XFL Offseason Q&A with Guardians Head Coach Terrell Buckley
August 23, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Orlando Guardians News Release
The 2023 Guardians season didn't go as head coach Terrell Buckley would have hoped. The team won only one game as it struggled to put together a full 60 minutes in many contests.
But that one win was one of the most memorable of the season: a 37-36 upset of the then-undefeated D.C. Defenders in front of their home crowd in Orlando.
"To be able to finish at night, at home against the best team in the league as the clock runs down, that's what you dream about, right?" Buckley said.
Buckley is ready to continue improving in his second year as a head coach in the XFL and doing everything he can to get his team better. This included at the XFL Combine, where he was interviewed for this Q&A.
Note: Interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: How exciting is it to see so many good players at the XFL Combine?
A: I think that's what I really love about this league. We say the X stands for dream and opportunities. This is a world-class spring league that can give guys an opportunity that's been overlooked, haven't been given that opportunity or getting that second chance to do it because of some mistakes when he was young.
Q: How excited are you transitioning here from Year 1 to Year 2?
A: Personally, for me, when you're a first-time whatever - first-time head coach, first-time director, first-time photographer - you ask a lot of questions from your veterans. You try to anticipate what could happen but everybody's path is different. Once you gain that, experience turns into wisdom, (which) turns into knowledge. I know what to expect now. I know what the league is about. I know what type of players we have. So I don't have to ask all these questions. When you're putting together your team now, I already have a bunch of the answers.
Q: What are some of those answers you figured out last year?
A: Competition, winners, guys that have played at a high level, have been under the lights you need to have on your team. It's not all just about the athleticism and the X's and O's. It's who's been there before and can they help you. You better have the guys at their right position. Their power positions.
Q: What are some skills, beyond athleticism, that you can pick up on guys at the combines and showcases?
A: The interviews and all that is huge. I always like to say I can get more out of a young man - believe it or not. But through my experience, if somebody's successful off the field - that could be in any aspect, whatever they deem successful - they have a better chance of being successful on the field. I know I'm gonna get the best out of them. It's not going to be 'Why?' Just tell them how to do it and I'm gonna get it done to the best of my ability. That's what you want. You find that out through conversations and what are they doing now? What have they overcome? Just little bitty things.
Q: How have you seen yourself grow as a coach and evaluator this year?
A: That evaluation standpoint is really paying attention to the little nuggets that they give you. Did they win in high school? Did they win in college? Receiver: how many catches did you have? Only had five catches. So (I'm going to) expect you to go out and get 66 when you only have five. How many touchdowns did you have? Two. So just the details of how they performed? What have they overcome? I don't have to listen to everybody. I know what a winner looks like. I know what it takes. I got a lot of examples of that. Use those things. Use your knowledge and wisdom along with other coaches and go from there.
Q: Who's one of those examples of winning you like to tell the guys?
A: From last year on my team, you can look at Cody Latimer. One thing he did that I leaned back on. We had a private workout. He comes down. He's a little out of shape because he's teaching. He had a little hamstring and we're just having a casual conversation where I'm like, 'Oh man, I'm glad he came down. I just want to see you. I appreciate you coming. You don't have to nothing today.' He's like, 'Coach, I'm here. I feel it. I'm gonna go.' 'Okay, you don't have to.' "(I'm gonna) go.' Goes out there, goes through half the stuff and then like, okay, coach, that's good. I just wanted to show you that I'm for real and I'm serious about that. If you're going to take a chance on me and give me an opportunity. I appreciate that. This is how I'm going to return what you did. I'm gonna give you a little bit today.
Q: Who else from your team this year do you think is a prime example of dreams meeting opportunity?
A: I will say the other one is Jordan Thomas. There were a couple. Jordan Thomas, who we wanted to draft who was drafted by St. Louis, got banged up. Even before that just wasn't used properly in the offense.
We got an opportunity during the middle of the year to sign him. What he did the rest of the season for us, I want to say four games - touchdowns, playing all over the field, offense, defense - was unbelievable. I didn't know how special that was to him getting that opportunity.
He's crying tears of pure joy and excitement and gratitude in the middle of a game. Middle of the game! It's like can you wait until we get on the bus. That right there is touching. Now he's obviously with the Carolina Panthers, trying to make their team. He only played four, five games for us. But he did so much in those games with that opportunity.
Q: Your team had a lot of turnover throughout the year. What did you learn from getting new guys in and some of the success you saw after that?
A: The conversations that you have to have, the honesty, evaluating properly, admitting okay we didn't evaluate that property or we rushed that situation. Making all these transactions, having those conversations, seeing the guys perform, zeroing in on what is important, setting the standard, setting the category on this is what we need. I felt like it was like a two-, three-year growth in I would say two or three months. Unbelievable.
Q: What was the best moment of the season? I think I know the answer.
A: You already know. Getting that first win, beating the D.C. Defenders. I think every coach in a new league starting with a new team, new players, getting that first win is unbelievable. Beating arguably the best team in probably one of the most exciting games of the year. We hadn't finished games before that. We were in them and then all of a sudden to be able to finish at night, at home against the best team in the league as the clock runs down, that's what you dream about, right? Getting water poured on even though the (cooler) hit the side of my head. I had a slight concussion from it. It was unbelievable. That to me I will never forget and getting the game ball from the players.
Q: Where's that game ball now?
A: At my house.
Q: Who is somebody around the league you were really impressed with and thought did a great job last season?
A: I thought Reggie Barlow, the Coach of the Year, and Von Hutchins, the team they put together and how they performed was unbelievable. And how they improved and how they got hot at the end, the other one was Bob Stoops. What they did trading for Perez and putting it together at the right time and winning the championship. I look at Arlington and us, it's like okay, we're in the same position. We actually felt like we could catch Arlington but we lose by three points to them and they go do what they did. It was pretty exciting. I will say those two: Reggie and Stoops.
Q: It's offseason now and there's still a lot of time to go before training camp. When do you think you're gonna get that - if you already haven't got it - that itch for training camp, early January to come around?
A: I had it the week after the season. It never stops. We're putting together a team. We're looking at the guys but I'm ready to go right now.
XFL Stories from August 23, 2023
- Arlington DLs Doug Costin and Tomasi Laulile Sign NFL Contracts - Arlington Renegades
- XFL Offseason Q&A with Guardians Head Coach Terrell Buckley - Orlando Guardians
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
