Summer drills: Robert Killebrew

How has your off-season been so far? It's always fun to get back into a routine, a structure, a regiment. It's great to hang out with all the guys again; bond with the guys, see what's changed, who did what over the break. It's always a good time to just be able to kick with your friends.

How important is the teambuilding that occurs during this time? The teambuilding that goes on is extremely important. You find out who is going to be a hard-worker, who's going to be a leader, who's going to be a quiet guy who just leads by example. You find out who's going to make you laugh when you get in a tough situation. It puts things in perspective. It's a good time to hang out with your friends and find out all the characteristics that make everyone unique and different.

You've completed a spring practice with Larry Mac Duff. What are your impressions of him? Coach Mac Duff is a professional. You can tell he came from the NFL. His approach to everything is very meticulous; he is extremely thorough about everything that he does. Coach Mac Duff is going to be a great addition to the staff. He's a great teacher and he has a great mind for football. As a linebacker, I think that the linebacking corps is really going to improve under Coach Mac Duff.

How has your summer been in terms of classes? I'm taking a couple of classes this summer that I need to graduate, and I'm also taking a swimming class. I thought I could swim, I thought I was a decent swimmer, until I actually got in the water and started to learn the different techniques and stuff. It truly is a good total-body workout; every time I get out of the pool after class I'm exhausted, but so far it has been really fun. It's very different.

What else have you done away from football this summer? Not much is going on off the field. I'm just trying to stay focused. I've got a couple of goals to accomplish before my time is done here -- graduating is one of the biggest things I'm working towards. For me, the opportunity and the chance to graduate and to finish up with a degree is one of the most exciting things. I really think it's extremely important.

What in general do players try to focus on this time of year? It sounds a little selfish, but you really have to focus on yourself and think of all the little things you can do to improve -- finish across the line, do every set and every lift. You really have to focus on yourself and make yourself better so that when you come together with the team, you're able to make the team better. Overall [improving the team] is really the most important thing when it comes to maintaining focus.

Have you had time to keep cooking between your activities? I love cooking. I just love it. I'm working on this veal in a white wine and garlic sauce. I'm kind of working on it right now; I haven't decided if I'm going to put it on angel hair pasta or if I'm going to do some blend of summer vegetables with it. I'm really experimental [with my cooking]. I made enchiladas the other day that were off the chain; they were beef enchiladas with some red rice and refried beans -- everything is made from scratch. I love cooking. I especially just love serving other people when I get done cooking. I love seeing how what I've done makes other people happy.

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