A veteran's view
Temple safety Amir Tyler, one of the Owls’ team captains and a member of the program’s leadership council, talked to OwlScoop.com last Saturday before helping former teammate and current Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins with his Dion’s Dreamers food pantry event at the Diamond Street lot.
Tyler, who totaled 33 tackles and two fumble recoveries in 2020, offered an inside look at the program’s mindset as they attempt to bounce back from a 1-6 season last fall, and he revealed news about a position switch with one of the team’s younger players that could affect things on both sides of the ball.
And like several other players and coaches in the program, he’s impressed with what he’s seen from quarterback and Georgia transfer D’wan Mathis and freshman linebacker Kobe Wilson.
You can listen to the whole interview here, and here's a complete transcription of the interview.
On what it was like to see Dawkins and take part in his event:
“It’s amazing, because just knowing the person he is and the success he has, some people wouldn't do what he does. So just to see him come back to the community and come back to the university just to give back to the community and to give his time to us, it's just a blessing. A lot of (the current players) don't know him, but a lot of people will ask me questions like, ‘Oh, you know him, you know him?’
“Dion's a good friend of mine. When I was a freshman here, he took very good care of me, like forever. He still contacts me he. He still makes sure I'm good you. It's just a blessing just to show (the younger players) what I went through, and they actually know this is possible. And when I see Dion come back and give back, it gives faith to the community and the team as well.”
How much of what Dawkins does and his ability to give back and relate to people has to do with his sense of humor?
“It’s a lot. If you can make somebody feel comfortable, it’s honestly a great feeling. He makes everybody feel comfortable. He makes them feel welcomed. Him being that superstar and the person that he is, that’s not normal for a lot of people. (Other people) come here, not saying they’re cocky, but they come here just to get in and get out. He actually entertains, he actually interacts with people. He makes sure everybody's good. And he doesn't bring that personality of him just being like, ‘I made it already. I’m there.’ He makes you feel like you could do the same thing he’s doing.”
What is the team doing now to stay sharp and prepare for preseason camp in August?
“We’re having player-led 7-on-7s, player-led walkthroughs and stuff like that. Just changing up a little bit of things we didn't get to last year, just so we can refresh their mind before we get into camp and we go over the installs and stuff. Definitely us being together, bonding more. Without COVID and the protocols, it helps the team get together in certain position groups, learn things that they didn't know last year. So it's definitely a big ups. And I think a lot of people are taking this step-by-step. They see what happened last year, so they’re trying to do everything in their power to do more than they did last year.”
After a 1-6 season, is the mindset of the team to want to get out there as quickly as possible right now?
To be honest, the mindset that we have right now is just taking it one step at a time, focusing on the little things, and just making sure we understand what we went through last year. Like, just making sure we understand what happened last year, why it happened, and what we could do to change it, you know? We’re not going over recurring events or over the past or things that we shouldn't have been doing. So I think the mindset is just taking it one step at a time and do everything right.”
On the last OwlScoop.com podcast, Tyler’s former teammate and current Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Shaun Bradley said the Owls need to “stay the course” to bounce back from last season’s 1-6 record. Is it as simple as that?
“It’s not as simple as it sounds, but he’s definitely right. When Shaun was here, Shaun and ‘Pelle (Chapelle Russell), one thing we would focus on is just staying the course, staying mission focused, worrying about what we can control and what we can't control. Worrying about what we can help with and what we can’t help with. And a lot of people tend to forget about the inside noise and they worry about the outside noise a lot. So we're not really worried about in-house things. When he’s saying just stay the course, it’s just like, focus on what you came here for. A lot of people forget they've been here for so long, they forget the mission of what we set.”
What was it like at this point last year when there were doubts about having a season during the COVID-19 pandemic?
“It was very different, very difficult. Zoom calls, freshmen just came in. They didn't get the installs and the stuff that they needed. Just as well, with COVID protocols, us lifting outside, not being able to come to EO (Edberg-Olson Hall). I honestly didn't think we were going to have a season, but I didn't want to put that negative energy in their ear, so I tried to think as positively as I could.
“So it was kind of hard, you know, just not being able to lead a team how you wanted to, or not being able to connect with the team as we wanted to, to make us as one. We lost a lot of key pieces last year, so us losing the key pieces, we didn't get that team bonding that we needed. Certain people not knowing the positions, players not playing their role. It was just a lot going on, too much on our mind, and not football.”
Are there more players approaching him now as a leader?
“Absolutely. There’s more people coming to talk to me, just ask me some things that they think they did wrong. And I tell some of the same things that I think I did wrong, too, as well. As me being the captain, some people think like, I can't do nothing wrong, but I'm a human just like them. I have mistakes, too. I have things that I have to work on. So, I let them know, you’re not the only one I’ve got to work on. I have things I’ve got to work on, too, that we can work on together. You can do it whenever you need to, you know? And it’s not just me being a captain. There are other captains who step up like Jadan Blue, Will Kwenkeu, Freddie Johnson. Those guys have been getting a lot of questions and a lot of answers, too.”
What did it mean to have players like wide receivers Jadan Blue and Randle Jones stick around instead of leaving via the NCAA’s transfer portal?
“It definitely means a lot. Definitely means a lot. Those guys are key pieces in this team and the leadership as well. And just to have them stay around and to show faith that they believe in this organization, they believe in Coach Carey, it definitely means a lot to the offense. It definitely boosts the self-esteem.”
On what he has seen from quarterback and Georgia transfer D'Wan Mathis:
“That boy can throw. He can throw. I throw I just like how he’s carrying himself a lot. For him to be a freshman or redshirt freshman, he definitely has the persona of an older guy. And he definitely knows what we went through last year. I feel like he feels what we went through last year. So the way I see him training with Blue when we’re in, and the stuff I see him do off the field and after practice and just getting the guys together, I definitely see his mindset, and I'm seeing a lot of good things from him.”
How important was it for Mathis to establish that, and was the team curious about what his mindset might be as a former high-profile recruit and as someone who was coming from an SEC program like Georgia?
“As soon as he came in, right off the bat, I wanted to talk to him just to see what he was, see how he was, the type of person he was. Once I got to know him and stuff like that, I immediately knew what type of time he was on and what he actually wanted from this program. And, you know, a lot of people think that, with him coming from a bigger school from the SEC, that he'll come in with that mindset. We thought about that, too. But he came in, he showed us off the bat what type of person he was, what he wanted to do, and he wanted to win. And I believe in him.”
Does some of that have to do with the fact that Mathis been through his own adversity with brain surgery back in 2019 and then losing the starting job at Georgia?
“Absolutely. I think that definitely plays a toll on anybody that has to go through what he went through. And just to see that he's still strong, he still has the mindset of him ready to play and doing anything to get him to the next level, I think that definitely put a chip on his shoulder for him to come here. And one thing, when I talked to him, him he said that he felt welcomed (at Temple), like he felt like it was home. He felt like they actually cared about him. Not saying they didn't care about him at Georgia, but he actually felt like they wanted him here and they had a plan for him.”
Now that spring ball is over, who has popped out among the safeties or on defense?
“For our safeties, well, you know, Trey Blair got moved to running back. So the next safeties up would be Alex (Odom) and actually MJ Griffin. And then Chauncey (Moore) as well, too. But Alex and MJ have definitely opened my eyes a lot in the spring and offseason workouts, just seeing how they carry themselves. They’re definitely maturing more, and I feel like they're building more of that confidence in them being back there.”
More on Blair being moved to running back after spring ball:
“He definitely looked good at running back, too, in the 7-on-7s. And Kobe Wilson (at linebacker) as well.”
What is it about Kobe Wilson that has people constantly bringing his name up?
“It’s everything. For him to be that young and to have the demeanor that he has is amazing. When I came in, I definitely didn't have the mindset that he has, the work ethic. He’s ready to work. He communicates. He's in the Leadership Council with us. He talks a lot and he knows what he's doing. And if he doesn't know what he's doing, he's willing to learn more. That's the one thing that separates him and a lot of young guys. Like, he's willing to learn more. If he gets this wrong, he’ll come up to the film room and stay there all day with (defensive coordinator) Coach (Jeff) Knowles or (linebackers) Coach (Brett) Diersen, just to make sure they get it right and stuff like that. And that's something that I admired in a young guy that's willing to work, willing to take criticism, and willing to do anything to get to that next level.”
Tell us more about the Leadership Council. A lot of fans think you guys are the group that picks the single-digits.
“We honestly don't pick the single digit guys. We don't pick, the team picks. We have some say. We’re basically the counsel for the team. We can talk to Coach Carey about certain things, but we can't just go in there like, ‘We want this,’ unless it's really something that, you know, is reasonable and in our reins, but we just kind of put ideas in Coach’s head for the players. Like, certain players come and tell me, or tell (offensive lineman Adam) Klein or (center) C.J. (Perez) or Xach (Gill). There's a lot of guys that people don't know (who are on the council.) There are a couple of injured guys in there as well. They’ll come tell them, like, problems that they need from the coach. And we go to Coach, and we see the best solutions for us to help them out."
“That’s not saying that people don't have a voice or that they can't talk to Coach Carey, but you know, people tend to be scared to talk to coaches, scared to ask them certain questions. So that's where we come in. We're asking the questions, see what it is, and we'll get back to the team with whatever answer he has.
“Some people think we just go up there and make the rules. That's not what we do. It’s a team thing. So it's kind of like a table, and we kind of vote on how we think it is or how we think we're gonna go. Coach Carey is above everybody, but we definitely have a little say in there.”
What is it like to have that leadership role where you have to balance out being a peer and have a bunch of friends on the team, and you have more than 100 guys in the program, but you have to balance out being a leader? Is it hard?
“It is, but it's not, because it's more than one leader on there. So it's probably a leader from every position group. And for them to just be in there to understand what's going on, to give back to the team. That definitely helps the team a lot.
“Me being a young guy, when I first got here, that leadership council wasn't here. So what we had to say, we had to go to the old guys, and they still got the message to the coach. And they kind of made that way better, by making a council so you're going to certain people that you know will get the message to coach and just have that part there. It helps a lot.
“If we didn't have this, I think there would be a lot of controversy on the team. But since we do that kind of helps break up a lot of controversy that we don't know or may happen or may not.”
What goals do you have as a player?
“Right now, I kind of don't worry about the stuff. I'm worried about building the team and stuff like that. Our individual goal is to get a degree, give back and win, so that's something I try to work on a lot. Our individual goal, you know, is just to be the best group on a team or be the best group we can be. So as a group, as a safety, we need to work on communication, my back pedal, getting our pedal in our man coverage and stuff. That’s pretty much it."
Is there any benefit to coming off a 1-6 season and being looked at as the underdog or being overlooked again? Can it fuel you at all?
“It definitely fuels you. It's not fun, though. I wouldn't say I want to be an underdog because I want to be respected in this league as we once were before. I don't read the (preview) articles. I don't know if people on the team do, but I don't really read them. We don't feed into that stuff. I just try to just focus on 1-0, the mindset, whatever the mission is that week. And it kind of just, it makes us a better team, because we've went through that (1-6 season) together. And the fact that we went through that together, we understand what it takes to win and we understand what it takes to lose. So that definitely makes us a better team. But I definitely wouldn’t say it’s fun being underdogs.”
Front page photo: Gregory Fisher, USA TODAY Sports