E.J. Speed on his career with Colts, Andrew Luck retiring, NFL draft stories | Club 520 Podcast

TL;DR

E.J. Speed describes his first jarring NFL experience and the Texas football background that shaped him on the Club 520 Podcast. The From The Trenches podcaster recalls being knocked down on his first preseason kickoff against the Buffalo Bills after never playing special teams in college, then responding on the next attempt. Read on for his firsthand stories about special teams, Fort Worth, basketball, and Texas high school football.

Transcript

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Key Insights

• 😤 NFL players face significant transitions and challenges when key team members retire or leave, impacting team dynamics and performance.
• 😑 Content creation offers NFL players an avenue to express themselves beyond their athletic careers, providing a platform for engaging with fans and sharing insights.
• 🏑 Balancing on-field performance with podcast endeavors requires adaptability and commitment to ensure a seamless transition into the entertainment industry.
• 🚙 NFL players must navigate through organizational changes, stay relevant, and showcase their value in both sports and content creation domains to maintain credibility and audience engagement.

Questions & Answers

Q: What happened during E.J. Speed’s first NFL preseason kickoff?

Speed ran downfield on a kickoff against the Buffalo Bills and was immediately knocked to the ground by a large blocker. He described it as his first real moment of realizing how different an NFL field could feel.

Q: Why was E.J. Speed’s first NFL special-teams play especially challenging?

Speed said he had not played special teams in college, so the preseason kickoff was his first experience doing it in a game. He also noted that preseason special-teams players were competing intensely while teams sorted out their rosters.

Q: How did E.J. Speed respond after being knocked down on his first kickoff?

Speed said he did not hold back after the initial hit. On the next attempt, he went downfield and tried to take on the same player, though he said the blocker was simply too big.

Q: Which team was E.J. Speed facing during his first memorable NFL field experience?

Speed said the game was against the Buffalo Bills. The moment occurred on his first kickoff during the preseason.

Q: Where did E.J. Speed grow up?

Speed said he is from Fort Worth, Texas. The hosts used that background to discuss both football and basketball culture in the area.

Q: Did E.J. Speed play basketball while growing up?

Speed said he grew up trying to play basketball, but coordination was an issue for him. Many of his friends were basketball players, and he described his school as a basketball school.

Q: When did E.J. Speed finish high school?

Speed said he came out in 2013. That led the hosts to discuss prominent Texas basketball players from that period, including Julius Randle, the Harrison twins, and Marcus Smart.

Q: How did E.J. Speed describe Texas high school football programs?

Speed said football is treated very seriously in Texas and that some high school facilities resemble college facilities. He also said there were no cuts, with programs fielding multiple levels such as varsity and several junior-varsity teams.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Transitioned from NFL to podcasting after major changes within the team organization, learning the ropes of content creation.

• Revealed challenges and experiences associated with playing for an NFL team during uncertain times like quarterback retirements.

• Highlighted the significance of staying relevant and valuable amidst organizational changes and uncertainties.