Tua Tagovailoa – November 17, 2024 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 17, 2024
Postgame – Las Vegas Raiders
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa (transcribed by ASAP Sports)
Q. Can you talk about a guy like Jonnu Smith, what he did today on the field to be able to also help with this win today?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think it’s super cool. We’ve had plans to implement him in the past within the offense, so be it, the defense doesn’t allow for him to get as many catches as we would like for him. But it’s been really cool to see his progression from the prime time game we had against the Rams to now. Just being in the right spots. It’s just a lot of the reps that we’ve gotten throughout training camp and leading up to this point. So all of this that everyone is seeing isn’t new to our team, but now that he’s being implemented more and getting the ball, going through the progressions, that’s just what it is. He’s a baller.
Q. You had all kinds of yards and points and last year was a special year offensively, but you didn’t do it like you’re doing it now. The 12-, 14-, 16-play drives. What’s been different for you guys?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think what’s been different with the quarterback play is now not trying to force things down the field if it’s not there. Taking the checkdowns, allowing our runners in space to go get first downs. Hopefully they can break a tackle and you can use that also as essentially a run play if you look at it in that sense. And we like our matchups with our guys in space, so that’s what I would attest to today’s performance for us offensively.
Q. Sometimes when players are off for a week or two or three weeks, they get a chance to see the game a little bit differently from the side. Was this something when you came back that you wanted to implement? To be a little bit more ball control, keep drives up, alive longer?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Not necessarily. I think coming back it’s more so how can we get back into our rhythm as an offense, finding that rhythm, whether it’s in the run game, the action game, the pass game, whatever that looks like and just protecting the ball. Not trying to force things if it’s not there. We’ve got good enough players to where if we get them the ball in space, we like our chances. That’s sort of been the mindset coming back. And really pocket presence as well. If guys want to drop eight or if they want to bring pressure, just feeling that out. If I still have time in the pocket, just moving subtly, things like that.
Q. Talk a bit about having to limit an explosive player like Maxx Crosby on defense. How did you guys game plan for him? And how ultimately are you able to pull off limiting him to just five total tackles?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: He’s a dawg. Everyone knows that around the league. If you watch his tape, he’s in every play. Dude has a motor like no other. Got a lot of respect for him. Got a lot of respect for his game. A lot of what we did was because of where he was on the field, so we had a lot of check outs of runs and things like that to go away from him. Once you get somebody like that going in a game and he gets a rhythm, it’s sort of hard to stop it regardless of the scheme or whatever. Players make the plays work, so got a lot of respect for him.
Q. When Divine Deablo was closing in on you in the last touchdown, did you see Jonnu? Did you know he was going to be there the whole time or did he all of a sudden come open to you?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: You know, I don’t know – I think that was, for Jonnu, that was a feel-space kind of play because essentially that wasn’t what we called for that play to be. And I think he just felt space and was, like, ‘if I break it in, like, I could run into this guy over here.’ And he kind of just throttled going forward and was just, like, ‘yo, I’m over here.’ So I got out – I think at the beginning of it the motion kind of messed up what they wanted to do. I think they were trying to get into a (Cover) Zero look. And I think 5, with the communication in the back end, I think it was messed up. That’s why they dropped it. It was 2-for-3 and they were trying to bring 5. But it helped that they had that communication error because he ended up adding late. So that was cool.
Q. As a leader of the offense, just to give Jake Bailey essentially the day off with no punts. Can you describe that feeling?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Free money for him. Good for him. Great for him. We took a picture. Had zero punts. Happy for him. It should signify that, for the most, part things are going well offensively.
Q. What keyed the 10-for-14 on third and fourth downs? What was the key?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think just staying in it, continuing to have the Seakeeper mindset and each play stands on its merit. Just go through my reads. And having it in the back of my head with what other teams have played prior to us on third downs that they could potentially do that instead of what they would normally do in those down and distances and having those answers. So I think everyone was dialed in and locked in on that.
Q. Going back to the past two games, how close or far do you think you are to playing your best football?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think it’s a week-to-week thing. We’ve just got to build off of what we can learn from this week. We move forward. We see what the next opponent is and things that we can do to get better to give us the edge to win that next game. And we’ll continue to move forward. I don’t think anyone can play their best game essentially. But you try to minimize the amount of mistakes that you have in games. So I think that’s what we’re trying to do.
Q. On that topic, just talk a bit about, there’s a couple of big playoff-caliber matchups ahead, however you do have New England next Sunday. Just talk about not looking too far ahead, especially against a team you guys have already beaten earlier in the season.
TUA TAGOVAILOA: We’re looking forward to playing New England, but first off we’re going to enjoy the win tonight, go home to our families, hang out with our friends, whatever that looks like. And we’ll come in Monday, watch the film, put that to rest, and then we’ll get on to New England and focus on that week.
Q. I think you had extended play completions to Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. I might be missing another one, but are those plays particularly rewarding? Do you get a personal sort of rush of confidence when those occur, the extended plays?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, sure, if you will. Yeah. Any time we can extend plays and keep their offense off the field and we can continue to be on the field, you love that at all times. I just got to be better with protecting the ball inside the pocket.
Q. Just to put up the amount of points you guys did, how gratifying is it understanding, all right, like, all this, we’re finally seeing this on Sundays?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: It’s cool. It’s cool. We’re glad that everyone gets to see it. One thing that I know with the players in the locker room is they’re not satisfied. There’s a lot of things that we wish we could have done better, especially on my end with my play, with some throws. I wish I could have had back for certain guys. But that’s just the way the game goes. It’s football. You learn from it and you continue to play the game as it is.
Q. Your first touchdown came on a tipped ball on fourth down. Your last touchdown of the game just popped wide open. First time all season winning two in a row. Do you feel like you have more momentum going into the back half of the season?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I would say any time you can get a win in the NFL, it’s a momentum builder for your team, for the locker room, for the organization. It always feels better when your body is hurting after a win than a loss. I would say we’re looking forward to New England next week. We’re going to enjoy this game and move forward.
-DOLPHINS-
Mike McDaniel – November 17, 2024 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 17, 2024
Postgame – Las Vegas Raiders
Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Q. The four long drives — 14, 16, 14 and 10 plays. What do you think when you absorb that, digest that, the four long drives?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I think you know you’re diligently working at various things in our football. I think last year we might have had three drives that were 14-plus plays the entire year. So it has been a focus of ours in anticipation of how guys were going to defend us and then as we’ve gone through the season, adjusting to how defenses have adjusted to us, and I think that’s a lot of hours of practice, meeting room – that’s what comes to mind, as well as the collective effort of our coaching staff, starting with (Offensive Coordiantor) Frank Smith, but all the position coaches being connected with the players and really focusing on fundamentals and technique to improve our game because the idea is if the whole orchestration of your offense is right, it shouldn’t matter who you go against or what they decide to do. So a lot of execution, a lot of people making plays, and a lot of fundamentals and detail that go into that earned productivity.
Q. What has TE Jonnu Smith meant to you guys and has he exceeded what you expected when you first got him?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I knew it was a great add by Chris (Grier) and the pro (personnel) department just because of his skills with the ball in his hands, and then I knew secondhand from a couple of coaches that have been on staffs before the type of person we were getting. But I think the collective of his play and who he is has really added something very important to our offense. Ultimately, he’s making defenses pay for the over attention that Tyreek (Hill) and (Jaylen) Waddle get, and that space that’s added by, let’s say, call it you have a linebacker playing in the alley between the numbers and the hash and his landmark is three yards deeper based upon our offense and trying to stop the in-breaks for Tyreek and Waddle. Well, he’s making full use of those extra three yards and adding a real cool element to our offense that we needed every yard that he’s had for us this year. It was cool to see him make plays in opportune times today.
Q. We asked you about becoming a ball control offense. On third down, what’s the key since QB Tua Tagovailoa has been back?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I think the development of like when Tua was out, our offensive skill positions didn’t throw their hat or they didn’t tap. This year, those tight ends, receivers, running backs, have done a very good job at developing their game within the season, which is very hard to do. So their attention to detail in situations today, the Raiders coming into the game were a very zone-oriented defense on third down. And today, they played virtually all man, specifically the first half, which is, as we are a group working together over time, we’ve learned to adjust faster to the unexpected because it’s been a long time since a defense has just shown up and done what they’ve done against other teams against us. You don’t get that exact work, all the plays that we’re running on third down during the week against man coverage. That’s the idea of them showing up and surprising us, but we’ve been focusing on fundamentals and technique to beat man each and every week from a route tree perspective. So being able to do that, having the amount of time, the protection plan being executed and then I think Tua has just been very, very – he’s taken a gigantic step in his game. He’s got control of the emotional piece of the football game and isn’t trying to force things unnecessarily, isn’t trying to make plays when they’re not there, but also finding ways to extend plays and making more plays than maybe the play that I gave him enabled them to do. So a lot of work, and I think the good news is although we haven’t gotten a 30-point offensive output all season, that’s been kind of the standard and expectation of the guys and they’ve been unrelenting in that expectation standard for themselves. So I think today, we got to tap into all that work and I don’t see our crew really taking the foot off the gas just because there’s a lot to prove each and every week. It was fun to get our first consecutive win of the season but we’ll have another tough journey next week and the week after that as that continues. I like where we’re at. We have a lot left to do.
Q. You have used basketball references before. What is the value of seeing the ball go in the hoop and the value of that win last week after being so close, two or three weeks before, the value of stringing two or three together?
MIKE MCDANIEL: Well, I think for this season, for this team, it’s monumental because there’s only so far that belief can last through adversity. And I think when you have a losing streak of like three games, that’s 21 days of – and you have the next week before the next game, it’s almost like a month of it’s not good enough, but then you have guys continuing to chop wood and holding themselves accountable and finding ways that they can burden themselves with that result and that’s trying. Worried? It makes you a little nervous when you find your fifth and sixth loss of the season consecutively on the last second. But then thankfully during the work week, my worries were appeased because I saw guys not breaking and going after it. So they deserve to be feeling the feeling of a two-game win streak. Based upon feelings that we’ve had for a couple of months at the beginning of the season, I think – I don’t know about you guys, but winning feels a lot better than losing. So I think we’re going to keep trying to do that.
Q. You had success on third downs the Raiders also did. What were you finding some of the challenges in that setting and what can you say about TE Brock Bowers?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I’ll have to look at the tape. We’ve been very successful, specifically in the previous game on third down. It was one of the reasons we were able to win that game against the Rams. And they found a rhythm where, I think, they were ultimately, including fourth downs, 10-of-16, maybe? I think it was 8-of-14, 10-of-16. It was tough. It made the drives last long. We need to find a way to get off the field and take advantage of some of the momentum on the opposite side of the ball, and that’s an important part of team football is playing complementary football and being able to put a team away when you have the ability to. I think that would have occurred earlier if we would have been able to find some success on third downs, but I was very happy with the fact that more often than not, even when they were driving, we kept them out of the end zone and had several, or we had a couple, four-point plays that helped the score be what it was. We had some tackling issues. Bowers, he’s legit. We knew coming out of the draft, we were very high on him, and he didn’t disappoint. He’s going to be a player that everybody knows for years to come, in my opinion.
Q. Can you talk about the defensive line’s efforts and what the return of DT Zach Sieler has meant to the team?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I saw an uptick in generated pass rush from my live observation, from our big guys, and it was really cool. Zach Sieler and Calais (Campbell) together do some really, really cool things in terms of working together, pass rush lanes, stunts, and just bringing the much-needed juice. I would say they’re probably the heartbeat of our defense, for sure. And everybody plays off of that. And we have players on all three levels making plays from some of the production they do in the run and pass game. So (they are) very important players to us. Zach, personally, he’s probably like my binkie. I don’t like doing game day without him. He’s the guy when we pray together in the locker room that sits next to me every single week and a lot of guys have really, if they didn’t already appreciate it, appreciate what type of playmaker he is for us. Every opponent ends up saying that he’s probably better than they realized, and that’s good for us. Hopefully they can keep doing that.
Q. After so many completions between 13 and 24 yards, what was it like to see that 57-yarder develop?
MIKE MCDANIEL: It wasn’t real. I was getting ready for my next call on the 30-yard line. (laughter) No, those are strenuous. If you can’t tell by my energy level right now, my eyes feel like they’re bleeding because you’re just staring at your call sheet and the defense. A lot of decisions to be made. It was nice to have one pop. And that’s what happens. You have to earn that. Well, in that situation, so many guys had made the appropriate play versus soft coverage, four-man rush, that it forces the defense to try to bring five or six. And the way that we operate in our offense and motion guys around, that makes it difficult to totally play sound. They dropped a guy and to Tua’s credit, he waited an extra tick longer to go get the ball to Jonnu (Smith). If teams want you to earn it, then you need to play that way to have explosives. Explosives are an important part of winning football, just because it’s hard to execute play in play out at five yards a tick. But if a defense wants to commit to playing keep-the-ball-in-front-of-you defense, then you have to execute in the ways we did and have long drives to force them to be a little riskier. But like we’ve seen all year, we’re going to have to earn those types of defenses, which is what I was happy with the collective unit that they were able to do that this week.
-DOLPHINS-
PFWA Pool Reporter Case Keefer Interview with Referee John Hussey – November 17, 2024
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PFWA Pool Reporter Case Keefer Interview with Referee John Hussey
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Miami Dolphins
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Question: When was the facemask penalty noticed and when was the flag thrown (third quarter, Las Vegas first-and-goal at the four, 5:22 remaining)?
Hussey: “So I announced the holding penalty from one official. Two officials were talking to each other and they were piecing it together. I think they both had a feeling or a sense that there was something on the play. So, they came together and were talking and as I announced the holding penalty, they confirmed the fact that they had a facemask, threw the flag and brought that to my attention. I just took the next step and did another announcement to include the facemask and offset both penalties.”
Question: Was that why the initial holding penalty seemed like it was already assessed?
Hussey: “I don’t think it was assessed or stepped off because I had just announced it. The two officials were talking behind me, and I wasn’t sure what they were talking about. But it did not cause me any concern. It is just one of those plays where they each had a different angle, and they wanted to collectively talk to each other to get to that result.”
Question: Was the call affected by either the replay or the reaction from the crowd?
Hussey: “No, we don’t officiate that way.”
Mike McDaniel – November 15, 2024
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Friday, November 15, 2024
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(So how did CB Jalen Ramsey sustain the knee injury that surfaced on the injury report yesterday and do you expect him to play Sunday?) – “Something that came up during practice so we’ll see how it plays out today. Either way, I don’t rule out warriors like he is and an integral part of our team, so I know he’ll do what he is able to do today and we’ll be optimistic for the game knowing that if he doesn’t play it’s because he can’t.”
(What about OL Robert Jones? How’s the knee?) – “He had a good day yesterday. Feel optimistic about that for the game.”
(You have three plays that could come back this week with LS Blake Ferguson, S Patrick McMorris, OL Isaiah Wynn – any in play for Sunday or all more likely down the line?) – “I think it’s a more likely week-by-week, but I think that’s more likely a possibility in the next coming weeks than this week.”
(And how about the calf for FB Alec Ingold? I’m sure he wanted to play on Monday. Is he better this week where you think you will have him?) – “He’s better this week. Again, just making sure that we don’t have a setback. He didn’t have a setback yesterday, so we’re hoping for no setbacks today or tomorrow.”
(And with the David Long Jr. thing – just to clarify, the Long decision, did David or his agent David Mulugheta ask you or General Manager Chris Grier for his release or was that purely a team decision?) – “It was a team decision. Didn’t anticipate the scenario that came across with (Tyrel) Dodson being available. Didn’t anticipate that. Absolutely love David Long as a person and player but had to make the decision that was best for the Miami Dolphins.”
(And TE Julian Hill? How’s the shoulder? What’s the outlook for him?) – “He had a good day. I’m very optimistic for his participation and if he has a setback, I will be yelling at some defensive players during practice. So if you hear my voice, it’s because they set Julian (Hill) back.”
(I was thinking about doing something on the power of recall for coaches and I’m wondering how many plays can you recall? How far back? Can you recall since 2022 as a head coach every play…?) – “Every play. (laughter) No. In terms of, are you talking about like can I recall from seasons before? I think the toughest time for me to recall something is directly after the game because I’m trying to stay in the moment. So postgame press conferences are always a challenge because I’m changing from in the moment to reflection. But once I see the tape and stuff, there’s a good amount of recall specifically because you’re in the system, and as a play caller, you kind of feel the burden of the result and the whys of that result that kind of stick with you. I think that’s part of the advantage of experience and having recall on certain defenses, certain situations from concepts to how our players perform. It resurfaces itself every single game and every single game prep, but there will be a play call that I have this game that will be based upon something that I know our players can execute and perform based upon a previous example that’s happened since I’ve been here. So unfortunately to have one of these positions in the National Football League, you kind of have to be obsessed so I don’t know how to do a lot of things around the house and can’t recall what the cook time is on a Hot Pocket or something, but I can remember plays, for sure. (laughter)”
(So last week you guys had 53 plays, right? How many of those could you recall today now that you’ve seen the – I know you’re preparing for a different opponent, but could you recall 42 of them or…?) – “Yeah, I would say you can recall to the point of the order, pretty much all of them besides maybe like five or 10. I’m not to the extreme of like a Sean McVay that can rattle off the exact time and situation and hash, but for the most part, it’s important to my job that I do remember things, the succession of them, what opponents have seen, what they’ve studied. You have to do it all the time because when it’s earned first down on the 35-yard line going in, you’re making a play call decision based upon your anticipated defensive play call which has to do both with what they like to do and what we’ve done in the past. So that’s why I’m a terrible conversation on a game day. (laughter)”
(I know covering golf, golfers can recall pretty much every stroke and I wonder if you ever get to the paralysis by analysis point? When you’re recalling down and distance situations and defenses…?) – “That’s when you see us burn a timeout for no reason, that’s what it is. (laughter) That’s when the overload occurred and it took me too long to get the play in.”
(Have doctors recommended with CB Kendall Fuller because it is his second concussion in two months that he misses extended time like doctors suggested with QB Tua Tagovailoa?) – “Haven’t gotten that feedback, also don’t have a timeline. I do know he was feeling – based upon the previous situation where he was at in the timeline, he felt better than he did previously. Henceforth the medical experts did not feel as though the timeline, whatever that was, was absolutely necessitating that automatic four weeks out. It’s week-to-week based upon the advice of the medical experts as well as the feedback from Kendall (Fuller) and what he’s feeling, because that’s the most important thing.”
(FB Alec Ingold, how is he doing?) – “He’s doing well. What does that mean for the game? Soft tissues, particularly with guys that are not on the line of scrimmage, but major in blocking like Alec Ingold where you have to run before your contact point and come off the ball with absolute suddenness and stuff, you’re always wary of the feedback of the next play or the next outing or the next practice. We’ll be conservative, but prudent to see where he at. I feel good about him. That kind of makes it 50-50 for me for the game, just based on having two more days to get through and where that leads us.”
(If somebody would have told you back in August that WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle would have a per game average of 90 yards, what would you have said?) – “I don’t really go into things forecasting; however, I would have found it interesting. I would have thought either two things; first and foremost, how are defenses playing us and they must be giving them a lot of attention, and then I would have thought how are we executing against those looks if we’re not having production on offense, we’re not taking advantage of whatever scenarios that are keeping them from getting the ball. I guess nothing surprises me, I would just be looking at how’s the rest of our offense executing because if we’re not getting yards from them, yards and points better be coming from somewhere. I think that’s been one of the great things about the adversity from this season is how instead of doing what a lot of people can and have done that I’ve seen in the past where there’s dwelling on numerical values that aren’t Ws and Ls, I’ve seen guys get better. I think our line of scrimmage play from Tyreek (Hill) and (Jaylen) Waddle is the best that it’s been since I’ve been here in terms of releasing, using their footwork, and I think there’s another level of understanding of the timing of our offense based upon the challenging looks they have gotten. I think that overall, it’s forced our team to get better across the board which is an overall win. Our entire motives this offseason has been finding ways to get better during the season so that our best football is at the end when it matters most.”
(A general question, you guys had two phantom whistles at Seattle, I know that’s going way back. I’m wondering, did you turn that into the league? I know that won’t affect the outcome the game. If I turned it into the league, it would be so that I knew the league was aware and so that I knew the league would address it. Have you heard from the league and what is your why when you turn something in?) – “We’re the same guy – and by the way, I’m really interested, you’ve got some stuff cooking in the hopper with these. The angles you’re coming at me (with) means you are doing something. (laughter) There’s twofold in that whole process; one, you’re communicating with the league to make sure that you understand the rules appropriately so you can articulate it to your players, and two, you’re trying to make them aware of something if they feel like it was inappropriately called or whatever. My memory serves me appropriately at this point because I can’t remember what they said at this point and I wouldn’t want to make enemies with the National Football League and just put them on blast at the podium, like that serves nobody’s purpose. Realistically, that is part of our weekly procedure. We do it with all things called or not called, that way I can best inform players to put them in position for success, not failure, in the future because you can’t really – it’s not my operating procedure to dwell. So I think that’s part of the league’s process that’s very healthy because you need to be able to move forward and give your players clarity. We try not to leave anything in the hands of the officials but you have to understand how to stay within the rules and what we should do in the event that something like a faulty whistle or an inadvertent or a fan whistle does occur.”
Jonnu Smith – November 14, 2024
Thursday, November 14, 2024
TE Jonnu Smith
(I wanted to ask you about your big play in the fourth quarter, 33-yard catch and run that gets you guys down to the one-yard line. What did you think of the reaction you got from the sideline, from your coaches and teammates?) – “It’s always good to have that camaraderie behind you, that support behind you. Any of us make big plays, we always want to rally behind them especially when you’re on the road. So to get that momentum going and for a touchdown to follow up after that, that was big for us and we came out with the win on top.”
(How much pride do you take in playing tough – breaking tackles, doing whatever you need to do to get the job done?) – “It’s a physical sport. If you want to make big plays, it’s a certain level of physicality that you’ve got to possess. I understand that part.”
(WR Tyreek Hill said thank you but that you need to get in next time.) – “Yeah, (laughter) I’ve got to find a way to get in there. He definitely should be thanking me. But I’ve got to find a way to get in there. I’m just glad we came out with a touchdown on that drive. That’s all that mattered to me, whoever got it.”
(How do you guys keep the momentum up for the Raiders on Sunday?) – “Just continue to keep doing what we’re doing. I’ll say this. I understand the beginning of the season for us has not been what we expected, what obviously a lot of people expected, but we never wavered. The way we come in and our intent towards work, it never changed. Nothing changed last week from the week (before). It just unfortunately hasn’t been going our way. We’re just staying to course, keep chopping wood and just trying to get this thing going in the right direction.”
(There has been no tight end better than you at YAC [yards after catch] these last three years. How much of that part of your game do you take pride in?) – “You said the last four years?”
(Five years, six years…) – “Six? I’m going to keep going. (laughter) No, I don’t even know what stat that is, but I would like to see it though. There is just a certain level of physicality that you have when you’re running that ball. You got to become a running back with the ball in your hands. As a ball carrier whether you’re a receiver, tight end, quarterback, running back; to make big plays in this league it’s a mindset. So that’s just the element that I try to bring to this team and to help us be in a better situation.”
(Is YAC acknowledged in meetings here like with Head Coach Mike McDaniel, or Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith, or Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends Jon Embree or someone say something about good YAC plays in particular?) – “Quite a bit, quite a bit, quite a bit. That’s definitely a point of emphasis. We know who we have in this offense. We know the ability that we’ve got, so there is a certain standard and level of expectation that is demanded form us that probably wouldn’t be demanded form other players.”
(Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends Jon Embree said a few things, but you probably can’t repeat them on the sidelines.) – “’Embo’ – that’s my guy. That’s my guy. Definitely. I didn’t see it, but I heard all about his reaction from the sideline. They said that he had like a mini heart attack after the play. So like I said, just to get that moral going, just to get that energy up; that is definitely big for the team. No matter who, it could be anybody’s play. We just need more plays like that down the stretch and we will be in good position.”
(With respect to vets like you and TE Durham Smythe what responsibility do you feel when a veteran or new player is brought into your room? Like with TE Jack Stroll do you and Durham say, “text me if you have any questions” to him?) – “Absolutely. That comes with the territory. You’ve got to make yourself available to guys that you may have more experience than. It’s an honor to be in the position that I’m in. I wear it proudly. I’ve always since my years have been getting up there in the league – listen, I don’t consider myself old – you’ve got guys who have been playing 15, 16, 17 years, but I understand that an eight-year NFL veteran I understand is definitely, you’ve got your stripes. But everybody likes to put the ‘older guy mark’ on it. But I still feel young. I still look young so doing something right. But you’ve just got to make yourself available and do what you’re supposed to do always. If you do what you’re supposed to do, everything else will come with it. That’s part of being a leader. Doing your job first, worrying about what you’ve got to do, being accountable, respecting others, respecting your teammates, respecting the building, respecting the standard, and you got to make plays. You don’t get this far in the league without doing that. Just try to continue passing on that message to every guy that’s younger than me.”
Calais Campbell – November 14, 2024
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Thursday, November 14, 2024
DT Calais Campbell
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel had a lot of praise for you yesterday. How good does it feel when you hear him call you the Tom Brady of defense linemen?) – “It feels good. I’m glad that Coach (McDaniel) believes in me. I’m glad I’m here and I’m still able to play this game I love. Obviously this is a ‘what have you done for me lately’ business and I’ve got to go out there and perform again this week. Otherwise it’s a different tune, that’s just how it goes. I’ve learned that through my experience, but it is cool to see Coach show a lot of love though.”
(What is your reaction when you hear so many people surprised that you’re playing at this level this far into your season?) – “Well I work really hard, so I’m not surprised. I feel like my preparation and just the dedication I put into this game, I expected to do well. If I can’t go out there and dominate, I don’t think I’m going to play anymore. I want to play at an elite level and so I definitely put the time and effort to do that, so it feels good to be able to do it and other people recognizing it is nice, too, but at the end of the day, it’s got to carry over to winning ball games.”
(During the broadcast on Monday I think from their production meeting either Joe Buck or Troy Aikman said that you mentioned you’re treating this year like your last. Do you think this year could be your last? You’ve played so well. Do you think you want to squeeze another year or two out of yourself?) – “I’ve always been in the mindset of leave everything on the field, burn rubber and just go as hard as I can go, and then when the offseason comes, I figure out next year when that comes. That’s how it’s been quite of a few of the last few years. Next year doesn’t even exist to me right now, so I’m playing this year as if it’s my last and I’m trying to do everything I can to empty the tank and give the game my all. If the offseason comes around and I feel good still, then we’ll figure it out then.”
(Can you think one thing that Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver says or does in his approach that is a little bit unique?) – “I don’t know, I think having a player experience – he played eight years in the league – I think that helps him a little bit just being relatable and communicating to the guys. I think he has a good balance of showing love and then kind of being hard on guys and just trying to find that balance of encouragement and then accountability, but he does a great job. He’s a phenomenal coach, great leader. I think his passion for the game and his desire to win is what separates him, which I think everybody that does anything wants that but he just does it at an elite level.”
(He’ll be a head coach?) – “Oh yeah, without a doubt in my mind. Very soon and I think he’ll be a great head coach.”
(Was there ever a moment on the sideline for you guys where you guys are just chilling without talking to each other, just relaxing? Because I haven’t seen it yet.) – “That’s not really football. (laughter) We’re relaxing in the offseason and maybe on the day off, get a little relax time, but while there’s time on the clock, we’re always working to figure out how we can be better. I’ll get a little oxygen to catch my breath, but no, we’re always trying to figure out how we can win a ball game. This year we gave up 10-point leads multiple times and have to fight and claw back from behind, so you realize just every moment is precious and you have to always be working towards winning the ball game.”
(How much do you set the tone for younger guys with that type of thought because I see everybody engaged?) – “Yeah, it’s important. That’s part of my role is to set the tone and be an example for the young guys, a mentorship role and just making sure I communicate to them like what it takes to be successful and be a pro. We have a lot of young guys that we’re dependent on and they’ve been playing really good ball for us, but you got to stay on them. You can’t relax. This is a long season. You get 17 games guaranteed as a team and the goal is to be able to get to the playoffs with that. We dug ourselves into a big hole so our margin for error is already very low, so we don’t have time to try to go through growing pains anymore. We have to be on point.”
(You had a year with DeShon Elliott in Baltimore. You’re on this year’s Dolphins team now. What did you think when you heard his comments about last year’s team – a lot of players which are now on this team – that last year’s team was soft?) – “Anybody can say anything. Define ‘soft’ – I think the guys I’m going to war with every day, I believe in. I know they’re tough and we’re going to show it. Just we’re in a critical part of our season and I feel like guys are locking in and building that mental toughness you need to go and make a run. At the end of the day, it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t do anything though, but DeShon (Elliott), a guy I like, a guy that was a good teammate when I was teammates with him; his opinion for us doesn’t matter. His opinion, it means nothing to me.”
Tyreek Hill – November 14, 2024
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Thursday, November 14, 2024
WR Tyreek Hill
(As you’ve gone through everything with the wrist, has surgery ever been a consideration? Will you need do you think at some point?) – “Yeah, but I’ve been talking to a lot of people about this particular injury. At the end of the day, I just got to suck it up and just deal with the pain. It’s going to get worse the more I play, but I got get it out for my team. I’m here, I’m locked in no matter what, no matter how I feel. So even if I’ve got to cut my wrist off, I’m still out there because I love the game of football. Surgery was brought up and it was talked about whenever I talked to a few of the doctors, but it’s my call at the end of the day and my call is to stay out on the field.”
(Is it likely going to be needed in the offseason? Or does it depend on how it heals?) – “When that time comes around, I’m sure I’ll be in a good space to make that decision, but right now I’m not going to just give you a straight-out answer.”
(Everybody knows your obvious talent, the No. 1 player in the league voted by your peers. When you look at your numbers this year, what do you think?) – “I feel like for me, I feel like I took a step forward in my game. Our position coach, he has helped me develop becoming a full receiver which is blocking, being stronger at the catch point, running precise routes and stuff like that. A lot of people look at the numbers and say, ‘Oh, he was this and that,’ but I feel like as a player, I’ve gotten better. As a leader, I’ve gotten better, and I just feel like I’ve gotten better in that sense.”
(The constant two-high safety defenses, is that just taking away the deep passes this year?) – “I wouldn’t say that because there are ways, there are plays that you can build to go deep, man, But whenever that time comes, it’ll come. If we’ve got to run the ball 40 times to make teams believe we’re going to run the ball, then me and ‘J-Dub’ (Jaylen Waddle) – well, I’m going to speak for myself, Imma block my tail off.”
(What did that TE Jonnu Smith play, breaking tackles, getting down to the one-yard line, what’d that do for you? How did you react to that?) – “I was turned up, bruh. I like to see Jonnu (Smith), man, big play ability. That’s something we’ve been waiting on all year from Jonnu. He put it on tape with the Falcons, he put it on tape with the Titans and for him to be able to continue to make plays in this league like that, running through linebackers is impressive for a guy his size. I told him, ‘Look man, you got to find a way next time because you gave me the touchdown. I appreciate it though.’”
(To get the story straight with the injury from the beginning, what was the original injury going back to the preseason?) – “It was just like a small, little wrist injury. Nothing too crazy.”
(And then it got aggravated in the Week 1 detainment?) – “No, I wouldn’t say – I’d say Commanders week, when we had that joint practice; red zone play.”
Frank Smith – November 14, 2024
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Thursday, November 14, 2024
Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith
(Could you please explain why the team claimed TE Jack Stoll?) – “It was like always when you’re going through the process of the season, when guys appear on the wire and you’re able to claim them, the opportunity presented itself. Sometimes guys are available and you just don’t have roster space because of needs of the week, and when you have the extra space, you’re able to acquire a guy, maybe that you weren’t necessarily thinking tight end or whatever. But yeah, we’re excited to be able to have him here and look forward to adding him to the roster.”
(His skill set, could you address what he does well?) – “When you look for big athletes at tight end, guys who move well, blocking, special teams, he has a versatility that helps us at the position gain depth and ultimately impact in all three phases of what a tight end we’re going to ask him to do.”
(Did you see Associate Head Coach/Tight Ends Coach Jon Embree’s reaction after that TE Jonnu Smith play? And what was yours? Did you jump out of your seat there?) – “Yeah, I can’t say what I said in the press box. (laughter) So the greatest thing about Jonnu (Smith) is that’s the value he adds to the team. You have the wide receiver skill set, when you the tight end skill set that once you get the ball in their hands, they wreck shop, it’s fun to watch.”
(How do you evaluate the inline blocking from the tight end position so far this season?) – “I think that early in the season, there were certain things that we had to improve on and we’ve gotten better at it. I don’t really take a whole lot of stock into other outside opinions into what they say or what that is. The reality is what we see and what we’re asking to do, so when you man reach at the point of attack and put No. 97 in the dirt by yourself, that’s pretty good – that’s hard to do. Or you take No. 8, one of their better players and you’re able to stretch and move him to on the numbers to outside, that’s not easy to do at the position. So ultimately for me, Julian (Hill) particularly, his growth has been in the last month is good, especially coming back off the shoulder, and Durham (Smythe) is doing what we ask him to do and playing off, especially last week when we needed it with Julian down. And then Jonnu (Smith) is really growing in that role now with the pass game, all the variables, that’s always hardest for the pass game tight end. So overall, I think our guys are doing what we’re asking them to do. There’s been a lot of growth in the last month and I think we’re going to use that to build in the next part of the season.”
(The identity of this offense last year, last couple of years was speed, quick strike, downfield and it seems to be taken away, is that how you’d explain why you’re not getting the downfield passes? Are defenses just saying, “We’re not going to let that happen?”) – “I think ultimately our job is to score points and win the game, and how we do that – one year you’d say, ‘Hey, you do this,’ another year, ‘OK, are we moving the ball and efficient and scoring points?’ The thing ultimately, if defenses are defending in a way that you can get four-play drives to touchdowns, great off of explosive plays. If they’re trying to mitigate that, now we have to work and maybe have more efficiency as we go down the field, then that’s the way it’s got to play. I think that’s the good thing that we’ve seen lately is if they’re trying to defend the deep part of the field and trying to take areas away, they’re also vulnerable in other areas. I think that’s the growth that a lot of us have seen here in the last month is that we’re attacking the defense, and each week we sometimes get different things than other teams and that’s where we have to adjust. I think our guys have done a great job expecting to know that you can’t rely on just one thing. The variabilities that we’ll see will take all of us to work together to get it done, so I think that’s the goal.”
(How would you assess T Kendall Lamm starting at right tackle?) – “I think he was executing what we’re asking him to do, worked well with Liam (Eichenberg). There’s a couple things though I know that run game wise later in the game, there’s stuff we did earlier in the first half that I’ll look at as coaching that we could have gotten back to that we had. We had that bigger run that was 15 yards off the outside zone that we didn’t get back to. We got to its complement off inside zone that gained five or six. Going back to a couple things earlier that worked, but ultimately, I think Kendall stepped up – Monday Night Football, as the line did and they’re executing the game plan against a very good defensive line that I think in about two or three years, a couple of those guys will be high-profile guys in the league because they’re rookies this year.”
(Do you think you’ll have OL Isaiah Wynn available this week?) – “As far as availability, when guys are cleared through all the medical process, they’ll be available. I don’t really have timelines for that as far as when or where, it’s just what are we able to do for the game and who’s available? We’ll decide after we get through Friday, Saturday.”
(What are you thinking for OL Isaiah Wynn when he does become available?) – “I think when he becomes available, we’ll look at where we’re at. Sometimes if you’re completely healthy, how does it work, and if you have natural parts of the season where you’re sitting there, you’re going like, ‘OK, wow. This is the fit.’ So I think ultimately it’s when he’s ready to go and all those things are a part of the process. We’ll have to evaluate where we’re at completely, whether that’s this week, next week, whatever as we go.”
(If I would have told you at the start of the season that WR Jaylen Waddle and WR Tyreek Hill would have averaged a combine 91 yards to start the season, what would you have said?) – “I think that would have been like, ‘Yikes. OK, there’s certain things that must be occurring.’ It’s not as limited to, ‘OK, why did that happen?’ And then when you look at our season, you wouldn’t say it’s really been normal so far; at the beginning, there are a lot of things that took place. I would say that if that’s how this starts at beginning, how do we end? You can either say, ‘The beginning,’ and that’s defining of who you are, or you say, ‘All right, how do we finish?’ That’s the important thing for this year is to build upon what we’ve learned to make sure we maximize it each week, and we’ll need it this week versus the Raiders.”
(A football player is never going to come out and say, “Yeah I’m injured and that’s why my performance is suffering,” you just don’t hear that. But given that WR Tyreek Hill has a wrist injury, how much is that affecting his performance do you think?) – “I think like you said, guys are always dealing with certain things and they’re the measuring stick as to knowing their bodies and when they can go and perform. Ultimately, you trust their ability to know themselves and when they can go out to perform and when they can’t. But you got to credit to him for, like everything, the NFL season is not easy and each week presents a new challenge. For him to be able to be pushing through all the things and giving his best week-in, week-out, there’s nothing more you can ask for as a coach.”
(I know you guys don’t want to make excuses, but it occurs to me that this is the longest time QB Tua Tagovailoa, WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle have been together, right? Because training camp Tua had the hold-in, Tyreek had the thumb, I think Waddle had the hamstring or whatever, then Tua gets the concussion. Is that accurate and does that serve as kind of good things are to come as they spend more time together?) – “I love the optimism. (laughter) I think ultimately, yeah – there’s truth in whatever you’ll give yourself. However we are what we are record wise, we are where we’re at in the season, and now we’ve got to band together and continue to make each day count as we want to get back into a real competitive fight within the division and the AFC. So I think that each week that we can get continuity always helps and ultimately, when you go through the adversity, what did you learn, how does it help you for each week because when things are easy, you go through prosperity – that’s sometimes more challenging that adversity. It’s a different kind of push, so this year the adversity, we learned a lot and then make sure now we’re using each week as we’re playing together to get back in the hunt.”
(I wanted to ask you about T Patrick Paul in terms of his development. Knowing he’s one of the biggest offensive linemen I’ve ever seen, probably just under Bryant McKinnie. Is it more beneficial for him to cross train and play right tackle or more beneficial to cross train and work as left guard because you have limited options at both spots?) – “Interesting question. I would think that for us, it’s like the range and the length really bodes well to outside because it’s the foot, the ability to kick and to cover space that bodes well to playing tackle. So it’s better in that realm to be flexing on both sides as opposed to some guys who have different skill sets (that) we can move more inside and they can stay on their side. So when you have to flip sides, it cerates a little bit more stress because it’s one side versus the other, dominant foot and non-dominant, all kinds of stuff like that. He’s embracing it, but I think for him it’s tackle to tackle where we’re going to keep him.”
(What did you think of OL Lester Cotton getting thrown in there? And you’re confident in him if he has to start this week?) – “Yeah, he came in and was executing. It’s always hard when you come out in the middle of the game to get into the swing of things before. We have confidence in him and all the other guys, and the biggest thing is as we get through the week, make sure we have the guys who are ready to go and they’re connected in the game plan and communicating together.”
(Going back to WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle, Head Coach Mike McDaniel said that they have still made an impact even when the ball isn’t in their hands, whether that’s blocking or whatever.) – “That’s correct.”
(Is that something that you guys have had to ask them to do more of or is that them volunteering to kind of take on more outside of the regular ball catching duty?) – “It’s them being great teammates for the rest of the guys around them and knowing that coverages, defenses we’re getting, our ability to block and run the football helps change coverages if you’re able to block and do all those things. They’ve been outstanding in their willingness to do it and the different forms of stuff we’ve been asking them to do.”
(I liked OL Liam Eichenberg’s penalty that he drew.) – “Liam (Eichenberg) is a funny guy.”
(I don’t get to hear what he says, it seems that he annoys the opponent. Is that right?) – “I don’t know exactly due to me being in the fishbowl watching the game way up high, but his intensity and the way he plays, I’m sure he has fun with the process. I don’t know exactly but I can imagine.”
(He claimed there was no acting on that play, that he actually did headbutt him pretty hard. If you had a close friend, who maybe wasn’t an intense football fan but just came to you and asked, “So when QB Tua Tagovailoa throws an interception—”) – “That doesn’t sound like a friend I’d have though, Barry. (laughter)”
(OK someone who’s not an intense football fan, maybe someone who’s a marginal fan, and he asks you–) – “Still doesn’t sound like somebody I’d be around.”
(When QB Tua Tagovailoa throws a pick, why don’t you and Head Coach Mike McDaniel tell him, “Either avoid the play altogether with making a tackle, or merely push him out of bounds but do nothing else that doesn’t involve your hands.” What would your answer be to him as to why the organization does not tell him to do that?) – “I’d be like, ‘This is why I don’t have friends who are marginal football fans.’ (laughter) We covered that topic and the guys have too. Ultimately, our goal is to not have turnovers, and if we don’t have turnovers and we’re working together we can avoid these situations of what ifs. I think ultimately, our goal is to play turnover-free football, penalty-free football and that’s the goal, and be efficient in what we do if we do that, we can avoid certain things and we’ll be OK.”
(On the touchdown to WR Tyreek Hill, he mentioned that he acted like he was going to block. That’s usually like a tight end type of deal, right? That’s how you affect the game?) – “Yeah, when you’re down in the red zone and you’re trying to run the ball in in sets that look like you’re running the football, that bodes well to quick play action. So I think that’s the other thing like we’re talking about when you’re getting engaged in blocking and all those areas, do you now get opportunities that tight ends would normally get because of our blocking stuff? So yeah that was a play we’ve had up for – I think it was up the week or two before, and it was a perfectly called at the time just because they we’re going big personnel group, trying to stop the run and a run-action made it a great execution by ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill) to get the ball and all the guys to score.”
