hearing about what kind of a guy he is.

So two great young players, two mature young players, and I enjoy talking to both of them. Yeah, so we will be back on Monday, and I'll have had some R&R, and we'll go from there. But enjoy Tully, and Kamari will follow the Tully interview. So if you're a Texan fans, don't skip ahead. Stick around. You see, I almost did that, but you stick around, all right?

and if you're new to this channel, I don't do this enough, but please subscribe. If you like any of these interviews or you see one of your favorite players or somebody from your favorite team, please hit the subscribe or the like button. That'd be great. All right, joining me now on the Greenlight Pod, Tuli, Tewi, Piloh, and this is a dude that's accomplished a lot in a short career. I mean, I think he had 13, 14 sacks last year, Pro Bowler. well deserved love the way you rush man welcome to the show i appreciate you having me it's a pleasure yeah dude yeah i i talked about your accomplishments and everything i want to i want to get to talking about you and your rush plan and everything but i i have to wonder what it's like to walk in as a rookie

like 21 years old or whatever you were and the fourth game you're watching calil mac get six sacks in an NFL game like take me inside of a rookie's head as you're seeing that level of and getting to work with that guy in your room. I mean, man, I mean, I still feel the same guy as I was 21, like 20 years old, like just watching him, you know, every day, every game, you know. I think he knows this. I hope he knows this, but I look up to him. He's like, he's a great role model for me, a great vet to have,

and I've just been following him, like, following his footsteps the whole way, man. I'm grateful and blessed to have him every year since I've been in the league. But, man, watching that game, it's kind of funny because, It was kind of teasing them going into that, like, because me and Joey, like, those first day games, it was kind of, like, going crazy getting sacks and stuff. And then we kept, like, teasing him, came like, come on, man, where are you going to get on the board? When you get it to? And he goes and gets six sacks, man.

And it was just a great thing to win this for sure. Man, dudes had to be bugging out on the sideline, walking up and down, like, get that seven. Because the seven's the league record, I guess. Yeah. That's crazy. I mean, it's funny you mentioned that. Like, I think, and I've had a three piece a few times, but I never had a four piece.

And you last year, I don't think you had one yet. And then you go play the Giants, and, you know, you went off, dude. What's that feel like when you've got two or three in the second half and you're hunting that fourth? Like, what does that feel like? Yeah, I don't know. I think for me personally, I feel like just playing hard and the sacks come, the stats come.

I feel like my more, like, favorite plays of the games was, like, getting up, like, my TFLs, like shooting through the B-gap and at the goal line for a third down stop on. And, like, those plays right there is kind of what I remember. But I feel like for me, it was just playing fast and trying to make those plays and playing plays come to me, actually, so, yeah.

I heard somebody in Chargers media, where they were referring to you as, like, the John Stockton of a. like you set people up, you disrupt, you set people up. It sounds like that's kind of what you're talking about. It's not always a sacks, that's your favorite plays. Because sometimes the sacks aren't always your best rush. Like a lot of times your best tape, you might not get there,

or you disrupt the ball or that sort of thing. Would you agree with that assessment that you're disruptive and you set people up? Yeah, 100%. I think, I want to say set people up, I feel like we all rush together, you know? It's kind of our job just to go and rest. So my guys got my back if I make the quarterback step

I know guys there. If I make them roll out, I know guys there. Especially with the games, man. I love running games. Not all the time, you know what I'm saying? You know, you know being a Russia, you always want that one-on-one. Four-man, four-man. Exactly, exactly.

But it's always fun throwing those stunts in, you know what I'm saying? And having all the guys eat off of it, especially last year when we had me, KMek and Adafi on at the same time. And we were just running games, letting the quick QB escape to other guys and, like, just feeding each other, you know what I'm saying? So yeah. Yeah. That's got to suck for a tackle to line up and see you in a basically a five.

You're in like that 40 look where you're right over them and the guards looking at you like, how the hell do I? What makes you such a good interior player as well? Was there, you know, I didn't follow you in college like that. Were you rushing inside a lot? And what makes you so good over that guard? Yeah, I think, well, in college, I started off as a deep tackle my freshman year

and then worked my way until the edge guy. I mean, coming out the league, coming into the draft, everybody didn't really know where to put me. Everybody kept calling me a tweener and stuff. Twainer. I like that name, I guess, because basically just an athlete,

just put me anywhere and I'm going to play it. But it's funny, though. It's just finding your groove, like you can see it throughout the tape throughout the year, like the whole last year. I'm just messing around with my alignment. And then eventually,

towards the end of it. Like, I found that groove where I could be kind of wide and still be able to take those inside moves like I want to. So, yeah, I just messing around with it and just see whatever it works. Yeah, that alignment almost dictates their set. 100%. Especially with guards, especially with guards, they don't really want to come out that far. So if I could get them to jump on that first step, and yeah, it was pretty fun last year.

I'm going to tell you, my favorite sack you had last year, and I don't know if you ranked this up there, but that inside of the inside. out spin against the tip. Bro, that was nasty. Most guys don't even have the confidence to try it. Was that something that was in your bag

or, you know, was this something that you know, you had tried and, because some guys don't even want to try that in one-on-ones and you made it look easy? You're talking about the one was the Titans or the Chiefs? Titans. Titans, yeah. That wasn't a phone note because

that was strictly off film. I watched somebody else. I watched somebody else from the Raiders. Shout out to him. and he hit the same, literally the same as I moved on the guy. And I was running to practice that day. I'm like, that week, I'm like, all right, I'm not to work on it. And then, yeah, it just worked out.

That's awesome. It was a great rush. With Mack and Bosa in your room, like, again, like, having those guys as a rookie, was there any specific moves that you added to your bag, like, that you got from them? Like, when I came in a league, I didn't really have a swipe. Like, I had a vet teach me a swipe, and it was like an aha moment, you know, the target of the swipe. And was there any one move that either Joey or Khalil passed on to you? Yeah, for sure.

I mean, Joey, of course, is known for a swipe. So that's something I've been trying to work on in KMAC power. You know what I'm saying? Just setting the tone and just making another man just feel like a lesser man, you know what I'm saying? But it's tough, you know what I'm saying? Like, Kemp in and Lee that young, and then I'm looking up to these two guys and trying to learn from both of them. Sometimes you get lost of what you're good at yourself. So it had to take just a lot of learning, you know.

Yeah. Yeah. And I feel like a great coach coaches you up to be the best version of yourself. Like, is everybody so unique, kind of what you're alluding to? And I know one guy, you had Giff Smith, didn't you? Yeah, that's my guy. I love that guy. That's a pretty good, you walked into a pretty good room, man.

Man, I was blessed. I was blessed. Yeah. Yeah, that's awesome. Obviously, for people that don't know Giff Smith, has done some great work with the Rams and just a hell of a D-line coach. to me about the shuffleboard game you got going on. And you and Khalil were playing.

I heard a rumor that Kalil was saying, well, kind of got you out of your shell because they said you were such a humble rookie that, like, you guys were playing shuffleboard after practice and games. You got a shuffleboard in the locker room there. Yeah, that was my second year. My second year, we, yeah.

Every year we kind of have a game. So my second year was shuffleboard. Well, everybody heard about, I pretty sure we did a story about it, too. Yeah. Yeah. Some couple of the guys like Dayon and Durham be playing with us too. Who was J.K. Scott when he was here.

But last year, last year was ping pong. Last year's ping pong. And we was, it's me K. Mack, Cam Dicker. Who was? Kickers are always good at shit like that. Yeah. Yeah. The ping pong, the golf.

He's for sure probably the guy in the locker room for sure. But a lot of the players, though. Justin's pretty good. Yeah. Tomorrow's pretty good. Yeah, we got a lot of ping pongers on our team, and that was our game last year. Y'all need a pool table, man. You had a pool table year yet?

We need something like that for sure. We had that in Philly, man. We'd be in there playing pool until, like, I'd look up and I'd be like, damn, it's 8 o'clock. I got to go home. But that's what it's about. It's about spending time with each other and linking up off the field and that sort of thing. So, you know, you rush Mahomes a lot.

You get them twice a year. Last year, you got him twice in a game. And I know it's a real challenge with his drop target because it varies so much. And all the window dressing they throw at you. Like, take me inside of the mind of somebody who has to prepare for him twice a year and, like, the way you guys might rush him as a group without giving away the secret sauce. But, like, what is so different about rushing Mahomes? I think his pocket awareness is super elite.

Like, especially, like, rushing from our left side and to his right, like, it's tough. Like, it's, there's not, there's not very, very much moves you can do. Like, you can't rush too high because he's taken off or you can't rush too low or he's taken off. Like, especially with exit games. Like, it's tough to do because, like, we got athletic deep tackles, you know, but sometimes he just outruns them, you know? They got to run to the sideline.

And so it's tough, man. He's just got to be smart. I don't want to give away too much, but. Yeah, you don't have to, bro. We really got to rush forward. one for four is one for sure that's it right because if you don't rush as a group he's going to find that one that one opening in the in the rush lanes i and this is one that you might play coy on but i got to ask you when that nick herbig notification four years a hundred mil came across your

notifications on the phone did you smile a little bit yeah i did for sure i'm i'm happy for him you know he's he's he's he's a guy for sure he's he's a pass rusher he's a great player i feel like the more he gets going, man, he's going to make some noise. But you're next, bro. Let's stop playing, bro. You're next, bro. That's why I'm asking. Hey, you think I'm asking you about Nick Herving, bro.

I'm asking about you. I feel like you're next, bro. Do you feel like, I mean, we don't have to talk contract, but just do you realize, has it sunk in yet that like you're about to hopefully get paid and never have to worry about anything again? And it's because of the way you've played so far in the NFL. Uh, yeah, I more so just feel like, um, I feel like more mature. I feel like I've earned, earned some right, earn some respect, uh, within the team, within

the defense. I mean, that's why I'm speaking, you know, other teammates might have their own opinion, but I kind of feel like I just feel a lot more comfortable, um, being out there and, and being a little bit more vocal and just having more respect from the coaches as well. So, yeah, hell yeah, dude. And, and it's funny because, like, You've been in it three years, and then you get a rookie this year in Mezzador, who's he's three years older than you. What's it been like, you know, playing with Mezador so far? I guess you guys are in OTAs or minicamp, that type of thing.

Like, I know you're just out there without the pads, but what's it? I've never played with a 26-year-old rookie. Like, his maturity's got to be pretty impressive. And the dynamic of you being younger, but having three years of experience, how's that been with having him in the room? Oh, man, he's a great player. He's for sure mature, very mature, a true technician. I'm out there asking him questions as well, you know.

You can always learn something. And it's funny today, I was pretty much asking him about, like, how he works around the corner. Because everybody works around the bend the edge a little differently. So true, mature player, true technician, I mean. And it's been good to watch because sometimes, like, I don't understand about that, I don't know, whatever. Sometimes as you're watching the younger guys go or the rookies go, you want to watch and learn and how they work mentally.

And you can just see like very sound and technique sound. And it's been good to watch. I'm excited. Yeah, he definitely plays with his hands, man. He's got some good tape. I can't wait to see you guys rush together. The guy in the run game that I love watching, besides your guys inside, Tart and Hand, who are beast, dude.

I love those guys. but Derwin James, talk about somebody who was born to play football. And the way he adds into y'all's run front, sometimes I wonder if he's just walking up to you and tapping you on the hip. And, you know, like, does Darwin kind of play with,

he's got his own set of rules in the front? And can he kind of dictate things pre-snap? No, 100%. I mean, we already know if Darren's coming on a bliss, we've got to get out of his way because he's just coming to wreck everything in front of him. If we're in his way, he's going to hit no matter what. Because that's just the mindset, you know what I'm saying?

He just wants to go in there wreak havoc and make plays. So, yeah, it's great having him in the fit always, you know, especially when we're getting those packages where you have him at Backer. And, yeah, it's good for our defense. It makes us flexible. Does he ever come over and work pass rush with y'all, like during the indie period? And that's, like, you know, where he's kind of doing special teams. we had a guy Malcolm Jenkins, great safety.

He used to come spend 10 minutes a day. Like that little edge that he gets for the two, three times that he's coming, and he's got a one-on-one with the backer that. So is that Derwin as well? No, 100%. Him and Deion, Deion Henley. They both always come to the, during those special teams times. Like, they come and get some work in.

And it's funny, we work all these different moves for Durran, and then we go on the game. He's just running through running back spaces and stuff. so. You're like, man, we spent five minutes of the child club, but you just ran through his shit. Yeah, facts. That's funny, dude.

What about, I mean, you had a great coach in Miner last year who's obviously well-deserving of a head coaching opportunity and he's going to do great, I'm sure. But Chris O'Leary's the new guy. Does anything change for the front without giving away the scheme? But, like, is your style of play generally the same, you guys up front. Yes, very similar defense. I'd argue and say it's the same thing. We have a little bit of different fronts and just to hide some of the stuff that we did last

year. Shout out to Manor, man. He's a great, great coach, great D.C. He loved listening to what ideas we had and he helped us make plays a lot. And I'm excited for Chris O'Leary as well. He's been here before. He was here two years ago. So yeah, we're excited to having him back. I heard a rumor he wears cleats at practice. Sure, I don't doubt it. I don't make attention to crew much, but that's a crazy deal. Because Bosa told me two years ago, he said Harbaugh is in the cold tub. Obviously Harbaugh wears cleats and shit like that.

But like he said Harbs gets in the cold tub with his khakis on. Like fully, is that still the, that's still facts? A whistle still around his neck too. And y'all are in there getting a tub. and he comes in and gets a tub with you. Yeah, for sure. That's so good, dude. We love that kind of coach, man.

Just come vibe out. Oh, how could you not? Man, come vibe with us. That's amazing, dude. I think he's, Harbaugh, he could, I almost feel like he could still play. Like, he's got that mentality. Yeah, facts.

But he love, he loves talking about his old days, for sure. He does. He loves talking about his quarterback play. He was a stud, bro. I mean, I grew up Washington. He was a stud. Who are the most underrated guys on your defense? I know we mentioned a couple candidates for that,

but who are the guys that don't get enough credit in your opinion? Man, I can name the whole defense. Yeah, I know. Neff, Tarheeb, Cam, Deon, D.P. I love DP. I love the way he tackled. That's the tone for all of us. Tart.

Tart's a beast. Man, everybody, man. I feel like this is a great defense. I feel like I'm excited for this year. Yeah, we got to go out of way for sure. I love Henley, dude. When I play Madden, I control Henley. That's my guy.

Yeah, so that's my guy. It's Henley all day. And then Derwin sometimes is fun to play with Derwin too. But Joe Alt and Rashon Slater, I think probably, along with Philly, Lane, Jordan Milata, those guys, I think it's as good a one, two punch of tackles in the NFL, and you get to work against both of them, because it seems to me like you work up and down the line and different sides and that sort of thing.

Take each guy individually and explain to me as a rusher, as a former rusher, what makes them so good? You know what I'm saying? Like what is so challenging about beating both of those guys individually? Slater start off. Very good feet. It's hard to get him to move his feet with all like jabs. Very strong as well. Good hands.

I think that's the biggest thing. I feel like just the way he punches, it's kind of hard. harder like to throw a swipe or or i feel like the i won't say what move we're against him but i think there's other moves other moves besides uh swipe i don't know man he's strong it's very hard to catch his hands that's that's my biggest thing and he's strong yeah and it looks like he's always cutting the angle off like there's no he's there waiting for you but his anchor is good enough that you can't really run down his shit or take the inside shoulder yeah yeah and then all i i can't even But imagine that's got to be just a massive human being to try to move.

No, for sure. That in his long arms, he also has good feet. So it's always a, it's exciting going against them. They get us ready. Just touching on the offense here, we love Herbert. I think he's a stud. And I think, you know, it's, I think a lot of people kind of lose sight of this, but really tough.

What's it mean to you guys to see your quarterback? and, you know, it's nice to have a great quarterback, but a great quarterback that's a glass eater. Like, he's a tough guy. You know, like, what does that do in the locker room from a respect quotient to have that dude be a football player, not just the quarterback? It fires us up.

I mean, there's clips from last year where he's running D.N.'s over and be on the sideline, like, jumping out our seats going over there and flexing with him, you know? I mean, just gets us going, man. I feel like just knowing what he goes through, especially with the hand, all that stuff, like stiff-arming people with the hand that was messed up. Like, that gets us going, man.

That knows he won't arrive for us. And we got his back as well. Yeah, he's a beast, man. I'm going to finish with two random questions here for you, quick hitters. L.A. guy, right? I was born in E. E. Wood. But I claim Hawthorne.

Hawthorne. Hawthorne. Okay. Okay. So I'm a, I was, I was born in, I'm a Santa Monica kid. Okay. That's where I was born. But then move back east. But I was just saying, you got USC, then your chargers. You've never had to really leave home. You seem really rooted in who you are and like you don't get distracted easily. Is it hard to stay that way? And how many tickets is the most tickets you've ever had requested for a game? The first question, or the first part of that question, I'll say I love being home. Because sometimes, you know, being, I mean, you know, being on a job sometimes it gets a little bit of, just gets a lot, you know what I'm saying? Sometimes I need, like I could have a break and go home, see my parents, see my brothers,

see my nieces and nephews, like, then I get a whole, get that reset that I need and just go back to work the next day. So I love that part of it. The other part of the question, I probably, I probably, the most I ever gone, I was like around 40, something like that. Golly. And they ain't cheap. I love it. I know it's great, but people don't think,

they think you get them for free. That's a wild deal. Last question. Favorite Chargers uniform. You all got so many sweet uniforms, man. You've been lucky you played at USC. They got good, good threads there. What's the best Chargers uniform that you've worn yet?

Navy. For sure, the last year's Navy. I love the Navy. Love it, man. If we can make it though, you know what I'm saying, the home games, that's the main one. I wish you to do. But that's the tough. That looks sweet.

I don't know if I could rock the neon yellow. It wouldn't look so good on me, but you look pretty good at it, dude. Yeah, that's awesome. I appreciate the time, dude. I know we kept you a minute over, but thanks a lot. And good luck to you. We love watching you play. Thanks so much.

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All right, joining us now, one of the stud defensive backs, Pro Bowl Corner for the Houston Texans, Camari Lasseter. Thanks for joining the show, ma'am. Appreciate for having. You guys got a nickname yet, that defense? You guys got a nickname there?

We don't have a nickname yet. All we do is just more. Yeah. No, I know. You don't seem like a nickname kind of guy, but I've been calling you all the taxmen because you guys make everybody pay that tax. I don't know if you like that one or not. That's pretty cool.

Yeah. Well, I was just saying, man, I know a couple of your old coaches. They say you're kind of an easy guy to coach. You play kind of more mature than probably your age. You're going into what year three? I mean, you were asked to play right away in this defense. What does that do to a young player when you walk in the building and D'Amico's like, hey, man, like the time is now.

There's no time to develop. You develop on the fly. How does that change your mentality? you ready for that challenge? I feel like I was ready and I came in, but I feel like whenever you hear that from your coach, I think it's like more of like a, how do I put it? Like a motivational factor. You're like, oh, okay, they really believe me.

They believe I could do this like when you go ahead and do it. Even though I already believed in myself, but just having, like, coach be like, yeah, I need you play right now. It's like, okay, cool, I catch you. Yeah. And a great room to learn from in guys and vets. And although, you know, maybe not much older than you, but guys like Petrie and Stangling and all those guys.

Like, you guys probably, I would imagine all great defenses do, but spend a lot of time off the field together. I think that's a big part of it. And I wonder how you guys do that, how that manifests for y'all. Is it film? Is it dinners? Like, what is it that keeps y'all tight when you get on the field? Well, one, I mean, we, every time we see each other, we, we laugh, we joke, we play. I feel like those are like my brothers.

Everyone in the DG room is like a brother to me. And I feel like whenever we're outside of football, we're the same people as we're. are in the building. So just having that and just knowing like we communicate sometimes seamlessly, like sometimes without even words, all we have to do is look at each other and we just know like what to do. And I feel like that just comes with, you know, a respect and the love that we have for each other and just want each other like everyone to eat. Everyone wants to run. Like I want all those guys and when they all are middle one. And I feel like that's how we are able to play so well. I want to talk about that room a lot, but I really enjoyed that win streak last year that

you all went on. Man, you guys were on a tear playing great ball, a second half of the season. And I wonder if you feel this way because I watched you guys, and I thought that Chiefs win was so big going to Arrowhead in December, you know, with the way the two games prior had gone. You guys had played right there with them and just weren't able to finish it. Being able to go in there and kind of take that one, what did that mean to y'all from a standpoint of being a team that's learning to win those ball games? I feel like that was huge.

That was at a point in the season last year where we were on a stretch where every game was a playoff game because if we lost one more game, the season was essentially over at no playoffs. That's the whole reason that we come here is to go to the playoffs and no compete for a championship. So just having that game and knowing that they're on our schedule, we lost to them time and time again two years. Back-to-back, we lost to them in the playoffs and the regular season as well.

So when the old game was going to be huge. It was, I believe it was something like football. I mean, Arrow Harrow is rocking. It doesn't get much bigger than that. I mean, against prime time and porn. So, I mean, just having that. We just all went out there, you know, trying to play for each other. And we got a job down.

With some of the split safety looks that y'all major in and some of the different zone coverages that you all play, I mean, I know that it's not the simplest defense to play. But when you play a team like Kansas City with a guy like Kelsey who's been sitting down in zones for, you know, feels like two decades in Mahomes, who he's always finding that. When you get ready to play a team like Kansas City, is it better to just stick to your guns and do things the way you know how to do them?

Or can you kind of trip yourself up trying to do too much and trick a guy like Mahomes into throwing into the wrong window? With those guys, I mean, they're really good, especially Mahomes, especially, you know, Coach Andy Reed, Kelsey, they have really good pieces and their coach really well. So it's not really about trying to trick them. Nine times out of the team, they're not going to trick them. They've probably seen every look. They probably went against everything, you know what I'm saying? So it's just really about going out there, competing.

glam ball and just really just the utter urge you just not want to lose. Like I feel like that's what really drives us. Like I hate losing. I don't want to lose any record when I'm on the field. So just really trying to win your one-on-one and locking in to what it is that we need you to do. I feel like that's how you go out there

and win those kind of games. Do you look back like when you're watching the Super Bowl, obviously y'all want to be there. And I think that's a very realistic expectation with your group. And I'm watching Seattle win the whole thing. And I think back to, I'm just going to tell you because I watch all your those games,

I'm watching the Seattle game. and I'm like, y'all couldn't have played much worse and you almost beat them in Seattle. Like, do you look back at a game like that and say, man, that's a barometer. I'd like to, you know, we should have played more discipline as a team or whatever, but like, we can beat the world champs, man.

Like I felt like I'm watching that Seattle game and I'm like, damn, you guys almost pulled that thing off. I felt like that was another one where last year, you know, you learn a little bit about that team you're on. Yeah, I feel like with that Seattle game, I mean, the reason they were the world chance is because they were winning

in critical situations, you know? And I feel like in that game, yeah, we play good ball at times. We made a lot of splash plays, but in the critical situations and times, whenever we needed to make a play or we needed to get out to do it or we needed to do something like this, like we will, you know, just missing that one little detail. And I feel like, you know, whenever you're trying to win the championship, it goes to the details. And that's something that we're trying to hone on as a team, you know, on both sides of the ball and coaching staff everywhere, you know, just honing on the details and, like,

just having the details and effect that way you can go up there and just play fast. play three. The one big piece of news with you is we're changing numbers here. We got you back to three. How does this feel, man? Because when I got in the league, I had a, I'm not saying four in the four look great, but I was wearing 72 for two years. Bro, it was ugly. And I was waiting for a vet to retire, who had 91. And I just remember waiting and waiting. Have you been waiting to get into three and what goes on? Because you got kind of a numerical musical chairs right now. You got, I think tanks back he's what tanks one yes sir who's going four uh what he's in four which is okay number two yeah you hyped about the three oh yes sir i feel like but i knew as soon as i got here

i'm like eventually i'm going to get back to my number i knew that tank one at one uh that was his number and i knew that i wanted three so i was like whatever and whenever time comes i'm i'm going to get that number and it was just perfect that it was this year and four was good to me four is cool but like three, that's really me. Yeah, man, I can't wait to see it. And then I just can't wait to see Tank back on the field. I saw, man, I don't know if I've seen guys get hurt and missed time, but a dude that the team felt that injury so much,

you could just from the minute it happened, the reactions on the field and then just the severity of it, you guys really, it seemed like, are in his corner the whole way. And it felt like a long time because of when it happened in the season and the recovery, like, how has it been seeing him kind of put the work in behind the scenes and just keeping him in the loop so he feels like he's still part of the group every day? Well, I feel like he knows he's in the group. Like, you know, that's our guy.

Tank was, he's always going to be our guy. He's our teammate. You know, we love him. My rookie year, when that happened in Kansas City, like, you could just see, like, you could feel it. Like, everyone on the team, like, everyone's heart drop because it was, it was, it was, it was, it was, it was gruesome, it was horrible, you know. You don't want that to happen to any of your teammates, especially not a guy like him. We put so much work in and just make so many plays. It means a lot to us, you know, I'm saying as a team.

But just to have him back, and he's on the way back, he put a lot of work in. Like, you see him whenever you come in the building, you see him putting a lot of work. And it's all coming to fruition. He's going to be back in guys' time and better. Yeah, and it probably makes the good on good work in training camp be more fun for y'all. And then I feel like Higgins is going to, I mean, what did you see from Jaden Higgins the first year and the jump that you might expect him to take into year two? Well, yeah, I mean, six touchdowns.

I mean, that's good for anybody. So especially for him to be able to year one, I mean, he came in, he played right away. He made plays all over the field all over the year. And I just feel like with him, I mean, there's just only room for him to go up. Like, he's only going to grow. He's only going to get better. And he gets better every single day. And I can't with this in the practice.

A newcomer, Dimo, Montgomery, man. I was at the joint practice. Talk about good on good when you guys played the Lions. last year. There was some good ball being played out there. And just what are your impressions of him as a teammate? And, you know, not to take anything away from anybody who's been toting the rock for y'all the past year, but we talking about that Chiefs game. I remember two games ago, you guys got the ball in the third quarter and it was like a 15-minute drive. When you had Joe mixing, what did that element do for your team? Because of, you know, CJ's a really good pass.

or the play action opens up the whole thing. But like, what does it do to the defense, too, keeping you guys off the field and that sort of thing? I mean, yeah, I feel like complimentary football is always important. And I feel like Demo brains brings that it factor. You know, him and Woody, they're going to be a one-two tandem. And it's going to be really hard for other people.

Other defenses that, you know, they're not going to want to bruise with those guys all-game in, all game out. Demo's very difficult to bring down. Woody's very difficult to bring down. Woody and Demo, they both get out in space and they're hard to, you know, get the hands on. And it's just going to be difficult for defenses to contain them.

And I'm excited. Is that O-line walking around with a little pep in their staff? They look a little better this year. And they gained some confidence last year. I'm not saying they played poorly. But I know that that was something that's been a focal point for the unit. And I know you guys added some really nice pieces this year. I feel like the O-line is coming together really well.

From what I see, the guys, they're all working in unison. They're all communicating. They're all, you know, doing that thing out there. I mean, it's good on good. We got a really good beat line. So, I mean, it's always going to be, you know, good on good. And I feel like, you know, that makes both the D-line and O-line better. Speaking of D-line, man, Will Anderson, I love big money, well-deserved.

I mean, that's yacht money, man. I kind of wonder. But for him, it's probably just a bigger bass boat, huh? What's his, what's his, what's his, as he is the money doesn't change Will Anderson at all, does it? No, I don't feel like money. it will change someone who really, you know, loves what they do. I feel like Will Anderson really loves football. You can tell it means a lot to him.

Even before the money, even after the money, like even, I mean, he deserved everything that he earned it. He went out there, he worked for it, and he's not going to change him. He's actually probably going to go even harder, you know, just knowing him because he just loves game that much. And, you know, he loves his organization. He loves playing with the guys that we have. And I just, I'm happy for him and proud of him.

And Hunter, man, he's been doing it a long time, incredible player. I think he's, I mean, he's got yacht money. as well, but there's a rumor I wanted to get cleared up here. As of 2024, they said he was still driving a Mazda, or no, a Nissan GTR. Yeah, that probably sounds right. DeNo is that change, bro. I don't know. I don't, I'm pretty sure that sounds pretty right. De Nio is different, and he likes cars, so I feel like you got a little Nissan GTR. It's probably tricked out. It's probably not a GTR, like the regular one we think of that. It's probably not a regular cheat.

There's something different under the hood. That's awesome. Speaking of, you know, those guys up front, man, like, I had Alec Pierce on recently, and I asked him, I said, what's it like running a dig against the Houston Texans? He said, Petrie bent my face mask. You guys, you know, I call you a taxman. You guys light people up.

But I'm sure any great defense occasionally going to light each other up. I'm wondering who the friendly fire king is on your defense. Who's the biggest perpetrator of friendly fire? Who do you got to watch out for? We got to watch out for everybody. I mean, everyone's flying to the football. But I feel like them backers, you got to watch out for them. They be going sideline to sideline, and they are looking to pain something.

So I feel like them backers, Z's and Henry, and EJ, too, and pitcher, man will, and the new. It's like the interstate out there. I just be like everybody. Everybody, you got to watch out. They don't know what I'm supposed to do. Damn, dude. Yeah, and Pete you throw on that big bonnet helmet, dude. So you really got to watch for him, dude.

He is a, but, but I mean, like, just a, I just love the way you guys play. And you mentioned Aziz, like it kind of starts. I feel like I don't want to say he's, he's the X factor or anything like that. But he owns the middle of the field and you said it. He's sideline to sideline. Is he, am I right in saying he's a lot nicer off the field than he plays on the field? Because every time I see him off the field, he's either playing with a kid, or he's smiling and laughing,

cutting up, talking to somebody, but on the field, he's like a killer. Am I right in nailing that personality profile? Because if you watch him play football, you would think you wouldn't even want to say hi to the guy. Exactly. Ziz, for one, is a great guy, I'm not the line. He's a really good friend, easy to talk to,

easy to be around. And then outside, I mean, he's always giving back to the community. He's always trying to, you know, better other people. I mean, you know, he has a great story. You know, Ziz comes from nothing and for him to be able, you know, be in a position of he is now, I mean, by the grace of God, I mean, you know, he's a little bit of the testament. So I just feel like he always is trying to give back. He was always trying to, you know, extend his hand out. I mean, he's a really good mentor. He's always, you know, trying to give back game to, you know, us or younger guys and just, he's a really good guy.

Really, yeah. I heard you call him Unk. I'm sorry. So that's, is that where the aunt comes from. He's, he's giving out game. He's an he's an. He's an guy. talking about your DB room, you know, just bringing up Alec Pearson a minute ago, he mentioned, I said, are there any corners who have just elite ball skill that you played against? He goes, I think Stingley could play receiver. He's got that kind of ball skills and that kind of hands. Is there a play that exemplifies that you've seen him make over the past couple years? Nothing that Sting does surprise me.

I've seen this thing, which one-handed picks, I've seen this thing jump over people, I've seen this thing jump around people. Nothing he does surprise me. I feel like from the, the first moment I got here, I'm like, oh yeah, he's different. Like, you know, the way he tracks the ball,

the way he goes after the ball. Like nothing, like, whenever he caught that one-handed pick of Mr. Jaguars, I was, everyone was so like, I'm like, I've seen that like a thousand times. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I mean, and you talk about ball, ball skills, ball awareness. One thing, hearing about the way

you guys are coached to play, the find the ball being an emphasis, right? Like, talk to me about how that's different from maybe some other places, not that you played a bunch of places, but the extra emphasis that y'all have on the encouragement of, hey, whip your head around and find the ball. You know, we're not playing the man. We're playing the ball. Well, I feel like the way the word's hot sometimes is like the man can't beat you, the ball can't.

I mean, because if the ball gets to the man, then they'll be. But if you can stop the ball from against him, then you can make the play. So I feel like whenever that ball is in the air, I mean, the way we play, we feel like we have just as many rights to it as the receiver, you know? So that's just how we just want the ball. I feel like whenever, whoever has the ball is usually the winner of the game. Like, that's how the game goes. Game is centered on the football.

So if you get the football, nine times out of ten, you're helping a team win again. It's one thing you're great at, man, is, is attacking a screen game. And it's something, I mean, obviously your physical. kind of shows up on tape in general, but with the way that the NFL is today, it's just such a big deal. Do you take a lot of pride in that? And what do you think makes you so good at playing these things top down? I just feel like that's just the way I've always came up and played. I've always played like a physical brain football.

I'm from South Georgia. I went to Georgia. So being in that system, we play very physical at all phases, all three phases, whether it was on the perimeter, on the interior or on the backhand. Like, I just feel like, that's just how I play. And I just try and bring that, you know, that part of my game every walk up. How much of that is from Kirby Smart yelling at y'all? I've seen videos of people filming in practice freaking 100 yards outside the stadium and you can hear the dude.

He's like next level. Yeah, he walks around with a microphone all practice and he's just on the microphone. And he's yelling on the microphone as if the microphone is not in full blast. Like, so, I mean, Coach Moore, he's a different breed. but, I mean, he reads champions, so proofs into place. He sure does, man. Is there a Georgia defense group text or something like that? Do you all still keep up?

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. We definitely do. We keep up with each other. Yeah, that's awesome, man. The other thing I heard was, and I didn't realize this, that, you know, your pro day, they say you ran not great. And your field speed, though, really shows up.

And Unlin was saying, and this is for anybody that doubts Camari Laster's field speed, He said you hawk BTJ last year and you hit 22 miles an hour. Yeah, I mean, I did have a good angle, but I did hit like 22-7 for sure. I hit 22-7? Yes, sir. Okay, clear that. You clear that up for people because I remember that. Because it's one of those things where like, and that's the whole thing.

Like in that process, it's so easy these narratives to get going. Was that something you were aware of that people were kind of questioning that? I figured, I mean, I figured, you know, when they're, you're coming into this and things like that, you know, people try and nitpick and try and find something that they can harp on and, they're trying downplay you. And obviously on my film, there's nobody really running by me. And I, and no one who I play with or get coached by ever, like, have a real problem or like a fear of my speed. You know, I play out there. I play freely. I run with whoever, and is how I guess. Is there any receiver that you've played

that, you know, and I know sometimes we ask the linemen about an O-Liman, they don't want to big up the opposition or whatever, but is there any receiver you played that maybe not matches your physicality, but somebody at the end of the day, you're like, damn, that, you know, that dude was scrapping out there. We, you know, he was a good, he was a good match for my physicality. Uh, receiver wise, I mean, I feel like most receivers just care about catching that ball. Like, I don't, I don't think they try and get into a macho man match. Like, and neither do I. Like, I'm, I'm not trying to run through the receiver's phase mask unless he's trying to block me to get,

like unless he's in the way of me getting to the ball. Like I don't feel like, you know, I don't feel like any receivers really, you know, are like overly physical. I feel like they block whenever it's necessary. But other than that, they're trying to run the heck out that route and get that ball.

No question. CJ, man, CJ, you know, obviously had a rough one in New England and the weather was bad and that's a very good defense and everything. But I was impressed hearing in the aftermath about how y'all kind of rallied around him. Talk to me about, you know, the faith that y'all have in C.J. Stroud and the relationship that the defense has with the quarterback because, you know, a lot of times that can really help having an elite unit on the other side that, you know, you guys can chop it up off the field and compare notes and build his confidence.

I mean, yeah, for one, CJ, that's my guy. Like, and for two, he's that boy. He's been that boy since he picked up a football. So, I mean, in that game in New England, we all had a bad game. defense had a bad game. We have 28 points. So I feel like you can't just single out one person. I mean, we had a bad game. We didn't win the game as a team. So I just feel like, whenever you look at it from that perspective, you just, we all rally together. We all look at what we did wrong. And we just move on. Like we try and fix those mistakes. And then after that, there's on to the next. So you guys have been knocking on the door for a couple years here. And, you know, like, is there a next step for you guys? Like, what is the one thing? that if you guys are getting together before the season,

having dinner talking about, hey, like, this is the step we have to take this year. What is that? It's hard to maybe pinpoint it to one thing, but what do you think it takes to win that next playoff game? It's just about winning. Like, I feel like it just comes down to whenever it's crunch time, like you have to be at your best whenever your best is neither.

And there's no better time to be at your best than the playoffs. So I feel like the playoffs is, whichever teams are at their best the most, those are the teams who win, you know. And there's a lot of good teams who don't make it far. And we're probably a testament to that. But we weren't at our best whenever our best was needed. And that's just how it goes.

You got a celebrity softball game coming up. Now, what is June 20th? Yes, sir. I think it's, where is this softball game happening in Kamari? It's that Constellation Field, which I believe is in Sugar Land. Okay. So June 20th, some of your teammates, I assume, were coming out. There's going to be a home run derby.

Yes, sir. Did you play baseball growing up? Is this why you're having a softball game? It's not why I'm having a softball game. I played baseball one year, my senior year at high school. And I actually was like, dang, I should have been playing my whole life because I actually ended up liking baseball, and I wasn't bad. But, yeah, I played baseball for one year, and it was pretty fun.

It's not as fun to watch it. It is, like, that's where people get. I agree with that, bro. Yeah. Did you get any bombs? Did you get any bombs senior year? Yeah, I had two bombs. Damn.

Bro, you were fresh on the scene hitting two bombs. Yeah, but it took me a long time. It took me a real long time. It took me a really long time. It wasn't like I just came out there and was getting bombs. Who do you think wins the home run derby in your, if you had to put odds on it? I'm bending myself. You bent on yourself? Yeah. No, yeah. Okay. I feel like Hunter might be able to hit some dingers, man. Yeah, I believe.

Feel like some of those baseball. And the other, the other thing I heard is you're off the field interest that's fishing. Is that true? Yeah, I do like to fish. Every time I'm in Georgia, I go fishing. Yeah. So you just mostly bass fishing? That's all I know. I like bass fishing. I'm not into the deep sea fishing yet, but I feel like I should start.

Me neither. So you got, and if you play football at Georgia, you probably have access to any donor's pond. Yeah, I was going to say, I used to fish out with my dog, Kate. And DGD fishing used to take us all over Georgia. He used to get all the donors or whoever he used to be like, oh yeah, I got this fishing spot. We used to get crazy bass. Hell yeah. That's awesome.

You got some monsters down there. That's great. Yes, sir. Are you from Savannah or are you from? How long did you live in Savannah? I was born and raised. I moved out of Savannah when I was in high school. Okay.

That's the spot, dude. I've been down there for St. Patty's Day. Yeah. That's the best time to go. That's the best time to go. You know where Savannah smiles is? You ever see that? Savannah smiles at piano bar?

That was my spot. down there. I have not been there. It's a good time. I just love the city. I love the city, dude. That's a great place. I love. So do you have any, before I let you go, you got any personal goals this year? Do you kind of, I know, winning is above

everything and being a, you know, a part of that defense, but any personal goals, things you want to improve on or, you know, statistics that you chase? No, I just feel like I just want to be healthy. I feel like if I'm healthy, then that's all that matters. I feel like

Whenever I'm healthy, I go out there and I do what God bless me to do. Yeah. You had to play hurt last year a little bit, didn't you? Just a little bit, but, you know, no pain, no game. No pain, no game. But I do think sometimes, I don't know if you feel this way, but like when you are hurt and you know you might not be able to play, like it brings a little something different out in you.

Yes, sir, for sure. It definitely brings out more of like that dog mentality because it's like I'm really grinding for this. Like everything that I'm doing out here is like I'm really putting in a lot of work for it. Yeah, well, keep it up, man. We love watching your defense and your secondary and the front and everybody, man. I just a lot of respect for your group and you as well, man. So keep up the good work, and I hope you can join us again, man.

Yes, sir. I appreciate you. Hey, yeah, thanks for coming on, dude. Yes, sir.