George Godsey – December 7, 2021
Download PDF version
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Co-Offensive Coordinator/TEs George Godsey
(I wanted to start off asking about WR DeVante Parker. What does his re-insertion in this lineup do for this offense?) – “It creates a lot of defensive issues outside. He does a good job blocking in the run game. He’s got a lot of experience to help out the guys in the meeting room. He hasn’t necessarily been there every day because of his treatment and making sure he’s trying to get back in the lineup. But just having his experience and his productivity out there is definitely a helpful thing for our whole unit.”
(My question was in that same frame but I was curious about the back-shoulder ball that you guys hit to WR DeVante Parker on Sunday. I was just curious about how that process plays out. Is that pre-snap he knows he’s going back shoulder? Is it an adjustment post-snap? How does that work out for QB Tua Tagovailoa and Parker?) – “In my opinion, I think you just throw it to the guy and let him catch it because he’s done that and he’s proven that in his career. There’s a lot of evidence on tape of guys that have his ability that just get up there and catch the ball whether it’s behind them, in front of them or a jump ball. As many times as we can get the ball in his vicinity, we like it. As for dropping back, as you’re deciphering what’s going on defensively before you’re getting ready to throw that ball over to that player, it’s all about where the defender is and how I want to place that ball really on every route. A lot of times on in-cuts, you see them thrown low and that’s really to save the guy of a headache of a guy coming there to knock him out. It’s the same thing on the sideline. A guy that is playing the ball deep, then you want to throw the ball where it’s in a position for just our guy to get it. A lot of that plays into Tua seeing the defense post-snap.”
(In what areas do you feel like the offensive line group is going in the right direction over the last three or so games?) – “I’ve kind of mentioned this throughout the year is we’ve had some moving parts there and putting back Michael Deiter in there at center, so there’s trying to get him back going again and getting the communication inside out. That’s where it starts. It starts with the center identifying the defensive front, the structure and who they’re going to, and then making sure that group play with as much consistency as possible. Michael will be a big part of that, getting the combination blocks and in the protection making sure that we are connected there with all the games that we will see on third down. The tighter that that group can continue to work, the better off we’ll be. I know that we’ve had a couple sacks in the previous games but they are keeping the quarterback a little bit – the ball is coming out but also keeping him upright which is a big part of the passing game.”
(Unrelated, there was an NFL team that won a game last night with only three passing attempts. I was wondering if you’d ever been a part of anything like that where you went into a game knowing that you were pretty much not going to throw at all?) – “No, it just seemed like it was a different game looking at it. Thank God we weren’t feeling it.”
(What’s the bye week like for you as coaches? Do you get a little bit of time off or are you still as busy as normal?) – “I think every club is different, I’m sure, but there’s obviously a lot of things that we need to work on and get better so that’s kind of what we’re focusing on right now. Guys are coming in tomorrow so we’ll inform them on some of the things that we’ve looked at and we try to do that every week. But when the normal schedule of inserting a gameplan, getting that together is not really at the forefront, it’s more of self-inspecting calls, situations, how we’re doing on techniques, tendencies that we have created. That type of stuff, you can dive in a little bit more and at this point in the year, there are a lot of teams that do have tendencies and those teams are the ones that are doing their tendencies well. There’s a lot of that that plays into the game. You’re not going to all of a sudden stop throwing to a guy because you’ve used him. Certainly defenses are going to get ready for him but usually that player is able to perform at a level to either get open or run the ball or block. A lot of that is digesting a lot of information and trying to put it at a focal point for the players so that they can look at their one or two things during the off week that they can get better at.”
Danny Crossman – December 7, 2021
Download PDF version
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman
(I wanted to ask you about K Jason Sanders and where you feel he stand. Relative to the kicks that have occurred, they have been various ranges. I think two in the 30s, two in the 40s and two in the 50s. I’m wondering if there’s something that you’ve noticed that has been a common denominator? Something that is just common in all those kicks?) – “There’s not and as odd as this is going to sound, I wish there was because then it would be an easier fix. Some have been mid, they’ve been long, they’ve been short, they’ve been left, they’ve been right. I go back to – and you guys aren’t at practice every day but you guys were at training camp – Jason has been the same guy he’s been all year. That missed opportunity, that ball that creeps in there is just creeping in at the wrong time. He still strikes a lot of really good balls and we still have great confidence in him. Again, I’ve said it a million times, that play is designed to score points and we’ve got to get those points.”
(I’m assuming that physically, K Jason Sanders is fine. Tell me your thoughts on missed kicks relative to the percentage of time that it’s actually not physical but more getting the proper and correct mindset and mental approach?) – “Again, I think at this level, I think that being in the proper headspace and having that innate confidence, that’s a big part of it. Everybody in this league, regardless of position, is talented. They wouldn’t be here if they weren’t. Again, we’re just going to keep working and like I said, we feel very good about Jason. We see every kick he makes and every kick he hits during the week so we are very confident in him.”
(It feels like P Michael Palardy has really been better in the punting game in recent weeks. What’s been the key for him?) – “I think he’s been a little bit more consistent. I think we’ve had some different balls and some different opportunities. We’ve had some weeks, and it’s a good thing, where we’ve been a lot more around the 50-yard line and those are going to present and have us do some different things. I think you’ve seen over the last couple weeks we’ve been backed up a little bit more and had to try and flip the field a little bit. I think like anything, it’s consistency. That’s still a work in progress. We’re trending in the right direction but like always, we always want to be better.”
(I noticed late in the game against the Giants when WR Jaylen Waddle was dealing with his cramping issues that WR Albert Wilson was back there on one of the kickoff returns. Might we see him getting some opportunities down the stretch especially as Jaylen’s importance to the offense gets more significant every week?) – “Again, that’ll be a really play-to-play, game-to-game situation based on a lot of factors. Last week as we saw, Jaylen was cramping and was not available at that time. That’s why you have to have a lot of guys ready to go and anybody that we put out there, we feel confidant in their ability to get something done.”
(What about the blocking for the return game? Where would you assess that is? I think we had always taken for granted how good the special teams unit had been for a while and now there doesn’t seem to be as much of a return game.) – “I think it’s a combination of things. I think there’s been some plays where we’ve had some very good blocking and we’ve missed some opportunities with the ball in our hands. I thought we’ve had some opportunities where we haven’t had great blocking. I think those two things go together. When you don’t have a lot of opportunities, when you do get them, you have to find a way to get something out of them. I think we’re averaging about one kickoff return a game so it’s hard to find that rhythm. I think it’s a two-phase, two-fold deal whether it’s the blocking, whether it’s returning it. We had one situation last week where they had a good call, they had a little changeup that presented a player that we couldn’t get to. It all goes together but we’ve got to be better across the board.”
(I wanted to ask you about a coaching point. A few weeks ago, you guys had that punt blocked and it seems to me like it hasn’t even come close to happening again. I was curious what was your message to the guys was and how they responded to that message?) – “Well obviously I think they’ve responded well. Again, that’s a technique and effort play. It always has been, it always will be. With the proper technique, with a lot of the new rules, there’s only so many things you can really do as a block unit. If you’re doing the right things physically, playing the right techniques and you’re giving good effort, we feel good about where we should be with that play.”
Brian Flores – December 6, 2021
Download PDF version
Monday, December 6, 2021
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I know you said to ask you on Monday with regard to whether WR Will Fuller will play again this year. Just to get some sort of clarity on that, are the broken bones healing enough to suggest that you will get him back at some point in December?) – “He’s working hard to get back. It’s Monday. It’s specifically a bye week. He’s working hard to get back but we don’t really have practice this week so it’s kind of a moot point. But yeah, he’s working hard to get back.”
(With RB Malcolm Brown, he was the other player. Do you expect him back before the conclusion of the regular season?) – “Same as well. He’s working hard. He’s running. He’s starting to run a little bit, I believe. Getting closer and doing everything he can to can to get back. We’re not practicing this week. We’ll have a walkthrough on Wednesday. That’s where we’re at with those two.”
(We didn’t ask about RB Patrick Laird after yesterday’s game. He was ruled out very quickly after he exited. What’s his status?) – “Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to go back in the game. We’re still running some tests. Having the bye this week, obviously we’re not having a game so we’re going to have a little extra time to let guys heal. We’re still running some tests and we’ll see where that is. No final diagnosis there just yet.”
(With the bye week now in effect, what’s the approach that you all take? What’s the challenge for you as head coach to keep this momentum going and make sure that the team doesn’t come back rusty when you face the Jets in two weeks?) – “I think what we want to do is, what the message to the team will be is to get some rest, get away from the game a little bit, spend some time with their families, recharge the battery and come back in next week and prepare the way we need to prepare. We meet and practice what we need to practice. We meet and practice to have an opportunity or chance to have the results that we want. That doesn’t change. Our preparation isn’t going to change. For me, it’s more just time to heal up and recharge the battery.”
(Earlier, C/G Michael Deiter was telling us that in his opinion that QB Tua Tagovailoa is having more fun, cutting it loose. What have you noticed as he’s had more success, as the team is having more success? Do you feel like he’s relaxing in some way?) – “He’s a young player. Every time he gets snaps and every time he goes out there and plays, he gets a little bit more comfortable. He gains confidence. We’ve seen that in his play and hopefully that continues.”
(I enjoy watching some of the player interaction with each other including the celebrations. The whole Waddle waddle, the Jaylen Waddle thing. DT Adam Butler had a celebration yesterday I had to look up. I didn’t know what it was. It was called Dragon Ball Z. Do you enjoy watching that stuff, the guess having fun like that?) – “I think our guys support each other. They enjoy playing together. I think it’s good to see guys support each other.”
(This doesn’t relate to the NFL or the Dolphins, but we’re in this amazing run in college football where guys are getting 10 years, $95 million, $110 million. It’s just crazy years and crazy money. How do you think guys in your league are paying attention to this crazy growth rate that’s going on in college football right now?) – “I don’t coach for money. I coach because I enjoy helping young guys reach their potential. It’s not really something I take a look at.”
(I wanted to ask you about the roles S Eric Rowe and CB Nik Needham played in yesterday’s game. It seems that they embody your vision going into the season for that cross training – they play safety, corner, slot corner, all of that stuff. How much do you think that helps the team at this stage in the season when attrition really starts to set in, to be able to have some cross training to play multiple spots?) – “I think Eric and Nik are two guys who are smart and play multiple positions. With S Brandon Jones out, those guys were able to, as a package, fill those roles that Brandon usually fills. I thought they need a nice job, both of them, of tackling and communication. We needed it and it helped us for sure. Having that versatility is definitely helpful to fill the void if attrition, as you mentioned, happens during the season.”
(Mario Cristobal, it’s clear that he’s coming to the University of Miami. I’m if you have ever crossed paths with him in coaching circles, if you know about him, have you ever met him?) – “I haven’t. I know he’s done a great job at Oregon and from everything I’ve heard, he’s a very good coach and leader. Congratulations to him. I didn’t know that. Congrats to him.”
Isaiah Ford – December 6, 2021
Download PDF version
Monday, December 6, 2021
WR Isaiah Ford
(I wanted to ask if you could break down your touchdown catch from yesterday. It seemed like QB Tua Tagovailoa bought some time on the bootleg and found you on the side. What happened from your perspective?) – “It was weird because I hadn’t repped that play all week. It’s something that we put in the gameplan and it was for Jaylen (Waddle) but he was cramping and everything. They trusted me to go in there, know what to do and we went out there and executed. The Giants actually covered it pretty well. Tua did an extremely good job of buying some time and deceiving the defense with his eyes a little bit and it gave me enough time to go back right at the front pylon. He threw a great ball and I was able to make the catch.”
(You said you didn’t rep that play personally, physically. Is that one of those cases where during the week you have to stay locked in and mentally rep it?) – “Yeah, for sure. Throughout the week, we have a ton of things that we put into the gameplan. A lot of times, you may not get to rep something. It might just have to be just a visual intake of taking that in, digesting it and understanding what you would do if you were in that situation. You never know. Sunday was a good case of that. You never know when your number is going to be called. You have to be ready to perform and execute.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores said yesterday that on the bye week, he hopes that you guys go home and put your feet up a little bit. LB Elandon Roberts said he watches football when he has some downtime. CB Xavien Howard said the same thing but also some family time. When you get a chance to go home, is it Netflix? Do you hop on the sticks? Watch some football? What’s your leisure activity of choice?) – “I play video games a lot. I’ll probably play a game a little bit, catch up on some sleep. But I love watching football and being around the game of football so any time football is on, I’ll always be glued to the TV.”
(Do you game with any guys on the team?) – “Me and Preston (Williams), we play Call of Duty a good amount. We haven’t been playing as much as we did last year but I’m sure we’ll catch up on some hours of playing that game this week.”
(I was looking at the stat sheet and I noticed that you and WR Mack Hollins have a total of six touchdowns this season even though you obviously are not among the team leaders in offensive snaps. I was wondering what are your thoughts on Mack in observing him in terms of how he approaches when he gets offensive snaps and maybe even how he positions his body or creates separation? What are your thoughts on Mack?) – “I think Mack is the ultimate pro in terms of the way he takes care of himself, the way he takes care of his body, the way he practices, the way he studies, his practice habits and everything about him. He’s very routine and detailed. I think that we see that on the field because that’s second nature to him. We’ve seen him make those plays whether it be in practice or in camp or whatever the case is, so when he’s in the game and he’s making touchdowns and things like that, it’s not really a surprise to anybody.”
(I wanted to ask you what was it like having WR DeVante Parker back out there with you guys yesterday? He had some big catches on the sideline and we saw him bodying up some defenders and toe-tapping a couple times. What was it like just having his presence back out there?) – “It was really good. DeVante is our guy. When he’s going, everybody is feeding off of him, everybody is feeding his energy and it drives everyone else to play better as well. He’s a special player. He has extremely good body control, ball skills and everything like that. Just watching him make those plays, we’ve all seen him make those plays. We expect him to make those plays so it was good for him to be out there.”
(On the other side, you guys are still waiting on WR Will Fuller to come back. What have you seen out of him in the facility throughout this whole rehab process?) – “He’s been working hard. He’s been in the training room just trying to get back. That’s really all he can do right now is take his time and when he’s ready, he’ll join us.”
(I wanted to ask you about how offensive linemen have told me that they do Pilates on their day off on Tuesday. Have you ever done the Pilates and if so, what does the session do for you when you do it at the facility?) – “Kenny Stills was actually a guy that took me under his wing when I got into the league and he introduced me to Pilates. I was always having lower back problems or hip aching and things like that. I think it works on all those small muscle groupings in your body whether that be around your hips, around your knees, quads, hamstrings, all those little things and making sure everything is functioning properly and in line. I think that’s a big thing, especially when you play a contact sport like this one, to make sure that everything is in line, in order and functioning properly. That’s the biggest thing that Pilates has helped me with this year.”
(So you do the sessions on Tuesday?) – “Yeah. So I did this offseason, the last few offseasons and then every Tuesday I do the sessions as well here.”
(I’m assuming there is just one reformer in the room because I guess it’s like a solo appointment thing? Why don’t they put more than one reformer in the room?) – “I think it’s better. It’s more intimate when it’s just a one-on-one session. When there’s a class, she kind of has to focus on multiple people at time and as a general thing, my workouts may be a little more specific than say (Michael) Deiter’s are. I think that’s always a special thing when I can be one-on-one and be intimate and have a really detailed session.”
(I’m assuming it’s an hour session right?) – “Yes.”
(Your career has obviously taken a pretty circuitous route to this point and now that you’re contributing to this winning streak in big ways with touchdowns and some big plays, I just wanted to know if you have a different level of appreciation for or what it means to you to be contributing to this team now after the path you took to get here?) – “I never take any moment for granted just because of the route that my career has been on – the ups and downs, the ebbs and flows and all of those things. I continue to try to control the things that I can control, put one foot in front of the other and continue to try to perfect my craft and get better every day. When those opportunities come and I’m able to take advantage of them, it’s rewarding. Ultimately, to help this team win games and get going in the right direction is nice.”
(I was looking up the stats and couldn’t help but notice you have 11 targets this year yet you have two touchdowns. You played 14 snaps yesterday and yet you produced a touchdown there. If you could just describe how you’re able to maximize the playing time you get. What does it take to make the most out of the opportunities that you do get?) – “I think the biggest thing is being mentally prepared. There are times where you may not go in for an entire quarter or an entire half. You can be very easily discouraged by the way a game goes, by the way the gameplan is going or a myriad of different things. I think just having the mental strength to stay locked in and to stay ready for when your time is called because you never know when your time is going to be called. It may not be called that game or it may be one play later. My job on this team is to be ready when my number is called and to go out there and ultimately produce. I just try to do that and stay ready.”
(You’ve had so many twists and turns in your career, was there ever a time that you were discouraged?) – “Yeah, I think coming into the league as a 21-year-old kid, with this being the first real piece of adversity that I’ve ever had to go through. There were a lot of times where I was discouraged or depressed a little bit. A lot of unknown or uncertainty that I had to deal with. But it has helped me mature and become a better person because of the things that I’ve had to endure and overcome and just continue to control the things that I can has ultimately put me in a better headspace.”
(Was there one person or one thing that helped you get over that hump?) – “I think it was a collective. I have a really good group of mentors – Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson, Allen Hurns. Brice Butler is another guy. All guys that have been in similar situations and they overcame them. Talking to those guys, venting to those guys as well as my family has ultimately helped me always reset and relock back in when I need to.”
Xavien Howard – December 6, 2021
Download PDF version
Monday, December 6, 2021
CB Xavien Howard
(There is a stat that you guys are 6-0 when the defense holds opponents to 17 points or fewer. After the first-half struggles this year, especially with the defense, do you think that this unit is back to playing to the standard of last year? Do you think you guys are back to that level?) – “Yeah. I feel like we’re back to that level. I feel like everybody is confident, everybody is having fun. I really don’t pay attention to the stats, but that’s a good stat though. We’ve just got to keep taking it one week at a time and keep playing good ball.”
(Where do you think this team stands going into this bye before this stretch run and what will you be doing this bye week?) – “Recovering. Getting some rest. This week is Week 14. There is a lot of ball left. Just try to recover and make sure everybody get back to 100 percent and try to win out.”
(I wanted to ask you about the interception in Sunday’s game. What was the key to getting back to the way you executed on the deep ball?) – “We were in Cover 3 and the quarterback hit me with a high, low concept. I guess he was expecting me to jump the out route and the other guy was two seven routes. I ended up seeing the ball in the air and went to attack the ball.”
(I know you said statistics aren’t that key, but aside from just the interceptions the statistics show that you’ve been really locking things down over the last three to five games. How do you feel about where your game is right now?) – “I feel good about it. I’m very confident and everything is clicking together. I feel like I’m back where I ended up leaving it in 2020. I feel like I’m back on a roll.”
(Now that you’re at the end of the bye, do you feel like a break at this point is beneficial or would you still prefer it earlier?) – “I’d prefer it earlier because we’re on a roll right now and I want to keep that going. Even though we got a bye, a lot of guys are probably banged up. We probably need it in Week 14. I definitely wanted it earlier, but we’re on a roll right now. We’ve just got to keep that momentum coming off the bye and got to do a lot of good things.”
(I believe it’s like two touchdowns in the last five games you guys have allowed. I’m not 100 percent sure on that stat but it’s something stingy like that. What is the mentality when you get to the red zone or when the opponent gets to the red zone? how do you clamp that down like that?) – “I feel like everybody just focuses in. We try to give them three points. That’s probably it. That’s what we want in the red zone. Everybody tries to focus and pay more attention to the details and understand what the offense is giving us. We don’t want anybody to get in the end zone. We try to protect the house. We’ve just got to keep doing that week in and week out.”
(I wanted to ask you about your pass rush upfront. You have three guys who are currently ranked in the top 15 in quarterback hits. How does that help you and the secondary’s job in coverage?) – “That’s a blessing. Guys like that getting to the quarterback and putting pressure on the ball, it makes the job easier for the back end. As a defense, it all works together. That’s what you all have been seeing, they’ve been working together and a lot of plays and opportunities are out there that we’ve been taking advantage of.”
(A couple of players since the game ended yesterday have talked about the bye and the pros, and the cons of having it right now. What is the best way to keep this momentum going, to make sure you retain your sharpness of the bye week and that there is no rust when you do come back to play another game?) – “I feel like we’ve got to focus on the main goal. Even though it’s a bye, it’s not a party time or do this or do that. You’ve got to take care of your body, you’ve got to do things right. When we come back, we’ve got to have that same attitude and turn it up a notch. I feel like we’ve got to stay focused. We can’t let that be a distraction as a bye week even though we’re on a roll.”
(How are things different for you in everyday life when you’re in the midst of a five-game win streak as opposed to a long losing streak. How does that change things for you, waking up and just your whole day?) – “We’re taking it one day at a time. In the beginning, it was rough. You’re seeing a lot of good things happening right now and we’re just trying to balance everything out. I’d say just focusing on each day and focus on trying to get better.”
(I think Head Coach Brian Flores said yesterday that he wanted you guys to put your feet up this week and enjoy the time off. LB Elandon Roberts talked about watching some football. I was curious, when you put your feet up, what are you into? Is it Netflix? Do you hop on the sticks? Do you watch football too? What’s your go-to leisure activity?) – “I’m going to watch some football. I have a family so I’ll probably be with my kids most of the time, taking them to school and picking them up from school, which is something we miss out being here at the facility all day. I’m going to make sure my kids are straight and do a good job with that.”
(When you go to the pick-up line, are there some Dolphins fans there to make sure they recognize you?) – “Yes. Especially at American Heritage. Yes (laughter)”
(You just mentioned that you’ll probably watch some games. I know the focus is still on improving yourself and the team, but do you think you’ll find yourself watching game and internally rooting against some teams that may be ahead of you in the standings? There is a chance you guys could bump up a little bit in the standings in a week off.) – “To tell you the truth, I don’t pay attention to who is in front of us or anything like that or if we’re in the hunt. I just play football week in and week out. I just try to focus on the things in front of us and just make sure we execute what we got to do, and everything will take care of itself at the end of the day.”
(I just remembered that Baylor won the Big 12 Championship. Were you by chance watching the guy tackle the other guy just short of the goal line? Did you see it on replay? Tell me about all of that.) – “Me and (Emmanuel) Ogbah, we had a little something going on. I won’t say what we got going on but yeah, I think I was out doing a little bit of Christmas shopping. I think it was 21-6 the last time I saw it, so I was out and I started panicking because I heard somebody say Baylor was about to blow the game. So I ended up FaceTiming Ogbah and he ended up telling me everything that was going on. We got the W at the end of the day. The crazy part – I think it was 2011 – no it was 2013 when we played them in Stillwater and our quarterback Bryce Petty ended up tripping at the 1-yard line. I was like that’s crazy how that came back around.”
Elandon Roberts – December 6, 2021
Download PDF version
Monday, December 6, 2021
LB Elandon Roberts
(How do you feel about where the team is right now heading into this bye and how do you feel about having that week off before you get ready for this stretch run at the end of the season?) – “We feel good as a team. It always feel great coming off a win. This week right here is a big week for us getting into the bye because we are able to get some self-scout done on ourselves and see what we need to work on. This week right here is still a big week for us to vet ourselves from a self-scout standpoint.”
(I know you said that this is a week for self-scout as well but as you decompress a bit, do you think you’ll find yourself keeping an eye on some of the games this weekend and maybe doing a little bit of cheering to boost your guys’ standings while you’re off?) – “I’m always kind of watching football, seeing what teams are doing and stuff like that so I’ll definitely be watching the games this weekend. From a self-scout standpoint, what did you ask right there?”
(I was just asking if you think you’ll find yourself watching games rooting against teams to boost your standings while you’re off?) – “Oh, nah. I just, like I said, just like watching football on Sundays. I’m pretty sure I’ll be watching the games.”
(Very simple question about the team’s turnaround. Why are you guys playing so well now when you were struggling so much through the first eight games?) – “This league is different. Each week it’s a different day, different week, different time. You just got to take it one week at a time. Everybody in this league is good. If you weren’t good, you wouldn’t be here. We’ve just been able to string some good weeks together and taking it one week at a time.”
(Do you see one area where the team is doing so much better now than it did earlier in the year?) – “I think we can look at every area and find something. Are you asking that we are doing better or not doing as well?”
(What you are doing better now than you did earlier in the season.) – “We’re just stringing them together. Just not hurting ourselves as a team and stuff like that. Just playing complementary football and whatnot. That’s what you want to do each week in this league. You can’t hurt yourself and I think we are doing a better job at that and just controlling what we can control.”
(This defense of late has really been keeping opponents out of the end zone. You’ve only given up three field goals last game and for much of that Carolina game. What is the mindset of this defense when teams get into the red zone or just keeping them out of the end zone in general? What’s the mindset of this defense?) – “It’s called defense because you want to stop a team from scoring. That’s the big goal each week, to make sure that we can limit teams from any points but to make it hard for them. But like I said, each week we go into these weeks, we respect our opponent. We know it’s going to be a hard game and we just make sure that as a defense, we make them earn it. That’s all you can really ask for and I think we’ve been doing a great job on that. Like I said, this week we are going to really, really dive in on self-scout, see what we can do as a defense to even take it up a level. It’s going to be, like I said, it’s a big week for us. I know you guys see it as a bye but we see it as a week to get better.”
(I wanted to ask you about, obviously the big splash plays are the ones that catch everybody’s attention, but your guys’ first down defense has really turned around over the winning streak too. Just wanted to get your take on how you were able to turn around that early down defense over the five-game winning streak?) – “Like I said, I just always reflect to taking it one week at a time. We just had to tie some things together and I think we are doing a great job with it. But we’ve got to continue it. We’ve just got to continue to do that and that’s by taking it one week at a time, taking it one team at a time and we’ll be straight.”
DeVante Parker – December 6, 2021
Download PDF version
Monday, December 6, 2021
WR DeVante Parker
(How did it feel to be back there on the field? You had a big 16-yard completion on the back shoulder at the end of the game. How did it feel to be able to come in and make an early impact like that?) – “It feels good being back on the field with my teammates. I’m just glad I was able to be a part of the win. I just wanted to help us get a W and that’s what I did.”
(When you got the play call, were you the first read on that play? And if so, what’s going through your mind just knowing that’s a big play for you to make right there?) – “Any time you see any of us receivers out there pressed against someone, you assume they’ll want to go to you. It’s a one-on-one matchup. You just want to go to that. That’s with anybody.”
(C/G Michael Deiter was just telling us that he feels like QB Tua Tagovailoa is playing with some confidence, some swagger. What have you noticed about Tua’s growth and where he is now as a pro?) – “As Deiter said, he has a lot more confidence and you see it in his throws. The one-on-one coverage, he goes to it. That’s what we like to see. Just the confidence in him. That’s good for the team.”
(How do you feel about the fact that having returned now, there are important games to play. Things weren’t looking so good earlier in the season. How do you feel about where the team is positioned?) – “Right now we’re just taking it one game at a time. It all starts in practice. You’ve got to do it in practice first and then take it to the game.”
(We were just talking with WR Isaiah Ford a few minutes ago. A two-part question: One, I wanted to see what you thought of his touchdown catch and how that play developed. And more specifically, he had mentioned that play was actually designed for WR Jaylen Waddle and that he has not repped it at all last week. How difficult, how much of a challenge is that for a receiver to execute a play like that without having repped it?) – “I’m happy he got that touchdown. Tua (Tagovailoa) was able to find him on the front pylon. Isaiah was where he needed to be at and that’s what the quarterback needs from all of the receivers. That’s for anyone. I’m just happy for him. What was the second question?”
(How difficult is it for a receiver to execute a play that you haven’t repped.) – “I wouldn’t say it’s real difficult. We all have the same playbook. We all study the plays. Once you study it, it’s not difficult at all to know what you have to do to get the job done.”
(With the new rules, when they put you on injured reserve, you know you’re going to miss three games. Did it turn out that gave you more time than you ever really needed? Was it like extra time for extra healing? Or was that about the right amount of time you actually ended up needing?) – “I was just feeling good this weekend. I just felt like I was ready to go. It turned out to be a good situation.”
(The combination of you and WR Jaylen Waddle and TE Mike Gesicki in particular – and I know there are more guys than that – but when the three of you are all on the field together, healthy and playing together, what kind of an opportunity do you think that creates for QB Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins offense?) – “I just think it’s big for the offense. We’re able to move the ball down the field and be there when he needs any of us.”
(I wanted to ask you about having the bye right now. You just came off of recovering from an injury. Getting that one game, is it still beneficial to you to have the bye now where you get that one game and then have extra time to recover on the back end as well, to get ready for this stretch run?) – “I’m going to be doing things that keep my body right, regardless. It’s a job. It’s a bye week but there’s still things you’ve got to do and take care of.”
Michael Deiter – December 6, 2021
Download PDF version
Monday, December 6, 2021
C/G Michael Deiter
(We watched you begin the rehab process like two months ago, obviously not knowing if you were going to be able to make it back. What’s it like to finally suit up and join the action again?) – “It’s been good. Yesterday is fun. Last week was fun getting back into the routine of getting prepared to play a game. It’s been two months but it seems like it’s been two years since I last played. It was good to get back out there.”
(Did the absence end up being about what you expected in terms of length of a couple months? Did you feel fully healthy yesterday?) – “Yeah. I think it was right on. We did everything perfect.”
(I would imagine for any pro athlete, there’s a rhythm you have to re-establish when you’ve had an extended absence. Did you feel in the swing of things yesterday? Was there some rust do you think?) – “Yeah, I think I was in the swing of things. There was definitely a little bit of rust just because it’s definitely been a while. I had Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to get ready and knock off as much rust as I could get off. After a few snaps, it just felt like riding a bike. There’s still things, like it would be any week, things I can do better, things I did ok. But there’s still a lot to improve on.”
(Obviously you’ve been a part of this unit from the very beginning, even going back to last year when a lot of them were playing as rookies. What was it like to watch them go through their struggles without you and also knowing that center was one of the issues, considering it turned into a revolving door when you went down?) – “It was just good to see those guys, no matter who was playing center, communicate, work with the guy next to him, make sure everyone was on the same page. It didn’t matter who we were throwing out there at any position – they’d be able to work with them, communicate with them and ultimately play good enough to try to help us win. I think all of the guys out there did that.”
(What’s your goal for the final month of the season, not just you as a player but as a unit for the offensive line?) – “To make sure we’re doing everything to help the Miami Dolphins win football games. To not be a group that’s holding us back. To be a group that’s helping us win. That’s always the goal and that’s what it will be going into the last stretch.”
(Obviously you’re a team-first guy and as you said, winning stands above all else. But every player has their own personal story as well. With you, do you feel like these next four games will be the case for you to make to General Manager Chris Grier and Head Coach Brian Flores, ‘I’m your starting center moving forward. There’s no need to look for another one.’) – “I’m not really looking into all of that. I just want to make sure that I play good enough football to make them comfortable with me, no matter what they want to do. As long as I’m making sure – I’m taking it one day (at a time) to make sure the Dolphins can win, that’s all that I’m worried about. Just making this offense as good as it can be. If that means that I can be the guy, then that means that. I’m not really thinking about all of that.”
(Having watched some from the sidelines and then being back in there, I’m curious what, if anything, you’ve noticed relative to positives on QB Tua Tagovailoa, his development and his growth. What are you seeing? What are you observing?) – “He’s definitely playing with a lot more confidence. Just making quicker decisions, having better plans. And that starts with the offensive line giving him the ability to do all of that, to have confidence, not be worried about getting hit a lot. We need to make sure we’re always on top of that. He’s been just way more confident, which is making sure that he’s having way more fun, which is ultimately helping him just go out and cut it loose and have some fun. Obviously he is capable of being a really good quarterback. It’s been fun to watch him just have way more fun and just be confident.”
(The way more fun makes me happy. I like it. Winning is fun. It’s more fun for sportswriters. It’s more fun for players. Is there anything sort of specific that you can think of? A fun moment that you thought was cool from QB Tua Tagovailoa?) – “I think just watching him, whenever he makes a big throw. Yesterday when he made that touchdown throw to Isaiah (Ford). When he released the ball, he put his hands up. I don’t know if anyone noticed that but it was not caught yet and he was like, ‘that’s a touchdown.’ I think that little bit of confidence and swagger, that was cool to see him do that because he knew right away that he just stopped that one DB just long enough to deliver that throw and he knew it right when he released it that it was going to be a touchdown. I thought that was really cool.”
(I have this obsession with big men doing Pilates. I don’t know if you’re part of the Pilates crew. If you are, what do you get out of it?) – “I’m actually not a Pilates guy. Rob (Hunt) is a big Pilates guy. I’m more of a yoga guy myself.”
(Do they bring in yoga sessions for you guys too?) – “They used to. This year they haven’t so what I’ve learned over the years, I just have to do it on my own. Hot yoga, that’s the ticket right there.”
(So you want a hot yoga session in the facility?) – “Sure. Yeah, if we could get that done, that would be nice.”
(I’ve been asking your teammates about the leisure activities that you’re into for the bye week here. My question is several-pronged but I’m curious, would that involve a skate for you and have you done that yet? You talked about it back in 2019. Have you had a chance to go skate down here in South Florida?) – “I have not. But I don’t think I would anyway in-season. But in the offseason, I can’t wait to play a little drop-in hockey. But definitely not this week. If anything, I’m going to play some Xbox and maybe later in the week play a round of golf. We’ll see what Tua (Tagovailoa) wants to do.”
(Are you perhaps converted to a Florida Panthers fan now? They’re the top team in the NHL.) – “For sure. I don’t want to be claimed as a bandwagon guy but I’ve been down here three years now, so I’m allowed to be a Panthers game. They’re really good so it’s a win win.”
