dqwelljackson - Yardbarker Blogs

Movie Contest!

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:27:14 -0500

How are my favorite ‘barkers doing today? I’m a huge movie fan! I just want to know which movie star do I most remind you of? It doesn't have to be a physical resemblance, could also be personality and mannerisms. Provide a good explanation in the comments and I'll pick the winner. Watch the video for the prize!

Who's the greatest linebacker?

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:39:58 -0500

Hey Yardbarker, let's chat about who's the greatest linebacker. I would love to talk about it because in my mind I have a top three, not in any particular order: Ray Lewis, Derrick Brooks, and I gotta go to my old school... Mike Singletary. Give me your thoughts on who's the greatest!

Hanging out with Uncle Charles

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:40:51 -0500

Hey Yardbarker fans, this is my Uncle Charles, hanging with me, enjoying the nightlife of Super Bowl weekend. I'm bringing him out and letting him enjoy some of my world that he helped me get into -- my life, the NFL life.

My first Super Bowl media row

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:04:14 -0500

Hey Yardbarker fans, experience the day with me at Super Bowl XLIII -- this was my first media row.

Met With Coach Mangini

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:13:05 -0500

Hey Yardbarker, I was finally able to sit down with Coach Mangini. I've been hearing all the media attention that he was getting about being a hard-nosed disciplinarian... The meeting went well, we sat down for about half an hour. We pretty much spoke about last season, what my thoughts were. He wanted me to understand how he would come across as being a coach. One of the things that caught my attention was that he's not on a power trip. Our common goal is winning.

He seems to be a nice guy. I didn't know what to expect from him, but he seems to be a players' coach. One thing he told me, we have to have a great relationship and we have to be able to communicate with each other. We're in the business of winning games. I left that meeting feeling good about the situation.

I was also able to sit down with Rob Ryan, the defensive coordinator, and we talked briefly about his scheme as a DC. We spoke about me taking ownership of this defense and making guys accountable -- not just by saying it but by doing it. I'm going into this year with a different mindset. This is my defense, and I'm gonna hold guys accountable. This is my fourth year in the league and I know what it takes to win. I know what it takes as an individual and as a team, and I'm gonna hold guys accountable. I want guys to play to their ability and hold me accountable also.

Overall the meeting I had with Eric Mangini and Rob Ryan was a good one, I'm glad I was finally able to sit down with them. March 19th, that's when guys report to off season workouts. We're trying to get the right players in, draft the right guys, and look forward to the 09 season.

Getty Images

Super Bowl - Rooting for Edge

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:05:43 -0500

YBs

Been asked who I want or expect to win the Super Bowl. As long as Cleveland Browns aren't in it I really don't care who wins, but I have been paying attention, watching NFL Network and it seems Ben has something to prove. Obviously I know all about the Steelers. I know that team well and they'll be tough. I haven't seen much of the Cardinals, just these playoff games, but they're here for a reason. They have Kurt Warner and a lot of weapons. Really I just want to see a good game, but I am an underdog guy and I'll be rooting for guys. I'm an Edgerrin James fan. He was with the Colts for 6 or 7 years and hasn't played in the Super Bowl yet. I don't know him, but I'm rooting for him. I want to see him get a ring.

Still Watching Film

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:41:29 -0500

YBs

I gave you a little of my routine yesterday, sleeping in, breakfast, learning to cook, but there is some football mixed in. I am watching film usually three nights a week. I bought one of those DVS computers with all the league technology on it. It's the system the teams use to watch film so I can pull up anything. I can sort by plays, by down and distance, by runs, passes, it can do anything. I've had it since my second year and I don't go anywhere without it. If I'm just sitting around the house at night I'll start watching film. I tend to stay up late so that always seems to be the best time. Like I wrote earlier, I like watching other players so that I can see what they do and pick up things in their games. The other night I watched Patrick Willis. I watched his second game and my second game and took notes, comparing, contrasting. I just scratched the surface this year and want to continue to get better.

In the Kitchen

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:11:18 -0500

Hey Yardbarkers,

Been layin low lately, but still getting some things done. My wife and I had a little trade off. She did all the cooking during the season and now it's my turn to take care of the house. I'm not the best cook at this point, but I am learning. I usually start the dinner, do all the prep and she finishes it when she gets home from work. I can bake chicken and cook flank steak so when I do those I do the whole thing from start to finish. I'm a vegetable guy too so I do the sweet peas and corn and I add in the Uncle Ben's minute rice too. I'm sure you're impressed. I'd say we follow that routine about 3-4 days a week now and go out a couple days. Breakfast is a whole different story. I love waffles so when I get up I'll make some wheat waffles, turkey sausages, grits, gotta have the cheese grits. I sleep until 10:30 during the offseason so my wife is usually long gone to work by the time I eat breakfast. We'll take a break from the routine the rest of this week because we're heading to Tampa for Super Bowl.

Saying goodbye to our Coach

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:53:48 -0500

Hey Yardbarkers,

Season's over, unfortunately. Didn't go as we had planned it and lost our coach today. Even though we all knew it was coming it was still disappointing when we got the news today during our exit meeting at 12. Romeo met with us and thanked us for all that we did during his time in Cleveland and wished us well. He's a good guy and a good coach. Every guy on the team made sure they stopped and said a few words to him.

It's funny how this business works. Players are always the last to know anything that's happening. We were on the bus ride back from Pittsburgh yesterday and our phones started ringing. We were all getting calls on the bus telling us that it was posted on ESPN that Romeo is out. We knew Phil Savage was fired and we were being told Romeo was next. It's just unfortunate it didn't work out because he is a great coach. He's been doing it for 30 years and has those Super Bowl rings. He's got one as a special teams coach, defensive coordinator but we couldn't get him one as a head coach. But he'll bounce back. I am a Romeo guy and I will be in his corner throughout my career.

Now we sit back and wait to find out who will be taking over. The players and coaches who are here promised to keep in touch so that we know what direction we're heading. I'm sure when things settle down for Mr. Lerner he will let us know what decisions he plans to make. I am anxious to find out.

We want to win for Coach Crennel

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:51:34 -0500

It seems the only thing the media is focused on these days is what's going to happen with Coach Crennel. It's the hot topic because we're not winning, but if we can get a win we can change the story a little bit. We want to win for the guy. He's a good coach. But as players we can't let all these questions become a distraction to us. We're all grown men in the locker room and it's about being a professional. When the whistle blows it's gotta be all about football. We need to set aside any kind of distractions and prepare and perform at the highest level. And these last two games are important. We may not be going to the playoffs, but we're playing against our rivals Cincinnati and Pittsburgh and we want to end the season on a good note. Cincinnati is going through some of the same things we are. The last time we played them it was a physical game and we expect the same this time. It's a big game for us and I'm really looking forward to it.

My Mentor, Uncle Charles

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:59:12 -0500

Hey Yardbarkers,

I wrote yesterday about the guys I study, but as I started thinking about who has had the greatest influence on me my uncle Charles stands out. He's a youth football coach in Florida and taught me everything as a youngster. The game is huge in my neighborhood. I remember the older guys always coming around telling stories about the game, what they did in high school and some of their standout moments. I gained a love for football during all of that, but it wasn't always that way. When I was 5 my uncle would take me outside and throw the football at my face. I couldn't really catch at that age so it would hit me in the face all the time and I'd start crying. But he wouldn't let me quit and kept going until I could catch it. Looking back, I credit him with making me a tough guy on the field and teaching me all the basics. You look at Derrick Brooks in that Super Bowl year and he had 5 or 6 interceptions for touchdowns that year. That's a pretty nice set of hands. My uncle taught me how to catch when I was little and I learned way back then that the football couldn't hurt me. He also taught me how to push myself to the limits and made me always believe in myself. Coach Charles. He's been coaching little league football for 22 years and for the same team I played for when I was 7. He's coached all the guys in my neighborhood and they all call him Coach Charles. He's still coaching me. I get a call or text from him after every game. I could finish with 10+ tackles, a sack and interception and he'll always point out what I could've done better. I'm my own toughest critic, but he adds a lot to the conversation and I listen to everything he has to say. I trust his knowledge and instincts. It's part of the pursuit of always getting better and I look forward to those calls after every game.

Picking up pieces from Ray Lewis, Derrick Brooks and all the great ones

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:46:15 -0500

What's good Yardbarkers?

Someone asked me if there are any players I have patterned my game after and the answer is I study a lot of guys and try to take a little something from each of them and add it to my game. Ray Lewis has that high motor and great intensity and guys always seem to gravitate towards him. When they need a big play they all turn to Ray. I try to play with that same kind of energy and expect to be a leader my teammates can count on for the big plays. Derrick Brooks is a smart guy, not real flashy but is a great leader. Teddy Bruschi is the master at slipping blockers, he doesn't necessarily attack them, but he slips them constantly. Then there are some younger guys like DeMeco Ryans, Patrick Willis and Chad Greenway. I watch all of them and take little pieces of what they do so that I can continue to get better. It all helps.

The way I look at it is that I'm a student of the game. I love football and like talking to guys who also study football. I really view myself as a fan of the game so I'm constantly studying it, trying to learn more and finding ways to gain and edge on the field. I watch all these linebackers and pick up little things and listen to their sound bites. Even with all the things they talk about the best advice they give is the way they play. But my quest to always get better goes beyond watching other linebackers. I also like talking to offensive players, quarterbacks, running backs and get a sense for what they see when they look at the defense. If I can pick up on how they read the defense it will help me better my game, make me a step faster.

Giving Gifts

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:01:32 -0500

Hey Yardbarkers, Meant to write this Tuesday, but got sidetracked. We had a very tough loss last week against the Colts. It was another one of those games where if we make one or two more plays we win. It's been that kind of season for us. As frustrating as the losses are you have to bounce back and get ready for the next game. On Monday and Tuesday I was part of two events that definitely allow you to step away from the frustrating losses. On Monday my teammate Eric Steinbach hosted about 30 kids at the Dick's Sporting Goods and gave each of them $170 to spend in the store. These are kids who are less fortunate and otherwise wouldn't have gifts for Christmas. My wife and I went to help the kids shop. Buying a pair of shoes was mandatory, but the kids could get anything else they wanted. It was a gift for us to be able to participate and see them enjoying themselves. The next day I joined my teammates Shaun Rogers, Sean Jones, Andra Davis and Daven Holley at the Browns Toy Extravaganza. We bought gifts for 300 kids. We were giving away computers, play stations, basketball hoops, CD players, flat screens, gift certificates to Best Buy, you name it we had it. The kids each had wristbands with numbers on them and we drew the numbers and called them down. It was great to see all the smiles and hear the laughter. And it's great way to kickoff the Christmas season.

Studying for Peyton Manning and Colts

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:47:50 -0500

Yardbarkers, This has been a little different week with Thanksgiving, but it's been good. Thanksgiving is a day where I like to touch base with all the people I love, my family and friends, just to let them know how much I appreciate them. We get so tied up into what we're doing during the season that I'm not the best at getting on the phone and checking in, especially when I'm studying. But this week has been good. I get in the same study routine each week. I'll watch three or four game tapes of our opponent for a couple hours each day. On Wednesday I study the running plays, on Thursday I watch their pass offense, Friday I combine the two of them and Saturday I get one more look just to see if I pick up any last minute keys. I might just focus on the running back or an offensive lineman just to find one more play I might remember. I'm the signal caller so I need to make sure I'm ahead of the game and make the right calls and right reads. I'm also always looking for an edge so that I can play fast on the field and make more plays. We play a 3-4 defense so I try to watch games when the opponent is playing against the 3-4 it gives me a sense for how the running backs block against pressure and the routes he might run. I focus on the running backs, offensive linemen and quarterback. This week we get Peyton Manning and he's really good at reading defenses. It's my first time playing against him and it'll definitely be a test for our defense and for me. Every team disguises its coverages, but he's really good at reading things. He'll make a lot of dummy calls at the line which makes it harder for the defense to memorize their checks. We try to pay attention to those things to get an edge later in the game. Against a guy like him you have to be on top of your game because he can beat you at any time, he's that good and he's got a lot of weapons.

It's all about the feet

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:35:29 -0500

Hey Yardbarkers thought I'd check in Thanksgiving eve, give a little body management lesson LB style. This is the time of year when your body really starts to wear down a little bit. You have to put your work in to keep yourself strong and as fresh as possible. That's lifting weights, doing squats, shoulders, back work, sitting in the cold and hot tubs, getting massages. For me my whole life revolves around keeping my body healthy, lifting weights and studying film. As a linebacker you literally feel the season from head to toe. My fingers and hands are roughed up from getting caught in face masks and making tackles. But to me the most important thing is your feet. When they start to go your hips, back and legs start to go too. I pay a lot of attention to my feet. I get my feet soaked and massaged regularly, I wear padded shoes, I stay off my feet as much as possible and I always wear a brand new pair of socks. Always, in practice and in games. I am a firm believer in the feet. I had special soles made for my shoes and my cleats and I'm certain it has all made me a little faster, which is the difference between making a tackle and not making a tackle. I let my hands stay rough, but not my feet. You don't want slick or slippery hands when you're trying to make tackles so you won't see me using lotion during the season. But my feet are a different story. You have to take care of your feet.