As I ascended through the ranks of youth football, I always admired players like Lawrence Taylor, Derrick Thomas and Bruce Smith.  Those guys were relentless, wreaked havoc and instilled fear in the quarterback.

All three developed the moves and skill set that are needed to create constant pass pressure.  I remember watching the Hall of Famers on Sunday afternoons and using their moves to pattern my own on Friday nights.  It was an honor to learn the craft of becoming a pass rusher by trying to emulate my game after theirs.

Of the aforementioned legends, LT has earned my utmost admiration.  He paved the way for me by revolutionizing the role of a pass rusher.  The Giants linebacker would do anything necessary to get to the quarterback - with a bull or speed rush, swim, rip or club.  He did whatever it took.

That’s how my game is, too.  I don’t really have a designated set of moves heading into a game.  The pace of a game and my opponent’s strengths and weaknesses usually dictates how I’ll approach a situation.  Much like LT, I will use an array of moves in order to defeat pass protection.

Today, there are several rushers I hold in high regard.  They include: Osi Umeniyora, DeMarcus Ware and Jason Taylor.  I have watched film on each of them and have studied them intently.  During my rookie season, it helped to watch Umeniyora and Ware as down rushers.  This season, after we switched to a 3-4 formation, I have tried to replicate Taylor’s role as an outside linebacker.

It’s fun to talk with guys like Osi and DeMarcus before games.  We will compare notes on what it’s like to be double-teamed or chipped by an opposing receiver.  We will also engage in playful trash-talking.  It’s nothing more than saying “I’ll have more sacks than you by the end of the season or I’ll see you in the Pro Bowl.”  We are in a special fraternity - we all have a tremendous amount of respect for each other.