Richard Sherman Podcast - Rod Woodson on Steelers football, 2000 Ravens defense, 71 INTs & NFL DB play today | Richard Sherman

Back on the show, I’m fired up to sit down with a Hall of Famer who did everything in the secondary. Seventy‑one picks, the all‑time pick‑six king. Take me back—what was your ‘welcome to the league’ moment in Pittsburgh?

First game, late rookie signing, I’m on kick return, I see a crease like it’s college, hit it, ball pops out, they recover at the five, we lose by three. That’s when I learned everyone can run here, and the vets like Donnie Shell and John Stallworth taught me how to bounce back.

When did the confidence return and you felt, I can dominate out here?

I always believed—older brothers toughened me up—but moving from college safety to NFL corner humbled me fast when James Lofton ran by me. Tony Dungy steadied me, then Rod Rust broke the game down to eligibles and formations, and the light flipped on; that led to seven straight Pro Bowls at corner.

I had to solve my own puzzle too. I wasn’t a smooth backpedal guy, but I knew West Coast route concepts from playing receiver, so I played with my hips open to the sideline, anticipated routes, and Pete let me roll—with the warning that if it failed, it was on me.

Great coaches let you be you when you know your strengths and weaknesses. Your short‑area numbers jumped off the page, and when you make plays, the room buys in to your style.

That was the message in our room—do what works for you, but it has to work.

Tony tried to iron out my press jump; Dick LeBeau refined it instead, got me more upright and efficient, and my game leveled up to Defensive Player of the Year.

Pete gave me a stance I could hold for two hours, which made me calmer and more patient. I’d still use a little hop to speed up quick receivers when I needed it.

We taught the pure step to slow your feet and head, and Pete giving you the freedom to bail when the picture demanded it is exactly how you unlock a player.

In our Cover Three, single to my side was basically man, but two displaced meant bail so I could see number two. We talked through it with Bobby and stole routes teams expected to beat three—even when we were in man.

Offenses are either reading you or flooding you, so understanding philosophy matters, but so does freedom to check and live calls together. That’s when a defense really sings.

We’d even swap mid‑route on Gronk and Edelman to kill their switch releases. Coaches trusted us to get the matchup right and sort it out later on tape.

I love that. The best coaches let you make ‘crazy’ calls that fit your rules and the moment.

You’re second all‑time in picks. Favorite takeaway, and what fueled that volume?

I lived on disguise and timing—play Cover Two at eight yards, sometimes press, sometimes bail and settle, make the QB guess soft squat or outside reroute. I locked in on formation tells, learned from mistakes like getting double‑moved by Favre, and we’d even cloud‑swap with safeties to play to our strengths.

What made that 2000 Ravens defense different?

Billick and Marvin Lewis sharpened us, Ray stepped into full command, and Sam Adams and Goose made the run game vanish. With our corners, we played free, rolled into the Super Bowl knowing the Giants wouldn’t cross the fifty, and I loved seeing your group’s swagger too—Cam’s hit by the goal line still echoes.

We beat Denver’s record offense by conditioning for tempo, staying out of the huddle, and refusing to get gashed by pace. When their top wideouts tapped out mid‑drive in the Super Bowl, we let them know it.

That’s the line between confidence and arrogance—believe it, talk it if you want, then back it up.

Take us through 1995—ACL Week One and you return for the Super Bowl.

Old turf and unworn shoes betrayed me against Barry; I felt the pop. Bill Cowher kept hope alive instead of shelving me, Carnell Lake’s versatility held the back end together, and I got limited sub‑package snaps in the Super Bowl—even if our QB turnovers made it a climb.

Today’s game protects QBs and pushes safer decisions.

The lawsuits changed rules and culture; protections rose while fundamentals dipped and camps got shorter. You can still teach real thud and form without live shots every day.

We demanded our practice standard—told Pete if he wanted soft periods to send the defense home, because we were going to knock the ball out.

That’s player‑led ownership. Old‑school accountability was our heartbeat too—Mean Joe Green’s intensity set a tone—and every great defense across eras shares that businesslike standard.

It’s a standard with love. Earl’s practice pace pushed all of us, and we competed inside the scheme.

You police yourselves like family. That’s why I respected watching the Legion—you looked like our rooms felt.

People love a man‑versus‑zone debate. I say great corners play what’s called and make it work, and the whole unit has to hold up.

Exactly—real DBs do both. Most zones carry man rules unless it’s super condensed, then you play true zone and match it out.

Bottom line, go take the ball.

Ball first, PBU second, tackle last. We drilled arriving with the catch and finishing through contact so you can catch while you hit.

Whose game grabs you today?

I like Woolen, Gonzalez, and Stingley, and I love how Houston’s defense flies and hits—they’ve got that Legion energy. If a flag comes, it comes; the mindset stays.

Give me the three non‑negotiables for a modern DB.

Toughness, a high football IQ with freedom beyond the playbook box, and real ball skills that flip games.

Why are there fewer takeaways now?

Angles and details suffer with younger coaching and less time, and we rush to label guys instead of giving them three years. The great ones color outside the lines—like when I jumped a shallow in Cover Three and Rich Gannon threw it to me.

Quick one on the Max Crosby saga and the pivot to Trey Hendrickson—plus keeping picks.

The failed physical stunned me, but Hendrickson’s production and keeping premium picks fit what Baltimore needs; if Matabike returns right, the rush group makes sense and the draft capital stays intact.

Rod, I appreciate you. Let’s run it back—this was a blast.

Anytime, much respect. I love talking ball with you.

Y’all could be anywhere, but you’re here with us. Hit subscribe and stay tuned—we’ve got more heavy hitters coming.