Yeah. I mean I think we've we've pushed them pretty hard and I think they responded, uh, pretty well. You know, the biggest things we learned to finish across the board. I got a lot of new guys, especially on the defensive sides. So you know, the best way to me to bond them is is hard work together. And you know, there's been days we embrace that better than others. But uh, but overall, I think we're moving the right direction. It's just a long ways ago. We got to make sure
we make progress every day. Anyone stood out to you the new guys defensive line, maybe specifically. Yeah, I mean, look, it's a it's a day to day, a play to play process on that. So it's like, yeah, there's guys all over flashing, you know, but who can be consistent on it and who can do it when it gets hard? You know? Ever, then practice that's one thing, or early in camp that's one thing. Okay, when you're in helmets that's one thing. It's a whole another deal. And it's
real football, you know. So I think we're figuring that out. How do you get ready for real football? You know? Out of the first week, you know, we tackling that feels like that's why something to make progressive season goes on. Yeah, no, you're one hundred percent right. I mean, I don't think anybody that's watching this would say we did a very good job of that last year on defense. So you know, the biggest thing is continue to work all those fundamentals
every single day. Coach Moore does a great job of putting us in positions with a physical camp, you know, defensively, and so it's stressing every single finish every single day because not every play can be live. But anytime your thud tempo or you're in a situation where it's even tag off or whatever your leverages, your finishes, you know,
straining to get eleven hats the ball. I mean, that's the stuff we're trying to focus on every day, which every defensive coach in America says it, but we got to get them to do it. You can have the
new system last year. Is it any easier year too, even with a lot of new people, Yeah, I had we if we had all those guys back, could be you know, So no, to be honest with you, no, but I but I'll say this again again, and I'm not just saying it to say it the way coach Moore sets up his year round schedule and allows us to develop them in that regard. You know, these guys have done a really nice job. And the truth, this
is the truth. We've pushed them harder schematically from a you know, learning capacity standpoint than I did last year last year, did you know? And right, wrong or a different time will tell, but that's what we've done. Uh So, And they've done a nice job of buying into that.
Is that based on the fact that they're more veteran players and they played a lot of football, yes and no, yes, and know some of that is that some of that is you know, I think back, and I mean you got to valuate yourself too, you know, and and you go into some of those games and and I look back, and I say, well, did we have everything we needed? You know? Did I give them every bullet in the
chamber to be successful? So, uh you never would to overload them, but you also want to make sure you expose them to enough that you can adapt and be versatile enough to give offenses different looks and and so that's the plan we've we've taken. You know, when you evaluate the year before, Like in the offseason, what sort of numbers are you mostly being attentions to everything? I mean, you just you know, look for me at least. I mean,
you know, you're never satisfied with any of it. So you're just looking at every single rock you can turn over to try to improve, right, And and then you're also trying to evolve and see how people are attacking you and and what vulnerabilities you've shown on film and how people might try to expose those down the line. And so it's all of it, you know what I mean, it's all of it. Like you look at us, Okay, we third down defense was really good. Okay, first second
down to hum It's actually wasn't that good. You know, we's got filming third now. Okay. Red zone defense far as touchdown percents, it was really good, Okay, but you know, uh, we didn't take a ball away very well. So I mean there's just so many things that you can improve upon, and so I look at all of them. You've got Jackson Mitchell helping out. How's that working out so far? Him being around the team, Like is it helpful to have a former Husky like that that can really relate
to what these guys are going through. I think. So, I mean, I think you got you know, you got Jackson, You've got Ronte run around and you know, I didn't coach Jackson, so that's a little bit different at least Ronte. You know, he's the good thing about Ronte is Ronte is a guy that's been here and you know, I came in and he probably looked cross side at me early on, like who is this guy? What in the world is he doing? And you know, and bought into it, and so he can be a liaison there for all
these new guys. Jackson is just a great presence because he's been here, done that. These guys know him. I mean, they know him better than I know him. I mean, And but you know, he's gonna be a good coach. He's a he's a good person. First of all, he's a smart guy. He works really hard, and so those are the ingredients for a good coach. As far as
the launch pad, so been pleased to have him. What are some of the biggest challenges when you're trying to incorporate you know, so many new guys in the next Oh, well, all of it, right, I mean, The biggest thing is I don't mean to be you know, sarcastic, but I mean the truth is you've got schematics right and all that. Okay,
that's all good and that's all important. But I mean if they don't gel and work hard together and come together when they get punched in the mouth sort of speak, then that, to me, that's the fear, right that, Like, that's the biggest difference. You asked that question saying, all right, last year, them guys had to get used to me, okay, but they don't have to get used to each other. You know, they've been through some battles, okay, So now well you got a group that's kind of used to
me and each other. And so that's the biggest thing. And look, I mean people say I go take them out to whatever dinner, take them out to a pool party or paintball or whatever. Well I think the biggest way you bond is doing really hard things with them, you know, and push them through versu because that's one thing that's guaranteed in football, and so that's what we try to do, you know,