Anthony Fasano – October 22, 2017 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 22, 2017
Postgame – New York Jets
Miami Dolphins TE Anthony Fasano (transcribed by Savanna Bell-Stevens)
(Last week, 17 down, this week 14 down. How do you explain these comebacks?) – “(It’s) just kind of our make-up of the team. Heart, never giving up, guys believing in the process, in the team and in one another. (There are) some really good signs, even though we’d like to be a bit more comfortable in our wins, a lot of positives to be taken out of it.”
(It’s 12 games in a row, 12 one score games in a row, this team has won.) – “Yes, again it goes to my point, heart, belief and playing a full 60 minutes.
(What was going through you minds when QB Jay Cutler went down and do you feel like the urgency increased with the offense at that point?) – “You never want to see your quarterback going down, but like I said, (QB) Matt (Moore) went in there and did a great job, brought the energy and let the play makers make plays. I’m just really proud of Matt and our whole team the way they stepped up when we needed it.”
Kenny Stills – October 22, 2017 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 22, 2017
Postgame – New York Jets
Miami Dolphins WR Kenny Stills (transcribed by Savanna Bell-Stevens)
(You guys seem to make habit of these big comebacks lately. What is it about this team that you guys keep finding that will to win at the end of games?) – “The game is 60 minutes, and we like to play four quarters, so just finish. (Head Coach Adam Gase) talks about finishing all the time, and we seem to play really well in the fourth quarter.”
(Can you take us through the emotions on the sideline, seeing QB Jay Cutler go down, and then you guys were down at that point?) – “Next man up. It’s kind of what (Head Coach Adam Gase) is always preached to us. We know (QB) Matt (Moore’s) ready. We know he gets prepared each and every week, he’s ready to go, so (I) didn’t really think about it much until after the game. I went over said ‘What’s up,’ made sure he’s ok, but we have the next man up mentality and we know guys are going to be prepared to play.
(It seems like, even dating back to last year, you and QB Matt Moore seem to have really good chemistry out there on the field. Is that just happenstance or is that something you guys practice together?) – “We prepare every week like he’s going to go out there and play. He kind of has a routine on Saturday’s and Friday’s of getting extra balls and I’ve always been out there and made sure I’m there, prepared and getting ready with him. But no, Matt’s just a slinger and he’s going to throw it to the guy that’s open, so that’s credit to him.”
Jarvis Landry – October 22, 2017 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 22, 2017
Postgame – New York Jets
Miami Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry (transcribed by Savanna Bell-Stevens)
( …with comebacks, what does it say about this team, especially right now with this offense, what’s going on with it?) – “We just keep finding ways to fight for each other, fight together we’ve been saying it all week, for the last three weeks, just unity. It’s going to come down to all four quarters, we know who we are, when there’s an opportunity, and there’s a chance, we just always try to grab it and the last two weeks we’ve been doing it.”
(Somebody who did that was Matt Moore today, stepping into that role what kind of energy did he bring to you guys, how much different was it out there?) “It’s not different, it’s not different, we all know what Matt can do. You know, and he came in he wasn’t shaken up or anything like that, he found a way to help us out, and that’s what it takes. Guys stepping up, even when they don’t even think they’re going to play today. Stepping up to make plays it’s just part of this culture, it’s part of who we are.”
(It had to be disappointing though, we already spoke about this in the past, the fans, the reaction, when Jay was coming out.) “Listen, we won today. We won today. I think it’s easy to take a lot of things for granted, it’s easy to say what you want as a fan. But we won. We won, regardless of who it’s with. They love Jay last week, and they hate him this week. I don’t pay attention to all of that, we just stick together as a team, as a family, and that’s all it’s about. We don’t care about anything outside of this building or outside of us.”
(Why do you guys keep having close games?) I hope, I hope, I wish it wouldn’t have to be this way. But, it came down to that the last couple weeks. And again, it says a lot about these guys in here, about the staff, and everything that we’ve been able to overcome along this road to get to 4-2. It’s an amazing feeling, and we have a short week ahead of us and we got to get back to work.
Jermon Bushrod – October 22, 2017 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 22, 2017
Postgame – New York Jets
Miami Dolphins G/T Jermon Bushrod (transcribed by Lexie Balboni)
(Inaudible) – “(QB Matt Moore) came in and did a hell of a job. We all rallied around him. (It) sucks for (QB) Jay (Cutler) that he went down, but we’re praying for the best for him.”
(Is there a sense this team is never out of a game after these last two weeks?) – “We’re just going to keep fighting if we get a chance and we get opportunities. It’s a team game, you’ve got to rely on the other phases to come through big for you sometimes. We put up a couple touchdowns in the beginning but they were scoring a couple touchdowns, so it was up to one of us to do something special so we could get a little bit more momentum. Our special teams did a good job of pinning them back. I remember one time we got pinned back and we had a couple of negative plays and we punted and put them back on the 15 or the 20 and the defense was able to get a stop. We were able to flip the field and we were able to go down and get some points. That’s just what it is about. We’re just going to keep fighting and fighting and fighting. I guess you can say we like to make it interesting for everyone out there. It doesn’t really help me or my heart much but at the end of the day a win is a win and I’ll take it.
(You’ve now won 12 straight games decided by seven or fewer points, that’s crazy.) – “Stressful, but it’s cool though. Like I said, anyway you can get a win. We like to make things interesting.”
Bobby McCain – October 22, 2017 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 22, 2017
Postgame – New York Jets
Miami Dolphins CB Bobby McCain (transcribed by Lexie Balboni)
(Has it sunk in yet just how big that interception was?) – “No, not yet. It was a great play, but we’re a team. We took a team effort today. The second half, we came in at halftime and turned it on. If we can start fast, we’ll be unstoppable. We just have to keep playing, make the corrections and go out. We have a quick turnaround with Baltimore. We’re going to celebrate, but we have to get ready to work.”
(Is the mentality for this defense that you guys are never out of it?) – “Yeah, never. You’re never out of the game regardless if you’re down two (touchdowns), three [touchdowns), three points. Just keep fighting, and that’s what we pride ourselves on here at the Miami Dolphins. You just keep fighting. Defensively, special teams, offense – we’re all going to stick together. We’re a band of brothers. Just keep fighting and good things will come.”
(Take us through what happened on the interception.) – “(It) was a single high coverage, dropped up underneath the comeback. He left the ball out there, so I went and got it.”
Matt Moore – October 22, 2017 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 22, 2017
Postgame – New York Jets
Miami Dolphins QB Matt Moore (transcribed by Daniel Chavez)
(Was it fun having a great comeback like that?) – “It was a great win and when you can contribute and have a comeback like that, I mean it’s fun for everybody. The guys did an unbelievable job staying together. I mean it was 14 points there, late in the game and we put some drives together and got it done; so yes, it was fun.”
(Matt, you didn’t have a lot of time to get ready when QB Jay Cutler went down. What was going through your mind when you were getting ready to go on the field?) – “Here we go. You’ve got to go do your job and execute to the best of your ability and at that point, like I said, we’re down and I’m just trying to make plays and put some scores on the board. You just tell yourself don’t try to do too much and play within the scheme and let your guys make plays, which they did. It was great.”
(They were causing problems getting the ball out early but it seems like you you got your timing, get the ball out, catch it and get it to your receivers. Was it just the familiarity for you?) – “Yes, I mean (the Jets) front was difficult, especially on the third down. They did some things, but I think as the game went on, obviously you make adjustments and guys did a really good job adjusting and picking some stuff up and allowing guys down the field to make plays.”
(Talk about WR Jarvis Landry and what he’s done for you.) – “I mean, he’s what you want. The go ball, you give him a 50/50 ball, he comes down with it and makes a big play. He had a big third down late in the game. He’s just somebody you want on your team, no doubt. He’s pretty gifted – just a good guy to have.”
(How do you overcome your overthrown interception? You overcame a ball that was a touchdown, that looked like a touchdown, and it was called back. You come back and stick it right back in the end zone?) – “The interception was rough. On third down, that’s obviously not what you want to do. You’d love to just punt the ball and make them go the (length of the) field. But I just think you just keep going. That was the message on the sideline. Guys were just like ‘Hey, we’re still in it.’ The defense did an unbelievable job, really all game. Obviously there were some things here and there, but they kept us in it and made plays when they needed to be made. Hats off to them. Just keeping the faith, I guess. You’ve just got to keep saying ‘Hey, this drive we’re going to put something together. This drive we’re going to put something together.’”
(Everything you guys have been through, you’re sitting here at 4-2. That must feel pretty remarkable for you.) – “Yes, it’s great. Shoot, any time you win a home game against a divisional opponent and to be 4-2 with the craziness this season’s been, you feel good. We’ve got a short week so we’ll enjoy it; but you’ve got to get ready to go again.”
(Matt, another comeback win two weeks in a row and 12 straight wins when the margin is seven or less. Can you explain the team’s knack in close games for coming from behind?) – “I don’t know if I can explain it, but these guys just keep going. They keep fighting. Coach Gase has an unbelievable message about what’s done is done, we can’t do anything about it so let’s move forward. I think if you look at us late in games, you see that. Guys are just making plays, the next play mentality. That’s really it. You can’t change the past, you can’t change what’s happened; but if we move forward, good things will happen.”
(How many first team reps did you get last week? Is that typical and how does someone get that and still do that?) – “Typically, it’s different on some teams; but typically, here, the starter gets all the reps and I have to make mine up. I think our staff and our guys, we do a good job preparing and as a backup, I think you have to prepare as if you’re playing every week. That’s just part of your role and it pays off to be prepared, go in there and execute. That’s your job. That’s the way I look at it.”
(What’s it been like for you, Matt? Obviously the injury, then Head Coach Adam Gase took QB Jay Cutler and now you’re…) – “Yes, I mean a lot of things are out of my control. I try to come to work every day and just do my job, whatever my job is. I’m a big believer that every person on the team has a role, and I’ve said that before. Whatever the circumstances are, my role was defined whenever it was and that’s how I came to work every day. Kind of like I just said, ‘You’re going to be the backup,’ so I just prepare and that’s my job.”
(When you came in last year against Arizona in a similar way where you were just throwing, firing away. You don’t seem to ease your way into the game at all.) – “Yes, I don’t know how else to do it. Just go. I just tell myself just go out there and make plays (and) lead the team. I think Adam (Gase) does a really good job play calling for me, I feel that way. I just go out there and try to play football.”
(What kind of reception did you get in the huddle when you came in to the game?) – “Oh, I don’t know. It was good. Those guys were just really waiting for the play, but they were ready to go.”
(As soon as you saw you were walking on the field to replace QB Jay Cutler, the crowd got really excited and got really behind you. How much does that help you? How much does it help your momentum trying to win a game that late?) – “It’s nice and obviously I appreciate that. I’m aware, but it’s all or nothing when you go out there and don’t produce, which happens some times. I just try to stay focused and focus on the huddle and my guys and try to move the ball.”
(If anyone asks what your job is, it’s obviously to be the backup quarterback in the NFL. If Adam Gase says to you, ‘Hey, QB Jay Cutler is fine, he’s the starter next week.’ Do you just go ‘okay?’) – “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I don’t know. Those are decisions to be made and they are out of my hands.”
(Was there any pass that got you going today?) – “The first touchdown, my adrenaline was probably as high as it has been in a long time after that. They pressured, we did a great job protecting and Kenny (Stills) won, so I was pretty fired up after that one.”
(Is there any difference between this team in the last three games as opposed to the first three games when you started out 1-2?) – “I don’t know if there’s a difference. We’ve worked. Obviously you change things weekly. I just think it’s Week 7 or whatever it is and guys are kind of getting in a grove, if you will. To start the season, you’d love to come out and say oh yeah, we’re firing early on, and who knows why things go the way they do early on, but guys just put their heads down and just kept working. I think that’s the biggest thing, how it has been going the past couple of weeks.”
Adam Gase – October 22, 2017 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 22, 2017
Postgame – New York Jets
Miami Dolphins Head Coach Adam Gase (transcribed by Michelle Stone)
(Could you update us on the quarterback situation with QB Jay Cutler?) – “Right now, they’re going to take him to get a MRI, x-ray, all that stuff, figure out what’s … Confirm. They kind of have an idea. I didn’t really get into it with them. It’s something with his chest – the chest, kind of ribs area.”
(You have a short turnaround, as you know. So, does that mean…) – “I’ll get there. I’ll probably have a better feel tonight, a little later. It’s just hard for me to say anything right now.”
(By far the team’s best offensive performance of the season. What turned for you?) – “I think early we were first and second down, staying out of third, then they really started giving us a lot of problems on third down. We were on the right guys, it was just we were getting beat one-on-one. (Jets Head Coach) Todd (Bowles) had a really good package. We prepared for the right things, we were just losing our one-on-one battles. We got a little frustrated there a little bit. We pressed. We pressed a little bit to try to stay out of the third-and-longer down and distances.”
(From the passing point of view, collectively, QB Jay Cutler and QB Matt Moore threw for over 300 yards. In terms of finally getting that going, there are some key plays in there as well. Your whole emphasis has been doing jobs. Do you feel like that was done today?) – “I think we were doing a better job at certain points. There were a few things where we missed some opportunities. We’ve just got to keep cleaning things up and trying be a little more detailed, and we’ll have less missed opportunities like we had today.”
(QB Matt Moore came in just firing away from the beginning. Was that what you expected?) – “Yes. When you’ve called like I’ve called enough games for him – and I know it hasn’t been many, but last year – but the best thing for me is just dialing up the things I absolutely know he knows and let those guys do everything they can to make plays. We had some good matchups. Jarvis (Landry) made some really big plays in critical times. There were a couple of times where he bought enough time and threw it to the spot he knew the guy was going to be at. Kenny (Stills) stepped up big time too and made some really big plays.”
(QB Matt Moore coming into the game, giving you a spark. What is it about him coming in that makes that happen for you?) – “I think we just … It’s one of those things when you know a guy goes down, other guys step up. The great thing about Matt is that he’s a veteran. We’ve done this before. He has a knack for going out there and playing the game without fear. He prepares the right way. He does everything right during the week to allow him to play like that. He just knows when his number is called, he’s got to go out there and pick up right where we were going. If we get some of those third downs cleaned up earlier, we would’ve had some more production. He did a good job of making some plays when we needed to.”
(I’m sure you were asked earlier, but QB Jay Cutler – his status and where’s at?) – “I’ll find out more tonight. Right now, he’s … They’ve got him … The MRI, x-rays – they got to do all kinds of stuff to see exactly what’s going on.”
(It looked like there was frustration on the sideline. Obviously, you were down 14 and then all of a sudden, you sprung back and everyone kind of had gone back into the game. You had WR Kenny Stills big play. WR Jarvis Landry served a big play. CB Bobby McCain big play. Where did the energy come from?) – “A lot of it comes from when we’re struggling a little bit, and we’re losing some one-on-one matchups, guys they get frustrated a little bit. The good thing was Jarvis did a good job of keeping the guys heading in the right direction. We had a few more injuries upfront when Laremy (Tunsil) went down. I was trying to get a feel calling plays to make sure I didn’t put Jesse (Davis) in a bad spot too early. I kind of let him get a feel for what he was doing. So, it took us a second to regroup. Defense did a good job of making some plays and keeping us in the game. It just took one [play], next thing you know you’re back in the game.”
(It certainly helped that you got TE Anthony Fasano involved. Big play down the middle that ends up with a touchdown. For a guy who hasn’t caught many balls, he certainly came up big for you.) – “We keep trying to get him more involved. We’ve called his number a few times, but we haven’t gotten the right coverage. He’s kind of our secret weapon in the passing game that no one knows about until today. We’ve been working him in practice. We just have to keep trying to find ways to get him involved in the offense.”
(You get another win, you put yourself at 4-2. It’s got to be a pretty enviable position for you right now.) – “Right now, we’re going to enjoy this probably for about two more hours and then we’re on to the next one.”
(We saw this last year with QB Matt Moore – what is it about his personality that just seems to put such a charge into the huddle?) – “Any time your backup quarterback goes in, you know he hasn’t had any reps all week. Guys know they have to be on it. They have to be exactly where they’re supposed to be, because he’s really going off of almost pictures and what he sees on film. There’s no margin for anybody else to really make any error, because that’s going to put him in a really bad spot. I think guys really dialed in. He did a good job of making the throws when we needed him to make the throws. They brought some pressure and Matt did a good job of buying time and made a great throw.”
(Why were WR Jarvis Landry and WR Kenny Stills able to excel with two quarterbacks today?) – “We tried to open it up a little bit and do some things to push the ball down the field. We kind of weren’t really worried about what was the result was going to be. We were going to try to make sure that we took the top off and made them play honest. That was one of the things we felt like Atlanta started creeping in, playing pretty tight. We felt like that was the best way to play the game. Towards the end of the game, we tried to push it down the field a little bit, but this game we were going to make sure that, that wasn’t going to happen again.”
(The field conditions looked less than ideal. How much did it hurt the run game, particularly, and secondarily have you been told as to what’s going on with it and how it can be rectified?) – “With the run game, every time we play these guys it’s tough. Any time you play a sivision game, upfront (and) those linebackers are playing well right now. I know nobody is really talking about those guys, but it’s not like we’ve ever really played those guys and ripped off a great running game. Even when we played them here last year, our two runs that gave us what looked like good numbers were the last two runs of the game, and they were really kind of gadget-type runs. So, they’ve always played us tough. They played us tough again today. We tried to stay committed to the run and see if we can pop one of those things off. Those guys are tough. The field, it is what it is. They’ve got to play on it too. We just go with what … However the conditions are, it is what it is.”
