Brandon Jones – November 18, 2021
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Thursday, November 18, 2021
S Brandon Jones
(You’ve started a significant amount of games this season. Where is your comfort level now in this defense compared to where it was last year? – “I think my comfort level has grown a lot. I think early on I really struggled with my role on the team, which was to kind of multi-task and do as much as I can. I think that was the biggest place that I struggled because coming fresh out of college, it was a lot for me, especially with just how I learn. I have to see stuff multiple times, kind of walkthrough it, go through it and once the season starts, stuff can change every single week. That’s probably the biggest thing that I struggled with. And now having that and learning everything I learned my rookie year, it has really helped me grow to where I am today just when it comes to being confident and being able to trust all of my teammates and play fast.”
(Was it them carving out a role for you and you feeling that comfort level with that role, or was it ‘I have five different things last year and I learned from those five things, and now I incorporate them in my game?’) – “I would say I was able to learn those things and incorporate them in my game. It was hard to realize at first because I think rookie year, I was more so, ‘This is what I’m playing this week. This is what I’ve got to do.’ Then it can change any week. Now I look at it as where I’m playing this position but I also know what’s going on at all the other positions. With that, it helps me know where my help is in certain situations and makes me play fast and communicate. I can be confident when I’m trying to relay a message to somebody and tell them all types of stuff when it comes to communication.”
(When did you realize that you were a good blitzer?) – “I don’t know. I didn’t blitz that much in college. I blitzed most of my time was in my senior year when I played the nickel/Star role. I don’t know. I blitzed a lot last year too. I just never really got home. I think now, when it comes to timing, working on my swim move or whatever I got to do, I’m not able to spin. I tried to do that last year and I got chewed out by the coaches saying I can’t spin, this isn’t Madden and all that stuff. (laughter) I think being able to do it a lot in the games has also helped me build my confidence in that aspect too.”
(You mentioned how challenging it is as a rookie safety last year. How impressed are you with what S Jevon Holland has been able to do?) – “Jevon has been able to do some great things obviously, and it’s really cool to see just how young he is, especially with me being my second year, just how different we are from when I came in versus how he is now and his overall understanding of the game. It’s hard to tell, if you don’t know him, that he is a rookie even by the way he plays, by the way he talks about the game of football and his overall knowledge. We’ve been able to build a really good relationship, which is growing each week with each other, and just getting everybody ready to go every Sunday. It’s been cool to see him grow and the sky is the limit for him.”
(Going back to last year when they were throwing all of this stuff at you, what was it like for you inside? Was it a feeling of being overwhelmed or was it a feeling of being challenged where ‘I’ve got to master all of this stuff?’) – “It was a really good challenge for me because it’s an honor to be in that position and have the coach’s trust to give you the realm to be able to do multiple things. I kind of cherished it in a way, but there were points where I was kind of overwhelmed, from just not understanding when it came to certain gameplan situation stuff and just not having a good feel of the overall defense. So much isolating my job and not necessarily knowing the overall picture of why we call things or why we’re doing this. I think that’s the part that has grown the most in my game.”
(Is it a net gain now? Even though there were growing pains last year, is there a net gain to go through that for this year?) – “I definitely think so. I wouldn’t be able to say that last year going through it, but I’m glad I went through it and got that out of the way early because it did teach me a lot of lessons good and bad.”
(How excited are you about the future in terms of what you and S Jevon Holland can do as a tandem? Because you’re both young, you could be here a while as a starting combination.) – “I’m really excited. Mainly just being a part of this overall defense and how we do things on and off the field. It’s really good to be a part of. I genuinely love being around the players and being in the locker room, being in the facility. I enjoy being here. I think it will be really special overall as a team just to see where we grow with how young we are.”
(You’re going back to MetLife stadium, which is where last year you got your first career sack against the Jets. What do you remember from that moment and did you think it was going to be the starting point of your sack ways?) – “It was really weird just because there was nobody in the stands. When I got the sack, I started off and I felt really hyped. Then I heard literally nobody making any noise or anything, so I was a little confused. It was cool just to be able to get my first sack. I wish it was in front of a crowd. It would have been cool if it was a home crowd. It would’ve been lit. I probably would’ve tried to do some type of dance move or something like that. It was cool. I liked it.”
(The guys on the sideline had to be excited for you.) – “They were lit. And Christian (Wilkins) is always going to find you anytime you make a play. You always got to watch out for him. (laughter)”
(When you think about the general approach the defense has taken in the last two games, how would you describe the identity of the defense in those two games?) – “I would say physical, fast and keeps the offense on their toes. I think being able to blitz multiple people and not knowing where it’s coming from and having to make in-game adjustments has been really beneficial for us. Just the type of athletes and players we have on the team, to be able to do a lot of those things where we bring in certain packages with multiple DBs or being able to bring in big guys when we need a third-and-short, and to know and have the confidence that they’ll be able to do so, like stop them on fourth down and stuff like that. It’s been really fun. It’s been really special.”
(What does having an All-Pro caliber corner like CB Xavien Howard and CB Byron Jones as well allow a defense to do that maybe not all defenses have the luxury to do?) – “It’s a great position to be in, obviously. It’s a lot of pressure when you don’t catch balls in practice and stuff and ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) and Byron make you do about 100 pushups a day, which is always fun. It gets you right. And for me, it helps me blitz. It gets me stronger and stuff like that. It’s really cool seeing them and having them, being able to pick their ears. They’ve been in the league for a while, so they know how to approach things on and off the field when it comes to a routine and how to take that next step in being a pro.”
Xavien Howard – November 18, 2021
Thursday, November 18, 2021
CB Xavien Howard
(After last Thursday’s game, CB Marlon Humphrey put out a tweet saying WR Jaylen Waddle is going to be a top 10 receiver year. As someone who practices with him, watches him up close, what do you think makes him stand apart from other receivers?) – “I would just say how we use him. I feel like he’ll be a threat and I feel he’s just got to grow and overall, just understand the game. A top 10 receiver, that’s big. So you know them guys coming a lot. I feel like he definitely has that in him.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores mentioned a couple days ago that they announced in the meeting that you were the AFC Defensive Player of the Week and guys clapped. It sounds kind of hokey or cheesy but how does that make you feel when everybody is recognizing an accomplishment that you had?) – “It’s cool. I just want to win at the end of the day. The accomplishment is cool to have but I really just want to win.”
(What, if anything, changes for you when the defense goes blitz crazy like it did against Baltimore the other night?) – “We’re on an island so we’re out there on an island and there’s a lot that goes on. My whole mindset is just make a play. I feel like there will be more opportunities when the ball is coming out quick or the quarterback is holding the ball for the whole defense. I feel like great things happen when we make that call.”
(So you enjoy that, right?) – “Hell, yeah.”
(Seeing S Jevon Holland and S Brandon Jones blitz, do you go to Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer and say let me get a crack at it?) – “That ain’t my game, man. (laughter) I just want to pick the ball off really and have the ball in my hands. If they call me to do that, I’m definitely going to do that.”
(The Jets are making the decision apparently of starting QB Joe Flacco. What are your thoughts on facing him?) – “We faced him last year. He’s a veteran quarterback and I feel like he’s been in the league a long time so he knows what’s coming to him and stuff like that. I’m sure he’s seen what we did Thursday night so I’m sure they’re preparing for that. He’s a veteran quarterback so he’s seen a lot of football. There’s nothing that I think will surprise him that we come at him with.”
(The team has won three games and in two of those games, you forced a turnover that led to a win. In general, in thinking about all 10 games, how do you feel that you’ve played this season?) – “Ok.”
(Why do you say that?) – “I feel like I haven’t played up to my standard a couple games. I’m just worried about getting better each week and getting back, having fun and doing the things I used to. And that’s making plays.”
(Is being healthy…) – “I’m healthy, yeah.”
(What role does that play in your ability to be as good as you’ve always been?) – “I feel like – I wouldn’t say not being healthy. It’s just growing pain. Just understanding what teams are doing to me now and just knowing that things I did last year are not going to be that easy. Everything I’m going to have to do, I’m going to work for it. Just understanding that and knowing how teams are attacking me now. Just getting that down pat, I should be good.”
(How are teams attacking you? What’s changed?) – “They’re running away from me. (laughter) They’re running away from me so it’s not going to be like you’re on the outside, one-on-one and (you get) a fade ball or this and that or something that happens close to the ball. It’s something that I have to understand that what I put on film that they see, I’m going to have to get better at.”
(If you were them, you would do that too, wouldn’t you?) – “For sure. For sure.”
(Are there any quarterbacks or receivers or offensive players from other teams that you’re friendly with who have made a comment to you after the game like, ‘We didn’t want to throw to your side?’ Have you gotten anything like that from any friends in the league?) – “No. I’m not friends – I really don’t talk. It’ll be good game or this and that and then it’s over with.”
(You don’t talk to receivers at all?) – “No, not really. No. I probably talk to the other cornerback. That’s all I really worry about, the cornerback position. If I see a cornerback doing a good job or somebody I’m competing with overall, that’s who I talk to the most.”
(The strategy that has been utilized in the last two games where, like you said, you and CB Byron Jones are on islands and you have eight, nine guys blitzing the heck out of the opponent, do you think that’s a sustainable strategy? That’s something that you guys can embrace as your identity the rest of the way?) – “Hell no. It’s football man. If somebody is going to gameplan that, we’re going to have to get out of that. We are going to have to get back to doing what we have to do. It’s football right now and people are going to get to know what’s going on, how to do this or how to protect that. At the end of the day, coach is going to make better calls or calls that can put us in position to make plays and we just got to do it.”
(Ten picks in a year is just so incredible and rare.) – “Man, that is old. That is old.”
(Has that spoiled you in the sense that now even if you are playing well, you’ll be unhappy if you don’t have an INT total approaching what you had last year?) – “Ten picks is old. It’s a new year. I’m tired of the 10 picks, like damn.”
(How do you feel? You made game-changing plays like we mentioned. Your two fumble recoveries that essentially iced or won a game for this team.) – “That’s all I worry about is winning. The individual stuff that I’m doing, it helps the team win so that’s what I’m really worried about. Not just getting an interception or trying to chase goals out there right now. I just want to win football (games).”
(The best players who ever played in their sport – for example in hockey, Wayne Gretzky, scored more goals than everybody, more assists in everybody. What he used to say is, ‘The hardest comparison is the comparison to myself.’ What is that like to know that you’re always going to be compared to your best season, your best game?) – “Right. I feel like what you put out there, people see that. By me doing what I did that year, they’re expecting that next year. At the end of the day, you’re not going to get that each year. I haven’t seen somebody do that in I don’t know how long. It’s just knowing what you did and knowing that even though the goals are more than what I did that year, it’s like each year you can have that attitude but it’s not going to be the same. That’s what you’ve got to understand. At the end of the day, you’ve got to look at the man in the mirror and be like, ‘I’m doing what is best for the team and what I can do.’”
(Punching the ball out, have you ever watched someone like Peanut Tillman or anyone? Does that just come naturally to you when the play comes to you?) – “The crazy part is I think when we were playing Chicago, he came and talked to the team. That was one thing he was talking about. I tried to add that to my game because I wasn’t punching the ball out and forcing fumbles. Every time the ball is in front of me or the ball carrier has the ball, I try to punch it out. That’s what I tried to add to my game.”
(That was in Chicago this year?) – “Yeah.”
(When you did the joint practices?) – “Yeah, when we did the joint practices. He came and talked to us.”
Mack Hollins – November 18, 2021
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Thursday, November 18, 2021
WR Mack Hollins
(Was there any thought – obviously I’m from Maryland and lacrosse is really big up there. Was there any thought that maybe you’d be a lacrosse player instead of a football player?) – “Honestly, if lacrosse was as big as football, I probably would have played lacrosse. It’s just more fun to me. You just have to be part of everything. You have to play defense, you have to play offense. I was a midfielder so I did a little bit of both. You’re running. You’ve got little elements of basketball. You’ve got elements of football in it with the physicality. It was a lot of fun. But I just felt after college, I knew I wanted to play sports professionally and the professional realm of lacrosse isn’t that big. I think it’s growing and I think it will be big. In 15 years, it will be one of the biggest I think. But I think I did all right.”
(Did you grow up in Montgomery County?) – “Yeah, Montgomery County. So lacrosse was like – if you didn’t play lacrosse, as you know, you were kind of the weirdo. It’s like down south, if you didn’t play football. That’s how it is in Maryland. You better play lacrosse.”
(How good were you?) – “I was pretty good. I played long-stick middie. We were a pretty good team. Almost made it to states. We were pretty good.”
(Is there anything in lacrosse that helped you in football any ways, that you could incorporate?) – “I’m a big fan of playing a lot of sports. I think it’s tough now because kids are funneled to playing this sport and just play it. Like play football and that’s all you do all year round. But there are so many elements of other sports that you could bring into your game. So lacrosse for example, the quickness of seeing things like who is open, who is not, me being able to recognize what defense a defense is in while they’re shifting, while I’m running around. It’s those types of things that you don’t really get from just playing football. I think lacrosse, yes. But every sport I’ve ever played helped me become the player I am today.”
(This is an important question so give it some thought. What does it take to be a gunner?) – “(laughter)”
(I only ask that question to people who are actually good gunners.) – “Well, I appreciate the compliment. Sometimes in the locker room, we’ll be comparing. It’s imagine going on the treadmill and turning it to the fastest speed and you’ve got to make it for five or six seconds. Then imagine two of your buddies trying to knock you off the treadmill the entire time and you’ve got to stay on there. Then once you get to the end, you have to stop somebody from running the opposite direction, who is at a standstill, who can make a cut any direction and still make the tackle. It’s rough but it’s the stuff I love. Gunner reps are probably my favorite rep of any play in the game of football because it’s a lot of action. There’s a lot of responsibility too but to be a good one, it takes a mindset.”
(There are people like me who actually watch it. That’s one of my favorite things to watch in football, as well. What’s your most embarrassing moment as a gunner?) – “(laughter) You all probably don’t know this because it was so bad I was off the screen. You all can go back – we’ve got Pro Bowl votes coming out so I probably shouldn’t even say this. (laughter) So last year we were playing the Jaguars. It was a plus-50 situation. I’m on the right side. We punt the ball. You can’t go out of bounds and touch the ball first. I get pushed out of bounds. I continue to get sent out of bounds until my back touches not the bench but the stadium wall. It was COVID so there were no fans, so I couldn’t dap anybody up. I got saved though. The ball checks up on the one and we down it on the one. But yeah, ever since then, I’ve switched some things around. That was definitely my most embarrassing gunner moment by far.”
(It seems like you maybe celebrate when you pin a ball at the 1-yard line more than you do a touchdown. Is it more enjoyable for you?) – “Yeah. I think touchdowns are great. Everybody loves a touchdown because it helps the team win. But I think special teams guys don’t get a chance to have fun and celebrate. That’s a big play to down the ball on the one. You don’t know any defensive player in the history of the game that’s upset about going out there and playing (against the) offense on the 1-yard line. There’s not too much the offense can do. I think special teams guys – if I could be the guy that gets other guys celebrating, I’ll do it because I think it’s a big play in the game and it changes the momentum of the game.”
(Who was the guy that ran you out?) – “I don’t even remember honestly. You all will find it. You might not see me in the screen but you will find it. I’m telling you.”
(What’s the flip side here? Best moment as a gunner.) – “There’s been like some forced fumbles. Like the one this year where I pushed a guy into the returner and Blake (Ferguson) recovered it. Anything that’s a turnover I think is great. I think punt return I have more fun in terms of like great plays. At gunner, my job is to stop him from returning. So every play that I stop them is great. But on punt return, going at it, being able to get like two blocks or something – knock a guy down and then the returner is going up the sideline and go get another block. That’s where you really have fun and have great moments, in my opinion. Gunners it’s like just do your job. You either have (expletive) moments or you have regular moments.”
(Somebody tweeted out, is DT Christian Wilkins on punt return?) – “Oh, yeah. We have some different packages where those guys will go in. We’ll get some big guys. (laughter)”
(Did you see the replay of… destroying a dude?) – “Yeah, that’s really why we do it. To line up, like there’s guys my size that have to line up on punt and I see Christian Wilkins across from me and your center was just struggling with him, you’re probably going to struggle with him. It’s a good package for us to change stuff up.”
(What does it take to convince young players to take special teams serious? Or do you think they get it?) – “Honestly, if they don’t get it, the best way to convince them is to tell them to bring their playbook upstairs. And from that moment on, they’ll realize how important special teams is. Like if you’re not the guy and you think somehow you can go undrafted or low draft pick and just not play special teams, more power to you. But I know from the years that I’ve played in this league and the other guys I’ve played with, special teams is a way that you can become the guy for sure – you can definitely become the guy – but you need to be in those special teams meetings and be a monster there before you can go.”
(I ask this question because I’ve battled with this question, like why don’t you play offense more? I’ve even asked the coaches. Is it because you play so many different roles on special teams? And they say no and they say you practice well. Why don’t you play offense more?) – “For me, it’s just whatever opportunities come my way. As you all see, I’m going to have high energy no matter what I’m doing, whether it’s offense or special teams. When I get my opportunities on offense, I take advantage of them, and I’ll continue to do that. But since I was a little kid, my dad would never let me be the guy that’s like, ‘hey, why am I not playing?’ We’re winning games now and that’s really – I’ll take zero snaps and a win 100 times out of 100 versus all of the snaps and a loss. That may sound weird or different than most, but the point of the game is to win. Everything is better when you’re winning. I’m sure everybody that came here is all cheery. Everybody is in a better mood. That’s how it works when you win. So if we can continue to win, the special teams reps, if it came down to it – if they said, ‘Mack, you’re not playing,’ and we’re winning? So be it.”
(I just tweeted something about your positive energy. I’m dead serious, just being around you, I feel better about things. I feel better about my life. I wanted to ask you a dead serious question. So if someone is having a hard day out there – someone who is watching this on YouTube or some kid in school that is getting bullied or some reporter who is having a hard time at home – what do you say to people in those situations?) – “I have a pretty straightforward look at life. People in the locker room will say, ‘You’re weird for thinking that.’ But soon enough I will be in a box covered in dirt. So if I live my life like ‘Oh, this (expletive) sucks,’ well then go in the dirt earlier. You might as well live your life and enjoy it to the most you can. Yeah you’re going to have (expletive) times. Everybody has (expletive) times. But there’s some that have (expletive) times and then those times end and then they have no times. So would you rather have no time or find a way to have a good time? I’d rather find a way to have a good time. That may sound so weird. Like why is your outlook on life that you could be dead? Because I have so much time left. Why not enjoy it? I don’t know when my moment is going to be. I’m going to have fun, I’m going to enjoy it, I’m going to try to have other people enjoy it. I don’t like seeing other people in bad moods. If I can change your mood for the better, so be it. Because the day is still going to go on. Why do it in a bad mood? I guess the saying is about duct tape. Can you fix it with duct tape, yes or no? If the answer is yes, fix it with duct tape. If the answer is no, then you can’t fix it and so be it. That’s life. If you can fix the problem, fix it. If you can’t, then stop worrying about it. That’s just kind of how I look at life.”
(Where does that come from? Duct tape?) – “(laughter) That’s just memes and stuff. But if you look at life, can you fix the problem, yes or no? Yes, I can fix the problem, ok go about it to fix it. Now the problem is done. If I can’t fix the problem, then why are you stressed about something you can’t fix? Now you don’t have to worry about it. Either way, I’m getting out of the problem.”
(Can you fix it with duct tape.) – “Can you fix it with duct tape? Yes, fix it with duct tape. No, then it can’t be fixed. Because if you can’t fix it with duct tape, then it can’t be fixed.”
Jerome Baker – November 17, 2021
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Wednesday, November 17, 2021
LB Jerome Baker
(G/T Robert Hunt just told us he went swimming with alligators during the mini bye week. Your thoughts?) – “I hope he had a great time. I go shark diving with my boy Ryan. Shout out Ryan. (laughter) So yeah. You can’t be in Florida and not do some adventurous stuff so I hope he had fun. (laughter)”
(You went shark diving?) – “Yeah, I went shark diving. Yeah.”
(On shark driving) – “So Ryan will take you on a boat. He does the little thing to get the sharks ready, put blood in the water. Then you go out there and he’s just observant of everything and he’s protecting you, but it’s a very nerve-wracking experience. I guess sharks are more scared of you unless you look like you’re dying. So I was out there trying not to look like I was dying. Had a great time. The only bad part was I got seasick, so the whole ride back I was pretty much throwing up the whole time. But it was fun.”
(You played well on your snaps on the edge last week. Was it good to see the package with you and LB Duke Riley and LB Elandon Roberts together? Do you think you would be a good edge player if you did it more? Is that something you ever thought about or do you think inside is your best position for the most part?) – “Honestly, I think running back is my best – no, I’m playing. (laughter) No, what’s cool about this defense is you can play anywhere. It’s fun for me that sometimes I can be inside linebacker and then next game I could line up outside and the offense is not even ready for that. I think that’s the cool thing, but my best position is whatever position I’m playing. I really take that to heart and I truly try to perform wherever they put me. Coach (Josh) Boyer and ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) – they all do a great job of putting me in different spots and it’s just my job to execute what they tell me to do.”
(I wanted to ask you – I’m writing about S Jevon Holland. As a rookie, what do you think is unique?) – “The guy – he really gets better every day. If you look at – well I know you guys can’t look but if you go back and watch the training camp tape, he was a step behind. And then every week it was like he got better and better. I remember the one practice he was a step behind – well at first he was a step behind and then he was deflecting the ball and then the next week he was actually catching the pick. And sure enough the following Sunday, he ended up actually catching a pick. He’s one of those guys that if he just keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s going to be one of the best safeties in this league. He’s young, but he truly just loves being out there with the guys and performing and just going hard. I’m just surprised his leadership back there. He really took that to heart. When guys went down, he stepped up and he knew that we were going to lean on him a lot and he definitely stepped up to the challenge and his ceiling is going to be so high. I’m definitely happy for him and honestly I’m glad he’s on our team.”
(Borrowing a term from basketball, when you miss a lot of shots sometimes you just need to see the ball go through the hoop. Do you guys feel like as a defense you’ve started to see the ball go through the hoop these past few weeks?) – “Yeah, I guess you could say it like that in basketball terms. I think it was just one of those we saw what executing can do and once we saw it, it was like, ‘all right, let’s do it, let’s keep doing it, let’s keep doing it.’ And now it’s just staying on that same process and that same pace. What we were doing was right. We just have to execute. We come in Wednesdays and Thursdays and we practice hard and we talk, communicate, do all of that. But Sunday is the day that really matters and now that we have a win or two under our belt, I think now we can just keep stringing those games along and Sunday is going to be a great test for us.”
(From watching film, what has got your attention about the Jets?) – “They are actually a great team. They’ve beat some great teams. They play very hard. They have some great backs. They’ve been banged up, but you can’t fall asleep on them. They’ve beat some great teams. They play physical, they play hard and that’s what we have to expect. We’re going up there and essentially going into their home and taking a win from them so you’ve got to expect they’re going to give us their all and we’ve got to go up there and be prepared for that. They are a physical team. They’re fast. They definitely have size and I think the one thing you can always say is they play hard and it’s definitely going to be a challenge for us.”
(I don’t remember if you’ve faced QB Joe Flacco in your NFL career. Any recollection of his skillset at all?) – “Yeah, we played him, what – last year? Was it last year?”
(24-0 shutout. He was starting for the Jets.) – “Yeah, so we played him last year. Veteran quarterback. He’s seen a lot so we’re definitely going to have to throw some disguises in there, but it’s going to be a good one Sunday.”
(Name one adventurous thing you haven’t done and you’re not sure you will ever get to do but you’d kind of like to do.) – “Skydiving. I haven’t been skydiving, but I’m definitely going to do it. Bungee jumping. I think those are the two things that I’m scared of, but I’m going to do it eventually. Anything else I’m down to do it. I’ve been cave diving. I did all the crazy stuff, I guess. Shark diving. Did all that. But bungee jumping and skydiving are on my list and I don’t know when I’m going to get to that one.”
(What’s it going to be like when you’re about to jump out of the plane?) – “I think Will Smith said it best: you’re scared as hell, but then when you jump out, you just feel at peace and effortless. You’re just falling. I think he had a little story on it or a book or whatever and I think I saw the interview. I’m going to get to it. But not right now.”
(I thought it was a lyric you were about to…) – “Oh no. I do got a few bars if you guys want to hear it. No, I’m playing. (laughter)”
(Were you in a cage or were you just in the ocean free diving?) – “I wasn’t in a cage. Yes, I was in a cage. (laughter) I think you do get that option. You can be in a cage, but I wasn’t in a cage. It was pretty scary. Not going to lie, but it was worth it. I would do it again. I don’t know when, but I will.”
(Dolphins can outswim sharks. That’s a real thing.) – “That’s a real thing. I like that. Yep. I can’t swim that fast, but I’m a Dolphin, so there you go. (laughter)”
Raekwon Davis – November 17, 2021
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Wednesday, November 17, 2021
DT Raekwon Davis
(During the game on Thursday, the broadcast caught you and DT Christian Wilkins dancing on the field and Troy Aikman was saying ‘that’s the worst thing you want to see as a quarterback is the defense having that much fun.’ Do you feel that fun carrying into this week and can you use that as some juice in preparation?) – “Yeah. We’re going to continue doing that. We’re going to continue playing good and you’re going to see more dancing.”
(G/T Robert Hunt told us he swam with alligators this weekend. LB Jerome Baker told us he dives with sharks. Are you down for any of this – sharks and alligator stuff?) – “Knowing me, yeah, I might. If ‘Bake’ (Jerome Baker) is doing it, yeah. That’s my linebacker. Yeah, I’m going to jump in there too. No, I’m not going to jump in there. (laughter) I don’[t know what they are on, but that’s definitely not me. I’m not swimming with no sharks or nothing like that. (laughter)”
(Have you ever done something very thrilling?) – “Yeah. Swimming with dolphins. That’s as far as I’m going to go. That’s it for me.”
(They said that if you are living in Florida and you are a Florida man, you have to try crazy stuff. What’s the craziest you’ve been willing to try here in Florida?) – “I want to skydive. I’ve been wanting to do that. That’s something on my bucket list. I want to skydive. But swimming with gators and sharks, I’m not down for none of that. They can have that.”
(You don’t believe that whole ‘they are more scared of you than you are of them’ theory?) – “I don’t know. I’m not trying to try. (laughter) I’m definitely not trying to try it, so nah.”
(We didn’t see DT Christian Wilkins at practice today. How big of a loss would that be having to line up without him potentially Sunday?) – “I don’t know what he’s got going on medically. I don’t know if he’s going to play or not, but whatever it is, it is. We’re going to continue dancing and making plays.”
(What have you noticed about the Jets running game?) – “They are good. They do a lot of gadgets. They do a whole bunch of schemes. They are all over the place, so you just got to play your keys.”
(The word out of Jets camp today is that QB Joe Flacco is going to be starting on Sunday. As a defense, can you appreciate when stuff like that comes out earlier in the week so you can focus on one guy or are you still preparing as usual?) – “Yeah. We don’t care. We’re going to keep doing the same thing we’re doing now. Keep preparing.”
(What do you know about QB Joe Flacco?) – “An older quarterback. Very accurate. Very good. He likes to get the ball out fast. He relies on his line for protection. A great quarterback.”
Jaylen Waddle – November 17, 2021
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Wednesday, November 17, 2021
WR Jaylen Waddle
(We are talking about wildlife. I don’t know if you any of that. G/T Rob Hunt told us he went swimming with an alligator and LB Jerome Baker told us he’s been swimming with sharks. Have you ever had a crazy wildlife encounter?) – “Nah, I’m from Houston. We don’t have too much wildlife like that. (laughter) I’m from the city. We don’t do all that.”
(DT Zach Sieler has a ranch where you can hunt gators, hogs and all kinds of animals. Would you be down for a trip to his hunting grounds?) – “I think I’m going to stay where I’m comfortable at. I don’t mess with that at all. (laughter)”
(In recent weeks, the offense has really made more of an effort to get you the ball downfield past the sticks. Do you feel that’s been the case and it’s been working for you and the offense?) – “I think it’s just trying to put me in spots where I can help the team, ultimately. Honestly, I wouldn’t say it’s been an emphasis just to do that. Honestly, I’ve just been going out there lining up, alignment, assignment and trying to get the job done.”
(Along those lines, how good did it feel to get that 35-yarder? Again, you haven’t had as many deep completions to you but to get that 35-yarder in the middle of that zone, how did that feel and how did that play come together?) – “It felt good. It was kind of a big play in the game so it’s always good to put your team in scoring position. I think it was a play well-called, well-designed and executed well.”
(A lot of people were wondering if QB Tua Tagovailoa could get that ball out there because he’s been dealing with the finger. Head Coach Brian Flores said he was limited and could hardly throw a ball. Were you expecting it? Were you surprised?) – “Definitely not surprising. You always got to expect the ball. I don’t think we got too many routes where you’re just not an option. I think Tua did great. Confident throwing the ball and he put the ball there.”
(I think CB Marlon Humphrey said after the game that you’re going to be a top 10 receiver next year. I’m curious what your relationship is with Marlon since he’s a Bama guy as well and what it means to hear a compliment like that coming from a player of his caliber?) – “You know he’s like an Alabama great. One of the guys that you hear about before you come to the university. I got to know him. Actually I just got to meet him that first Alabama game. Obviously a great player and it’s a great compliment. You ultimately play the game for the respect of your peers, so just having that respect from someone of that caliber is always good.”
(You’re sixth in the league in receptions. Were you aware of that and is that meaningful to you?) – “Nah, I really wasn’t. I try not to look at all that stuff, to be honest. It’s pretty nice. Not bad. (laughter)”
(On that same level, I did a little bit of work on the calculator and at your current pace, you would finish the season with 102 receptions and 946 yards. Both would be rookie receiving records for this team. What would that mean to you?) – “I really don’t play for too much overall things. I really just try to go out there and just help the team win. If that comes with winning, then I’m all for it.”
(One of the guys who used to make a lot of catches for this team was WR Jarvis Landry, an LSU guy. I don’t know how familiar or not familiar you are with Jarvis’ NFL career but what did you think of his pro game?) – “Definitely he’s an exciting player. I’m a big fan. Definitely I know he played here and now he’s at Cleveland. He’s continuing to do great things for every team that he goes to. I’m definitely a fan of Jarvis.”
(Do you set personal goals or is it strictly how the team does for you?) – “You have some personal goals but all mine are along the lines of like getting better or doing one thing better. I try to set like daily goals and get better day-by-day. Realistic goals.”
(How would you assess your rookie season so far?) – “I think it’s just been a learning process for me. I’m learning so much every week, every gameplan and every new opponent. It’s just like learning, learning a lot.”
(What’s the No. 1 thing you would say you learned through the course of the season?) – “Communication. Just from how communication works from the o-line to the quarterback to the running back to the receivers to the tight ends and how it all works and how it’s so important to get on one accord.”
(How much better of a receiver do you think you are today compared to the first week of September when the season began?) – “I just think I’ve learned so much throughout these 10 games. Like weekly, you learn something new. Just going into the gameplan of how we are going to play, what we are going to do, how we are going to execute.”
(The coaches have said that they put a lot on the rookies plate. S Jevon Holland from the defensive perspective and you from an offensive perspective. How much more is on your plate? How much more is on an NFL plate – planning, playbook and all that stuff – compared to like what you had in college?) – “It’s a lot and it’s weekly. You could do something one week and do something totally different the next week. You’ve just got to take it, really study it, learn it and learn it to a T because when Sunday hit, everything is coming fast.”
Eric Rowe – November 17, 2021
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Wednesday, November 17, 2021
S Eric Rowe
(You’re such an upbeat, good team guy. Has the transition as a third safety – not playing every down but still playing a lot – as the Dolphins have transitioned to a young starting tandem, has that been difficult for you? Or has it not been hard because you’re still playing a good deal?) – “Not going to lie, in the beginning it was difficult, it was difficult. But I understand the nature of the business of the NFL. Still at the end of the day, my mindset is like whenever you get an opportunity just to be out there, you’ve got to take advantage of it. It took me a while to come to fact with that but now when I’m out there, I’m still looking to help the defense, help the team. I just know when I’m out there, just got to make the best of it.”
(You have the two forced fumbles in two games. Has that always been a point of emphasis? I guess of course it always is, but what do you think is the key to you and your teammates creating as many turnovers as you guys did last year?) – “Just like you said, it’s always a point of emphasis. When I’m out there, it’s kind of like – well at least personally for me, when you make a tackle, if you have your hand around the ball, you have a feeling like, ‘Okay, it’s loose.’ Or, ‘Okay, he’s got a good hold of it.’ Just kind of lately, each tackle I make, I try to get my hand on and I can feel it, and if it’s like somewhat loose, then obviously you just do all you can to rake it out. The past two games, it’s been working. It’s always been an emphasis but it’s also a feeling too.”
(How much Charles Tillman film have you watched?) – “(laughter) Hopefully I can get that one day.”
(I’m writing about S Jevon Holland. What do you think is unique about Jevon?) – “Jevon, he’s playing really good ball right now and there’s times that I forget that he’s a rookie out there. He’s obviously from camp until now, he’s progressed a lot. What makes him unique is his work ethic, his confidence. He already has a voice on the defense. When it comes to rookies, that’s not – I wouldn’t say rare but there’s not too many rookies that come in and try to take over from day one. He obviously is making plays, sparking the defense up. He had that big hit on No. 13 that fired everybody up and from there on, everybody is ready to go. Just the confidence that he brings coming in each day, each practice, as a rookie.”
(Being as versed as you are in AFC East football rivalries, I remember you had a good quote on the Buffalo Bills fans when you went over there. How do Jets fans compare when you travel?) – “Lately, obviously they haven’t been doing too well but usually Jets fans are just as hostile. I had a couple instances again, driving on the bus, they’re sitting there flicking you off. Especially when I was back with New England, they hated us and they’d flick you off and try to throw stuff at you. It’s just as hostile. It may not be as many but when they get going, that fanbase – that J-E-T-S Jets (chant) – it gets loud. You’re just like, ‘wow, this is real.’ Each fan base comes with different things but they’re pretty hostile.”
Robert Hunt – November 17, 2021
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Wednesday, November 17, 2021
G/T Robert Hunt
(Do you have t-shirts for all of us?) – “No. (laughter)”
(How tired are you of talking about that play?) – “That was a last week deal. It came and it’s gone, now we are worried about the Jets. Try to focus on keeping this train rolling. That’s the next focus right now.”
(Do you have the scepter and have you done the photos and everything with it?) – “No, I have not.”
(Speaking of the Jets, they’ve statistically been struggling pretty badly these past few weeks. It’s kind of a dangerous term to throw out there but is this an opportunity to continue to get right on the offensive side of the ball?) – “You say struggling, I don’t know if I see that. I see a big, talented, fast, physical team on the defensive side of the ball. The front seven is really good in my opinion. Everybody has their issues, I would say, but I think it’s going to be a good game. I think that team is very talented.”
(What does it take to get this run game going?) – “We just got to keep coming in and try to improve, man. I think we did some good things last week. Just steadily trying to improve is the goal. We came out today, had a fast, physical practice today and we worked on that. Hopefully we can display that this weekend. We are always going to try to come out and run the football. That will open up a lot of things you do for the offense. It’s a focal point that we are trying to do and trying to focus on.”
(You are still at guard, right?) – “I am at guard, yeah. That’s all…”
(Is there a way to make you eligible or that’s just not possible at guard?) – “Ah, I don’t know man. I doubt it. (laughter)”
(How has this mini-bye treated you?) – “It was good, man, to get a couple days away from the game. Not totally away from the game but a little bit from the game. That was a big win for our team so that’s that. I got away a little bit – went to the Everglades, did a little swimming. I had a couple good days.”
(You swam in the Everglades?) – “Yeah, man. I wanted to do it for my bucket list. (laughter).”
(Did you see any gators?) – “There was one like 30 feet away.”
(While you were in the water?) – “Yeah. Yeah and then so I saw it, we saw it and we got in. I got out and my girlfriend jumped back in. I wasn’t going back in. Once he ducked his head underwater, I was done. I let her and her friend have that one.”
(Was this on your ‘Florida Man’ bucket list?) – “Yeah, man. I just wanted to say I did it. Now I can say I did it, so when I do say I did it, you’ll say, ‘Damn, what did you do?’ People don’t expect that.”
(On the guard/tackle question, obviously we’ve asked about it before with you and G/T Jesse Davis. Head Coach Brian Flores said again this week, Offensive Line Coach Lemuel Jeanpierre said this week that a flipping of positions is something they’ve continued to talk about among other things. Obviously they’ve never done it yet this year. We saw it last December but not this season. Have they ever asked your opinion about whether you think you would be better at right guard or right tackle?) – “That’s a question for coach. I’m just here to play football wherever they need me, man. Right now, they need me at right guard so that’s where I’m at.”
