Christian Wilkins – November 15, 2019
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Friday, November 15, 2019
DT Christian Wilkins
(What did you think of the Browns DE Myles Garrett helmet swing thing that we all saw on television?) – “Obviously that’s the hot topic today because it just happened last night and you’ve never really seen anything like that happen in the league. That’s just it. You’ve never really seen anything like that happen in the league. A lot of guys feel differently about it, but there will be the consequences and go from there. Obviously I saw it, but it was just different. I’ve just never seen anything like it happen in a game, so it was a different situation for me to watch.”
(I was talking to you briefly about this yesterday: the Dolphins have a stat that you have the most tackles from the rookie class defensive linemen. That includes Raiders DE Clelin Ferrell and Giants DT Dexter Lawrence. Is that something you all have discussed on text or anything?) – “No, we haven’t talked about it; but hopefully I can keep things going in the right direction because we’re always competing against each other and we always like to just make fun of each other and talk a little trash. It’ll be good to have something to brag with, but I’m still trying to get them in every snap possible, too, so I can really just go clean-sweep and just have all the bragging rights for the year. (laughter) I’m just going to keep working and try to get better each week and just continue to improve, so that’s my main focus.”
(Defensive linemen always get real excited after a sack or tackle for loss, but I’m curious – are tackles, is that a number that does have some importance to you? Explain that.) – “Oh, definitely, because it’s a kept stat for a reason. They’re important, but in this league it’s real hard to get – I’m realizing it’s real hard to get tackles for loss and sacks. The big plays are harder to come by, so if you can make a tackle on the line of scrimmage for no gain, it doesn’t get shown up as a tackle for loss in the stat book, but it’s still a big play. If it’s a 1-yard gain, 2-yard gain, you force the offense in longer situations on second down. On second-and-8, second-and-9 instead of second-and-6, second-and-5 – it’s a lot harder from a game-planning standpoint for coaches to make those decisions, too, so they’re always important and always big, for sure.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores said this week you’re coming into your own. Is there something that’s clicked the last couple weeks because you’ve been on this ascent? What’s sort of changed the last couple weeks?) – “Really just getting more comfortable with what the coaches are asking me to do and just taking more reps. That’s the biggest thing. When you’re a young guy, reps are the most important thing. It’s just really – I’ve been just trying to learn as much from the older guys as I can (and) take as much in from everybody and just put it all together, and hopefully I’ll just keep building each week. I’m never satisfied. That’s kind of my mindset. No matter what I do, no matter what I’ve done in the past; I’m always chasing something better and chasing greatness. It’s just kind of my mindset and my approach I’ve taken every week and every day I step on the field.”
(DT Davon Godchaux said earlier that the mentality with defensive tackles is to stop the run. How much extra challenging is it when the quarterback is a part of that run game?) – “That definitely presents a different challenge for us. You take a lot of pride in it as a d-line, like he said. You’re only as good as you are at the point of attack and stopping the run as a d-lineman, but that presents another challenge for us for sure, because (Josh Allen) can make some great plays with his feet. We’re just going to have to be ready and just read our keys and situate our technique and plays will come to us.”
Brian Flores – November 15, 2019
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Friday, November 15, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(We saw that S Reshad Jones and DE Avery Moss were able to go full yesterday. Do you expect them to play Sunday?) – “We’ve got a good chance of seeing both guys. Both have been practicing, both have been getting better. They still need treatment and are getting rehab but there’s a good shot we see those guys both working their way back, yes.”
(Is there a good chance that T Julién Davenport will be activated?) – “That one we’re still kind of mulling through. We have to make a decision on the roster to do that. He’s practiced and he’s been out there the last couple of weeks. He’s definitely getting better. I would say from a technique, from a fundamentals standpoint, that’s improved over the last couple of weeks. Obviously it’s not where we want it to be quite yet but we’re making a lot of progress, so we’ll see.”
(DE Taco Charlton and LB Raekwon McMillan, do you expect them to play despite their injuries this week?) – “Both guys got dinged last week and were somewhat limited over the course of this week. I think, again, those guys I think it’s going to be a game-time decision. But both guys definitely want to play and are working hard to get back out there.”
(You have about 14 other players on the injury report that have participated fully in practice; but with the stretch you have the rest of the season, does that kind of concern you – the number of bodies?) – “I think that’s the norm throughout the league. I think when you play 9, 10, 11 (games) as we go into the latter stage of the season, guys are dinged up, guys are sore, guys are dealing with things. By league rule, we have to report it. I would love to come out of a game clean with no injuries and no dings. That’s unlikely. We’ll just kind of work through it. I think these guys have really worked through it. I think our medical staff does a really good job. (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle (Johnson), Dave (Puloka) – our strength coach – and our entire medical staff, I think they do a really good job. They work tirelessly trying to get these guys up to speed and ready to go as quickly as possible. I’m really happy with that group.”
(What have you seen from WR Gary Jennings in his week and a half of practice and how would you describe where he is in terms of his readiness to contribute?) – “I would say Gary – he’s been here just over a week I think. He’s in here early, he stays late. He’s a guy that’s really done a good job, I would say, over the last week (both) offensively and in the kicking game, trying to learn the verbiage, our communication offensively – which that’s extensive – and I think he’s making some strides. Is he quite ready to get out there? We’ll see. But (he’s) a young player who’s talented, can run, has some size and I think he’s – I would say over the course of this first week, he’s shown some things that work in his favor as a person and the way he prepares. Hopefully – we’ll see how it goes. It’s still very early.”
(Is there a player you’ve coached before that you can compare to LB Vince Biegel?) – “I’m not really into comparisons. Each player is their own individual. Vince, he’s tough, he’s smart, he loves to play. He’s got good play strength. He’s still developing in a lot of areas – tackling, pass rush, coverage. He can do a lot of things. Comparing guys – I’m not really into that. I think in some cases, it’s unfair and in other cases, it’s not a good enough comparison so I try to stay out of those. But I like Vince a lot. I think he’s brought a lot of energy, a lot of effort, a lot of enthusiasm. I think he plays the game the way it should be played. He loves to play. He gives maximum effort on every play. It’s been fun having him, coaching him and watching him improve and get better. I think there’s a lot more room for improvement for him.”
(What do you think your reaction would be – going off of what happened last night – if one of your players swung a helmet at another guy’s head? How do you think you would react?) – “I don’t want to get into hypotheticals on how I would react. There are a lot of variables. Obviously it was an unfortunate incident. I’m not necessarily even sure what the repercussions are going to be. It’s unfortunate. You don’t want to see that in a game. Look, people make mistakes. For all intents and purposes, everything I’ve heard about players from both sides, they’re good guys. I’d leave it at that.”
(Your team has been disciplined in the area of penalties throughout the season. I know you said you don’t want to jinx that. But have you or will you discuss and/or show last night with your team?) – “We show a lot of clips throughout the league – situations where guys lose their poise, situations where guys do a great job of keeping their poise, third-down situations, red zone situations, penalty situations. We try to educate them in a lot of different areas. Whether or not that one makes the list, we’ll see. I think – it’s one that everyone will have seen. I think our team understands or I hope they understand, how important it is to keep your poise. In order to play good football, you need to have that. But I also know it’s an emotional game and sometimes things happen. Again, none of us who have been involved in the game long enough – we all have experienced that in some form or fashion. That’s not to make excuses or to say it’s okay – it’s never okay and I think there’s consequences for your actions at all levels for players, coaches, personnel, you guys, everybody. We’ve got to show poise in certain situations, and really all situations.”
(How does CB Tre’Davious White elevate the Bills pass defense?) – “I think he’s one of the best corners in the league. The thing I love about him is he’s tough, he’s physical, he tackles. Forget the production, those are the things for me that I think you need in a defensive player. When you get him at the corner position and you’ve got corners and secondary players who tackle and are tough, that goes a long way to making your team and your defense tough. He’s a really good cover player – off coverage, man coverage, tight coverage, working through bunches, stacks. They do a good job collectively as a DB group. It’s not just one guy. He works with that entire group from a communication standpoint, working through things. He’s a good player and they’ve got a lot of good players over there, so it’s going to be a tough test for us.”
Mike Gesicki – November 14, 2019
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Thursday, November 14, 2019
TE Mike Gesicki
(On his progress this season.) – “I think for me, I just kind of take it week-by-week (and) just focus on my role and my assignment. You’ve just got to be ready when your opportunity and your number gets called out on the field on Sunday. I definitely have a ton of room left to improve and (I am) not even close to being the player that I want to be but I’m just trying to take strides each and every day to get there.”
(How’s your relationship building with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick?) – “It’s really good. I think our relationship and our chemistry on the field kind of correlates to the relationship off the field, too. I think it’s building each and every day and you just kind of get more comfortable with each other. Playing with him is, it’s pretty easy. He kind of puts the ball out there for you to go make a play, and it’s something that is cool as a receiver to know that he has trust in you and your ability to go out and make a play for him.”
(It’s your second week playing Buffalo this year. Has the preparation been any different being it’s the second time you’ve played them? Most teams you play this year you just play once, but how has it been different this week?) – “Every team is going to make their adjustments. They’re going to play week-to-week some different stuff, so they have made some changes dating back to the first game; but for the most part, everything kind of falls into the same category. You’ve got to go back and make sure that everything kind of matches up and just get ready to go out and execute on Sunday.”
Raekwon McMillan – November 14, 2019
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Thursday, November 14, 2019
LB Raekwon McMillan
(You guys lost a tough one up in Buffalo. Is there any extra motivation now playing them for a second time this year?) – “Yeah, for sure. We felt like we played good ball for a little bit of the game. We just didn’t finish the right way. We’re going to come in this game and try to finish – play the whole game like we did the first half last game.”
(Any extra motivation going against your former teammate RB Frank Gore? Was there any extra trash-talking the first game or is he kind of mild-mannered?) – “He’s mild-mannered. Frank, he’s the ‘O.G.’ He told me good game afterwards. He tells me that he’s proud of me as a player, how I’ve developed and hopefully we have another good battle this week.”
(With the preparation each week focused on being 1-0, has that changed this week being the fact this is the second time you’re playing the Bills, especially with this coaching staff? How have they done things different or the same?) – “It’s all been the same, really. We’ve just been evaluating the film from last time. When you play a team twice, you get to look back on the first time you played, evaluate it, go in there and make corrections and hopefully put the best ball out there on Sunday.”
(What do people not know about that? I guess sometimes you really know these teams a little better because of that. Some people are surprised games like this are sometimes this close.) – “Like you said, you just know the other team real well. The personnel, you know how they play. You start to learn the individuals over time. I think this is my sixth time playing this team since I’ve been here with the Dolphins. It’s always a good competition. They’re a division rival so it’s always good ball out there.”
(How have you noticed things around here being a bit different with a two game win streak? I know it’s a 1-0 mentality but you’re still on a streak nonetheless.) – “For sure. We’re just on a roll as a team. We’re building and trying to get this thing back on the road. We didn’t start off the season how we wanted to at 0-7; but these last two weeks – like you said – we got back-to-back (wins) so hopefully we keep rolling.”
(QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was asked about the tanking thing that’s been surrounding the team this year and he said that it’s nice to have two wins and kind of kill that narrative a little bit. Do you kind of agree with that?) – “Yeah, I’ve always been the type to not really care about what the outside media has to say about what’s going on here in the locker room. Us as a team, we never go out there on Sundays and want to go lose. All of that tanking noise, that’s just people on the outside talking. Everybody in here is really dedicated to winning ball games and that’s all we’re worried about.”
(I know you don’t pay attention to it but do you peek at it? Do you see what people are talking about?) – “No. Occasionally my mom will send me a little article or whatnot but other than that, not really.”
(What kind of stuff does she send you?) – “She’ll just send me something about something funny that happened on the team or some crazy stuff, or ask me ‘Are you really tanking?’ and stuff like that. I tell mom to get off Twitter and get off Instagram and stuff like that. (laughter)”
Brian Flores – November 14, 2019
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Thursday, November 14, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(From a coaching standpoint, you guys have remained confident in RB Kalen Ballage but he has the lowest yards per carry average of every back in the NFL that has attempted more than 10 carries. What makes you optimistic that this is going to turn around?) – “Well, Kalen works extremely hard. He’s done a good job in practice. It hasn’t materialized in games but I think we just keep giving it to him. I think it will turn. He’s a good player. He’s shown that through practice. Again, we have a lot of confidence in him. We’ll just keep feeding him and I think he’ll break through at some point.”
(How do you work with a back in terms of vision and finding holes and maximizing each carry?) – “You get it in practice. You watch it on tape. You go through it and – again, it’s not just one person. It’s getting in sync with the offensive line and knowing the defensive tackle is a good player who is going to get a little bit of penetration. You can almost anticipate some of that. But it’s o-line, it’s fullback, it’s receivers blocking. It’s not just one person. I think in a lot of instances, he’s the one who ends up with the stat but it’s a team statistic, just like every other statistic. To put it on one person, I think that’s – I know that’s what ultimately happens and that’s part of being in the NFL but at the end of the day, there’s a lot more people involved.”
(It was a close game with the Bills the first time around. That pick and then that drive was the turning point. What has the team learned since that 98-yard drive and how have they gotten better since then?) – “Since that one drive?”
(Yeah. That was a key moment in that game, obviously. And you’ve been able to finish games since then.) – “Yeah, those are – look, you never know what play it’s going to be, so every play counts. That’s something we talk about really on a day in and day out basis. Again, you mentioned the drive. I don’t know how many plays there were in that one – I know there were a lot – but there were a few plays in that drive where if we played it a little bit better or if we had a little bit better communication or if we made a tackle or whatever it is on that particular drive – and you could say that for that one particular drive but there’s been some others in the season where you get a handful of plays and it’s a three-and-out or an interception or a fumble. Every play counts. That’s something that we’ve preached all year. Look, there’s ebbs and flows in every game. If we talk about one particular play, to me it’s never just one play really until you come down to the very bitter end. There’s always a series of plays that you never know which one is the one that’s going to turn the game, turn the momentum of a game and be the one play that turns the tide.”
(Players are obviously playing better. Do you think scheme-wise you guys are doing smarter things as the season goes along?) – “I think we always try to put guys in the best positions to play well. I think that’s always the case. I think as the season progresses, I think every team has a better understanding and feel for the players and what they do well, what they don’t do well, who plays well together, who communicates well, what groupings fit best, what o-line, d-line, nickel group, dime, ends, what combination – I mean there’s 11 guys on the field. There’s a few different combinations you can have. Situationally, those combinations change so I think we have a better feel as a staff of what groupings we feel give us the best chance. We try to put those out there. Sometimes we try to put the best group out there and it doesn’t always work out because it’s football. The other team, they have good players and they make plays. I’m thinking of a couple right now. Indy made some plays last week and the Jets the week before. Every week somebody makes (plays). You’re in a good defense, you’re in the right call, you feel good about it and they make a play and everyone thinks we can’t coach. It happens every week to every team.”
(To follow up on that, what’s the most encouraging thing that you have found out about the coaching staff you put together from the time you did that to right now?) – “These guys – this staff does a really good job communicating with one another, with the players, and we work well together. From the kicking game with (Special Teams Coordinator) Danny Crossman and ‘B. Farrell’ (Assistant Special Teams Brendan Farrell); there’s a few – some of our quality control coaches kind of work in concert with Danny in the kicking game. Offensively, (Offensive Coordinator) Chad (O’Shea) leads the way from that standpoint. Chad to (Running Backs Coach) Eric Studesville to (Wide Receivers Coach) Karl (Dorrell) to – the whole staff – they do a really good job. Then (Defensive Coordinator) Pat (Graham) and (Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Cornerbacks Coach) Josh (Boyer) and ‘T.O.’ (Safeties Coach Tony Oden) – I think we’ve got a good staff. They work well with the players. They work well with one another. There’s a cohesiveness that you need on a coaching staff and then hopefully the team reflects that. I think these guys have done an okay job from that standpoint. We just keep working at it.”
(QB Ryan Fitzpatrick talked yesterday about how the confidence is higher in the locker room just walking through, which makes more sense after the back-to-back victories; but my question to you is, is that something tangible? Is that something you can feel just being around the guys that the confidence is higher now?) – “I think any time you win, that’s a confidence builder, so yeah; but at the same time, I’ve said this before: when you deal with adversity or mental toughness, my opinion is one, how you deal with failure and then two, how you deal with success. I think we’ve had a little bit of it. I don’t think there’s any reason to bask in the glory. We’ve won two games. I think guys – given where we were earlier in the year – I think there’s definitely a little bit of confidence, but I think there’s also an understanding that things can go right back to the way they were and if we don’t work at it and we just spend a little less time in preparation, a little a less urgency and commitment in a walkthrough or a practice or a meeting, that’s the difference. How many plays in this league are a tackle, a shoestring tackle or the difference between a 6-yard run and a 60-yard run; or a toe clip is the difference between a sack and a 60-yard pass. That’s the difference. Hopefully we don’t lose that from a preparation standpoint because we’re excited about what happened last week but we need to forget about last week.”
(When you talk about confidence and things like that, where do you see that on the field and off the field? Are guys paying attention more in meetings? Are they smiling more? Are they executing their plays on the field more because of that confidence?) – “Look, we’ve got – this is a tough opponent. When I see Josh Allen running around on film, I’m confident in our guys; but I know this is a tough challenge. Whether it’s Allen or (Frank) Gore or (Devin) Singletary or John Brown, that offensive line, defensively they’ve got guys everywhere; yeah, I have confidence in this team, but I also know and I’d be – I know this is the National Football League and every game is tough. They’re going to come in here and try to knock our heads off and we have to be ready for that. Confidence – I don’t know how to really explain it, but I’ve moved on from that. We’re on to Buffalo and this is going to be a tough, physical game, and we have to be ready for that. More than anything, we’ve got to be ready for a tough physical game.”
(Speaking of preparation, when you face a mobile quarterback like Bills QB Josh Allen or other guys, how does that impact your game plan? Does it make it more stressful, less stressful, same as a more stationary quarterback?) – “Yeah, it’s stressful. Definitely stressful. When you have a guy (like that), you put together a game plan where you think you’ve got everybody covered or this is a good pressure or this is a good coverage or whatever we’re going to do defensively; we’ve got everybody covered, he breaks a tackle and it’s 50 yards. Yeah, that makes you uncomfortable, so we’ve got to do a good job with our technique (and) our fundamentals; but at the same time, there’s keys to game that we need to really address (and) focus on. Obviously we know – the whole league knows – that Josh Allen is a very mobile guy and can turn a game with his legs. Every team knows that and he still goes out there and does it. He breaks a tackle and makes a big run, and we’ve got to do a good job from that standpoint.”
(Have you, through nine games, can you form a conclusion yet as to whether you think G/T Jesse Davis is a good starting right tackle in the league or do you need to see a full body of work to form that conclusion?) – “Look, this is a production business. As you guys know, you’re only as good as your last game. With that said, I think Jesse has done a very, very good job. I think wherever you put him, he’s going to be productive and play well. So, right tackle, right guard, left tackle, I think he’s going to go out there and give us his best effort, he’s going to play hard, he’s going to play physical, he’s going to be tough. I like having Jesse on this team. I feel confident – I’m very confident in his ability.”
(We know what CB Nik Needham did to get to this point and to have success in the last two games. How does a young player like that continue the forward progress?) – “You forget about everything you’d done. You forget about the last couple games or you forget about any success you had. I know he’s getting – I don’t know much about social media, but people are saying he’s this or that or (any of that). Your friends, your family, they’re going to congratulate you. That’s great. But if you start listening to all that too much and – I don’t know. Maybe it’s one minute less on one more text and (it’s) one minute less on film. You’ve got to try to put that away and focus on the task at hand, which is preparing for Buffalo and the receivers they have and our scheme and trying to get that right so that we can string them together, because the world will make you think that you’re this superstar. And maybe you are, but it doesn’t really matter. The only thing that matters is the guys in that room, in that locker room I should say. That’s funny to you?”
(Yeah.) – “Is it?”
(Yeah.) – “Why?”
(I don’t know. We asked about G Shaq Calhoun a couple weeks ago. I mean, we didn’t ask about G Shaq Calhoun a couple weeks ago – he came up unsolicited – so it’s nice to hear you want your players to kind of keep an even head about everything.) – “That’s funny?”
(Yeah.) – “Okay. Alright. That’s it? Okay.”
Brian Flores – November 13, 2019 (Conference Call)
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores Conference Call with Buffalo Media
(I know that you coached CB Stephon Gilmore in your career and several corners. What is it that strikes you maybe in looking at Bills CB Tre’Davious White on film – not necessarily to compare him to Gilmore, but he and Stephon are up at the top of the league in terms of opponent passer rating when targeted. I’m curious your thoughts on him knowing all the defensive guys you’ve coached over the years?) – “I would say, ‘Tre’ (Tre’Davious White) – this is a good corner. Tre White is a very, very, very good corner. He tackles. He’s tough. He’s physical. He’s very good in coverage. I would say he’s physical at the line of scrimmage. He mixes press coverage and off coverage, so it is hard to get a beat on him. He’s got good instincts, good ball skills. He’s got a knack for even in man coverage, he plays with a little bit of zone vision. That’s why he gets his hands on so many balls. This is just – he’s one of the top corners in the league. There’s a lot to like, but the thing I like the most about him is just his overall toughness. A lot of corners don’t want to tackle, don’t want to – they just see themselves as cover guys. This guy’s a complete corner. (He) tackles – obviously you see I put a major emphasis on tackling. He tackles, he’s tough, he’s physical and he can cover, so there’s a lot to like about him.”
(QB Ryan Fitzpatrick – just what about Fitz’s personality has helped your team?) – “I think he’s just got a way about – there’s a way about him with his teammates, with the coaches, with everybody in the building. He’s just a real likable person and he’s got great leadership. He loves to play the game and it’s infectious – the way he practices, the way he creates relationships, and that’s been very, very helpful to our young team.”
(With all his experience, obviously QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is really good at anticipation, throws, throwing guys open; when you look at young quarterbacks, do you think that’s a hard to thing to learn or that guys generally get better with experience, or do you think, is that particular innate talent that somebody like ‘Fitz’ has?) – “I think that’s a little bit of all those things. I think there’s – some guys have an innate ability to anticipate and like you said, throw guys open. I think going through this, anytime you get an experience or you – every play is an experience. That’s what I tell a lot of the young guys. ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) – he’s got a lot of experience in this league and has seen a lot of different coverages, seen a lot of different players, how they play; coincide that with the guys he’s played with – big receivers, small receiver, fast receiver, good at the top of the route, better on crossing – there’s a litany of things there that come into play. Pass protection-wise, ‘I’ve got to step up quickly, I’ve got to get the ball out quickly’ (or) ‘I’ve got time to hold.’ There’s 100 different things that go on at the quarterback position, and they really happen all at once. I do think it takes time to be able to handle all those things and manage the offense, manage the game, manage the situation, know the down-and-distance; there’s, again, 100 things that are going on mentally, physically and to handle all those things, it takes a unique person. He has all those traits. I would say Josh Allen has a lot of those traits as well, so it’ll be a tough test for us defensively.”
Reshad Jones – November 13, 2019
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
S Reshad Jones
(You were telling us about how your recovery from the chest injury was going.) – “I feel pretty good. I’ve just been taking it a day at a time. I’m almost 100 (percent).”
(Have they been overly cautious with you or have you been overly cautious with yourself? How do you think that’s gone?) – “I think both. Both.”
(Why? What do you think?) – “It was a cracked rib, so I was just taking it a day at a time to let it heal itself. I didn’t need any surgery or anything like that, though.”
(Breathing is no fun with one of those is it?) – “No. Not at all.”
(Were you able to sleep?) – “Not the first week. It was a little tough, but the sleep is getting better now.”
(How did it happen?) – “A tackle in the Redskins game. I tried to pull a guy down and he came and sat on me, and I guess crushed that area or whatever. I noticed it was a cracked rib.”
(Was it one, was it two? A bunch of them or just one of them?) – “I think it was just one.”
(What’s it been like watching the games on Sundays?) – “It’s hard. I’m a competitor. I always want to be out there with my guys to help the guys win football games or whatever. I can only take it a day at a time. Like I said, I’m excited and happy to be back to help these guys.”
(Would you be alright with wearing rib protectors during the game?) – “It depends on whatever the training staff comes up with. I’ll probably have something on to protect the area.”
(Do you feel like an old man with all of these kids in the secondary?) – “Nah, I still feel 18. I still feel good. (laughter)”
(Do you expect to play this week?) – “Yeah. Most definitely.”
(What have you noticed that the team has been able to do well over the last two games/) – “They’ve been complementing each other good. Offense has been playing good, the special teams has been playing well and the defense played well. That’s how you win football games in this league. You have to complement each other in all three phases of the game.”
(What do you see out of CB Nik Needham?) – “He’s just been working. He’s finding ways to make plays. He’s listened to coaching, he’s taking coaching very well. He’s fighting his tail off to continue to help the team.”
(Is it more impressive that CB Nik Needham came here undrafted, got cut and then coming back and getting the opportunity?) – “Oh yeah, most definitely. We joke with him a lot, but he’s been progressing and working his tail off to help this team win football games.”
(What are you seeing out of the secondary in general?) – “I think they’ve been playing pretty well, communicating and doing the things that they need to do to help this team win football games. I think as a whole, they’ve been playing pretty well.”
(Did you ever have a broken rib in your life before?) – “Never.”
Andrew Van Ginkel – November 13, 2019
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
LB Andrew Van Ginkel
(How did it feel to be back at practice today?) – “Good. Just being out there with my teammates, it’s been a couple months, so whenever you can step on that field and do what you do and have fun, it felt good.”
(It’s been a long wait. How tough has it been to just…?) – “For sure. I just had to be patient and continue to do rehab and get better day-by-day. It’s been a long time coming and I’m excited to be back out there.”
(What’s the No. 1 thing you’ve learned from watching the guys who have played the edge position for the Dolphins in the first nine games?) – “I’d say just take what the coaches give you. They’re going to give you hints and going to help you with what to see and what to expect, so just take everything in and do what they say because they’ve been in this league. They’ve been coaching guys, so they know what to expect.”
(They obviously had a decision to make about which of the guys to bring back – you DE Jonathan Ledbetter, etc. Had you known it was heading this way or was it a surprise to you when they told you, “we’re going to designate you to return?”) – “Honestly I was just taking it day-by-day. I was unsure and I was just staying my course, continuing to do whatever I could to get better and continue rehab and just being able to play. I was unsure, and I was just going to put my foot down and do what I do best.”
(How many positions had you been playing back in May, June and early in training camp?) – “I was just wherever the coaches saw me fit. They all had me playing a couple different positions and just seeing where I fit best.”
(It was outside linebacker primarily more, so edge rushing?) – “Yeah, primarily.”
(LB Vince Biegel was saying you guys never actually played together…) – “Correct.”
(But obviously you sort of played a similar position at Wisconsin to LB Vince Biegel. So when you succeeded him, what did you notice about his Badger film? What did you try to emulate?) – “Just the way he attacks every play. He plays with relentless effort and he’s never going to give up on a play, no matter if he’s on the backside; he’s going to chase it down. As you saw you in the game last week, the dude has relentless effort, and every play he’s going after the ball.”
(LB Vince Biegel had a ‘W’ shaved in his head. Did you ever see a picture of that?) – “Yeah, I did actually. (laughter) He had a mullet, too.”
(LB Vince Biegel had a mullet. Have you ever gone mohawk or shaved head?) – “Uh, no. No. (laughter) I should though.”
