A Conversation with Jets TE Coach Ron Middleton (8/14)

course it was a fun day. Bears are colden so that helps. That helps, Yeah, it certainly does. Hey, um, how do you leave off your golf game at the end of summer? Um? You know, my golf game is like a roller coach. I think I was having a good day that day with you. Um, I think the next day it went down. So it's the roller coach

and I left it at a down, um angle. When I put him in the trunk, it was unfortunately, But hey, listen, you as a head coach in the National Football League though two and old records, so no roller coaster there. How about over the past calendar year? How about that? Yeah, that'll tell you what both of those were we're really fun. Um. The one against the Jaguars was with the Jaguars for eight years, and I'll tell you to get that opportunity, you know. Um, Coach Solid gave me that opportunity, man,

and it was outstanding. And then for the Singing Bowl, Um, I'm I'm. My hometown is fifty miles away from Mobile, so I had a bunch of family and friends there, so that was that was great too. So on a roll must be, but I love it. What do you think about the social reaction out there from some of your clips speaking to the team, whether it be the Jets or some of those college prospects at the time.

Did you get any text messages from a lot of your friends and family friends, Um, family, my daughter, my five year old daughter, she um, she can recite the the the the um um just hit him deal before the Senior Bowl. She she loves that. She tickles me when she says that deal. But you know, it's all genuine, is from the heart's you know, it's just say what I feel at the time. And they've seemed to work out pretty good so far. So everybody wants to go

to heaven, but nobody wants to get there? Did you think about that one before those came out of your mouth? That phrase? When I went to Duke in um oh eight, Coach Cutcliffe and we after our first practice brought the team up and whatnot. I was a social head coach there and um and and we broke it down. And that was the first time I said that back then. I've said it several more times, um um since then, but that was the first time I said back in oh oh eight, you know. But so yeah, it's it's

in the repertoire. I guess I did think of it, but it's it's it speaks volumes, you know, um Um. I mean that, that's so real to me. I want to go to heaven, but you know, I want to die, but I can't get there unless I do. And these guys they they you know, we won't success. We won't. Um. We want to win the game, but we got to put the work in so that that's basically what that's saying. You know, we want to finished product, but there's steps

to get to the finished product. How about your steps? Still? Undrafted free agent played more than ten years in the Show Football League. You've been coaching for more than twenty years. You coached a lot on the collegiate level before you started rocking and rolling in the National Football League. How did he get to the spot? Um? You know when when when I retired from ball, the whole plan while I was playing, the whole plan was to go back to law school. You know, I was done. I was

gonna go back to law school. And I started taking prep classes for the l S, A T and all that, and I'm like, man, this ain't for me. And I just missed ball. I wanted to be around ball. And um, I had done a few camps. Some of my teammates had summer camps and I would do those and and they would say, oh, man, you just seem like a natural coach. You know, you ever thought about coaching or what not? Really? But and I said that that's the best next best thing to play in his coaching. So

it worked out for him. I was blessed. And um, it's you know, it's been going pretty good so far. Yeah, he's seen so. But at Harvard you were pre law, that was your major, Yes, And why were you so interested in law at that time? You know it was big, big Mattlock guy. Yeah, Mattlock got really related to him. Um, I kind of thought I had a little country wisdom to me. Yeah, I didn't know, and I just loved the way he did. Um. Para Mason was a was a. I was a fan of Para Mason too, and UM,

I don't know. I just at that time, I UM, I would just infatuated with with law. But looking at the overall picture, you know, UM wanted to get there, but didn't want to die. You know what I'm saying. I wanted to get to that Hellvin, but didn't want to put the work in. I can see you up there making a closing argument. Uh you know that or or or the other other thing? Was um a preacher? You know they a lot of people thought I was

gonna go into the pulpit and preach. UM tell him, I don't know, I'd get up there and just catch a fire. You know, I don't really want a chance that. Well, we gotta have you up here again because you got limited amount of time here in the preseason. There's so many things that I'm gonna get to today, but down the line that we'll get to as well. David cuck Cliff, what did he mean to your career. Oh my gosh, tell you what. Cut cut was the one that um

really gave me my first break. And UM, I tell you, I tell people all the time he's he's a heck of a coach, but he's an even better man. Um. He never walked on water, nor has he raised anybody from the dead. But he's a heck of a man first and foremost, and UM, super super smart coach learned a lot from him. I owe him a whole lot, David Cutcliffe, a whole lot. You were in Mississippi that he brought you to do. That's right, that's right. He gave me my break. He gave me my first break.

Out of that Troy with coach Blakeney and coach Cutcliffe got Eli manning. It was Eli Eli's freshman year. Recruited him, We signed him as freshman year, and um, coach Cutt got that job and he, um, he brought me along with him on that deal. It was funny because we actually took the job. He took the job, and we had like a week or so to prepare for a bowl game. Okay, so I drive up to Old miss and he tells the story all the time. I jump out the car and UM, go straight to the practice

field and start coaching. You know that that meant it and the other coaches or anything. Just give me a script and a whistle and a hat and go get it, you know. And we hit the ground running literally at this did Well it's not like I'm speaking and I shouldn't speak in past times. But why does he have such a gifted offensive mind? Oh? Man, I think he understands um. First of all, he understands the quarterback position. You know, it was Payton's coach and mentor the Lord

Eli Um. But he he's not afraid to to try new things. Um. But he's always grounded. You know. It starts with the run. Game, starts with the play action. And you don't need a whole lot just be good at what you do. You know, we didn't have a whole bunch of plays, Um, but the kids could could. They knew the position, they knew the plays for each position. And I think that that goes along way. Alabama two thousand seven, then Alum two thousand seven. Nick Saban's first year.

This was before he became possibly the greatest head coach in college football history. What was the experience like because you were on the staff. Did you see what was ahead? Nobody could have predicted what was the Well he kind of could, did I. Um. The day the morning I went in to tell him that I was leaving, I said, Um, coach, you're gonna you're gonna win, and you're gonna win soon. UM, but I just can't do it with you and m for for whatever reason, you know, I wanted to leave.

I wanted to go. And well he gave you that chance to yeah, and and and and next year you won the national championship. But I wasn't shocked at all about it. Um that year that I was there for one calendar year, one season and whatnot. And UM, I learned so much from that man during that year. Um. He was so meticulous and and and and organized and um just a different way of doing things, you know what I'm saying. Um, But just there's no accident. He's

who he is and whatnot. He's driven now, he's driven. Um. Somebody say to a fault, but you know he's he's excellent what he does now. I owe him a lot. And I think Coach Saban um for for for that year, I really do. How deep does that rivalry run somewhere. Yeah, we're sitting here in New Jersey. I've hours you grew up in Alabama. I've seen families break up, fall apart because of that Alabama alban deal. Um the first shill

talking about over seven. Coach Coach Saban and I were, Um, we were out recruiting and UM, I was driving a car and whatnot. He was sitting out. It was like, um, coach, you do understand the depth of this Auburn Alabama rivalry. And he was like, he goes, he goes in one of his rants and tirades and whatnot. They've been in big games before, Michigan statements you all that. I said, Okay, okay, cool.

Well we played them, of course the last game, well the last regular season game, and Alban beats I think that was the thumb game or whatnot. Okay, so after the game, you know, he calls us up and whatnot. He's like, um, for the next three hundred sixty to four days, where we're gonna think about this and we're gonna get ready for this. And I was sitting back then my locker thinking, I was like, I told you this. You know, we first started back in the spring coach.

This thing is real now, it's real it. I love Alburn and UM that day, I mean they even irked me. Yeah, I was on that I was coaching at Alabama, but Alburn me that day it was I could feel it, man, I could feel it. Yes, of course I was trying to beat them, you know, but but they they me that day. But that's that's still gotta be so weird for a kid who grew up in Alabama, played there and you're coaching with that's right, you know your coaching.

I mean you're growing up an Auburn guy, right right. Well, but yes, UM went alb Yeah, but but it was no strattling defense. You know, you either Alburn or your Alabama was no straddling defense. And for a while I was Alabama, but UM coachd started recruiting me my tenth grade year. So I I flipped the flipped the script big time, um uh, and went fully alban But you know I coached it, old miss. We we have gone

into UM that old miss. I've gone into alban and coached against Auburn there, and they've come to UM Oxford and coached against him to So I've asked them some some some um games against alban But the Alabama game, you know, coming, I mean, that was that's gotta be different. Got to be like a three our experience that, Yeah, it was. It was different. So Jacksonville in your NFL career,

you spent a lot of time there. We discussed that you've been the interim high coach last year when the Jets pulled off a thriller against the Jags at my life staying very cool, I think yeah, and Jets Nation really appreciated it. What was Robert sala like from your standpoint as an assistant coach when you started getting those first interactions with him? Oh? Man, he's first of all, very intelligent. Um. He would come by my office and show me, show me the tips and reminders that he

give his linebackers. Um, he's a big ryn. Let me let me show you this is what and and go through. I still have some of them, you know. Just impressive, just impressive. Um, great football mind, um, um, very passionate, I think. Um. I think players really relate to him. It's believable. You know there are some coaches excuse me, that fake the funk. You know, this guy doesn't fake the funk. He's definitely a player's coach, um, but he doesn't mind. I mean he will jump their ass to

excuse me, and he would jump their ass man. And that's what I mean. He's a great guy first of all, um, and he's a player's coach, and he understands their point of view or whatnot. But hey, he believes in a certain way that it's done and he's gonna he's gonna expect and demand that from them. And um, you know what they said, well, and a heck of a golfer. See that's how that's how we game. Okay, So we were at Jacksonville. He and I would go and play

golf together. Um, when no one else would we get any free time. Boom, Robert, let's go. You know, we'd go play golf. And was the competitive son of a gun on the golf course as well. Yes, he always tell me that. Yeah, Ryn rebuyed me launch because of business. Yes he Uh. I've I beat him once. Now he won't, he won't admit to it. But I did beat him once and um it was it was in Florida. Yeah, yeah,

he's too good. Now I can't I can't touch m Plus you got these nice clubs and stuff, not know, the head coach money and you can buy a game too, you know, so I've seen you play. I know those are he I mean we talked about apples and eggs. Mine compared to he is. Uh, it's it's no comparisons. Really. Can you make them break a couple of smiles on the golf course? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, no question. He's usually playing good, so it's easy for him to smile then, you know. Um, but I've I've I've seen

him frustrated to a couple of times. But he's um, He's a heck of a golfer. I'm sure he will hear that. So, um, what's he like when he is frustrated? Because we do see him, you're talking to the media and obviously he's a gentleman, he's positive and just to see him in those glimpses, what is Robert? Well, you know what, you know, he's upset, Um, something's really irking him. Um, but he's so in control. I've never seen him out of control. You know, he's um and and and it's genuine,

you know, his emotions are genuine or whatnot. But I've I've never seen him out of control or just I read. I wish I could say the same about myself. But you know, he's he I told somebody, Um, he was ready to be a head coach. You know. Um, you know, I think some people are are just luck out and got the opportunity or whatnot. But this this guy prepared for it. He prepared to be a head coach. And UM, he was ready when he got I'm just glad he's got he got a shot. I'm not gonna ask you

for players, that wouldn't be right. But how does he get after players? Asses? As you just said, there are times how does how does he do it? Didn't? Oh yeah, he'll call him out in the team room, but he'll have video evidence of what he's saying. Um, we'll be on a team meeting and he's, hey, dog, this this this isn't. This ain't it. This ain't it. You know, the sain't how we do things, This ain't what we about whatnot? And m he doesn't mind, you know, but

he appointed he had pointed out there. And I think the players appreciate that. You know, we we have a standard. No one, no one has above those standards. Um, everyone has to adhere to the standard, and he holds them accountable to that. UM coaches too, now you know, hey, coaches, Hey, get your get your guys right, you know, because he's he says all the time, we all are replaceable. So don't get it twisted. Yeah, Ron Milton doesn't have a twist.

And let's talk about your group, don't real quickly? Total transformation from last year? Yeah? Yeah? How about how about these free agent facts? How are they fitting in? And how much of you enjoyed being around C? J. Zama and Auburn alone? And I'll tell you what, I don't know if the football world was sleeping on Tyler Conkling, but him playing in New York, I don't think they're gonna be sleeping on him anymore. No, he's I'll tell you what, this guy, Tyler, he's hit the ground running.

I felt good about this guy when he was coming out of college. You know, I've looked at look back at my notes, um, just to see exactly what I written. I knew what I knew, what I felt about it. But you know, I'm not surprised. This guy's hard work. He shows up every day. UM, he's talented. UM, it means something to him. And he takes advantage. Um. And he makes the most of every opportunity he has. And the guy appreciates it, you know, he really does. C J. C J is um. You know. C J is is

is I think a natural leader, you know. And he's and he leads by example. Um. Nobody works harder than c J um Um. And he don't mind calling people out of being vocal and whatnot. And and and you need that. I think I think a team needs that. And he's uh, he does a heck of a job doing that. Um. He and Conk, I mean they get along really well. Um. I think they have the same agent or something to it. But they get along real well. Um. There's no there's no riff for no ego or anything

like that. Both of them are They just want to win, you know, they want to win. And I appreciate that about them. Sure, from what I've seen so far in practice, there's gonna be a lot of times when they're on the field together. Jeremy Rockert obviously you guys liked them after him in the third round. He's a local kid. He's got a good head on his shoulders. But with all that being said, it's a big learning curve right now, right after the time he messed in. And he's gonna

have to be patient with himself. That's the big thing right there. And you know he and I talk every day. You know what where you had that today? You know, if I see him looking looking at you, Okay, what's going on? Because he's so competitive um and and he wants to be that's so bad. But you know it's it's a it's gonna be a process. He's got to get well. And but you can see the few snaps that he's gotten so far. You can see why you

like the kids. You know, he's um, he's got all the tools man, and and and the biggest thing is, um, he loves ball. He loves ball and um that's gonna get him, um to where he wants to be a whole lot faster than anything else because the talent is there to who's are there? Um and he and he loves he wants to be great. You know, I think it's a cool group. Let's to sound on this that he got guys like kind of your boy flashed last year the summer of course, and whole benefit from another year.

And then Lawrence Cager is the guy that I don't think people talk about. But I mean that speaks to his mentality too. Hey, maybe you should transition over the tight end. That's right, it's been done before, you know. Um, I think he has the right attitude. He's not scared at all. UM, And I keep it reminding him that the standards and the mentality in the tight end room is it's different. I'm gonna say totally different, but it's different,

excuse me, than the receiver room. And he's buying into that. And you know, I've just been took ain't you know. He's he's a guy never been on three point stance. That teach him how to be on a three point stance. And um, just some of the calls he's never heard, some of the just generic terms u UM, blocking terms or or combinations with the tackles or past setting, you know, and hands left all those things. You know, it's he's done great. He's worked his butt off to him get

to where he now. He's got a long way to go, but UM very pleased with where he's at right. And Trayvon Westcoe is a guy who's never seen a body that he hadn't like the head He's gonna be out there. You got the little westco man he played. He's old school, he's throwback. Um. I heard a bunch of the guys say he's just a young mid what not said, No, he ain't as tough as I was. He thinks he is, but he's not as tough as I was. So you gotta go young that, Um, Scottie, report what you were

in the NFL. I never saw a block I didn't like. I love blocking. UM that was my wheelhouse. UM. If you threw me the ball, I caught it. Um, But I knew, I knew what paid my bills. Um. I followed that offense. You know it was in college and um blocking for both Jackson um the motion tight end, the the I stayed in that offense. I excelled in, Like I said, paid my bills for a long time.

I wasn't disillusioned by any means. You know that that I was gonna line up out wide and run deep routes and all that that that wasn't That wasn't my deal. But UM, I won a lot of games. Um um made some money, not a lot of money, but made some money doing it. Ten your career and wanted me a super Bowl, So you know, I'm very proud of my product, what I put on tape, very proud of. Not too bad. I appreciate the summer visit. We're gonna try to get you back into studios again. You are

my favorite golfing partner. Here one Jet Strive we have. We had fun that day. I'll tell you we have fun. Thanks for Thank you,