Latest / The Irish Steelers Podcast / Checking in with Nick Herbig

Transcript

Checking in with Nick Herbig · The Irish Steelers Podcast

• 0:07
  Speaker 1: Everybody, Welcome into the Irish Steeters Podcast. Michael McQuaid delighted
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: to be joined with David McKee as we are really
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: close to the NFL season. We're about a week away
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: from kickoff and not too far away from Steelers kickoff.
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: We're gonna talk a bit more about the Steelers and
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: what they have planned in Ireland very shortly. But we
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: have got a guy on this podcast today. He's Dave's
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: super player. I know a lot of guys in Arland
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: love him. Nick her Big, Nick Falshi, Welcome to the podcast.
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: How are you doing?
• 0:34
  Speaker 2: Thank you guys for having me. I'm excited man, I
• 0:36
  Speaker 2: know there's a big following on to Ireland. You know,
• 0:39
  Speaker 2: excited to connect with those people and you know ky Steelers.
• 0:44
  Speaker 3: Nick, When you were drafted last year, you know there
• 0:46
  Speaker 3: was a particular buzz around Pittsburgh, not only including the South,
• 0:49
  Speaker 3: but you know others on this podcast and you proved
• 0:52
  Speaker 3: it last week Ragister in two sacks against the Lions
• 0:54
  Speaker 3: in the final preseason game. Can you speak to us
• 0:56
  Speaker 3: about the emotions you felt when you get drafted about Steelers.
• 0:59
  Speaker 3: What was it like, Sharon stage with your brother.
• 1:03
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean so it really started like in the
• 1:07
  Speaker 2: like before the draft, like in the prep, like that
• 1:10
  Speaker 2: whole Combine prep period, and me and my brother and
• 1:12
  Speaker 2: Keanu Benton we're all working out together and my brother
• 1:17
  Speaker 2: had signed with the Steelers, I think, like in February
• 1:19
  Speaker 2: and March, and we're talking about, like, man, I hope
• 1:22
  Speaker 2: I go to a team that I get to play
• 1:23
  Speaker 2: you twice a year, like you know, I want to
• 1:25
  Speaker 2: That's all I ever want to do is play against
• 1:27
  Speaker 2: my brother. And our trainer goes, man, within if all
• 1:30
  Speaker 2: three of you guys end up on the same team,
• 1:31
  Speaker 2: and when you start laughing, we're like, yeah, whatever. Fast
• 1:35
  Speaker 2: forward to draft day. On day two, I get a
• 1:39
  Speaker 2: call from from Keanu and he's like, bro, I'm I'm
• 1:43
  Speaker 2: getting drafted by the Steelers. So we start going crazy.
• 1:46
  Speaker 2: We popping all our champagne. We're like yeah, like he's
• 1:49
  Speaker 2: gonna play with Nate. And then the next day I
• 1:52
  Speaker 2: get drafted there and I call him and then he
• 1:54
  Speaker 2: started going crazy. So just that whole experience, you know,
• 1:57
  Speaker 2: I'm just knowing that we're gonna be able to be together,
• 1:59
  Speaker 2: and especially having my older brother there, so like kind
• 2:02
  Speaker 2: of like he's always been there in my whole life
• 2:05
  Speaker 2: and like gott me through this whole journey in my
• 2:06
  Speaker 2: football career. But just having him there, like in physical form,
• 2:12
  Speaker 2: like being able to guide me every step of the
• 2:15
  Speaker 2: way and and help me and show me things and
• 2:17
  Speaker 2: little tricks of the trade. Because you know, he's on
• 2:19
  Speaker 2: year six, so now me seeing a lot. He's played
• 2:22
  Speaker 2: a lot of football at a high level, So just
• 2:24
  Speaker 2: being able to learn from him and him actually being
• 2:27
  Speaker 2: here in person is big for me.
• 2:30
  Speaker 1: I think that's such an important point, Nick, because if
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: you think about it, the odds of getting into the
• 2:36
  Speaker 1: NFL is one thing, the odds of both of you
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: guys getting in is another, and then the odds of
• 2:40
  Speaker 1: both of you guys being on the same team. I mean,
• 2:43
  Speaker 1: you must cherish these moments now when you're just when
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: you're both together in the black and gold.
• 2:48
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I really can't put it into words,
• 2:51
  Speaker 2: you know, just being able to like it doesn't feel
• 2:54
  Speaker 2: real sometimes because I mean for a lot of my
• 2:58
  Speaker 2: I'd say after about six or seventh, great, I didn't
• 3:01
  Speaker 2: see my brother much, you know, because he was playing football,
• 3:03
  Speaker 2: he was traveling, and then he head went up to
• 3:07
  Speaker 2: college ready, so I didn't really you know, I only
• 3:10
  Speaker 2: saw him in like the offseason for a couple of
• 3:12
  Speaker 2: weeks or so, But now just being able to be
• 3:14
  Speaker 2: with him every single day and see him and work
• 3:16
  Speaker 2: out and do a lot of stuff together, like we
• 3:18
  Speaker 2: ride to the game together like that, That's the coolest
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: thing ever to me. So really truly blessed and grateful.
• 3:25
  Speaker 3: Nick, our first first round draft pick in Troy and
• 3:29
  Speaker 3: battle Hawaiian. Of course, in your eyes so far, just
• 3:33
  Speaker 3: obviously in training camp pre season, how was he looked?
• 3:35
  Speaker 3: Do you think he has the ability to live up
• 3:37
  Speaker 3: to his namesake? You know, he said always mentions how
• 3:40
  Speaker 3: he looked up the Troy Polamali as a youngster. Do
• 3:42
  Speaker 3: you think he has the ability to become an even
• 3:44
  Speaker 3: bigger legend than Troy?
• 3:47
  Speaker 2: One hundred percent. I mean, I think anytime you get
• 3:50
  Speaker 2: a chance to go out there and showcase what you've
• 3:52
  Speaker 2: been working for, especially in the Black and Gold, in
• 3:55
  Speaker 2: this city, in this environment, in this program under coach
• 3:59
  Speaker 2: coach Tomlin, I think you have a chance to do
• 4:02
  Speaker 2: whatever you want. You know, as long as you work hard,
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: keep your head down and do the right things. I
• 4:07
  Speaker 2: think I think that kid's going to be an awesome
• 4:09
  Speaker 2: player and He's an awesome person off the field as well,
• 4:12
  Speaker 2: so I think a lot of that translates each other
• 4:14
  Speaker 2: and relates and Charge charge a heck of a player.
• 4:18
  Speaker 1: Some of the biggest news this week for Staters fans
• 4:21
  Speaker 1: in Ireland, Nick, is the news that we're going to
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: have a watch party in the iconic Crook Park eighty
• 4:26
  Speaker 1: fives in Cedars Stadium against the Colts in Week four.
• 4:29
  Speaker 1: When you guys are on the road. How cool is
• 4:32
  Speaker 1: it to see some of these Staters fans in Ireland.
• 4:34
  Speaker 1: And I'm sure you'll have to have a look at
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: that after the game in Indianapolis.
• 4:38
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I'd love to. I've never been out of the
• 4:40
  Speaker 2: country before, so I'd love to make that one of
• 4:43
  Speaker 2: my stops one of these times. You know, you guys
• 4:45
  Speaker 2: are gonna have to show me the places to eat
• 4:48
  Speaker 2: and where to go and stuff, but you know, I'd
• 4:50
  Speaker 2: love to see that. It's just so awesome knowing that
• 4:52
  Speaker 2: there's people all across the world that are black and gold.
• 4:56
  Speaker 3: There'll be a few pintsif Guinness waiting for your neck
• 4:58
  Speaker 3: when you come over, no problem, and just another one
• 5:02
  Speaker 3: just of course, and obviously being drafted at Wisconsin, you
• 5:06
  Speaker 3: know we have another edge rusher called TJ. Watts. How
• 5:09
  Speaker 3: much of an impact that he had in your young
• 5:11
  Speaker 3: career so far? Obviously there's already comparisons between yourself and TJ.
• 5:15
  Speaker 3: You know, obviously he's a bit older than you. How
• 5:16
  Speaker 3: much are you taking from him day to day? You
• 5:18
  Speaker 3: know from a practice down point.
• 5:21
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I I think I really take more.
• 5:26
  Speaker 2: I would like. I obviously take stuff from him on
• 5:28
  Speaker 2: the field, like no, don't get me wrong, but I
• 5:31
  Speaker 2: think I've learned more and grown more with off the
• 5:35
  Speaker 2: field stuff with him, you know, just every off day,
• 5:39
  Speaker 2: every like anything he's doing, I'm trying to do too,
• 5:43
  Speaker 2: you know, So just learning and he's kind of mentoring me,
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: and not just not just in football, but like in life,
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: you know, and how to deal with people, how to
• 5:52
  Speaker 2: deal with money, how to deal with manage all these
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: different aspects of things getting thrown at you because you're
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: young NFL football player and all this stuff. So just
• 6:01
  Speaker 2: kind of able to balance all my life and obviously,
• 6:05
  Speaker 2: you know, the the stuff on the field is is montumental.
• 6:09
  Speaker 2: I've never really had like It's always been me and
• 6:12
  Speaker 2: my two brothers, you know, and I none of them
• 6:14
  Speaker 2: are edge rushers. H So just have somebody who's in
• 6:19
  Speaker 2: that same categories, using that same mindset, doing the same
• 6:22
  Speaker 2: things in the same meeting room. It's huge.
• 6:25
  Speaker 1: Talk to us a bit about how training camp has
• 6:27
  Speaker 1: went in the trough before we go to the preseason.
• 6:30
  Speaker 1: How much do you enjoy training camp and the trol
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: every summer because it's I've said this to a few
• 6:35
  Speaker 1: players over the last few weeks, Nick, it just feels
• 6:38
  Speaker 1: like it's a different environment, two different NFL teams out
• 6:42
  Speaker 1: training camp.
• 6:43
  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's I'd say it's the best time of the year.
• 6:47
  Speaker 2: You know, it's a chance where we really get to
• 6:49
  Speaker 2: bomb with each other. You know, we're all at the
• 6:51
  Speaker 2: same place, same area. You wake up, you practice meetings,
• 6:55
  Speaker 2: and we just hang out. So it's really a great
• 6:59
  Speaker 2: time where you get to all with your teammates and
• 7:02
  Speaker 2: the fans there every day. Man, they show out every
• 7:05
  Speaker 2: single day. So just being able to have that energy
• 7:07
  Speaker 2: there makes practice a lot better.
• 7:10
  Speaker 3: Now, talk to us about coach Tomlin and what's he
• 7:13
  Speaker 3: like as a later and whats of inspiration does he provide.
• 7:16
  Speaker 3: You know, the team didn't shure you know, you go
• 7:17
  Speaker 3: out every Sunday and perform.
• 7:20
  Speaker 2: Yeah, Coach Slin. He's the he's probably, if not the
• 7:24
  Speaker 2: best coach I've ever played for, and no disrespect to
• 7:28
  Speaker 2: other coaches I've played for, but just the way he's
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: able to get you where you need to be, not
• 7:34
  Speaker 2: just physically but mentally. You know, he gets you in
• 7:36
  Speaker 2: that right mindset. He gets you like minded, a bunch
• 7:40
  Speaker 2: of like minded individuals working together, And I think he's
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: very extremely good at that. Just the way he's able
• 7:50
  Speaker 2: to pull guys together and get the best out of
• 7:52
  Speaker 2: every single person on the team. You know, not just
• 7:54
  Speaker 2: TJ and Cam and makeup, but you know, like Killer
• 7:58
  Speaker 2: Brew and guys like that who make it. You know,
• 8:00
  Speaker 2: I'm just being able to get the best out of
• 8:02
  Speaker 2: every single person on the team. I think he's he's
• 8:05
  Speaker 2: extremely extremely good at that.
• 8:08
  Speaker 1: You're still very young in your career. You're Alma Mater
• 8:11
  Speaker 1: is actually going to play in Dublin in a few
• 8:13
  Speaker 1: years time. But I know you've never had the chance
• 8:15
  Speaker 1: to play outside of the United States. How much would
• 8:18
  Speaker 1: it mean to you, like, forget if it, you know,
• 8:20
  Speaker 1: it doesn't have to be Ireland or Germany or London
• 8:22
  Speaker 1: or well, obviously we hope it's Ireland, but like you know,
• 8:25
  Speaker 1: how much would it mean do you need to play abroad?
• 8:28
  Speaker 1: Because for a lot of guys, especially in the NFL,
• 8:31
  Speaker 1: it's such a cool experience and it's almost like a
• 8:33
  Speaker 1: mini training camp in that sense when you're away that
• 8:36
  Speaker 1: whole week. I'm sure that's something that you want to
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: experience in your career at some point.
• 8:41
  Speaker 2: Oh one hundred percent. Like you said, I've never been
• 8:43
  Speaker 2: out of the country before, So just that in its
• 8:45
  Speaker 2: own Like I'm from I'm from colleg Hill, Kawai, you Like,
• 8:51
  Speaker 2: I'm not supposed to be here, and you know, just
• 8:54
  Speaker 2: showing not just myself but kids where I'm from. Like
• 8:58
  Speaker 2: if you work hard and you really put your mind
• 8:59
  Speaker 2: to it, like this, football is an awesome game, man,
• 9:02
  Speaker 2: and it can take you to places you've never thought
• 9:04
  Speaker 2: you'd be, you know, And just if I get to
• 9:07
  Speaker 2: play in a foreign country, like I'm I'm across the
• 9:11
  Speaker 2: globe playing playing football, you know, doing what I love.
• 9:14
  Speaker 2: So just man, that's so cool to me, Like that
• 9:16
  Speaker 2: football allows you to do stuff like that.
• 9:21
  Speaker 3: Talking about scales as well, like have you got any
• 9:24
  Speaker 3: sort of individual goals coming into this season? There're any
• 9:26
  Speaker 3: specific quarterbacks you want your luck out on the schedules,
• 9:29
  Speaker 3: like I want to sack him.
• 9:32
  Speaker 2: Honestly, man, I only have one goal this year and
• 9:34
  Speaker 2: has to win a Super Bowl, you know, I don't.
• 9:37
  Speaker 2: I try not to individualize myself on this team. You know,
• 9:40
  Speaker 2: I'm a team player, So whatever they need of me, man,
• 9:43
  Speaker 2: I'm gonna try my very best because we need another
• 9:45
  Speaker 2: Lombardi here and the's still city baby.
• 9:48
  Speaker 1: Definitely you're talking about like it sounds fantastic to hear
• 9:53
  Speaker 1: the motivation in your voice when you say that there's
• 9:56
  Speaker 1: a lot of change this offseason, a lot of new
• 9:58
  Speaker 1: guys in the locker rooms, especially the offense. How have
• 10:02
  Speaker 1: you found welcome in the new guys as the team
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: and have you find the jail very quickly?
• 10:06
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I think the guys we've acquired this offseason have
• 10:11
  Speaker 2: been great, you know. And that's in any position, you know,
• 10:16
  Speaker 2: Like I love talking talking trash the CP and Cordell
• 10:20
  Speaker 2: Patterson like he's always talking. I like that, you know.
• 10:22
  Speaker 2: I talked trash Russ and j Fields and guys like that.
• 10:26
  Speaker 2: It's just a cool aspect of it, you know. And
• 10:28
  Speaker 2: you get to see guys that come from different teams,
• 10:30
  Speaker 2: different journeys, different areas of the world. You know, you
• 10:34
  Speaker 2: guys come kind of all come together to chase the
• 10:36
  Speaker 2: same goal.
• 10:37
  Speaker 3: Absolutely, just the final one for ma Nek. You know,
• 10:40
  Speaker 3: the f C North is undoubtedly it's the best division
• 10:42
  Speaker 3: in football, and it's also the toughest unfortunately as well.
• 10:46
  Speaker 3: What are the real estic, realistic expectations you did touch on, Lombardi.
• 10:50
  Speaker 3: Is this group generinely thinking we can go definitely the
• 10:52
  Speaker 3: whole way this year?
• 10:54
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I think you're fooling yourself if if you're coming
• 10:57
  Speaker 2: in here every since what we're in here since April. No,
• 11:01
  Speaker 2: we've been working since April, and that's for one thing. Man,
• 11:05
  Speaker 2: We're working for that trophy. So I think you're fooling
• 11:07
  Speaker 2: yourself if you're coming here expecting not to win. So
• 11:10
  Speaker 2: every time I put that helmet on, I'm expecting that
• 11:12
  Speaker 2: we're going to go in the super Bowl.
• 11:14
  Speaker 1: Finally for me as well, it's been great chat and day. I,
• 11:18
  Speaker 1: as somebody that covers the league, to think that we
• 11:21
  Speaker 1: actually have football back next week night is just fantastic.
• 11:24
  Speaker 1: And I can't even imagine how excited you guys are
• 11:27
  Speaker 1: because that's been a long off season man, and looking
• 11:30
  Speaker 1: at that schedule, the second half of that schedule. Is
• 11:33
  Speaker 1: it's tight? Make you know? I think I think we
• 11:35
  Speaker 1: play the Chiefs on Christmas Day? They're short breaks? Are
• 11:38
  Speaker 1: you very much?
• 11:39
  Speaker 3: You know?
• 11:39
  Speaker 1: Take it one game at a time or do you
• 11:41
  Speaker 1: sit down and look at that schedule, because you know,
• 11:43
  Speaker 1: for any team, and they have mentioned the AFC North,
• 11:47
  Speaker 1: that is a very tough running and I have no
• 11:50
  Speaker 1: doubt that you guys are gonna have that stamina and
• 11:52
  Speaker 1: have that fitness because we because we've seen it last year.
• 11:55
  Speaker 2: You know, Yeah, I think you have to take your
• 11:58
  Speaker 2: one day at a time, you know, not even like game.
• 12:00
  Speaker 2: I try to just take everything I do, not just
• 12:03
  Speaker 2: for everything, like life, one day at a time, Like
• 12:06
  Speaker 2: what am I doing after this second? I'm gonna go
• 12:07
  Speaker 2: work out? You know. So it's just I try to
• 12:10
  Speaker 2: live my life like that. On whatever cards, I'm deut,
• 12:12
  Speaker 2: I gotta play with them. And I would say that
• 12:15
  Speaker 2: God gives his hardest battles. So stuff he sold you,
• 12:17
  Speaker 2: So let's do it.
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: Let's do it. Indeed, I can't wait to watch you
• 12:22
  Speaker 1: from our seats in Dublin that Week four game against Indianapolis.
• 12:25
  Speaker 1: You guys have got a big game next week against
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: the Falcons. Next on behalf of ourselves and Jimmy as well,
• 12:30
  Speaker 1: who's not here. Best look to you all the guys
• 12:33
  Speaker 1: this year. We really appreciate what you're doing for us
• 12:35
  Speaker 1: and taking your time after a long training session, enjoy
• 12:39
  Speaker 1: the season month and hopefully at some point over the
• 12:42
  Speaker 1: next few years we'll see you in Ireland.
• 12:43
  Speaker 2: Anil yea. Everybody thrown off the shakas in Ireland. Let's go.
• 12:48
  Speaker 1: That's good just for people listening. You can get those
• 12:50
  Speaker 1: tickets now you do. Check out Steters art and social
• 12:53
  Speaker 1: media at the Kroak Park watch Party Week four, chatty
• 12:56
  Speaker 1: S infos Mo