Adam Gase – May 10, 2018
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Thursday, May 10, 2018
Head Coach Adam Gase
(I wanted to ask you about your offense. It seems to me that you haven’t been able to run it the previous two years. The first year, RB Jay Ajayi emerges. The second year, QB Ryan Tannehill gets injured. Have you been able to run your offense, and if not, is that a source of frustration going into Year 3?) – “I think at times we have. We’ve had to make adjustments throughout the year where some things … The first year, Jay (Ajayi) took off, so we felt like our best chance to win games that year was to make some adjustments. We went to huddling and really running the football a high percentage of the time and use play-action pass. Then the next year, we had a specific way we wanted to do things. We had to change some things around with the injury situation – with Ryan (Tannehill) – and we were changing in the middle of training camp.”
(Can you give us a little bit of a scouting report on each of the rookie tight ends that were selected and a little bit of what went into the philosophy of doubling down at the position?) – “We like the group that we have here; we just wanted to add to it. The way that (General Manager) Chris (Grier) had the board stacked, it worked out in our favor as far as Mike (Gesicki) being available. We kind of emphasize that position of a pass-catching-type tight end that can win one-on-one matchups versus safeties and linebackers. It was the right time for us. We felt like he was the best guy at that pick for us. We thought it was a good addition. Then we get later in the draft and all of a sudden Durham (Smythe) is there. We were interested in him; we were high on him. We weren’t sure where he was really going to be and if he would fall to that spot; and when he did, we felt like that was a guy that we knew had extreme value as far as his blocking in run and pass protection. We felt like he was a better route-runner than a lot of people were giving him credit for. We felt like his production could be something that we value a lot here, especially with what he showed in the run game.”
(How surprised where you that S Minkah Fitzpatrick was available at No. 11?) – “When all four quarterbacks went … We knew somebody that we liked (would fall) if all four quarterbacks went. We were going to be in good shape.”
(How much of an immediate impact do you see S Minkah Fitzpatrick making on the defense?) – “We’ll see how this goes. They’re not going to be here for a little bit, this afternoon sometime or tonight. That’s just going to be the start of the process. We’re going to see how everything shakes out and we’ll get the best 11 players on the field.”
(You’ve made some kind of funny comments at times about RB Kenyan Drake. What’s different about him right now compared to when you first got him in the organization?) – “I think he’s matured a lot, just whether it be the playbook, just him personally. When you’re in this league, after you get through that first year and the second year, sometimes there’s a little bit of a feeling out process. You’re trying to figure out, ‘Who are you?’ You’re starting to get older. You really realize this is a job and it’s different than college. I see a different guy – the way he prepares, knowing the situation he’s coming into this year. It’s been a good process for him to watch his maturity level both on and off the field. I think we just have a guy that’s really looking to bust out.”
(I feel like I’ve heard a ton of running backs – not just here, but everywhere – talk about wanting to become factors in the passing game. How do you make that happen? What determines whether that actually materializes or not?) – “You want to be able to catch the ball. That’s a good start for it. It depends. Some guys make a living just catching check-downs and being able to get yards after catch. Some guys you’re able to flex out and get one-on-one matchups. I think we’ve got a guy that can do multiple things. You can put him in the slot if you wanted to. You can use him in empty, you can use him from the backfield. He just can create a lot of different matchups. He has a really good feel for a lot of different types of routes, which there’s a lot of value there, because now linebackers, when they cover him, they’re not really sure what he’s going to do. He’s not tied into one thing or two things.”
(How do you feel about coming out of the draft without a quarterback? And how does your confidence in QB David Fales kind of tie into that?) – “There’s a lot of confidence as far as the guys that we have here right now. We did a good job as far as lining up what we thought was the quarterback rankings. The way we had them, we felt like those guys were going to go before No. 11. We knew that was probably going to be the case and we felt good with Ryan (Tannehill) starting and the Brock (Osweiler) and David competing for that No. 2 spot. Now you add Bryce (Petty) and that’s going to be an interesting competition. Really, we’re just going to see how it all works out for us.”
(What was it about QB Brock Osweiler that made you say this is worth a continued investment?) – “I probably took longer than everybody else. When we started the free agency process, guys were talking about the fact that, ‘He’s 27-years-old. He’s played for you before and you were part of the guys that drafted him. You know him well. He wants to be here.’ They were almost selling me. I really had to go through things and just make sure that he was good getting back with me and understanding the situation we were in and kind of what he was going to be competing for. I didn’t know where his money was. Those guys were kind of keeping me up-to-date with all of that. Just hearing him and where he was mentally and what he wanted to accomplish and how he kind of wanted to get his career rolling again, after we had that conversation and we got him in the building, everybody really liked him. I felt good about it. We ended up making that move and ever since then, I’m seeing the same guy that I saw in his younger years.”
(Obviously nobody cares that QB Brock Osweiler is in this situation considering how much money he’s made the past two years; but what do you think when a quarterback is put through that ringer? What does it do to them emotionally and confidence-wise?) – “It can hurt you. If you’re mentally weak, it can go one direction and it can be a bad one. I’ve known him since he was 20-years-old. I’ve seen this kid have to sit behind a Hall of Famer. It’s a good thing and a bad thing sometimes. When he had an opportunity, he did some good things when he got to play in Denver. Things didn’t quite go the way he wanted to in Houston. It was a quick stop in Cleveland. Now being here, I just see a guy that’s excited. He’s enjoyed getting back into this offense and the way that we’re coaching him right now. I think he just enjoys that whole process.”
(Are you comfortable with QB Brock Osweiler as your starter if QB Ryan Tannehill can’t be? Or if somebody terrible happens…) – “Well it depends which one of those guys ends up winning the No. 2 job out. Those guys wouldn’t be on the roster if I wasn’t. I’m comfortable (with them). I’m comfortable with the two guys – between David (Fales) and Brock – I’m comfortable. If I wasn’t, then we’d have somebody else here.”
(Right. So my question was if something terrible happens to QB Ryan Tannehill, would you have to bring in another guy like last year?) – “No. Nope. Nope.”
(Going back to S Minkah Fitzpatrick for a second, and the way he may fit into the secondary, a lot has been talked about possibly S T.J. McDonald being a hybrid player or a linebacker. How do you see that playing out and how do you see him embracing or not embracing that kind of role?) – “I mean T.J. is playing safety. If we have to make adjustments somewhere … He’s not moving to linebacker. He’s going to be a safety and then we’re going to figure out a way to get our best 11 players on the field. How it all plays out, I can’t tell you right now, because what you think right now and what it ends up being in the first week of the season can change quickly. We learned that last year on both sides of the ball. You keep working guys at the positions that you think fit them best and then when things start sorting themselves out and you have to make an adjustment, you make it then.”
(It’s still very, very early in the offseason program but how would you describe how QB Ryan Tannehill has looked and how would you describe his mindset?) – “His mindset is … I mean … I haven’t seen a change. I’ve seen a guy that’s very confident. I know he’s excited to get back out there. I know us as coaches, we’re excited to have him out there. He’s just really smooth with the operation that we’ve been able to do as far as what we’re doing in practice or those throwing sessions. It just feels smooth. He has a great relationship with all of those guys to where the communication is at a high level right now. He looks good to me; but at the same time, he still has to go through all of those steps with the doctors and with our trainers. We’re just going through the process of it all right now. I know nobody wants to hear that, but that’s just what it is.”
(Are you confident the pieces you have on defense will make this a much better group than it was last year?) – “I think so. I think we’re looking at a group that’s looking to play good team defense. The way that our coaches are doing things right now, I really like what I’ve been seeing on air.”
(Has there been a scheme change on defense?) – “No.”
(Nothing? But there’s going to be personnel … You’re moving defensive ends inside?) – “We’re looking to stop the offense.”
(How is your comfort zone right now on how the offensive line has come together?) – “We’ve added some pieces there and we’ve got some guys returning. We kind of made some changes, a couple unexpectedly. Some opportunities came up and I thought Mike (Tannenbaum) and Chris (Grier) did a good job of jumping on those. They’re not easy decisions all of the time. When you have the relationships you have with certain guys, it’s not really that fun to go through. But we had to make the right decisions for our organization and that’s what we did. Right now, I feel like that group is coming together good. It’s good to feel like you have multiple options with when somebody goes down, who your next guy is coming up and feeling like you have some depth there.”
(What did you think about the film on that Arizona State RB Kalen Ballage?) – “He’s a big man that runs fast and can catch the ball well. He really has all of the things that you’re looking for in an all-around back. It’ll be fun to see how he progresses and how things go … how quick he learns everything and how he fits in with the group. You just kind of need that open competition. You just want to try and create as much competition in practice as possible and when we get to the preseason, see who kind of really steps up and pushes themselves to the forefront. Then when we get into the season, we’ll figure out the best way to use everybody.”
(What sort of impact do you see WR Danny Amendola having in this offense and the experience that he brings?) – “I think when you’ve got a guy that’s been in a lot of big games, has won a lot of games, made plays in big games and the professionalism you just see it. The way he walks around, there’s just something about him that guys kind of gravitate too. They kind of want to watch how he does things. The way that he’ll grab guys … The younger guys follow him. It’s interesting to watch just Drew (Morgan) and Isaiah (Ford) just following him around mimicking a lot of the things he does. I think between him and Kenny (Stills) – both of those guys have been around for a minute – and watch those guys lead that group and have an effect on the other guys in the locker room in a positive way, that’s a big thing for us.”
(Ideally, how does this offense look this year and what should it be able to do?) – “I think it’s just going to be what the best thing is to do for that particular game. I can’t tell you what the personnel groupings are going to be or who is going to be on the field. I like the fact that I feel like we’ve got a lot of options. It’s all going to be about how we can play it out to where we can spread the ball around and use guys to their strengths, create efficient plays, create explosive plays, find ways to get into the red zone more and find ways to get into the end zone.”
(Year 3 now for you. How different is it? What have you learned?) – “It’s only Year 3? (laughter) It feels … I mean when you go through one season, there’s so much you learn just from that first to second year. I think a lot of the things we went through last year … You talk about unexpected things coming up and adjusting and trying to make sure guys are staying in line and on the same page and working forward. You have to really try to get creative. Then trying to see staff members, are we all pulling in the same direction? Is everybody trying to accomplish the same goal? When you end that season, you have a different thought process after that second year compared to the first year. I feel like we’re more … It feels right for us right now. I feel like we’re in a good place as far as where our staff is around the building, the coaching staff, the players. It feels like we’ve got the type of people all working in the same direction and everybody is working for the same goal.”
(You also have the roster probably more in the vision that you wanted than the first two years. Would you say that’s fair, that it’s taken three years to get the roster to where you want?) – “I’d say that’s fair. When I look at it, you kind of look at how does that group get along for that year? How do they work together? Do they push each other? Are they all pulling in the same direction? Are guys going to quit on you? Are they going to push forward when things get hard? I feel like the way that we’re assembled right now and the way that our personnel department has put that locker room together, I like our makeup right now.”
(Can you share why you like and you have confidence in QB David Fales?) – “I’ve been around him for multiple years now. I love the fact that we were able to give him that last game of the season. People can look at that as a throwaway game but I know the other team – the team we were playing (Buffalo) – that was not a throwaway game for them. That game was we get into the playoffs or we don’t (for them). When you’re playing a game like that, you’re going to get their best. You’re going to get, especially that defense … It’s a well-coached defense. Those guys were playing well. Dave (Fales) had a chance to go in there and see what he could do in real, live competition in a real game. When we look at it, we’re able to say ‘He’s right, he’s right. This guy is wrong,’ and who is doing the right stuff. The things that (Fales) did in that game … I was impressed with some of the things that he did in that game. It’s a lot of the stuff that you see in practice but you don’t know unless you get him in a game. The way that his anticipation is, the way his pocket presence is, he’s one of those guys that sometimes he makes plays and you’re not really sure how he did that. The game is a little slower for him. It’s fun to call plays when you’ve got a guy like that where you just know that ball is coming out. You just better be in the right spot.”
(You’ve said that you have the roster that you want but you have rid the team apart … You’ve moved on from three players who you yourself have described as your top performers on your team. Now you’ve got better depth arguably. Is better depth the roster that you want?) – “I think we wanted to create the roster of what was the right fit for this locker room and for this team. Sometimes you get put in a position where you have to make a decision – whether it be free agency or you feel like you’re in a situation where a number might be too high for you or where you’ve got an opportunity to have a player that makes less money but you feel like the talent isn’t that big of a swing. That’s where we’re at right now. We like the makeup of our roster. I like our players. I like where our locker room is right now. I like watching these guys work. I’m excited to see these guys compete in OTAs and get this thing going in training camp and then see how we grow as the year goes on.”
(It seems like WR Kenny Stills has been in the league forever but he’s only 26, I believe. Do you view him as your No. 1 receiver and do you think he’s someone where the arrow could still be going up for him?) – “See, I never get into the whole No. 1 receiver thing. I’m all for guys getting open and catching the ball and creating explosive plays and getting first downs. Do I think he’s the leader of that room? Yes. I think he’s one of those guys where guys look up to and they watch what he does and how he goes about his business, and they follow his lead. When he speaks in that room and he tells guys what he thinks, he’s very open. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything and I think guys respect him and they listen to what he says.”
(What about WR Kenny Stills’ performance though? Do you feel like he’s entering his prime or in his prime? Or is he still kind of rising?) – “I think, to me, there’s plenty of room for improvement. I think he’s done a lot of really good things for us these last two years. I think last year we used him in the slot quite a bit. The last two years, I think he’s one of the most productive slot players there’s been in the league. He’s a guy that creates explosive plays and gets his touchdowns. We hit the home run when we throw the ball to him. He’s a game-changer.”
(What’s the overall message that you have or plan to deliver to the rookies as a group?) – “Really it’s … Their job coming in this weekend is to get kind of used to the format of how we’re going to do things, so when they get going on Monday, they can hit the ground running and they’re not trying to figure out where do I go and how I do this. That’s why we do it the way we do it, because it’s a crash course in basically getting them ready for the end of Phase II and then jumping into OTAs. The things that we’ve experienced the last two years, we’ve had success doing this with our young guys. They’ve felt to where they could get better in that Phase II area, they’ve gotten better through OTAs and then when training camp hits … That’s the whole reason we’re doing it this way is to get them as ready as you possibly can. You want to try to avoid them swimming and trying to think too much. I think this has been something that has been really good for us.”
(What do they actually do in rookie orientation?) – “We meet with them a ton on football but then there’s a two-hour seminar on how to handle you guys. We go through everything – nutrition. (Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Dave) Puloka gets them. He goes through the entire strength and conditioning program and how he wants things done. We go through every little detail. Individual with the running backs, (Run Game Coordinator/Running Backs) Eric (Studesville) is going to take them through, ‘Here’s how we’re going to do individual.’ With the linebackers it’s, ‘Here’s how we’re going to do individual.’ So when they walk out there with the veterans, they’re not lost. They’ve heard it. They understand why we’re doing it and how we want it done. You’re eliminating any kind of the anxiety of walking out there with guys that have been in the league for 5-10 years. You’re walking out there like, ‘I at least know what to do. I can play fast. I don’t have to think.’”
Mike Tannenbaum and Chris Grier – April 28, 2018
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Saturday, April 28, 2018
Executive Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum and General Manager Chris Grier
Chris Grier:
(I’m just asking because the fans will be asking … No quarterback. How come?) – “I think for us, we weren’t going to reach for any player. Once you got through the first round with those five quarterbacks, we kind of thought there was a little bit of an order and as they started coming off the board, we were in positon to get a couple and as it always is in the draft, a couple guys went before we picked. We weren’t going to reach for anyone at that point in the draft. There were some players that we liked, but we ended up getting some good players that we think will help us now.”
Mike Tannenbaum:
“Just to add to that, the two other players behind (Ryan) Tannehill are guys that are young, probably younger than they’re perceived to be. We think their best days … They still have plenty of time to get developed. They’re not older. So, that was also a factor.”
(So I guess the idea is you’re comfortable with QB Brock Osweiler or QB David Fales, if QB Ryan Tannehill goes down, taking over the season?) – “Obviously, we have confidence (in them). That’s why we signed them. Obviously, we’re sitting here, it’s the end of April and as we’ve seen in the past, there will be a lot of transactions between now and opening day. To answer your question, we do feel confident with the group.”
Chris Grier:
(No defensive tackle either. Does this say you’re very confident in the group that you already have?) – “Yes, we are. Like we said, we’ll keep exploring opportunities post-draft here. There’s opportunities to add players and there will be some pro free agents that will come open as well after June 1st as they always do. We’re very confident that we’ll keep adding depth at that position.”
(You hit some need positions in the first couple rounds and you were able to address some of those needs that you had coming in without sacrificing any of your future assets, future picks. How important was it to you to hold onto those as you’ve continued to try to shape the roster like you wanted to do?) – “You always like to make sure that you have ammunition next year; but if there was a move to be made that could benefit us, we have trader Mike (Tannenbaum) here to get us going. (laughter) We had to restrain him this year. It was hard for him. (laughter) Really, and it’s a credit to him, is that everyone that calls feels like Mike is trying to get something. They’re like worried about it, because Mike does such a great job working trades with people. For us, we got great value we think with the players that were there. For us, if there was a trade to be made, we would’ve done it. We tried to make a couple. They didn’t work out.”
Mike Tannenbaum:
“Speaking of which, we look at this draft not only did we add eight players, but we feel like getting Robert Quinn with our fourth-round pick was good value and Stephone Anthony with our fifth. As a group, that’s 10 players that we feel like we’ve added to the roster.”
(How do you feel about as a whole now, since the beginning of free agency to now, you have done now to improve this football team?) – “I think it’s still like a work in progress. I think (Head Coach) Adam (Gase), Chris and I sat down with (Chairman of the Board/Managing General Partner) Steve (Ross) after the season and talked about a lot of things. We feel like we’re heading in the right direction. We really like the group here as a whole; but as Chris already mentioned, I’m sure between now and opening day, there will be some other changes. There always are. That’s what our charge is. That’s really the fun part of the job now that this is over. Maybe the media spotlight isn’t as bright, but there will be opportunities to improve. We feel like we’re going in the right direction, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
Chris Grier:
(What are the things that excite you about the running back Kalen Ballage?) – “He’s big, he’s fast and he’s (got) upside. Some guys come out with a lot of wear and tear on them. He hasn’t had a lot of wear and tear. I think Senior Bowl week, he went there determined to show people that he was undervalued in his mind. That’s the first thing he said when we called him to tell him he was going to be a Dolphin, he said, ‘I don’t think there’s 11 running backs better than me that went in front on me.’ He’s confident. He understands that he’s going to have to work and improve and earn a spot; but he’s very excited to be here with Kenyan (Drake) and Frank (Gore). For us, the value was important.”
Mike Tannenbaum:
“And the locker room is really important to us. We talked to our punter Matt Haack, who was a teammate of his, and he felt really good about him. That was an important piece to the puzzle just because again, the types of players that we’re adding on and off field is important to us. Having one of his teammates here was good.”
Chris Grier:
(Is there anybody that you got that you were very surprised by the value you were able to get at your location where you just didn’t expect that guy was going to be there that late?) – “I didn’t expect Minkah (Fitzpatrick) to be there, to be honest with you, for the first pick. For me, he was probably – however you put it – one of the top five or six players in this draft. As we got calls after the pick, other teams kept calling us telling us, ‘He was in our top five players in the draft.’ For us, the value at that point was surprising that he was there.”
(What was the approach in terms of doubling down on tight ends, getting one that’s a good in-line guy and one that was an athletic, seam-threat type?) – “We wanted to create competition at that spot. The big thing for us is we spent a lot of time with all of these guys. With Durham (Smythe), we had a really good interview with him. We liked what we saw on film. We saw him play down here versus Miami. For us, adding another guy who can block, another body to the roster to compete with those guys. Having variety and being able to have Adam (Gase) have different chess pieces – whether 12, 21, whatever, 13 personnel – so it just gives you more opportunities and creates competition, which will make all those guys better.”
Mike Tannenbaum:
“If you go back to last year, we added (AJ) Derby during the season from Denver and (Gavin) Escobar last week. So, that was a position that we really wanted to add a lot of, as Chris said competition, but depth. We feel really good about that position now and that’s taken a couple of years that we’re now comfortable … Those are really hard players to acquire and they do fall into two different groups. It wasn’t just over the last 48 hours. It’s been several months in the making and trying to get that group to look like the way it does today.”
Chris Grier:
(What was it about K Jason Sanders that made him stand out above the other kickers?) – “(Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren) Rizzi and (Assistant Special Teams Coach) Marwan (Maalouf) did a great job spending a lot of time getting to know the kid. He’s got a powerful leg and that’s the one they like. Getting to know him and spending time, they went and worked him out in the spring. To their credit, it’s really driven a lot by them. Our scouts have seen him. They spend a lot of time on the background getting to know the kid. We brought him in on a 30-visit, so he was here in the building, so we got to know him. He was the player that the coaches and scouts identified and they did a great job. We’re happy to have him.”
(Was there a specific point where you thought a quarterback was going to be in your range and went off the board? It seemed like every time, three or four picks before you, a quarterback went. Was there one of those guys you thought might end up in Miami?) – “Not really. We were in the mix with certain guys every time, so it was never where one quarterback was completely there. It was always quarterback and another guy, then the quarterback would go and we were very happy with who was there.”
Mike Tannenbaum:
(You drafted players from a lot of heavyweight programs. Is there a philosophy behind that?) – “Well, we know that the Ohio State players better be really good. (laughter)”
Chris Grier:
“No. (laughter) And really, we took Southern Mississippi today, Ohio University (and) New Mexico. For us, it’s getting to know these kids and if they fit with what we do and they’re productive players in college. For us, we’re just taking the best value for us at any point in the draft.”
(What was it about CB Cornell Armstrong that stood out to you guys?) – “We brought him here on a 30-visit and got to know him. It was his speed. He’s fast. He’s athletic. We think he has great upside. When you get to that point in the draft, we were very excited to add that because we think his potential to develop down the road is good. (He’s a) great kid (and has a) tremendous story to him. We just got to spend a lot of time (with him) and liked him. We liked his film and we just think, for him, he’ll be a good player, or has a chance to be a good player for us in the future.”
Mike Tannenbaum:
(How comfortable do you feel in your offensive line since you didn’t draft a guy there? What are your thoughts on that?) – “We’ve put a lot of time and effort into that, going back to the end of the season. Getting Josh Sitton, we felt that was a great opportunity for us (and) trading for (Daniel) Kilgore, then being able to keep Ja’Wuan (James) on his fifth year option. That was really important to us and some of these other guys, it was a little bit like the tight end position. We feel better about the depth and having Ted Larsen come back and Jake Brendel and Jesse Davis. Eric Smith, we’re excited about him. Zach Sterup played meaningful snaps last year in the Buffalo game (in Week 17). Those guys have played a lot. (Offensive Line Coach) Jeremiah Washburn and (Assistant Offensive Line Coach) Chris Kuper do a good job. We feel better about the depth of that position.”
(How many of your players did you talk to about the other players? You mentioned P Matt Haack with RB Kalen Ballage. I guess with LB Jerome Baker, you talked to Browns CB Denzel Ward and…) – “Well, Raekwon (McMillan).”
(LB Raekwon McMillan, right. How many other players? With S Minkah Fitzpatrick, did you go to RB Kenyan Drake or anything like that?) – “We just kind of do that organically. I know that’s important to (Head Coach) Adam (Gase) and (General Manager) Chris (Grier), as well. It’s just a great information source and the guys that are here, we say it’s a very fundamental question, ‘Do you want to go to work every day with these guys?’ They’re very authentic. It’s confidential. It’s a really important data point, and again, I think that’s something that Adam and Chris feel strongly about, as well. So sure, if Drake has played with Fitzpatrick, that’s important to know. If Raekwon (McMillan) has played with (Jerome) Baker, especially in the same position room, that’s always good information.”
Chris Grier:
(A few of the guys that you selected have sort of freakish measurables in terms of how they jump and how fast they run compared to their speed. Can you describe how you assimilate that into your decision making?) – “Well, at the end of the day, the film will tell us what kind of player he is. Again, we can fall in love with numbers and measurables and you can get in trouble with that. When you get to certain points in the draft, you have to take chances on traits and things you like; but if you’re comfortable with the kid, what kind of makeup he has, if he loves football, that stuff all plays into it. It was just fortunate that a lot of these guys that we liked and spent time with also just happened to have really good measurables in terms of workout numbers. Again, it’s the film that’s going to tell you what type of player they are.”
(With K Jason Sanders, he’s missed a substantial amount of field goals. He’s 25-of-35 in his career. Was that something where it’s a distance issue that you take in as a factor?) – “A lot of it is, again, we really trust (Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren) Rizzi and (Assistant Special Teams Coach) Marwan (Maalouf), because I’ll be honest with you, (evaluating) kickers is one of the hardest things. You see, every year, guys are drafted and it’s the free agents that make it and the draft guys bounce around a couple of different teams before they make it. In terms of mechanics and all of that stuff, we spent a lot of time talking with Rizzi and Marwan about it. Those guys, as you know covering us for years, they’ve earned it. They do a great job and they’ve found guys every year. This was a player that they really believed in and we really liked the kid when we spent time with him.”
Mike Tannenbaum:
“They went out and worked him out and, not to put words in their mouth, but obviously, they felt very comfortable with him and spent a lot of time on him. Obviously, the numbers are part of the story but it is not the only part.
(Do you expect to bring another kicker in to compete with K Jason Sanders?) – “Yes. Typically we’ll go to camp with two kickers, so we have some work to do.”
Quentin Poling – April 28, 2018
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Saturday, April 28, 2018
LB Quentin Poling
(How would you describe your style as a player?) – “Fast, smart, intelligent and speedy.”
(It seems to us that the Dolphins have really gone to address team speed this offseason, especially this draft. Do you feel that you add to that re-casting of the defense?) – “Absolutely. Speed is kind of where the progression of the game today is going. It’s going in that direction, which I think is a good move by them and I think I fit well in the grand scheme of things.”
(When you’re talking about speed, what are you talking about?) – “It’s everything in terms of on-the-field speed, being able to get the call, process it quickly, being able to look at the offensive formation, being able to process the instincts reading and reacting to plays. Speed is a lot more than just a 40-time. The 40-time plays a part; but when it comes down to it, you have to be a football player. And you have to have that football IQ also.”
(What was your time, if you don’t mind me ask?) – “My 40-time? I timed anywhere from a 4.52 to a 4.58 on my Pro Day.”
(Where did you mostly play at Ohio and do you have a preference at the linebacker position?) – “At Ohio, I was always a Mike linebacker playing in the middle, making the calls and leading the defense. I enjoyed that responsibility and such, but as a preference, I don’t really have one. As long as I’m getting to play linebacker, whether it’s in the box or out of the box … I have played both in high school and college and I’ve enjoyed both. I’m just happy for the opportunity.”
(Do you have experience on special teams?) – “I played sparingly. I was a four-year starter at Ohio, so I played a lot of games and a lot of reps each game at linebacker. They really limited my role on special teams, just to keep my health and keep my endurance and things throughout the game and season.”
(What player would you say you modeled your game after?) – “I really like Luke Kuechl. Who doesn’t? (laughter) He’s a good guy. He plays smart, plays fast, plays tough. I’m just trying to be like him as best as possible.”
(At what point did you start to think that the NFL could be a reality for you?) – “I would say after my redshirt sophomore season, maybe in my redshirt sophomore season. Things started to come along and you start to get that buzz around you. I’d say right in there.”
(How was the buzz? What was the buzz around you saying? Was it praising your speed, or your instincts? Why were you regarded in that way?) – “The speed, the instincts, the playmaking. I started off that season … I had a knee injury in the middle of the season and missed a couple of games; but I started the season off … I think after the third or fourth game I was fifth in the nation in solo tackles. I was pretty high. I had a lot of tackles and impact plays that I made the first couple of games. I missed a couple of games with a minor knee injury and came back at the end of the season and finished it out pretty well. I got a lot of good vibes generated at the end of that junior year.”
(As far as your athletic background, did you play any other sports in high school or did you have family members who were athletic?) – “I wrestled, I played basketball and I was a four-year track and field guy. I always did the shot put and the 400 (meters) and throughout the years I also did the discus, the 200 (meters), 300-meter hurdles and things like that. I was a pretty versatile track athlete. They moved me around a little bit here and there, depending on what scored best for the team at the meet, depending on what other teams were there and things like that.”
(What’s this day like for you? Did you sit, watching the television to see the draft and did you expect to have your name called today?) – “I did expect to get drafted today; but today was probably as stressful of a day as I’ve ever had. Just sitting around, going back and forth with my agent and calling teams and preparing a list if things weren’t to go as planned and I would be undrafted. Just having a list of teams that I knew I could make a confident decision right away, with who would give me the best opportunity to make an active roster.”
(So you were prepared to go undrafted?) – “Yes. I mean you hope for the best but plan for the worst, right?”
Jason Sanders – April 28, 2018
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Saturday, April 28, 2018
K Jason Sanders
(Did you have any inkling before coming into today that the Dolphins would be selecting you?) – “I knew there was interest. I went on one of the 30-visits. They called me five minutes before you see my name on TV, so that was about it.”
(Who did you meet with when you had the visit?) – “I met with the whole staff – the General Manager (Chris Grier), the (Executive) Vice President (of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum and Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator) Darren Rizzi.”
(What did you think about Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren Rizzi?) – “Coach Rizzi is a good guy. I’m excited to go and hear what he has to say and do what he asks.”
(If you were going to give us a scouting report on yourself, what would it be?) – “Confident. I think confidence is what makes a young kicker a good kicker. I guess you would say confidence.”
(How do you feel about the opportunity considering, right now, you’re pretty much the only kicker?) – “Like I said earlier, I’m excited to be the only kicker coming into Miami. I’m excited to come in and work with (Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren) Rizzi and come and see what he has to say and then we go from there.”
(How many other teams showed interest and how many others brought you in for a 30-visit?) – “The Dolphins were the only one to bring me on a 30 (visit), but the (New York) Jets seemed really interested. The Jets and Dolphins I figured it would come down to.”
(When the Dolphins brought you in, did that peak your curiosity or get you really excited about the prospect of coming here?) – “Yes, I know going on a 30-visit as a kicker is a pretty big deal, so when I got there I was pretty excited, just walking in and soaking it all in. I felt good when I was there. I met a lot of people and had some good conversations with a lot of people and I felt pretty good.”
(What did they tell you about why they opted to bring you in?) – “They didn’t say much. All I know is that I was the only kicker they brought in on a 30 (visit), so I walked away feeling pretty good about that.”
(What is the range that you feel comfortable with?) – “I’ve always believed that anything under 50 (yards) should be 100 percent; but anything above 50, I think, at this level, should be a good chance of making it.”
Cornell Armstrong – April 28, 2018
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Saturday, April 28, 2018
CB Cornell Armstrong
(Did you have any idea that the Dolphins were interested in you?) – “Yes, sir. I knew they had interest in me. I took a pre-draft visit down there. Just the love I got and how I answered the questions, they got to know the inside of me and how I am, who I am as a person. I believe that just won them over, me just being myself and being a baller.”
(How would you describe your game as a defensive back?) – “I’m just a physical competitive guy – hard working. (I’m) just an underdog looking to get to the top. I’m always hungry out there on that island, competing-wise, and always just staying ready.”
(Are you a boundary corner or do you also play slot?) – “I rotate field and boundary. The way we had it here at Southern Mississippi, I just played one side and the other corner stayed on the other side, unless we’d go to nickel, then I’d go to the best receiver.”
(Who was the best receiver you covered this season or in your career?) – “I would say that we had the best receiver on our team – Korey Robertson. Korey Robertson from Southern Mississippi, number 18. We competed every day at practice and just got each other better. I think by the time it rolled over to game time, we knew that we just gave it all we had in practice and then by game time we were ready.”
(Do you have special teams experience?) – “Yes sir, I do. I actually played, my freshman and sophomore years, heavily on special teams – kickoff, kickoff return, punt, punt return. Then when (Southern Mississippi Head) Coach (Jay) Hopson came in my junior year, they came and took me off of special teams to keep me out there on the field more.”
(Tell us a little bit about yourself, something that might surprise us that’s in your background.) – “I’m just a small kid born in Inglewood, California. I moved to Bassfield, Mississippi, decided to go to Southern Mississippi that was 30 minutes down the road. My uncle went to school there – Eric Booth. It was just close to home. They believed in me earlier than any other colleges and I just wanted to stay close to home, to where my family could come out to my games and I could just have that experience.”
(What about moving from Inglewood to Mississippi? Seems like a bit of a culture change there.) – “Oh yes, that was a bit of a culture change. We actually moved out because my grandfather got sick and my mom wanted to move closer to home to take care of him.”
(How did you like living in Mississippi?) – “I love it. They turned me into a country boy down here. I love it. I can’t complain. (laughter)”
(When did you know that the NFL was a possibility for you?) – “I actually believed in myself when I was younger. Actually, my family was telling me like, ‘You’ve got a chance to be in the NFL.’ Honestly, at the time, I just didn’t see it. Then I started putting in the work and putting in the time and I saw things pay off my way and work out my way to get it. I just instilled it in my brain that I just wanted to go get it.”
(Who do you model your game after?) – “I would say (Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB) Brent Grimes.”
(Why is that?) – “Just (CB Brent Grime’s) style of play, picking up routes, playing aggressive. (He’s) not too big and just a feisty guy.”
Kalen Ballage – April 28, 2018
Saturday, April 28, 2018
RB Kalen Ballage
(What’s this experience like for you knowing that you’re finally in the NFL and going to get the opportunity to show what you can do?) – “I’m really excited about the opportunity. Watching the draft this whole time … In my opinion, I don’t believe there are 130 guys that are better than me and definitely not 11 other running backs. It’s fuel to the fire and motivation for me and I’m just excited about the opportunity.”
(What was your expectation about where you would be drafted in the pre-draft process?) – “I really wasn’t even thinking about it too much. I felt like I put the hard work in and did what I had to do, and the rest was up to God. It’s a surprise to me, just as much to my family and everybody else.”
(Under Head Coach Adam Gase, the Dolphins like running backs that are three down running backs who can pass protect, catch the ball and run. Do you fit that mold and what is the strength of your game?) – “Absolutely. I don’t think they would’ve picked me if I didn’t fit that mold. I think that I have many strengths to my game. I feel like I’m kind of a player that is raw and has a lot of talent and ability. With the right coaching and everything, I’ll be able to make a lot happen.”
(What do you know about the Dolphins running backs Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore?) – “I watched Kenyan Drake when he was in college. He’s a great running back, a three-down running back that can do a little bit of everything. He’s going to be great to learn from. Frank Gore, in my opinion, is one of the best running backs ever. He’s so consistent and he’s always doing everything right. It’s really cool to be able to learn from him.”
(Can you explain why you described yourself as raw?) – “In college, I had four running back coaches and three different offensive coordinators. For me, I think I’m at the floor of what my talent is right now. I think that I’m a guy that’s going to continue to grow and be special in the future.”
(How crazy was that game in 2016 when you scored eight touchdowns?) – “It was a crazy game and everybody always asks me about it; but honestly, I’m just glad we won the game. It was kind of a shootout – us and (Texas Tech QB) Patrick Mahomes. It was a wild game and I’ll probably remember it for the rest of my life; but I’m more happy we got the win than anything.”
(Why do you think those other running backs were taken ahead of you? Did they have more opportunity in college and a better system? Or did they test better?) – “I tested very well. I had a great Pro Day and had a good Combine. I do think that maybe they probably had more opportunities than me. Maybe they had a lot more carries. I only had 400-some carries in my college career. Whatever it was, obviously this was God’s plan for me. I can’t really be worried about too much else.”
(How much kickoff return and how much special teams have you done? How good do you think you are at those things?) – “I played special teams all four years in college. I was a kick returner for four years and I was on every special team.”
(Do you enjoy returning kicks?) – “Yes, I love it. It’s one of my favorite things to do.”
(What about returning kicks makes it so appealing?) – “I think just the fact that you get to be creative when you’re on kick return. There is a set blocking scheme and stuff like that; but at the end of the day, you have to show your abilities to play with the ball in your hands and make stuff happen.”
(What NFL running back would you say your style resembles?) – “I would say (Arizona Cardinals RB) David Johnson.”
(Because?) – “(We’re) bigger running backs, catch the ball out of the back field well, great receivers, intelligent football players and I kind of think that we resemble each other.”
(Did you run the 40-yard dash at the Combine and at your Pro Day?) – “Yes, I did.”
(Could you share with us your 40-yard dash time?) – “I ran 4.46 at the Combine. I ran 4.35 and 4.37 at the Pro Day.”
(Did you meet with Dolphins Head Coach Adam Gase at any point?) – “Yes, I met with just about everybody, so I had the opportunity to speak with those guys.”
(Do you have any sense about Head Coach Adam Gase and how he may want to utilize you?) – “I think I kind of already have an idea with how they use Kenyan Drake. I think they kind of want to just add me in there and have a trio of running backs to be able keep guys fresh and play ball.”
(I know you said you’re looking forward to learning from the guys in that room, but how much are you looking forward to competing with them for playing time?) – “I’m competitive in everything I do, no matter what it is, so I’m excited about the opportunity. I think that competition breeds greatness. I feel like being around those guys that have had quite a bit of success, I think it’s going to up my game.”
Durham Smythe – April 28, 2018
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Saturday, April 28, 2018
TE Durham Smythe
(It appears that you would be classified as a blocking tight end. Is that a correct characterization and does that offend you in any way?) – “I guess first and foremost, blocking as a tight end, that’s a part of my game that I definitely take pride in. Coming from Notre Dame in the offense that we ran the last few years, I was asked to be at the point of attack on a pretty consistent basis. So I definitely take pride in that part of my game, but I don’t consider myself a blocking tight end. I’ve played a lot of in-line tight end, so I’m out of the ‘Y’ stance a lot. In terms of how I try to characterize myself, I try to characterize myself as more of a guy who, like I said, takes pride in blocking but can do a little bit of everything in every facet of the game. ”
(What type of player are the Dolphins getting with you?) – “Like I said, a guy who can do a little bit of everything. (I’m) a guy who can go in on early downs and be competitive in blocking defensive ends, and such. Hopefully (I’m) a guy who doesn’t have to be taken off the field on later downs, third-and-long, and such.”
(Can you envision yourself in two tight end sets with TE Mike Gesicki?) – “Definitely. He was actually on my team at the Senior Bowl. There were definitely times in practice where we’d be in a wing set or both on the field at the same time, so it’s something that we’ve already done. I could definitely see it happening in the future.”
(What were your impressions of TE Mike Gesicki?) – “Awesome guy. Like I said, he was on my team so I got to know him a little bit through this whole process, starting at the Senior Bowl, at the Combine and everything. I’ve gotten to know him a little bit. He seems like a great dude, a guy that loves football and a guy that’s going to come in and work.”
(It appears, so far, the Dolphins’ trend in draftees has been speed and athleticism. Do you fit that mold and, if so, can you give me specifics on how?) – “Sure, I would say so. In terms of speed, I wasn’t the fastest 40-yard guy at the Combine, but I was pretty happy with some of my short movement times and things like that, so I think that athleticism is definitely part of my game. Yes, you’re right, (the Dolphins) have. It seems like it has been trending that way in this draft. You can never have too much speed and athleticism on a football team.”
(What do you know about the former Notre Dame and Dolphins TE Anthony Fasano?) – “Funny that you ask. Actually, that’s one of the guys who … Obviously being from Notre Dame we have film from past years readily at hand and Anthony Fasano is a guy that I watched a lot over the last four years, back in his time at Notre Dame and as he’s gone on through the pros. He’s a guy who I’ve watched a lot, a guy that I respect because he, like I said how I try to characterize myself, does a little bit of everything. He’s definitely a great player and someone who I’ve watched a lot of.”
(Anything specific that TE Anthony Fasano does that you would like to try to emulate?) – “Yes, although this is kind of a blanket statement, he does a little bit of everything. He’s not a guy that’s going to go in and just be a big receiver. He’s going to be a guy who is competitive blocking on one rep and then he has to split out and do something on a different rep. That combination is just something I’ve tried to emulate over the years.”
(What’s a part of your game that you’re looking to improve at the next level?) – “I think, specifically, it’s my route running. I think that kind of stems from a lack of total volume of what I’ve done over the last couple of years, because like I said earlier, we ran the ball a lot at Notre Dame. Obviously in practice and such, I was running routes on a pretty consistent basis; but I think taking a step up in that is one area that I’ve really tried to improve over the last few months.”
(Did you meet Head Coach Adam Gase on the road or happen to visit here in Davie or anything?) – “I met with Coach Gase at the Combine and with the rest of the staff. I had an interview with them. I thought it went really well. Obviously, I have a lot of respect for him, so that was the most contact I had.”
(Do you remember anything that Head Coach Adam Gase or anyone else brought up at that meeting that stuck with you?) – “Specifics, no. I just remember it going really well. That’s a point, a focal process, where the evaluation is so high, so they’re taking notes and such; but in terms of just how it went and the feeling that I had leaving it, it was great.”
(What were your expectations for this draft? Where did you feel like you were going to go?) – “It’s tough. It is such a crazy process. You have some people telling you you’ll be a third- or fourth-round guy, then you’ve got other people saying you’re going to go in the sixth, seventh, late, whatever. It’s tough to exactly pinpoint it. Obviously, I had a good feeling about a few teams just because I had gone through meetings with them, and such. When it all comes down to it, when you get in these middle rounds here, it’s tough to know exactly what’s going to happen.”
(What was it like in the locker room for you at Notre Dame? Would you consider yourself one of the leaders of that room?) – “I would say so. I’ve always considered myself more of a lead by example type of guy. I’m not the most rah-rah guy who’s going to be yelling at people, and such; but I think I demanded respect by the way I went to work every day. If you do that on a consistent basis over a number of years, you start to gain that respect. I think in my last few years at Notre Dame, people realized that, and I think that’s why I characterize myself as that.”
Chris Grier – April 27, 2018 (Round 3)
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Friday, April 27, 2018
GM Chris Grier
(following LB Jerome Baker selection in Round 3)
(Opening Statement) – “We selected Jerome Baker, a linebacker from Ohio State. It was a guy that we spent a lot of time with. (Linebackers) Coach (Frank) Bush really got to know the kid through the draft process and for us, he had speed. We want to get faster on defense, so adding him and Minkah (Fitzpatrick) these first two days … It was a big priority on that side to get faster, and this kid has that. He is a tough kid. He’s sideline to sideline, the prototypical new-age type of linebacker. We have some insider trading info obviously with Raekwon (McMillan) being on the roster. Raekwon spoke very highly and as well as when we had Denzel Ward in for a visit. He kind of raved about the kid, talked about what kind of a player he was and teammate. For us, getting to know the kid, we were excited. We needed to add speed and it’ll be a competitive group now, to add some more, and we’ll see what happens the rest of the weekend.”
(Do you envision LB Jerome Baker as an outside linebacker?) – “I’ll leave that for the coaches. There (at Ohio State), he was the Will (linebacker). He blitzed a little bit off the outside; but he was covered up, running and chasing. That’s how (we) envision (it); but wherever he lines up with the coaches, we’ll put him.”
(You mentioned the importance of improving speed, but it seems like versatility is also the name of this draft as well – getting more versatile pieces. Is that something that you looked at in LB Jerome Baker’s game and why you were kind of drawn to him?) – “Yes. Like we talked about with the (Mike) Gesicki pick, it’s a matchup league and coaches now are … It’s a lot of matchups and scheming. So for us, it’s finding players that can do more and add the speed and athleticism for this game. We’ve struggled at times on defense here. We’ve played well at times. We’re just trying to get players that add more speed and get more consistent on defense, so we’re excited to add him.”
(Watching him in coverage, what do you think are some traits that allowed him to be successful at Ohio State in coverage, as well?) – “He’s just very athletic, first of all. He can turn his hips, he can run and he gains depth. Then it’s the speed. You go there and (Ohio State Assistant Athletic Director, Football Sport Performance) Mickey Marotti, one of the top strength coaches in the nation talked about, ‘This guy is as fast as Ryan Shazier.’ And they were shocked he ran, running 4.53 (40-time) at the combine. They’re like, ‘This guy is much faster than that,’ and you see that on film – whether he was tired that day or whatever. They just constantly raved about how fast this player was, so we were happy to add him.”
(You mentioned new-aged linebackers. Do you even worry about the prototypical Sam linebacker at this point? Do you need a 253-pound outside linebacker or no?) – “Some of those are like the way of the dinosaur, those Sams now, depending on what you scheme is. I’m just being honest. We’re fortunate to have Raekwon as a middle linebacker. That’s a bigger linebacker coming out nowadays. So for us … Kiko (Alonso) is 240-plus pounds. Now he came back at 240-plus and now adding this. So we have two big linebackers that can run and now we’re adding more speed; and then Stephone Anthony as well is a big guy that is a 4.50 (40-time) guy. We’re just adding more speed and athleticism to the group.”
(In the NBA, they’re doing something called position-less basketball where you just get basketball players out there. Are you guys doing that in the back seven of the defense or is that a mischaracterization? Just getting athletes and not specific positions.) – “You’ve heard … We’ve talked about the big thing for us is guys that love the game and are smart. If you get those guys that are athletic, fast and then you add guys that are smart and love football, I just think it gives you the ability to do more things. The smarter your team is, the more versatile – as you say – you can be. You always have to adjust to what league trends are. So for us, this was a good pick for us and we’re happy to have him.”
(What’s your sense for where LB Jerome Baker is in his development and how ready or not he is to contribute quickly?) – “I think each player is different. There are some players that come in the league and you’re like, ‘Oh, this guy is definitely ready,’ and then you get him in an NFL camp and he struggles a little bit and it takes him a little while to adjust. Again, Baker comes from a great program at Ohio State and coached by Urban Meyer, so he’s been coached hard and coached well. So for us, I don’t think the stage will be too big for him; but it’ll be up to him really and how he picks up our scheme and learns as we go through the spring and summer.”
(There have only been [five] quarterbacks taken in the draft thus far, so how much did you consider that position being that you could get one of the top second-tier guys at pick No. 73?) – “It was a consideration, but for us, (Jerome) Baker was a guy at that spot that was just too good for us to pass up.”
(How does LB Jerome Baker fit into the culture change you guys are trying to implement?) – “I think you guys have heard me over the last couple of years. The types of players we’ve added, and I know a couple of you guys, just in passing, we’ve talked about what kind of kids these guys are. They’re smart. They love football. They’re good kids. Some of them have been captains on teams, some of them not; but they’ve been team leaders. For us, again, it’s adding good kids with good character; but the guys that have traits that you like that you think will translate into production at the NFL level.”
(How busy have you guys been on the phone? I know you’re always taking calls, but have you been very busy? Have you thought much about trying to get back into the third round?) – “Yes, a little bit. Everyone in the league right now is calling up and down. Even before the third round started, we had people calling from below trying to trade up, so it’s an active time for everyone trying to get up in each draft, when you get to the end of the third round and position yourself in the top of the fourth.”
(How do you feel about having added a tight end and a linebacker from a positional-need standpoint today?) – “Those are positions we needed to create some more competition at. These are players we had spent a lot of time with, so for us, we feel fortunate to have them because we feel good about them. Now it is up to the players to go out and perform. We think they will and time will tell.”
