Typically some kind of introduction goes here, but Washington State head coach Mike Leach doesn’t need one of those.

The Titans drafted Leach’s former quarterback Luke Falk with the No. 199 overall pick in this year’s draft. We took that opportunity to chat with Leach about the Pac-12’s all-time leading passer, and then let the conversation go from there.

Leach did not disappoint.

JM: How would you describe Luke Falk’s work ethic?

ML: He works extremely hard. He’s very conscientious. His work ethic is probably his strongest quality. In the time I got to spend with him, I was always pleased with how hard he worked. He did everything we asked of him and more.

JM: Which aspects of his game do you feel are most developed?

ML: I would say his overall awareness of managing the offense. He knows how to utilize the weapons he has at each position. He understands how to put the team in a position to be successful.

JM: Do you have any examples or anecdotes you can share regarding his leadership style?

ML: I wouldn’t say I have one specific example. He’s very calm under pressure though. He probably holds some sort of record in the Pac-12 as far as… Well, he holds several Pac-12 records actually. He’s the all-time leading passer in the history of the Pac-12. When he found himself in pressure situations, I think he had more comebacks than anybody else in the conference. He was very calm in those situations. The team could feel that. It helped calm them down as well.

JM: What’s your take on his processing skills and his decision making?

ML: I think he has that. He works very hard in the film room. He can get over-analytical at times. He needs to hone that in sometimes. He has a good overall feel for the field and the offense. He’s a confident individual.

JM: He was given full control of the offense at times, even in critical situations. Was that specific to your confidence in him, or do you just prefer all of your quarterbacks to have that freedom?

ML: I would say it’s a little bit of both. There’s some specific things that we expect to be checked or called in certain situations. We wanna make sure we get good value out of a play. We don’t wanna throw the ball if they’re dropping eight and we don’t wanna run it if they’re bringing seven. We try to attack the numbers and figure out where we have leverage. That’s on the quarterback. It’s something we start emphasizing from day one.

JM: I’m curious to get your overall thoughts on the NFL’s shift towards incorporating more spread principles on offense.

ML: It seems like they’re more conscious of how it could benefit their offense nowadays. I’ve been doing it since the beginning. Everywhere I’ve been, we’ve always spread it out. I guess we’re credited by a lot of people for kind of starting that. It’s reached the NFL level now. It’s just a more efficient way of playing football. It’s about attacking all the space available to you. I think it’s a very efficient approach.

JM: As a collegiate coaching staff, how do you balance winning games with developing players for the next level?

ML: I pay no attention whatsoever to developing them for the next level. That’s somebody else’s job. Why would I care? We coach them the best that we can. We worry about putting them in the best positions they can be put in here at our school to accomplish the things that we need to accomplish. I do think it goes hand in hand though. I think if they’re in a good place and they get the proper coaching, then the better their chances are at the next level. We’re not gonna sit here and monkey around and worry about the next level. There’s no point in me sitting around trying to guess what they want at the next level. That would be a bunch of foolishness.

JM: I love that answer. What’s your take on the decision to legalize sports gambling?

ML: I’m not sure on that. I’m tentatively in favor of it. I don’t know the full dimensions of that decision yet. I saw that it happened. People are betting on stuff all the time in a variety of ways. It can be done by calling someone across the country or whatever. Generally speaking, I’m in favor of the decision. I guess I’m in favor of it. I’m not too familiar with all the ramifications however.

JM: Out of curiosity, why are you in favor?

ML: First of all, people are betting on sports an awful lot anyway. Outlawing it has never stopped it from happening. There’s no way to stop that. They’re doing it all over the place, from college sports to the pro’s. There’s various places to gamble. They might as well just go ahead and legalize it and tax it.

JM: Fair enough. A lot of football players feel that using medicinal marijuana is a better way to treat concussions than using opioids. How do you feel about that?

ML: That should be a doctor’s decision. I don’t know. That’s something for the doctors. But I do think if somebody has a condition that requires regular marijuana use, he’s probably not fit to play football.

JM: If they were starting production on your biopic tomorrow, which actor would you like to see portray you on the big screen?

ML: I wouldn’t have any choice in that regard. A guy that people who have said I share similar mannerisms with is John Cusack.

JM: Do you think he can pull it off?

ML: Yeah, absolutely. I think he’s a fantastic actor.

JM: If all the Pac-12 coaches were in a bar fight, who would win?

ML: Oh shoot. I don’t know. I imagine the winner would be the guy who got the jump on everybody else.

JM: The guy who got the jump on everybody else?

ML: Yeah. The guy that caught the rest of us not looking.

JM: Michael Jordan or LeBron James?

ML: Michael Jordan.

JM: Why?

ML: For one, I think he’s statistically better. I don’t follow basketball closely. Jordan was named Defensive Player of the Year a number of times. I’m not an expert on either one of them. I do think LeBron’s a great player though.

JM: Do you like the Star Wars prequels?

ML: I’ve watched them all. I like them but they’re not my favorite genre of movies. I have seen them all though.

JM: What is your favorite genre?

ML: I tend to enjoy dramas. Action dramas. I like epics. I’d say the action drama is my favorite genre of film making.

JM: What’s an action drama you can watch over and over again?

ML: Oh shoot. I try to cover as much ground as I can. I think the first Rocky is a fantastic movie. Chinatown is a great movie. Anything by Alfred Hitchcock.

JM: Do you think Michael Crabtree should wear his chain when he faces off with Aqib Talib this season?

ML: I’m 100% on Michael Crabtree’s side. I’m also 100% in favor of sticking Crabtree and Talib in a room and having them sort out their problems. I would put all my money on Crabtree.

JM: Really?

ML: No question.

JM: Why is that? You sound awfully confident.

ML: I coached Crabtree. He got into it once with our starting nose guard. It didn’t take Crabtree too long to win that argument despite the fact that he was a wide receiver.

JM: Did Crabtree beat up the starting nose guard?

ML: I would say that’s a very fair statement.

JM: Wow. I totally see why you’d bet all your money on him.

ML: Do they play against each other this year?

JM: They’re scheduled to meet during week one of the preseason.

ML: That’ll be good. Crabtree can beat up on Talib some more.