Reid Sinnett – August 27, 2021
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Friday, August 27, 2021
QB Reid Sinnett
(What’s it like to know you’re going to get a lot of action on Sunday?) – “It’s exciting. That’s why we play the position. I’ve gotten a lot of mental reps and a chance to watch and get coached through Tua (Tagovailoa) and Jacoby (Brissett), but we all play this game to be out on the field. It’s not a position to stand and watch and it’s always exciting to be out there and be the one that’s the center of the offense and making sure that we can operate and get a chance to improve our game which is the best part about playing quarterback.”
(Describe the feeling of throwing that touchdown pass at the end of the Atlanta game.) – “It was great. Kirk (Merritt) is one of my good friends and we spent a lot of time working together this summer and it’s great to throw a touchdown pass to somebody that you’re connected to and our receiver room is special. So it’s a great chance to get to work with those guys and it always feels good to score a touchdown, but any way I can contribute and help us win is a good feeling and it helped us win the ballgame so I can’t complain about that.”
(Do you feel it’s fair that you and WR Kirk Merritt have developed this chemistry from practice squad reps to carried over now?) – “Of course it’s fair. He worked his butt off this offseason and it’s showing up on the field right now. But we spent a lot of time this offseason. He was here and I was here. Jacoby (Brissett) gives me a hard time. He’s gotten a lot of reps with Kirk lately so I’m giving him a hard time about taking my guys away. (laughter) But it’s been really fun for me to watch the things that I know he worked on and the things that he put in this offseason and how much it’s translating into what he’s putting on on the field. That’s always a good feeling as a teammate and as a close friend.”
(What do you like most about this offense that you all have instituted the last couple months?) – “I like how we’re trying to scheme up what we’re doing for each personnel and how we’re putting it together with how much talent we have around on the field. There’s always nuances to every offense and so I’m having fun kind of discovering what we’re trying to accomplish with certain things and having more tools in our belt to make checks at the line of scrimmage and make sure we’re in the right play. And that’s what’s fun for me as a quarterback, is how can we win the snap before the ball is even snapped. Can we win the pre-snap and make sure we’re in the right play? That’s what I think is so fun about playing this position.”
(What’s the biggest thing you’ve improved on these last few months?) – “I think it’s the same thing with the offense. You add more tools to what you’re able to do and I feel good. I did a good job this offseason of taking care of my nutrition and sleep and all those things and I’ve seen it translate to my game and so I feel a little bit more athletic and the ball is coming out of my hand a little bit easier. But like I said, it’s about improving within the offense and how we can get ourselves in the best play to let those guys – like I said, Kirk (Merritt) and Malcolm (Perry) make plays when they’re in space and that’s what they’re good at.”
(Do you feel like you have accomplished your goals for the preseason? Obviously you have one more game to go. Is there anything in particular also that you would like to see get better last game?) – “I had some specific goals and I think I’ve met them so far, but I think going into this last preseason game, it’s about how can we help the team win and operationally can we be consistent and smooth. And that’s the challenge for me, is I think there’s some things that we can do offensively that we’re not going to do because of who’s out there and so we’re going to do what’s best for the group. That’s a part of the game that is fun and when you go out in these preseason games, there’s not as much shifting and motioning and things like that so we’re making sure that our guys are ready to play.”
(What do you envision for your ideal game on Sunday in Cincinnati?) – “Obviously you want to win so I think if we can move the ball and give ourselves a chance to score some points, that’s all you can ask for as a quarterback. So making sure that our guys are ready to play and we move the ball down the field, that’s what you can ask for from an offense. And points come with that. Obviously there’s ebbs and flows with the game, but like I said, just trying to move the football.”
(So QB Jacoby Brissett really teased you about taking WR Kirk Merritt?) – “(laughter) A little bit. There’s different guys that are in those groups and as they start to shift, you know. It’s always fun – the back-and-forth with our quarterback room.”
(What have you learned I guess from Quarterbacks Coach Charlie Frye since he’s been in the room with you?) – “It’s awesome to have the experience of a former quarterback because there’s so many things that you get coached on or you hear sometimes and it’s hard as a quarterback because there’s people in your way or you’re working on something else so a lot of our conversations are, ‘What was the thought process here?’ or ‘Why did your eyes get here?’ and things like that rather than saying, ‘You missed the open guy.’ So that’s great from a quarterback’s perspective of the understanding that it’s difficult, that it’s a hard position to play. So Charlie (Frye) has that understanding from being a quarterback and that definitely translates to how he coaches and it’s been really, really beneficial for us. And it helps with how we’re collaborative as a group with Tua (Tagovailoa), Jacoby (Brissett), Charlie and I and Jordan Salkin. We have great conversations about what we’re trying to accomplish as an offense and making sure that the details are hashed out how we want them to be.”
(As someone who works with all position groups on the offense, what’s the impression of the other emotions for bubble guys going into the final preseason game?) – “There’s always excitement when you get to go out and play. So these guys that aren’t sure through the first couple preseason games if they’re going to play; now they know they’re going to get an opportunity to go out and showcase what they’ve improved upon and that’s always a challenge as a quarterback to make sure that we’re focused on what we’re trying to do. There’s always excitement when you get to go out and play. You feel the excitement at practice even every day when guys are getting a chance to play the game they love.”
(Can you tell us a little bit more? You mentioned earlier about nutrition, training and how things have evolved over the years. Can you tell us a little bit more about how much they’ve evolved and how they have evolved for you?) – “I went to the University of San Diego and it’s a small 1-AA school. My summers were spent – I was working and I was paying to go to school, so I was eating on a budget a lot of the time. Chicken and rice only goes so far sometimes, so I try to take advantage of all the resources we’re getting at this NFL level. (Head Strength & Conditioning Coach) Dave Puloka and John Parenti, our nutritionist, they’ve done a great job of helping me find things that work for me. It was a challenge at USD because of the resources; but here, they give us every opportunity to be successful so I’m trying to take advantage of all of that. So having their support and their help and coming through that process was a leaps and bounds change from what I’ve been through in the past and I think it’s really benefitted me.”
(You mentioned earlier maybe having more flexibility in this offense to be able to do something at the line. Where is your comfort level in doing that and going into the game this week or previous weeks?) – “There’s certain things that we’re not going to do. There’s always that level of what’s being evaluated at the preseason level so we’re going to let guys operate and let them show what they can do. But like I said, there’s always tools in our belt as a quarterback that you go out there and you can find an advantage or take advantage of a certain player and things like that. So that’s something that I think that I can bring to the table as a player. I think that’s something that I’m good at and so where I lack in other areas, I think that’s something I can make up for so I’m always trying to study and find ways from other quarterbacks and as well as from Tua and Jacoby of what are the things I can do to help my own game.”
(Were you paying to go to school all the way through and what’s it like to go from paying to play and go to school essentially, but now you get paid to play?) – “Yeah it’s amazing. I had a conversation yesterday. I still have student loans. I was paying to play football at the University of San Diego and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. But I was working at Lululemon while I was playing my senior year of football. So I’d get done with – I only had one class so there were certain days of the week where I would get done with practice and go to work because I had to help pay for some of the stuff. I joked hopefully I can get a raise and pay off some of my student loans, but it’s amazing that I get paid to come out here every day and go to practice and get to sit in these meetings with some of these guys and I think it’s been a great measuring stick for what I got accomplished at USD; and again, there’s so much room for improvement in seeing all these guys every day. It’s a great chance for me to continue to grow and be a better player.”
(With work and school and football and everything were you short on sleep all the time?) – “No, that was something that I took very seriously so I had to make some sacrifices in other aspects of my life, but school and football were always the priority. Work was something that I had to do, but school and football were always something that I really enjoyed. So I made a lot of sacrifices to take advantage of that.”
Patrick Laird – August 27, 2021
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Friday, August 27, 2021
RB Patrick Laird
(Obviously you’ve been through this whole process before. Now that you’re a veteran, what’s it like the be a ‘bubble guy’ or a player that has to wait out these decisions?) – “It’s just what I’ve been used to. I was a walk-on in college, kind of a very similar situation as an undrafted guy. I knew since I tried out for the NFL that I was probably going to have to fight for a spot every year and that’s the way I like it. It’s challenging but it’s one of the best job interviews you can be a part of. It’s a long job interview process; but I like it, I enjoy it and I’m still loving football. I’m just going to focus on playing the best football I can and hopefully help the Dolphins win this year.”
(Did you get any insight from Running Backs Coach Eric Studesville or Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coach Danny Crossman about where you are in things or do you let it fall where it may?) – “I think the general idea with this coaching staff or the advice they give is don’t be that guy that counts roster spots, so I don’t do that. I just get the reps I do, do as well as I can and let the chips fall where they may.”
(Does this time of year get easier the longer you are in the league?) – “I’d say it’s less stressful because you know how everything goes, what it takes, what an NFL game is like, how long the preseason is. Obviously last year was different but I remember my rookie season. You know what the coaches are looking for and you know what you need to do on the field to earn their trust. In that aspect, that part is easier but at the end of the day it’s still always a challenge. There’s a lot of good NFL players on this team and around the league. You’re always competing against everyone.”
(You said, ‘fighting for a roster spot, that’s the way I like it.’ I mean surly you don’t like this better than absolutely knowing you’re locked in on the roster, right?) – “I feel like everyone has to earn their keep every year. Obviously, there’s the big contract guys that have a higher probability of making the team. Everyone still has to make the team every year. Whether I like it or not, that’s the way the system is set up. I understand that’s how it is. I’m not going to wish that the coaches guarantee me a spot because I understand no one really has a guaranteed spot at the end of the day.”
(How would you best describe what the emotions are like for a lot of the guys going through this for the first time right now?) – “I think for rookies it’s probably stressful. We have a good group of young guys right now and the rookies have looked really good. I don’t think I can give them much advice. They’re doing really well. I think they understand too that it’s a challenge. They’re doing a good job.”
(Going into the last game, is there anything different around this week in the locker room, talking with guys knowing that you are fighting for spots?) – “I know ‘Coach Flo’ (Brian Flores) mentioned that some of the starters are going to be held out and its going to be the younger guys playing more. Maybe the guys that aren’t playing, they’re going to spend more time on recovery this weekend? But we have a good group of guys in the locker room that are just supportive. They know the guys that are going to play more this weekend and since we have a good group of guys, they’re always supporting us.”
(Do you notice any difference in the mood of the team? I don’t know if confidence or swagger is the right word based on where you are after the big jump that you took from 2019 to 2020, and now heading into this year with outside expectations being a lot higher than they were in the past two years?) – “I’d say that we still have a young team but we have an older team that’s kind of been around the league for a little while. I remember my rookie season, it felt like there were a lot of young guys on the team every week competing for spots, bringing guys in. I’d say now I think there is more continuity. It’s hard to judge the overall, like you said, confidence of the team; but I think there’s just guys that we all know each other better. That’s always going to build and create more chemistry.”
(You mentioned in that year, you and RB Myles Gaskin came in that year. Then RB Salvon Ahmed came in a little later. How is it that running back room it kind of feels like you all grew up together?) – “I actually trained with Myles before the draft and everything up in Seattle. I trained with him so we were friends before we even came on the team together. Salvon was there. He was still in college but he trained at the same gym. I’ve known those guys for a while. Those two are just grinders. Everyone in the running back room are hard-working guys. It’s been fun. We’re always texting each other, sending each other videos of workouts and stuff that we should try. It’s fun playing with those two.”
(What are your impressions of the rookie, RB Gerrid Doaks?) – “Like I said, all the rookies are good. I think he’s done a really good job of transitioning into the NFL. I think you guys have seen the clips. He runs hard. Gerrid is a good running back.”
(How different is what you’re asked to do in this new offense as a back compared to last year?) – “I think for me, in my role, it’s been similar. Every offense is going to have it’s nuances and things that make it different. At the end of the day, you are just trying to move the ball down the field. As a running back, there’s different ways you can do that; you can help block in pass protection, you can run the ball or you can catch it. At the end of the day, I’m doing all three of those things. I was doing that last year and will hopefully continue to do that this year.”
(I want to know, I know you are not done playing any time soon, but what is next for you after your playing days are over? What do you want to do?) – “Like you said, I love this game and I’m going to try and play it as long as I can. Nothing is set in stone but there are tons of things I’m interested in. I studied business, studied political science at (Cal) Berkeley. There’s so many things I’m interested in but maybe somewhere in the business world. We’ll see.”
(Do your teammates still call you the accountant?) – “The intern? (laughter) Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, the intern comes up a little bit. I was actually checking out at Chipotle a couple weeks ago and the guy looks at me and goes, ‘Are you the intern?’ (laughter) Right then I was like I want to text Fitz (Ryan Fitzpatrick) that I’m mad that he told the media about that. It’s a fun nickname and some people still call me that. I always have to explain the story to some of the new guys around the facility how I got that name.”
(What did you tell the guy at Chipotle?) – “At first, I was confused because I was like ‘I’m not an intern here,’ thinking he was talking about at Chipotle (laughter). Then I realized he was talking about, he’s like, ‘I’m a fan of the Dolphins,’ and then it kind of clicked. But yeah, I just introduced myself and said hello. I don’t even know if he knew my real name. He just knew me as the intern (laughter).”
Adam Butler – August 27, 2021
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Friday, August 27, 2021
DL Adam Butler
(I’m doing a column on DT Raekwon Davis. Obviously you play a similar position, not the same as nose tackle. But from a height standpoint, obviously the low man wins in your line of work, correct? How does 6-foot-7 impact you?) – “I would consider Raekwon one of the oversized players in the league. Normally you see nose guards that are shorter, stockier, stronger guys. Then you get guys like Trent Brown and Raekwon that are just unbelievably big. I guess the laws of physics just come into play at that point. Leverage is very important, but mass moves mass. If you’re just a massive guy, it works to his favor.”
(How is camp going? We see a lot of one-on-one drills and you seem to be winning a lot of those. How is it going for you?) – “I think we’ve had a pretty good start. We’re not done yet. We’re still working. I’m pleased with what I’ve done so far, but I’m definitely not content. I come out every day trying to do the right thing and trying to get on board with what the coaches want me to do and everything. That’s just my mindset every day.”
(For a guy that’s not content, how do you approach the final preseason game?) – “Just like every other game. I’m going to prepare. If my number is called, it’s called; if it’s not, it’s not.”
(Have you trash talked to any of the guys in Boston yet?) – “Nah. I’m not even thinking that far. I’m not even thinking that far. One day at a time.”
(In terms of the work that you’ve put in, you’re known as a pass-rushing defensive lineman. What does it take in that scheme to be impactful getting to the quarterback?) – “Every year, the best team wins. When I rush, I’m thinking about the team before I’m thinking about myself. I would consider myself a veteran now at this point. I have my little moves and little things that I’ve done throughout the league, and when I have a chance to execute them, I execute them. But overall, if I need to be in a certain place, or if they need me to be somewhere on a given rush, I’m going to do my best to be in the right position.”
(Throughout the league, there has been more sharing of pass-rushing … there’s a camp and whatnot. How much do you share or try to get techniques from other d-linemen across the league?) – “I just learned to run my own race. Like Raekwon (Davis) for example, he has things that he’s good at, and then somebody like Aaron Donald has things that he’s good at. Robert Quinn, things that he’s good at. Everybody – they just bring their own sauce to the table. Some people can do what other people can do. I can probably do some other things, but I try to focus on my own self. I definitely try to learn. I did a camp with Pete Jenkins, one of the most respected D-line coaches in the game. I definitely learned a lot from him doing that this offseason. I’m not above learning new things, but I definitely try to focus on what I’m good at and just try to stay in my lane.”
(What’s your favorite move?) – “I can’t say that, come on now. (laughter) I know you’ve got to ask. I can’t say that. (laughter)”
(How different is Head Coach Brian Flores now as a head coach from when he was a position coach. I know he wasn’t directly your position coach in New England, but he was there.) – “I can honestly say that I have the same respect for him now – definitely a little bit more. He’s the head coach, so you’ve got to put a little bit more respect on it. I’ve always respected ‘Coach Flo.’ I’ve always trusted him. He’s just always been a great guy. Playing for him – when I talk to him it seems like he believes in me. I’m not saying that any of the other coaches that I have or had didn’t; but just being around him, it’s encouraging to be around somebody who is a leader and speaks to you in a way that feels welcoming.”
Trill Williams – August 27, 2021
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Friday, August 27, 2021
CB Trill Williams
(How would you describe the experience of your first NFL training camp?) – “The first word that comes to mind I would say is very different. Coming out of college, it’s really eye-opening because you’ve got guys like Byron (Jones) and ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) out there and they’re executing how they would in a game in practice and their speed and me coming up behind them, it’s like I got to match their intensity every play. It’s different in a good way.”
(How would you describe the emotions when you’re waived by the Saints. The word out there was they were looking to bring you back and then the Dolphins came in and got you.) – “That process was crazy because I get there and they put me on waivers and I was only there for three days at the time. Then that Monday, I’m here. God works in mysterious ways and he put me where I’m supposed to be and I’m supposed to be here. I can only control what I can control. I’m just blessed to be here.”
(I know I haven’t had an opportunity to talk to you but you could have played or stayed at Syracuse. Why did you come out?) – “I felt like that was the best decision for me and my family. Obviously I talked to my coaches about it and they gave me good feedback. I had an ankle injury that made me leave early as well. I had to go get surgery on that. My health was my main priority and I had to go get healthy. I came back and now I’m here. I think I made the best decision for myself.”
(How did you wind up with the jersey number that you have?) – “(laughter) So I came late so by the time I got to Miami, every number from 1 to 50 was literally taken. So the next number was 51. I still get jokes about it now by my teammates and when I play other teams. They look at me like, ‘why is a linebacker covering a receiver out here?’ (laughter) So hopefully quarterbacks see me out there one day and be like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s a linebacker, let me try him,’ and then I go make a play on the ball and prove them wrong.”
(So ideally if you make the roster, I’m guessing you would want to switch numbers?) – “Oh yeah, for sure. (laughter) That’s the first thing.”
(Do you have a chip on your shoulder playing in No. 51 to play for a chance to get another number?) – “There’s a chip on my shoulder every time I step on the field. No matter the number, I’m going to play football. At the end of the day, that’s what it is – football. I could care less about the number, for real.”
(A couple of days ago, Head Coach Brian Flores said that it’s fair to say there’s two, three, maybe four spots available. Have you gotten any insight from coaches in terms of what they want to see from you, whether it’s defensively or special teams?) – “Honestly, I think they just want to see me go out there and play football how I’ve been doing and what they saw on film from me coming out of college. Like I said, I can only play football and control what I can control. I’m going to go out there and give it everything I’ve got every time I go out there.”
(I know you’ve played a lot of corner while you’re here, but you played a lot of safety back in college. Where is your comfort on corner versus safety?) – “I really don’t have a preference on either. I’m an athlete so I’ll go out there and play wherever I’ve got to be. Whatever the team needs me to play, that’s what I’ll play. But I’m glad that I got a couple of snaps at corner and I’ve moved around, so I’m a really versatile athlete. Like I said, whatever the team needs me to play, that’s where I’ll be at.”
(You have a unique first name. Is there a story behind it that you might want to share?) – “So most people don’t know my real name is Atrilleon. Within that name is Trill, so when I was younger, every time I heard Atrilleon, I was always in trouble by my mom. So every time I hear that name, I get flashbacks. But my dad had a dream one day and he said that was my name in his dream and that’s what they named me. You’ve got to call him about that one.”
(When did you start going by Trill?) – “I’ve been going by Trill as long as I can remember. It started when I was playing baseball and then my dad comes up with nicknames all the time and he called me Trill one day and that just stuck.”
(Does mom still call you Atrilleon?) – “(laughter) When I hear it, I get flashbacks. I’ll be like, ‘what did I do?’”
(Has Head Coach Brian Flores called you Atrilleon?) – “Nah. (laughter) I don’t want to make him mad when it gets to that point.”
(So how do you feel about your performance in training camp?) – “I feel like I went out there and did everything I could and I put my best foot forward trying to make this team. It’s really hard. We’ve got a lot of great DBs on this team. All I can do is just go out there and give it my all. That’s the only thing I can do.”
(What’s the biggest thing you’ve picked up on this whole training camp?) – “There’s a saying that our DB coach says. He always says, ‘Stay green,’ and that means to always accept learning, no matter how old or young you are. I see it with Byron (Jones) and ‘X’ (Xavien Howard). They’re All-Pro guys and to this day, they still want to learn new things; and that pushes me to learn new things as well.”
Raekwon Davis – August 26, 2021
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Thursday, August 26, 2021
DT Raekwon Davis
(One of the things that I enjoy watching is when you are in those one-on-one drills and there’s not a chance for two men to try to stop you. How much do you enjoy them and what approach do you take any time you get a chance to go one-on-one even in practice?) – “Sometimes it’s very unlikely for me to get a one-on-one, so I have to take advantage of every one-on-one block I get. I try my best to win them.”
(Earlier today, I asked Head Coach Brian Flores about how you’ve done in the spring and the summer. He specifically referenced that you are taking care of your body. He said that you have learned how to eat right and sleep right. Let me ask about the eating part, how has your died changed? What’s in? What’s out?) – “Most definitely just try to eat better. Just try and go to sleep at a certain time. Just try to get eight hours of sleep, try to get good nutrition in your body, something healthy in your body to get you going fast.”
(There was a guy named Kiko Alonso who played linebacker for the Dolphins and he told me that he would go to sleep at 8 p.m.) – “I mean I have my days. Some days I really do go to bed that early. But 8? We don’t get out of meetings until like 7. I don’t get home until 7:30. (laughter)”
(Any food you’ve cut out of your diet the last couple years?) – “Fried food. I try to keep away from the fried food.”
(Has trash talk started at all between you and LB Jaelen Phillips about the Alabama-Miami game?) – “Oh yeah, most definitely. He’s got his team, I got my team.”
(What are your predictions?) – “I don’t know. I hope them boys go down there and handle business. Control what they can control.”
(From working on your game the last nine months working with Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark, is there an area where you think that you’re better specifically than you were late December last year?) – “I’m just trying to get better in each little category. My run and pass and both this year. Just trying to get better.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores used the word ‘comfort’ when talking about you. That you seem more comfortable. What are some areas in which, compared to a year ago, on or off the field you are more comfortable?) – “I would say knowing my plays. Just being in the playbook and learning the schemes about our defense. Learning that will make you play better, play more patient and you will be comfortable with the game.”
(When the team is in the 3-4 formation and you are in the middle, it seems to us that your responsibility is just clog up everything and make sure nobody runs through the middle. When do you get an opportunity to rush the passer? Do you think that over the course of your career you will actually get a bunch of sacks?) – “Yeah, most definitely. You just have to take advantage. Like I was saying about the one-on-ones, when you got the one-on-ones blocked, you got to just take advantage of it. Being a nose guard, you know pretty much the majority of the game you are going to have two guys on you. Just playing them one-on-one blocks and winning.”
(Everyone knows how high your celling is. Is there any really established Pro Bowl-type defensive tackle or nose tackle that you’ve watched on tape or watched over the years and said, ‘hopefully I can reach that level.’ Anybody at all?) – “Nah, I just play my game. Do my own thing.”
(Vince Wilfork, he played at UM and then was the Patriots nose tackle. He sometimes comes around. Do you ever talk to him about being a nose tackle in this defense?) – “Yeah, he was here like three weeks ago. He was teaching me his technique. Him looking at blocks, looking at formations. He was teaching me a lot of things when he was here at practice.”
(Did Vince Wilfork ever get to do a chunky soup commercial? Would you like to be in a chunky soup commercial?) – “Yeah, good marketing. Yeah, I would love it. Most definitely love it.”
(How long did you spend with him?) – “Just after practice. A little talk. Just giving me the things he saw today that same day. What I can do better.”
(Do you ever hear from Coach Saban or any of the defensive coaches at Alabama? I know they’re busy, you’re busy; but do you hear from them ever?) – “Yeah, when they got their breaks. But right now they are in camp, and we are kind of still in camp. Not right now though.”
(What’s the enduring message you took from Coach Saban in one of your final one-on-one conversations? He told us last May how good he thinks you can be. What’s the message that you took away from him?) – “Control what you can control. One step at a time. Just be where your feet at. Things like that.”
Elandon Roberts – August 26, 2021
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Thursday, August 26, 2021
LB Elandon Roberts
(It’s good to see you out there working full team drills with the first group. Do you feel like you picked up physically where you left off? You made a bunch of plays November, December like the one you had today. Are you feeling physically like you did when you were playing so well before the injury?) – “I just feel like as it goes, the goal is to every day come out and be better than yesterday. Just get better and better. I need to control myself better, but more because hitting your own teammates and stuff. It’s every day take it one step in the right direction.”
(The play where you crushed the running back, we saw a bunch of plays like that from you last season in the run game. Do you take pride in that physicality you offer in the run game? Is that something you like about yourself in your game?) – “In the offseason, every offseason, I just look at everything I could get better at. I just take it one day at a time. (You guys) always say I’m not really a physical linebacker and (you) haven’t seen any physical linebackers, so maybe I need to keep getting better at that. (laughter)”
(What happened on the play today? I could be wrong but it sounded like the loudest hit of training camp.) – “Just reading my keys. But at the end of it, I’ve got to be under control. We are getting close to season and we need all of our teammates. I need to do a better job of controlling myself. I just got a little excited.”
(Do you feel like you need a dry run to play in a game?) – “I feel like if I just continue to take it one day at a time – like I say all the time, he Dolphins have a good staff around me. As they keep putting day-to-day steps for me, I’ll just keep going in that direction.”
Jesse Davis – August 26, 2021
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Thursday, August 26, 2021
G/T Jesse Davis
(As you finish camp, how are you feeling? I know you mentioned the knee swelling but nothing serious, are you feeling good physically?) – “Yeah, I feel pretty good. The knee is just a day-to-day thing, has been for a while and it’s nothing serious.”
(Are you happy that you’re entering the season appearing that you’re knowing where you are going to play at right tackle? You’re obviously so good about moving at a minute’s notice anywhere but is that a good feeling from a stability standpoint?) – “Yeah, going into it you never know where you’re going to end up. Right now it seems like I’ll be in one spot but we still don’t know.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores told us that you’ll probably sit this preseason game, just an opportunity for the younger guys to get in there and the other guys who are competing to get in there as well.) – “Yeah, you never know if you’re going to be in or out. Everybody is taking this game as like an actual game week, preparation-wise. It’s going to be fun if those young guys do get to play most of it to watch them, help them, help them grow as they go.”
(I noticed a lot of times after T Liam Eichenberg takes a rep he will come over and talk to you and try and get some coaching. I don’t need the full detail of those conversations but what have those interactions been like with him?) – “Right now, we are playing the same spot. He tells me what he sees and I tell him what I see, what we can improve on and what we can do better. He’s my eyes and I’m his. Just hand placement, footwork and that kind of stuff. What I see with alignments, linebackers. It’s been fun.”
(In that same vein, how helpful is it for you guys to go up against a defense that does so many games up front and all you have to communicate? What does that do for you guys?) – “It makes us a lot more sharp, that’s for sure. It’s tough. It’s obviously a good defense. They give us a lot of different looks and it makes us communicate more, rely on each other more in that aspect. Going into it, with that under our belt, hopefully it will show.”
(Today we saw a lot of T Greg Little and T Larnel Coleman at that right tackle spot. Your impressions of how they are coming along?) – “From my angle, I didn’t get to see a lot of the right. There’s a lot of stuff to improve on, obviously. It looks like Greg Little coming in here looks like he’s pretty good. Larnel has been improving, so it’s been good to see that.”
(Has fatherhood changed your perspective on football at all?) – “(laughter) I don’t know, I haven’t had time to think about it to be honest. Everything has been happening so fast. I definitely have been enjoying it more. I want to be around longer in the league just so he has those memories as well.”
(This happens all the time in sports where you have veteran players with young, high draft picks behind them. I guess it takes a special sort of selfless teammate like you – like DB Jason McCourty, we talked about this with S Jevon Holland yesterday – who is willing to share things you know. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and QB Tua Tagovailoa last year. Is there ever something that goes through your mind that this guy is competition or just because of the guy you are, do you think, ‘I must tell them everything I know because I am that type of teammate.’) – “Yeah, I think with that in mind, I know that he’s here for a reason. I’m here for a reason too. I want to be able to contribute regardless of who it is. If he’s better than me, he’s better than me and I want to help him grow as well. “
(Where is this offensive line in terms of cohesion, development, where it needs to be to be better than last year?) – “It’s hard to tell with only playing limited reps with the guys. I think, right now, we are still growing obviously. I think we are headed in the right direction, that’s for sure.”
(Do you see yourself being stronger in either protection or run blocking?) – “Right now I think our run blocking has come alive a lot. I think with Rob Hunt and Solomon Kindley at guard and (Michael) Deiter at center, those guys can move some guys and set up some good blocks for our tackles. I want to say we are pretty balanced but right now I can’t tell.”
Brian Flores – August 26, 2021
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Thursday, August 26, 2021
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I wanted to ask you – thoughts on the inside linebacker job opposite LB Jerome Baker. Interesting options with LB Benardrick McKinney and LB Elandon Roberts having him now back, LB Duke Riley, LB Sam Eguavoen. Do you pretty much know in your mind how you want to handle that position which obviously we wouldn’t ask you to share that with us or in your mind is it just still an open competition with multiple players where you would like to see how it goes with Elandon coming back, etc. over the next week and a half?) – “We like the group. As you mentioned there are several guys in there that are good players and we think will help us. There’s a lot of versatility in the room, guys who play in the kicking game, guys who can cover, guys who can play in the run game. We like them all. There’s a lot of competition there. We try to keep as many as we can because as you know with attrition in this league; it’s more likely than not that unfortunately somebody will get injured or there will be a COVID situation or we’re going to need as many able bodies as possible. And we like all those guys. You mentioned them all. It’s a good group. They work well together. They work well with their teammates. There’s some leadership in that room, I would say, and we just continue to work with them and we’ll feel good about whoever comes out of that room making the 53.”
(Is QB Tua Tagovailoa playing on Sunday and what can you tell us about the starters and how much they may or may not see action?) – “Tua won’t play on Sunday and we’ll probably rest of most of the starters. Still kind of going through that as a staff. We’ve got to play the game so we’re not going to rest everybody. So there will be some guys in there who will get an opportunity to showcase or apply the fundamentals, the techniques, the things we’ve been talking about the entire training camp – guys who haven’t had as many reps in games. But there will also be some guys who have played in the previous two games playing in this one as well. But we’ll try to rest most of the – let’s call them ‘starters.’”
(The receivers will all be out – WR Will Fuller V, WR DeVante Parker, WR Albert Wilson, WR Preston Williams? Is that correct?) – “Fuller, Parker – I don’t have this in front of me – so I believe Fuller will be out there. Parker will be out there. Again, with all these guys, some are modified. I don’t have this in front of me.”
(I’m sorry I wasn’t clear. Do you expect any of those four guys to participate in the game?) – “That’s still being talked about. I think game reps are important, but we have to determine whether or not we want to get those game reps versus continuing to build and improve on a daily basis from a rehab standpoint and really all four of those guys; we’ve talked about them. We haven’t made a final decision on that yet. As far as today, that’s a mistake on my part. I don’t have that in front of me. All those guys practiced yesterday – I believe you mentioned that group. I think someone’s modified today though. I’m not exactly sure. It’s kind of a…”
(WR Albert Wilson – we didn’t see him yesterday.) – “I don’t think he mentioned (Albert) Wilson.”
(He did mention him.) – “Did he? (laughter)”
(Yes, he mentioned four.) – “(DeVante) Parker, (Will) Fuller… yeah, (Albert) Wilson didn’t practice yesterday. So Wilson will not be practicing. He didn’t practice yesterday. I don’t think you were referencing Wilson for the game, right?”
(Was the WR Lynn Bowden Jr. decision a tough one because I guess the other alternative would’ve been keeping alive the possibility of him coming back this year, but that would have tied up a valuable roster spot on the 53. How tough a call was that for you and General Manager Chris Grier?) – “Tough call. Obviously Lynn (Bowden Jr.) did some nice things during training camp. Did some nice things at the end of the year last year. Had a good offseason, did a good job in the spring. Unfortunately he had the injury and we felt like that was the best decision for the team and unfortunately we won’t be able to get him back, but this is what we felt was the best thing for the team.”
(Yesterday QB Tua Tagovailoa talked a little bit about his relationship with Dan Marino and working with him. I was just curious if you could maybe detail a little of that relationship and the value of having an all-time great like Dan talking to Tua?) – “Someone with Dan’s experience, his insight, his knowledge of preparation, of being a professional, of playing in this league; I think it’s always good for a young quarterback to have someone to bounce some ideas off, get some mentorship from, and Dan has been that for Tua and Jacoby (Brissett) and Reid (Sinnett). It’s nice to have someone like that around the building for those guys to bounce some thoughts off of and someone who has actually played the position in this league and done it at a high level, so I think that’s always good for the player.”
(You mentioned that the starters won’t play. I know that’s some of the starters. What about the offensive line? One, I don’t know if you have enough to make it through a full game with the non-starters, but also, there’s still competitions going on there. Is that still a position that you’re trying to evaluate heading into the Bengals game?) – “Yeah, we’re definitely trying to evaluate that. We’ve got I think – I want to say 12 linemen on the roster right now. We may or may not rest a couple of those guys. I think a guy like Jesse Davis, we probably will sit him. The other guys are young so we’re still talking through that one, but I think we have enough depth to be able to sit one or two other guys and honestly that would be kind of the depth that we would have in a regular game if it’s eight or nine guys. Like I said earlier we’re working through that. I think those guys – it’s a hard-working group. I think there’s some guys in the back end who have earned the right to get some reps and we’re looking forward to seeing them out there on Sunday against Cincinnati.”
(Where have you seen the most growth from WR Kirk Merritt since last year to now?) – “Kirk (Merritt) – he’s grown just from a work habit standpoint. I think he knows how or is learning how to get on a routine, stay on a routine, believe in the routine and believing that the extra work on the JUGS and the extra film study and the extra reps and sets in the weight room will help and have helped him make improvements and I think we’ve seen those improvements on the field both in practice and in games. I think he understands that and if he continues to do those things off the field and in the classroom, in the weight room, from a nutrition standpoint; then he’ll continue to make those improvements that he’s already made. He’s done a nice job and I’m very pleased with the growth he’s made.”
(How has DT Raekwon Davis’ summer gone?) – “I think Raekwon (Davis) – his spring, his summer – it’s been good. This is another young guy, young player who has become – we’ve talked a lot about Tua and his growth – I think Raekwon has grown a lot as well. Much more comfortable with his surroundings, with his settings, again with his routine, with how he takes care of his body, the things he eats, how much he sleeps. I think that’s something that (Director of Player Engagement) Kaleb Thornhill and our player engagement group has done a nice job of helping these guys with their routines and helping them learn how to be professionals. I think that’s something that young players need. They need some guidance on that. I think as an organization we try to help them with that as coaches, as Kaleb and his staff, as a training staff, as a strength and conditioning staff. I think those different groups are kind of coaching these young guys in that area about what are the best things for you to be the best version of yourself on and off the field, and I think our staff has done a nice job of that. But we can talk all we want. The players have to take the information and apply it. I think Raekwon has done a nice job of that and I think he’s making improvement and we need to continue to make more improvement.”
(I’d like to ask you a question related to COVID and vaccines. Especially since we’re getting down to a couple days before final cuts. We know that there are different things that can come into play where you can lose a player for like five days and also lose him at the last minute on game day if they’re unvaccinated, if they take a test and they come back positive. Given all of that, how much of a factor if any will that come when you’re making final roster cuts?) – “I think we’re going to keep the best players – vaccinated or unvaccinated. That’s what we want to do. I think that’s what’s best for the team. I don’t know any other way to put it. I think we’re always going to try to do what’s best for the team. I understand the question and I understand some of the issues that can arise, but at the end of the day, I think we try to assume that guys are healthy, guys will be out there and what group of guys is going to help our team perform as best as we can whether they’re vaccinated or not. I think that’s the most authentic answer I can give you.”
(We’ve seen one team in particular in the state decide to strengthen their restrictions on the road where they’re saying that all players – vaccinated or unvaccinated – cannot leave the team hotel. Are you considering any kind of rules above and beyond what the league’s protocols are?) – “Right now we’re following the league protocols. We really haven’t had any discussions like that, but we’ll continue to follow league protocols for both vaccinated and unvaccinated on the road, in the locker room, in the meal rooms. We’ll just continue to follow the NFL protocols and if we feel the need to go above and beyond, we’ll do that, but we have not had those discussions.”
(I wanted to ask you about your favorite unit – special teams – and when you’re cutting down to the 53-man roster, how much say does Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman and his group have in terms of who stays, who goes?) – “I think that’s a big part of the final decisions that we make. The kicking game is obviously a big part of football and we want to be good in the kicking game, so yeah, when we’re making those final decisions – what a guy can do on special teams is part of that decision. The more you can do gives you more opportunity to help this team win or try to win games. That definitely comes into play. I don’t think that’s just for the Miami Dolphins; I think that’s for across the league. A blocked field goal, a big kickoff return, a big punt return, a missed field goal – those are all plays in a game where if you take them for granted, that’ll come back to bite you. So I would say every team in the league makes the kicking game somewhat of a priority especially when it comes down to these cuts.”
(Is there any worry that three weeks for the starters between last week and Week 1 is too long of a time and was last year with no preseason games sort of confirm that maybe preseason games don’t necessarily translate into the Week 1 product being any better or worse?) – “I think I could see that argument. I think we’ve had joint practices with two teams. We had 10 good days prior to that. We felt like this was the best thing for our team. We’ll practice them hard next week and the week after that as well. And again this is new for everyone. It is. This is a new – you know, is two weeks too much? This is the first time there will be two full weeks. So it’s all brand new for everyone. Is two weeks too much? Is three weeks too much? Is two better than three? I don’t know. I don’t think anyone knows.”
(The NFL being such a copycat league like historically the fourth preseason game no starters play. Now like the third – some teams didn’t play people in the second. Do you look at other teams and other teams do you think say, “Hey, the third preseason game now doesn’t matter” or do you really just focus on what’s best for you guys?) – “I think that’s probably the best way to look at it, is just focus on our team. What do I think our players need and just rely on that because every person is different. Every group of players is different. Our team is different than another team and that team is different than another team, so what we need is potentially different than what another team needs and I think when you start trying to just copy what someone else does when you have different personnel in a different area; that may not work. So what we have is the information that we’ve gathered on our team, the experience we’ve had with our players and we use that information and try to come up with what we feel is best for our guys. And we’ll always do that. We’ll always do what we feel is best for the organization, for the team and the organization, and I think we have peace with the amount of time we spend going through – it’s not like we didn’t talk about it (laughter). We definitely did that. Week 3, Week 2, what do we do, joint practices. We’ve definitely spent a lot of time talking about it. And that’s not just as a coaching staff; everyone is involved there – medical, strength and conditioning, coaching, nutrition. There’s a lot that goes into it and we felt like this was the right move for us with our team this year and that could be different in future years.”
(How much did you weight QB Tua Tagovailoa’s performance and I guess really all the starters?) – “I thought you were going to ask me how much I weigh. (laughter) Man. Not you. I mean, come on. (laughter)”
(How much did you weigh QB Tua Tagovailoa’s performance and I guess really all the starters when making the decision of whether or not to play them in the final preseason game or was it more so just..?) – “It’s something that we – I think we probably made the decision before they even played last week, but I thought last week’s performance didn’t hurt, I would say. But we talked about it and kind of laid out the summer practice schedule in a way, again, with the joint practices, how we’re going to play him in Games 1 and 2 and felt good about going this route. I would say last week’s game didn’t weigh in all that much.”
