Bobby McCain – May 29, 2018
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Tuesday, May 29, 2018
CB Bobby McCain
(How are you going to get all of these defensive backs on the field at the same time?) – “I’m sure coach is going to have a plan. We have a lot of good players on the back end and the front end as well. We’re going to bring it all together and keep working and find a way.”
(Is it a hope of yours … We’ve seen how good you are playing in the slot; but we’ve seen you on the boundary too and you’ve had success there. Would it be a hope of yours to be able to start potentially on the boundary and then move inside on third downs because we saw you last week playing there?) – “I’m a corner. I want to be in the game as everyone does. Whatever we feel is best for the team to win ball games, that’s what I’m going to do – whether it’s outside, inside. Whatever’s best for me and whatever is best for the team, honestly, is to win ball games.”
(Have you seen any changes in QB Ryan Tannehill’s mobility coming back from the surgery? Or is it the same mobile Ryan? I know there’s only been four on-field practices; but is it the same mobile Ryan that you saw before?) – “He’s still mobile. He can still move his feet. He still can run well. He’s always been a good athlete. He’s always been able to move in the pocket and outside of the pocket with boots (bootlegs) and even running the football. He looks stronger than ever.”
(Head Coach Adam Gase talked about your leadership. Do you take pride in being a leader on the team?) – “Yes, it’s a prideful move and it’s a great compliment coming from coach – the head coach. At the end of the day, we’re just here to do a job and that’s to win football games. If your role is to lead the young guys, then that’s what you have to do. If your role is to sit back and wait, which mine in the first year and second year has been, you just have to wait. Now that we have young guys coming up behind you, they know the right way to do things. That’s what we try to depend on here, just the right way of doing things.”
(Has some of the young guys come up to you recently once they got here?) – “Yes. A lot of them, and that’s a good sight to see. Me being in my fourth year, I was that guy three years ago, asking questions and wanting to know things. We’ve got guys like ‘Fitzy’ (Minkah Fitzpatrick), Cornell (Armstrong), ‘J.D.’ (Jalen Davis) and those young guys are all coming up and they want to know. They want to learn. That’s good to know and that’s good to have.”
(What’s it like to be the veteran now?) – “It’s different because you are the vet in the room, one of the vets in the room. We have a lot of great vets in the room such as Reshad (Jones), T.J. (McDonald) ‘Lip’ (Tony Lippett) even. ‘X’ (Xavien Howard is coming along. Guys that have just been there and have been with the team for years now. It’s different but it’s a role. It’s a role you have to take and you have to embrace yourself, to know that now you have guys looking at you to do the right thing. You have to make sure that you’re doing it.”
(You mentioned your role the first three years was to be a slot corner. Do you think this is the year for you to do more and be that starting guy – not even in nickel but in base you can go out and win a starting job?) – “Like I said. I want to be in the game as much as I can. If that’s what we have to do, that’s what we’ve got to do. If I’ve got to play outside, I play outside. Inside or outside, wherever it is, I want to be in the game.”
(The Dolphins lost a few guys that are kind of like spark-plug guys, energy guys in practice. Help me out here, give me a few teammates that you have already seen that are going to bring that energy and that spunk to the practice field?) – “It’s a collective unit. As a unit, we’re trying to bring that spark, that energy, because we’re having fun. At the end of the day, we’re playing the game we love. With Xavien (Howard) and ‘Branchy’ (Andre Branch), and guys like even Raekwon (McMillan) in the middle, just being a general, there’s guys like that, that I have respect for because I know how hard the game is. I know what it’s like to wake up and have to bring that energy and be that guy. Like I said, it’s a collective unit – like Kenny (Stills). Guys are just doing the right thing. It’s a good sight to see.”
(There’s an evolution as a player, particularly a guy who went in the third day like you did. First, your priority is to make the team and help however you can and stuff so you can get on the field. Now in Year 4, do you think contract? It’s kind of an important year for you.) – “Yes, it’s a contract year. There’s no secret; but me personally, I think just go out and play ball. If you go out and play ball, it will all end up well for you. If you win ball games, everybody gets paid, period. If you go out and take your team to the playoffs, go deep in the playoffs and go to the Super Bowl, everybody wins.”
(Have they talked to you at all about the contract yet?) – “I’m just going out trying to play my best ball.”
(Does it feel weird now when you look around and you’re the old guy amongst the cornerbacks?) – “Yes, it’s crazy. It’s a good feeling though. Just knowing that it’s your fourth year in the league and it’s a big season for you, and the team as well. We’ve got a lot of new faces; but at the end of the day, you have to put the hat on and go to work each and every day. Like I said, if you get the wins, the dollars will pile up.”
(Obviously going against them in games with Kansas City and New England and being around them at practice, what do you think WR Albert Wilson does really well and what do you think WR Danny Amendola does really well?) – “They’re both good players and of course, Danny’s proven, as everyone knows. He’s a proven player. I’m happy to have him on my team after our differences we’ve had with the Patriots the past couple of years. (laughter) He’s a really good player and Albert is a good player too. He’s a really good player and he’s really fast. He can run. They’re both going to help us win ball games and I’m happy to have them.”
(Did you know WR Danny Amendola was as tightly wound as he seems?) – “No, he’s a work horse. Danny’s a work horse. He seems like a perfectionist at the end of the day, because he wants to do everything the right way. When you’ve got ‘28’ (myself) on the other side, it’s a little tough. You’re supposed to laugh at that. (laughter) But he works his tail off. He comes in everyday and you can tell he’s a real vet. He comes in to work and play ball. Like I said, we hope to bring a championship to this city and with him being in New England, he’s got a couple piled up. At the end of the day, he is here and we’re ready to go get it.”
(Do you understand anything a little bit more about WR Danny Amendola now that you’re teammates?) – “He’s not as bad as I thought he was. (laughter) He’s a good guy. He’s a leader and he’s going to be real good for this locker room, for this team and for the organization.”
(You think WR Danny Amendola would say the same thing about you?) – “I hope so.”
(Coming into this season before WR Danny Amendola became your teammate, he was your number one enemy, correct?) – “No, no, no, no. Tom Brady. (laughter)”
(So WR Danny Amendola was number two?) – “Yes, he might have been number two. He might have been on that list somewhere. (laughter)”
(Which of you guys have had picks through the first four days of 11-on-11 work?) – “I dropped mine. Danny (Amendola) broke that up. ‘Fitzy’ (Minkah Fitzpatrick) caught some picks. He’s got some tipped passes. The ball seems to find him. He’s going to be good for us. I know someone … Reshad (Jones) got a pick. He got him a nice pick. We’ve put our hands on some balls. We can get more.”
(What are some of your early impressions of CB Cornell Armstrong?) – “He kind of reminds me of myself when I came in because he wants to learn. He’ll pull me over to the side and ask, ‘Why did you do that?’ Or ‘on this call, why are they playing like this?’ That’s what you need because coming in as a rookie, you don’t know the defense. It took me a year, a couple of years, to learn the defense the way you know it backwards and forwards. He wants to learn. He has ball skills. He has all the … He looks the part. I think he’s going to be a good player for us.”
(Now that you’ve had a lot of months to think about last year and it’s not a week-to-week thing, what was missing in the defense last season?) – “Personally, I feel like we lost a bit of fire. We lost that spark to get us going. I take heed of that. As a collective unit, we’ll take it, from the front end and the back end. We lost that … ‘Your back is against the wall, go get it.’ The year before, if the offense makes a turnover, okay boom. The ball is on our own territory on the 20-yard line, let’s stop them to a field goal. We kind of lost that go out and get it, go out and make a stop (attitude). This year, we’ve got guys in there. We’ve got guys that will make a difference and say ‘No, we’re not having it. We’re going to get the ball back. No field goals, no nothing. We’re going to turn the ball over.’”
(Why do you think that was?) – “To be honest with you, I’m not sure. I couldn’t tell you. It could be anything at the end of the day; but it’s on us. It’s not on … People say it’s on the coaches. No, it’s on us. We’re the ones out there playing and we’re the ones that have to get it done.”
(Is it something that you could sense as the year was going on? Or was it something you came to realize after the season was over?) – “After the season. I sat back after the season and I watched all 16 games. I watched them a couple of times, to be honest with you. When you see as a defense … We call it put a hand on a helmet, which is like celebrating and having a good time. You’ll see a couple of guys putting a hand on a helmet. No, we need all 11. If a guy makes a great play, we need all 11 there. Everybody needs to be there. Next year, we’re going to have it. We’re going to have that energy this year.”
(How would you describe the personality and approach of the two new coaches you have there – Defensive Backs Coach Tony Oden and Assistant Defensive Backs Coach Renaldo Hill?) – “They’re both from Detroit. They’re both really good coaches. ‘Coach O’ (Tony Oden) is a good coach and Coach Hill is a good coach. They’re both proven. I know Coach Oden has a Super Bowl ring. Speaking of personality, don’t take this the wrong way, but we’re all not here to be friends. We’re a family and we’re here to do a job; but as a family. Does that make sense? He’s going to tell you, ‘You’re doing this wrong,’ but you know it’s out of love. And if you’re doing it right, he’s going to tell you you’re doing it right and it’s out of love. When you say personality, that’s how I feel about it. There’s people that can shoot you this and it not be correct or it not be truthful. No. He wants to tell you the truth and we’re going to get it done. If we do something out there that’s wrong, we’ll correct it when we get in the room. Boom. Done. That way the guy behind you doesn’t do the same thing.”
(Are you going to be one of those guys keeping that fire lit this year?) – “Yes, for sure. One-hundred percent.”
Kenyan Drake – May 29, 2018
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Tuesday, May 29, 2018
RB Kenyan Drake
(What’s different this offseason compared to last offseason for you?) – “This year is different. It’s a different team, obviously, a different scenario. I’m kind of more of a person that has people looking up to me in terms of we have a lot more younger guys. As far as tenure on the team as a running back, I’m the longest tenured running back, which is pretty interesting. Last year or two years ago, I was coming in as a fresh face. Now to … It’s funny how time flies. I’m definitely embracing this role and trying to help this team win a lot more games in the coming years.”
(What have you learned about the NFL from a business side the last two years watching how everything has gone down?) – “I’ve learned that you definitely can’t take any week for granted. It’s a one-game season every week. ‘Any given Sunday’ is a cliché we like to use. From a personal standpoint, I feel like you just have to be where your feet are. From waking up one morning and you just realize you traded your starting running back so now you’re going to get a lot more bulk of the carries to the next person in front of you is injured for the rest of the season, so now you definitely have to have a lot more of the bulk. Then my rookie year, it was just a lot of big learning experiences because at the end of the day, I just wasn’t mentally prepared to handle the workload as if I was out there being an everyday starter, which I take personally because I was supposed to put myself in that position to do what I need to do to help this team win games and I came up short my rookie year. As the second year went on, I got a lot more special teams opportunities and I felt like that gave me a lot more confidence to go out there and be a football player. Once I got the ball in my hands, it was just natural again.”
(Since RB Frank Gore was brought into the fold, have you picked his brain?) – “I feel like when you look at the guy, you don’t think he’s 34 or 35 years old. I always remind him when he first came into the league I was in fifth or sixth grade. (laughter) It’s interesting to see how long he has really been the back he is. He works out like he’s (a) first year, second year guy. He comes in with that same attitude. I feel like if I could have just half the success in his career, I feel like that would be a win in my book, because he’s definitely the epitome of longevity in this league. Just having him on this team is going to help not just the running backs, but everybody see if you take the right steps … Obviously, he’s a – I guess you could say – once in a lifetime type of player, especially at this positon with the wear and tear you have on your body. He does it right every day. He just epitomizes that.”
(Over the last five games of the season, you had I believe more rushing yards than any back in the league. I’ve got to double check that, but I think it’s right. How sustainable is that? Do you think you can be one of the league’s leading rushers for 16 games?) – “I feel like with the people that I have around me, with how (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase and everybody calls the games on offense with the receivers, with Ryan (Tannehill) back, with the o-line that we have revitalized, I feel like the sky’s the limit for me and the rest of the guys in my room. We’re going to take it one day at a time. When that comes, that comes. We’re definitely moving in the right direction. There’s a lot of excitement about this team. We’re just ready to take everything full speed. It’s funny. Everybody likes to use that statistic – I had the most rushing yards – but it’s not like Todd (Gurley) didn’t play the last game or anything. I guess I got that by default.”
(We just talked to G/T Jesse Davis about continuity on the offensive line. In terms of your success, how important – if those five can stay healthy and running behind the same line to gel as a group – how important is it to your success?) – “My success is the team’s success. So as long as we’re winning games, I feel like at the end of the day, that’s a win in my book. The yards will come. If the responsibility of all 11 guys on the field, if they take care of their responsibility … I can’t go out there and do anything on my own at the end of the day. I feel like this year we’re going to take the right steps to make sure we do our 1/11th like (Special Teams Coordinator/Associate Head) Coach (Darren) Rizzi likes to say, because nobody can go out there and do it on their own. That’s why I love this game. It’s the ultimate team game. In basketball, you can have a superstar out there to lead a team as we see in the (NBA) Finals this year; but at the end of the day, football is not basketball. You have to have 11 guys collectively as a group go out there (and) do what you got to do.”
(This is your third year now. We know a fair amount about you on the football side, but I don’t know how much people know about you on the personal side. What are your interests? Do you have family, people that are close to you on the team? Just tell us about you as a person.) – “I’m a laid back type of person, kind of reserved in a sense. I feel like nowadays, it’s a blessing and a curse to have a lot of stuff being readily accessible; but I feel like when it comes to my family, my personal life, I don’t like that stuff being really too personal out there. That’s just how I am. I know some people relish in that, especially in this type of lifestyle where I’m a professional athlete. Some people take that and run with it, but that’s not just my M.O. (modus operandi). I’m a fun-loving type of person. I love this game of football. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world, obviously, than down here playing for the Miami Dolphins. And I love to win. That’s why I went to Alabama, because I love to win. I love to be a competitor. (Head Coach Adam) Gase brought me here because he knows I’m a competitor and he knows that at the end of the day, I have that ability to make big plays in big games. Once I leave this field, I love the game, but I’m a human being at the end of the day.”
(What you said about the 11 teammates being interlinked, does QB Ryan Tannehill make you a better player?) – “Of course, of course. Jay Cutler, he definitely helped me out last year with his experience, because he played a lot of big games throughout his career. With his mannerisms and everything, he definitely helped me not be so animated sometimes. Obviously, it got the best of me at the end of the year last year, from a long season standpoint. And Ryan, with him being there every day last year when he was injured, that definitely helped me see the type of leader he is, the type of person he is, the type of quarterback he is. I feel like he’s definitely the guy that’s going to definitely lead us to a lot more wins this year.”
(Talk about Head Coach Adam Gase a little bit. He talked about your maturity, how much have you changed since your rookie year and what specifically has changed.) – “Honestly, it was just about growing up one day. Everybody has to take that step necessary to be the man that they want to be. Obviously, I’m nowhere near where I want to be, obviously, as a man, as a football player, because I feel like the sky’s the limit for me and for this team in general. I feel like that’s the M.O. (modus operandi) of this team and has been for me personally. Obviously, we’ve been a really young team and that was epitomized with the amount of mental errors we had the last couple years. That was just a whole M.O. for this team. But I feel like now with Ryan (Tannehill) itching to get back out there, the young DBs that we have, the last couple years getting the maturation process going, me going into three years now, the (offensive) line having a couple young guys and obviously bringing in veterans to come in and help mold that group a little bit more with ‘L.T.’ (Laremy Tunsil) on the edge and Ja’Wuan (James) on that other side, I feel like now we are just really going to hit our stride, because we don’t have that excuse that we’re young anymore. We’ve got the veterans that we have now coming back from injuries or that sort (and) the young guys with the experience that we have. I feel like it’s all going to mold together.”
(How have you approached this offseason differently knowing you’re the guy now at running back as opposed to last year when you probably weren’t even sure exactly?) – “How? Me personally or somebody else?”
(You personally.) – “I always try to approach it the same way regardless. I feel like now that I have a lot more experience in the offense in general, it gives me the ability to, obviously, know what I need to know from a simplicity standpoint but then also be able to focus on, ‘Alright now that I know what I have to do, now what is the line doing? Now what is the quarterback thinking on this play? How is the rotation of the safeties going to affect my run, how the line is going to run-fit, how the linebackers fit in this A gap or where is the three technique or the soft shade or whatever? Is he going to make a check from a run play to a pass play?’ I feel like my whole entire maturation process being in this offense, being in this league for two years now going on three, my approach to this year has just been, ‘Now, what else? How else can I expand my horizons?’”
(What is your sense on how fast Head Coach Adam Gase would like his offense to be?) – “I feel like every play he doesn’t want to huddle. He just wants to get up there and call the play from the sideline, get it to Ryan (Tannehill) as quick as possible and kind of get it to where when we get to the line, there’s 20 to 25 seconds on the play clock and then he can kind of see from there what the defense (is showing), how they’re lining up and how we can get to the best play possible. I feel like that’s something that obviously when you’re young and you don’t have a lot of experience with knowing the schematics of everything, you don’t really understand this is what he’s trying to do. Now that I’m in this offense to the point where I’m at now, I can sit back and say, ‘Alright, this is why he’s doing this.’ That’s really the approach that I’ve come to now is the why of everything. Obviously doing everything from knowing what I’ve got to do is the first part. Now, why is this happening?”
(How is the dynamic between you and RB Frank Gore working out? Has he helped you with anything? Have you helped him with anything?) – “Yes. We both have the same, almost, type of personality where it’s laid back and not really a too flashy type of deal. I feel like we definitely feed off of each other. I can see how he’s been the way he is for so many years because of how he just kind of puts his head down and works. I think that’s something I want to definitely mold into my game just because obviously his longevity. He’s definitely one of the … Just knowing him for two months now, he’s definitely one of the more genuine people I’ve ever met.”
(In this day and age, how tough is it to be like that? You see guys on social media and they want to show when they become a big deal.) – “I feel like it’s easy, especially living down here in Miami, to kind of get caught up in a lot of different stuff; but you’ve just got to stay true within yourself. I always have people coming up to me and asking me if they can do videos of me working out and all of that type of stuff and I’m like I don’t really have to go out there and show people that I’m working. What’s going to show that I’m working is when I get on the field and I perform. I don’t have to do all the extra shenanigans and things like that. I just want to go out there and play football and just do it how I’m supposed to do it.”
(What have you seen from the youngster, RB Kalen Ballage?) – “He’s a freak. He runs so smooth that it doesn’t look like he’s really running fast. For him to be as tall (as he is) … It’s funny. Me being more of a long, tall back, I always had trouble running behind my pads; but he always seems to have kind of a natural bend and a natural ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Obviously we don’t have pads on, so blocking is a different story when you get pads on; but he just seems to be definitely a three-tool type of player. I’m just looking to see his development.”
(How did you know that RB Todd Gurley didn’t play? Did you look that up or did you just at some point …) – “Well, it was in … they were like in the playoff hunt so there was no reason to put him out there. I just figured I know him and Kareem Hunt didn’t play. It was nice. I pat myself on the back sometimes but it was by default. (laughter)”
(Are you still going to be playing when you’re 35?) – “Shoot, man. God willing. I don’t know. By 35, I don’t know how my body will feel on this bum ankle and this bad arm.”
(It’s pretty amazing, huh?) – “Yes, it’s amazing. (Frank Gore) told me too that he had what, two ACL surgeries before he even got to the league? So to even battle through that, especially … Obviously he had a pretty good medical staff back then but medicine was different 15 years ago or however long ago he had those surgeries. The fact that he’s been able to battle through that is … It’s really inspiring, almost to a degree, because I don’t feel like he gets the credit he deserves because he should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. You just never know because he doesn’t get that spotlight all of the time.”
(He doesn’t have the spotlight but RB Frank Gore is less than 100 yards away from being the fourth leading rusher.) – “Right. Exactly. I feel like people are like, ‘Really?’ But when you think about it, of course. He’s been playing for so long and he’s been so consistent, how could he not be up in that top area? I feel blessed to have the ability to share the room and share the backfield with somebody that’s obviously, in my opinion, and everybody in this room’s opinion, is going to be a Hall of Famer. Not a lot of people get to say that.”
(If RB Frank Gore tells you something, is it different hearing it from a player than a coach? He could tell you the same thing but because he’s been in the trenches?) – “For sure. Coaches obviously have their role because they’ve earned it, and he’s earned it too from a player standpoint. Obviously seeing somebody that you’ve grown up watching since you were however old, when you get into the same room as him at the same time, you get caught up in yourself. But then when they come to your team, you’re like ‘This is Frank Gore who’s done this and done that.’ You just see him and he’s like a regular guy; but then he goes out there and he puts the work in. He’s diligent with everything that he does. He obviously looks at me and he wants to compete with me too because we’re on the same team; but he’s like ‘You’re young man. You run around fast. I can’t keep up with you.’ He’s 35 but he goes out there and he’s right behind me, if anything. Obviously he’s not as fast as me. (laughter) But at the end of the day, he does what he does and I’m like at 35, I don’t even know if I’ll have that drive and will to keep up with some young 24-year-old. It’s cool to see it for myself.”
(What stood out to you about S Minkah Fitzpatrick during your one year together at Alabama?) – “Just a professional from the jump. It’s rare that you see a freshman come in and just have that mentality like, ‘I want to work. I want to be the best. I want to come here and definitely show that…’ He never looked at the five-star rating that he had or whatever the case was. He just came in, put his head down and was just a professional from the jump. I feel like he’s going to be in this league a very, very long time.”
T.J. McDonald – May 29, 2018
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Tuesday, May 29, 2018
S T.J. McDonald
(What have you done this offseason to make yourself and the team better?) – “I’ve just been working, working hard, getting myself in shape, being able to be more comfortable being in South Florida, being around, being in the facility. Just doing a little bit of everything. Just making sure my diet is good, me personally, that I can play at a high level and I’m in good shape.”
(How difficult was last year for you? Obviously a great training camp and then a two-month layoff.) – “It was tough. It’s hard to try to integrate yourself back into the flow of a game after you’ve sat out for a while; but I’m glad that’s all behind me. I’m going about my business as usual now.”
(How do you see everything fitting in between you and S Reshad Jones and S Minkah Fitzpatrick?) – “I don’t know yet. I don’t know. It’s only the second week of OTAs right now, so it’s still early. I know we’ve got some good players out there. We’ll get the best players on the field and we’ll go from there.”
(Does it feel like a good mix to you or does it feel like some duplication among the three of you as far as your skillsets?) – “I think that we can all do a lot of things. I think that it’s a good mix; but like I said, it’s still early. We haven’t really done too much. We’re all just learning different positions. One thing we are doing is just making sure we all can know both positons, both safety positions. As we continue to progress through OTAs, more packages, more things will go in and we’ll grow as a group from there.”
(Was there any discussion you had after they drafted S Minkah Fitzpatrick with either Defensive Backs Coach Tony Oden or Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke about how that would affect you, your role, playing time, where specifically you would play?) – “Anything that we talk about usually we keep in house; but it was nothing like that, nothing crazy. Like I said, I control what I can control and everything else takes care of itself from there. I’ve played a lot of ball. Reshad (Jones) has played a lot of ball. Minkah is a great player. I think that we can all make it work. However it works out, it’ll all take care of itself.”
(You’ve probably heard speculation anyway that, “T.J. McDonald might be moving to linebacker.” When you heard that, what was your reaction when you heard that?) – “As long as I’ve got a helmet on, it doesn’t matter. I hear all of that … I’ve been at safety this whole time I’ve been in the league, so that’s all speculation. I didn’t hear any of that from the coaches. From what I know, I’m playing safety and I’m going to continue to do that at a high level the best that I can.”
(Could you do it? Does it feel like something that’s just ludicrous to you or do you feel like, “I could transition to linebacker if I had to?”) – “As a competitor, I don’t think anything is ludicrous. Me as a competitor, I’m a physical player. Like I said, I’m a safety. However we’ve got to put it, however we’ve got to mesh together, wherever we’ve got to go, I’m just going to go out there and make plays and control what I can control.”
(They obviously ruled out you playing linebacker, but probably the door is open for you to play dime. Is that something you’ve done in the past?) – “I’ve been in the box. I think that that’s … Whether you’re at dime, whether you’re on the strong side or weak side … Sometimes when you’re playing in the box you rotate strong, you rotate weak. You’ve got to be able to be versatile and do it all. Like I said, I feel like I can do a lot of things – playing deep, playing in the box, whatever the case may be. However it unfolds, I’m going to try to do my best to help this team win.”
(How much has the NFL changed to where you use a big combination of a lot of defensive backs in a defensive set?) – “It has. It has changed a lot. It’s a passing league. Even in the league now where they spread you out however they can, even if they’re running the ball, it’s not the same style that it used to be. To have faster bodies on the field is good thing; but like I said, we’ve got a lot of good players on this defense, a lot of people that are versatile, that can move around at all three levels. That’s a good problem to have, I would say.”
(How about because of the rule change from the time you entered the league until now, the big hitting safety is being legislated …) – “You’ve just got to know what you’re doing. (laughter) I haven’t taken one since I’ve been in the league. Like I said, I’ve been the same style my entire career. I’ve been a physical player. I only know how to play the game one way. I’ve been fortunate enough to not take any flags and just be able to play the game the right way.”
(You played with DE Robert Quinn with the Los Angeles Rams, obviously. Can you tell me your reaction when you heard about the trade and what can he bring to the defense?) – “I was excited. Robert is a game changer. I’ve watched him change games. He’s going to go out there and give it his all every time. He’s a grinder. I was excited about it. It’s crazy seeing me, him and Will (Hayes) all together. We were sitting in the sauna and we’re like, ‘Man, this is kind of different;’ But I’m glad to have those guys and Robert is going to be a great addition.”
(Have you and your teammates gotten a clear explanation yet about exactly what the new rule change is about not being able to lower the head at all?) – “We usually … during camp we usually have the officials come in and they come and talk to us and make it more clear. They’ll put more clips on the board so we can really get a clear vision about what’s going on. There’s always going to be changes every year. (You) try to be as healthy as you can, try to play the game safe and also play at a high level.”
(You’ve played against QB Ryan Tannehill, if I’m not mistaken. What do you see out here now that he’s back as far as mobility, accuracy, arm strength, etc.?) – “He looks good. He looks good. He looks real good right now. His leadership is also great on and off the field. We’re excited to have him back so we can keep growing as a group, growing as a team. Like I said, his leadership is what I think we missed the most and just having him in the locker room and being able to take control of that offense.”
(Do you think this defense will be better?) – “I think so. That’s the goal every year. We want to be the best we can be.”
(What makes you think that will be the case?) – “Just hungry. We’re just hungry. We’ve just got a hungry defense. Right now, we’re trying to … Our camaraderie as a group is better than last year, I feel like. I feel like we’re growing week by week. We’re working a lot harder than we did last year. I’m not saying we didn’t work hard last year, but I think all the guys can feel the upward momentum through practice. The way we’re practicing right now, we’re setting the standard right now and I feel like that can only play off in the future.”
(What’s going to help this defense create more turnovers this season?) – “Running to the ball. Getting to the ball. More hustle. More energy. I think that’s contagious. Once you set that culture up and you set that standard – getting to the ball, playing physical and being a nasty defense – once you set that standard now, I think that energy is contagious and I think that’ll help.”
(With the new secondary coach – Defensive Backs Coach Tony Oden – is he stressing something different?) – “Communication. Communication is a big thing. I think there were some instances last year where we lacked some communication. That’s the biggest emphasis that he brings. That’s what we’re doing right now, making sure that we all communicate, we’re all on the same page, we’re all making sure that we get into a contract with each other on the field through verbal communication, hand signs, whatever it is. He definitely does a good job of stressing that. I think it’ll definitely pay off, especially big plays.”
(When you look at the talent that you guys have in the secondary, do you feel like that should’ve been better last year as a group?) – “Yes, I think we gave up too many big plays last year. That’s the biggest thing that you don’t want to do is let the ball get over your head. I think that going into this season, that’s a big emphasis for us is don’t let the ball get over our head and make plays on the ball when it comes our way.”
(What’s the ceiling for that group now if you guys can get it together this year?) – “I don’t want to put a ceiling on it. I know that right now we’re working. We’re working hard right now. We’re grinding and we want to be the best that we can be. We want to be the best in the league. That’s what we want to be. That’s where we’re putting the time in right now.”
(What are the signs to you that the camaraderie is better?) – “I don’t know necessarily that you can … How to explain it. It’s just a feeling that you get. I just think that we’re all playing for one another. We’re all rooting for one another. It seems like it’s a closer group (and) at the same time, we’re demanding the best out of each other and that started Day 1. We’ve just got to keep that up.”
(The secondary, you guys are being coached by Assistant Defensive Backs Coach Renaldo Hill, who was a former Dolphins player and recently played in the NFL. What’s that like to be coached by somebody who’s recently been in the league?) – “It’s good. You get a player perspective in the room. That’s always good – someone who has done it and somebody who’s been in the same position that you’ve been in and not looking from the outside in. That definitely helps.”
(Why has CB Bobby McCain been effective in the league?) – “He’s a smart player. He’s a smart player. He studies. He studies and he’s a smart player. He’s quick. He’s a competitor and that’s the biggest thing is his grit. Even though with his size, he’s got a great heart. That grit, that energy that he brings, it’s going to help any defense.”
(Is there anything that sets CB Bobby McCain apart as far as hands, feet, tracking the ball, anything, any traits like that?) – “He’s quick. He’s quick. I think he had one of the fastest shuttles coming out in the history of the Combine or something like that. He’s quick and combined with his mental approach to the game, it pays off in the slot.”
(How have the battles been going between you guys in the secondary and QB Ryan Tannehill?) – “I think we’re good. Like I said, it’s still early. We’re three practices … We just finished our fourth practice. The first couple days, I felt like the defense had the upper hand. They did a great job today; but we’re competing together. We’re out competing.”
(Did QB Ryan Tannehill surprise you at all?) – “He’s a good quarterback.”
(Is QB Ryan Tannehill a little different than what you guys were used to going against last year?) – “He went through OTAs last year. It’s about the same thing but … It’s still early. He’s a great quarterback. I’ve played against him from both sides now. Being on this side, I’m definitely glad to have him on this side.”
(You have to go against a couple new receivers this year – WR Danny Amendola and WR Albert Wilson. What stands out for you with those two guys?) – “(Danny) Amendola is a savvy guy. He’s good off the line with his releases. He’s a tough guy, a tough gritty guy. I’m glad to have him on this side. Albert Wilson is another guy that can run. He can run. He’s got great hands. We definitely got some good weapons on the other side of the ball.”
(QB Brock Osweiler, have you played against him and have you noticed anything about him out here aside from size?) – “I played against him in the past. I’ve seen him out there on the field and everything. He’s huge. I played against him in college, too. He was at Arizona State. He’s definitely had a lot of games in this league and he’s played and he’s been a starter in the league before, so he’s a good guy to have on this team.”
(One more quick one on QB Ryan Tannehill. It’s not unusual for offensive players to talk about that he was missed as a leader. I found it noteworthy you talked from your side of the ball that he was missed. Does he talk to defensive players much? Is there much conversation?) – “A little more than I think that people think. He’s a competitor, too. Sometimes if you say something to somebody or you can talk a little trash to the offense, a lot of guys turn around and just walk to the huddle; but he’ll come back at you. That brings that competitive spirit that you need as a team – not just as a defense or offense but as a team. He’s a good guy to have in the locker room, too.”
Jesse Davis – May 29, 2019
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Tuesday, May 29, 2018
G Jesse Davis
(How has life at guard been for you as opposed to playing guard and tackle last year?) – “Yes, it’s definitely a lot easier focusing on one spot. It’s the same as last year. I finished the season out at guard so I’m not shocked to be there; but it’s a lot better to be there rather than switching from left to right or vice versa.”
(When did you find out you were going to be a full-time guard? I think when we talked to you at the golf tournament, you weren’t sure.) – “It was actually Day 1 of OTAs. (Offensive Line) Coach (Jeremiah) Washburn called me up and he was like, ‘Hey, we haven’t told you yet.’ (laughter) I was like, ‘Well, I figured it would kind of come out somewhere.’ He said, ‘You’re going to get the right guard spot starting out.’ He said he thinks I earned it and they like what they see so far.”
(We always hear coaches say they want to get guys prepared for different positions but is it almost better to just say this is where you’re going to play and when a problem arises, you just fix it as it comes?) – “I guess to answer your question, it’s better off to have one spot and play that, that way they know exactly what they’re looking at and not be like, ‘Oh, I guess he had two reps at left tackle during that series,’ and not be like ‘He took all of them at right guard so he wasn’t facing adversity. He’s trying to do his job.’”
(What was your reaction when Offensive Line Coach Jeremiah Washburn says you’ve got the right guard spot?) – “I guess I was kind of surprised when he said, ‘You’re getting the start right guard spot.’ He obviously said I earned it and it made me feel good about my field of play during last season. Obviously I have a lot to grow and a lot to learn; but I was happy about it. I feel like I finally have a foot in the door somewhere, where I can kind of project myself into my career.”
(Are your wedding plans still going well?) – “Yes, they are. June 30th.”
(Head Coach Adam Gase said chemistry is the reason he wanted five guys running together a lot, like as much as possible. What do you think are some of the keys or the biggest key to actually getting chemistry right?) – “Obviously just getting those reps, especially right now with no pads on, it’s a lot different. Your hand placement has to be on point, like you’re passing off a guy to my right tackle or center. Just getting those reps and getting those timing things down – the timing steps either with your center or your tackle – and just going through practice and getting those reps are valuable.”
(You said that you were surprised when they basically announced that you were the starting right guard. Why the surprise?) – “I guess because I’m a younger guy and we’ve got guys coming off injuries coming back. I thought Ted Larsen was primarily a right guard and he’s had 50 (or so) more games than I do. I was kind of surprised in that aspect. Ted’s a great player. I’m glad they think that (it’s a good idea) putting me there and get my reps and we can win it that way and see who is better at that position.”
(Is it crazy to think about, because at this time last year, you were coming off and you were on the practice squad. You weren’t even sure of making the roster and now you’re a starter.) – “Yes, it was definitely a rollercoaster. You go from all of those injuries to getting those valuable reps to becoming a starter and kind of sitting back going, ‘Whoa. Things are happening pretty quick.’ Now I’m in a position to where I’m starting versus, ‘Am I a bubble guy? Am I going to be released here if they sign a different guy?’ It’s definitely a rollercoaster.”
(Was it a matter of getting a chance? What did you learn or do?) – “I think getting a chance and also believing in myself. I always asked ‘Can I play in the NFL?’ I finally got a game under (my belt) and I’m like, ‘This isn’t too bad. I can actually do this.’ Just getting that confidence and thinking what you can do.”
(What do you think about the offensive line in general? There have been two new additions – G Josh Sitton and C Daniel Kilgore. How do you see the line coming together? How good can this line be?) – “I think it’s going to be really good. Getting Sitton and Kilgore, they’re really good players – tough players. (They have) tons of games under their belts. They can teach our room a lot. We’re kind of relatively young in the room. Getting those two older guys in will help a lot. It will be crucial.”
(Have you seen any G Josh Sitton video? Is there anything that you’ve seen him do on film and you’re like “Wow. I would like to do some of that stuff.”) – “Yes, just about everything. (laughter) We watched a lot of Chicago film with (Head Coach Adam) Gase, so seeing (Sitton) and his game reps from previous years, he’s a great athlete. You wouldn’t expect it as a big guy, but he’s a hell of an athlete. He can move. He can do it all. You kind of want to take some of his aspects of games and say, ‘Maybe I can use this on a certain play,’ or if you’re struggling or something, because he has a lot of good things and good qualities.”
(G Josh Sitton said he might shave. He said he might shave his facial hair.) – “That’s probably because it’s too humid down here for him. (laughter)”
(Would you ever consider that or is that off the table?) – “Me? Shaving? No, I wouldn’t’ shave. But (Josh) Sitton? I don’t know. We’ll see.”
(So what’s the wedding planning been like?) – “Just hectic. (laughter) We’re getting so close to it, you’re just kind of like … All you want to do when you get home is do your own thing and watch film; but she wants to wedding plan. (laughter)”
(Did you argue about where you’re going on your honeymoon?) – “No. It was actually … We’ve never been to Hawaii and we thought Maui would be pretty fun.”
(Yikes. Are you aware what’s going on over there?) – “Yes. It’s a different island. We’re good. (laughter)”
(If it was Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke, he would climb the volcano.) – “(laughter) Yes, we’ll see how it gets.”
(The level of interaction the offensive line has with QB Ryan Tannehill, has he taken you all collectively as a group out for an outing yet? Just how much is there in terms of you guys interacting?) – “No, we haven’t actually done anything yet. Hopefully he has something up his sleeve though. (laughter) But no, just locker room stuff and on the field. Him being in the building, he’s a hell of a worker. I don’t think I’ve ever been in and not seen him in the building when I’ve been in here. He’s always doing something – rehabbing, getting extra (treatment), coming up to us with something like ‘Hey, we’re going to try this today or we might try that.’ It’s awesome what he does. He’s a great leader. He gets us all together and gets us all on the same page. I think it’s going to be awesome to work with him.”
(Do you get texts from QB Ryan Tannehill ever during the offseason?) – “No, I haven’t had any.”
(You obviously earned the starting job but what about continuing to earn the starting job?) – “Yes, that’s the thing is you have to hold it down. You can’t be like … You have to reinvent yourself every day. A coach told me that my rookie year and it’s always stuck with me. You can’t just come in here thinking that you’ve got something. You’ve got to come in here with an attitude and mindset that I’ve got to take that job every day. That’s why I’m the first one to see a mistake that I’ve made and I’m always hard on myself; but you have to have a fine line. You can’t beat yourself up because then you’ll forget the next play or something.”
(How much does confidence play a role in that because obviously the skills were there. As you said, it’s just doing.) – “Being in a game too, once you’re locked in, you’re locked in. You can think about the mistakes later; but yes, I just gained that confidence. You’re going against a guy that’s a pretty decent player and you’re like ‘Oh, we’ll see how this goes.’ You’ve kind of got to jump off that ledge and see what happens.”
(Was there a point – a time or a game – where you can point to where…) – “Probably my first start. I think (it was) Baltimore (on a) Thursday Night, under the lights. It was a pretty big stage. All of your friends are watching back home. You don’t want to make a mistake. I think it ended up being a pretty solid game (for me). I think I got bull rushed like 90 percent of the plays, so it wasn’t too bad.”
(How surprised were you by the C Mike Pouncey move and have you talked to Mike?) – “I talked to Mike when he left. I texted him and wished him well. Good for him. I think everybody deserves as much money as they can get in this league. I was surprised by the move and how quick it happened, right when we were coming up to OTA Phase I; but any more, nothing really surprises you too much in this league.”
(So where is the wedding?) – “Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. It’s on a lake. It’s like an Indian reservation. It’s really nice up there in North Idaho. You guys should Google it.”
(How did you choose that?) – “It’s actually about an hour and a half from where I went to college. It’s really pretty up there with the trees and a lake – a huge lake. I think (Brock) Osweiler has a cabin on that lake, so you should ask him about that. (laughter)”
Reshad Jones – May 24, 2018
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Thursday, May 24, 2018
S Reshad Jones
(What do you want to accomplish in 2018?) – “Really, no goals. Just be consistent and be the same guy I’ve been the past nine years. (I want to) be one of the leaders on this team now that I’m one of the older guys here and lead by example, not by my mouth.”
(Your thoughts when you heard that the Dolphins drafted S Minkah Fitzpatrick and what are your impressions of him?) – “He’s been making plays, getting his hands on balls early. I think it was a good pickup. I think he will definitely help us. I’m glad we got another DB, another guy in the room.”
(One thing that’s been tossed around is, having three safeties on the field at times. Obviously we saw that with S Maurice Smith on the field before the appendectomy last year. What kind of package could you S T.J McDonald, and S Minkah Fitzpatrick do? What strengths would that bring?) – “I think we all are versatile safeties. I can play strong safety, free safety. I guess it gives us an extra element of coverage. We have two strong defensive ends right now that are going to get after the quarterback. I know with Minkah on the field and all three of us on the field, that gives us that extra lockdown coverage.”
(We haven’t seen LB Raekwon McMillan play in a game yet. What do you think his strengths will be in front of you guys?) – “I think it will be good. Raekwon’s a big body. He’s been very vocal out there, taking on that leadership middle linebacker role. I think he’ll be very good and he’ll be helpful for us this year.”
(Have you seen any signs with CB Xavien Howard that he’s progressing, that he’s maturing and moving into that veteran status at all?) – “’X’ is being ‘X.’ He’s getting after it. We all have a common goal right now, to just come out here and get one percent better, like our coach preaches. I think he’s doing that. I think he had a small injury. He’s working through that and he’s out there trying to make plays for us.”
(Do you see things improving for him? Do you see things that he is approaching differently where he doesn’t seem like a rookie anymore to you?) – “I think he’s getting more knowledge of the game, as far as seeing things a little bit differently. He is recognizing formations and different things like that, so I would say yes.”
(I think you had your 30th birthday not that long ago, right?) – “Yes.”
(What does that mean to you in terms of being a professional athlete and turning 30 and where you feel you are in your career?) – “I still feel 18. I still feel like I have a lot of ball left ahead of me. I still feel good, I don’t feel 30.”
(This might make you feel old too, but this is your ninth season. Is that hard to believe?) – “Yes, it is a little hard to believe.”
(When you come into this league, you want to provide for your family. But, you also want to win too. Any frustration to not really getting to that point? You’ve been to the playoffs once, but being a competitor year in and year out, has that kind of eaten at you a little bit?) – “A little bit, but I just control what I control. I come and work my butt off and do everything that I can to help this team win. Whatever happens, happens.”
(What gives you confidence that this year will be different than years past?) – “It’s early. I can’t really tell right now. I feel like we’ve got the right guys in the locker room. There’s been a lot of changes around here. The culture feels a little bit different. It feels better. I just think we’re headed in the right directions.”
(How would you describe the personality and the leadership style of the new secondary coach, Tony Oden?) – “Tony’s a great dude. He’s a family guy. You can tell that he cares about us not only on the field, but off the field too. He asks about your family members and different things like that. It’s fun being with a guy like that. He’s been around also. He knows football. He knows the game. I think he’ll be very helpful for the young guys this year in our room.”
(In terms of how Defensive Backs Coach Tony Oden and former Defensive Backs Coach Lou Anarumo teach technique, can you sense that there is a big difference in how they teach technique?) – “Not really. For us, everything is pretty much the same for the safeties. The cornerbacks can tell you a little bit different. He works with the corners a little bit more than he works with us. Like I said, he’s a family guy. We have fun in the room. He has a lot of knowledge of the game. He’s been on Super Bowl teams. He knows what it looks like and how to get it done.”
(How would you assess how you and S T.J McDonald play as a tandem once he came back? And where is there room for improvement?) – “T.J and I played together a little bit later. I’m excited to see early on what we can do. I think me and T.J are interchangeable. We’re both versatile safeties. I can play free, he can play fee. I can play strong, he can play strong. I think it will be exciting for us to see early on, to have both of us on the field at the same time at the beginning of the season.”
(What can help your secondary produce more turnovers than last years total of eight?) – “Just tightening up coverage. I think it’s a total defensive effort. Pass rushers getting to the quarterback, us tightening up coverage, communicating a little bit better. Different things like that.”
(Has S Minkah Fitzpatrick been picking your brain and what is some advice you’d give him?) – “He hasn’t really picked my brain too much. I‘ve been helping him on little things; but, what advice I can give him is to be yourself. Continue to do what you’ve done to this point. Continue to be Minkah. I think he’ll be fine.”
(What was your initial reaction when you saw the Dolphins were drafting a safety in the first round?) – “It’s about time. We haven’t drafted a safety in a while. I think it was about time for us to get another defensive back in the room. I didn’t really have a reaction. I think it was helpful. I think it was a good move.”
(How was LB Raekwon McMillan doing last offseason? He was a rookie that was still pretty new. As far as just commanding the defense a running everything.) – “Last year, you said?”
(Last year when LB Raekwon McMillan was practicing with you guys.) – “I really didn’t pay attention to him too much last year. I don’t think we got as many reps together either, last year; so I wasn’t really paying attention to him like that.”
(What are your reaction to the NFL changing the way we do the National Anthem?) – “I really have no comment on it.”
(In sports, when someone is traded, released or whatever, it’s the next man up. What kind of blow was it to the defense with DT Ndamukong Suh not lining up here?) – “I’m going to miss him. I think Ndamukong Suh was a great guy, a great friend and a great talent on the field too. He’s a dominant force. A guy like that just leaving is going to definitely affect us a little bit; but I think we’ve got the right guys in our room and on this team that can step up and fill that void.”
(I know it’s early, but you’re way-too-early impressions of QB Ryan Tannehill as he comes back from the knee injury?) – “Ryan is a competitor. I’ve been seeing him work all offseason. While we’re working, he’s been here working. He’s one of the first guys in the building. He’s been looking good. He’s been making all of the right throws. He’s been making plays out there. I’m excited to have him back as our starting quarterback.”
(I can remember a couple of years back when we talked about how much making the Pro Bowl would mean to you when you hadn’t made it yet. Now that you’ve made it a couple of times, what sort of statement do you think you make to the rest of the league? What do you think others think of when they think of Reshad Jones?) – “It really doesn’t matter. Like I’ve always said, I know I’m one of the best safeties in this leagues. I know what I can do in this league. All I’m here to do is continue to do whatever it takes to win games. The contract situation is behind me and all of those things are behind me. My main focus is to help this team win and be the best teammate and player that I can be.”
(You’ve had an eight-year career here. Have you given any thought to finishing your career here and possibly being a Ring of Honor kind of player?) – “Most definitely. I definitely would like to retire. I’ve been here nine years. My family’s here. I don’t want to go anywhere at this point. Nine years in being with the same team is kind of rare; but I’d love to finish as a Miami Dolphin.”
(What do you think you need to do to get that Ring of Honor kind of status?) – “I really haven’t looked at that. Like I said, I want to come and be consistent and keep doing what I’ve been doing and let everything else – all those honors and recognition and accolades –handle itself.”
(It’s so rare to see a player go his entire career with one team. Would that be kind of something you’d really cherish if you were able to pull that off?) – “Yes, most definitely, I’d love to be here. I love Miami, I love the fans, I love everything about it. I was blessed to be drafted by one of the teams I wanted to come to. I’d definitely like to end my career here, if that’s possible.”
Raekwon McMillan – May 24, 2018
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Thursday, May 24, 2018
LB Raekwon McMillan
(How is the knee feeling?) – “Man, it feels good to be standing up again in front of you all. (laughter) It feels good to be back. My knee feels good. I’m out there doing everything at practice and (have) no limitations, so I’m out there flying around.”
(Do you think about your knee when you are out there or no?) – “No. That’s the worst thing you can do is think about it. I kind of got some advice from Frank Gore and (Ryan) Tannehill, that went through it a little bit last year. (They said) just when you get out there and you’re going, that needs to be the last thing on your mind.”
(What was it like to have all of that buildup to your rookie season and then have it taken away from you before it ever got going?) – “It was hard at first; but then I kind of sucked it up and told myself that I could either let this year be a waste or prepare myself for next year, because I know next year there is going to be a role to start. I can’t have any setbacks.”
(Yours was kind of the flukiest of fluke injuries, right? I mean you run down a punt and you just collide with a teammate.) – “Yes, it was a little quirky injury. Everything happens for a reason, so I wouldn’t call it a fluke; but yes, I got a little nudge and it happened. I took it from there.”
(What has been the hardest part of the last nine months?) – “The hardest part is just getting back, just baby steps. Every day you’re not going to be … Not walking one day and then walking the next. It was taking one step today, taking two steps the next day and then eventually getting to full speed. That’s the hardest part is just the daily grind. You don’t move as fast as you want to, but you’re always moving.”
(Obviously you were focused on getting back last year but was there any football knowledge that you gained? Anything that you can now apply to actual playing?) – “Yes, for sure. I got to watch Chase Allen grow into the player that he is right now. Chase did a great job coming in and filling in. Just talking with him, he was kind of like my boy when we were coming in through camp and learning together. During the season, just watching him out there doing it while I’m still going to all of the meetings and talking, it just helped my mental game. Now that I’m back out there, I’m still with the guys.”
(And you can apply that knowledge to stuff?) – “Yes.”
(Obviously you’re a young man and an inexperienced player, but you’re going to be right in the middle of things. So how, as a young man with not a lot of game experience, do you be a leader? How do you do that?) – “It all comes with confidence and knowing what I’m doing, being able to tell guys what they’re doing around me, and when they ask, have a definite answer, not like ‘Oh, I don’t know. Let me go ask coach.’ When they come to me as the Mike linebacker, I need to know. A leader isn’t just a title that you get because you’re the Mike linebacker. Leader is a title that you get because you put in the work day in and day out during the offseason and leading up until now.”
(Do you feel like this is sort of your “rookie year” or second year? A little bit in between?) – “I’ve got like one and a half, I guess. (laughter) Whatever you want to call it. So yes, this is my rookie and a half (year). (laughter)”
(Was there a point in your rehab that you said to yourself, “I’m going to be all the way back. I’m going to be better than I was before?”) – “Yes. When I finally started doing regular stuff, like going to Top Golf and going to swim and going out to shoot a little basketball, when I knew I could do that, I knew I was going to be okay.”
(How well was it going for you last year? How ready to take over that middle linebacker spot were you, before it was taken away?) – “I mean I was still a rookie last year and I was still being thrown into the fire; but I was very confident in myself and what I could do on the field. I felt like I could have done big things last year, but it just had to wait until the next year.”
(When the Dolphins picked LB Jerome Baker, were you watching it? Did you hear about it?) – “I was actually in the movies when it happened. (laughter) I was tweeting from the movies. Everybody saw me tweeting but I was in the movies and the people beside me were getting mad because I was on the phone the whole time. (laughter) But yes, they drafted my boy ‘Bake.’ I recruited him to Ohio State, so it just kind of feels good again to have him back with me here so I can teach him a little bit of what I know.”
(You mentioned Top Golf and all of that, when was that? When did you start to feel normal again?) – “I have no idea. (It was) like January or February.”
(So it took the whole season for you to kind of get back to that point?) – “Yes. I mean I’d say about December, January and February is when I started feeling like myself again.”
(When the injury first happened, did it cross your mind that it was crazy for it to be on the first play?) – “Yes. When I was on the ground, I was sitting there like, ‘Wow.’ I knew something was up as soon as it happened because I’ve never been hurt before and when I jumped up to try to run again – if you go back and look at it – when I first fell, I jumped right back up and tried to run but it just didn’t feel right. I sat back down and I knew something was up. I was like, ‘Man, this is crazy. This is the first time I’m touching the field, period, and I’m hurt.’ Yes, it was crazy.”
(What are the skills that you saw from LB Jerome Baker, going back to his Ohio State days, that can help this defense?) – “Some games I played in him with – Oklahoma, at Oklahoma, at Wisconsin – he really played some ball in those games. It wasn’t a one-man show out there. He was out there playing ball. When we played the team up north – that’s Michigan (laughter) – I think I had like 19 tackles or something like that and he was right behind me with like 18. He was out there balling. From then on, I knew he had a chance. Personally, I thought he was going to be an early second-round pick; but they had circumstances last year at Ohio State that made him drop down a little bit. He’s definitely a good ball player.”
(How do you see your role on this defense?) – “I’m the Mike. I’m the middle linebacker, the guy in the middle, the quarterback of the defense. I’m trying to become a leader out there. There’s nothing given to me, so I’m going to try to work my way into that leadership spot.”
(When a defense loses a guy like DT Ndamukong Suh, how can it be better?) – “Bringing in young talent. They’ve got to work to become that. He’s definitely one of the top 100 players in the league, as you all saw from NFL Network. He was voted on by the other players. He’s a dominant force in the middle. We just have to bring in talent to come and do what he did.”
(To what extent did you and QB Ryan Tannehill go through this process together?) – “We got our surgery on the same exact day. (laughter) We got back here on the day and we started rehab the same exact day. From Day 1, it was always a competition. Who could walk without their crutches first? Who could run full-speed under water first? It was just little stuff. Who can get a bigger quad muscle? (laughter) It was just really stupid stuff like that to keep competing with each other. Also, Isaiah Ford too was in that competition with us, even though he had a smaller injury. We all kept the light on each other.”
(Was going through it with QB Ryan Tannehill helpful to you?) – “Yes, for sure, because he always kept me up. Some days I wasn’t feeling too good and I just couldn’t do what I wanted to do. He always kept me positive and kept my mind right, because he had went through it last year.”
(Who won the competition? There’s a competition for everything.) – “I won. (laughter) I mean, I don’t know. (Ryan) Tannehill progressed a little bit faster than me because he just knew what the deal was with his knee. He wasn’t scared of the aches and pains that come with it. He moved along and helped me move along, as well.”
(Were you scared of the aches and pains when you had them?) – “Was I scared of them? Yes, but I got surgery for a reason. The surgery was so that I wouldn’t have the aches and pains anymore. It went away eventually.”
Xavien Howard – May 24, 2018
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Thursday, May 24, 2018
CB Xavien Howard
(I saw on social media you were hanging out with a Baylor guy, right? Was it QB Bryce Petty?) – “Yes, Bryce.”
(How well do you know QB Bryce Petty and what do you think about him joining the team?) – “He’s a great guy. I played with him. I had two years with him at Baylor. He’s a great guy. He can come out there and compete.”
(Your excellent close to last season, obviously the Monday Night game and the way you played, what did it do as far as your confidence and being used as fuel this offseason?) – “This offseason, I’m going out there and really just competing. Just going off last year, I ended the season well. I’m just getting better. It’s a new year. I’m getting better each year.”
(What do you think attributes to the slow starts you had last year?) – “I don’t know. We’re just growing. I try to get better each game, try to show improvement and stuff like that. At the end of the season, I guess I came well at the end.”
(What was the difference with the end of the season?) – “Really just going out there and knowing the quarterback, what I put on film earlier during the season, stuff they’re going to try to attack and really just working on that.”
(Was there anything that you changed in October, November as far as how much you studied film, anything technique-wise that might’ve led to you playing so well?) – “I was pressing more towards the end of the season. I was going to get my hands on the guys and stuff like that. Nothing (with) film. I stayed watching film. So really nothing (big), just changing my technique really.”
(Do you feel like you’re past the early, the learning part of your transition in the NFL, that now you’re expected to play like a veteran basically?) – “Oh, yes. We’ve got to turn it up to the next level. (It’s a) new year, new team, new goals. We’ve just got to go out there and just compete.”
(So for you, what stuff comes naturally now? What stuff were you trying to learn originally in those first couple years and now it’s just very natural for you?) – “I’d say just learning formations and stuff like that. Knowing what I put on film, (I’m just learning) what quarterbacks will try to attack at stuff like that. (I’m) just looking where my weaknesses (are) and stuff that I need to improve that a lot of quarterbacks try to go to.”
(When you say you were pressing more, was that your decision to do that or the coaches told you to do that or how did that come about?) – “The coaches. They said they want us to put our hands on receivers and stuff like that. We played a couple of good receivers and stuff like that. So, just knowing what our best … What my strength is doing is just pressing, knowing what I do well.”
(Would you like to do that more, like maybe all the time?) – “Oh, yes. I have no problem pressing. I did that in college. I pressed a lot. To the next level, I’m really just turning it up.”
(How would you describe the personality and leadership style of your new position coach, Tony Oden, and what’s a message that he has been saying to you guys a lot?) – “We just agreed to come in there and we’ve just got to finish. We’ve got to finish strong and study stuff that we had put on film and stuff last year, that again, people have seen. He’s really just telling us (to) finish and try to make plays out there.”
(What’s Defensive Backs Coach Tony Oden’s personality like?) – “He played in the league a couple years, so he really can contribute and let us know what we’re doing wrong and stuff like that. Just knowing he’s been out there and he knows how it is out there on the field.”
(Do you have concrete goals for this year – Pro Bowl, interceptions, anything like that?) – “No. Just continue. We’re just trying to get better each day.”
(How would you know this is a good year for you then? What is it that would say, “Man, I had a good year this year?”) – “I’d just say going out there and really just competing. I don’t know whatever come to the end, whatever we do, whatever we have, stuff like that.”
(What are you impressions thus far of S Minkah Fitzpatrick?) – “He’s a great guy. I saw him make a lot of plays at Alabama. I was watching him when I was in the league. Just seeing him out there making plays, I know he’s a playmaker.”
(Having said that, you have S T.J. McDonald, you have S Reshad Jones and then they take a safety in the first round. What was going through your mind?) – “I really didn’t think about it. It brings competition to the group. Everybody is out there working. Nobody has a job right now. Nobody knows they’re going to start or not, so it just brings competition to the group.”
(How many times, if at all, have you watched the Patriots game and your play in that game? Have you watched it a single time since the season ended?) – “I’m not really focused on that. It’s a new year. I’ve got to achieve some more than that.”
(Are you more likely to watch tape of games where you didn’t play as well as you wanted as opposed to games where you played really well?) – “Yes, sir. It’s stuff we got to learn on. Like I was saying, I had to go back and watch film, see what I was doing wrong that the quarterback was attacking. So just going off that, really just watching film overall (and) watching other players (and) what they do well and stuff like that, and just learning.”
(When you talked with Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke at the end of the season, what did he tell you needs to happen for you to improve?) – “I need to start fast. He just said I need to start fast. I need to start how I ended the season.”
(Does that require a different approach to the offseason than what you’ve had or is that just going to be a natural progression?) – “Yes, a natural progression. Just knowing what I did and knowing I’ve got to feed off that and I’ve got to turn it up.”
(This is Year 3 for you now. How important a season is this?) – “It’s a big season for me and the team. We’re just going out there. We didn’t have a good season last year, I’d say. We’re just trying to get better each day, come out there and play ball.”
(A lot of times players, they make a big leap from Year 1 to 2 and then in Year 3, they really become the player they’re going to be in their career. Do you see this as the year that you can really establish yourself as one of those elite corners?) – “I believe that. Yes, I believe I can be a top corner in the league just going out there and really just playing. So, I’d just say just going out there and doing me.”
(Were you good the last two years in your opinion?) – “No. I struggled a lot. It’s a part of just coming to the NFL. Stuff that I was doing in college I can’t do in the league. You see different receivers and stuff like that. Really, I’m just learning the game and knowing what I can do, knowing what I’m best at doing and just sticking to that instead of trying to do everything else that … I know my weaknesses and stuff like that, so really just knowing what I do well.”
(Were you frustrated often?) – “No. Really, it was just learning everything, trying to get to it. I was really big on trying to know what they’re going to do and stuff like that. In college, I wasn’t really watching film and stuff like that. I was just going on my athletic ability; but in the league, it’s a different level.”
(Technically you’re competing against him right now, but what do you see from QB Ryan Tannehill?) – “That’s a great guy. We need him a lot. He’s a big aspect out there. We know just … Going against Ryan Tannehill, I see a lot of good things in him and stuff like that. As you said, we’re competing against each other. He’s making me better and I’m making him better.”
(From 2016, last year not getting to see him at all, is QB Ryan Tannehill looking more like the guy you competed against back then? What do you see?) – “Yes, he’s getting better. As I said, right now it’s the third day of OTAs and we’re just going to get better and see how it goes.”
(How much time, if any, have you spent – and the other DBs have spent – on addressing the NFL’s new rules regarding tackling leading with the helmet, possible penalties, ejections if you do it the wrong way? How much have you guys talked about that?) – “I haven’t really, really looked into it like that; but I’d say it really affects nothing about how we tackle and stuff like that. Even though certain ways people tackle, leading with the head and stuff … In different situations offensive players have defensive players in. We just need to know how to tackle and do everything well. We’re practicing that a lot right now in OTAs.”
Jordan Phillips – May 24, 2018
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Thursday, May 24, 2018
DT Jordan Phillips
(Your thoughts when you had heard the Dolphins decided to move on from DT Ndamukong Suh?) – “He’s a mentor. I was sad to see him go, but it’s all part of the business. I wish him well. I know he’s going to do great things where he’s at and that’s about it on that.”
(Having a guy that who’s so substantial at what DT Ndamukong Suh did up there, how’s it going to affect the team on the field?) – “It’s hard to replace a man like Suh, but we don’t have an option to do it. It needs to get done, so we’re going to do what it takes to get (it done).”
(I know you dealt with injuries last year, but did you feel like that aside, you approached things a better way, that last year was a little bit of a step forward for you?) – “I mean my production wasn’t what I wanted it to be. The good games I played, I still did really well. So, I’ve got to keep it moving forward.”
(You had talked last offseason about taking a better approach and looking for more consistency. Do you feel like you were able to accomplish that in spite of injuries?) – “Yes. I felt like my play was really good last year.”
(As far as snap count for you, I think there’s the expectation it’s going to go up. Do you know realistically how much you could handle a game? Are we talking in the 40s? Obviously exhausting work.) – “I don’t think snap count has an effect with anything. I played 30 to 40 snaps last year, as well.”
(Is there a suspicion that it’s going to go up?) – “I couldn’t tell you.”
(Because that’s the message that we got.) – “I mean if that’s the message you guys got, then roll with it I guess.”
(I don’t believe you ever actually kneeled, but did show support to those who did. I think you put your arm around WR Kenny Stills in one game. You’ve had 24 hours now since the league has changed the rule. Your thoughts on the rule and do you think it took into account what players need or want?) – “Obviously, my opinion doesn’t matter, so I’m just going to stick to football questions.”
(Is there some motivation for you, DT Davon Godchaux, DT Vincent Taylor and DT Akeem Spence for the defensive tackle production not to take a dip with DT Ndamukong Suh gone?) – “I can’t speak for everybody else. I know what I’m intending to do this year. That’s all I’m focused on.”
(What are you intending to do?) – “Be the best player I can be.”
(Can I ask you about the first-round draft pick? I know it’s only been a few practices, but being around S Minkah Fitzpatrick a little bit, what sense do you get from him in terms of what he’s like and his talent?) – “I can’t really speak on that either. I haven’t been around him much, so I’m going to forego that question as well.”
(Can you talk about your new defensive line coach, Kris Kocurek?) – “Kris is a great guy. He brings a lot of energy. He’s fired up all of the time. He’s a good motivator. He gets into you when you need to get into. He’s definitely going to bring a culture change to our d-line.”
(Was there any conversation that you had after Ndamukong Suh moved on either with General Manager Chris Grier, Executive Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum, Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke where they conveyed to you…) – “I’m going to keep all of that stuff in house.”
(You said there’s definitely going to be a culture change on the defensive line. What do you mean?) – “You guys are just going to have to wait and see.”
