Ryan Fitzpatrick – August 8, 2019 (Postgame)
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Thursday, August 8, 2019
Postgame – Atlanta
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
(On the team’s first preseason game…) – “It warms my heart because for so long I was scratching and clawing and trying to make rosters and all these reps in games and whether it’s first, second, third or fourth really meant a lot to me. And so it’s so much fun to watch guys – Mark Walton, Myles (Gaskin), Preston (Williams), Patrick (Laird) – the guys stepping up and making plays and Jake (Rudock) having a couple nice drives, too, at the end there. It’s just, it’s good to see because there’s a lot of hard work that goes into this thing by a lot of different people and it’s nice to see guys get an opportunity to go out there and show what they have.”
(You avoided pressure in a few positive moments. What emotion do you try to take when there is undue pressure coming your way?) – “I mean, I don’t think there’s a whole lot that you can, a whole lot of stock you can put into things that happened today, other than we’ll look at it on tape and just see what we can do. For me as a quarterback, you try to avoid sacks, so you get rid of the ball, sometimes you scramble, sometimes you throw it away. A lot of it is just communication up front, making sure everybody’s on the same page, making sure what I’m saying and they’re saying is making sense, and you build that relationship and you go from there. We’ve got a lot of guys up front that are working really hard right now and a lot of moving parts and different things where the communication level’s been pretty good.”
(You had two third down plays where you took off to run. What were some things that you were seeing out there that made you decide to make that play?) — “The first one – it was a shorter third -and-2, 3, 4 – whatever it was and there was nobody standing there, so I decided to waltz to get the first down. The second one – I wish I would have been able to do something with that ball, because we had some guys — we have got a lot of talent on the outside and a lot of guys that if I get the ball to them, they can do some good things. There’s — it’s going to be, I think it’s going to be a fun offense to be in this year with all the talent we have.”
(What were those two young guards like in the huddle?) – “We just weren’t out there for very long, so they — I didn’t notice anything, so I guess that’s a good thing, right? Yeah, there was no, nobody with tears in their eyes or shaking or asking weird questions, so so far so good, I guess.”
(Speaking of not being out there very long, I know you’ve played for a long time, and probably don’t need it, but would you have liked to have gotten a little bit more work?) – “I mean, we have got a few games left here in the preseason, so I think — I’ve come to really enjoy the joint practices. I think, and going to Tampa and doing that, going against a different defense, different scheme. But we have got a few more games where we’re going to get some more reps out there, so it was fine with what it was today.”
(Was it different for you going back to see some old teammates, how do you kind of approach that, seeing old teammates – Tampa Bay Buccaners QB Jameis Winston also trying to worry about this quarterback competition here?) – “I’m really excited about it. In general, the Tampa community really embraced me and my family, and it’s a place that’s near and dear to our hearts, so I’m excited to go back just to see a lot of familiar faces and friends. And then the team aspect of it as well, it’s going to be fun to see some of those guys and even Todd Bowles, who is my head coach with the Jets being the defensive coordinator, it will be great to catch up with him. So yeah, I’m excited for it for a lot of different reasons, but certainly the human aspect of it I’m excited for that.”
Davon Godchaux – August 8, 2019 (Second Half)
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Thursday, August 8, 2019
Second Half – Atlanta
DT Davon Godchaux (transcribed by Vira Halim)
(You got some opportunity to work out there. How did it feel with that group you have?) – “It was great. We were flying to the ball. It’s always good to get out there with the guys playing against an opposite team. We’ve been banging on each other past couple of days. It’s good to come out here and play against another team and it’s a great opportunity.”
(You’ve got a big group in that defensive tackle room. You guys are going to be asked to do a lot of things in this defense. Do you like that group you’re working with?) – “Yes, sir. Day-by-day. We added Robert Nkemdiche. Day-by-day, we just keep working, listen to (Defensive Line) Coach Hobby, listen to ‘PG’ (Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham), listen to Coach ‘Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) each and every day.”
(You’ve been looking at this defense every day from front to back. How good can you guys be?) – “Scary. Scary because we’re young. We’re a young team. We’re a young defense, so we can be scary. We can be as good as we want to. The sky’s the limit … Like ‘PG’ (Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham) says every day, we have to make it a great defense.
(It’s such a young team. You’re kind of one of the old guys on that defense now.) – “I’m not going to say old. I’m in my third year. I’m only 24-years old. I’ve got a lot of football left to play. I’m only 24, so I’m excited about it.”
(You’re a little more seasoned.) – “Yeah. I’m a little more seasoned. I’m going into my third season. I just saw some pictures; I’ve played with some good vets. I’m ready my third season.”
Brian Flores – August 8, 2019 (Halftime)
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Thursday, August 8, 2019
Halftime – Atlanta
Miami Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores (transcribed by Anthony Gutierrez)
(You got a chance to look at your two quarterbacks in the first half, what did you see that you liked?) – “I think they both managed the huddle pretty well. The communication was okay. Obviously, I don’t like the turnover by Josh (Rosen). I think overall, as a team we got to do a better job with our fundamentals, our technique. I think the effort is really good, but we got to tackle better, we got to block them up a little bit better, we got to have better overall communication.”
(One thing nice to see after the turnover, your defense on a quick change, able to hold them out of the end zone and force the field goal.) – “That’s a great situation for us to go through, have a little adversity. We kind of pick each other up defensively in that case. It’s got to be in all phases – special teams, offense, defense.”
(Protection, a little bit of in issue. Got to get that offensive line together. Certainly a work in progress.) – “It’s certainly that, but at the same time, we still got to do a good job with our fundamentals, our technique, our communication and protect inside out. If we do those things, we’ll be okay.”
Tank Carradine – August 6, 2019
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Tuesday, August 6, 2019
DE Tank Carradine
(I want to ask you, is there a different feeling at practice this week now that it’s finally a game week?) – “We’re just locking in. We know there’s a game. Even though it’s a preseason game, it’s a very important game. That’s something that all of the guys are locked in and we’re staying on top of.”
(For you, how are you looking at this opportunity with the Dolphins this year?) – “I’m looking at it as a big opportunity. This is a chance for me to get my career back on track. I thank the coaches are giving me this opportunity, and I’ve got to get my career my track and just be there for my team and do everything I need to do. I’ve got to be able to show (I can) set the edge on the run and be able to play third down and pass game.”
(Looks like you’re spending a lot of time with the first-team defense. How important is that for you to be a starter on this team?) – “That’s very important to me because I do have experience, and we have a lot of young guys. I’ve just got to lead them the right way and help them grow as we help each other develop and leave it all out there on the field. I think that it’s very important. It’s also giving me a chance to get my career back on track, do everything it takes to help the team win and just be successful out there on the field.”
(What were your initial thoughts when the Dolphins contacted you in the offseason?) – “I thought it was cool. I sat out last year. It’s something that really humbles you when you don’t get picked back up. I saw it as another opportunity for me to get better and be able to give it all I’ve got out there on the field. I was so excited about it, so I took a chance. I’m working hard. I came here and said, ‘I’m going to give it all I’ve got.’ I know I’m getting older. I know this could be my last shot, so I’m going to try to make the most of it.”
(What do you think makes you a really good fit for this defense?) – “Just how we’re playing. There are different schemes that we run and be able to set the edge, play inside. They’re trying to move me all over the field. That’s something that I like. It’s giving me a chance to play different positions and be all out there and be an every-down player.”
(You didn’t necessarily have a great experience in Oakland, but you did play with a lot of the guys over there. Do you have any level of curiosity about HBO’s Hard Knocks?) – “(laughter) I’ll them guys. They know how it is – those guys, they’re working. I’ll just tell them, ‘give it all you got.’ At the end of the day when you leave practice and you’re out there in meetings, make sure you leave it all out there because you know on Hard Knocks, you know how that is when you get cut, and it is all in the open and everybody sees what happens.”
(Are you planning on watching this season of Hard Knocks?) – “No, I’m just going to keep working hard and get ready for this game on Thursday.”
Michael Deiter – August 6, 2019
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Tuesday, August 6, 2019
G Michael Deiter
(On what new Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo says he needs to work on?) – “That I need to get better and that I’m nowhere near where I need to be, which is good. I’m not. He’s right. But I’m getting better, for sure, and making strides. The biggest thing is mastering the offense and getting as comfortable as I can mentally, that way I can come out here and just cut it loose without thinking. That’s when I’ll be able to play my best. Really it’s just been I’m doing alright, but there is so much more I need to get better with. I’m still just a rookie. There’s a lot I need to learn and I’m trying to. That’s pretty much it.”
(How significant has it been for you to get all that work with the first team?) – “It’s been huge because it’s either grow and get better or you’re not going to stay there. Getting those valuable reps with those guys and the guys that are around you, that have all of that experience – ‘LT’ (Laremy Tunsil), Dan (Kilgore) – if there is anything I’m confused about, I can go right to them and it’s solved and they get me right. Having those guys next to me helps a ton. They clean everything up for me and if you’re not going to be playing good football, you’re not going to be staying here. It’s been really good to get those reps.”
(How would you describe your level of excitement for Thursday even though it is a preseason game, it is your first NFL game.) – “It’s huge. I’m super excited. Like you said, it is a preseason game but to me, I won’t know the difference. It’s going to feel like a game to me. I’m excited about it, just to be in that atmosphere again, and to play a different opponent – not someone you see every day – and just to kind of put it all together. Like you said, it’s a preseason game. There’s going to be some good, there will probably be some not so good and some stuff we’ll have to clean up going into the next preseason game. I just want to play the best that I have up to this point in camp on Thursday.”
(After the offensive line coaching change was made, did Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo or Head Coach Brian Flores sit you down and say ‘Hey, we’re going to give you more work with the starters?’ Was that ever stated or was it seen on the board one day when you walked in and you said, ‘Oh, I’m with the first group today?’) – “It was that. It was just you got reps with the ones. It’s no different than the reps with the twos. It’s just the guys you’re next to (are different) pretty much. When you get that opportunity, you want to take advantage of it. All I can do is try to play my best and try to learn with those guys that are around me and it was good. It was cool.”
(Last year TE Mike Gesicki, and TE Durham Smythe would say that they roomed together, they’d quiz each other on stuff. Are you and G Shaq Calhoun doing anything like that?) – “A ton of quizzing. We’ll just be walking down the hallway and I’ll through a code word at him out of nowhere while we’re eating dinner. I’d be like ‘come on, what is it?’ We’ve got to think fast. That kind of competitive – it’s a joke almost, but you still get a rep. You can think through stuff and I think it’s helped a lot. It’s helped him and it’s definitely helped me. It’s cool to have that kind of competitive joke but learning at the same time.”
(You’re rooming with who?) – “I room with Isaiah (Prince).”
(Outside of the activities that the team has planned for you tomorrow before the game, how are you preparing yourself for the game?) – “It will be – the day before the game is pretty much all mental. We will come out here and get a little bit or work in and we’ll sweat; but you want to get your body back a little bit and then it’s all mental. I want to make sure I’m mentally sharp. I don’t want to be having MAs (missed assignments) because that’s the quickest way to lose a spot. Then, doing the cold tub and all of the recovery stuff, like I said, getting the body right. I guess the biggest thing for me is just getting as mentally sharp as I can possibly get tomorrow, so I can just go out there and play fast.”
(Do you have any ritual of talking to your parents or friends?) – “No. It’s pretty much just another day for me. I guess the emphasis is more get the mind right and get the body right instead of overworking the body.”
(Where do you feel you’ve made the most gains in terms of just working with the starters this week?) – “I think mentally, just kind of the few things that I wasn’t understanding before, that I’ve picked up, just different techniques that I’ve been able to work on. There isn’t nothing that hasn’t gotten better, but there is still so much that needs to get better. So, I’ve gotten better, but there is still so much more to clean up.”
Christian Wilkins – August 6, 2019
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Tuesday, August 6, 2019
DT Christian Wilkins
(On drowning out the negative expectations for the season from outsiders.) – “I’m not going to let anybody create a mindset for this team or for anybody on this team. I feel like if we work hard, we do what we have to do, we grind and we bring it every day, if we put our best foot forward, we’ll reap what we sow. That’s the one thing about the outside world – they don’t know what’s going on in here. I’m not putting any predictions or any wild expectations on us. The most important thing to me is that I bring it every day and that the guys on this team bring it every day. That doesn’t bother me at all. It’s all just rhetoric. It’s a long season. We’re just in camp right now. We’ll reap what we sow, like I said, and get the results that we deserve.”
(It’s only preseason. How much are you looking forward to Thursday, getting out there in the home stadium doing your thing?) – “I’m really looking forward to it. Every time you put on those pads and go into that stadium, it’s another opponent from another team. It isn’t just preseason. It’s full go, a live game. For me, it’s my first NFL experience. You can’t tell me otherwise that it’s just another preseason game. It’s important too for me to just kind to get into my routine and understand the things that I want to do know, because it’s a whole different schedule for me. Just getting into those routines. I’ve got to treat this as close to a game as possible, and just figure out what I like, what I can do and what I can’t do. I’ve just got to bring that mindset that this is an actual real live game.”
(As far as meeting United States Women’s National Soccer Coach Jill Ellis today, you got a picture with her right?) – “Yes. That was awesome.”
(Where does that rank in all of your Instagram photos?) – “That’s pretty cool, because obviously what they were able to do – Team USA – was special. They were so much fun to watch and that’s not an easy thing to accomplish, being the best in the world at something. I’m sure that starts with great leadership. It starts at the top with coaching. It was awesome, awesome to meet her. I had to give her a big hug and get my picture with her.”
(Where does that rank as far as cool people you’ve met?) – “That’s definitely up there. Because like I said, I love watching all sports. Again, how they represented not just for themselves, but for the whole country. They were just so much fun to watch so that was definitely awesome.”
(Are you the type of player that gets nervous before a game? Will you have butterflies?) – “I don’t typically get nervous, just because of preparation. That’s where it all starts. I feel like I would only be nervous if I feel like I didn’t prepare the right way and didn’t bring it every day or if I cheated the process. I feel like if I do everything I need to do throughout the week, then there shouldn’t be any pressure come game day just because there is great talented guys out here that I’m going against every day. I’m hoping the game won’t be too much different.”
(A lot of times fans don’t notice linemen as much, but you being a first-round draft pick, do you feel that maybe eyes are going to be on you?) – “Yes. I’m sure that will be, but I feel like as long as I do what I need to do for this team, I don’t get out of myself or get out of the scheme, as long as it matters what I do for this team, the coaches trust me, my teammates trust me and I know I did my best, then it doesn’t matter what other people may think. But I know all eyes are going to be on me as well, and there will be some attention from it.”
(Has everything been going according to plan for you in training camp from your perspective?) – “In terms of me just getting better every day, me just getting better every day, me bringing it, me trying to earn my teammates and my coaches trust and respect, I feel like so far I’ve done alright. But, I’m never satisfied, so I’m always trying to get better at everything.”
Jesse Davis – August 6, 2019
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
G/T Jesse Davis
(How do you feel about them bestowing that on you and wanting you to play another position?) – “I like it. I like the challenge. It’s a pretty big feat for me I think from going in to moving out. I like the challenge that they threw into my lap and I’m going to take it.”
(What are some things that you need to learn or need to work on as you transition to this position?) – “Working on my sets, hands, balance.”
(Working towards the outside, too right?) – “Yeah. All the stuff that you see tackles do.”
(Is there an NFL offensive tackle in the league now or from the past who you actually think you can relate to a little bit like similar size, similar pedigree, similar something?) – “I haven’t really paid too much attention. I know guys would like to be the best guys out there; but at the end of the day, you’re your own person. You can’t be mimicking what they do. You can take little stuff from their game, but whatever works for you, that’s what I’d say to do.”
(Is there anything you’ve learned playing right guard that can help you play right tackle?) – “Understanding more of the interior stuff, Mike (linebacker) points and rotations and what the center is seeing, what they’re doing on the back side stuff. Just the same old stuff that you really end up doing every day.”
(We’ve seen you obviously at right tackle for eight days now. Is your sense that this is a permanent move?) – “We’ll see. We’ll see Thursday what happens and moving forward after those next few games up until the start of the season. Every day is day-by-day, I think.”
(Thursday I would imagine you’d be at right tackle?) – “What are we, almost 48 hours away? So, I’d imagine so. I’d hope so anyway.”
(What was Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo’s feedback to you about how you’ve done in the role through eight days?) – “Good and bad. There’s a lot of stuff to work on, but in my mind I think those things are fixable really quick, so I think we’re in good shape.”
(What is the upside you think with two rookie guards? Obviously they’ve been with the first group for six days now.) – “With them in there, it’s more communication. We’ve got to talk to them a little bit more than you would a guy that’s already been in there. I think they’re doing a great job from what I’ve seen.”
(What’s G Shaq Calhoun’s upside?) – “He’s explosive. He stays low. Obviously, he’s a squatty guy, but he’s explosive, has good hands and is a strong guy. I think it’s good for this position.”
(Is it surreal to have all these youngsters around you? You were the young guy like yesterday.) – “It’s a little different. It kind of happened pretty quick. At the end of the day, that’s what we got and that’s what we’re rolling with. I’m excited for these guys to show it out on Thursday.”
(When you guys are coming out here and busting your you know what and you hear the national rhetoric that the Dolphins are going to be this or going to be that, how do you guys take that as a team?) – “Anything kind of said outside the organization and out of our building we don’t really care. We don’t even know what day it is. Right now, anything that’s being said out there, we could care less. It’s August, what is it, the 6th? It’s a month away from the season, more than a month. Whatever they’re saying, keep doing it. We’ll keep putting it on our back and we’ll take the challenge.”
(How much are you looking forward to Thursday finally hitting somebody else that’s not wearing aqua and orange?) – “I’m excited to get in a game setting and playing fast, and no coaches around to tell you, ‘Do this.’ Just go out there and play. That’s what I like about it. You’re playing with your bros. If something bad happens, you go onto the next one and get it fixed. I’m excited for it.”
(Do you study the left defensive end pass rush moves for the Falcons guys in the preseason or is that really something more you do in the regular season?) – “Probably so in the regular season. We don’t game plan. Right now, it’s kind of on your own, by which we all have been watching some film on Atlanta’s first game. Obviously, the starters weren’t in. We do our own studies. Go back to Dan Quinn’s stuff in Seattle. There’s plenty of stuff to grab from on our plate. I expect some vanilla stuff. It’s going to be between him and me.”
(You obviously can confidently play both guard and tackle. Do you have a feeling about where you have a greater chance of long-term NFL success? Is that something that’s clear to you yet?) – “What is the old saying, tackles go to guard to die? (laughter) I can always move back in. I’m excited for it. I’m excited for the challenge to move out there. I felt comfortable in that role in 2017. I just need to get more reps with it. I think we all do. Get a little bit more reps together and I think we’ll be good.”
(Do they have enough defensive tackles where you don’t have to do the goal-line defense or do you still want to do that?) – “If they want it, I’m always up for it. I don’t think they’re going to want to put somebody in a starting positon in that role. That’s what I heard last time I was in there. I was like, ‘Why am I not on?’ They were like, ‘Well, you’re starting.’ (laughter) I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.”
Brian Flores – August 6, 2019
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Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(You’ve obviously coached for one of the best coaches of all time – Bill Belichick – but I know you’re obviously your own man as well. Did you give any thought maybe during a quiet moment the last eight months of what you want to take from Belichick and do things like he does as a head coach and what do I want to do differently? I’m not obviously asking you what those are, but was there sort of an introspective moment you had where you thought about that issue?) – “That’s a good question. During this process, I tried to take a little bit from anyone with a leadership position that I could. So that was Bill, that was my high school coach (Dino Mangiero), that was my college coaches, my parents, anyone who has a leadership – who I viewed as a leader – Pastor A.R. Bernard at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York – shout out to him. But anyone from a leadership position, I try to take little bits and pieces from each one of them. They’re all different and I’m different. I’m not any of those guys. I’m myself. Again, I take a little bit from each one of those individuals but at the same time, it’s important for – I think leadership, the big thing about leadership, is being authentic. So if you try to be someone else, it’s not real leadership in my opinion. It’s hard for – who is going to follow a guy who is trying to be somebody else? I think that’s part of leadership is trying to help individuals find themselves and try to become the best version of themselves. I think in order to do that, you have to be genuine, sincere and authentic. Yeah, I’ve tried to take a lot from a lot of people – a lot of different leaders that I’ve come across – but at the end of the day, I’ve got to be me.”
(We’ve seen a lot of the offensive and defensive linemen wearing knee braces out there. Is that your idea and if so, what is the thinking behind it?) – “I think nothing is more important than the health of the team. I think knee braces obviously protect the players from the lower extremity injuries. That’s really what that’s about. I realize players would rather not wear them. I’ve worn them before. They’re for protection, just like shoulder pads and a helmet are for protection. If I told them to go out there and play without a helmet, I think they’d fight me on that. So I’ll fight them on the knee braces. I think it’s for their protection. It’s for their safety, it’s for the health of the team. I think it’s hard for them (because) it may be a little bit – not awkward, but restrictive in some cases. Whether or not we wear them in a game is yet to be determined; but at the end of the day, it’s about their safety. It’s about player safety. That’s extremely important to me and I think at the end of the day, if you have the players’ best interests in mind, they’ll – for the most part – do what you ask them.”
(Where do you come down on analytics and old school stats versus new school stats? How much do you delve into analytics and use them?) – “I think anything that could potentially give us an advantage or help us in any way from analytics to really anything, I’m definitely willing to take a look at. I think nothing is more important than fundamentals, technique and repetition. But if there’s something that can help us in-game, situationally or even from a fundamentals standpoint – GPS tracking and total yardage in a practice – those things, I mean if they help us, I’m all for it. What I don’t want is for that stuff to become a crutch in any way. ‘I ran too much.’ How do you push limits if you’re looking at a number that says you ran too much? Maybe you can do more. I think about breaking the 4-minute mile barrier. People said you could never do it. It couldn’t be done. It was humanly impossible. But I think you have to push beyond those limits. I think maybe if an analytic or some metric says you can’t, then perhaps you can.”
(Are we likely to see established veterans like QB Ryan Fitzpatrick for a series or two on Thursday?) – “I think everyone has to be ready to play for an extended period of time. We’ll see how the game goes. We have a plan for some players but I would tell these guys, and I’ve told them, that everyone has to be ready for an extended period of time. There’s no ‘(these are) your three plays and then you’re out.’ There’s no set parameters as far as the substitution process from that standpoint. I think they all know that it could be three plays, it could be 30 plays, it could be 50 plays. We’ll see how the game goes. If you slate somebody for three plays and they have three mental errors, I don’t think it’s time for that person to come out. You never know how the game is going to go. To lock in a specific ’10 plays for you, 12 plays for you,’ I don’t think that’s realistic. It’s a good thought process and we have a plan from that standpoint as far as who we want to play a certain number of snaps, but we’ll see how those snaps go. If they go well, maybe we’ll keep them going and keep the momentum going. If they don’t, maybe we just want to take them out. Maybe they’re slated for 15 snaps and three look so bad that I don’t want to see it anymore. That happens too. There’s no – it’s case-by-case. We have an initial plan. For the most part, I hope we stick to that; but things happen. Things change in this game, so you have to be ready.”
(We haven’t seen much of LB Kiko Alonso during practice. A lot of it is injury related but then he’s also not in that nickel package. What is your vision for Kiko in this defense?) – “Well, Kiko has been a very productive player and made a lot of plays in this league. He’s a very good player. I think he played a lot. Obviously he’s dealt with a little bit of injuries – minor injuries – and been out a little bit. He was in there yesterday and played a good amount yesterday. I thought he practiced well yesterday. He’s running with all of the different groups. Again, there’s a lot of packages. He fits in a lot of those packages. I think we’re still – having missed some of that time, we didn’t really get a full evaluation. Now we’re just trying to get him back in there and see exactly what that is. His history says that he can be productive. He’s played a lot of snaps in this league and he finds the ball. At the end of the day, that’s what it comes down to.”
(Is it your anticipation that QB Josh Rosen will work with the ones on Thursday, or do you see him working with the twos?) – “That’s something we talked about as a staff. I would see ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) going with the ones as we’ve done, really the entire training camp; but that could change. We’ve got a meeting tonight to talk about it, and that’s kind of where I see it right now. He’s done a good job. Josh has done a good job. Again, the preseason games will tell us. It’s just another part of the evaluation. I think they both – it’s a good competition. It’s what it is. That’s where I would see that.”
(I hear what you were saying about before about this being a fluid plan as you go through the preseason games; but in a perfect world, do you subscribe to the general theory that the third game is a dress rehearsal?) – “In a perfect world, yes. The world’s not perfect, as we know. (laughter) I think the third game, you want it to be a dress rehearsal for what game No. 1’s going to look like. There’s a lot of things at play there. From an injury standpoint, from a tactical standpoint, schematically, do we want to do everything? Are we ready to do all the things that we’d like to do in Game 1? Yeah, theoretically, that’s what you would like. We could go that way. We could not go that way. That’s something that we’ve talked about a little bit. Right now, I would say that’s probably the plan is to try to make it a dress rehearsal, but things change. They do. So I wouldn’t put too much stock into what happens in that third game. A lot of things change from a roster standpoint. We may see something there that we don’t like, and we may want to change it. Again, it’s a fluid game. I think you guys have – in dealing with me on a day-to-day basis, you know that I like to be able to adapt. I want our team to be able to adapt really in any situation. That’s from a personnel standpoint; that’s from a rain, heat, snow, hail standpoint. We’ve got to be able to do that. We could dress rehearsal it, but Game 1 may not look like that. We could have a guy’s shoe fall off, and somebody else has got to go in, so it’s fluid.”
(Players mentioned those one-on-one interactions. I’m talking about QB Ryan Fitzpatrick’s leadership. Can you talk about how often that happens and why that’s important to you?) – “I think it happens really on a play-to-play basis. If a guy makes a good catch, there’s a little interaction. If a guy misses a side adjust or a hot (route), there’s a little interaction. If a guy makes a good block that springs a run, there’s a good interaction. If a guy misses a block, there’s a not-so-good interaction. I think that’s on a play-to-play basis, and I think the leaders on the team – in a perfect world, those guys are coaches on the field and holding guys accountable on a play-to-play basis. You will definitely want that out of your quarterback, but the leaders defensively, in the kicking game, offensively – you want them holding their teammates accountable as well. It can’t always be the coaches. As you grow as a team, you’ll start to see the leaders on the team holding guys accountable the way – and maybe even more so – than the coaches do.”
(Are you going to the sneak the stadium walkthrough in tomorrow?) – “For the players you mean?”
(Players and/or coaches.) – “Yeah. We actually did that the other day, so we snuck it in. (laughter)”
(How did it go?) – “It went well. Like I told you guys a couple of days ago, we went in, saw the locker rooms. (There are) a lot of guys who haven’t seen it. We saw the locker room, the weight room, the meal room, walked the field a little bit, coaches’ booth. I thought that was important for us to see as a team. Glad we snuck it in. (laughter)”
(From a personal standpoint, even through it’s a preseason game, what’s your level of excitement heading into your first game as an NFL head coach?) – “I’m very excited. I’m very excited. I’m excited to see all the hard work we’ve put in from April 1 until now (and) to go out and try to perform and execute at a good level. I think the things that are important to us and this team right now are having a good operation, getting the right guys in the huddle, having good communication in the huddle, breaking the huddle, just having a good overall operation. Then obviously playing penalty-free, limiting the turnovers, and I think if you do those things, you give yourself an opportunity to at least string some good plays together. The plan offensively is obviously not to go backwards, keep the ball moving forward. I think that’s a simple thing; but all too often, you see false starts and holding penalties, so let’s move the ball forward. Defensively, let’s tackle well, defend the deep part of the field, do a good job communicating. In the kicking game, it’s ball security. It’s good fundamentals and technique when you’re blocking, and it’s tackling and doing a good job down the field in coverage on the coverage unit. Whatever happens after that, happens. I think the good plays will happen once we start to play off from an operational standpoint, from that standpoint.”
(Have you allowed yourself to reflect maybe a little bit on your coaching journey now that you’re coaching your first game as an NFL head coach?) – “I think every once in a while, there’s a little bit of reflection from where I was 15 years ago to where I am now. It’s nice to reflect that way. I’m excited to be here. I’m very fortunate to be here. I love South Florida, the people here. This team is filled with guys who are motivated and talented and hard-working, and it’s a joy to work them. It’s a joy to work with (General Manager) Chris (Grier) and (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore) and our ownership, Steve Ross. I think we’ve got – it’s a great group of people, so from that respect, yeah, I’ve had some reflection; but as we move forward, I’m motivated to try to play some good, solid, fundamental, smart, tough, disciplined football for those people, for this community and try to improve on a daily basis.”
(I want to ask you about G/T Jesse Davis. Are you getting what you wanted out of this two-week experiment with him at right tackle and pros and cons to him actually making that transition?) – “Yeah, we wanted to see some versatility really across the offensive line. Jesse, specifically, we wanted to see him play some right tackle. He’s played guard, obviously. He’s a guy we like. He works hard. He embodies a lot of things that we’re looking for from an offensive line standpoint. He’s tough. He’s physical. He’s smart. I would say these last two weeks have been good for him and good for us in that we know or we feel comfortable that he can play both spots. Now which one he plays is –we’ll see how everything else shakes out, but he’ll be part of the five, for sure.”
