Tua Tagovailoa – August 26, 2023 (Postgame)
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Saturday, August 26, 2023
Postgame – Jacksonville
QB Tua Tagovailoa (transcribed by Jacksonville Jaguars)
Can you go over what happened out there?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think there were a lot of things that happened out there on the field tonight that weren’t expected. For Daewood [WR Daewood Davis], I don’t think he woke up this morning understanding that there are repercussions playing this sport that this was going to happen. I don’t think anyone wakes up thinking things like that’s going to happen. There were a lot of things that happened out there on the field for not just Daewood, but there were other guys as well. Our prayers, our thoughts are with a lot of those guys that sacrifice a lot, day in and day out. And it was just tough to see.
I assume it would have been very hard if not possible to continue playing for your teammates?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, I think it would have been extremely hard for the guys to have gone out and continued to play. The kind of person Daewood [WR Daewood Davis] is, a lot of guys respect him. He’s very well respected in the locker room. He’s a great player. He’s a great teammate. He’s a great person. Just would have been hard to have gone back out after seeing something like that.
Did you see the entire play and what did you think, if so?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I’d seen the entire play. I just didn’t see if there was a second person that hit him. I’d just seen it was a pass breakup and I didn’t think anything of it. And when Daewood [WR Daewood Davis] was on the floor and he didn’t move, that was very concerning. So prayers go out to him, his family, his friends, everyone watching, thinking of him.
What about the mood in the locker room? Can you lend any insight on how that was?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, it’s tough for everyone. It’s tough for everyone in there to witness something like that and come in and talk about how the game went. It’s just too tough. Like I said, the kind of person that Daewood [WR Daewood Davis] is, he’s very well respected in the locker room. The guys like him. Guys sort of tailor to who he is as a person. It’s hard to explain when you’re not in the locker room day in and day out. But it’s just not something you like seeing.
Could you explain a little bit as far as like the bond you all will embrace from this moment just to move forward and grow from this?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, I think the bond continues to grow for all those guys in the locker room. When something like this happens, sometimes it does bring guys closer because it’s more than just football. It’s about life, it’s about the person, it’s about the guys in the locker room who they are outside the locker room. We’re all human, too. We go out there for the entertainment of those people watching and sometimes things happen unfortunately like that.
A minute ago when Mike McDaniel [Head Coach Mike McDaniel] was out here, he talked about Daewood [WR Daewood Davis] sort of putting on, telling a story, and singing a song for the team. Were you there for that and how did that make the team kind of rally around him?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I was there for all of it. I was there also when they had the rookie show. It was probably the best rookie show I’ve ever seen. I’ve only been here for four years, but it’s the best rookie show I’ve ever seen. Definitely way better than my rookie show that we had. But
it was good. They all did good. It was funny. But there’s many things that you can talk about that are good about Daewood [WR Daewood Davis], but that’s not to outshine the guys that have put in the work out there out on the field, given the opportunities and the chances they’ve had to put their work on film.
Tyreek Hill – August 26, 2023 (Postgame)
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Saturday, August 26, 2023
Postgame – Jacksonville
WR Tyreek Hill (transcribed by Jacksonville)
I’m sure it’s been a hard night to get through. How would you describe your emotions right now?
Well, obviously this is a weird situation for the whole team. It’s very unfortunate. Nobody ever wants to feel the way we feel, especially Daewood [WR Daewood Davis], he was in the same receiver room as me. It sucks just seeing a young player go through something like that, or anybody in general, in this league, just going through something like that, trying to make a living, trying to make this team, trying to live out their childhood dream, it sucks. I always put myself in that position.
Sharing the room with him, knowing him better than we do, what do you know about him? What can you tell us?
I can say this about Daewood [WR Daewood Davis]; each and every day he has the same attitude, same mindset, and that’s to get better and that’s to help this team win games. He’s a full ball of energy, all fast guys are. I feel like I can speak for the whole room when I say all of us enjoy being around Daewood. He’s in a situation that we don’t wish upon anybody in this league. It’s not fun for the sport.
I think you might have been one of the first players to go out onto the field. Could you describe what’s going through your head at that time?
I really don’t know, but my first thing was I just wanted to make sure he was moving, because where we were all standing at, we didn’t have a good view and we only could see his feet. None of his body was moving. It was like, ‘Okay, what’s going on?’ I got to get out there. Even if they stop me, I have to at least get a closer look. I turned around and the whole team was coming. There was no way from them stopping us to check up on our brother to make sure he’s all right because I feel the trainers, they’re going to give you certain information. They’re going to give you its and bits of what’s going on. I just had to see it for my own eyes. He’s in good spirits right now and I saw that. Shaking his head and stuff like that, breathing. So once we saw that, everybody was, like, relax.
So you were able to actually see him move while he was out on the field?
Yeah, he moved his head. The trainer was talking to him as they were driving off. He was like shaking his head and stuff like that.
Daewood [WR Daewood Davis], was he on your side of the roster?
Yes, Daewood was on my team. So, yeah, he was one of my selections.
What will tomorrow be like? I guess it probably depends on how Daewood [WR Daewood Davis] is going, but can you project or take a guess?
I really can’t predict, but I’m sure everybody’s going to continue to rally around Daewood, support him. Even with whatever happens with this team, guys are still going to reach out and stuff to him, make sure his family is alright. That just shows you what kind of team this is. I know I am, because as a leader of our room, I feel that’s my responsibility. I feel like I got go check on my brother.
Tyreek Hill – August 26, 2023 (Third Quarter)
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Saturday, August 26, 2023
WR Tyreek Hill on CBS Miami Broadcast
(Before the season started you mentioned 2,000 yards. High expectations for yourself obviously. Where did you come up with that number?) – “I don’t know. I just feel like 2,000 is the magic number for every receiver and growing up, I’ve always wanted to play football and I’ve idolized guys, had guys as role models like Randy Moss, Chris Carter, Jerry Rice of course, Torry Holt. Those guys. And told be able to break the receiving record in a season would be awesome. Especially coming from a small-town kid because I came from nothing so it would be an honor.”
(QB Tua Tagovailoa talked to them yesterday and he mentioned that he thinks you guys have a lot of deep threats on this team. My instant reaction to that was, I bet that’s going to help WR Tyreek Hill get a few more balls. How explosive is this wide receiver room this season?) – “Man, I can’t even explain it sometimes. When we go in and watch film, it’s crazy just to see the dynamic playmakers that we’ve got on this offense. Not only in the receiving room, but it’s in the running backs room, it’s in the tight end room and it’s even in the o-linemen room, too. Those guys are explosive, too, so I’m excited about this year. It’s going to be a fun year for the Dolphins. Fins fans, you better lace up and get the popcorn ready. It’s going to be fun.”
(That first catch you made today, QB Tua Tagovailoa did a little spin move before getting you the ball.) – “That was sweet, right?”
(In Year 2, does it just feel like you guys are ready to unleash a different side of this offense?) – “Oh yeah, for sure. Year 2 is the year it’s all going to come together. We had a chance to go back and really get an understanding of this offense. I’ve been saying all offseason, like Year 1 was just a blur. We were just out there basically running, but Year 2, everyone fully has an understanding of the offense.”
Mike McDaniel – August 26, 2023 (Halftime)
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Saturday, August 26, 2023
Head Coach Mike McDaniel on CBS Miami
(One of the last times we get to see the ones versus ones in the preseason here. What’d you like about the progress they’ve made so far?) – “Really, you just need reps. We still have two weeks until the regular season so it’s important that guys get out there and communicate. There’s plenty of opportunities to get better. They’ll thrive in that. They’ve been working hard for that opportunity. I was happy with the way they committed to the assignments.”
(I certainly hope RB Salvon Ahmed is okay. He took a big shot, but it seems like every time he touches the ball here in the preseason he does something big. What have you liked about his camp so far?) – “I was on another team with him as an undrafted rookie. You see him now. It doesn’t surprise me. He has an abundance of talent, but what he’s really done is honed in on his skills and focused on what he isn’t good at and he’s become good at it. It’s been awesome to watch.”
Zach Sieler – August 26, 2023 (First Quarter)
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Saturday, August 26, 2023
DT Zach Sieler on CBS Miami Broadcast
(First of all, you’ve got to like the way the defense responded on the last drive. Long drive, get that pop at the endzone. What were you guys saying on the bench after?) – “It’s awesome. It’s great to be able to get that ball out there at the end and get the ball. You don’t want to let them drive like that on us. You don’t want to let them drive that that on us. We’ve got to correct some things, make them correct it on the bench. But it was a great play by those guys and good to get the ball back.”
(All offseason we’ve heard about the front seven, you’re right there in the middle of all of that, how good they can be. Is this team as good as advertised in that area?) – “I’ll tell you what, we love playing with each other. All camp we’ve been growing the bond between each other. (Bradley) Chubb and Jaelan (Phillips) on the outside, me, ‘Rae’ (Raekwon Davis), Christian (Wilkins) on the inside. (Jerome) Baker and David Long now, an addition this offseason. It’s been great playing with these guys and learning how to play off each other.”
(DT Raekwon Davis said the other day at practice, he thinks he’s about to have his best year yet. How is he looking from your spot?) – “I couldn’t agree more. He’s been awesome. My wife went to college with him and she said he looks like a different man.”
(So the wife approves?) – “I wouldn’t say that. She likes ‘Rae’ (Raekwon Davis), but she said he looks pretty good out there.”
(I know you guys open the season against the Los Angeles Chargers, probably want a little payback after last year. Are you guys looking forward to having a couple weeks to prepare for them?) – “It’s going to be nice. It’s a great team, great quarterback, great o-line. Can’t wait to go against them, take it out there and show them what we’ve got this year.”
Raekwon Davis – August 24, 2023
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Thursday, August 24, 2023
DT Raekwon Davis
(What’s this training camp been for you? This is Year 4. I know everything is not new to you anymore but how do you feel your progression is? Coach McDaniel talked about putting up the film from your OTAs last year to this year. What did that feel like?) – “You know, with compliments. I love him, but you know, I was taught rat poison from Nick Saban. But it’s been a great camp this year for me so far. Just got to keep it going, maintain my diet, maintenance, keep progressing, little things like that.”
(It seems like you spend more time in the backfield against the passing game this camp. How have you added to your pass rush this offseason?) – “Just sticking with the moves I know, just two or three moves and just get them down pat, practice on them and just work them when I’m out there in team.”
(Do you feel your offseason training kind of translating into that?) – “Yeah, I did a lot of pass-rushing training this offseason, just to get better because I know I’m going to need it for this year. Going into this new defensive scheme, I’m definitely going to have to be able to pass rush and keep a high motor.”
(How has it been working with DT Da’Shawn Hand?) – “Man, he’s so funny. We talk about old stories all the time, because we have so many memories at ‘Bama. Funny guy, bro. He’s being doing great. I love him here.”
(What do you think of the camp DT Brandon Pili is having?) – “Oh, great camp. He’s been one of the young guys that’s producing real well and going in the right direction.”
(What was your reaction when he told you you’d be wearing that orange jersey?) – “You know, (shrugs his shoulders and laughs) that’s cool. I just go and continue to do what I do each and every day, in and out. It’s just an orange jersey.”
(How long have you been working on that playlist? It seemed like you had a good mix of old school and new school.) – “Most of those songs are what I listened to on a day-to-day (basis), so I already had it queued up. I just sent it off to them like, ‘Hey, play this, play this, play this.’ I actually didn’t send the order on how to play it. they just played it. It was a great order.”
(If they would have put you out here for the one-on-one competitions, who would you most liked to have cooked on the offensive line, receiver versus corner?) – “If they put me out there? What am I playing, DB?”
(Whatever you want.) – “I don’t know. I’m not that type of fast. Listen … I’m not just that great yet. (laughter) No, I’m not going out there and pull a hammie. I’m not doing that.”
(You’ve been one of the players who’s known QB Tua Tagovailoa the longest, been with him the longest. What’s it like when you hear people criticize the work that he’s put in to get ready this offseason?) – “Honestly, they don’t know anything Tua does. He just works every day, in and out of here. He just does his job and he continues to practice his technique. They just talk. That’s what they do. They don’t know what he does. He’s having a great camp too, so they can say what they want to say.”
(Where do you feel you’re at right now in your career? How comfortable are you?) – “Right now, I feel this is probably going to be the best year for me. I’m feeling the best. That’s probably how I’m feeling.”
(That’s what Head Coach Mike McDaniel said, you look the best right now. How much confidence does he give you guys?) – “He gives us a lot of confidence, but at the same time, we have to just keep working and going out there on the field to prove it.”
(CB Kader Kohou said yesterday that Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio in the meeting room in defensive meetings works with every single position. He’s not just talking to everybody as a whole. Is that something you’ve noticed as well?) – “Yeah, when we’re doing individual drills, he’s at every drill. He’s just going around, looking at everybody’s technique. He’s also coaching us, too, at the same time as our (position) coach is doing. That’s awesome, man. That’s pretty great.”
(Is that something that’s commonplace? I don’t want you to put down anybody in the past.) – “Coach Saban did it, I’ll say that. How about that? He did it.”
(Are you happy that after today’s camp, you start regular practice? Training camp comes to an end, you’re probably happy about that?) – “I’m just one day at a time. I’m just taking it day-by-day, whatever the next day is, that’s what the next day is. Right now, we’re really still in camp, so that’s what is.”
(You don’t feel a difference?) – “No.”
(How do you fit into the defensive tackle mix? Is it just rotational?) – “Honestly, I couldn’t really tell you scheme. As far as scheme goes, it’s game by game. I can’t control that. My coaches can’t control that so it’s just by games. Whatever grouping that is, that’s the grouping that is.”
(What were your thoughts when you saw Teddy Bridgewater wearing No. 50?) – “Nah, that’s hard. I like that. (laughter) I was like, okay that’s different. Yeah that’s real different. It was nice though. He’s switching it up. I meant to ask him why he went to 50, though. But it’s cool to me. If he loves it, I love it.”
(Do you have any goals or any individual accolades that you want to achieve this year?) – “Yeah. I’m not going to say it right now but I’ve definitely got a lot of goals for myself. I hope to – I’m going to achieve them.”
(With the diet, what were some things that you changed?) – “I mean, just the regular. Just eating better, having my body in shape. That’s it.”
Andrew Van Ginkel – August 24, 2023
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Thursday, August 24, 2023
LB Andrew Van Ginkel
(How ready do you think the defense is for the regular season?) – “I think we’re ready. Obviously, we have one more preseason game to still iron things out. It’s been learning curve obviously learning a new defense with (Vic) Fangio coming in and implementing his style of play. We got one more game and hopefully we can figure out our identity and roll after that.”
(What’s one thing this defense accomplished this training camp, got better at?) – “I would just say communicating. There’s a lot of different parts to the defense and you have to be on top of it. Playing off each other and recognizing the calls and how you can adjust from there.”
(What were the stakes there at the end of practice in those 1-on-1’s?) – “Just a little friendly competition. He called it an ‘all eyes on me,’ so everybody is watching and wanted to see guys compete and show what they can do.”
(I saw you play some off-ball linebacker this camp. How do you think your skills at the edge position benefit you and did you take anything away from that position when playing both of the spots?) – “The more you can do, you get a bigger picture of everything. Being on the edge, I know how the defensive end is going to fit or how the outside linebacker is. Just being able to play off that, it just gives you a better anticipation for the game. It allows you to play faster.”
(What do you say to some of the guys either in this practice or this last preseason game that are trying to make the team?) – “Just go out there and leave everything on the field. Everybody says that, but if you want to make an impression, you have to go out there and make an impact play, one that the coaches will remember, your teammates, everybody. If you’re not on the team here, you’re putting your best foot forward for every other team across America. That’s what I would say to them.”
(Where do you think you’ve grown the most in your cross-training at inside linebacker?) – “Being able to recognize the plays. Obviously, it’s a different game being an inside linebacker. Just being able to see the bigger picture and see everything in front of me and relax my eyes.”
Mike McDaniel – August 24, 2023
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Thursday, August 24, 2023
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(DT Zach Sieler we saw leave eventually yesterday with a leg issue. We didn’t see WR Tyreek Hill practice. Are they okay? And who’s going to play quarterback in Saturday’s game?) – “So (Zach) Sieler, I think if you were really locked and noticing, which I know you were, he was going back and forth throughout team drills. It’s because he was dealing with something that was nagging him that it didn’t hurt him to continue, but that was painful. So it’s not anything serious; however, for his individual experience, pain is not always awesome. So he’ll be day-to-day, but nothing to worry about. Tyreek (Hill) was one of those classic coach-to-player protection things that had to do with where we were in training camp, really what he did the day before. He really took it upon himself to dictate the terms of the energy and he did that going full tilt. I think he had the highest sprint yardage and was the fastest player that day and so I really liked where he was at, didn’t want him to take a step back so that’s kind of my role in that. So you should see him today and if I’ve seen enough of him today, you’ll see him stop playing football at some point or he might play the whole practice. I’m just connected with each individual for that reason.”
(On the quarterbacks in Jacksonville, is QB Mike White even able to play?) – “So Mike White is still in the protocol and I’m no genie. I don’t have a crystal ball, but I feel like it would be promising for him to clear protocol, but regardless, you’re not going to see him on Saturday.”
(And so QB James Blackman, will he play on Saturday and do you have an appreciation for someone in his situation where he’s got the opportunity to put something on film, undrafted rookie, called back?) – “I would say I’m expecting him to get some snaps. I like preseason games for a multitude of reasons. They are cumbersome in terms of it’s an extension of the season, but what an opportunity for a guy that deserves it. All he’s done is really put his best foot forward and that’s a tough job sometimes when your literal job is to learn and not as much through action as – you don’t get into playing football so that you can go to meetings. And sometimes that’s his role. Sometimes the most burn he gets in practice is one-on-ones. Sometimes he takes some team reps. All of that, I think him and his teammates really have a strong appreciation of the earned right that it’s one of the reasons I appreciate the preseason; guys get opportunities to do something they’ve really worked at their craft or they’ve really worked on and committed to for their lives. So I’m fired up for him and I think his teammates are, too. He’s a guy that does things the right way and is always prepared for his opportunities regardless of how many there are.”
(There have been multiple reports that the Dolphins have made a trade offer to the Colts for Jonathan Taylor? Are those reports accurate?) – “Here’s the thing with reports. First of all, I think my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter just Tweeted a report. Credence to that, I think as far as that goes, it seems like…”
(What did her report say?) – “That every player in the National Football League is coming to the Dolphins, because I feel like that’s kind of on-trend. So whatever that is. Me, I’ve said this before. I’m not going to speak about other players. And then how many times do I have to explain like, Chris Grier’s job is to work. He works at it a lot and keeps me abreast when the real, generally, when things are real. I don’t have questions about them. There’s been kind of a consistent pattern where we’ve talked about all sorts of players, so reports, whatever. That kind of seems like the noise that is around the business, however, let’s just say I would be doing a terrible job as a head coach – I’ve got 90 players that that collection of players, this will be last practice that they have together in its entirety. That’s a journey that starts for players being in shape and whatever, but as a team, April 17 – this is the 45th time that we’ve had something on the field together and this is the last one and I’m very much just concerned about all those guys and anything less, if I’m worried about whatever hasn’t come to my desk yet, I think that’s an opportunity cost that I’m not willing to pay for all those players and I’m excited to go coach today. It’s a big practice for a lot of guys and something that we see as an opportunity to get better, not worse, and there’s only one direction. It’s either A or B, better or worse. Hopefully my daughter stops Tweeting.”
(The follow-up I have is trend-wise in the National Football League, teams have gone away from valuing the running back. It seems like this organization deeply values the running back position. Can you talk about that philosophy?) – “Let’s just go simple math. It’s a very physical game. There’s let’s say in an average season with 17 games now, let’s say you have 1,200 plays on each side of the ball and how many of those plays are the running backs touching it? It’s a valuable position that you have to have depth at and I think it’s one of the reasons – think of it this way. You’ve gone to practices and you’ve seen two games and pick a day, pick a game and you’ve seen a running back make plays. A running back. Which means there are different ones every time, which speaks to the competition that we have in that room and that’s why I’ve always valued the position. It’s a big portion of your touches and you understand that in that process, you have to have a good solid group really for the team and for your offense for the whole year. I got my feet wet really in NFL game planning in the run game so it’s near and dear to my heart.”
(It’s been a while since we’ve seen the orange jersey. Do you think it will make an appearance today?) – “I think it may today. I think it might be a large orange jersey for a big human being whose name is Raekwon Davis.”
(How do you think his camp has been this year so far?) – “I made a big point in the team meeting today and showed a clip of individual (drills) from yesterday. We were talking as coaches and it kind of triggered my mind, a rep of the same drill back in the last OTA’s, so 2022 OTA’s. It kind of represents one of the main focuses and appreciations of being a coach in this great game, and something that you really hope to see everyone go through, which was a complete and utter transformation in mind and body. His attention to detail, he’s in the best shape of his life by far and you can see it with his play. He’s adding different tools to his game and he’s always had a lot of love from the locker room. You can feel that as a coach and you can feel his teammates really appreciate where he’s at, what he’s done to control what he can control. The Miami Dolphins are better for it so that’s a big and deserving jersey.”
(You told us about the playing status of QB Mike White and QB James Blackman so I have to ask what are the plans for whether QB Tua Tagovailoa plays or not on Saturday?) – “By and large, things always fluctuate depending on variables that are both with play and personnel around players. My plan has been, in the back of my mind, the starting point was more than a series, less than a half for all the starters. That is dependent on today’s practice and overall you’re just trying to prepare guys for the regular season. I had in the back of my mind, if all things were even, Tua would play on Saturday, but that’s something that I’ll revisit with the coaches after we’ve completed this practice and kind of solidify that. But he’s been prepared to all week. I told him that after the last game. He’s prepared as though he is playing and we’ll revisit that after today’s practice.”
(Did Jacksonville’s strategy affect that, with Head Coach Doug Pederson saying he might play his starters into the second quarter?) – “No, unless Jacksonville’s box scores during the season affect our box scores, which I don’t think we can borrow points or subtract points. No, it doesn’t really. I think an important part of this job is to adjust to your particular team and do what your team needs. I’m sure that Doug Pederson isn’t that concerned with whether we are or aren’t playing our starters. And I think that’s something independently you just do what’s right for each individual unit, which is what we’ll do.”
(Yesterday, QB Tua Tagovailoa came to his own defense in regards to being criticized about his physique. I wanted to know if you have any comment on that. You see him every day, you see the work he puts in.) – “I was starting to get annoyed, I was hoping for the opportunity to talk about, if I understand your question correctly, how Tua’s offseason has been. I can say hard facts that I’ve seen with my own eyes. And its top five on the team in terms of, we’ve had a lot of guys really stepped their game up. If you want to talk about somebody that’s committed to doing what he’s doing for the right reasons, he was already invested before this year, but then taking a bunch of things that have happened, he really put an onus on controlling what he can control. So you want to talk about every metric that (Head Strength and Conditioning Coach) Dave Puloka and his strength staff really track, which is pretty much everything to the degree of blinks, every metric of strength that is measured, he’s shattered his previous highs. And in some instances, he’s almost twice as strong with things and that’s been a daily commitment that he hasn’t wavered from. He’s taken his nutrition to another level. He’s taken his commitment to what he’s trying to do and really thought outside the box and really, really worked at it, so I couldn’t be happier with the work that he’s put in and what I’ve factually viewed from my own eyes. Basically, you’re happy for guys as a coach when you can see in the present that down the road, they’re going to have no regrets, meaning the results are what the results are, but you know that without any shade of gray that you’ve put your best foot forward, and he really he really has. And I think his teammates would agree. We are getting the absolute best version of Tua that’s existed.”
(I wanted to ask you about the composition of the 53-man roster. When you’re in those meetings, hammering that stuff out, Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio said that it’s easy to do the 1-40. It’s the 8 to 13 open spots left that are pretty much the challenge. What goes into your mind and factor when you’re putting that back end of the roster versus practice squad?) – “Well, it’s an ironic situation, to tell you the truth, because good problems to have are that much more complex. And the better your competition and your roster depth is, especially with the people that we’ve assembled, and the coaching staff and the front office, we don’t take it lightly and the competition is real. So you have to factor in a ton of things that really get challenging. From my experience, just in the NFL, this is one of the most high intense, competitive across the board situations that I can remember. So in times like that, when there is a plethora of talent and you have minimal distinction between certain guys, like what Vic’s alluding to you, you really have to let the whole process play out. You have to fight your urge to try to, in your mind, figure out who those people are – the competition from, how we rank them from really 40 to 90, it’s a real cool representation of what you want the competition to be like on your roster. However, it makes it that much more difficult. So you have to factor in a ton of things. And a position’s gain is another position’s loss. And that balancing act makes it incredibly difficult. We have multiple position groups where you could go heavy on this team. So what position groups are those? Which individuals are those? The only thing you can do is allow everyone to get their full opportunity. Communicate actively, but let all the information layout because in the game of football, who knows what can happen today? Which is why it’s so exciting that you guys are going to be at practice. It’s the last one. And we’re hoping for it to be good one.”
(Bigger picture question. When you come from a running background the way that you did to speedy receivers like you did, how did you go about meshing together your personnel and scheme? And a year later, do you view that differently?) – “I think from my vantage point, our vantage point here, it’s up to coaches to adapt to their players on that given team. And I think it’s important to be versatile. Thankfully, I’ve had that rep across my career with multiple (stops). It’s one of the positives about only lasting places for like three years and then get booted out is you get a lot of reps at different players and your job is to put forth the best offense you can. I think we’ll always adapt to our personnel and really what defenses are doing. So I think that will forever change. I think it’s hilarious when people talk about the Dolphins offense as one stagnant entity that will always be evolving, depending on all these different variables. I think there’s things that we did pretty well last year, and there’s things that we didn’t do as well as we’d like. So we’ve tried to focus on getting better at those things while maintaining the things that we’re good at. Then you’re just trying to attack defenses where they’re vulnerable. They kind of have a hand in that by the hand they play. And so you have to be able to take advantage of their overplay to one particular phase or the other. So I’ll always be changing what our offense is. I’ll tell you tomorrow. (laughter)”
