- 1 hour ago
Seth and Sean talk with former NFL defensive lineman,1st round pick by the Rams, and native Houstonian: Michael Brockers. They discuss his draft experience, playing for Wade Phillips, playing for the Rams the year they moved to LA, watching DeMeco from a distance, and the draft party he's having at his bar, Quad Houston.
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00:00Joining us right now, talk a little draft, because this guy was a first-round pick back in the day,
00:04back in 2012, with the Los Angeles Rams.
00:0711 seasons, really nice career in the NFL, and a Houston native at a Chavez High School here on the
00:13south side of Houston.
00:15Former Los Angeles Rams, St. Louis Rams, actually, and Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions defensive lineman Michael Brockers joining
00:23us right now on the program.
00:24Michael, good morning. How you doing, man?
00:26Man, good morning. Good morning, man. I appreciate you having me.
00:30Of course. We appreciate you making some time.
00:32So I just mentioned that the first round of the draft is tomorrow.
00:36You, of course, were a first-round pick to the Rams back in 2012.
00:40Put us in the shoes of these guys right now, Michael, that are 24 hours away from realizing their dream.
00:46What are they going through right now? What was that like for you to be able to realize that dream?
00:51Man, just anxious, man. Just anxious, not really knowing what's going to happen.
00:56And, you know, everybody, Mel Kuyper's, you know, top ten list, and everybody has their list, but nobody truly knows.
01:03So just anxious about, you know, what's going to happen.
01:07You know, then also, like you stated, man, this is your dream.
01:10You know, this is what you dreamed about all your years.
01:13This is what the sacrifices were for.
01:15So being in this situation or in this moment, man, it's one that you just, you'll remember forever.
01:22And, you know, like I said earlier, man, you just, you know, the anticipation is just killing you on, you
01:28know, where you're going to go.
01:30And then you're excited to get on that field again as well.
01:33Yeah, that's, you know, I was lucky enough to not be drafted until the fourth round because NFL teams wisely
01:41decided to wait until then.
01:42But I didn't have any expectations about where I was going to go, so there's a little bit more intrigue.
01:47I've always wondered what it's like to be a guy that's projected to go either in the first or second
01:52round.
01:53And then you're sitting, you have to sit there and watch through, was it 15 minutes between picks when you
01:58were drafted?
01:59Like, that's a lot.
02:01Is it, does time slow down?
02:02Does every 15 minutes feel like it's two hours on that night?
02:07Man, I was able to go to New York, you know, and, you know, just experience the green room and
02:13sitting there and, you know, luckily, thankfully that, you know, I was able to, you know, get picked in the
02:19first round.
02:19But I couldn't imagine being one of those guys who, you know, who are in that room and, you know,
02:25they just sit throughout the whole draft, you know, the first round and then the second round.
02:29And, you know, you hear your name get called or whatever.
02:31It's just that anticipation and just dead time of just not knowing what's going to happen.
02:38I just, I wouldn't wish that on, you know, my worst enemy.
02:42So, yeah, man.
02:45Who was the guy in the green room your year that slid?
02:48Do you remember?
02:50I don't remember who slid my year.
02:53I truly don't, man.
02:54I'll be honest with you.
02:55Once I got drafted, I didn't really care.
02:57Oh, yeah.
03:00You weren't sitting around, like, seeing somebody just having to sweat through their suit, just miserable right there.
03:05Oh, good.
03:06Right.
03:06Yeah.
03:07Were you, when the Rams took you, Michael, and we're talking to Michael Brockers, former Ram, former defensive lineman in
03:12the NFL, were you surprised?
03:15Was that a team that you, was that near maybe the top of your list of teams you could tell
03:19by if you did a 30 visit with them or you met with them at the combine, like, the vibes
03:23were good with them?
03:24Or were you at all surprised it was the Rams?
03:26Man, it's crazy because during the, you know, during the combine and that whole field, like, nobody really knew who
03:35I was.
03:36I only had three years in college.
03:37You know, my last year before I left, that was my first starting, you know, year.
03:42So, a lot of teams wanted to see, you know, just who I was, my knowledge of the game, things
03:48like that.
03:48So, throughout that combine experience, people don't understand how many meetings with teams that you have to do probably before
03:556.30 a.m., you know, and it's just a constant, like, approach to each team, just, you know, showing
04:03who you are, your knowledge of the game, things like that.
04:05So, I do recall the, you know, the interview and the meeting with the Rams being a smooth process, but
04:12did I have any inclinations if they were going to pick me?
04:17No, not at all.
04:17I just knew, you know, I just wanted to, you know, show my best self to each and every team
04:22and, you know, just thankful for whatever opportunity came.
04:26But, did I know that the Rams were, you know, going to pick me up at that, you know, point?
04:31No, I had no clue at all.
04:33You know, one of the common, you know, career things you have with the Texans is that Wade Phillips was
04:39your defensive coordinator for a good chunk of time with the Rams there.
04:42And, you know, he did very good things for this defense here.
04:46I just, it's interesting that when I talk to guys who played for Wade Phillips, it always just sounds almost
04:53like it's a defensive lineman's dream.
04:55Because he just figures out how to use you and he'll tweak the defense to use you specifically.
05:01And just looking over your stats, it looked like the year that Wade Phillips showed up, you really took a
05:07leap forward in production.
05:08Was that, was that partly just because that was a better scheme for you?
05:13Well, before, you know, Wade got there, I was playing mostly nose tackle, you know.
05:19You know, when we got AD, obviously one of the best defensive players ever played his game.
05:24You know, he was playing predominantly three techniques.
05:26So, I was playing mostly shades and inside shades of the guard.
05:30So, you know, at nose tackle, usually, you know, you're taking up them double teams and, you know, you know,
05:35just making plays, being proactive, just making sure you do your job, you know.
05:39So, obviously, that position, obviously, you don't have the stats.
05:43You don't have as, you know, much stats as you could have everybody else.
05:47So, you know, moving to that four-hour strong side end, I was able to be a little bit more
05:53athletic.
05:53I was out on, you know, on space a little bit more.
05:56I was able to, you know, get one-on-one blocks with tackles and tight ends.
05:59So, I was able to be more productive in Wade's defense.
06:03And I love that aspect of, you know, him just being able to use whatever your tangibles are in his
06:09defense to make it work, you know.
06:10And I think that was just a prime example of a great coach.
06:14You know, that's where it's really interesting to watch in Houston because defensive tackles come in here.
06:20And there have been a lot of guys that all of a sudden just are way more productive.
06:23And part of it is it's a, you know, it's an aggressive get-up-field type of defense.
06:28So, guys that have been in read-and-react defenses tend to really kind of thrive and flourish when all
06:34of a sudden they're able to just let loose.
06:36What have you noticed when you watch this defense with D'Amico Ryans?
06:40I mean, you played in the league at the same time that D'Amico Ryans was a player.
06:44So, you've watched the entire evolution.
06:47Yeah, I mean, his defense, like you said, is get off the ball.
06:52I think it's led by the defensive line first.
06:55So, I think they just make it a point to make things happen.
06:59Like, if you're playing good run defense on first and second down, you know as a defensive lineman, you know,
07:04third and long, you know, second and long is your opportunity to go get a sack and things like that.
07:09So, I think when you've got a defense and you've got a player-led coach and, you know, he wants
07:17to see his guys go out there and just have fun and fly around and make plays.
07:21So, you know, I think when you have a coach like that and you know that's behind you, you understand
07:27that, you know, hey, I can just go out here and be free.
07:29I don't have to worry about holding a gap or anything like that.
07:32I can just go out here and be myself and go make plays.
07:35Michael Brockers, former NFL defensive lineman, joining us 11 seasons in the NFL and, of course, went to LSU, played
07:41three years at LSU with Les Miles as the head coach.
07:44You played for some big personalities, Michael, both at the college and NFL level as far as head coaches go.
07:50What was it like being recruited by Les Miles?
07:54Man, it was obviously coming out of Chavez, man.
07:58Nobody really, you know, thought, you know, he would pull up on me at, you know, Chavez High School.
08:03And I think that's where he sold himself to me is he came all the way down to, you know,
08:09the southeast part of town, part of Houston, came and ate lunch with me at Chavez, which I thought was
08:15honorable.
08:16And just, you know, he was just a man of his true character and his true nature.
08:20So, whatever he said, you know, most importantly, he did.
08:24And that's what I liked about Les Miles, man.
08:26You know, obviously, he went out there, ate grass and things like that and the Mad Hatter.
08:30But, man, you know, when you got to meet him one-on-one, he was that same person, you know.
08:37He might just eat a couple grass while y'all in a meeting, you know.
08:40So, it's like the guy was who he was in front of the camera.
08:44So, to think that, you know, if that was just a stun or that's what he was doing, no, this
08:50dude just did that all day.
08:52What was it to help with his digestion?
08:54Was it like when dogs eat grass?
08:56Isn't it a bad sign when dogs eat grass?
08:59Maybe it is.
09:00Maybe he got like four stomachs.
09:01He's like a cow or something, man.
09:06Oh, my God.
09:07Did you do a Les Miles impression?
09:10Man, I don't have one, but it's that little finger point that he does with his, you know.
09:17See ya!
09:18Yeah, no, it's like stuff like that.
09:20That's who he is.
09:22Oh, man, that is great.
09:23That was, Sean, you know, Michael's restaurant, Quad Houston restaurant.
09:28Yeah.
09:29It's got a companion cigar lounge, the den.
09:31Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
09:32Which, Michael, that's, you're very much, you're right up Sean's alley here with your place.
09:37Yeah, how's the place doing, Michael?
09:40Man, doing well, doing well, man.
09:42We're, you know, slowly but surely growing our audience and our markets.
09:45So, this weekend, this draft, actually, this Thursday, we're having a draft party.
09:51Doors open up at 5 p.m.
09:53We're giving out free jerseys, jersey giveaways, things like that.
09:57We plan to have over 20, you know, players or former players out there enjoying the draft with us.
10:03I'm trying to do a lot.
10:04I'm planning on doing a live show out there.
10:07I'm just showcasing the draft, going through that experience, just having a good old time out there.
10:12Oh, that's cool.
10:13Like, who, like, some of the players, are they former teammates of yours or are they former Houston, are they
10:17the Texans?
10:18Are they, like, are they, who's, like, who are you pulling from to be out there?
10:23Man, trying to get all my guys, sending the invites, all my former teammates, LSU guys, you know, guys that
10:29played in the league in the Houston area.
10:30Man, you know, the Houston area has tons of, you know, pro athletes, guys that, you know, either played or
10:36are playing currently.
10:37So, we're inviting, having an open invite for all players, you know, even the older players will come out, just
10:43enjoy their self.
10:44You know, the address, I don't know if you guys have the address, is 4608 Almeida Road.
10:50Okay.
10:51So, yeah, central address, centrally located.
10:54So, yeah.
10:54That's it.
10:55You know, that is the thing about Houston.
10:56There's so many guys that grew up here and went to the NFL or they, you know, played elsewhere.
11:02They didn't play for the Texans or whatever, but they settled down in Houston.
11:05Do you run into this experience now?
11:07Because I have this all the time.
11:09You pass a guy in the grocery store and he's got the look of, yeah, I'm pretty sure that guy
11:14played in the league.
11:15But, and you kind of acknowledge him a little bit, but you don't want to get into that conversation.
11:20Like, they're all over the place.
11:22There's a lot of guys, like, even more than people would realize that, like, retired players in Houston.
11:28No, man, I got a funny story.
11:30So, I'm out here.
11:30I'm from the south side.
11:32I got moved out here in the Cypress area, running away from, you know, the HOA.
11:36So, it was funny that, you know, so Malik Jackson, obviously phenomenal player, played for Denver, won a Super Bowl
11:42in Denver, played for Jacksonville.
11:44So, I never knew he was a twin, right?
11:47So, his brother, I've seen his brother out here, and I think me and my son and his daughter went
11:52to the same daycare.
11:53And I ran into him thinking it was Malik, but it was actually his brother.
11:57And I was like, hey, Malik, how are you?
11:59And not knowing that he had a twin, and I'm texting him like, hey, Malik, yeah, da-da-da-da.
12:04He's like, bro, I think you're talking about my brother.
12:08And I'm like, what you mean your brother?
12:09He was like, yeah, my twin brother.
12:11And I'm like, I didn't even realize that just the amount of, you know, former athletes and guys that's out
12:16here, and you just run into randomly, you know, out here in the Cypress area.
12:20Oh, they're twins, yeah.
12:21I did the same thing.
12:22I talked to – I traded – I talked to Donald Driver's brother at a football camp.
12:28For the entire camp, I thought it was Donald Driver.
12:32And, uh, I don't know if he's a twin or not.
12:35He looks enough like Donald Driver that I'm like, yeah, that's totally Donald Driver.
12:39Why would I think it's not Donald Driver?
12:41I love that – it sounds like with both of you guys, Seth and with Michael, it sounds like in
12:46both cases, the people you were talking to or walked up to just let you think that they were those
12:51people.
12:51Yeah, I think Donald Driver's brother probably gets it enough that he just doesn't feel like explaining it.
12:56Yeah, he just lets it go.
12:58Yeah.
12:59Malik, did Malik Jackson's brother just hang you out to dry, Michael, and let you think it was him the
13:04whole time?
13:05Uh, no, I mean, for the first couple, you know, you know, communications he did, but then I think after
13:11I was – I kept calling him, Malik, I think he was like, yeah, bro, let me go ahead and
13:15tell you.
13:16Then I had to go back and research.
13:17I was like, oh, I felt so silly.
13:20Oh, my God.
13:20That's great.
13:21That is great.
13:22Well, I'm just – I'm picturing Malik Jackson getting, like, the text from me, hey, great seeing you earlier today,
13:26bro.
13:26You know, like that kind of thing.
13:28Right.
13:28Good running into you.
13:29Yeah.
13:29Oh, that's beautiful.
13:31Michael Brockers, former NFL defensive lineman, joining us.
13:34Hey, Michael, before we cut you loose, I wanted to ask you also, you spent the last couple years of
13:39your career up in Detroit in kind of the formative years for the Lions there, the first couple years of
13:45Dan Campbell with the Lions.
13:48Obviously, they didn't make the playoffs this past year, but I think they're still thought of as a really good
13:52football team, certainly a very talented football team.
13:55Had a lot of that based on, you know, Dan Campbell's big personality and leadership style.
14:00Was this – was the ascension of the Lions, especially in 23 and 24, something that you felt those two
14:05years you were there in 21 and 22?
14:09I can definitely see the formation of it as far as, you know, getting guys like, you know, Aiden Hutchinson,
14:16building your roster with guys that you know you could, you know, build the foundation of your team with.
14:21I definitely seen the formation and then definitely, you know, having a solidified quarterback and you getting more athletes just,
14:28you know, surrounding him.
14:30You could see it coming.
14:32You know, I definitely think Ben Johnson's, you know, his arrival and just showing off, you know, his, his, his,
14:40you know, mindset of offensive play and things like that.
14:43I just – it blended well with the, you know, the grit, the whole demeanor of, you know, Dan Campbell's,
14:51you know, whole characteristics.
14:52So, I thought it was just a perfect blend and you can kind of see it happening.
14:57And when it happened, it was exploding.
14:58I think the fans of Detroit deserve to have a team like that, man.
15:04And I think that's the one thing that I love about Detroit is the, the, the fan base, how much
15:09they love you, you know, as a player.
15:12I didn't play there very long, but a lot of the, the fan base knows, know who I am and
15:17things like that.
15:18So, you know, having a fan base like that behind you, it just makes you want to play, you know,
15:23harder and, and play for them.
15:25So, I think that's the biggest thing about that team is they understand what they have to do for the
15:30city of Detroit.
15:31So, that's what they're going to do.
15:33Hey, last thing, real quick, just talking about places you played.
15:36Was it, was it strange moving from St. Louis to Los Angeles, especially moving, you know, teams change cities, you
15:43know, you know, not frequently, but they do.
15:45But to move back to somewhere where the team is sort of welcoming the team back to where they, they
15:51used to be.
15:51What was that experience like?
15:53Man, the strange thing was finding out that you were going to move on ESPN with everybody else, man.
15:58I think that was the strangest.
16:00I was like, I didn't know a team could move that fast, you know.
16:03It was rumors that whole year, but I was like, yeah, you know, it's going to take us a whole
16:08process.
16:08You got to sign all this paperwork.
16:10All of a sudden, on ESPN tickered, the Rams are moving to Los Angeles.
16:14I was like, I wish they would have told me about this before getting a, you know, signing a new
16:19mortgage, you know.
16:20That's what I was going to ask you.
16:21Had you bought, had you bought a house in St. Louis?
16:24No, thankfully, I wasn't established, not established enough, but I didn't have the mindset to own at that point.
16:32I was, you know, renting out a house with me and my wife.
16:34So it was easy for us to just get out our lease.
16:37But thankfully, I didn't have a mortgage or purchase a home because there were some guys that did purchase homes
16:43that had to go through the whole process of, you know, putting their house on the market and things like
16:48that.
16:48So, I mean, I say all that to the process of moving, they tried to make it as seamless as
16:56possible.
16:56Obviously, it was a surprise to everybody, but they did their best to make it as seamless as possible.
17:01Well, you know, yeah, Jeff Fisher had already gone through having to play in a lame duck season where everybody
17:07knew they were already leaving.
17:09I guess he was probably part of like, no, I don't want to make these guys play in front of
17:13an empty stadium all season long.
17:15No, you know what happened to me, Michael, when Tom Coughlin put me in the expansion draft, he called me
17:22up.
17:22As I was writing the final check to the pool contractor who had just built a pool at my house
17:29in Jacksonville, you know, you don't get the resale on that.
17:33You know, you're just, I'm stroking this check.
17:36I'm midway through writing a check when Tom Coughlin pops up on my landline caller ID.
17:42And, yeah, I was pissed.
17:43It was a very short conversation.
17:47Landline, who remembers those things, right?
17:49Yeah, exactly, exactly.
17:51Michael Brockers, former NFL defensive lineman.
17:54It's the quad, right, Michael, where people go to watch their draft?
17:57Quad Houston.
17:58Quad Houston is the name, but, you know, the quad for sure for those who know, you know, who know.
18:03Yeah, for sure, absolutely.
18:05And you got, and Seth mentioned it, you do cigars down there too?
18:09Yeah, we do do cigars down there, have a cigar lounge next door, do a lot of the, we can
18:15smoke on the patio that we have as well.
18:18So, we just want people to come out and enjoy.
18:20That'll be good, man.
18:22Michael Brockers joining us here on the show, and you can check out his place, Quad Houston, if you're looking
18:26for a place to go watch your NFL draft.
18:28Michael, hey, man, we enjoyed this conversation.
18:30Hope we get to do it again with you.
18:31Best of luck with your bar and restaurant there, and hope to talk to you again soon, man.
18:37That was enjoyable.
18:38Man, I appreciate you guys having me.
18:40You bet.
18:41Michael Brockers, nice career, man.
18:43Had a nice career in the NFL.
18:4511 seasons.
18:45You make it 11.
18:46You made it 10, Seth.
18:47You know, you make it double digits.
18:48That's a hell of a career.
18:49Well, and I told you, too.
18:50I didn't, like, I don't think Michael would have remembered this conversation I had with him because it was at
18:54an event, and he was talking to a bunch of different people.
18:56But I remember, like, when he was an active player, very good conversationalist.
19:00You could tell immediately, like, oh, okay, this guy's an actual adult.
19:05So, yeah, if he decides to go into media, I think he's got a really good, you could do some
19:09really good things.
19:10Yep.
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