Tyler Linderbaum Joins The Lounge | Baltimore Ravens

Tyler Linderbaum Joins The Lounge | Baltimore Ravens

[Music] Welcome into the lounge presented by DraftKings. I’m Ryan Mink here with Clifton Brown and we are thrilled to sit down with Tyler Linderbal. Tyler, I got to start here. So, uh went to the pool yesterday, team outing and I don’t in my opinion, you kind of won the dive contest. The backflop was was pretty great. Tell tell us about your diving skills and your backflop skills, I suppose. You know, I don’t know if there’s any skill involved. Um, original plan was let’s just try to do like a simple dive, but you know, the boards are a little more bendy than what I’m used to. Okay. And a dive turned into a little momentum going a little too far forward and ending on my back. Um, it was the last time I went off the diving board. So, but it was fun. It was It was awesome experience to get all the guys there. Um, and obviously meet a legend and Michael Phelps. So, it was cool. It was one of those moments the whole the whole pool the aquatic center was good. The guys had to give you a hard time about that one. Yeah, it was funny. I mean there’s like a replay like every 20 seconds behind the diving board and guys were giving me crap about it. It’s funny. I didn’t realize you know Kyle Vanoi had was like videotaping from afar and he got it on camera so it was cool. It’ll live on forever. Yeah. Live on forever I guess. Awesome. before uh the pool escapades, uh you know, Michael Phelps was out there at practice and afterwards spoke to you guys. Uh what was that like and what did you get out of that? His message and of course Ray’s message as well to you guys. Yeah, I mean obviously two legends, you know, having the opportunity for those two guys to speak to us is is an awesome privilege. Um, you know, I think both of them kind of different stories but kind of hit on the same thing is just the little details that go into what made them so great. Their preparation um you know obviously Phelps having 20 I think three gold medals is is unbelievable. Um you know and he talked about the differences in his races you know.5 seconds um is what kind of separated him. That was stuff that happened way before, you know, he stepped on the diving board or whatever he steps on. Um, you know, it’s the preparation that went into that. The mentality that he had is up to that moment right before the race, no one had outworked him. So, just hearing guys like that talk is pretty awesome. And then, you know, obviously Ray, uh, you know, just every time he speaks, you know, he makes you like want to run through a brick wall. just his passion um you know and and the things that he says is is really special. Is it pretty neat as a guy who you know you you and Ray didn’t overlap obviously to like be in that huddle and I’m sure growing up you probably saw his speeches as everybody did on YouTube or whatnot and to like feel that in person is it kind of like a a little kid moment like oh my god I I’m experiencing a Ray speech you know what I mean? No. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, every time, you know, he’s talking, it just goes silent. Um, you know, just the the things that he says, it just kind of hits home and it’s pretty special to have that ability. Yeah. One thing I notice about this team and and both those guys talked about the preparation and like doing everything you can every day. And honestly, just being around this team in training camp, like I feel that happening. I I see it from from leaders like yourself and and Rocoan and Marlin and Lamar and you know so many guys go down the the line of like there’s an intentionality and and just like this I locked in is kind of the word that gets the phrase that gets thrown around but it it does feel like it especially this training camp. Do do you get a sense of that that like as part of the leadership group that you all have taken upon yourselves to really kind of set the tone that way? Yeah, I think you know that’s what the successful teams it has to be like that. You know the the the leaders have to lead and they have to be at their best you know when the time’s called upon. They got to lead by example. Um you know I think it’s one way leading by example just going out there and showing them younger guys how to do things but also you know pushing them and encourage them along the way. You know the more people we can have to get up to our standard and our level the better the team’s going to be. Yeah. Is is there any kind of difference that you sense this summer, you know, after coming up short again, you know, we’ve had like the best team in the league or close to it multiple years here now and obviously haven’t gotten to, you know, where we want to be, right? Like do you sense any kind of difference in the team’s hunger or whatever it is like this summer? Yeah, I mean obviously you’re not reaching your goals um you know especially the past two years. So, um, I don’t know if our approach has changed. Um, but there’s definitely a sense, you know, like, all right, it’s about it’s time. Um, you know, just the players that we have, uh, the the the positions that, you know, the skill positions, the the linemen, you know, we we got all the tools. It’s just about putting it together when the when the time comes. Yeah. I remember when you were drafted, uh, there was a lot of talk about another former Raven, Marshall Yand coming from Iowa. And I know you guys had talked. I always had a slew of offensive linemen in the NFL who’ve really panned out, of course, yourself included. If you had to put your finger on what is it, what are the things about a Iowa offensive line? Why is that a offensive line factory? I think it starts with coach Fence. Um, you know, just he has O line background who was an O line coach and anytime we’re doing individual work, anytime we’re doing team stuff, he’s behind watching the O line. And I think just the mentality that he brings um you know kind of this the scheme structure is certainly helps O lineman be successful at the next level and you know yeah it’s guys guys have done a good job in the league. Um but it’s also just a mentality that coming from Iowa and going into the NFL that certainly has helped in your game individually. I mean, obviously, you know, back-to-back Pro Bowls and you’re playing extremely high level recognized as one of the best centers in the game, but I’m I’m sure you look at yourself and say, “Yeah, I I can still get better.” Where when you watch the film, you know, where do you look at and say, “All right, like that’s what I kind of want to improve on.” Yeah, I mean I mean everything. Uh you want to improve on everything. Um it’s just the more reps you get, you know, the more, you know, little details and critiques that you’re going to have of yourself. Um, know certainly you’re going to be playing with more confidence from, let’s say, when I was a rookie to to now. But you really got to focus on the little details and that’s what makes NFL so special is you’re going against really really good guys and the little things is is what’s going to matter most. Just like what we talked about with Phelps, right? You know, that’s the stuff that you got to be detailed on and hone on your skills. Does it do you feel like like you’re a longtime veteran at this point? cuz I mean you stepped in like when you got drafted you you were a starter immediately. I mean, f first practice, all right, Linder Bomb’s the guy, right? And like and the center because you have so many responsibilities, like you really have to be that leader and that anger on the line, you know? Do you feel now like, all right, I’m the season vet, you know? Um, I don’t know. Yeah, I mean, I got It’s crazy that I’m going to year four. Um, do I feel like a seasoned vet? No. Um, but certainly just taking on, you know, obviously more leadership roles in in that O line room. Yeah. um I think is beneficial. But um no, I I operate as I always do from when I first got here to now and you know helping anyone that needs help and asking questions. You know I never have all the answers. Um you know you can learn a lot from young guys also. So you know I’m just thankful to be in the position that I I am in and just trying to continue to prove each and every day. Speaking of details, I know training camp, the offensive line spent has spent a lot of times on, you know, cadence and being on the same page and not getting pre-stamp penalties. How do you think that process is going? And just for fans, like what about that process is more difficult than it looks? Um, I think it’s it’s just about discipline, you know, being disciplined and, you know, one understanding, you know, communicating your assignments and then also, you know, reiterating, you know, understand the snap count. So, um, you know, obviously there’s been a few hiccups during this camp, but, you know, I’m glad we’re getting it out of the way now and then not carrying it over into the season. Your relationship with Lamar, I mean, obviously he’s the only quarterback you’ve played with. every year as you guys are together more, how do you I don’t want to say it’s easy because it’s never, but how do you see the fact that you’re going into another year with him being an advantage as opposed to when you were a rookie here and everything with him was new? Yeah, I think it’s, you know, the more reps you get with each other, you know, you kind of see the the same things. I think, you know, obviously the old line and the quarterback has to be on the same page. Um, you know, I think that’s definitely gotten better um from year one to year four now. And you know, obviously, I mean, blocking for Lamar is is is special. There’s a lot can go wrong and he can make it right um with how special he is. And you know, we have the opportunity to block for the best quarterback in the game. So, we don’t take that for granted. So, we got to block our butts off for him. Well, speaking of relationships, you and Pat McCary now down in Jacksonville, your guy. How weird is it? How weird is it not to have Pat next to you? Yeah, it sucks. Um, but you know, obviously Pat helped me helped me a lot from year one to obviously last year, year three. Um, but excited for him, you know, getting the opportunity down in Jacksonville and I know he’s going to do well down there. Um but you know just like next next guy in mentality and uh you know whoever’s stepping in has to play their butts off. Yeah. I do want to talk about some of the guys around you and you know Andrew Vorhees is has stepped into that left guard spot and it looks like he’s just had a really solid summer. Really strong training camp. What have you seen from Vorhees? He he did though you did kind of uh throw him under the bus saying you know he wasn’t working out or whatever it was this offseason when I know you two were here the whole time. So he he uh has some beef to pick with you well on that one. But what what have you seen from Vorhees? Uh you know he’s a guy that continues to get better and better. Um you know I think last year just I mean that was his first time back since a major knee injury. Um you know obviously then he hurt his ankle and just never really got the opportunity to get back into the game. Um but he continued to work his butt off during the season in practice and then obviously he just in the weight room um you know really honing in on getting stronger um working on his technique and then you know he’s another guy that just ask questions all the time um which that’s what you need to have you know you need to be on the same page with your left tackle with your center and just having a bigger understanding of the game and he’s a student of the game and I think you know sky’s is the limit for him. And and on your other side, Daniel Flele, you know, I know he’s a guy who first time starting last year, you know, had some ups and downs early in the year and then kind of is just keeps getting better and, you know, he had a tough rep in the preseason game and it just seems like for whatever reason, Daniel’s like a lightning rod a little bit on social media. I know you’re a huge social media guy and you’re always on it seeing everything but so I don’t have to tell you this but like for what it honestly like takes me I end up like defending Daniel a lot and so I want you to do the same like tell people tell our listeners what like Daniel’s all about like what do you see from Daniel? Yeah I mean I wouldn’t let that one rep define the kind of season Daniel’s going to have. Um I’m really excited for him. I think he’s put in the work. Um, you know, and I’m excited to to see the things that he’s going to do this year with all the other alignment. Um, know and one rep doesn’t define us. It’s it’s a tough position and things like that are going to happen. But we’ve all see the work that he puts in um outside of football and on the practice field. So, you know, uh I think Daniel’s going to have a tremendous year and I think he’s going to silence a lot of those haters. Let’s hope so. Yes. Another teammate I want to ask you about was Cory Bullock. uh started a center first preseason game. I know that you know you in the same room with him a line. How have you seen him grow from last year? And I know you’re a humble guy, but I’m sure you’ve tried to help him. What kind of things do you try and tell particularly someone playing center that you think, you know, can help them make the progress he’s making? Yeah, I mean, I’m super stoked for Cory. I think, you know, he’s put himself in a great position. Uh he plays the game the right way. Um, he plays the game how you want a lineman to play, physical, tough, and you know, he’s a smart guy, too. So, he can, you know, if anything happens, he’s I’m totally comfortable with him going in at that position and playing at a high level. Um, he’s a guy that you just continues to work, continues to get better, and, you know, I’m excited for um, you know, what’s upcoming for Cory. Your sense of humor. I mean, I think some people don’t really know how much you like to kid around and because you’re so serious about your craft, but the locker room here with the Ravens seems like it’s always since you’ve been here, you know, been a tight locker room and you guys have a lot of fun together. Is there any part of that that you think can help you guys get over the hump and the bonding that people always talk about and the chemistry? How important is that? do you think that really is to what you guys are trying to do? Yeah, I think it’s huge. You know, the cohesiveness of the units. Um, I think it just kind of builds trust and belief in one another. You know, building that camaraderie. Um, it’s one thing to go out and just practice with each other, but if you’re not going to be talking to each other in locker room or building those relationships, then do you really know your teammates? Um, and I think we have a really good locker room in that aspect. guys, you know, care for each other, asking about each other, you know, personal things, stuff like that. And I don’t know, I think that’s what you need in a in a team and for a team to be successful, but also obviously you got to put the work in. So, what happens when a member of the O line leaves? Like Pat, is he cut out of the text chain or how does that work? Yeah, you got to kick him out. You got to hear it. Yep. Move on to the next one. I’m curious. Um, you know what we were talking about leadership earlier and and how the the leaders of this team are doing just that and there’s a lot of guys who are going into contract years or up for extensions and all that stuff, yourself included, right? You Travis, I mean I don’t have to name them all. There’s a lot and like literally nobody’s talking about it. I mean you the answer has been the same from everybody. Like we’ll cross that bridge when we come to but I’m I’m I’m focused on playing my best football this season. It’s not like that everywhere. Like all around the league, you’re just constantly hearing about these guys who are holding in, holding out, whatever. You know, going in front of reporters like us and and saying, “Yeah, I just want to be paid fairly, whatever.” Like, there’s been none of that here. Yeah. Why is that? I think it’s just the the guys we have in the locker room like I just talked about, you know, the characters. um you know just you know for if you want to get the team to where it needs to go I think you need you know to have everyone there in the building practicing and you know stacking days and working towards your goal and I think we have a lot of like-minded guys like that working on the craft and trying to get better and you know trying not to be a distraction for the team right now I’m sure uh not going to get into money talk but you’d like to be here a very long time I would assume because we’d like that as well yeah I Yeah, absolutely. But, you know, some things are out of your control and all you can control is, you know, how you come into this building and work, you know, each and every day. Yeah. Awesome. Well, we’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be a fun season, man. Happy to have you as the anchor right up front. Thank you, Tyler. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it. Thanks for listening to the lounge. We’re coming to you from the SeatGeek studio. We also want listeners to know that this week that DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the Baltimore RA Ravens, has a limited time offer you won’t want to miss. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app now. Use code flock. New customers can get a deposit bonus of up to $1,000. Only at DraftKings Sportsbook with promo code flock. Please play responsibly. And for help, visit maryland gamblinghelp.org or call 1800 gambler. Must be 21 or older to play. So, great stuff from Tyler. uh just a leader in every sense of the word for this team and uh just honestly like one of my favorite dudes on the team. You know, if you just want to chop it up with somebody in the locker room and and uh chat with somebody, Tyler’s a good good bet. You know, he’s he’s just a great dude. Yeah. He says he doesn’t feel like a season vet, but he plays like one. Yep. And I think the way his teammates look at him, they view him in that way. And uh yeah, he talked about the importance of the center quarterback relationship and yeah, I mean you can see that growing every year. The Ravens, as they say, strong up the middle with those two guys. Uh I think that they have a really chance now, good chance largely, not largely because of the two, but they’re part of the equation to me of this offense taking even another level in the third year with Ty Mon. Those are two pieces who’ve been together. When they walk to the line of scrimmage now, I think they’re really on the same page more than they ever have been before, and that’s important. Yep. And I I think that obviously it starts with the offensive line, right? And uh this year’s offensive line, I think, has a chance to be really good. You know, we got Lindy going to year four. Uh you know, a lot of it a lot of it health. They were very healthy last year, so remaining healthy is a big component. But yeah, Lindy going to year four. He ressigned Ronnie Roger now in year two I think is going to be even better. I really like what I’ve seen from Andrew Vorhees and Fle I think is going to have a much better season than fans think he’s going to have. I think he’s going to be a good player this year. Right. Last training camp last year. What did we always hear? Three new starters on the offensive line. Well, looks like there’s going to be one probably and that one was a starter. Well, I was going to say, yeah, like Vor isn’t technically even a new starter. So, so the cohesion offensive linemen talk about all the time, the more you can keep the whole group together, the better. Well, they’re back and they’re looking to do big things. Yep. Yep. And you know, the Ravens run game obviously was a huge component of of last year’s success, the best run game in the league. You got Derrick Henry going into year two. I just think there’s a lot of things going right on this offense right now. and and Todd Monkin has been very intentional about saying, “Look, yeah, we’ve got all these pieces back and we’ve got these great skill piece weapons and all this stuff, but like we’re the number one offense in the league.” And you can’t just say, “Yeah, we’re going to be number one again.” Just doesn’t happen like that, right? Like nothing is guaranteed. You have to start over. And I think that you hear the mindset, that kind of mindset echoed through Tyler Linderv of like, “Yeah, we got to do it again, you know, and put in all the work and all those little things to get to where we want to be.” Yes. Which is to be the last team standing. So when that’s your goal and you know that you’re good enough to do it, the little details and being better better in any way you can can make the difference. Yep. Absolutely. Well, thank you to Tyler and thank you to our listeners out there for tuning in. As always, you can reach us at the lounge at ravens.nffl.net. Make sure you’re subscribed. Leave us a rating and review. and we will be back to you after the Ravens play their second preseason game in Dallas. Thanks for listening.

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