Jerome Baker – December 27, 2021 (Postgame)
Monday, December 27, 2021
Postgame – New Orleans
LB Jerome Baker
(I’m just curious as you woke up this morning and you were kind of getting ready for the game and preparing yourself, were you aware of how Sunday’s games kind of shook out and how you guys essentially in a win and you’re in situation? Right now if you guys win your final two games you’ll be in the playoffs. Were you aware of how all that came to be this weekend?) – “No, not really. I just knew we’ve got to come out here and win a game so I didn’t really – I’m not going to say I didn’t care, but I wasn’t looking forward to or looking out for it.”
(Well now that you’re – after a 1-7 start, seven straight wins – just knowing that you are in that situation now and you just have to kind of take care of what’s in front of you, I guess what’s the mindset of the team? How do you personally feel about that?) – “Just keep it going. What we’ve been doing, it’s been working. Just taking it one day at a time, one game at a time. It’s been working for us so why change it. I think that’s our approach right now, is just keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
(You had 8 sacks, you gave up 164 yards and 0-for-12 on third down. When you look at some of those numbers how do you assess this defensive performance? Could you ask for much more than that?) – “I’m sure ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) will have some corrections. That’s one thing I’m pretty sure he’ll have. Josh (Boyer) is the same. That’s just the approach of our team, is just we just want to get better and better and better, and we know we can accomplish some great things so at the end of the day we’re just going to take that approach and just keep getting better. We could’ve played better. We’re going to enjoy this one and worry about next week.”
(You guys are the first team in NFL history to have seven straight losses and seven straight wins in the same season. What does that say about the character of this group?) – “It says a lot. That we believe in our coaching staff, we believe in each other, and anything is possible. We’ve just got to take it one day at a time. It’s been working for us so I’m going to keep saying that and we’ve just got to continue just doing what we’ve been doing and keep getting it done.”
Tua Tagovailoa – December 27, 2021 (Postgame)
Monday, December 27, 2021
Postgame – New Orleans
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(I know obviously you and WR Jaylen Waddle have a connection going back to Alabama, but could you have foresaw him having this amount of impact as a rookie inching closer to the rookie reception record, breaking all these franchise records and just the impact that he’s had on the offense. Is that something you could have seen back in summer workouts?) – “I’m not a genie, so I’m not going to say that I did foresee that in Jaylen’s future, but I knew that he had a lot of potential of course just being able to play with him at Alabama and then also the OTAs that we’ve had together and leading up into training camp, he’s done a really good job. You could just see his development within his understanding of coverages, his understanding of getting open fast against man coverage and then blitz, man and so forth. I think he’s done a great job for us and I did just hear about his record so congratulations to him.”
(I wanted to let’s walk through that interception pass that you had in the game. Could you walk us through what you saw on the field and why did you go to WR Mack Hollins?) – “Just stepped up and I thought I could give Mack a good back-shoulder. Didn’t expect him to break it across like it happened but took a chance there. Obviously we could have hit the easier throw, the easier pass to Jaylen (Waddle) on the in-cut on that play, but it was what it was. I think our defense did outstanding giving us opportunities that we obviously need to capitalize on. But that was that.”
(You mentioned the Dolphins defense with eight sacks, holding the opponent to 0-for-12 on third down. How does that impact the throws that you want to make knowing how solid the defense has been?) – “We always stress playing complementary football so the defense giving the offense the ball back and the offense capitalizing on those turnovers and then also in the kicking game whether it’s a punt; being able to back their team and putting our defense in a good situation and vice versa with our kick return and our punt return game. It’s definitely something that gives us life whether it’s the offense scoring on the first drive or scoring in general or the defense getting a big third-down stop or getting a turnover and scoring. It’s definitely something that gives I would say this team life.”
(I wanted to ask you about the throw in the third quarter to WR Mack Hollins that seemed to be a big moment in the game. I just wanted to get your thoughts on that and the confidence you have in him in making the catch.) – “Yeah, I have a lot of confidence giving all our guys the ball. We ran that play flipped going the same way, I think it was the first quarter – and I hit Jaylen (Waddle) on that third-down conversion and coming back to the sideline Mack (Hollins) was open. So we knew they’d have a plan to either double Jaylen or force Jaylen to break in and to the … so when we did come back to it, I thought I’d give Mack a shot on that and I think he did a great job of tracking the ball and catching it.”
(You guys are the first team in NFL history to have seven straight losses and seven straight wins in the same season. What does that say about the character of this locker room?) – “I think it speaks a lot to the character of this locker room. A lot of the guys like I’ve been saying spend time with each other outside of the locker room and I think that’s what helps build the chemistry on the field for us. And it can only get stronger from here, I would say, so it’s hard to get a win on the road especially in a hostile environment like this, but we’ll take it and we’ll move on to who we’re playing next.”
Brian Flores – December 27, 2021 (Postgame)
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Monday, December 27, 2021
Postgame – New Orleans
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I know the season isn’t over and you guys still have at least two more games to play in the regular season, but to start 1-7 and to win seven games and put yourselves in position where you just need to win and be in the playoffs I guess what do you want the overarching message to be for anyone that looks at your team and the turnaround that you’ve had this season?) – “I think this team stuck together really the entire year. I think obviously we dealt with a lot of adversity early in the year and I think it revealed a lot. I would say it revealed the character of the guys in our locker room. Revealed that some people are with you and some people were on the fence and I think our guys just kept fighting. They kept sticking together and I think they support each other, they work hard, they give great effort. And when you do those things you put yourself in position to get the results you’re looking for.”
(Can you talk about your defensive approach against Ian Book making his NFL debut and Nik Needham’s early pick-6 setting the tone in that regard?) – “Credit to Josh (Boyer) and the defensive staff. They had a nice game plan – mixing coverages, mixing the fronts. They did a good job stopping the run which was a big emphasis. I thought the guys just played hard, they played fast, they gave great effort. We knew it was going to be a 60-minute game. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. It’s a physical Saints team. Sean (Payton) had them ready, made some adjustments in the game that we had to make some adjustments so thought they had a good plan. We just made a few more plays than they did.”
(It was referenced a little bit earlier but just to be more specific about it. The Dolphins are currently in playoff position with two games to play. What are your thoughts on the idea that the team does not have to rely on anybody else? Focus on the games ahead for the Dolphins.) – “I think the games this week – we’ll enjoy tonight, but the game ahead is going to be as tough as any game we’re going to play. I’ve already taken a look at Tennessee. Obviously I know Mike (Vrabel). I have a lot of respect for him. I know he’ll have his guys ready so we’ll enjoy tonight – it was a hard-fought 60-minute game so we’ll enjoy this one and then we’ll turn the page and get started on our next opponent.”
(In terms of what this team has been able to accomplish going and winning seven straight games how difficult is that – I know every game is a one-game playoff situation and you have a linear focus on the season – but to win seven straight games is kind of an accomplishment?) – “I think it’s really just one in a row and that’s really all we’re trying to do. That’s kind of the approach and I think our guys have kind of taken to that approach and the preparation, how important the preparation is, the preparation that’s needed to get results in this league. There’s a lot that goes into that. There’s a lot of work, a lot of working together. I think George (Godsey), Eric (Studesville), Danny (Crossman), Josh (Boyer) – our coaching staff is doing a nice job of putting together game plans and giving our guys a chance to have success. Now the focus is to try to do it one more time.”
(I wanted to get a little clarity on the answer you gave earlier. You said that it revealed a lot about your locker room. It revealed that some people were with you and some people were on the fence. Was that talking about people outside the building or inside of the building?) – “There’s distractions always and when things aren’t going your way I think it just reveals a lot about a lot of things, I would say. I’ve always had belief in this team – our players, our coaches. Maybe there were some people who didn’t share that same belief and I understand why, but at the end of the day it’s not about anyone else. It’s about the guys in that locker room and the guys in our building and the people in our building and we believe in each other. And at the end of the day that’s all that matters.”
Brian Flores – December 24, 2021
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Friday, December 24, 2021
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I guess seven players on the COVID-19 list as of this morning. Are any coming off today that you’re aware of? Or are any going on the list?) – “No one is coming off the list and no one is going on the list either.”
(Then WR Albert Wilson, I know he was absent again yesterday. You had mentioned personal reasons Wednesday. Do you expect him back today? Do you expect him to be available for the New Orleans game?) – “Yeah, he’ll be back today.”
(Obviously with the news that QB Ian Book is going to be starting, how quick do you go through and prepare? And do you have to go back to college film or is it his exhibition game? Obviously he’s just one of 11 players on the team but how much does that change the gameplan?) – “Yeah, we go back to the college film. We had him in the Senior Bowl so we’ll go back to some of that as well. They’ve got a lot of very good offensive players. Sean Payton is obviously a great head coach and certainly one of the best offensive minds maybe in the history of the league. He’ll have his group ready. I think guys like (Alvin) Kamara, guys like (Mark) Ingram, guys like (Nick) Vannett and guys like (Marquez) Callaway and Tre Smith, they’ll be there. They’re very good players. We’re preparing for their entire team. Ian Book, having spent a lot of time with him, he obviously showed good command of the offense in the Senior Bowl and I’m sure that will be the case on Sunday. He’s smart, tough. I’m sure they’ll put him in very good positions and he can make some throws. He’s also a good runner with the football as well. They have a lot of good players. I’m sure they’ll try to feature Kamara, Ingram and that group I talked about earlier like they always do. This will be a tough challenge for us.”
(What stood out to you about QB Ian Book when you coached him at the Senior Bowl?) – “Tough. Smart. Again, he took the information that we gave him, on a short week, and was able to execute at a good clip. He’s been there the entire year so I’m sure he’s got a good handle on their offense and how they do things. I’m sure Coach Payton and Pete (Carmichael), they’re meeting with him, they’re going through things. I’m sure they’ve been grooming him the entire year and getting him ready for his opportunity when it presented itself. If this is it then I’m sure he’ll be ready. He’s a smart kid, a tough kid. (He’s a) competitor. He’ll be ready to go. Their team will be ready to go.”
(I know you’re getting ready for this game against the Saints but with this being the holiday season, what do the holidays mean to you and your family each and every year?) – “It’s just time to get together with family. Obviously celebrate the birth of Christ. I think we just try to spend some time together and enjoy one another.”
(When you’re the coach and whatnot and the leader of your household, what does one buy for Brian Flores? I’m sure he doesn’t want anything from his family but what does one get for Brian Flores for Christmas? Or what would Brian Flores want outside of a win obviously this upcoming Monday night?) – “My mom always got me underwear for Christmas, so that’s my favorite gift.”
(I wanted to ask you on that same line, how can this special day and family gatherings help the team at all? In terms of preparation, of course you guys are doing everything on the field. But having that special night with family, just a few hours before the game, does that help at all mentally to the players?) – “Yeah, I think it’s beneficial. I think we’ve got to have balance. We can’t be all one way or the other. I know those guys, they work hard. Our coaching staff, our support staff, our players, they work hard when they’re here. To sort of balance that out, to go home and spend time with your family and have those conversations and enjoy the people that you love and care about, I think ultimately those things make you a better player. Balance makes you a better player.”
(Like you guys, the Saints have been pretty streaky this year. Maybe not to the point or the same extent, but do you see similarities between you guys and the Saints?) – “I hope so. They’re a tough, physical team. They’re talented. They’re well-coached. It will certainly be a challenge, really on all three sides of the ball. They’ve done a nice job. Obviously they got a big win last week holding a very good team to no points. On the road, that was a great effort by them. It will definitely be a challenge.”
(You mentioned your mom a few minutes ago. I was wondering if there are any Honduran dishes on the menu for Christmas.) – “I haven’t had that conversation with my wife yet. There will probably be some Mexican dishes.”
(You have the toughest decisions you’ve probably had all year at running back, but they are good decisions with depth now you’re developing obviously with RB Duke Johnson, RB Myles Gaskin, RB Salvon Ahmed and RB Phillip Lindsay. Have you and General Manager Chris Grier talked yet about what to do with RB Malcolm Brown? Obviously he would be a fifth possibility. And how difficult is that decision in allocating playing time for several good backs?) – “We’ll see how today’s practice goes and just talk about it post-practice as far as what roles we’re going to have for the different backs we have. Those are tough decisions but we’ll always do what we feel is best for the team.”
(With S Jevon Holland and WR Jaylen Waddle back, are you thinking of possibly still elevating WR Tommylee Lewis? Would the fact that he played for the Saints for four years be a factor at all in that decision?) – “We’re still working through a lot of things. Barry just mentioned the backs. You can’t have everybody up. We’re working through that, what we feel is best for the team offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. It’s good to have Jevon and Jaelen back. They’ll be up, I can tell you that. We’re still kind of working through whether it’s the backs, whether it’s a couple guys on the practice squad. We’ve got the COVID list so we will have some COVID elevations. A lot of different ways we could go. We’ll do what we feel is best for the team.”
(Obviously, S Jevon Holland coming back, he was able to pay attention to things via Zoom. But do you see rust or maybe some effects of what he’s got going on impacting his performance?) – “As far as Jevon, yesterday was a walkthrough so today we’ll move around at a better pace, at a faster pace and more of a game-tempo speed. As far as the walkthrough yesterday, just getting back into things, getting back into making calls for us defensively, I didn’t see too much rust. I saw a lot of energy. He was excited to be back. Guys were excited to have him back. The same thing with all of the guys who have come back off the COVID list, or even Malcolm Brown coming off the injury and back into practice. Today will have a little bit better tempo. It will be good for him to practice at that speed. It will be good to see him out there at practice today.”
Michael Deiter – December 23, 2021
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Thursday, December 23, 2021
C/G Michael Deiter
(I know everything is looking ahead to the next game, but is there some pride – even while looking ahead to the next game – some pride in how the line has performed the last couple of weeks which has been good?) – “Like you said, definitely we’re just focused on this week and the next day, the next game. But definitely some pride. There’s been some growth, but there’s still way too much that we need to be better with. So you can’t sit here and say, ‘oh, we’re doing a lot of good things.’ There’s still too many things that aren’t good, that aren’t perfect. There’s a lot to work towards and every day that’s what we’re working for, but it’s been good to have some growth and we just need to keep building on it.”
(Obviously I’m going to give you all or most of the credit for the performance against the Jets since you were the man making the calls, but what was different about the running game last week? Like what was working that you feel like you guys can replicate?) – “We were doing a good job with double teams. The biggest thing is we were good on our assignment most of the time, which is huge. It was all communicated. Guys knew where they were going most of the time so it starts there – getting lined up, getting communicated. That way you can cut it loose and play with confidence, knowing where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. And also the backs were running really well and they’re always going to run well. We just need to – we saw that if we give them good double teams, good A/B gaps, they’re going to make the right cut, they’ll get north and south and we’ll have good running game. We just need to make sure that we’re solid with communication, technique, where we’re going and getting there with confidence and speed and the backs are going to hit the holes the way they did.”
(Another common theme that I heard last week from most of the offensive linemen was that RB Duke Johnson is a good downhill runner. When you guys label a back a “downhill runner,” what does it mean? What are we looking for?) – “Just quick decisions. Obviously the quickest way to get to the end zone is in a straight line, so sometimes you just need to put your foot in the ground and get north and find yards wherever they’re at. But obviously every back is good at knowing when to do that and when to make the big cut and make a few guys miss and make a big run and there’s also times where it’s you get your five, six yards and you stuff it in there and you help the offense both ways.”
Liam Eichenberg – December 23, 2021
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Thursday, December 23, 2021
T Liam Eichenberg
(I would imagine you’ve heard by now but it looks like your old college buddy is going to be playing against you guys. I wanted to get your reaction on QB Ian Book getting his first NFL shot against you guys and a quick scouting report.) – “Yeah, I actually just heard. I’m very excited for him. I wish him the best of luck but I’m kind of focused on their defense right now. I’m looking forward to seeing him and I hope everything goes well for him and he stays healthy, but I’m just focused on the Saints defense right now.”
(Can I ask you what stands out about QB Ian Book as a quarterback from your time playing together at Notre Dame?) – “Obviously I didn’t play wide receiver but I know that he throws a very good ball. It’s a tight spiral. He’s a pretty accurate quarterback. You know what you’re going to get with him. He’s a pretty consistent guy so it’ll be good to see him out there on the field.”
(I know you’re going to be focused on the Saints defense but from being his teammate, are there any tendencies you are able to pick up from your college days and be able to transfer over to your defense? Is that at all any possibility?) – “Yeah, I mean if guys have any questions. But at the same time, he was normally behind me. As you guys know in college, he was good at escaping the pocket. He’s definitely a guy that you need to keep in the pocket.”
(I wanted to ask you about the season-high rushing effort. What do you think was the difference with that performance as opposed to what you guys had done the bulk of the season from the run-game and tandem work standpoint?) – “At certain times, you just kind of get in a groove. You’re able to move guys well, you’re hitting your combo blocks correctly. They feel good so you’re moving guys back and at the same time, we have very good running backs. It just depends. I don’t know what to tell you. Sometimes it hits, sometimes it doesn’t. Obviously we are going to strive for those amount of rushing yards every game so it’s a bar and we need to keep aiming for that.”
Mack Hollins – December 23, 2021
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Thursday, December 23, 2021
WR Mack Hollins
(You’re one of the few players that I believe will give us what the real is about what’s going on COVID-wise within the NFL. How as a player and as a team do you guys internalize this stuff?) – “I think COVID – obviously it’s bigger than any other season but wintertime is the time of year when people start getting sick. Thanksgiving, Christmas, families are in town. The one thing Coach ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) has really hit on is guys have to put things in order of priority. It’s nice to have your family in town, but do you need to go 10 deep to dinner? Do you need to be hanging out all of the time? We have a season, this season is at the back end and we have a chance to play some more games. We can’t allow you wanting to go to dinner parties and all of that get in the way of what we are trying to build. It’s about being smart. Just like any time of the year, COVID has made it where it’s a little more risky to do those things because you end up missing games or whatever that might be.”
(Do we push Christmas back?) – “I don’t know. Personally, I feel like Christmas has never been a thing. Christmas and Thanksgiving, I’ve played football my whole life. It’s like that’s the holiday that happens during football season so it’s never as big as anything else. If they pushed it back, that would be great because then I could celebrate it for real.”
(We got to follow up on the pet alligator that you were considering acquiring during the bye week. Did it go down?) – “It did not. I actually got to see a bunch, but I was vetoed in my household. The garage was not allowed to be transformed into my alligator sanctuary.”
(Does that mean it’s off entirely?) – “No. This is just for now until I can move some things around in the garage and make it seem like we have more space than we need.”
(You did some research that will let you be more prepared for this next go around?) – “Yeah, if being more prepared is even possible at this point. I feel like I’ve been doing research longer than I want. It’s time to make a move.”
(The one thing that bothers me about the NFL’s new COVID protocol is that even though asymptomatic vaccinated players are generally not being tested now, there are some that are randomly selected to be tested every week who are asymptomatic and vaccinated, which leads to the question what if one team’s star player is asymptomatic and tested and tests positive and is out a game, and the other team’s star player isn’t. It seems random and unfair to me. Do you think it’s random and unfair?) – “I don’t know if it’s unfair. If it’s truly random, than I wouldn’t say it’s unfair. I think at the end of the day, it’s all about safety. If you’re one of the random guys that gets tested and you’re positive, whether you’re the star player or not, what’s more important? The safety of the league or a team or one guy’s individual performance or impact on a team? If you’re randomly selected and you’re negative, it’s totally fine. I think that situation only can arise if my star player’s got it, my star player is positive when it’s supposed to be random and he maybe shouldn’t have gotten tested. That’s the only way that situation can go. I think it’s in the best interest of the league to try to keep players safe.”
(How do you know that you’re going into a game safe and that players that you’re playing against have COVID if we’re not really testing right now?) – “I think that’s why we have these protocols to begin with. We have a large majority of the league vaccinated, traveling with masks on and stuff like that. I think we’re doing a lot of stuff that any other year, if we didn’t have COVID – I know people compare it to the flu but I don’t remember in my life ever walking around with masks at any point let alone as much as we do now. I know things have gotten laxed as humans are. Over time we get laxed in certain situations. But when I go out in a game, there is never a time where I feel like, ‘Oh, one of these guys might have COVID’ or I feel unsafe. I feel like we’ve been doing a good job, especially in our locker room making sure we are safe and keeping each other safe.”
(I think you’re unvaccinated correct?) – “No, I am (vaccinated).”
(We haven’t spoken to you since the epic DT Christian Wilkins touchdown celebration, so I need to get your thoughts on that and every aspect of it. Also now, playing a Monday Night football game, big stage, Superdome and all of that. If you down a punt at the 1-yard line or even score a touchdown offensively, can we expect a big choreographed celebration from you?) – “I would never say choreographed because everything I do is – I work on a lot moves during practice so when something happens, it’s in that list of moves. It’s isn’t a completely choreographed, ‘When I do this, I’m going to do this,’ type of thing. I don’t know if I’ll break out the worm. Christian is quite good at that. I wouldn’t want to copy it or make it look bad. It won’t be the worm but if I’m fortunate enough to make a play, whether it’s in the kicking game or on offense, expect something.”
Calvin Munson – December 23, 2021
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Thursday, December 23, 2021
LB Calvin Munson
(How would you describe this journey of New England to Miami to New England back to Miami?) – “It’s been a little back and forth but definitely blessed for all the opportunities.”
(How do you see yourself most contributing over here?) – “Honestly, anywhere I can. Special teams, ‘backer, wherever they need me I’ll go all out.”
(Obviously there’s been a New England presence on the Dolphins coaching staff for three years since Head Coach Brian Flores took over. What would you say is the biggest similarity in how the two franchises operate from a player perspective that you notice, and the biggest difference?) – “I would say both teams work hard. Coach ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores), he brought over a good culture and good coaching mentality. He wants the players to be tough, physical and smart, and I see that here.”
(That’s the same with Head Coach Bill Belichick too obviously, right? Is it the same approach with both?) – “I would say it’s similar, yeah. Every coach has their differences but I think what we’re doing here, the culture and how guys are playing, how guys are learning and playing with each other has been good.”
(Defensively, how much does the gameplan change now that QB Ian Book will be starting for the Saints with QB Taysom Hill on the COVID list? How have you guys pivoted very quickly here since the news broke?) – “Honestly, I don’t think it changes a lot. We are going to prepare every week the same. We are going to prepare for every aspect and every quarterback. They still have 10 other guys on the field that can play. Obviously Book, he is in the NFL for a reason so he can play. We’re just going to approach it the same, work hard and then go out there and play as well as we can.”
