Running Backs Coach Duce Staley (8.8.24)
So, Jerome (Ford) just said pass protection and blocking is something that he really needs to improve upon. After looking at the highlights from last year of him and seeing what he is now, have you seen improvement?
“No doubt. It’s something that he’s getting better with. We talk about it all the time in the room. Not just him, everybody. You gotta be able to protect the quarterback. Of course, you know, every running back wants the ball. They want to run the ball, but it’s all about what you’re doing when you don’t have the ball. Everything from running out play actions and protecting the quarterback. So, we take pride in doing that.”
Jerome was just saying that you’re not necessarily asking him to run through a wall, but you want him to be there when you run through the wall. How important is it for you to kind of set that tone every day for your group?
“Jerome got that ‘Rome’. He gonna have to run through the wall, too. Yeah, no doubt, we’re gonna run through it together.”
I think he was paying you a compliment.
“Yeah, I know. I’m just joking right now. And they understand, we all set the standard in our room. Nothing compromises that standard that we set. So, we’re gonna go to work every day as running backs. We’re gonna turn cracks in the holes. We’re gonna protect like we just talked about. We’re gonna catch the ball, put it away and finish.”
How difficult is it to run drills and keep everyone engage through a whole season?
“It’s not difficult at all. It’s their job. If they’re bored, then you go find another job.”
Duce, how different is the training at your position than it was when you played?
“I think that it hasn’t changed. I just think about the commitment that they give. You know, back then of course, you could do a little bit more with two-a-days, more padded practices, I get that part. But the mindset from the running back position never changed. It shouldn’t anyway.”
Duce, so many of your guys, obviously, getting looks at that, kick return role on special teams. Everything is so different this year with these rule changes. What has that been like for you guys as a staff to kind of get your heads together and figure out the best options for that?
“Yeah, it’s been awesome, honestly. Simply because, you know, you get more opportunities to make this team. We understand the rules, they understand the rules. And as a running back, you get a chance to go back there and be that returner with this new way of doing things. So, I think those guys are licking their chops for the opportunity and I’m happy for them.”
Hey Duce, there’s no doubt that the run game is going to look a little different, at least to us, than it did previously here. Did you and Roy Istvan contribute to the formation of the running game we’re going to see?
“Yeah, you know, it’s still ‘run where they’re not, throw where they ain’t’, you know, regardless. And as far as the run game itself, it’s football, you know what I’m saying? We gonna just impose our will, we’re gonna get behind our good line that we have and we’re gonna run the ball downhill.”
We can hear you out there like every play, making sure they finish the plays and really coaching them up vocally. Why is that so important to you to be that kind of coach and to be so loud out there on the field for them?
“I mean, this is who I’ve been all of my career playing and also as a coach. I live vicariously through them. I wish I was them. I wish I could still play. I tell these guys all the time, even defensive guys, when you’re making a sack, I just made it too. Quarterback, when you just threw a bomb, I just threw it too. So, I’m running down the field with you. So just being able to have that juice, that energy and our players feed off of that. I was once a player. I remember my coach having it. I would feed off the energy that he brings because we know walking through those doors sometimes, they get in their heads a little bit, ‘All right, this is a tough day or it’s hot’, whatever, man, you gotta go to work. It’s all about winning.”
What coach was the most influential on you?
“I had a bunch of them, man. I just don’t wanna just single out one. I mean, everybody from Andy Reid to Bill Cowher, my high school coach. So, I had a bunch of good coaches.”
Your thoughts on Aidan (Robbins) so far and what do you see from him?
“Business approach. You know, he comes in the building with a hard hat, he got a sledgehammer and he’s ready. He’s learning. One of the smartest, definitely in the room. Being able to help others at a young age, which is awesome. He’s taking great notes, you know, just being able to take in the room what he’s learning onto the field and that’s what he’s doing well.”
What’s your thoughts on (Nick) Chubb at this point?
“What’re my thoughts on him? Oh, I love him. You watch the play around here, right? You love him? I love him too.”
Oh yeah. I mean in his present situation, is he getting closer?
“I don’t talk injuries. You have to ask coach about that.”
Just seeing him (Chubb) on the sidelines on the sidelines a lot, talking to guys, what’s that like to just kind of have his presence around?
“His energy and juice, man, is unbelievable. I know you guys don’t get a chance to see nothing but the smile and the hard work ethic. But in our room, he brings energy, he brings leadership and he brings juice, which I love being around.”
I think coming back from an injury like that, seeing the videos online of him squatting, I think some people might take that for granted because you’re just like, ‘Oh, it’s Nick Chubb. He can do freak things, he’s a freak athlete.’ But truly, how difficult is it to come back from what he’s come back and what he’s been able to push through?
“Once again, I don’t really want to talk about the injuries. I just see Nick right now in the present form and he comes in here, he goes to work, he comes in the meeting rooms, he gives all his energy and attention to those guys, making sure they’re getting better and he’s also getting better with the new system. So, that’s what we want from him right now as we speak.”
Duce, when you were going through those two-a-days when you played, do you think that made you guys tougher as football players. I’m not saying these guys aren’t tough, but did that really…?
“What are you saying? What are you trying to say?”
I’m just wondering if that make you guys tougher than like in this era with no pads…?
“We’re living in a different day and different time, and we all know that. So mentally these guys are going to wherever they go to, to these academies back home in their training. We understand the rules, and we abide by the rules and we respect the rules, but they know when they have to put in extra work. And that’s what I admire about these guys.”
You’ve won both as a player and a coach at the Super Bowl, just curious, that championship mentality, what does it take to make it through the season? Not only the playoffs, but to go all the way?
“Yeah, you got to work hard when the lights are off, when nobody’s watching. You gotta continue to have that championship mentality, just to continue to have that focus and direction when nobody’s watching. So, when the lights come on, it’s easy. So, I want to win again and again at a high level. That’ll never stop, that’s in my gut.”
And preaching that to these guys, are they taking it in? How do you read the room to know your guys are actually listening?
“Yeah, you read the room by the way they come out here and work. Because if they’re not listening, they’re not taking to teaching, they wouldn’t work as hard as they did.”
Duce, sorry if you’ve been asked about him already, I wasn’t here at the beginning, but being around Jameis Winston in this offense, what does he bring to, like the entire group, even your guys?
“He brings leadership. You know, he brings that guy that walks in the room that everybody respects. He knows the offense. He’s talking to everybody from the lineman to the defensive side of the ball, to the kickers. You see his energy out there and it’s contagious. I love Jameis.”
Duce, there was a time when running backs were kind of the star players in this league, and it’s kind of, not that the position has been diminished, but kind of minimized in some people’s eyes. Do you see it coming back around again at some point? I mean, they’re always going to be important.
“Who knows. Yeah, I understand where you’re coming from with that question, but I tell my guys all the time, ‘Whenever you get an opportunity, just take full advantage of it.’ You know, we talk about character in our room, and character is what you do without the ball. So, if you don’t have the ball, knock somebody out, you know? Run the right route, be a good decoy, and then when you do get a chance to get the ball, showcase your skills. So, I mean, I understand as far as this league, this time that we’re in, it’s not like back in the days when, you know, you got all nine of them in the box and you’re running the ball just straight downhill, and sometimes you have opportunity to do that. So, it hasn’t disappeared, but I understand that we don’t see a lot of it. They respect it, though.”
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