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00:00 >> So starting off, how does it feel to be playing in the playoffs?
00:03 >> It feels amazing.
00:04 It feels different.
00:06 It feels like a change of things.
00:09 You feel more serious than ever.
00:12 You know it's at stake.
00:14 So we definitely got a bonus day today.
00:16 You got a chance to get a little extra work in.
00:18 So definitely be ready for Monday.
00:20 >> Monday you went eight years and didn't come close to the playoffs.
00:24 And now you've been there four straight years.
00:26 I know you like this side of the ledger a little bit better.
00:28 But what does it say for somebody like yourself who has seen this turn the way
00:32 it has and just the organization?
00:35 >> Yeah, I mean, I love it.
00:36 Those eight years in the past, man, I get about it.
00:38 The past four years have been amazing.
00:41 Just to change the guard, the stamina that this team have, the talent that we have.
00:45 And just the urgency we got to be able to be in these situations.
00:52 There's one point during the season that we was doubted by a lot of people.
00:57 So we just had to dig deep to be able to get to this position.
00:59 And now we're here, so we got to take advantage of it.
01:02 And it's definitely a blessing.
01:03 Like you said, man, eight years not even sniffed to be in this situation.
01:08 But now, four years in a row, it says a lot.
01:11 >> You had injuries on defense, but it seemed like it was more than that.
01:14 That was causing, for whatever reason, you guys had some challenges.
01:18 What was key for you guys getting that turnaround specifically?
01:21 >> Just gaining confidence, man.
01:23 Guys gaining confidence in themselves.
01:24 Just getting back out there.
01:26 Just a lot of emphasis with the lineup and stuff like that.
01:29 Like you say, injuries, but injuries happen.
01:31 Being gained trust with different people and being able to get a feel for
01:36 somebody how different people play different things,
01:39 different type of communication and stuff like that.
01:40 But for everybody to be back healthy,
01:42 it's definitely a great thing going into these first round plays.
01:46 >> But Levante, you got eight years before seeing your first playoff game.
01:50 You got a dozen guys in that locker room who were rookies who were getting that
01:54 playoff experience in the first year.
01:56 This is a different team than when you were in 2020.
01:59 It was a very veteran-laden team.
02:02 This is a much younger team.
02:04 As a veteran leader who's been there and done that, how do you have to kind of
02:08 get these young guys to understand the gravity of the moment and
02:12 that this is not a given every year?
02:14 >> Yeah, all I do is tell them my story.
02:17 Tell them my story, hopefully that scares them.
02:18 >> [LAUGH] >> I don't want to be in the position I
02:22 was in, first thing you need to get these opportunities, man.
02:24 You want to take advantage of it.
02:25 It's there, very, very hard to come by.
02:28 I always say, man, you gotta be grateful to be in this position.
02:33 Don't take it for granted.
02:34 A lot of people love to be in our shoes right out of the gate.
02:37 So just come out and just stay focused, stay the course.
02:42 And whenever you get a chance to do it, you gotta make the most of it.
02:44 >> What was the scariest part about this story that you could tell the guys?
02:48 >> [LAUGH] There's a lot of scary parts.
02:51 >> I know.
02:53 >> Times where you're just like, man, maybe I never made the playoffs.
02:58 Stuff like that.
02:58 So you don't want to get in that mindset, you don't want to get in that mood.
03:02 So you gotta have the attitude that you're gonna have a check up through here.
03:07 >> What did you learn about this Eagles team when you faced them in September?
03:10 >> What I learned about them, their physical team.
03:13 They dominated up front, I was in line.
03:15 I feel like their team run through there, I was in line.
03:18 They go as far as they always in line go.
03:19 So for front seven, we definitely got to come with our A game.
03:23 I believe the first time they played, they probably ran for almost 200 yards on us.
03:26 So, or did run for 200 yards, one of them.
03:30 But we know that's something that we gotta take advantage of,
03:35 cuz we ain't got half of them right now.
03:37 So they still do that really well.
03:39 So we just gotta be able to come open and prepare.