Kraig Urbik – August 4, 2017
Download PDF version
Friday, August 4, 2017
C/G Kraig Urbik
(Today you had an opportunity to get more reps at guard. How did that go? How has that gone for you?) – “It’s good. The whole camp, we’ve been rotating at everything. Every day I take (reps at) both guard spots and center. We’ve been rotating a lot. (Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Chris Foerster) is getting us ready for everything. That’s kind of the main thing if you’re going to be a backup is you have to know every spot. You can’t just be on one spot; but Coach (Foerster) is doing a good job of rotating us and I think we’ve been doing a good job so far.”
(Is this a different position than you were in last year because you were as a starter at both positions, correct? Or practicing at both positions?) – “Well, most of the year I was backing up all three spots in the middle, along with (Anthony) Steen. I started a couple of games at left guard last year. I got some other action at right guard, center and stuff like that. It’s one of those things that you just have to get in there and get after it.”
(How do you prepare yourself for the possibility that an injury could happen at any time and you could be a starter at any time? Just that philosophy…) – “I mean at any given point in the season, someone could go down with an injury and you’re the starter for the rest of the year, so you prepare that way. You have to prepare every week, every game like you’re going to be the starter. They could go in the first play of the game, get hurt and you’re in for the rest of the season. So if you’re not prepared for that, you’re not doing your job. You have to go in every week, every year like I’m preparing to start every year. That’s how I go about it.”
(If QB Matt Moore has to play a bunch, how do you guys feel about Matt Moore?) – “Great. Matt has been around for a long time. He’s a good player. He’s played a lot of good plays and stuff like that so we’re very comfortable with him.”
Matt Moore – August 4, 2017
Download PDF version
Friday, August 4, 2017
QB Matt Moore
(Obviously the news regarding QB Ryan Tannehill, we still don’t know a full 100; but your thoughts on the possibility of you taking over the reins for him?) – “Yes, it’s hard. As a buddy and teammate, you never want to see that happen. This is part of my role and I’ve done this before and stepping up and being ready if need be. So that’s as much as I know and kind of the attitude I have moving forward.”
(What was the mood of the team today? Was it business as usual? Was anybody down?) – “I mean guys … It stinks, but I thought today was a good practice. Guys were popping around. (It was) pretty competitive so it was good.”
(From a team confidence standpoint, how important was what you did last year at the end of the regular season preparing you for this spot?) – “It’s always … When you get a chance to have more than 11 guys actually playing games, it does a lot for confidence. Especially at the quarterback position, I’ve gotten to play with a lot of these guys with live bullets. It’s good. We’re just focused now on just getting better – all of us, whoever’s in there, getting better together and moving forward.”
(I know you always have to stay ready but how do you find that balance between staying in the present while also maybe having to prepare for being the starter?) – “I think I tell myself this is training camp and just take each day one day at a time and get better. Win the day and the future will handle itself. I’m just really focused on what we’re doing, what we’re focused on in camp and trying to get better that way.”
(Have you had a chance to talk to QB Ryan Tannehill at all?) – “I did, yes. He’s obviously waiting, like we all are. Nobody knows what’s going on, but he seems to be in good spirits. He was here watching tape yesterday with us and hanging out, so it was good.”
(What would you say to anybody who is wondering whether the Dolphins need to bring in another quarterback?) – “I would say I’m focused on training camp. I’m not really thinking about that. It’s a day-to-day thing for me right now and I’m focused on myself and the guys that are here right now.”
Clyde Christensen – August 3, 2017
Download PDF version
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Offensive Coordinator Clyde Christensen
(What did you see when QB Ryan Tannehill went down?) – “I saw him buckle and go down. I saw it from a distance. I didn’t see any details. I don’t know anything on it. Obviously, we just finished practice. We’ll get the report when we go in.”
(As far as you know, it was non-contact? QB Ryan Tannehill maybe stepped…) – “There was no contact on the play. That was all I really saw.”
(What’s your initial reaction when that happens?) – “The initial reaction is next man up and you’ve got to just keep going and you got to keep guys going and you can’t let the air go out of practice. That’s football, and it’s going to happen somewhere in this season. It’s going to happen somewhere in a game. So part of it is just getting the right reaction (like), back in the huddle, the game doesn’t stop. You go on to the next play and we go. Then obviously my personal thing is, boy, I sure hope it isn’t serious.”
(Is that kind of what happened? The air came out of practice there for a couple minutes while you guys were checking?) – “I don’t think so. I think more probably the defense got after the offense. I felt maybe just for a little bit. But again, the reaction has to be that. That is this game. That’s this game and we faced it last year for a while. As a coach, you just kick to your coaching mode and go on to the next thing, and we’ve got to keep going.”
(In your coaching mode, you’re out there without QB Ryan Tannehill, without C Mike Pouncey and without RB Jay Ajayi. What changes for you in that situation?) – “Nothing really. Just keep getting the next guy ready. Again, it’s really kind of good practice that way, because it’s real. It’s kind of good practice coaching and good practice getting the right mentality in your team that this stuff happens. This stuff happens and you’ve just got to go, whether it’s a cancelled flight or a late flight or a hotel mess up or whatever happens. Whatever it is, you’ve got to be able to react to it. That part of it, there’s some teaching that we can do from this thing that’s really valuable.”
(Had QB Ryan Tannehill been looking 100 percent to you?) – “Ryan has looked 100 percent to me. Yes, he really has. He has been 100 percent, I believe.”
(Can you talk about the confidence you have in QB Matt Moore since you saw him in action and he played in games last year?) – “Yes, you guys know how I feel about him. I love Matt Moore. I sure don’t want to move on past … Move on until we find out what the heck is going on in there. But sure, there’s a reason we have Matt Moore here, and we hope he never has to play. And if he does, he’ll be ready, and that’s the way it is.”
(Talk about your running back depth, now with RB Jay Ajayi out. What have you seen out of RB Kenyan Drake this year and RB Damien Williams the rest of the guys?) – “I think Damien gives us a really solid backup. I think Kenyan continues to push forward and get better. He has a chance to be a really, really good back in this league. He’s explosive. They’re getting a ton of reps. They’re really good special teams players. I think we got a deep room there, especially when Jay is healthy and rolling. That’s a deep room. Now we’re getting a great look at the rookie (De’Veon Smith) and the two other guys Senorise (Perry) and (Storm Johnson). We’ll get a good look at those guys. We’ve got a really good room there. There’s going to be some tough decisions in that room, and this does give us a chance to rep some other guys. So if there is a silver lining, I’d rather do it where we pull them out and not through something happening to someone. But the silver lining is that it does give us a chance to look at some guys and get an evaluation and get them some reps that they really need.”
(How’s your new left tackle, T Laremy Tunsil, looking?) – “He has been solid. He hasn’t been perfect, but I think he looks at home there. I think he is what we all thought he was, and he has a chance to be really good. He has had some ups and downs. This defensive line, it’s really good practice for him going against this defensive line. We get good work on these guys. We haven’t handled them well, but I think there’ll be some benefit down the road that we’ll get better and better and better, and then all of a sudden hopefully when the game comes, we won’t see any tougher situations than we’re seeing even in practice.”
(Is T Laremy Tunsil’s personality different in Year 2?) – “It really hasn’t been. He has been … He has always been delightful. He has always been kind of an easy-going guy. He always takes it as it comes. I think that’s what’s going to make him a really, really good left tackle. The next play – if something bad happens, he learns and moves on to the next play. I think that’s one of the really good characteristics he has. He has a nice, short memory and even-keeled personality, which are good characteristics to have at left tackle.”
(We’ve seen growth with WR Jakeem Grant as a receiver. Are there still a bit too many drops?) – “He has had a couple drops the last couple days, but overall he’s improving. He is one of the most improved guys we’ve had. We moved him outside, as I told you guys last time in the spring, and I think it has helped him a little bit. I think we can get some big plays out of him. He’s a really, really good receiver. The drops have been kind of throughout the unit. We dropped a lot of balls, especially these last three days. We’ve got to eliminate those, but I think we’ll be okay there. Jakeem has really good hands. He’s a really good receiver. As he keeps learning and getting more steady, where the quarterbacks get confidence, where they know where he’s going to be. He’s a little guy and he’s a jittery guy, and he’s a different speed from your average guy. We’ve been stressing that you have to be a steady target. You’ve got to be smooth. He’s like trying to hit one of those jitterbugs or something. He’s all over the place. So we’ve been trying to eliminate that, and he has done a lot better job with it.”
(How about WR Leonte Carroo?) – “Carroo is improving. Carroo continues to improve. He continues to be steady. He has had a solid camp. He has had his mistakes and a couple things, but he’s a good, big, physical guy. I think he’s going to take a big step forward this year.”
(Do you guys have a good feel for TE Julius Thomas, how to get him the ball? I know Head Coach Adam Gase did in Denver, but out here?) – “I think slowly, but surely. Adam does. Now we just got to get the quarterbacks with a good feel for what he does well. Where does he like the ball? Is it over the top? Is it back shoulder? Is it a jump ball? What does he like? I think it’s more the quarterbacks feeling Julius out than … Adam knows how to use him. He’s had him and they’ve had a lot of experience together. But the quarterbacks have to get the same thing. It doesn’t help that the head coach says, ‘Here’s what he does well.’ You’ve still got to get a feel for, how fast does it happen, when does it happen, where does he like the ball – those kind of things – how does he come off contact, all those things.”
(Do you have any timetable for when the timing should be down with TE Julius Thomas? End of training camp? By the fourth game of the season?) – “I would hope that somewhere midway through the second, third preseason game. By the third preseason game, we ought to be on the same page and rolling pretty good and have a pretty good feel. It never goes quite like you planned; but if you had a plan as a coach, you’d love for those new guys to … Now they’ve worked together, they’ve got an offseason, now they got a good training camp, now you got a good couple preseason games series under their belt, and hopefully you’re off and running.”
Chris Foerster – August 3, 2017
Download PDF version
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Chris Foerster
(Before I ask you about the line, any time you see one of your guys go down how does that affect you and the players?) – “It’s trainers, head coach. I’m out of the loop on that. When guys go down in practice, obviously you never know what it is. Practice goes on and the next guy comes up and you move on from there and then you find out after practice what happens.”
(How would you describe in general what you feel you have to work with in terms of offensive line starters and depth? The group you have.) – “I love the guys we have. We have a great group of guys, a good group of guys returning from last year. They got a year (of) experience. We picked up a lot of guys midseason last year. When you look at Jake Brendel and Jesse Davis and some of the young guys you have coming on. You have (Anthony) Steen last year that was pushed into a starting role. Now he’s in more of a backup role and competing. You have guys that got playing time last year that will be starting, playing time last year that could be backing up. I feel real good about putting together a good group of guys. (There is) a lot of competition still to go. We’re just starting the evaluation process right now; but it’s a great group.”
(How is T Laremy Tunsil doing at left tackle?) – “Laremy is doing great. He’s doing an outstanding job. He missed a little bit last year by playing guard, but it did help him. He got to play 16 games, or he missed – I don’t know how many he missed with an injury – but then he got to play a little tackle last year. It’s been a great transition the whole offseason. It’s like going back home. He played well at guard last year, but it was a whole different learning experience for him. This year, he’s back where he’s been his whole life.”
(What do you think the ceiling is for T Laremy Tunsil?) – “That’s up to him – as hard as he wants to work, as hard as he wants to prepare himself on a weekly and daily based to be a great player. He has all the tools to be a really, really, really good player. I have a bunch of tools in my trunk and I don’t really know how to use them, so it doesn’t do much if I don’t know how to use them. He’s done a great job at this point. I’m not saying that he doesn’t, but like anything, it’s a process, still getting to be a top-flight player and he’s working towards that.”
(How far along do you feel like C Mike Pouncey is in his recovery?) – “You know, check with the docs on that one. He looks fine to me. Last year, he looked fine. Even after he was injured in Dallas, once he started to get back into rehab, he looked great. It’s just a matter of the docs and everybody figuring out when he’s cleared to fully go; but he looks great.”
(How comfortable do you feel that C Mike Pouncey could be highly effective in very limited reps?) – “Well, as I think (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase has told you guys, last year was an eye-opener for all of us. He missed a lot of time and was finally cleared the week of – I think it was the Tennessee week when he came back – and he came out and picked up where he left off.”
(What has G Isaac Asiata done so far? Has he done enough to even get into the equation of playing time?) – “He’s right in that mix with the backup guys to compete. It’s a full-on competition with he and (Anthony) Steen and (Jake) Brendel and (Jesse) Davis and (Kraig) Urbik. All of them are working their butts off to try and compete. He’s right in the mix with those guys. These preseason games will tell a lot.”
(What did you like about C/G Ted Larsen in the evaluation process? You and General Manager Chris Grier and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum, etc., in determining that he could be a starter?) – “He was definitely a … When you saw what he did throughout his career, the things that we do with our offense, the system that we run, that (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase runs, Ted is a good fit for it. We saw the things that said ‘Hey, this guy really fits what we do.’ So when he gets here, the things we ask him to do are the things he’s good at. The things that he isn’t as good at, we don’t do as much of. Not that he wasn’t good at it – maybe that’s some of the reasons he didn’t start (in Chicago). I don’t know. We’ll find out; but he’s a good fit for us, both character-wise and ability-wise.”
(How much confidence do you have in your backup centers should something happen to C Mike Pouncey again?) – “All of those guys are doing an outstanding job. Obviously Mike Pouncey is a great player and we want Mike out there; but at every position, we have to have somebody ready to go if something goes wrong. The great thing is (Anthony) Steen played a lot of ball last year, (Kraig) Urbik played a lot of ball last year, Jake Brendel has come on and done an outstanding job last season and this season, and you even have Ted Larsen who can play center. We are well prepared and trying to be the best we can be prepared if indeed somebody else had to play center.”
(With G/T Jermon Bushrod playing guard for the second year of his life – we had C/G Anthony Steen play center for the first time in his life last year – has there been a moment where you’ve seen that the year has helped?) – “Yes, 100 percent. You see it in his pass sets just in one-on-one pass rush since last year. As he said, left-hand, right-hand, he had all of those years on the left side. It was truly like learning to write right-handed for him. It was just going to take some time. This year, he can write with both hands, he’s doing a good job.”
(The one area you want to see some growth from T Ja’Wuan James?) – “Consistency. Just consistency in his techniques. That’s what Ja’Wuan needs to do. He’s an outstanding run blocker, but consistency in all of them. Just being a consistent technique player, play in and play out.”
(Last year we had a lot of conversations about T Branden Albert helping T Laremy Tunsil and how they had to work together on plays – zone, second level, get to the linebacker, talking, communicating – I’m wondering what you have noticed about the Tunsil and C/G Ted Larsen relationship.) – “That’s great because again you have … ‘L.T.’ (Tunsil) has a little more experience this year so he’s aware of things – very, very aware and a smart player. Then you have Ted, who has a lot of experience. So they picked up right where they left off. They kind of meshed quickly because they’re both experienced players. If you put them together, they can kind of work together.”
(What have you seen from C/G Ted Larsen that makes you certain that he can be a starter?) – “He’s a good fit for what we do. That’s the thing that I’m really encouraged by Ted. When we studied the film, we saw the things that he did well and we said ‘You know, we do a lot of the things that he does well.’ So when he gets here, we like the marriage of our offense to his skillset.”
(What is that? What do you want the identity of this offensive line to be?) – “Well, the identity of our offense last year was we centered around the outside zone running game. We offset it with some inside zone and gap scheme, but it was more of a change of pace. Our passing game is always about getting the ball out quickly, time passing game. (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase is about just staying ahead of the sticks. Then we’ll take our shots when the time comes. That fits Ted (Larsen). Our running game fits Ted and we’re getting the ball out quickly. We’re not a team that’s going to be holding the ball at seven steps and standing up there where you need guys who are going to be able to anchor for three or four (seconds). We’ve got guys who are going to stay in front of people, mirror them, we’re going to get the ball out quick and we’re going to make people run with our athletic ability because when you have (Laremy) Tunsil and Ted over on that left side, you’ve got two really quick athletes. If you put Mike (Pouncey) at center, another one Ja’Wuan (James) and then ‘Bush’ (Jermon Bushrod) is still – for 10 years in the league – still has some good athletic ability. We have a nice, athletic group. We’ve got to take advantage of that.”
(So you’re looking more for athleticism now?) – “Obviously you want to get as big of a player as you can get that’s an athlete. At the end of the day, you have to play on third down. It’s like anything else, you can be a great first and second down run player, but everybody has to play on third-and-6, third-and-8 and third-and-10. So athletes tend to be able to hold up a little bit better against the defensive linemen when it’s third-and-6 and there is no threat of run, and here we go, we have to pass block.”
Bo Hardegree – August 3, 2017
Download PDF version
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Quarterbacks Coach Bo Hardegree
(Obviously this is scary day for any quarterbacks coach, but what do you know and how prepared are you guys to play without QB Ryan Tannehill?) – “I don’t know anything. I don’t know anything, I haven’t heard anything. I’m just coaching day by day. I think we’ve had a great start to camp. We’re in a good spot right now. So like I said, I don’t know anything.”
(With QB Matt Moore, how ready is he? Obviously last year he filled in as a starter but how ready is he to take over the first-team role if he needs to?) – “I’m not going there yet, but I will tell you something about Matt Moore – he’s a pro. He’s a pro and I think all of you guys understand that.”
(Has there been growth you’ve seen in QB Brandon Doughty at all and what kind of growth have you had?) – “Absolutely. The best thing he’s doing is he’s really operating in and out of the huddle at the line of scrimmage with our protections, being able to … if a guy is in a wrong split, get him in the right split, and just situationally for young quarterbacks in this league, it’s so important to understand when it’s first down, when it’s third down, when you’re in the red zone, when to make a tight throw, when to throw the ball, live another down. So he’s getting a lot better. I’m looking forward to watching him and David (Fales) play when we get to preseason.”
(What is the big area of growth you’ve seen from QB Ryan Tannehill so far in Year 2?) – “I think he’s doing a great job just with communication with everybody. Everybody is on the same page. If a guy … If we’re running a route and he sees it one way, we’ll be … It’s great in the meeting rooms. Everybody is in an open forum, so we’re all on the same page when we come out on the practice field. He’s having fun. That’s most important.”
(We were just talking to Offensive Coordinator Clyde Christensen and asking him about TE Julius Thomas. He said it’s pretty much on the quarterbacks now to figure out where Julius likes the ball – high, back shoulder…) – “Absolutely. I think that’s with anybody. That’s the great thing about Year 2. You kind of find how these guys, when they’re coming out of breaks … Obviously you’d like everybody to be the same, but that’s why during the special teams period, these guys will come over and we’ll work on one or two routes and that way these guys can get their footwork right and kind of know those indicators to be on time with the ball.”
(Is there anything along those lines that you work on first? Is it what TE Julius Thomas is comfortable with? What QB Ryan Tannehill is comfortable with? Or what the offense might call for most?) – “It’s both of those guys getting on the same page with everything – what they are comfortable with, how am I going to catch this certain route or that, this is what I’m going to do, do I have extra time to do something more at the line of scrimmage? That way it’s just everybody … The ball is always going to be on time. There won’t be anything that shocks us.”
(In QB Matt Moore, you feel you have one of the what backup quarterbacks in the league? You think five best backups? It’s unusual to ask coaches to rank guys but is there anything that candidly you’re willing to say about what you think you have in him?) – “Like I said, he’s a professional. He’s a great quarterback. He is. So I won’t give him a rank, but he’s a great quarterback. I’m happy to have him.”
Shawn Jefferson – August 3, 2017
Download PDF version
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Wide Receivers Coach Shawn Jefferson
(Everybody says that you’ve got one of the most talented receiving trios in the NFL. What do you think about that?) – “I would agree with that. I would agree with that. We have three talented receivers and the good thing about it is that they work. They work and they’re very smart too. You guys have seen in the spring how DeVante (Parker), his maturation has been outstanding, and he’s still progressing even through this training camp. I do have three good guys. We’ve just got to continue every day to put the work in and I think we’ll be fine.”
(What’s WR DeVante Parker’s ceiling if he stays healthy and everything comes together?) – “He’ll be a monster. If he keeps progressing like we think he can, he’ll be invited to the ‘Monster Bowl’ after the season is over. His name is not DeVante; he’s a monster. So if he keeps performing like this he’ll get invited to the Monster Bowl after the season is over.
(When did you first see a sign that it had clicked for WR DeVante Parker or it started to click for him?) – “Well, I think, to be honest with you, I think last year it was after the Jets game when he hurt his back. He probably really shouldn’t have played in that Baltimore game, but he came back and played (and) caught a touchdown. He really shouldn’t have played. I think that was the moment right there. That was his moment, that moment that everybody has where their career can go ‘boom-boom.’ That was his moment mentally, that was his moment.”
(The fact that WR DeVante Parker was showing the grit to come back?) – “Absolutely. That was his moment.”
(WR DeVante Parker, he’s a big topic for us and I think it’s because he’s so talented and everyone sees that talent, and want to see it realized. Why do you think so much attention is on DeVante?) – “Well I just think because when you see a guy like him with his talent, his movements, his lateral movement in his hips, and all (of those skills) like that, for a tall guy like that, DeVante has really loose hips. He runs well without the ball. So he has all of those things that you look for in a top-flight receiver. He has that ability to affect the game, i.e. L.A. Rams last year.”
(I saw your top three guys running to the locker room I think, during that period of break. I’m assuming they were checking on QB Ryan Tannehill. How tight is that group?) – “That group is tight, but I’m pretty sure they were going to get in the cold Whirlpool. They better be going to get in the cold Whirlpool and get in there and get the soreness out of their legs and everything like that. We have them on a schedule, so they’re probably going in, (getting) in the cold Whirlpool and trying to get all the soreness out of their legs and everything.”
(How has WR Jarvis Landry handled his contract situation, and have you had to talk to him about putting that out of his mind?) – “I’m being totally honest with you, I have not mentioned anything to Jarvis about it and we don’t discuss it, and that’s the end of that.”
(In your years as a player and as a coach, have you come across many guys with the same fieriness, for lack of a better word, that WR Jarvis Landry displays?) – “Oh, not really. I kind of like my receivers. I like them just … I like them toeing that line. I like them right about to go over that line; but they don’t go over it. That’s the way I like them. But (Jarvis) is an unbelievable player, he’s tough, very smart, (and his) football instincts are off the charts.”
(Why the decision to play WR Jakeem Grant outside, rather than in the slot, and how has he done?) – “I think Jakeem has done well on the outside. It’s just a thing. He still plays both. It’s just a thing that we wanted to see him outside because he has a lot of speed and with that speed, he can stretch the defense.”
(Of the six undrafted first- and second-year receivers, who’s caught your eye among that group?) – “To be honest with you, there’s no depth chart or anything like that. Our nose is to the grindstone and we’re just going, so I don’t even know. They’re still newbies, so I don’t know. Nobody’s caught my eye. We’re just nose to the grindstone and we’re just going.”
(WR Leonte Carroo looks skinny.) – “That’s a good thing, that’s a good thing. He’s trimmed down and I think he’s having a good camp as well.”
(What else is different, from your perspective, about WR Leonte Carroo?) – “His mindset. I think last year coming in, it’s hard for a guy when you’ve been in college and you’ve been the guy, and then you come here and then you have to take a step back. There was a little bit of an adjustment period for him there; but I think mentally, he knows how to handle that. I think mentally he knows his role now. I think he’s trying to fit into his role.”
(Will WR Jarvis Landry make the transformation off of special teams this season and do you have any input in that decision?) – “That I’ll leave on Head Coach (Adam Gase.) I have no input on anything like that. I just coach (the receivers) hard and that’s all I do.”
(Does it matter to you whether WR Jarvis Landry plays special teams this season? Is it a little taxing on him or can he handle it?) – “Check with our head guy (Head Coach Adam Gase) on that.”
(WR Kenny Stills was a big key for the offense last year with all of those touchdown catches. What more can he do to take his game to another level?) – “Catch more touchdown passes, catch more touchdown passes. (laughter) Hopefully we give him a lot more opportunities to catch more touchdown passes. He’s our deep threat guy and he’s also our leader, one of our leaders on the offense. So he’s done well for me. He’s a guy that I know is going to be in the right spot at the right time every single play.”
(They tell my daughter in preschool, ‘You get what you get and you don’t get upset.’ You’ve got three guys that can probably catch 80 passes this season. What do you tell them about that theory?) – “Nothing. Those guys are very unselfish guys so it’s just like when you see a guy make a play in practice, everybody runs down there. So they’re not even thinking about that. Our mindset is, ‘make that play.’ Whoever’s in there, make that play, then we go to the next one. That’s our mindset.”
Danny Barrett – August 3, 2017
Download PDF version
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Running Backs Coach Danny Barrett
(We know RB Kenyan Drake’s specialty. We know he is fast. Could he be an every down back and if God forbid RB Jay Ajayi could not play for extended time at some point during the season?) – “The beauty about the running backs that we have is that I think they’re all three-down backs. You’re talking Kenyan being one of those guys, Damien (Williams) being one of those guys as well, and obviously Jay was working very hard this offseason and throughout camp to be the same thing. I’m in an enviable position as their coach, having a stable of guys that I feel good about. (I have) a lot of confidence in each guy when he gets on the football field.”
(Among RB Storm Johnson and RB Senorise Perry and RB De’Veon Smith, who of those three have stood out to you?) – “I think all three have done a good job. Senorise and Storm, obviously, because of their experience, are neck and neck when it comes to that; but I’m impressed with Smith because of just his mentality. He fits well into the running back room, guys that will do whatever it takes and get it done.”
(With RB Kenyan Drake, I know Head Coach Adam Gase joked last year that at times he wanted to strangle him for mistakes. What were those mistakes and has he corrected them?) – “Well, a lot of it is just paying attention to details. You make the rookie mistakes, you take things for granted, you don’t finish a play here or there. Or just not being where you’re supposed to be. I think he’s overcome those things this offseason. He has done a great job of taking care of the little things, the detailed things we talked about. Our room is all about discipline and detail and he’s done a good job of that this year.”
(Is RB Kenyan Drake ready to be a three-down back?) – “I think like I said before, all of our guys are ready for that; but again, when you have a group of guys that we have, you allow each guy to do what they do best. I think the key for us is to make sure everybody is fresh and when we’ve shown that we can be fresh at that position, we’ve done a really good job as far as taking care of the football and being productive, as well.”
(What have you seen out of RB Kenyan Drake this year – his second year?) – “Consistency more than anything else. It’s just overall consistency has been better. (He has been) more reliable, more dependable, being where he’s supposed to be – especially in our passing game – so the quarterbacks have a lot of confidence knowing that he’s going to be where he’s supposed to be.”
(Where have you seen RB Damien Williams make strides and how else can you see him improving?) – “The biggest thing for Damien this year, from what I’ve seen from when he’s been back, even in the spring, is the leadership role for himself. Now in Year 4 for him, his second year in the offense, he has a lot of confidence in the things that we’re doing and just being a leader. One of the older guys in the room, you talk about being in his fourth year, he has really accepted that role and done a good job. Now, in the situation that we are in now, he’s the guy that is stepping up and taking control of the group and making sure guys do what they’re supposed to do.”
Bobby McCain – August 2, 2017
Download PDF version
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Cornerback Bobby McCain
(Do you look forward to getting through these couple of days and the inter-squad scrimmage and finally the first preseason game?) – “Yes, most definitely. It’s exciting. It’s coming up. Football’s back. We’re not sick of hitting each other, but we’re ready to hit someone else. Yes, we’re excited about the first preseason game – about the game coming up – and the scrimmage. It’s an opportunity for us to go make plays and showcase our abilities.”
(Is this like a necessary evil that you’ve got to get through these days before you can get to that point?) – “Yes, these are the hard ones. The games are fun. Just getting through the training camp days, the long grueling days, at the end of the day, you’re paid to do it and you love to do it. We’ve just got to do our job and get to it.”
(With S Reshad Jones obviously back out there today, we didn’t think we’d see much of him and he’s out there doing team. Did you expect to see him do that much today and how good was it to have him back?) – “Yes, he’s feeling good. He looks good. We’re glad to have him back out there. We love having him out there. He’s a force out there when he’s with our defense. (He’s a) great player. We’re happy to have him back.”
(What’s one way S Reshad Jones makes a tangible difference on this defense?) – “He’s a great tackler. He’s a playmaker. At the end of the day, he’s a ‘see ball, get ball’ guy, and that’s what we pride this defense on. That’s what we want and that’s what the coaches want in this defense. He’s done a great job over the years, over his career, of going to get the football.”
(Did you guys miss S Reshad Jones in the second half of last year when you didn’t have him?) – “Yes, you always miss your guys. You always miss your guys; but the next guy’s up. The next guy’s got to step up and do his job and do what he’s supposed to do, and we did that.”
(There was a moment the other day when we saw you go down. What went through your mind and what did you think had happened?) – “It’s a scary feeling, a scary moment. Unfortunately, it happens. Injuries happen, but I bounced back. You go to treatment, you get rehab. It could have been worse and it’s a blessing that it’s not. ”
(Non-contact right?) – “Yes, no contact.”
(What did you do on your day off yesterday?) – “Just relax. I had a lot of treatment on my knee and just trying to stay healthy, take care of the body.”
(What kind of player do you see in S Nate Allen?) – “He’s a good player, great player. (He’s a) smart guy, older veteran and he knows a lot of football. He makes plays. Even at Oakland, he was a good player, and we’re glad to have him.”
(What’s different about QB Ryan Tannehill this camp?) – “Ryan, he’s a really good player, good quarterback. He’s making the throws as he’s always made. I can’t sit and say I watch the technique of the quarterbacks. I know he’s making the throws that are hard. He’s making the really hard throws. We’re really tight in coverage and he’s making them. That’s a good sight to see.”
(One thing that it seems from afar is that QB Ryan Tannehill is being a little more aggressive this camp and taking chances to see how he can fit throws into tight windows.) – “Yes, he’s definitely aggressive. He’s got a ‘Big 3’ out there that’s like no other in the league. They’re probably the best ‘Big 3’ in the league. They’re going to make plays for him. DeVante (Parker), Kenny (Stills), Jarvis (Landry), Jay (Ajayi), Damien (Williams), you’ve got guys out there that can really play ball – Julius (Thomas) – you’ve got guys that can really play football and with those weapons around him, it should be a great one.”
(Speaking of depth, you guys seem fairly deep in the secondary with S Nate Allen, and S T.J. McDonald, and yourself and CB Alterraun Verner, and adding CB Cordrea Tankersley. Compare this year’s depth to last years, and I know it’s only been six training camp practices.) – “Yes, like I said, it’s only the first couple training camp practices; but depth is good for you. It’s good for the team, it’s good for the room, because at the end of the day, something might happen. You never know what could happen. Somebody may go down and the next guy’s got to step up and be there and be ready to play.”
