(On how these OTAs are different being a leader on the defense) "My rookie year, like you said, I had Calais [Campbell], so I was in that development stage, and I was just being a sponge, just running around all those guys and being around them, just trying to get adjusted to the league. They definitely did their part. Going into this season, having guys like Roy [Robertson-Harris], who played in the league before, Malcom [Brown] as well, Jihad [Ward] and just being adjusted to the culture, it's a pretty cool slate because now I get to translate. I get to know a little bit more about how everything works, how the NFL works, just how to get adjusted to the league. It's been fun and hopefully we continue to grow as a group."

(On learning a new defensive scheme under Defensive Coordinator Joe Cullen and new positions) "Just having two athletes that can change positions like K'Lavon [Chaisson] and myself, also [Dawuane] Smoot, I feel like we're playing back to our old ball. We're playing what got us here, so going back to those habits, going back to those traits, I feel like it's a good sign for both of us, especially Smoot as well. I'm just excited to see us put pads on so we can really put that to use and make a lot of plays for us."

(On who will be playing the same position as him and DE/OLB K'Lavon Chaisson) "I don't know. We just have to see. I don't really have an answer for you for that one. But I do see we all rotate; we're all trying to play as many different positions as we can to be as versatile as we can. You never know what can happen. We're all making plays so as long as we all continue to do that, no matter who we have out there, we'll be straight."

(On his impressions of the new coaching staff and energy in the building) "It's win and win now. That's one of the main things that he preaches every day. This is not a one year, this is not a two year, three, seven-year plan. This is a plan that we're going to win today and to win a Super Bowl. We have a lot of guys that are motivated. We have a lot of guys that are willing to win, that's willing to go out there and just lay it out there on the line. We have coaches that are doing the same, so as long as we have coaches that have our back, we just go out there and play. That's what I'm most excited about and that's what I'm most excited about with Coach Meyer and I can't wait to see."

(On being a re-energized team this year) "It's just a different group. We have a lot of the same players as last year, so we have a lot of guys that went through that last year. We have a lot of new faces, a lot of new playmakers. So, you have us and then you have guys that are coming in that are trying to build this culture up. Once we get all guys that are on one plan, one goal, one mind, that's what you're going to have. You're going to have guys that are out there having fun. You're going to have guys out there if they make a mistake, you have guys picking them up. That's just the culture that we're trying to bring here. That's the culture we're going to play with."

(On improving their sack total) "Last year was last year and we have a whole new different group, we have a whole new different scheme, we have a whole new different coaching staff that's going to help us get to where we need. I can't really speak on that, but I know game one, we're going to get right and we're going to apply a lot more pressure. I'm just looking forward to it. I know we're all going to get better for that, and I can't wait."

(On if the new scheme will better suit DE/OLB K'Lavon Chaisson) "If we were back at the scheme last year, I feel like he was going to take a big jump. He knows what he had to do to correct what he did last year, and he only got better. I've seen a huge improvement from this year to last year and again, I can't wait to see him go out there and compete and make a lot of plays for us."

(On the energy of the front seven) "We just love playing for each other. Even off the field, we link up and we stay with that unit. It's all one. It's not a lot of separate goals. We all came together, we all figure out what we have to do, we all figure out how we're going to do it, and that's just how we bond and that's how we're going to communicate. That's just how we're going to be. It's one big family and we're just going to continue to get better week in and week out. I just love this group. I think we're going to be shooting for the stars soon."

(On if this group has bonded quicker than groups he's been a part of in the past) "It's just we have a lot of guys that want to win and that want to win now, like new guys like Malcom [Brown] who's been a system that's used to having a great defensive line, that's used to winning. So, he's bringing that culture. We have Roy [Robertson-Harris] who also came from a real top notch defensive lines, one of the best defensive lines, who is bringing the culture here. We also have Jihad [Ward] who's bringing that here. We have guys that got better, such as [Dawuane] Smoot, myself, and K'Lavon [Chaisson]. So, [we're] just bringing all that winning and just bring all of the competitive excellence, that competitive culture is just only going to push us to get better. So, I can say yeah, we definitely get to where we need to be, just trying to win."

(On the Urban Meyer era) "It's just an all-in mentality. If you're not an all-in player, if you're not somebody that wants to compete, who wants to get better not only for yourself but for your teammates, it's a culture where we have to move on and we have to get the guys that are willing to sacrifice, that's willing to win, and that's willing to just give it their all not only for themselves but for their teammates. That's just what he's bringing out of people and that's what the players expect. I just want to play for everybody. I want to play for all of the corners, I want to help them out and I know they want to help me out. We just have to play hand in hand and so far, so good."

(On the difference in tempo between the team now and in the past) "I don't know. Yeah, in a way it's a little bit different. But like you said, it's fresh. We don't have any pads on. We can't really make the play when the play needs to be called because we have to stop and let up. Once next week, I think, we're in some type of pads, we can really start to get after it and see our guys really play out there. Other than that, no. I don't know, that was a good question, Mark. You got me on that one."

(On what he wants to improve on this offseason) "For me personally, it's to stay healthy. It's to be on the field as long as I can and help my teammates as much as I can. As long as I'm out there on the field, I feel like I can contribute. An improvement from last year is to just get off the ball and have the same mentality every snap. I'm looking forward to that, staying healthy, staying on the field."

(On the new staff keeping the team healthy) "Yeah, definitely. With the training staff, it's definitely a new energy. [Director of Athletic Training Jeff Ferguson] Ferg's definitely bringing a lot of juice to the training room, like you want to be in there. It's not a place where we don't know what to expect. Guys want to be in there, guys want to laugh, guys want to get treatment. Guys want to be great, like I said, not only for themselves but for the whole team. That starts with taking care of yourself and they're definitely doing a wonderful job in the training room and also in nutrition. The food's getting a lot better, it's getting a lot healthier. Once we have all those things linked in together to develop a culture, a development side of football, it makes it the best. The best of the best."

(On what he reflected on this offseason) "Just to stay healthy. We had a lot of injuries last year, we had a lot of guys go down early, we had COVID situations, guys that just didn't play, so it kind of set us back like that. [Our goal] is just to stay healthy. But [in regard to] conversations with other teammates, just work. We're about this whole new regime coming in and we knew that, we knew what to expect from that. Now that we're all here, we all just need to work."

(On if this year feels like a fresh start) "It's definitely just a start over. It's a start from scratch. Not only do we have a fresh coaching staff, we have a fresh team. We still have a young team, and we still have a team that's willing to go out there and compete every play. As long as we keep developing on that, I think we're going to be fine."

(On Defensive Coordinator Coach Cullen's energy) "I'll tell you what, I can't explain Coach Cullen. He's a different type of guy and I love it. As soon as you step on the field, you're going to get a whole different type of side you didn't expect because I know meeting him in person and talking to him outside of football, I knew he was a soft-spoken type of guy, cool, chill. As soon as he passes that red line, oh man, high energy, just screaming going to come out, that love, that passion. But like I said, it's only going to show the passion and the love that he has for us, just the drive that he wants up to play with. I'm not going to lie, it makes me want to go harder just to hear him scream a little bit louder, say things, and then be like, 'Hey, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to say that.' It's definitely really cool. I never played with a coach like that and I'm excited to get rolling with him."