Running Backs Coach Duce Staley (7.29.25)
Duce (Staley), with Quinshon (Judkins) not here, and Jerome (Ford) coming back from that injury. How have you had to adjust things there in the room over the first few days of camp?
“Yeah, the rest of those guys have been working their ass off, and I’m super proud of them. From two rookies, Dylan (Sampson), Ahmani (Marshall), Pierre (Strong Jr.) picking up his slack, and also Troy (Hairston), who’s our fullback, and playing around with halfback a little bit, those guys have been doing great.”
How much have you noticed a guy like Dylan (Sampson), specifically, grabbing the bull by the horns and making the most of those opportunities?
“And that’s what he’s doing, making the most of all opportunities that’s given to him, being able to play them in the slot sometimes, being able to put him in the backfield, moving them around, dumping a lot on him to see how he adjusts. He’s adjusting well.”
How have you seen Dylan (Sampson) grow from rookie minicamp to now?
“Yeah, he has really grown. Just looking at OTA’s, where he came from kind of learning the system and moving him around. Now we are into camp, where you put the pads on and protection is important, making sure you understand who he has, understand from the point of the read and what he has on the responsibility of his routes. It’s a lot on him, but he’s doing well.”
When we talked to you in the spring, you talked about Dylan (Sampson) in a third down role, receiving back, things like that. Does that change with Quinshon (Judkins) not being here?
“No, it doesn’t. Not at all.”
In June, you told us about pajamas. So, what’s your message now as we go to day two, day three of the real stuff (camp with pads)?
“Let’s stay out of pajamas. Let’s get back to the hard stuff. Coach (Kevin Stefanski) is doing an awesome job with the schedule and being able to put these guys in those situations and seeing how they’re going to react. Yesterday, of course, the first day in pads, I thought that those guys did well. You want to continue to build from there. It starts there, but you want to build. Today we have shells on, so it won’t be in the pads. The next day, when we come out here, hopefully we get a little tackling done.”
When the guys are doing the 35-pound bag thing most days, where does that come from?
“Yeah, well, O-Lineman have been doing it for a long time. The sandbags are what you’re talking about, and sandbags are used for protection. So, you’re able to take the sandbag and hold it in front of your chest about 6, 7 inches off your chest. You’re able to move your feet without crossing over, and the weight of the sandbag represents the defender.”
You seem to enjoy that more than the guys do.
“Well, I enjoy every time I come out here between the lines because I can’t do it no more.”
You said that things didn’t really change for Dylan (Sampson), but in his roles out there with Quinshon (Judkins) out, with Jerome (Ford) out, have you seen more from him that changes your perception of what he can do? Has he shown you anything extra?
“Well, yeah, it picks up for the reps, of course, when you start to put him out there and give him more reps. In those situations, no matter if it’s third down, no matter if it’s first or second down, being able to see him more is definitely a blessing for him. For us, I think that going forward, we’ll continue to give him the ball because he was a hell of a runner in college. So, we’re looking at everything right now when it comes to Dylan (Sampson).
You mentioned you can’t come out here and do it no more, that’s why you like it. That’s why you like it more than they do. How did you manage the identity shift from player to coach?
“Yeah, it was tough at first. When I walked in, I’ll never forget getting a phone call from Andy Reid. I remember Andy said, hey man, I thought when you played you could be a coach. I was like, nah, not me, but being able to come in and do the minority coaching program and getting a chance to spend time with coaches that was on that staff when I was there. So I was able to come in and immediately see some coaches that I had a relationship with, built a relationship with and was able to go out there and watch them do it for so many years, coaching me and also coaching young guys that were there. I was able to catch on rather quickly and I understood how to do it as a coach.
We don’t know a lot about Ahmani (Marshall). He’s obviously getting more reps than he’s used to. What is your message to him?
“I love Ahmani (Marshall). I love the physicality that he brings to the game. He takes this thing seriously and hard. He’s hard on himself, which you love. Players like that, sometimes you’ve got to back them up a little bit because they’re so hard on themselves, but he’s one of those guys that it means a lot to him, no matter what position he’s playing.”
You were asked about the sandbag drill. Another drill you guys have out there is the resistant band. How do the guys respond to that?
“They hate it. I love it, of course, because one of the things with the resistant bands you’re getting is ball security, because the band is pulling the ball. What people don’t know, those balls are like 20 pounds. So, they got the band in the ball. So that’s why, when you see them done, they start crying a little bit because their arms are hurting.”
So, you talked about Ahmani’s (Marshall) physicality. That was something that was seen as one of Quinshon’s (Judkins) strengths. Do you feel like he could be the guy to fill that physical role?
“Well, here’s how I think. All of them have got to be physical. No matter if you’re 202, 230 (lbs), it’s all about a mentality. It’s all about what you got in your chest. Every guy out there that’s in the running back room has it. You just got to go show it.”
Why didn’t you see yourself as a coach at first?
“Man, at first, it was so many hours. All you ever heard as a player was some of these coaches spending nights in the building: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, sometimes Thursday. You thought like, nah, I don’t want any part of that. So, technology caught up, and I think the timing was right for me, so I was able to come in and definitely learn from a lot of coaches. I played for and also learned from Andy Reid giving me that opportunity, and I’m thankful.”
How would (Duce) Staley the player like playing for Duce Staley the coach?
“Oh, he wouldn’t like it. He would not like it.”
Duce (Staley), with the Quinshon (Judkins) situation, Kevin (Stefanski) and Andrew (Berry) have talked so much about how much emphasis they put on the educational piece, especially for young guys coming in. You, being a former player, how much are you able to share your experience with guys and hopefully get them to avoid those types of things?
“You know, it’s the situation itself, like you said, Kevin (Stefanski) and AB (Andrew Berry) already addressed it, and they talked about it. So, I don’t really have anything else to say on it, but I’m constantly talking to the guys in my room and constantly talking to my kids about all situations. So, that’s a part of being a parent. That’s a part of being a great friend and a coach for Quinshon (Judkins).”
Quinshon (Judkins) obviously, not knowing when he’s going to be back here, not knowing when he’s even going to be able to play. How hard is it for a young guy, a rookie that has to catch up?
“That’s my job. That’s my job to get him caught up and to make sure that he’s in the building and showing him all the film that he missed. We’ll do an install from day one all the way up until he’s there. So that’s no problem.”
Why wouldn’t you like playing (in the NFL) now?
“Well, honestly man, I always tell people this, and I’m going to be redundant when I say it. I remember my playing days; I was an average player with a cool name. So, that meant I had to try to outwork everybody that was out there. Now knowing that going against some of these guys that’s here now, I wouldn’t do too well. So of course, that coach will kind of put me in some situations to probably show me up, as they say, and it wouldn’t be good.”
Do you think you bring a player’s mentality or excitement out here in the training camp field?
“Oh, without a doubt. I get a chance every day to live vicariously through these players. Offense, defense, special teams, no matter what it is. I told those guys that today, every time you make a move, I make it too. Every time you make a tackle or score a touchdown, I just make it too. So, being able to go out there between the lines, compete, being able to feel the energy and the juice from a coach giving it to them and being able to see it is second to none.”
There seemed to be a lot of inside runs yesterday. Is that geared to promote physicality and toughness?
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s the scheme. I think every scheme should promote physicality and toughness when it comes to football. So, no matter what you do, from play action to protection to inside runners, outside runs, no matter what it is, you should think physicality first.”
What’d you think of the hit on (Dylan) Sampson by Carson (Schwesinger)?
“Yeah, he need to get his damn pads down. Good job.”
What type of impact do you hope you have on this running back room, whether it’s impacting these guys as players or people off the field?
“You know, one of the things that I always constantly try to hammer on with them is the love and the relationships that’s in the building, and the love and the relationship that’s in the room. When they come through the door right before OTA’s start, we get a chance, before we pick the remote up is to talk about our why’s. I give them my why and I hear their why’s, because what I know about this game is there’s going to come a time where the ship gets a little rocky. There’s going to come a time where things are not easy and it’s going to be hard. That’s when I have got to come along and remind people what your why was, to make sure that we’re on the same page. So, having that relationship is the most important we’re looking for.”
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