Transcripts

Search Transcripts
Brian Flores – December 27, 2021 (Postgame) Download PDF version

Monday, December 27, 2021
Postgame – New Orleans

Head Coach Brian Flores

(I know the season isn’t over and you guys still have at least two more games to play in the regular season, but to start 1-7 and to win seven games and put yourselves in position where you just need to win and be in the playoffs I guess what do you want the overarching message to be for anyone that looks at your team and the turnaround that you’ve had this season?) – “I think this team stuck together really the entire year. I think obviously we dealt with a lot of adversity early in the year and I think it revealed a lot. I would say it revealed the character of the guys in our locker room. Revealed that some people are with you and some people were on the fence and I think our guys just kept fighting. They kept sticking together and I think they support each other, they work hard, they give great effort. And when you do those things you put yourself in position to get the results you’re looking for.”

(Can you talk about your defensive approach against Ian Book making his NFL debut and Nik Needham’s early pick-6 setting the tone in that regard?) – “Credit to Josh (Boyer) and the defensive staff. They had a nice game plan – mixing coverages, mixing the fronts. They did a good job stopping the run which was a big emphasis. I thought the guys just played hard, they played fast, they gave great effort. We knew it was going to be a 60-minute game. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. It’s a physical Saints team. Sean (Payton) had them ready, made some adjustments in the game that we had to make some adjustments so thought they had a good plan. We just made a few more plays than they did.”

(It was referenced a little bit earlier but just to be more specific about it. The Dolphins are currently in playoff position with two games to play. What are your thoughts on the idea that the team does not have to rely on anybody else? Focus on the games ahead for the Dolphins.) – “I think the games this week – we’ll enjoy tonight, but the game ahead is going to be as tough as any game we’re going to play. I’ve already taken a look at Tennessee. Obviously I know Mike (Vrabel). I have a lot of respect for him. I know he’ll have his guys ready so we’ll enjoy tonight – it was a hard-fought 60-minute game so we’ll enjoy this one and then we’ll turn the page and get started on our next opponent.”

(In terms of what this team has been able to accomplish going and winning seven straight games how difficult is that – I know every game is a one-game playoff situation and you have a linear focus on the season – but to win seven straight games is kind of an accomplishment?) – “I think it’s really just one in a row and that’s really all we’re trying to do. That’s kind of the approach and I think our guys have kind of taken to that approach and the preparation, how important the preparation is, the preparation that’s needed to get results in this league. There’s a lot that goes into that. There’s a lot of work, a lot of working together. I think George (Godsey), Eric (Studesville), Danny (Crossman), Josh (Boyer) – our coaching staff is doing a nice job of putting together game plans and giving our guys a chance to have success. Now the focus is to try to do it one more time.”

(I wanted to get a little clarity on the answer you gave earlier. You said that it revealed a lot about your locker room. It revealed that some people were with you and some people were on the fence. Was that talking about people outside the building or inside of the building?) – “There’s distractions always and when things aren’t going your way I think it just reveals a lot about a lot of things, I would say. I’ve always had belief in this team – our players, our coaches. Maybe there were some people who didn’t share that same belief and I understand why, but at the end of the day it’s not about anyone else. It’s about the guys in that locker room and the guys in our building and the people in our building and we believe in each other. And at the end of the day that’s all that matters.”

Search Transcripts

Weekly Archives