DeVante Parker – September 20, 2018
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Thursday, September 20, 2018
WR DeVante Parker
(Have you been given any indication if you’re playing Sunday?) – “No. I’m feeling good these past couple days and (we’re)just going to see what happens on Sunday.”
(Did Head Coach Adam Gase ever give you much of an explanation as to why you didn’t play last week?) – “He just told me it wouldn’t hurt to have another extra couple days off, just to make sure the hand gets enough rest for it, and I was okay with that.”
(Does the hand feel that much better after a few more days?) – “It does, actually.”
(Do you notice it?) – “Yes. (It’s a) big difference.”
(What’s your level of, I guess, antsy-ness to get out there and help the team win?) – “It’s very high. Missing, what, two games? Missing the first two games, I’m just ready to get back out there whenever that chance is.”
(Do you have everything back from skill standpoint with the finger healed? Can you pretty much do everything at this point?) – “Yes, I can catch – catch the same – and blocking. Everything is still there.”
(Head Coach Adam Gase said that he likes where you are right now from a mental standpoint in terms of your approach to practice. Can you describe the approach you’ve tried to take, especially in the last few weeks?) – “I’ve tried to just come out there (and) have energy, get going out there and moving around. It’s a lot better than being out and missing. So, when I come back, I just bring energy. I’m just ready to be out there and get going.”
(Any lesson you may have learned or anything along the way you might’ve learned about yourself the last couple weeks?) – “No. I’m the same me. That’s it.”
(How good can this receiving group be? Injecting your ability with a group that’s already good – all of five of you, plus WR Tanner McEvoy – what’s your assessment of how good that group can be?) – “I feel like we can be very good. Everyone has their different traits that they bring to the table and coach is going to find some way to utilize that and find ways to pick defenses apart.”
(How much fun do you think it’ll be to actually be on the field with QB Ryan Tannehill again in a game that really counts?) – “I think it’s going to be exciting. Just being out there with him. We still have the same connection (as) when I was playing before and I’m just looking forward to it again.”
Ryan Tannehill – September 19, 2018
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Wednesday, September 19, 2018
QB Ryan Tannehill
(So Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden made you the quarterback you are today, basically, because of his QB camp?) – “Yes. I thank that QB camp for everything – not my teammates or my coaching staff or all of the people who helped me along the way. (laughter) It was that three hours I spent with Gruden, no question. (laughter)”
(Do you have any good memories from Jon Gruden’s QB Camp or any funny stories of him?) – “Yes, it was a good time. I think you have such a respect for him coming out of college and what he was as a coach and then the personality as a commentator and then he starts the FFCA – Fired Football Coaches of America. (laughter) I had fun with it. He still grinded away. He’s in his little cave there in Tampa and I had a good time. We talked a lot of ball and then went out onto the field and through it around a little bit.”
(Were you around him enough that you picked up some of the mannerisms? Can you do a good Gruden impression?) – “I don’t know if I can do a good Gruden (impression), but he always pronounced my name funny. Tanney-hill. (laughter) That’s probably all I’ve got. (laughter)”
(Did you ever correct Gruden?) – “Eh. It was close enough. (laughter)”
(So it’s a big grudge match on Sunday then so you can show Gruden.) – “Yes, a huge grudge match. It’ll probably make all of the headlines – a huge grudge match. (laughter) No, it was a good time. I had a lot of fun with it. I think he enjoyed doing it along the way. It was definitely something I look back and have fond memories of.”
(When people have an idea of mobile quarterbacks, they talk QB Cam Newton, QB Marcus Mariota and QB Alex Smith. Your name doesn’t often come up but if you look at your stats, you’re right there. Do you feel like you are a mobile quarterback? Are you a guy that relishes running?) – “Yes. I don’t really care if people want to consider it or talk about me; but it’s something I like to use. When the defense presents itself, whenever we feel like we can use it as a weapon – whether it’s through the zone read game or getting outside the pocket and running – it’s definitely something that I think can add an element to our offense to where teams have to defend it.”
(I guess the first play of the game last week, I think you said it wasn’t a designed run. That was supposed to be a throw?) – “Yes, that was just a bootleg pass. Danny (Amendola) ended up getting hung up on the back side, so there was a ton of space there and I was able to scoot through.”
(What kind of tone does that set when you can rip off a 20- or 25-yard run on the first play of the game?) – “It’s always good to get started with an explosive (play) – whether it’s a run or a pass. Something we talk about a lot is coming out and getting that first first down, because we feel like once we get our first first down, we usually sustain drives. To be able to come out and get an explosive (play) early is big.”
(Those runs are something you’ve done in your past, especially in 2016. Are you kind of surprised that they kind of just leave that open for you a little bit and that teams haven’t really picked up on the fact that you can run it?) – “Well, teams know. I think it’s just a matter of defending it. It’s hard to defend those plays. When you put pressure on them and change up the looks you’re giving the defensive end with the guy is cutting back, the guy is blocking him, the guy is going around him – they’re seeing a bunch of different looks. We try to mix it up as much as we can so they don’t just know zone read is coming at them. They have to play what they see. When there is any hesitation, the offense can get the advantage.”
(You’ve won two-thirds of your games with Head Coach Adam Gase and nine out of your last 10 games with him. I know you can kind of make what you want of statistics but I was wondering what you think it is about the combination of you and Coach Gase that is working.) – “I think we work well together. I think there was a little bit of a period of finding out what each other did well and how we could best push each other and push this offense and work together. I think we kind of figured that out midway through 2016, then we started playing well and then unfortunately I got injury. But yes, I think it’s just the cohesion of our two minds. We work really well together. We think alike. He’s constantly pushing me to get better, whether it’s something pre-snap, post-snap, during the play, a footwork thing or what to look at. He’s constantly just pushing little areas where I can get better. I love it. I love trying to push myself and being the best quarterback I can be.”
(At 2-0, are you starting to see reasons why you’re having success? Are there things that you are doing consistently – not you, but the offense – that leads to winning football games?) – “Well, I think they were two different games. If you look at the first game and then this last one, we found a way to win both games and they were two completely different ballgames. What I like is the fact that this team has a hunger and a desire to find a way to win. That’s what it comes down to. It’s not always going to be pretty. Sometimes you’re going to be clicking on all cylinders for the whole game. Sometimes we started off playing really well (last week) and balancing off the defense, then in the second half we couldn’t quite get it going and weren’t playing great; but when it came down to it at the end, when we needed something to make it happen, we hung in there and fought and were able to run out the clock. I like the grit I see from this team. We have a lot of talent and a lot of guys that can be explosive with the ball in their hands. We’ve got to have that in order to be successful for four quarters. I like the grit I see and the mindset that we have that we’re going to find a way to win this game.”
(You’re putting up the stats, yet the team is eighth running the football. I imagine you’re good with a running offense, no?) – “Yes, I’m good with whatever is winning. Whatever scores points. That’s the goal of the offense is to be able to put the ball in the end zone. Whether that’s running or throwing, whatever it may be, I’m all in on getting the ball in the end zone.”
(It seems on the field you’re having a lot of fun. Is the most fun you’ve had in your career?) – “Yes, I think so. Just where I’m at in life now, how much gratitude I have after being away from the game for so long and just being able to do what I love, go out there every day, be around the guys, push the guys, try to make them the best they can be and then go out and compete on Sundays, it doesn’t get any better than that.”
(I know you probably don’t care about this but I’m curious what your theory would be. Expectations were obviously so low nationally for this team – a 3-13 record thrown out by Sports Illustrated – like really bad. Your theory is to why that is? And, in your mind, do you think people nationally might just underestimate some of your younger players that aren’t household names, like RB Kenyan Drake, WR Jakeem Grant and people like that?) – “I don’t know and I don’t really care, honestly. (laughter) I don’t want to really even think about it because I care that (little). What the national media says doesn’t really matters. What matters is the guys in this building, all the work that’s put in, the belief that we have in one another and going out and executing and finding ways to win.”
(And as far as some of the young players not being that known, do you think there could be anything to that in general?) – “Yes, I want to see our young guys get a lot of shine. We have a lot of talent on this team and I want to see them get the exposure that they deserve because I believe in them. I know that they can make big plays for us and they’re going to make big plays for us, and they should get some recognition for that. Hopefully, we just keep taking this one game at a time and it’ll take care of itself.”
(Alright, the most important question of the day: The WR Albert Wilson celebration. It looks like you tried to jump in and then you backed off. What happened?) – “Yes, I felt like I was kind of late to the party and they were already there, so I just kind of pointed at them like, ‘Hey, these are the guys who make it happen’ and let them get their shine. I didn’t want to jump in the front of their photo or anything like that. They seemed like they were having a good time. I wanted to get in but felt like I was late, so I just kind of stood to the side, pointed at them like, ‘Hey, these are the guys who make it happen.’”
(With what you have available offensively to you, how is it better than what you had in the past?) – “I don’t know. I’m not here to compare this year to last year or anything like that but I believe in the guys that we have. We have so much speed in the wide receiver room. You add in Mike Gesicki at tight end, Kenyan Drake out of the backfield, and we really have a bunch of game-breaker type guys that can really take a short pass or a run and go the distance at any point. It’s just a matter of getting the ball in their hands and letting them work.”
(That seems like an ideal situation for a quarterback – a short pass is not a very risky pass in a lot of cases – and then these guys can turn it into a big play.) – “Yes, I love throwing to these guys. It’s a lot of fun. You see Albert Wilson take a short pass this last game. He hit the guy with a ‘dead leg’ and was able to speed up the sideline for a touchdown. We also have the speed to get behind them. We can stretch the defense in a lot of different ways and get the ball in the playmakers’ hands and let them work.”
(Relatively, those are not difficult throws; is that part of the reason your completion percentage is so high, because these are such low-risk passes?) – “I guess. I don’t know. Just because I throw it short doesn’t mean it’s always low risk. It’s all relative. Putting the ball in the right spot, where the play call and the coverage dictates where the ball should go, that’s what matters. It should be low risk if I’m going to the right spot with the ball.”
(It seems like there’s this culture being created here, where every week some guys don’t necessarily know if they’re going to be playing a lot, if they’re going to be may be inactive. The question is kind of about the competitiveness that’s being instilled here. Can you talk about what you’ve seen in that area and how the coaches relate to the players?) – “I don’t know exactly the private conversations that are held, but I know that going out to practice each and every day, that we want to compete. We want to push each other. You have to play well week to week. That’s what it comes down to is guys practicing hard, getting better week in and week out, pushing each other, and we want our best guys on the field.”
(I know it’s only been a couple games this year, but what’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed on the field since the last time you were on the field in 2016?) – “It’s tough to say. That was so long ago. Like I said, this team has grit. I think that team had grit too. We found a way to win games at the end in 2016 and it seems like we’re turning into that team here as well. It’s early. We have a lot of football left in front of us. It’s only Week 3, but this is a big week for us and we need to find a way to come out with a win.”
(Were you surprised that WR DeVante Parker was down this past week?) – “I don’t know. It was kind of up in the air on if he was going to be able to go or not coming off the injury. Breaking in that finger – that’s a bad word, right, for a broken finger? (laughter) – getting comfortable, I guess, coming off the broken finger and the surgery and the confidence of where he was at. I knew it was kind of back and forth throughout the week. I didn’t really know going into the weekend where it was going to be, but I thought Jakeem (Grant) and the other guys did a good job. Hopefully we’ll have him back soon.”
(Why are you thinking this is a big week? What goes through your mind when you are processing this game?) – “Because it’s the next one. It’s the next one. I know you hate that answer, but that’s what it is. (laughter) It’s a home game and it’s an AFC opponent. We want to play well at home; we want to win at home. We have a big opportunity and we have to take advantage of it.”
(Does the fact that good teams don’t lose to winless teams come into play at all?) – “No. No. At some point, teams are going to win. That hadn’t even crossed my mind. It hadn’t even crossed my mind. It’s just a matter of going out, controlling what we control and executing, and we’ll be happy with the result.”
Davon Godchaux – September 19, 2018
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Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Defensive Tackle Davon Godchaux
(Did defensive line coach Kris Kocurek say anything at the beginning when he first met you guys back in April that he didn’t want any of you guys worrying about who is starting and who is no because the snaps are comparable? That I don’t want to hear any complaints about that? Was there anything that he brought up to the group?) – “We just roll; we just play. He doesn’t really bring that up in particular. Like I said, it’s the next guy up and we expect the same thing. Whoever it is in the game, we expect you to go 100 percent each and every play. It doesn’t matter who is in. We label all nine guys in that defensive room as starters. Nobody is particularly a starter. We label all guys starters – the first group, second group, everybody is the same.”
(Is that something the players do or did coach meet with you guys and say ‘don’t worry about the starters?’) – “Players and coaches, because we’re not selfish players. We all stick together.”
(How would you describe the No. 1 most helpful thing Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek has done?) – “Energy. Swagger and energy he brings to each and every game. It gets us fired up, starting on that Monday when we come in to watch the game from Sunday, getting ready for our opponent this Sunday. It’s kind of just the energy and swagger he brings. He brings that energy and you have to follow up with that same energy.”
(Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek always yelling in a good way. Does he do that even when you’re in the film meeting after the game?) – “That’s him. Whether it’s a good game or bad game he’s going to yell. He’s never going to let you feel that you’re on top of the world. He’s always going to let you know that you’ve got to keep working and never get complacent. That’s the thing for each – 11, 9 or 13 guys whoever is in the room – that’s what we love about him.”
(When you first saw that was Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek’s personality, were you kind of like ‘holy, moly?’) – “No. I had head ‘Coach O’ (Ed Orgeron) in college. I was kind of used to getting yelled at. I’d have a good game and then he comes back and be like ‘Don’t be too high on yourself because you’ve got to come back and do the same thing next week.’ I had ‘Coach O,’ so it’s kind of the same thing.”
(You’ve been getting many tackles for loss. Who is the guy that gets the most tackles for losses and why does that happen?) – “It’s a group effort. If I get a tackle for loss, the other three guys on the d-line did something right to help me get that tackle for lost. It’s the same thing about Akeem Spence, Jordan Phillips and Vincent Taylor. If they get a tackle for loss, somebody helped them do their job. We all kind of stick together and go together on things like that.”
(Specifically as it relates to your development, which has come now or is coming. Tell me the area that is best improved. Is it footwork, handwork? I want to know, feet, hand what is it?) – “I’m just trying to be consistent each and every day because you don’t want to get complacent in this league. You always want to stay consistent and know that you’ve always got more work to do. Never get too high on yourself and never get too low on yourself. Just know that you always have work to improve on.”
(How tough is it to get geared up for the running game of Oakland?) – “They have a good offensive line. It’s a challenge for us, but we accept the challenge. Each and every day we come out here and try to get better, because we know that we have a tough task on Sunday.”
(You know about ‘Beast Mode’ [Marshawn Lynch] and there’s a reason his name is Beast Mode?) – “I’m not focused on that. I’m focused on getting better each and every day. Marshawn is a great running back. We don’t take that for granted. We just focus on getting better each and every day.”
(What can you take away from what they were able to do against you guys last year or not because it is a different coaching staff?) – “No. They beat us fair and square last year. We’re not focusing on last year. We’re just focusing on this Sunday.”
(Where can I get some Chauxdown stuff?) – “Go to the site. Go to DavonGodchaux56.com and you can get some Chauxdown hoodies, shirts and all of that. Get you some gear and make sure you support the gear.”
(Tell me a little bit about what Chauxdown means.) – “That’s my foundation supporting obesity – eating right, eating healthy and all of those things like that. Growing up as a child, you always want to eat right to get to this level. It makes it easy. A guy like Cam Wake eats right, takes care of his body, lasted long in the league and still looks like he’s in Year 5.”
(Has your body changed a little bit since your arrival here?) – “Yes, I would say that. I don’t eat right all the time, but I try to stay consistent on eating good things each and every day.”
(Personality wise, you seem to have come out this year a little bit more. Am I mistaken about that? Things like, the Chauxdown and you were on Channel 4 barbecuing and things.) – “(laughter) I’m just being me. I’m just having fun. Life after football … Other than football, I like to cook, bring the guys over for crawfish boils and barbecue and just things like that. It brings the d-line closer together.”
Adam Gase – September 19, 2018 (Conference Call)
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Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Head Coach Adam Gase Conference Call with Oakland Media
(This is a very different Raiders team than the one you saw last season. What sort of impressions of this team have you made so far these two weeks?) – “I think it’s tough to really label the team yet. I know they’re learning two different … Both sides of the ball are learning new systems. On defense, it’s completely … It’s different than what they did in the last few years. Usually after those first two weeks, when you’re in a new system, there are a lot of learning experiences that go on. Usually from Week 2 to 3, that’s when you have a really big jump. Offensively, (it’s the) same thing. Coach Gruden probably is going to be able to really start spinning that offense the way that he wants it because guys have two games in now. It moves quick as far as how quick players learn and everybody kind of gets a feel for each other. The longer the season goes, it’s going to be more things they do on both sides of the ball and then it keeps improving. We understand, because we’ve gone through it the last couple years, to where when you start a new program and new systems, it takes a few games to really dial it in to where everybody knows what’s going on.”
(What has RB Frank Gore brought to you guys and are you amazed at all the production he’s still able to put up at this age?) – “I don’t think I’m amazed by it because I was around Frank 10 years ago and just knowing him, he’s just one of those guys you just never doubt. When he says he’s going to do something, I’ve never seen him not follow through. I think it’s been fun to be around him again. I love watching him practice. I love watching him play in games. Everything he does, the way he meets, he’s a great influence in our locker room. And then when we get him on the field and we get him touches, it’s fun to watch him find the holes and make plays for us.”
(Besides RB Frank Gore, you’ve got LS John Denney and DE Cameron Wake and WR Danny Amendola and DE Will Hayes. When Gruden got here, he brought in a lot of veterans to try and get the program going. What does having those guys do for a team?) – “I think when you first start a program – and you guys see this a lot of times – where players that when you’re the head coach and you have players that have already played for you and understand you, it’s good to have in the locker room, because other guys are just learning who you are, your personality, how you operate and how you do things. It’s always nice to have guys that – recognizable faces – that understand you so when guys are like, ‘Why are we doing this?’ and other guys can step in and speak up when sometimes guys, they don’t want to ask that question. A lot of times when you have veteran players, those guys have seen so much and they’ve been around different programs or they’ve been around this league long enough to where their experience can help you in the locker room and help guys understand why you’re doing certain things and help toe the line for you to where you’re not constantly talking on every little point where you’ve got guys that are backing you up.”
(What have you seen from Raiders rookie left tackle Kolton Miller?) – “For us, we’re looking at a really good group in general. It’s a tough group that we had to face last year. Even if new guys are in there, it makes it difficult for us, because that’s where a lot of our things are generated from – our defensive line. We know the challenge that we have ahead of us. That’s really going to be a key matchup for us as far as our guys playing well against this group because this has been a very good group the last few years.”
(QB Ryan Tannehill lost his entire season last year. How engaged was he throughout the year in keeping up with the offense and helping in that regard? And has he pretty much hit the ground running after missing that year?) – “Yes, pretty much. He was here every day. He was in every meeting. He was at every practice. He was very engaged. He probably spent more time with me really just helping me out with some of the things he saw on tape. I think, unfortunately, he lost a season, but I think it was good for him to take a step back, because ever since he’s been in the NFL he’s been the starting quarterback. For him to be able to step back and see everything that was going on – and he was listening different because when you’re in the middle of first year of a program and you’re trying to take everything in, you’ve got guys asking questions, you’re trying to help direct them – he was able to take a step back and really listen to the fine points of a lot of things we talk about. I think he absorbed a lot of it and has a better feel for what we’re asking him to do a lot of the times.”
(I know you spoke a little bit earlier about Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden’s offense here. I was curious, what are your impressions of it from a sense of sophistication conceptually?) – “He’s obviously evolved over time. I think the time off that he was away from the game, he studied a ton of film. I think it was beneficial for what he was doing because he was able to ask a lot of questions, watch a lot a ton of tape and see a lot of different schemes. His offense was always tough to prepare for in the past. Even though I wasn’t a head coach, being on the offensive side and listening to defensive coaches anytime that we had to play him about how difficult things were for them, I think now he’s able to add a few wrinkles here and there. That’s really what makes it harder to defend now probably than in the past, because he has a huge library that he can always go to and find what’s best for that week.”
(Can you give an example of a wrinkle that stands out to you?) – “That’s tough for me to say. I’d rather not say anything like what we’re looking at. That’s really what I’m avoiding there.”
(It seems like there’s been a lot of attention paid to QB Derek Carr’s release time both last season and through the first two games this season. I think he’s been one of the quickest quarterbacks in the NFL as far as getting the ball out. As somebody who’s worked with quarterbacks, what is that an indication of when a quarterback has a fast release time for you?) – “I look at it as his guys are getting open quick. He just has one of those releases where it’s just so smooth. It’s like he flicks his wrist and the ball just comes out and the distance is irrelevant. He does a great job changing his arm angle. When he throws the ball, it looks as clean as it can get. It has zip on it and it just looks smooth. I think sometimes when guys get open quick and he knows where to go with the ball and the coverage is right for what is called offensively, that’s where he hurts you a lot. He’s able to get the ball out quick and out in front and let guys run after the catch.”
(Does his tendency to release the ball quick almost – defensively – not say force you, but certainly play a little more press coverage than you might otherwise?) – “It always depends what you’re playing. I think really if it affects anybody, it’s the fact that the d-line, how much impact are they going to have? What happens is guys are looking to try to affect the game somehow and now all of a sudden you run a play-action pass where he’s able to hold onto the ball and now you’ve helped the offensive line out. When you mix it up and you’re getting the ball out fast and then when you go to hold onto it and the d-line is not thinking you’re going to, now all of a sudden that causes an issue to where the d-line is kind of slow as far as getting going on the rush and the offensive line is at an advantage.”
(What have you see from Raiders RB Marshawn Lynch on film?) – “I know this, he’s extremely hard to tackle still. He almost popped out a big one last week again. He’s a dangerous guy to deal with. He’s a big man that does not like to touch the ground. I’ve seen him way too much it seems like.”
(You’ve been asked a lot locally about your backfield and carries and workload and that sort of thing. It seems like a pretty nice problem for you to have in terms of RB Frank Gore and RB Kenyan Drake. What’s that been like with those two as part of your backfield?) – “I think the people that complain about it are the ones that aren’t living it. I’ve got no problems with the group we have. I like the fact that we have a lot of different guys that we can go to. I like that we have a lot of different personnel groups we can get to. Really, that was the focus and our guys knew it, heading into the season – that we’re going to spread the ball out and it might be a different guy every game that has a bigger game than somebody else. It’s a positive thing, the way I look at it, because it makes it harder for us to defend. That’s really the direction that we knew we were going to go at the beginning of the season and I don’t know if it’s going to change anytime soon.”
(With roster spots at a premium, it’s unusual for teams to carry four quarterbacks. I’m curious as to why and your assessment of QB David Fales, a local guy from around here.) – “The one thing that I look at it as I’m a quarterback guy, so I don’t mind having as many as we can get. We had an opportunity with Luke (Falk) becoming available and we felt like it was worthy of keeping four. David has done a great job. It was good to get him back last year. That was circumstances where we had some injuries and he was able to come in and he did a great job of improving every week. He was probably playing some of his best football towards the end of the year. And then we were able to give him an opportunity in that last game and he had to go against a team that ended up playing in the playoffs and they needed to beat us to make the playoffs. He played well in that game and really showed that he can play at this level and he can be a guy that went in the game and did a lot of good things. He’s a guy that we’ve been developing since 2015 when we were in Chicago and I don’t see it stopping anytime soon.”
(What’s it been like for you and for your guys to see RB Frank Gore and what it takes to be playing at his level at this stage in his career? Not many guys at his position can play into their mid-30s. The day-to-day, what’s behind the scenes with him, what’s the value of that for you and also for your locker room?) – “It’s huge. You don’t have to say anything because you see it every day. You see it in meetings; you see it on the practice field. The way he practices is exactly how he plays in the game. You wouldn’t know when you watch him practice, you wouldn’t know his age. I think guys respect him so much and they see what he does and I think he’s been great in that running back room. I think it’s great for Drake to see that, but we’ve got a couple other young guys between Senorise (Perry) and (Kalen) Ballage in there and those guys just being around that environment and watching him practice, it really helps us because Frank, he doesn’t say a whole bunch; but guys pay attention to that and it affects other guys in a positive way.”
Adam Gase – September 19, 2018
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Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Head Coach Adam Gase
(What can you tell us about S Reshad Jones?) – “He didn’t practice today. We’re taking it day to day right now. I don’t think it’s … We’re going to get him back. I just don’t know what day yet.”
(You’ll get S Reshad Jones back for this week?) – “That’s what we’re working on right now. He’s better than he was Monday.”
(Do you know what body part it is for him?) – “It was opposite the bad shoulder that he had surgery on.”
(You’re out there with the pads with the guys today. Was that kind of something to get them off press?) – “Yes. We were just working on some stuff. The tight ends, a couple of times we were trying to release and we got jammed up a little bit. We’re just getting them to be quicker with their hands. They work on it a lot in their individual periods, but every once in a while (I) just jump in there and kind of try to distract them a little bit. That’s all I’m trying to do.”
(When you see the Raiders on tape, what do you see? What sticks out?) – “Playing these guys, we know a lot of their personnel from last year. They have a lot of weapons to deal with on offense. It’s a new system for them with probably some similar concepts but probably different verbiage for them. You can see that they’re coming together quick. Their completion percentage is extremely high, which that happens a lot in Coach (Jon) Gruden’s offense, where once they kind of really get a good flow of the offense they’re going to complete a lot of balls. They’ll move it and then drain the clock at the same time. They’ll take their shots when it’s available and they have guys that can stretch the field out at the receiver spot and the tight end spot. (They’re) very tough in the run game. And then on defense, this is a completely different scheme than what they’ve been running the last few years. They’ve got some new pieces to the puzzle there. They’ve got some longer corners that can get hands on you, so we’re going to have be good, making sure that we can get off the ball this week.”
(With QB Ryan Tannehill, do you go into every week thinking we need to get him four designed runs, five designed runs? How does that work?) – “It’s just kind of the flow of the game. Situationally, like when is the right time to call them? When do we know we have a good number count? Some teams, it’s harder to run against than others. Just everybody plays everything a little different.”
(Is there a trust factor that QB Ryan Tannehill doesn’t get too greedy and knows when to go down?) – “No, he’s pretty good about it. He knows when to get down. He did a good job of it last week. He stays true to what his job is as far as who he’s reading, when he’s supposed to pull it, when he’s supposed to hand it off. He doesn’t force it, which is good.”
(How do you grade your defensive line through two games?) – “I think those guys have done a good job. They’re doing well as a unit. I love the fact that they’re all contributing and all playing. I think (Defensive Line Coach) Kris (Kocurek) has done a phenomenal job with the amount of reps those guys have gotten. It’s worked out. We’ve tried in the past to rotate those guys and it hasn’t worked out as smooth. However these games have gone, it seems like you look at the play count and they’re pretty close. I think Charles (Harris) probably has a few more total snaps than those other guys because he plays special teams; but for the most part those guys are staying pretty even, which is going to be a good thing for us.”
(With the rotation and the depth, what do you see happening in the second half as the game goes along?) – “We’re sticking with how we’ve been doing it.”
(As far as those guys being fresh?) – “Those guys … that’s the thing I love about when we get to third down. We’ve got four guys going out there that are ready to rush the passer. That’s a good thing. Between Robert (Quinn) and Cam (Wake) coming off the edge and (Andre) Branch, it makes it really tough with those guys with the speed they have.”
(How would you describe DT Davon Godchaux’s personality? He seems pretty personable, outgoing and usually smiling. How would you describe him?) – “I think it changes a little bit when he gets on the field. He’s an aggressive guy. He’s a violent player. You kind of have to be when you play inside there. He’s a very coachable player, I know that. He wants to do it right and he wants to be the guy in that group that guys know he’s going to get it done when he’s in there.”
(How would you evaluate how DE Charles Harris has played through two weeks?) – “I feel like he’s had some plays. We had a couple of penalties – I think it was the first week – where he was getting some pressure there, which they don’t make the stat sheet. But I think he’s doing what we’re asking him to do. We’ve just got to keep applying that pressure. He’s one of those guys and that’s why we have so many guys up because when we move from one guy to the next, it’s a different style of player and he still has that speed that those other guys have and he can turn the corner and put the pressure on the quarterback we need.”
(Aside from the two penalties in Week 1, T Laremy Tunsil appears to have played well. Do you view it as a continuation from the second half of last year when he upped his game?) – “I think he learned a lot from last year and then heading into the spring, I think adding the guys that we did and kind of him and Josh (Sitton) having a good relationship and really building something there between those two guys, I think that helped him. There’s some continuity there. Obviously now that Josh is down, Ted (Larsen) is at least somebody that he played next to in the past. Those guys have good communication and they’re able to work well together. It just seems like he’s trending upward and that’s what we need him to do.”
(Is LB Kiko Alonso playing how he was in 2016?) – “It seems like it. I mean, he had probably one of the more productive games I’ve ever seen by a linebacker, at least that I’ve been around. I mean, he was all over the place. I thought he did a great job hustling to the football, a good job of getting the ball. He had some really good hits. He was assignment-sound. I think it’s been good with him and the two young guys in there. They’re starting to develop a really good chemistry. We just need to, week in and week out, find ways to get better and keep on working throughout the season of getting better and improving on that chemistry with that group.”
(Considering the game TE Jared Cook had against the Dolphins last season and the type of season he’s had so far, do you feel better equipped to handle him defensively this time around?) – “I think it’s tough when a guy is a really good player. It’s hard to just completely shut a guy down. You’ve got to find ways to make sure that guy doesn’t beat you. I know last year we had our struggles against them and, like you said, right now he’s playing really well. We’re going to have to just make sure … it’s just tough when it’s that position and they start spreading everybody out but the back is still back there, (because) there’s a lot of things they can still do. So if you make it too light of a box, the next thing you know you’ve got ‘24’ (Marshawn Lynch) running there and if everybody is blocked up there and he gets some open field, then it becomes a bigger problem.”
(I think QB Derek Carr is second in the league completing 80 percent of his passes in two games. What are you seeing from him that makes him so accurate?) – “He’s always been one of those guys that he’s going to put the ball where it needs to be and he’s going to be accurate throughout the game. We have to do a good job of trying to disrupt him and get hands up if they go quick game and try to find ways to just get him off rhythm. It’s harder (to do) than it is to talk about. He has a great release to where he can change his arm angle. He knows where to go with the ball. It’s kind of to that stage of his career where there’s not going to be too much that he hasn’t seen because you learn real fast in the NFL, when you’re at quarterback and you’re playing, you get thrown so much at you that you see a lot of things early, especially when you play in your first year.”
(It struck me that when you think about CB Cordrea Tankersley, WR DeVante Parker and others, whether or not they’re up and down, starting or not, it seems like there’s a thought process that goes into that relative to in this environment, you’re not going to be guaranteed a spot in the starting lineup. You’re not even going to be guaranteed a spot on the active roster week to week. Can you talk about your mentality and mindset on what I just talked about?) – “I think guys understand that we want to compete every week. When he hit the practice week, it’s a new week. You have an idea sometimes, but there’s usually a lot of spots that we’re saying, ‘Hey, it’s between you guys and whoever plays best, both special teams and whether it’s offense or defense, that guy is up.’ That’s why we just want to make sure a guy doesn’t feel like he’s out, to where he’s just going to be inactive every week. That’s the hardest thing to do. You just want guys to keep competing because when something does happen and that player needs to be up, we need him ready. We need him to improve just like anybody that’s dressing for Sunday. It’s a tough battle because mentally, for a 24-year-old kid trying to keep his mind focused on his job, it’s the first time that you’re probably being told, ‘You’re not going to play this game.’”
(From what you saw throughout the offseason and in the preseason games, do you have a pretty good idea of what you have in CB Torry McTyer as a cover corner?) – “We’ve got a pretty good idea. I think there’s a lot of trust there. He’s not afraid to put hands on anybody and try to stay as tight as possible. He’s not afraid to throw his body in there when running backs or any kind of receiver catches the ball and try to make a tackle. Since the time he’s gotten here, he’s done nothing but improve. Really, that’s the No. 1 thing we’re always for from players.”
(Do you know Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden at all?) – “I mean, yes. We’re not talking every week or anything.”
(Do you have any good Jon Gruden stories?) – “I don’t. I don’t have any.”
(You guys have more running plays than passing plays right now; is that a function of having the lead more or what the defense gives you? And does that even mean anything through two games?) – “We did what we had to do to win the game. This last game, it just kind of worked out that way to where when we got to the end of the game, I looked at the numbers and I was a little surprised that we had that many more runs than pass attempts. That happens a lot of times when you do have the lead and you get into a 4-minute situation and you’re trying to work the clock down. What, we had the ball with 5:56 left or something like that in the fourth quarter? You’re not just going to start throwing it all over the place. You get a couple of first downs and you realize if we actually stay in bounds, we’ll keep this thing moving.”
(If S Reshad Jones is unable to go, will you move S Minkah Fitzpatrick into that spot, or do you kind of like what Minkah is doing…) – “We’ve got a whole bunch of different scenarios we worked out and just kind of talked about. It’s not really something I’m really willing to put out there right now.”
(With RB Kenyan Drake and RB Frank Gore, it’s basically 2-to-1 in touches right now in favor of Drake. Is that kind of where you want to live? Or are you looking more for something like 50-50?) – “Our plan wasn’t really for that the first game. It just kind of worked out that way because of the breaks we had. We were trying to be really careful, especially after that second one. I mean, it had been a long day. We were a little concerned about some of our older guys to where we were like ‘Is this going to affect some of these guys?’ We were smart with how we put those guys in the game, that first game. And then this last game, there’s been a couple times too where we’ve called plays and they’re runs but the ball ends up going out to one of the wide receivers because of what the defense does. It just keeps happening when Frank is in for some reason. We’re always going to try to keep those guys close. That’s the plan. We like when both those guys have the ball.”
(Does the fourth-quarter heat factor go into game-planning at all considering what they’re wearing or you guys or wearing?) – “I think you really wait to see how the game is going. You can kind of try to have a plan, but it depends. Is it raining out? Are we going to have cloud cover? You don’t know. Every time I check the weather, it’s a different percentage of rain. It was like 99 (percent chance) the other day, it was like 6 the next day and then it was like 77 the next day.”
(Do you have a lightning forecast?) – “No. I’m not even going to look at that.”
Matt Haack – September 17, 2018
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Monday, September 17, 2018
Punter Matt Haack
(Your performance yesterday for a punter, is that about as good as it gets for you?) – “Yes, I was happy with the game yesterday. All together, (it was) a big win coming out of New York like that. The offense was moving the ball well. I felt like the whole game was just in a rhythm, in a flow. Once one punt started going, it led to the next one, the next one and the next one. We had great coverage on the field, great snaps from John (Denney), good protection and I think all the way around the special teams was solid.”
(The life of a punter is you played a key role in the Dolphins winning field position the entire day. And yet because you’re a punter, generally speaking, you’re not going to get the credit the same way as a guy who scores a touchdown. Do you just take your satisfaction?) – “The way I look at is, that’s my job. My job is to put the defense in great field position and win the field-position battle every game. When I get a chance to put them inside the 20 and we execute, that’s a huge win for us. Like I said, that’s just something that’s expected of you.”
(What’s something that changed for you between the first and second game?) – “I keep the same routine, the same practice habits, the same everything. I wouldn’t say much has changed, it’s just I felt like I was hitting the ball maybe a little cleaner. I felt like the first game I hit the ball pretty clean outside of one. Overall, I just kind of got in that rhythm and our team, special teams and all the guys around me, played their role too.”
(Where did that rhythm come from? Was that pregame or maybe throughout the week last week?) – “I think it’s … Yes, a little bit of both. Like I said, you just get into that game mindset and start hitting the ball well and trust your teammates.”
(I noticed yesterday, maybe this is something you always do, but I really noticed it watching yesterday. It looked like you were pointing the ball downward a lot of times when you were kicking. Is that something that helps?) – “Yes. We call that a going in punt, or end over end or whatever. I usually use that between the 40s. Otherwise, if you hit a spiral, you never know. It could be a 55 or 60-yard punt that hits and rolls into the end zone. That end over end punt, there’s a better chance or probability or whatever you want to call it that if the returner doesn’t catch it, that it hits the ground and stops or bounces straight up or sideways or something. It just gives yourself a better chance for a good ball.”
(Is there a point in the week … Is your routine the same every week or is there a point in the week where you’re like, ‘I’m good, my rhythm’s good, I got this,’ and then you start shutting it down?) – “My kicking schedule is that I kick Wednesday and Thursday. That’s when we do our punt team reps. I like to kick in team rather than on my own, just to get the tempo and rhythm and stuff. I would say it’s got to be there Wednesday. It’s got to be there the whole week. That’s my job, so if it’s not there, then there’s something I’ve got to fix.”
(How satisfying was it to have the kind of day you did knowing that LS John Denney was going through what he was going through and still able to suit up?) – “It’s very satisfying. I know he’s battling through whatever. He had a great game. He was solid as he always is. You know John. But it’s more satisfying playing that role and helping the team win, being the guy that puts the team in the best position I possibly could.”
Albert Wilson – September 17, 2018
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Monday, September 17, 2018
Wide Receiver Albert Wilson
(As well as you guys are playing, you’re not surprised. Other people might be, but you’re not surprised.) – “Right. Like I’ve been saying the past two weeks, after watching film, we left a lot of things out there on the field – a lot of yards, a lot of points. We have to clean those things up. The defense did a great job of holding things down for us in the second half, but we have to come out in the second half and put more points on the board.”
(Do you appreciate the fact that so many people doubted you guys but now, everybody is kind of jumping on the bandwagon and drinking the Kool-Aid and want to be a part of something special that you guys are doing right now?) – “We knew it was going to happen. We’ve been working really hard this offseason. Like I said, we’re not surprised where we’re at. I just hold a higher expectation for this team.”
(That attitude right there – 2-0, people would be happy and all of that. We keep hearing there’s still little things we have to fix. What does that say about this team in this locker room?) – “We can be better. We can do better. We want to be happy with 2-0, but we don’t want to be satisfied with the performance. We know that we left things out there.”
(Have you been on teams before where you’re like why is everyone talking, we’re 2-0? How does that happen? Is it a maturity thing?) – “Just looking things in the eye and just facing the fact that after watching film, we haven’t done everything right yet. I’m happy we came out 2-0. That’s a blessing and it’s a great start to get two wins, the first one at home and the second on the road. It’s hard to get those road wins, but for us to get a road win and still not executing as we should, it shows how good this football team can be.”
(How much fun do you have knowing all of the different scenarios that you can be put in? You said it takes you back to your high school and quarterbacking days.) – “It’s great. Just (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase bringing it out, just challenging me to be a better player. That’s why I came here, so I can be the best football player I can be. He’s definitely bringing it out of me.”
(You’re a pretty vocal guy. What would you say to a teammate that walked out on you at halftime and decided ‘enough is enough, I’m done?’) – “It’s a tough game. For a grown man that has so much going for himself, that’s on a team, people are looking forward to him making plays for them and then you have the money side of making some good money. For somebody to tell themselves that they’re not able to do it anymore, it’s just, they’re not able to do it anymore. You can go out there and have the mindset of ‘I’m not supposed to be out here’ and then get hurt. It could have been a totally different way for him. For him to walk away from the game healthy, that’s blessings to him.”
(His timing though. Halftime – he couldn’t wait until the end of the game?) – “It definitely was a touchy subject for kind of letting his teammates down. I just hope none of my teammates do that, but he’s a man, he makes his own choices.”
(It’s a small sample size, but has Head Coach Adam Gase told you that he was an assistant on the Broncos in 2009, they started off 6-0 and didn’t make the playoffs? Has he told you guys that?) – “No. That’s a totally different team.”
(How was your Instagram account last night after you posted that squad picture?) – “It’s pretty much done the same thing for the last couple weeks. It’s been pretty crazy.”
(Just in that moment of wanting to get everybody together, why was that something that you wanted to do for this team?) – “I’m a newcomer. I just wanted to let my teammates know that it’s not about me. I plan on having a lot of success here and I’m definitely a team-first type of guy, so I just wanted to get that out there and let them know it’s all about the team. I just hope we continue to play as a team and keep getting these wins.”
(That team-first kind of thing is permeating a little bit with this team. Is it something that you noticed?) – “That’s how we have to be. We have so many weapons on both sides of the ball. Like I said, there’s not enough snaps in one game. It can be anybody’s week, and you have to keep that mindset. You have to have faith in the coaches, have faith that you’re going to get yours when it’s time and when you’re number is called, you’re going to make plays.”
(A lot of changes have been made to this receiving corps, as you know. You’re one of them. Yet, you’re 2-0 and WR DeVante Parker hasn’t played yet. How do you see this receiving corps coming together so far?) – “Once we get him back, we’re just going to take it to another notch. He’s a great receiver. He has a lot of size, a lot of talent. He catches the ball really well, he’s able to go get those tough catches and when he gets back, we’ll be able to use him very well.”
(How would you assess the way the receiving corps has played so far in these two games?) – “I think we played really good. Like I said, we left a lot of things out there on the field. We can clean things up and become better.”
Mike Gesicki – September 17, 2018
Monday, September 17, 2018
Tight End Mike Gesicki
(Although you are a rookie and haven’t been here awhile, Dolphin fans can be sometimes brutal; but it seems like everybody is drinking the Kool-Aid now and jumped on the bandwagon. That’s always a good thing as well.) – “Regardless of what’s going on outside the locker room, we just don’t pay attention to it. Kind of a quote that I go by is ‘don’t pay attention to praise or criticism. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.’ When things are going good, everybody is happy. When things aren’t, you block it all out. You just focus on your role, your assignment. That’s all that you can control.”
(What did you think of that picture you guys took as a team after that WR Albert Wilson touchdown?) – “It was awesome. That’s the fun part about it. Albert made a great play and then got the whole team to come celebrate with him. It was cool, it was fun and we enjoyed it.”
(You’ve been in a lot of rowdy, hostile environments being over at Penn State. Walking into MetLife Stadium yesterday, what was that like?) – “It was another away game. It was cool, a nice atmosphere. Sometimes on third down it would pick up a little bit, but for the most part, I think that our team kind of weathered the storm and did a really good job with it.”
(What was the number one thing you noticed that … You won, but you have a lot to clean up, so what’s the number one thing you guys noticed?) – “I think it’s much better to learn from mistakes after you win. It’s a great feeling to come in here right now after another win and be able to go back to tape and just kind of pick apart your game, see what worked and what didn’t, and then just continue to get better.”
(Having said that, what was one of those things that stuck out to you?) – “For myself, just finishing plays. I think I did a really good job fighting off the ball and getting my hands inside. I’m doing a good job blocking and just have to stay on my guy and finish him. It’s just going to continue to come with more reps and I just want to continue to play more snaps.”
(How many family members and friends did you have in the stands, and how do you feel like you played in your home state?) – “I had a ton of family and friends there. It was cool to get back and see some familiar faces and play in front of them. It was a great experience and I’m happy that we were able to get out of there with a win.”
(I know you’re a first-year player, but you know better not to quit on your team. When you heard Bills CB Vontae Davis retired at halftime, how crazy is that, how weird is that?) – “I don’t really know all of the details or anything like that. That’s not my business or anything to speak on that. He did what he did.”
