Adam Gase – June 1, 2016
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Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Head Coach Adam Gase
(On DE Cameron Wake’s progress) – “I think it’s close to the most that he has done. Like I said, we’ve been taking it slow, but the hardest thing for us is trying to keep him out, as far as doing too much. He’s pushing it to where he wants to make sure that he’s feeling good every day. He has been doing a good job as far as really pushing himself in individual (drills) and when he does get in the training room (and) the weight room, to see how far or where he’s at, at the moment. Today is another good day for him – another stepping stone for him.”
(On how DE Cameron Wake feels physically the day after he takes the field) – “He has been good. That’s why – for us – we feel like things are on track. But I do think it’s more us holding him back than him.”
(On his impressions of the rookies so far) – “It’s hard. We’re five (practices) in. We can copy and paste last week’s answer for the most part if you want to.” (laughter)
(On WR Kenny Stills) – “Kenny fits into what we do for the most part. He has position flexibility, which we love as an offensive staff. Being able to play inside and outside, the speed he has, the ball skills he has – we want to keep developing him and giving him as many opportunities (as we can). Especially when he gets a chance to go against (Byron) Maxwell, that’s a great measuring stick for him. We’ve gone at him a lot in practices, just trying to make sure that his confidence is growing and that he has a great feel for the offense.”
(On how the team will know when DE Cameron Wake can be full-go) – “I was just short of my M.D. at Michigan State (laughter), but I’m going to lean on the strength and conditioning (coaches) and the trainers and those people in our building to give me any red flags that come up. For the most part, he has been good. No alarms have been sounded quite yet.”
(On how WR Griff Whalen fits into the receiving corps) – “He’s competing. When you get to that spot – basically after the first two guys – if you’re not contributing somehow on special teams and you can’t play multiple positions, it’s going to be tough to make the team. That’s why we like the variety of guys we have that are competing in special teams that can play inside (and) outside. Position flex(ibility) is key.”
(On WR Jakeem Grant’s speed) – “It’s impressive. I know a lot of defensive guys have made comments about how quick and how fast he is. It’s almost like we have to temple him down a little bit, because … You guys probably saw today (that) when we do some routes versus air, he can get a little bit out of control. It’s learning how to run certain routes at the right tempo. It’s almost like the illusion you’re running full speed, but you’re not really, and you’re under control and you can stop on a dime. That’s where we need to get him.”
(On whether he calls WR Jakeem Grant “Mighty Mouse” as teammates do) – “I will not call him that.” (laughter)
(On what he would like to see from QB Ryan Tannehill in the red zone) – “You put the quarterback in bad positions sometimes as a play-caller, and you’re looking for the touchdown. You keep thinking, ‘Touchdown. Touchdown. Touchdown.’ Sometimes, you need to think of, ‘How can I create a third-and-manageable situation with a quarterback where it can become a run-pass option?’ You get a little greedy sometimes in the red zone, because you want the touchdown so bad. Sometimes, you have to understand (that) you have to score through the goal line. If you can keep your quarterback third-and-4 or less, it gives them options. It makes it easier on them. But when you’re third-and-9 from the 18 (yard line) or third-and-12 from the 20 (yard line), it’s hard. You’re limited on what you can call. As a play caller, you have to do a great job (of making) sure you put him in position to have success. That’s one of the things we’re trying to work on. When the throws are there and it’s a tight window – because it’s going to be tighter down there – we have to make the throws, and we have to make the catch.”
(On what G Billy Turner has to do to reach the next level) – “I think he has to keep doing what he’s been doing, and that’s working hard, getting stronger in the weight room, understanding what to do as far as the scheme, which he has been doing. We’re moving guys all over the place right now. I think his position flexibility has been outstanding. I think he’s on a great track right now, as far as he keeps showing up every day, doing the right thing, working to get harder. He doesn’t say much, and I appreciate guys who just put their head down and work.”
(On whether G Billy Turner is getting time at guard and tackle) – “We’re working those guys. Unless you can’t play center, we’re trying everybody. We want to make sure we have options. Like I said before, (there are) seven guys up on game day. We better be able to be flexible.”
(On what he has seen from LB Neville Hewitt) – “It’s a growing experience for him. I know the speed was something we were very impressed with coming in. Now, it’s more about … We have to get him out there. We have to keep him out there. Availability is the No. 1 priority right now with a lot of our players. If you can’t practice, it’s hard to evaluate. As far as his skill set goes, it’s there; and we have to keep bringing him along.”
(On what he would like to see from TE Dion Sims) – “I think it does come down to consistency. I know that’s kind of a repeat line right there, but he has the skill set that you want. There are not a lot of tight ends that you can say (are) an in-line blocker, can play the move position, can catch the ball, can run routes, has good speed and can do a good job in both pass protection and the run game. He has all that ability. It’s about doing it week-in, week-out for the entire season.”
(On DE Dion Jordan applying for reinstatement) – “You can copy and paste again. (laughter) You can use (General Manager) Chris’ (Grier) answer this time instead of mine. I’ll worry about that when it comes around.”
(On how RB Jay Ajayi is progressing as a pass catcher and route runner) – “He has done a good job in both areas. I feel like the routes are something (that is) a little bit new for him, as far as what he did in college. But the improvement we’re seeing every day is what we’re looking for. It’s just giving (him) that opportunity. The last period we did, there’s a lot of reps right there to where every little detail is important for him, because it might be the first time he has actually done it. We want him to keep improving. That’s going to be the key. It’s all about getting the next eight practices in, so when we hit training camp, everybody has a great feel of the offense. And then we can go out there and we can raise that level that we’re at right now.”
(On the depth of the pass rush) – “You’re upset about this? (laughter) We’re excited. The more for us, the better. (It is the) same thing with corner(backs). I’ll hit somebody off on that one, right? The more flexibility we have at corner and more guys we have at pass rusher, that’s what we’re looking for.”
(On whether the pass rushers are the deepest position group going into camp) – “Probably. We’ll just see how it goes.”
(On whether WR DeVante Parker did not practice due to injury) – “No, we’re just being smart.”
(On LB Koa Misi’s incident) – “We had a discussion about it. I think it was more me talking than him. But, it has been handled.”
