Wright set to learn from Seattle Seahawks
7/26/2016 5:02:00 PM | Football
Sam Houston State defensive ends coach Rodrique Wright is no stranger to life in the National Football League. During the next 11 days, he'll add to that experience with the arguably the sports' best.
Wright will join the Seattle Seahawks for an internship program and have the opportunity to learn from a defensive unit and staff that become known as the Legion of Boom. The group allowed the fewest passing yards and passing touchdowns while anchoring the NFL's best overall defense.
The Seahawks are a very respectable organization and have been dominant on defense,” Wright said. “Coach Pete Carroll is one of the best to ever do it. I am looking forward to seeing how it is done with a group that has been dominant. Their defensive line has been so productive.”
While Wright was with the Miami Dolphins, he played for current Seahawks' defensive line coach Travis Jones. After staying in touch, he was provided the opportunity to participate in the program which typically sees college coaches help out across the league.
“When I coach, every player on the college level that they're dream is play in the NFL,” Wright said. “One of my tools is to coach to that standard. We talk a lot about how the pros do it. When our kids go home on Sundays, they're watching the pro teams. Our kids all dream of being in the combine and pro day to have an opportunity to play on that level.”
According to Wright, who was a standout at Texas, including being named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and Sporting News Freshman All-American in 2002, the exposure Sam Houston has gotten with competing deep into the playoffs has paid dividends.
“Our guys have been getting attention with Lachlan (Edwards) and Mikell Everette with Cleveland and Kevin Jackson in the CFL,” Wright said. "It's great to get that kind of recognition. It shows you the brand of football that Sam Houston plays.”
Wright is entering his third season with the Bearkats and helped tutor defensive end P.J. Hall who has been selected to five All-America squads the past two seasons. Mouf Adebo earned All-Southland Conference honors as a sophomore in 2014 for a Bearkat squad that ranked 24th nationally in total defense.
“I feel like I've grown with these juniors and seniors,” Wright said. “These guys were freshmen and sophomores when I got here. I've watched some of our best players get that much better. The best thing about this team is we have a lot of older guys. We know how to win and we know we have to come ready to play every Saturday.”
The Bearkats enter the upcoming season as the second-ranked team nationally and preseason favorite to win the Southland Conference. The squad opens the year on Sept. 3 against Oklahoma Panhandle State and Wright believes the unit has what it takes to make a national championship run – and more.
“We know we have a target on our back and I believe we are a lot more seasoned,” Wright said. “We're heavy senior and junior on the d-line. I am not telling them what to do like they've never heard it. They know how we do it and what the expectation is. Now, it's time to do it. We've been knocking on the door the last two years and we're tired of knocking.”
