— What’s an example of something that left an impression on you about his work ethic and drive?

Just his ability to learn. That really resonated early on. He’s the type of kid where, however you need to coach him and however you need to give him the information for him to absorb it, it really doesn’t matter. He’ll find a way to ensure that he’s prepared by making sure that he’s doing the extra work.

He’s staying late. He’s coming into your office and trying to seek additional information. He’s just about doing everything in his power to make sure he can be available to you to be coached. And I noticed that with him right away.

— His football IQ came up repeatedly throughout the predraft process. How would you describe his feel and understanding for the game?

It’s as high level as anybody I’ve ever coached. The young man truly understands. It was to a point where I needed to find ways to continuously challenge him during the meetings in order to ensure that I was keeping his attention. Obviously he is a professional so he was always going to pay attention, but I wanted to him to be fully engaged in those meetings.

So he was learning about the D-line and techniques of the D-line. He was learning about the different pressures and really, truly understanding exactly what the quarterback is reading on play concepts. So I knew for Rome going into those predraft meetings that he was going to crush that piece of the interview process.

— DJ Moore said Rome’s speed was notable to him — that it’s deceptive in a guy as tall and big and long as he is to also have those burners. How do you describe that combination of size and speed?

At one point I told him he didn’t create enough separation. And he’d say, “Coach, I’m faster than them.” I even had it written on my board at one time — I still have a picture of it — what he said he was going to run in the 40(-yard dash) versus what I thought he was going to run. Of course, me being a coach, I was going to make it a little bit worse than what he thought he was going to run. But the guy just has this quiet confidence about himself.

At times I would call him “Rome the Philosopher” versus “Rome the Warrior.” But at times this warrior mentality would come out, just in how he talked and led his teammates. Then at other times it would be this philosophical approach to how he led and approached his teammates.

I knew the size and speed aspect of it was also going to come. He was deceptively faster than a lot of guys on the field who we were going against. But he’s also big enough that he can bully you at the point of attack. And as he felt NFL scouts starting to say, “Hey, he wasn’t creating enough separation. He needs to find a way to catch more 50-50 balls. We’re getting (our receivers) too open,” he realized that was going to have to become a part of his game to be a high-level receiver. And he strengthened that.

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