Tua Tagovailoa – October 15, 2021
Friday, October 15, 2021
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(On how it feels to be back this week) – “I feel good. I’m just happy to be out there with the team again.”
(On how he is enjoying London) – “I enjoy it. Coming from Miami, it’s pretty humid and hot. It’s a good change of scenery for us as a team. It’s cool.”
(Obviously you weren’t able to practice but what was the keeping up to date with the team? Were you at practices? I know you were getting the play calls on the sideline) – “I was in practice, well not necessarily at practices, but in the meetings with the quarterbacks just trying to help the quarterbacks out although I wasn’t playing with the gameplan and whatnot. Being on the sideline, that’s not something I take lightly as well because when I’m in, I want the next guy or whoever it is on the sideline helping me out, too.”
(Are you managing pain at this point or is it all 100 percent?) – “I don’t think it’s 100 percent pretty, I’m just 100 percent ready to get back out on the field.”
(The team has obviously had a difficult start to the season. Do you feel as though you’re in a good spot to come in and turn the season around? Do you feel any pressure given the 1-4 start?) – “I don’t think it necessarily takes one person to change the outcome of a game. The way I kind of look at it, is we all 11 have to go out there and do out jobs individually but collectively, if that makes sense, in order for the play to be successful. We have to string all of those good plays and keep stringing them together I think in order for us to be successful.”
(On seeing the game in a different way on the sideline and whether he agrees with that) – “I definitely agree with that. One of the differences that I see is that I’m not in there calling the play. I know what the play is and I’m just looking at the defense. You know what’s going to happen, what’s not going to happen watching film. It’s a totally different ball game when you’re on the sideline than when you’re in the game. In the game, you got to manage where everyone goes, you got to put people in the right spots and then aside from that you have to go out there and execute. It’s a little tougher.”
(You faced Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence in Elite 11, college and now on the international stage. Do you ever get a chance to think about that?) – “I’ve never had the time to think about any of these things. His success has been really good for him. I’ve been very blessed to have some success in my life as well. I know they’re hungry for a win as a team and for us as a team, we are hungry for a team as well.”
(Towards the end of last season we saw TE Mike Gesicki and WR DeVante Parker get a lot of targets and a lot of receptions they haven’t necessarily had so far this season. How important is it for you to get those two guys especially on the ball and making big plays?) – “I think it’s important to get all our playmakers a chance in these games, early in the game so that we can build off of that momentum with them. I think the thing that we haven’t done a good job with is doing that and that’s I think, coming to this game, that’s what we want to do. We want to start off strong and finish strong.”
(On keeping in touch with former Alabama teammates Patriots QB Mac Jones and Eagles QB Jalen Hurts) – It’s little tough in the NFL, but Mac (Jones) is in our division so it’s a little tough with that, too. But I would say just in general keeping in touch with other guys that we’ve gotten to play with at Alabama, we do keep in contact.”
(When they announced you were coming to London what were your first thoughts?) – “This is my first time out of the country, so just it’s awesome. It’s different. Back in Hawaii and back in Miami you’re driving on the right side of the road. Over here you’re driving on the left side of the road and the drivers are on the right side, (laughter) so it’s different. Everything is just different.”
(Earlier we asked Head Coach Brian Flores about this experience of being over here for these games because it’s more of a celebration. It’s a different type of atmosphere. Is there anything you’ve done to prepare for this game [differently]?) – “I guess I would say I prepare the same way I’d prepare if we were back in the United States. It’s another game. We do understand that the atmosphere is a little different, but I heard it’s a really nice stadium so I’m excited to play in it.”
(Are you expected to wear a flak jacket and have you experimented with different ones this week?) – “Yeah, I’ve had protection. I’ve had a rib cage protector when the incident happened, but we’ve made some adjustments to what I’m going to wear and whatnot.”
(On advice he would give to Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence) – “I mean honestly, I’d tell him to continue to work hard, keep your head down. It’s not easy to win in this league, in the NFL. So when you do have a win you cherish it, you remember what that felt like; and for me after my first win, I kind of went back on the things that kind of helped me I guess prepare myself to try to get a win. So as far as preparation, I tell him to continue to do the same thing and if that’s not working, then change it up and find something that works for you.”
(What does this offense need that you hope to bring to it?) – “I don’t think it’s necessarily just me. Like I said it takes all of us out there on the football field. I’ve got to do my job and everyone else has to do their job on the field.”
(I’ve been on all the London games for the Miami Dolphins except for one – the only one they’ve one… This year I’m going to see them win because I’ve always seen them lose.) – “Well that’s the plan. (laughter) We’re trying to win. We’re trying to win.”
(For the neutrals who obviously support different teams and are there for the celebration of the game why should they support your team?) – “I think that’s a good question. I think it’s really up to them. We play this game because it helps take care of our families back home, but it’s been a childhood dream for a lot of us to be in the spot and position that we’re in. It’ll be good to hear the fans whether they’re for us or against us. We’re going to go out there and continue to play the same game we’ve always been playing since we were little.”
(Considering the records of the two teams does this feel like one you really need to have to set you up for a push towards the playoffs at the end of the season?) – “Like I said it’s hard to get a win in the NFL so we try to prepare as if we’re going to win every time and at the end of the day and at the end of the week that’s the goal for us.”
Brian Flores – October 15, 2021
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Friday, October 15, 2021
Head Coach Brian Flores
(Opening statement) – “We’re excited to be here as a team. Excited to be here in London. I think it’s a special thing for our team and our organization so we’re really excited to be here so thank you for having us.”
(Do you have any update on the practice injuries – WR DeVante Parker and CB Xavien Howard and where they stand?) – “DeVante (Parker) and Xavien (Howard) – both still dealing with injuries and we’re hopeful that they can do a little bit of something today. Tua (Tagovailoa) – expect him to practice. Jacoby (Brissett) expect him to practice. (Adam) Shaheen expect him to do a little bit more today.”
(The travel to London – has it affected the usual [preparation] before a game?) – “Well obviously the time change is the first thing that comes to mind. We tried to encourage the players to sleep on the flight. We left at 8 o’clock (Eastern Time) last night which is 1 a.m. here. Encouraged guys to sleep here. Got in about 9-9:30 this morning. But obviously there’s some adjusting. I said for myself there’s a little bit of an adjustment just from a time standpoint. I normally call and text my wife at a certain time and now it’s a little bit off right now and I won’t get to talk to my kids till later, but yeah, definitely an adjustment. I think we’ve just got to get our body clocks adjusted to London time. I think we’re doing everything we can. It’s about hydration, it’s about trying to stay up today and get a good night’s rest. Obviously tomorrow will be a big day from that standpoint as well, but definitely excited to be here.”
(Have you made a decision on whether QB Tua Tagovailoa or QB Jacoby Brissett will start…?) – “No, I mean I let those guys know. Assuming everything goes well in practice today Tua is going to start the game. Everybody goes on their phones immediately… go ahead guys, take your time. (laughter)”
(On managing the expectations of players and not being able to experience much of London other than just the game) – “I think most of our guys are excited to be here. I think after a year ago when no one could go anywhere and there was no fans anywhere, I think we all just feel very fortunate to have an opportunity to come out here, play a football game, play in front of great fans. I think we’re a little bit further away from London the city than I’ve been in the past, but we’re in a beautiful spot here. We’re excited to be here and I don’t want to be the – I try to tell them, ‘hey, we’re here for a reason though. We’re here to play a good Jacksonville team.’ And while it is beautiful and it’s great to travel and be in a different country and hear different accents, that’s cool and fun, but we’re here for a reason. That’s me in a meeting trying to bring them back and just say, ‘Hey, here are the things we need to do offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. Here are the things we need to do as a team so I just try to kind of pull them in that direction and make sure they’re ready to go for the game, but it’s definitely exciting to be here. I think we all feel very fortunate to have an opportunity to come to London and play a football game.”
(After a pretty tough start is it a change of scenery, something different? Is that something you think can get players going and yourself going again?) – “I think this is a motivated group. This is a group that works hard, they prepare, they compete so just looking forward to another opportunity to compete. I think that’s where they’re at and where we’re at as a team.”
(Having seen T Liam Eichenberg come in at left tackle for QB Jacoby Brissett in the last game with Tua starting now is the plan to flip him to the right side and cover the blind side or do you see him staying on the left side?) – “No we’ll stay with the same unit that started last week. Liam (Eichenberg) has done a nice job. He’s played on the left. He’s played on the right. He’s played guard. As a rookie he’s done some nice things, but we’re going to keep him in one spot and keep the line – the same line we had last week.”
(A. Have you been to London before? B., Is there any advice you got to handle the crowd noise because it’s more of a celebration of both teams being over finally after a long time? Is there any way, any tips you’ve given your players or advice you’ve got for this specific game?) – “Yeah, I have been to London. Played two games here at Wembley. This will be my first time at – is it ‘Tottenham?’ Tottenham Stadium. I don’t want to get that wrong which obviously I did. (laughter) So my experience in these games just from a crowd standpoint is like you said; it’s a celebration so they’re really cheering the whole way through so crowd noise will be a part of this really the entire game, but again like I said earlier, last year we played with no fans. In our home stadium – we had some fans at our stadium – but we went to a lot of stadiums on the road where there was no one there so I think when you keep that in mind, you keep that perspective and then to be in London and to be with new fans, different fans and to bring our game over here; that’s something that’s very special and I think it’s very meaningful to me and having coached in this game before, there’s always a great atmosphere and always just an incredible atmosphere I would say.”
(Regarding QB Tua Tagovailoa what would be your message to him assuming he can return here relative to how you would like to see him approach what he needs to do?) – “I think my message is always the same to him. Clean operation, in and out of the huddle, be clear with the play call and then go through his progression one play at a time and he has a specific progression that he goes through. And then take the plays that are there. If there’s an opportunity for a big play, try to make it. Don’t try to force anything and it’s not a one-man game. We’ve got 53 guys on the team over there to support and help him and he’s there to support and help the rest of his teammates. So that’s really always the message. That’s the message to the entire team. Obviously he’s a competitive guy and wants to do everything he can to help us have success, but yeah, my message to him is take it one play at a time, go through your progression one play at a time and try to execute.”
(Did he pick up where he kind of left off or was there some rust coming in practice this week at all?) – “He’s looked pretty good. He’s looked pretty good. I think the one thing we can’t simulate is contact or in-game contact, but really everything else has been – I mean you said ‘pick up where he left off’ – yeah, I guess if you wanted to say that you could. So yeah, he’s done a nice job this week.”
(Can you talk to us about the rookies; WR Jaylen Waddle, LB Jaelan Phillips, S Jevon Holland and T Liam Eichenberg? How would you gauge their progress today so far this season and are they meeting your expectations or do you think there’s more to come?) – “I think they’re all getting better. I think they all have the right attributes, the right motivation and the right balance to have success in this league. I think they just need to continue to work, continue to improve and continue to get game experience. Waddle has done a nice job – not perfect but I think his routine and the way he goes about things on a daily basis and the way he’s a sponge about how people are playing in coverages. Jaelan Phillips, I think he’s really kind of improved the last couple weeks. Things are slowing down for him, same thing with Jevon Holland. I think the rookies, it’s about playing. The speed of the game in the National Football League is much faster than it is in college. Just learning and getting used to that is a little bit of a process, but these guys are picking it up pretty quickly. Same thing with Eichenberg. I’ve been impressed with the group. I think they’re doing a lot of good things and I think we just need to continue to build on that.”
(I wanted to ask you a question about Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman, what has stood out to you about him?) – “Danny, there’s a lot of things that stand out His leadership, his communication, he’s a great teacher. If you step into his room, you are going to learn something. I think he’s very creative and for me, he’s someone who’s a sounding board and someone I talk to about in-game, game management and obviously he plays a big role in that as well. But game management, pulse of the team and things of that nature; his role as assistant head coach is exactly that. Let’s call him my right-hand man, from a coaching standpoint and I’m very appreciative of him and fortunate enough to have him on our staff.”
(RB Myles Gaskin had a great day receiving on Sunday and his pass-blocking is there as well. Is he turning into someone that you can trust a little bit, a lot more with the running back group?) – “We definitely trust Myles. He’s running the football, catching the football, in protection. He’s one of our hardest-working players on our team and that hard work; it manifests itself on the field. A lot of respect for Myles and hopefully he plays well again on Sunday.”
(What are your thoughts on Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence watching him from the tape?) – “He’s shown steady improvement every week. Every week. Better feel for the game, better feel for what other teams are trying to do to him defensively. He is talented, big arm, athletic, smart and yeah, he’s getting better every week. He’s a good quarterback. He’ll be a good quarterback for sure.”
(I saw a couple of American media kind of try to paint the narrative that QB Tua Tagovailoa coming back is going to save the Miami Dolphins. Do you think that’s fair? The guy is 22, 23 years of age and that’s a lot of pressure to put on him.) – “We’re excited to have Tua back, there’s no doubt about that. There’s 53 guys on the team. Like I mentioned earlier, 48 will play on game day so it’s never one person. That is the reason we have to play together as a team. There’s 11 guys on offense, 11 guys on defense and 11 guys on special teams. It’s never one person. He can throw a great ball and if the guy doesn’t catch it, it’s not a completion. If the guys up front don’t block, he’ll never get the ball off. There’s so much that goes into a play that it just can’t be one person. I know that happens at the quarterback position. I understand that player touches the ball on every snap, but if we don’t block, if we don’t catch the ball, we don’t protect the ball, somebody fumbles; the drive is over and he’s off the field. If we don’t play good defense, it doesn’t matter how many points you score. It’s a team game. It’s a true team game. That’s what I love about it. I think that’s what our players love about it and that’s what the fans here love about the game; it’s a team game. Obviously there are great individual players, but even I tell our players that the great individual players wouldn’t be the great individual players without their teammates. You literally can’t throw the ball if somebody doesn’t block for you or catch the ball for you. That’s what makes it a great game.”
(RB James Robinson has come alive over the last couple of weeks, become a beast. Do you have a special plan to stop him?) – “It’s going to take some good team football. He’s a very good back. A very, very good back. He runs hard, good vision and can break some long runs. He’s a good back, so we’re going to have to do a good job of setting the edge. We’re going to have to do a good job defeating blocks. You can do all those things and then you’ve got to tackle him too. I think you see that teams do some good things up front and then he breaks one tackle and what should be a two-yard run is a 22-yard run. He’s done a good job of that. He’s a good back. There’s no doubt about that. You’re spot on there. We’ve got our hands full with him and their entire offense so we’re going to have to play good defense.”
(Is there anything new to get from this trip that you think you will get from the players and staff that you wouldn’t get from a trip over to the other side of the states? What’s special away from the actual game?) – “I think any time you can get together as a team for a couple days where it’s just the team, I think there’s some benefits to that. There’s more dinners, more lunches, more sit downs, more conversation and more relationships that are built. That’s a part of the game that to me, is very important. When you’re trying to build a team and put a team together, the team is about the people and about relationships and about trust. Any opportunity that you can get to build that, I think you have to try to take full advantage of it. To answer your question, I think that. Because when we go to wherever, somewhere in the states, normally guys know somebody somewhere and they go to lunch or dinner with an agent or a friend or their family in their hometown. It’s different than here. Not saying that nobody knows anyone from London, I’m sure. I personally don’t but in the states it’s probably more likely that they would know somebody but here, it’s just us. Hopefully some of those bonds, those relationships get a little bit stronger.”
(How is it when somebody as important as the starting quarterback coming back to the team affect the mood on defense?) – “I think our players, they support each other. I think defensively, you never like to see anybody out so when a guy comes back there is a little bit of a boost, a little bit of juice. I would say that’s just in support of that player whoever that might be whether the guy is back from COVID, whether the guys is back from an injury. I think our guys are going to be excited that Tua is back, but I think they’re probably more worried about (James) Robinson and Trevor Lawrence and the other guys on the other side of the ball.”
Nik Needham – October 14, 2021
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Thursday, October 14, 2021
CB Nik Needham
(I looked it up before we walked in here. You’ve played more than 50 snaps the last three games. Obviously the coaches believe you could get the job done. What’s it like to earn their trust?) – “It’s been good, but I’ve still got a lot of work to do as far as that point. It feels good to be trusted and seen as reliable and dependable. I’ve been trying to work on that since I’ve been here as well. That’s one of the things they gave me my rookie year. I’ve been trying to build on that every year and year. I think this year I just really matured more, so I’m just trying to take that to the field as well and just executing.”
(What’s it like to have to – every year you have to come here and you have to prove yourself all over again. I know that’s the case for a lot of NFL players, but it seems like it’s more the case for you. Every year, there’s somebody to replace you.) – “For me, I guess I take that as that’s my life story. I’ve been the underdog. I keep that in my back pocket, a chip on my shoulder. I don’t really try to focus too much on that because like I said, I’ve been working as an underdog my whole life. I just keep one day at a time. That’s my mindset. If you get too wrapped up in all of that other stuff, you start going down, and your play starts going down. Whenever they need me or whenever they need me to make a play, I’m going to do my best to go out there and execute. I’ll just try to keep doing that and hopefully they’ll keep relying on me.”
(What was the moment when you knew that you could make it in this league?) – “I don’t know. That’s a good question. I guess when I first got here, that was a little glimpse – in practice and training camp. But then obviously preseason didn’t go how I wanted it to go, so that was tough. I guess when I got brought that fifth week and I played in the game and I saw – like I watched myself play and I was like, ‘Wow, I really can do this.’ It was cool to see that. I think I played fairly well my first game. I think that just helped stack the confidence and keep me going.”
(What was the mood of the secondary after the last game? Was it humbling after facing QB Tom Brady and those receivers? Was there eagerness to prove that that’s not you guys?) – “It’s kind of humbling, I guess. But realistically, we know that’s not us. We are a way better unit than what we put out there. It’s definitely tough to lose like that. We gave up some big plays. We know that’s not how we play. We’ve got to go out there this week and do what we normally do. We’re just trying to go out there and execute and compete at a high level.”
(Yesterday we heard from a lot of guys excited about the trip to London. The timing of the trip is weird because you guys are trying to snap a losing streak. Is it that much more of a challenge going into this week knowing the trip ahead of you?) – “I don’t think so because Jacksonville has got to do the same thing too. We’re just trying to go out there and get a win. We’re not worried about what’s going on in the outside world and that type of stuff, and other distractions. We just want to go out there this week. It’s another game week. We’re playing another opponent. We just want to go out there and come out with a victory. We don’t want to worry too much about travel and stuff.”
(Can you enjoy London though?) – “My friends have played up there from the Falcons and he said it’s not what you think it is. I heard we’re staying like an hour away, so I don’t know. So we’ll see.”
(Who is your friend?) – “Jaylinn Hawkins.”
(After giving up so many scores and yards against QB Tom Brady and company, what’s the main thing the secondary has to focus on to improve this week?) – “Just techniques and your mindset really. You can’t just go out there and give up all of those plays. You’ve got to trust in your technique, trust that your other teammates will be there to help and trust your leverage and all of the things that fall under that. You can’t beat yourself up too much because we still have plenty more games to play. So if we’re just all thinking about Tom Brady and the Bucs, we’re not going to be successful for the Jags. We just try to put that behind us and go out there and play.”
(What do you think about QB Trevor Lawrence?) – “He looks like a good young quarterback.”
(We didn’t see CB Xavien Howard today and he missed yesterday. It’s been a couple of weeks where he and CB Byron Jones are dealing with different things. How do you approach that you may have to step up?) – “How do I approach that? Whenever they need me, whenever my name is called, I’m going to be there and try to give my best and try to be as reliable and accountable as I can. You can’t worry too much about what’s going on with everything else. You have to just focus on yourself, so you can be in the best position to execute when your name is called.”
Zach Sieler – October 14, 2021
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Thursday, October 14, 2021
DT Zach Sieler
(So are you ready for London?) – “Yeah. I think it’s going to be a good trip out there. Go execute and go play ball.”
(Is it tough when you guys are on a losing streak to go abroad like this with maybe extra distractions when you guys are trying to focus in on putting a W on the board?) – “I think there are always going to be distractions. It’s always going to be something. Just as players and as a team, we’ve got to focus on the task at hand, which this week is playing Jacksonville.”
(Just defensively, what do you see out of their offense – QB Trevor Lawrence and RB James Robinson?) – “Trevor is a great quarterback. James Robinson is a great running back. I think he’s in the top five this year (in rushing) or something like that. We’ve just got to make sure we do our job and execute.”
(In terms of the run defense, we come in here and we hear guys talk about ‘Ok everybody has to be disciplined, everybody has to do their assignment and everybody can’t try to do more. This has been an issue that pre-dates just this season. It goes back to last season and it somehow still hasn’t been fixed. How does it get fixed?) – “I think it just comes down to execution. We’ve got to know our assignments and like you said, the discipline, and it comes down to executing each play and every play, and not trying to do too much.”
Jaylen Waddle – October 14, 2021
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Thursday, October 14, 2021
WR Jaylen Waddle
(Obviously you got back there to handle some of the returns. Is that something that just comes second nature?) – “I mean I returned in college and in high school, so yeah for the most part. Pretty much.”
(With WR DeVante Parker and WR Will Fuller being out, obviously WR Preston Williams has had to step up but a lot has been put on your plate. How comfortable are you with that burden and responsibility and the workload that you have?) – “I think it just goes into practice, just being confident in practice, taking all of your reps serious and that builds confidence for Sunday. I think all of that just goes into practice and the work throughout the week.”
(How has QB Tua Tagovailoa looked this week?) – “Good. Tua has stepped in and just been him.”
(Are you excited about potentially having QB Tua Tagovailoa be back? If not this week, then soon?) – “For sure. It’s always good.”
(There was a time last year where I remember WR Jakeem Grant was up here and we were talking about all of the touchbacks and everything. And he kind of sent a word out to kickers saying ‘Kick the ball to me, please.’ Because he wanted to have a chance to return some kicks. Last week you were back there eight times and you didn’t get a chance to return any kickoffs. So what do you want to tell kickers?) – “(laughter) Nothing. If the return is there then obviously I’m going to take it. But most teams have a gameplan and that’s pretty much how they’re going to play.”
Robert Hunt – October 14, 2021
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Thursday, October 14, 2021
G/T Robert Hunt
(So these sleep buds, they don’t have to connect to anything? They just play sleeping music?) – “That’s all they play, man. They play (white noise) all night. They play rain … they play waves. It’s something to get you to sleep, I guess, on this long flight that we’re going to take. Just a way to get extra sleep. I’ve never tried that. Or like little white noise or whatever. I’ve never tried that but I tried it the other day and I kind of like it a lot. So I had to get another pair from Jaylen (Waddle).”
(Are you looking forward to the trip this week?) – “Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”
(You hesitated there.) – “(laughter) Nah, I’m looking forward to it.”
(Is it tough to make this trip? I believe it’s your first trip overseas as a Dolphins player. When you guys have to rebound from these losses knowing there is so much to focus on, but there are going to be some distractions going overseas.) – “I don’t know. I think right now, the messaging within the team is we kind of know that it’s a business trip. We need a win. They need a win. May the best man win. I think we all know that it’s a business trip and I think we all want to compete. Like the coaches said, we all know we need a win, so we’re all competing to try to get a win.”
(Did the Dolphins get you your passport?) – “Is this illegal information that you’re sharing? (laughter) Shout out (Director of Team Security) Drew Brooks again. He’s like my father away from home pretty much. Yeah, he helped me hook it up. I got it set up. Shout out to Drew again.”
(What else has Drew Brooks gotten you?) – “I told you, man – my license. Drew got me my license. He got me my passport. And sometimes when I’m in my room, he’ll stop by and bring me some candy or something. So shout out Drew. (laughter) That’s my guy. Drew is definitely my guy. (laughter)”
(Is this your first time leaving the country?) – “No. I actually went somewhere in the spring. Jamaica. It was like two hours away from me. Nowhere but somewhere.”
(I feel offended. I’m Jamaican.) – “You’re Jamaican?”
(Yeah!) – “Nah it ain’t nothing bad. It’s just like two hours away. I had never been way over there (to Europe). I’ve been somewhere (out of the country) but I’ve never been way over there (overseas).”
(These sleep buds, did all of the players get them?) – “Yeah, we all had them in our locker. I think Bose hooked us up with them, like I said, for the flight. Pretty good deal, man. If you have a problem sleeping, you should try them out.”
(Now that the right side of the line has changed and I know it’s gone back to what it once was, with QB Tua Tagovailoa coming back, do you feel like there’s more pressure to make sure that blind side is protected?) – “No. I don’t think so. We’re just going to try to continue to do our job. Me and Jesse (Davis), we’ve been playing together for a while since like last year, since I stepped in, since I’ve been in. We’ve been playing together for a while. I think we communicate well. I think we play well besides each other. I don’t feel like there’s any pressure. I feel like we have a job to do. We know that. So we have to go over and try to compete and do our job the best we can.”
(How do you think it worked with T Liam Eichenberg and left tackle and T Austin Jackson playing guard?) – “It looked good. I thought it looked good. I thought just in general, the whole team came out and played with energy the last game. It didn’t go the way we wanted to but I thought we started fast. I thought we came out with some energy. I thought we looked all right. It’s been the same way this week in practice, just trying to bring energy and play with a little excitement. I think everybody has been doing a really good job with that.”
(Going back a question ago to the blind side and all, it doesn’t change anything or it’s not in the back of your mind that the last time QB Tua Tagovailoa was out there, he got hurt and we’ve got to really protect this guy?) – “Our job is to protect him. It’s part of football. Things happen. But I don’t think we have pressure on us. It’s our job to protect whoever is the quarterback – Jacoby (Brissett), Tua, me, you. It doesn’t matter who is back there, we’ve got to do our job to protect. We’re going to do the best that we can do with that and just keep trying to play football. Like I said, we have a job to do and we’re going to try to do that … We might be in some trouble with you back there. (laughter)”
(It would be better with me back there than with me protecting QB Tua Tagovailoa. That would really be ugly.) – “You’ll get in there and see how it is. It’s tough in there, man. It’s tough in the middle. (laughter)”
(Obviously you get a chance to see QB Tua Tagovailoa’s passes after they’ve been gone. How has he looked in practice?) – “I thought he’s looked good. It’s exciting to have him back out there. He’s a leader on our team so it’s good to see him back out there and firing away and being who he is.”
Jevon Holland – October 13, 2021
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Wednesday, October 13, 2021
S Jevon Holland
(You got the start. I think that was probably your most extensive playing time so far. Just how did you feel about it? I know we spoke to you a bit last week about you getting more comfortable but how did you feel out there?) – “I felt good. Got some things to improve on, made some good plays but always looking to improve each week.”
(How different does this week feel, just knowing in the back of your mind it’s hard to ignore the fact that you’re heading to another country on Thursday night? You could psych yourself out a little bit, but how excited are you about that and how hard is it to compartmentalize the two tasks at hand here?) – “That’s a good question. I’m excited to go to London. Never been in my life. I’m from another country so being in new places excites me, but I’m excited to just go out there and play really. It’s a completely different environment. New type of fans, so it’s a whole new experience. But just like coming to the NFL, I’m looking to step into the ‘London light’ apparently. (laughter) But no, I’m excited to go over there and play.”
(There’s lots of Dolphins – like half the stadium will be Dolphins fans. Will that be interesting for you to look up and see that you’re playing for a team that people have such a passion for in London, England?) – “Yeah, I had no idea that there were that many Dolphins fans in London. That should be exciting. Definitely.”
(For some reason, the Dolphins are the most popular NFL team. They actually broadcast all the Dolphins games in England.) – “Wow. I did not know that.”
(How is the communication? I know it was a big theme in the preseason how you were ramping up your communication with the rest of the defensive backs. How has that improved?) – “In terms of myself being comfortable back there? I think it’s improved. As you get into some games and you get familiar with the environment, nerves kind of calm down, focusing on the small things really. So for myself personally, how I feel communicating, I feel pretty comfortable out there communicating. Definitely. Just working on communicating while I’m tired.”
Emmanuel Ogbah – October 13, 2021
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Wednesday, October 13, 2021
DE Emmanuel Ogbah
(This is more of a business trip than anything. But that said, how exciting is it to be going and playing a game in London. S Jevon Holland was pretty surprised to learn how many Dolphins fans there are there. The stadium should be packed. How does that make you feel that all the way over there people will be cheering for you?) – “Its exciting. I went there in 2017 when I was with the Browns. I can’t wait to get back out there. It’s definitely exciting playing in a different country. I can’t wait to see the fans. I know we’ve got a lot of Dolphins fans out there so I can’t wait to go out there and play in front of them.”
(What did you experience when you went out there the first time that you’re looking forward to experiencing again, or that you’re telling your fellow players to look out for or beware of?) – “When we went, it was definitely neutral. It was a cool experience and I know they had fans wearing Falcons and different other teams’ jerseys. That was pretty funny. It was a cool experience. They’re just excited to see American football in person. Just go out there and put on a show for them.”
(DT Raekwon Davis used the phrase ‘get on the same page.’ Tell me about that. In what ways has the team not been on the same page defensively, and what adjustments do you think will help?) – “Just playing together as one. Just trusting that your brother is going to be there to make the play and not shedding out of your gap too soon to try to make all the plays.”
(How would you describe the overall confidence level on the defense knowing that things haven’t gone the way they did last season for example?) – “Like Raekwon (Davis) said, ‘it’s hard to win in this league.’ We’ve got to take it one day at a time. We have a good Jags team coming. Even though their record says 0-5, they’ve got a good team that we’ve got to take advantage of and we’ve got to do our best to stop them. They’ve got a good running game and they’ve got a good quarterback in Trevor Lawrence.”
(What are you impressions on QB Trevor Lawrence from watching him?) – “He’s a pretty good quarterback. You can tell he’s getting better each game. We take everybody serious. It’s the next game. We’ve just got to do a good job of containing him and keeping good pressure on him.”
