Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has a go-to line for why he prefers calling plays from the coaches' box rather than the sideline.
Up in the booth, he can enjoy a Snickers bar. Maybe he isn't himself when he's hungry.
But all jokes aside, Graham has done it both ways in his eight years as a coordinator with the Dolphins, Giants, Raiders and now the Steelers. So far in Pittsburgh, he has worked from up top, and it sounds as if that will be his mode of operation going forward.
"It's just more calm up there," Graham said. "You've got your sheets spread out there, you're going to your different grids to make your calls."
It's personal preference, and Graham likes to be able to see the offensive personnel grouping as early as possible before the snap. He actually feels for any defensive assistants who have had that responsibility for him over the years when he's been at field level.
Graham admits that he can be a bit pushy on the headset trying to find out the offense's formation. And he's had to tell coworkers after the game that he's not rudely yelling at them for the information; that's just how he sounds when everything is moving fast.
Even beyond Graham, Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy has a wealth of experience on his defensive staff. That's an obvious benefit to the players, but it's also advantageous for Graham, who can enjoy his Snickers — actually, it was popcorn Friday night — in peace without worrying about what the team loses if he's not there for face-to-face conversations.
Instead, he can put most of his focus on the schematics, knowing that the likes of Joe Whitt Jr., Jason Simmons, Scott McCurley and others are connecting with the players. Some coordinators feel compelled to run through things in-person, but Graham can delegate those discussions on gamedays. He coached with Whitt, Simmons and McCurley in Green Bay in 2018, and with Simmons again in 2022 and 2023 with the Raiders.
"It starts with having trust with the coaches down on the field," Graham said. "Having familiarity with [Simmons] is big. Having familiarity with Scott is big. Because you're trusting them to get the message [relayed]. And then I'm working through it with the new coaches, whether it's C.J. [Ah You], [Domata] Peko, Shawn [Howe], them getting a feel for what I need conveyed down there to the players. I would say me being in the box is about being comfortable for me, but it's also a credit to the assistant coaches that can convey the message for me, and then rally the guys when we need to rally them."
When Graham goes further into his coaching philosophy, it all makes sense. Players have praised his X's and O's acumen, of course.
But when it comes to the human aspect of the job, Graham tries to make that part simple. His nature is to encourage rather than light a fire.
"I don't think of myself as trying to motivate people," Graham said. "I tell people all the time, I was broke before. I don't need motivation. I have kids. I might try to inspire people. But then you look at these men in terms of their age and where they're at in their lives, I'm sure they're all pretty motivated, so I assume the energy's there."
Graham just coaches his players to find joy when they hit the field for the real thing. Six days a week, football is their job. But 20 times a year, it's their game again.
He wants them to be themselves and remember they're living out their dreams. They're doing it as players. Graham's doing it as a strategist. And whether it's from the box or on the ground, he relishes every opportunity.
"The pressure of the NFL, going against the best athletes in the world out there doing it, I love it," Graham said. "I love it."
