Jordyn Brooks – July 30, 2024
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Tuesday, July 30, 2024
LB Jordyn Brooks
(You’ve got to like the more physical aspect of practice starting up now, practiced in pads yesterday, get some short yardage situations going. What do you like about training camp getting to that point?) – “I think it’s cool. It’s good from a competitive standpoint. You want to get guys competing because teams periods, I’m not going to say it’s not as competitive, but it’s not real-life situations. We got the little goal line situation, third and one, and that’s a real-life thing to where offense got a yard to go, defense got a yard to stop, so I thought it was cool.”
(Little bit of a skirmish at one point, what’d you think of that going down?) – “Yeah, by that time I was dead tired. I was on the other side of the field, so I ran in late but if I had a little more energy I would probably help out.”
(What are you supposed to do when you run in?) – “I don’t know. We all got on helmets. (laughter) It’s my teammates so it’s kind of like – I think what you got to do when it’s a big crowd, you’ve got to do a lot of movement to make it seem like you’re doing something so nobody can say nothing at the end. (laughter)”
(Sometimes you see football players in a situation like that take off their helmets, why would they—) – “See, that’s what you don’t do. (laughter) There’s one clip a couple of years ago with Brian Cushing. He got into a fight on the field, took his helmet off, headbutted a dude, broke his nose and bleeding. You don’t want to end up in that situation, so you might want to keep your helmet on. (laughter)”
(Speaking of helmets, I asked everyone else, I want to ask you about guardian caps. You can wear them in games now, do you have any plans to?) – “Do I have any plans to? No way. It’s like an extra ten pounds on your head. It makes it a lot hotter and heavier, so no, I wouldn’t do it.”
(So you haven’t loved having to wear them in practice then?) – “No, not at all. Everybody’s got like – I call them UFO caps, honestly. (laughter)”
(This team, the reputation is that they are speed, speed, speed and not a lot of physicality. What do you think that this defense is going to do to kind of change that identity?) – “Just be physical, just be physical. I think a lot of that is just because of how much attention Tyreek Hill draws on the national stage, the speed and everyone pays attention to that, which they should cause it’s that good, but the defense kind of gets overlooked in that way. I think that’s everybody’s mentality coming in. New guys like myself pride ourselves on being physical, and I think of any great defense, you have to be physical. We want to be feared and so right now, we’re in the process of doing that. Not everyday is going to be perfect, but that’s why we got the pads on working in the heat and just emphasizing it day after day until we get to the point where we feel like we’re the bullies on the team.”
(For you, you played both the Will and the Mike while you were in Seattle. Where do you see yourself slotting in with Miami?) – “Right now, I’m playing the Will position. Like you said, I can play either position. Personally, I like playing Will a little bit better. Just my personal preference, but I could play either one.”
(You’re new here, new scheme, a lot of new guys in front of you on the defensive line. How’s that process going for you guys, all kind of feeling each other out to know how to play off of each other and is there anything you can do off the practice field to help that process go along?) – “You got to sit down and eat lunch with people. Maybe even go to lunch with somebody outside of the building, you got to do little things like that. I really pride myself on doing that, just really getting to know people on a personal level. Even if we never play with each other again, we built that relationship. But just from experience, just playing ball for a number of years, anybody you know on a personal level, you can play that much harder for them. Like I really know this guy so I can really go to war with him when it gets tough in the fourth quarter. And that front seven, the d-line, linebackers, really everybody, but really that front seven, we really got to be like this (interlocks fingers). That’s something I try to emphasize a bit more. In the past I haven’t been great with it, just kind of being reserved, but just kind of sitting next to guys and picking their brain.”
(Does that also lend to when something bad happens on the field, when someone makes a mistake, that closeness, you can then have that tough conversation immediately on the field?) – “Absolutely. That’s a big thing. The guy who’s getting yelled at, he can receive that better instead of looking at the dude like, ‘I don’t even know you like that. Why are you coming at me like that?’ Rather than he’s looking at him like a big brother type of relationship and he knows the only reason he’s yelling at me is because he wants me to be better and so I can accept that. I may not like it, but I can accept it, so I think that goes a long way.”
(How much of that bully thing talked about inside the building, facility, meeting rooms?) – “Well Jalen Ramsey just talked about it for about ten minutes after practice – a long time. I think there’s just a mentality. You have to have that mentality on defense, because we are reacting to what the offense wants to do which really makes it harder in my opinion, to play defense because they know exactly what they want to run already. We got the call, we can have some awareness of what they might run, but you don’t know for sure, so you’re always on your heels. So if we can be the initiators, we can be the bullies, I think that makes you a dominant defense to where you’re proactive rather than reactive.”
(Any insight to what CB Jalen Ramsey told you guys?) – “Yeah, I’ll just leave it at that. Just a lot of things the team needed to hear, but that was one of the biggest things, just being a bully on defense.”
(We heard Head Coach Mike McDaniel say earlier today that the emotion of coaching is often lost and that in order to get a guy to where he wants to be his best, you have to be able to reach him. Hearing you speak about chemistry and getting to know your teammates, how has Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver gotten to know each and every one of you on defense to the point where it feels like it’s bringing the best out of you?) – “I think it’s just a thing that happens naturally over time. What I like about (Defensive Coordinator Anthony) Weaver, he doesn’t force it. You can tell when somebody is kind of forcing a relationship or trying to just do things. He’s kind of really natural and organic, just literally, you might be standing off and he might tap you on the shoulder and talk about whatever. Little moments, like I said, they go a long way. It’s like, ‘Oh, I thought you were going to talk to me about ball,’ and he asked me something personal. That just goes a long way, and I think he does a great job of just doing that, just being who he is and I don’t think its forced at all. So I think in the long run, you’ll see a lot of guys playing hard for him just because he’s able to reach guys on a personal level.”
Terron Armstead – July 30, 2024
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Tuesday, July 30, 2024
T Terron Armstead
(Can you detail your program and how your approach things? Is there a lot of communication between you and Head Coach Mike McDaniel? Is it a lot of you receiving instruction?) – “It’s just great communication throughout the entire organization really – the trainers, strength coaches, position coaches. Just coming up with a program, load and then ramp up kind of progression.”
(Are you used to the ramp up and progression or does it still maybe eat at you because you see them out there?) – “It’s always tough, especially when you get the chatter on the field, you get the competition. I want to jump in, let me go get a few reps. But I’m trying to just stay course of the program.”
(I think I saw you working with T Bayron Matos. What can you tell us about his progress?) – “It’s been great, it’s been great. Yesterday was his first time ever in pads, and you really wouldn’t see that from his ability and what he’s been able to do so far with such limited experience. It’s been impressive, he works his butt off. He’s looking to improve and he can play. He can actually play. It’s not a game. He’s a big, strong physical man. So finetuning some technique things, he can play.”
(What was your perspective of that little dust up today that T Patrick Paul got involved with a little bit?) – “Yeah, that’s part of the game. Football fights to me is really pushing and shoving, it’s not much going on. You got helmets on and pads and all of that. It’s just tempers flare, you feel like you got to get a couple of them off. That’s it, nothing much.”
(I saw you during the offseason you went to Columbia. You went to Atlético Nacional facility, can you talk a little bit about that experience?) – “An incredible experience, for sure. I went to visit those guys and did a jersey swap. A lot of those guys are fans of American football and the Dolphins specifically. So it was great to have that interaction, got a tour of their facility and learn more about their history. That was an incredible experience.”
(Have you given any thought to wearing the guardian caps during games?) – “No. I’m not.”
(Your rational behind that?) – “I’ve just been playing football a certain way for a long time. I’m not really getting into changing that up.”
(What’s your early impression of T Patrick Paul and can you help him, have you helped him?) – “Yeah, he’s impressive. He’s impressive. He’s done a lot of things well in this very early part of his career that gets your attention. You see the talent; you see the flashes. Things that he needs to learn and work on, which of course, but I like where he’s at mentally. He’s tough, he’s physical, strong, he’s huge. His ability to move and mirror, stay in front of guys to finish a play has been impressive. I like him a lot, I like him a lot. He’s going to be a really good player for a long time. We just got to keep working and finetuning some things techniques wise, mindset, a lot of pre-snap adjustments that he can kind of learn from. But that will come with time and experience.”
(You’re not a center, but what do you think is going into some of these snapping mishaps?) – “The start is Tua (Tagovailoa) and ‘AB’ (Aaron Brewer) getting more time on task, get more reps. It’s different. I was actually talking to Tua about it yesterday. He was kind of explaining the difference between ‘AB’s’ snap point compared to Connor (Williams) or Liam (Eichenberg), it’s all different. So maybe he has to squat or reach, but that only comes with time. The more they get those reps, which they are and those will get cleaned up and disappear. But early in camp you’ll see some mishaps like that and some operational issues.”
(In terms of QB Tua Tagovailoa, from your vantage point, what has changed or grown from his game over the offseason?) – “The account has changed. (laughter) But since I’ve got here I’ve seen progression, development, growth in leadership, in the person, as a professional, as a human, a father of two now. He’s growing. He’s growing, and it’s been great to see that progression. It’s like he’s growing up right in front of our eyes. He’s more vocal, got a swagger about him. He’s hard on himself still, which we appreciate. He’s not afraid to call himself out, he’s not afraid to call others out which he wouldn’t necessarily do my first year here. All of that is going to bode really well for us moving forward, I love the direction that he’s going. The mishaps, some interceptions, the fumbles snaps and all of that, got to get those cleaned up. Can’t just say it, we’ve got to go do it. But knowing Tua, he’s the guy to put that work in to eliminate that.”
(How much training camp do you need, or how much do you need to be ready for the season?) – “I’ve come to find throughout the years, it gets to a point in camp where you’re like, ‘All right, I’m ready.’ Until you feel that, you got to get in team, you got to hit, you got to win a few blocks, lose a few blocks, know the adjustments. It’s kind of is just a feel for me. I know where I’m at in pass pro, my hand timing is right, my eyes are right, I know in the run game I’m getting my fits right. I’m ready.”
(When you go into the live periods at the end, the red zone and short yardage. What’s your conversation with those guys or maybe point of emphasis with the offense in those periods?) – “A lot of those are, especially like the short yardage competition today, is much less about the technique honestly. It’s just about competing. ‘I want to whip his (explicit), let’s get this first down. Let’s talk after.’ That’s really it. We worry about the steps and all of that later. The defense jumping offsides, we’re jumping this snap, you know what I mean, it’s just competition. That’s what you want to see, who is able to rise up to that competition, to win that period, that’s what you want to see. It’s not a technique drill, it’s not make sure you get this step down. No, it’s, ‘Let’s go whip his (explicit).’”
(You told the fine folks at NFL Network today was the day you will be back and then we didn’t see you out there much?) – “Well, I was back. I was in pads – I was out there, but it’s just a part of the plan. I got some indy work in, I got some combination work in but no team. No team yet. I’m sure that will be coming in the next few days, but I’m staying course with the program.”
(What was your evolution of your career – when you came in as a rookie the first couple of years eager as can be to be in there for every rep, and then as years went by, there became that balancing act between keeping you healthy, rest and all of that. What’s that thought process been like to adapt as the years go by for you?) – “My career specifically, I’ve dealt with challenges more so physically that had to keep me out in a certain amount of time, or I’m playing a game with limited preparations so I got to prepare differently, weight room, simulation on the field, walking through stuff, finding cardio. Different things outside of running. So it’s probably been the most challenging part of my career, but I’ve been able to have a career in spite of dealing with physical issues. Me now, like I said, I know what I need. As I get in and start doing team, my hands are right, feeling good first day, second day, I’m ready.”
(Your ability to perform despite not always being there practice, that makes the coach’s argument pretty hard when they say, “Oh, practice is really important.”) – “No, it is though. It is, there’s no other way around it. I’ve gotten a million reps, so when I’m not practicing, I’m getting thousands of reps off to the side in a controlled setting and controlled environment. I don’t just go out and freelance. You would have seen times in New Orleans where I did not touch the field. Sunday for the coin toss was the first time I go out there on the field and then go out and perform. It’s just dealing with something I got to stay off of. But it’s not a go out there and wish for the best, there’s a mentality to it, it’s a mindset, it’s repetition. I’m the biggest preacher of that, which might sound crazy because you won’t see me taking many practice reps, but I’m talking to all of these young guys, ‘You’ve got to do reps, reps, reps until it’s unconscious.’ So I still do that.”
Rob Jones – July 30, 2024
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Tuesday, July 30, 2024
OL Rob Jones
(Year 4 – I would say this is your first legitimate chance of having an opportunity to become a starter. What is that like in terms of the mindset, the mentality, the hunger that you have to have?) – “It’s just like me coming in as an undrafted free agent, just go out there and prove myself right. Go out there and keep learning, get my techniques right. Go out there and be a dawg. Go out there and play hard and not think about it too much and just go play football and everything else is going to fall where it falls.”
(How much does your comfort level in the scheme help you right now?) – “Going in Year 3 in the same system and Year 2 with the same o-line coach (Butch Barry), you’re just able to be in this for a second year, you know what’s going on. You don’t really have to think too much, we know what’s going to happen. We know what we’re going to do combinations, we’re going to do everything. We’ve got the same o-line coach and we know what he wants from us. As I get older, just like ‘T-Stead’ (Terron Armstead) always talks about is technique. So getting my technique down and everything, the confidence keeps building, keeps building. So going into this year, I’m more confident in myself just because I’ve been in here. I’ve been with the same o-line coach. I know what they want from me, I know what I want for myself, and I know what I need to do to help the team.”
(I just asked T Terron Armstead the same question I’m going to ask you: guardian caps – your thoughts on them and any chance that you wear them during a game?) – “Guardian caps – honestly, I like that the NFL is doing the rule that you’re able to wear them in games for a lot of guys who have had a lot of concussion stuff in college and everything and gives them an opportunity to do that. Me personally, I won’t wear them. I love to use them in training camp, it’s just protects you while you’re going out there. The o-line, d-line are all about physicality. We go out there and we’re always aggressive, but when game time comes, we’re just going out there to play football. And the guys who wear it, they want to stay safe. It’s not going to change a thing, just keep you a little bit safer. But for me personally, I won’t wear one.”
(Can you feel much of a difference when you have the guardian cap on versus when you have it off?) – “You really don’t feel a difference. Only difference you can kind of feel is hitting, like a linebacker against o-line. I get up there to the linebacker and make that little hit, it lets up a little bit. But I’ve just been playing football for a handful of years and I’ve never used a guardian cap in a game, so I’m not going to change it now.”
(How much do you like how more physicality is being incorporated into practices now? Pads coming on, you get a third-and-short situation drill going in today’s practice?) – “I love that it’s coming early, because we need that. Football is football. How we run our scheme, just like everybody says, ‘We’re not physical,’ and stuff like that. We are physical, but (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) being able to just put that in early builds confidence. And also, it’s just fun. Going out there to go against what will be one of the best defenses, we’re just going out there competing with each other, making each other better.”
(What did the fight for the day? Obviously, frustration, second day of pads, what did the fight do for the environment?) – “It just made training camp, training camp. It made us (say), ‘Offense, alright, we got to go harder. Defense, got to go harder.’ It’s just building confidence on both sides and as a team to let us know that we’re going to be a good team this year and we’re going to be a physical team. Just like guys say, this year we’re going to be the bullies, and that’s what we’ve got to keep focusing on and that’s exactly what it did.”
(You have that mindset? You guys want to be bullies this year?) – “Yeah, we just want to be dawgs. Go out there, play hard, we don’t care about the outside noise. We just want to go out there and be the most physical team on the field.”
Elijah Campbell – July 30, 2024
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
DB Elijah Campbell
(It got a little chippy out there today. Is that just a byproduct of second day of pads or the heat or already hitting the dog days?) – “I mean, that’s just football at the end of the day. Iron sharpens iron, so we need them to bring what they’ve got, and we’ve got some dogs on our defense, so they’re not going to be getting bullied all day, so they’re going to come back at us. That’s just part of football, you know? We need that, plus pads – football is not a friendly sport, so that’s just part of the game.”
(What was your perspective of what happened?) – “About what happened today on the field? Football, that’s it. That’s all I can say. Not too many details, but people – it’s camp. People are fighting for spots at the end of the day. People got families; you know what I’m saying? They’ve got to, at the end of the day, there’s only 53 spots on the roster, so everyone is bringing their best every day and sometimes it’s going to get a little chippy.”
(Can you talk about the orange jersey and talk about the early camp you’ve had?) – “The orange jersey, I appreciate (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) for doing that. I’m just happy to show off some of my music, that’s pretty much what I liked about it. (laughter) But it’s just Mike showing his appreciation for hustling and I guess I deserve it from his eyes, so I’m happy to take it.”
(When Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver was hired, you hear a lot about what the defensive line and the defensive front might look like, but the secondary has been excellent over the past week. How have you guys in that secondary, how has that chemistry been building under his system?) – “The chemistry has been great. Obviously, (Anthony) Weaver, he’s been phenomenal with coaching us and kind of letting us work together, but we’ve got so many vets. We’ve got ‘Po’ (Jordan Poyer) and (Jalen) Ramsey, ‘Von’ (Jevon Holland) with all the years he’s had and then (Kendall) Fuller as well, so it’s like we’ve just got so many vets who have done it and know what the standard is, so I just commend them. They’re bringing up all the young dudes, all the people with less experience, and they’re just showing us how it’s supposed to be done. I think it’s just the players that we have in that locker room, especially in the back end that we’re creating something special, for sure.”
(Have you given any thought to wearing the guardian caps during the game? Players can wear them now during the game.) – “Oh, we’re supposed to wear them during the game?”
(You can if you want to. The NFL said players in 2024 can wear them.) – “If that’s what you choose to do, that’s your safety. So if you’re looking out for your own safety, do that.”
(What are your thoughts on it?) – “I won’t be wearing one, but I think it’s good for the game for protecting the players. With CTE and all the studies about it, I think it’s beneficial, for sure. I think the NFLPA and the League, they’re doing the right thing with trying to protect us. So like I said, I won’t be wearing it during the game, but I appreciate it during practice.”
(Why not during a game?) – “It’s just not something – I don’t like the aesthetics of it. But I’ll leave it at that, I won’t be wearing it.”
(What’s the vibe like in the huddle when you guys are about to go to a live period for the first time?) – “It’s just people trying to bring that juice. I mean, we’ve already got the juice, but sometimes there’s ebbs and flows of the day. It is hot out there, the pads and stuff, so sometimes you need that leader to pick you up, and we’re just all feeding off each other. When you have someone that has a great playlist like mine, all you’ve got to do is listen to the tunes and you’re going to get hyped up.”
(What have the new safeties been like to work with, S Jordan Poyer and S Marcus Maye?) – “’Po’ (Jordan Poyer) and Marcus Maye – I forgot to mention him, great experience too – they’ve been great. They’ve just been offering a lot of knowledge. Just today, I went to the sideline and Marcus Maye was telling me just certain ways that I could hold shells and stuff like that. I think just their experience, anytime you can have experience out there, especially someone like ‘Po – Old Man Po,‘ he’s got a lot of knowledge in the game. He’s helped me tremendously, so I appreciate him for that, for sure.’
(Old Man Po?) – “’Old Man Po,’ that’s ‘Old Man Po,’ man. (laughter)”
(He doesn’t look that old out there.) – “No, he’s still got it. (laughter) He looks like he’s 22 out there. He’s flying around out there. I love ‘Po,’ (Jordan Poyer), he’s great for the team, great for the secondary and personally I’ve been learning a lot from him.”
(Obviously the preseason is just days away. A lot of people want to know, is there anything you guys have, especially for yourself, as a pregame ritual, something that you do before a game, something that you eat?) – “Pregame ritual? I don’t have anything that I eat specifically, I try to stay healthy. I listen to some gospel music and just try to get my spirits right, and I just have my conversation with God to protect me out there and then I’m fine.”
Mike McDaniel – July 30, 2024
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Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(I was going to ask you – any sense whether the CB Cam Smith injury might be a long-term thing?) – “What’s your sense?”
(I don’t know. What’s your sense?) – “My sense is – you’re asking me for a timeline – I will compromise since you’re fresh legs today. Based upon the severity of the injury and his previous injury history, I don’t – let’s say training camp and preseason games won’t be compromised in terms of the entirety so he’ll be participating in that. I don’t know exactly when that is. So how about that compromise? That make sense?”
(Yesterday T Terron Armstead said he’ll practice today, I believe on NFL Network. Is that plan still in effect and kind of how do you ramp him back into this?) – “Terron Armstead is such a valuable piece to the team and as a competitor, I’m really proud of him – to just lean into knowing his body, communicating and we work very transparently through exactly how much does he need on this given day to get his game ready for Week 1 and how much do his teammates need to work alongside. Really I take specifically with him – every individual is different but specifically with him – every day we’re going through, okay, let’s do this, let’s do this. So the amount that he’s participating will vary and that’s based upon him knowing his body and how he feels – success or failure with the techniques that he needs to adjust and the stuff that he is comfortable with. So with guys like that, that have been so successful on this level and that have so much regard and respect from their teammates; you can work in walkthroughs in the PM and then assess the next day of how much you want to go. I every day just get excited to come to practice and some days you’ll be able to – if you’re wearing your Armstead jersey – he’ll be out there playing and sweaty and then he’ll come and sign it. And some days he’ll be working on the side and all that stuff is, I’ll let you know if there’s any setbacks from it, but this is all planned.”
(Quick follow-up on T Terron Armstead if I can. Obviously no one hates being in the training room more than him. He’s had a history, we all know. But last year was there anything he could have done or was it just kind of snakebit bad luck or something?) – “If there was anything he could have done, he would have done it. He went above and beyond and played through some – really his injuries, he played through until he knew that it was going to compromise his play and so he was battling and really served as a point of inspiration for a lot of guys in how to attack a season and try to make the best for the team. So no, I wouldn’t say there’s anything that he should have done. In hindsight you’re always learning about your body so you can try different tricks, but there was nothing that he left on the table.”
(QB Tua Tagovailoa looks nimble. Thoughts?) – “I gave him a shirt this offseason – what do you think it said? I wish… (laughter) I think it’s a great example of taking your game into your own hands. I think there’s always opportunities from a competitor’s standpoint to get better in your play and being able to identify exactly what those are; that’s powerful. I love when – it’s not just overarching ‘I’m going to be better’ – there’s tangible, direct, deliberate, intentional things going on and I think if anyone has ever tried to adjust their diet, that takes discipline. That means when you’re admiring his nimbleness, just know that that’s something that he has been very disciplined on each and every day which means the goals of his aren’t in the background. They’re right in front of him and he’s working towards that every day.”
(You talked about WR Tyreek Hill growing as a leader the other day. I’m curious what that looks like especially for an eight-year veteran as opposed to somebody that is newer in the league?) – “It looks passionate, is what it looks like. And it also shows understanding and awareness on his part because you’re asking a lot of younger players to step up and go above and beyond what is their traditional norm. How can you ask that of other players if you don’t do that yourself? So I think Tyreek (Hill) has done a great job of identifying things that he can improve on, that he wants to improve on. And when you have leadership from one of the best players, if not the best player in the league, it’s impossible for teammates not to listen. So I think he’s really enjoyed that platform and he just really makes me proud every day, the way he’s growing up. He’s a pleasure to have and I’m sure he’s going to be ripe and ready to compete today.”
(What have you noticed about how your players have responded to Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver through the first week of training camp?) – “I guess it’s gratifying because it’s very important that there’s connectivity there. It’s also not a surprise, but I think there’s an important part in football that is sometimes overlooked. But I think it’s a very, very valuable and instrumental part of the whole thing, and that’s the emotional connectivity of coaches to players. And if you’re trying to get someone to be their very best, you have to be able to reach them. And you have to be able to reach them in ways that are constructive, empowering; but overall, they have to choose to listen. So I think it’s been really – I’ve been as happy with our intent and how we attack practice as I’ve ever been as a head coach, and I think that’s exactly what the team would have hoped for and so we’re moving in the right direction as one unit. Offense, defense, special teams aside, it is one team moving in a direction. That’s what I feel every day and ‘Weave’ (Anthony Weaver) has been a big part of that.”
(Just a quick follow-up from your perspective when you see – you called it “gratifying” – when you see a hire that you picked out work out like that, what does that do inside of you? What emotion does that bring inside of you?) – “Cockiness. (laughter) I take the role and responsibility that I have super serious, super serious. I know how every decision that I make has huge ripple effects upon a lot of people that I care about that are depending on me. So feeling clarity or a clear sensation of the right person is in the right role – whatever that emotion would be, balancing all those responsibilities and a supreme desire to get it right; I think I look at it as that’s my job to the organization so I’m glad I’m doing my job.”
(Do you have an update on OL Isaiah Wynn? We haven’t seen him since October.) – “You haven’t been looking hard enough. (laughter) He’s in the building every day. He’s doing well and his process is diligent. He’s been steadfast, fixture within the building and the team and he’ll keep progressing. I’ll give you an update when it’s a little clearer.”
(I wanted to ask you a little bit about T Bayron Matos. What are some of the challenges coming from the international program and how do you think he’s handling it?) – “I’ve been very impressed with him overall. I can’t imagine like I was unable to master any language really, and I’m solid at English. I can’t imagine playing football or playing a sport and with all the communication. It’s an impressive individual that can – anybody that has mastery of multiple languages and languages of sport, because there’s a lot of football knowledge that it’s kind of grandfathered in to players, just by the nature of football being the No. 1 sport here. So I see a player that really loves competing, loves developing his game. He’s a gigantic individual and he’s having fun playing football and making impacts on defensive players that really have to be on their stuff when you have a massive individual moving at you like that.”
(LB Quinton Bell has been a guy who’s kind of had an elevated role probably since the OTA program. What exactly has he done to earn that?) – “Can you tell I was fired up that you brought up ‘Q’ (Quinton Bell)? You learn so much about players based upon how other players react and when he gets an edge of a lineman and is creating a hurry, pressure or sack or he’s long-arming while setting the edge, people lose their minds. And I think that’s because here’s a guy that comes to work every day with no excuses, doesn’t tally how many opportunities he gets; he makes the most of the ones that he does get. And because of that, when you have that type of mindset, you get more and more opportunities. So at a cool spot in his career and his development working with (Outside Linebackers Coach) Ryan Crow and I’m excited about the football that he has in store for him.”
(How have you seen the rest of the guard competition playing out even though OL Isaiah Wynn hasn’t been able to immerse himself in it?) – “The competitions and playing out, you’re hitting a note for me. Quite honestly, I really don’t think about the competitions, I really don’t. I’m observing with a laser focus on how players are responding to good or bad plays and really it’s almost like I have a spreadsheet in my mind of how many opportunities are in front of them with today – there’s like, 25 opportunities for each guard and in that, I’ll assess that and then with a clear mind, watch how people tell me the story. I’m not going to forecast anything and get ahead of myself and diminish the importance of their daily development. What I do like to see is from a team perspective, I see guys making plays at the guard position and then I see guys being in tough situations that they can learn from because our defense is challenging every day. So we as a team, it’s not just watching players do things successfully, especially at the o-line position. You’re going to have your share of stresses and you’re going to have your share of things that maybe negatively cost the entire team on a play or two. How do you respond? We don’t have time for a passive mindset, so who knows? It’s not just coach speak. I live it. I’m way far away from truly assessing who’s a leader in the clubhouse, but I will say that the competition is real.”
(Guardian caps have been OK’d to worn in games. In 2024, do you expect some of your players to wear them and with QB Tua Tagovailoa specifically, do you guys together discuss what helmet he’ll use, what model? Or is that solely up to the discretion of the player?) – “We’ll see. I think there’s several positions that are – the wide receivers and DBs specifically – that are wearing guardian caps for the first time. I think anything that gives players confidence and conviction with how they play is an added benefit. Player safety is of the utmost importance. Players can’t do what they’ve worked their whole lives to do if they can’t be on the field and you want that to be done safely. So I really have zero idea. I would expect they’ll have large numbers that there would be some players. I don’t know how many, and with regard to Tua that’s 100 percent on him. You have to play football in a manner where you can protect yourself, sometimes that’s equipment, sometimes that’s your actions and reactions. I don’t pretend to know how that affects each and every player, but I would support anybody wearing it and if people choose not to wear it, I’ll support them, too.”
(How do you find the balance especially this time of year, you see a lot of cross-training on the offensive line? How do you find the balance of those reps and guys getting exposed to multiple spots versus maybe getting all of their reps in a singular spot to best prep them where they may play in-season?) – “I think when you’re going through that process – it’s different for people at different stages of their career. If you’ve earned a starting spot and you’re a starter, you have less necessity to be as versatile and you’ll probably be in one spot probably the whole time. A lot of jobs, particularly with us, where we have a lot of competition. When those are up in the air, you do need to give guys an opportunity to make the team and that may be as the starter or position versatility is absolutely paramount if you aren’t starting because we can’t dictate the terms on injuries in general and where those opportunities will present themselves. So you have to give them an opportunity to make the team if they’re in the competition mode for their role and then eventually you have to give them a chance to start at that position. But that versatility, you kind of always have to dabble in it until guys are in a situation where they own a spot and then their teammates have to be versatile.”
(QB Tua Tagovailoa is never going to be Lamar Jackson, but the little bit of increased mobility, how could that conceivably impact your play calling and/or some things that happen during the game?) – “First and foremost that is fact – Lamar Jackson is not Tua, and Tua is not Lamar Jackson. But I think you’re always adapting to the skills of your players and as you have more experience and you start to see how players are utilizing that mobility, you adjust eligibles. Maybe if there’s a primary part of the progression, you change the back side a little bit just distributing the field more than trying to beat a coverage so that if you do break from the pocket, you have an eligible to ditch it to. Your thoughts – I’m always trying to adjust to all the players’ game so I think that component, I think with his focus definitely adds to his game which adds to what we can do as an offense.”
David Long Jr. – July 29, 2024
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Monday, July 29, 2024
LB David Long Jr.
(For starters, how are you feeling physically now that you’re back and active on the field again with your teammates?) – “I’m feeling good, man. Second day – pads and that heat is a crazy combination, but it’s good for me just to get in that action, test my body. We play in Miami so that sun isn’t going anywhere no time soon.”
(What were you dealing with starting camp on PUP and just talk about coming back.) – “Just taking my time, listening to the trainers. We got along season ahead. They know how I play – very aggressive, throwing my body. Just timing it out, that’s about it.”
(You obviously were very good in the Vic Fangio defense. How does a Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver defense suit your skillset?) – “It’s a lot like Tennessee, I’m at the mike. We play actually a lot of the similar play calls, just different terminology. So it feels a lot like something I’m used to.”
(I saw you yesterday getting some mental reps on the end line in low red zone. I’m just curious your perspective on what that helps you with?) – “I was eager to get back out there. I did like three plays yesterday, so I was really kind of pissed and I was trying to get any type of work I could. Just watching Anthony (Walker Jr.) and Zeke (Ezekiel Vandenburgh) – Zeke is having a hell of a camp. Just watching those guys work and just finding ways to still learn while I’m still out there.”
(Were you dealing with a knee?) – “Something like that, little a sleeve on it. But as far as a season, 18 games just the way I play, it’s not like I got to go out there and show something that I haven’t showed. Just listening to them and taking my time.”
(What have you seen from LB Jordan Brooks? From watching him on tape and being around him for a few months as far as his skillset?) – “He’s like a quiet assassin, that what I’ve been calling him. He doesn’t really say much, but he knows some ball. He’s physical and he fits right in with the play style that we want to play.”
(T Kendall Lamm said that now that the pads are on it’s an equalizer for them on the offensive line. How much does the game change when the pads are on out there?) – “That’s football. Anybody can make plays without the pads, especially it’s easier to get through a block, it’s easier to call a hold. When the pads come on, you just get an idea of how a player is, how aggressive they are, just the play style. I was messing with Kendall Lamm today with a run block he had. Just getting back to the action, just seeing the guys getting after it, especially in this heat. It was a hot one today.”
(What’s it been like working with Linebackers/Run Game Coordinator Joe Barry?) – “I can’t say enough good things about Joe (Barry). He makes the environment fun, but also we learn. We learn so much. It’s great to have a coach like him. I’ve had five – I’ve been in the league for six years. I’ve had about five or six linebacker coaches. I’ve been learning different styles as my years went. Joe just shows it a little different, a new style from what I’m used to in a good way. He fits right in with the culture and what we’re trying to establish here.”
(It took you guys a minute last year to get your footing in the Vic Fangio scheme. I think the first three or four weeks before it took off. Why do you feel like that won’t happen this year with the new change in the system?) – “Because of the chemistry I’d say. It’s easier to learn when you can gel together. Also hanging out outside of the facility was a bigger emphasis this offseason, so we did that rather it was me or Nik Needham or Channing (Tindall), just having the young guys around. That plays a part, it’s the little stuff. If we’re going to get something to eat or whatever that may be. It easier to come out here and hold each other accountable because we know it’s not coming from a bad place.”
(Is this an intuitive defense, or is this something that you really have to be in the book on or is it pretty straightforward?) – “It’s definitely intuitive. It gets straightforward when you learn the simple things because a lot of the plays go off each other. Once you get the basics down its easier and faster to learn once you get the basics of the defense down.”
(You singled out LB Ezekiel Vandenburgh earlier, what is he doing so far in camp that’s caught your eye?) – “Just making plays, man. He’s just like Jordyn (Brooks), he’s not really a talker, for real. He chops wood and seeing Zeke (Ezekiel Vandenburgh) through the offseason, he got hurt last year. Even in camp last year, he was making plays. It was unfortunate he got hurt. I’m just happy to see him back in action because I know how I feel when I am not playing ball. So just to see him out there having another chance to get after it, it’s cool.”
(What’s some of the finer points to pass coverage that you think you can still focus on to improve this training camp?) – “Everything – whether its assignments and just getting back in the gel. Like you said, I haven’t been here for the first four or five days, so getting back into the gel and getting back the chemistry from OTAs that we created, just trying to get back in the feel because they’ve been after it already a couple of days. So just trying to get a feel for it and get back to what I’ve been doing.”
(One thing we keep hearing about this defense is the level of energy you guys have felt on the field for the past month. How much of that is due to, like you said, the chemistry you built in the offseason versus what Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver has instilled in you guys?) – “I think it goes hand-in-hand. I think we all felt the energy, the change and how he installed it and how he incorporated the learning aspect of it. Whether it’s just the meetings, the environment, it’s easier to learn in good environments. Whether it’s football, whatever your workspace, it’s easy to come in and learn and retain once you get a good vibe.”
(What specifically? Or does an example come to mind of something that Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver has done where it’s like, “OK, this is going to be a fun environment. This is going to be a more relaxed environment?”) – “I wouldn’t say it’s something specific. Just gradually, every day, whether it’s something funny from the meetings or just being able to joke while learning. It just fits, the players on the team.”
(With LB Jerome Baker gone, how much will your role change on the field, if anything – calls and stuff? And also, how much will you miss him?) – “I miss Jerome (Baker) a lot. We hung together, especially off the field. As far as on the field, I think we gelled together just like me and ‘JB’ (Jordyn Brooks). As far as role, I’m the Mike, so back to having the play calls but also there’s different assignments for me as well than last year, but that’s something I’ve been doing since I’ve been in the league. So it feels good to be back doing that same thing.”
(How many snaps did you get in 11-on-11 today?) – “Probably like five, six each little – it’s revving up. As much as I want to hop back in there, that’s not healthy. Just trying to gradually, eventually get to playing fast.”
(So three yesterday, and five or six…) – “Yeah, you know – trying to rev it up, man. (laughter)”
Durham Smythe – July 29, 2024
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Monday, July 29, 2024
TE Durham Smythe
(So who took a cooler trip in the offseason, you or WR Braxton Berrios?) – “Definitely Braxton (Berrios). Braxton is always going to win that battle. I feel like people around the world know him now. So maybe one of these times I’ll jump on one with him and then I’ll be the winner in that situation but definitely him.”
(Did you get an international trip in?) – “I did. One of my good buddies, Jesse Bongiovi, a roommate of mine in college, Jon’s son, got married in London. So I was over there for a little while, great time.”
(Did Jon Bon Jovi sing at the wedding?) – “No. It’s funny, he’s not really that type of outward guy if he’s at something like that. He wants to kind of lay low, enjoy it, put the spotlight on his son, so that’s kind of how it was.”
(How do you see your role on this team at this point in your career?) – “Yeah, I say this every year – it changes every single year and I’m kind of a good example of that. Over my seven years here, I’ve had a vastly different role every season and that’s kind of what’s happening this time of year. Over the next couple of weeks with pads on, everyone kind of finds their role within this team and that’s something that happens naturally. So we’re still building that and it’ll be fun to finally come across what it is for me, because like I said, it changes every single year.”
(There’s at least three younger guys in the room, what do you see in the younger guys? You’ve got TE Tanner Conner, TE Jody Fortson Jr. and TE Julian Hill – they’re all younger than you, so is there a mentorship thing going on?) – “A little bit. Those are all mature guys, it’s funny, for their age. I feel like at their stages when I was that age, I was not like that. So that’s a testament to them, but as a guy being in this offense for the third year, I have learned things through experience so I’m trying to help them come along with that. This is something that kind of takes time, being comfortable in this offense, so if I can help in any regard there I will. But like I said, those guys are all very mature, go about their business the right way and they’ve all gotten a lot better since I first came across them to this point right now.”
(You’re downplaying yourself because you were one of the most mature rookies that I’ve covered. What have you seen in TE Tanner Conner’s game that has helped him get to where it is right now?) – “Yeah, he’s improved so much over the last two years. But from where he came from, being a wide receiver at a small school in college to now being a full-time tight end in the NFL, that takes time, and he’s made great strides. He’s still an athletic freak. He was when he got here, he still is that. Now he’s way more used to contact, doesn’t shy away from contact. He’s transformed his body a little bit. He’s a lot bigger, so he’s done a lot of things over the last two years to improve while still remaining that physical freak he was when he got here.”
(With TE Julian Hill, what’s the next step for him in his development?) – “I would venture to say that Julian (Hill) might be the most physical tight end in the NFL, across the entire board. I don’t care what year you are, he’s the most physical player I’ve ever played with and he’s a professional. From Day 1, the main thing is the main thing for him, and this is what he cares about. That really sets apart rookies, especially undrafted free agents – some guys who care as much as he does and the sky is the limit for him. Like I said, he’s the most physical guy I’ve ever played with. He’s got talent outside of that, too, that he’s building on as a young player. Really, the sky is the limit for Julian.”
(We’ve heard a lot of the defensive guys talk about how you have to be able to play for every position and they can send different pressures at different times. From y’all’s perspective, how does that challenge the offense?) – “It does. It keeps everyone on their toes and it’s different looks. I think it really expands the offense too. When you have different things that you don’t see on a regular basis, really from every position, and then the offense expands and players’ roles expand.”
(You and TE Jonnu Smith seem like you’re going to be a tandem this year, how do you think your skills complement each other?) – “Right now, roles are still being worked out like I mentioned a second ago. I think really our entire tight end room is an impressive combination of people who complement everyone well. It’s tough to say a tandem or a duo right now, because there’s so many different players in the room right now that are trying to find a role. But I think we have a great combination of guys in the room who are very athletic, guys who are very physical, guys who do a little bit of both. And this coaching staff is great at finding ways of combining guys and their strengths on the field at the same time, so it’ll be fun. It’ll be fun to see who plays off each other, where we play off each other and really, I’m excited for all six guys in the room right now.”
(There was a long game last year of WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle having a ton of targets and maybe more balance, do you think tight end may be a bigger role in the offense this year?) – “There’s always a chance. It’s funny when you have guys like that on the outside. If they’re open, you want to get them the ball. And obviously, we’ll take a bigger share of the volume if we need to – that’s kind of been my mentality through the last two years with this system. If we’re called upon, we’re going to make the most of the opportunity. But if we’re going to throw a 70-yard bomb to one of those guys, I’ll be happy to protect for them. So it’s really just in this offense, do what you’re asked and then it kind of pays off for itself.”
(What are practices like at this point in camp when pads start coming on?) – “Much better. I am not a big fan of playing football without pads, it doesn’t suit my strengths very well. If I was as fast as Jaylen (Waddle) and Tyreek (Hill), I would love it, but I prefer having pads on. It’s real football. There’s real contact. It’s more what we all know very well. Practices are longer, they are a little tougher with pads on in this heat, but it’s real football and that’s what I like to play.”
(Going back to your comments on TE Julian Hill, how have you seen him kind of harness that physicality where he was Day 1 as a rookie to where he is today?) – “I think one of the things is just tempo, control. He’s always been not one to shy away from contact. He’s always been a very physical person, but there were times early in camp last year, maybe early in the season where he was just out there trying to crush somebody every single time. Maybe half the time he is, maybe half the time he’s missing. Now it’s a tempo thing where he understands when to pull the trigger and he’s not missing a lot, and when he doesn’t miss, he’s making himself felt. So I think it’s something that takes time to get used to with the speed of the game, players’ speed and then he’s definitely understanding that now.
(How do you feel about QB Tua Tagovailoa’s contract?) – “I loved it. I loved it, long time coming obviously. The kid deserves it. I’ve watched him over his entire tenure here go from point A to point B and there was a lot of stuff in between, a lot of steps along the way. I’m proud of him. He’s the right guy to lead this offense and this organization, and he got what he deserved.”
Jaylen Waddle – July 29, 2024
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Monday, July 29, 2024
WR Jaylen Waddle
(I actually want to talk wide receiver draft. Did you have the first pick?) – “No, I did not. I didn’t have the first pick. Me and ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill) like paper-rock-scissors or something for it. I didn’t have the first pick, but I had the second pick. I’m pretty happy with my second. My first-round pick, he’s been producing. My later draft picks, we’ve got to step it up some. I think we’re down – ‘Reek’ had a bomb today. So we might be down, but it was a tied ballgame going into today.”
(Can you please explain to me why WR River Cracraft is a first-round pick every year?) – “Him and ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill) like got some crazy duo or something like that, but ‘Reek’ always goes with ‘Riv’ (River Cracraft) first overall. ‘Brax’ (Braxton Berrios) was my first overall pick. ‘Brax’ has been producing, man.”
(But your bench players have to step up.) – “My bench players have got to step it up. They’ve got to, they’ve got to. (laughter)”
(So who gets WR Odell Beckham Jr. when he comes back?) – “We’re arguing right there now. Me and ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill), we’ve got our GM hats on right now, so we’re battling for who’s going to get ‘O’ (Odell Beckham Jr.) when he comes back.”
(Speaking of GM hats, your thoughts on the QB Tua Tagovailoa deal getting done?) – “Oh yeah, it’s great. It’s great. I look at him a little different now after seeing his contract, but man, I’m just happy for him especially the type of relationship that we have outside of the field. Happy for him, his family and it’s just great.”
(You guys go back to what, like 2018?) – “2018, 2018.”
(There’s a real chance you guys might play a decade-plus together…) – “I know, right? Like that’s a lot of ball. He’s got a crazy journey. I’m just going back to at least when I first got into the league, all the stuff that was going around until now; him getting a big deal done. So his journey has been crazy and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
(You mentioned WR Tyreek Hill earlier. I’m just curious, I’m writing about him. In 2022 when you heard he was coming here compared to now and what you’ve learned under him, how has your opinion maybe changed of him when you first heard he was coming here and to getting to know him over the last couple years?) – “Honestly when I first heard that he was coming here, I thought it was great. It’s always good to play with a lot of playmakers. He’s one that I knew in high school, I grew up watching – him and really Odell (Beckham Jr.), too – so it’s crazy just going and playing with them now. I used to watch their highlights before my high school games. It makes them sound old, but they’re not really old, man.”
(What do you think is the biggest thing that you have taken from WR Tyreek Hill that you’ve incorporated into your game or you think has made you a better player?) – “The big thing, I think his work ethic. He goes at it and he’s got all these accolades, all these different Pro Bowls and All-Pros, and he goes at it with the same approach every day – that no one can guard him, no one is better than him and he just stays hungry. He practices like he’s always got something to prove. So when a guy of that status goes and approach it, you have no choice but to learn and kind of feed off that.”
(You’ve kind of talked about, I think, in the past so I know your teammates have, but when you came as a rookie, you were the guy. You were the No. 1 target. Was there an adjustment when WR Tyreek Hill came? You’d be the No. 1 on a lot of teams in the league. Was it tough for you from a personal standpoint? Like “My targets aren’t going to be the same if I was the clear-cut No. 1 on the team”?) – “No, honestly, man. I come from Alabama. We’ve got a lot of different playmakers out there and we’ve got to feed everyone the ball. Obviously when you grab a guy like Tyreek Hill, you know they’re going to feature him a lot, so it’s all about making the most of the opportunities that you have. The same approach that I had in college got me to where I wanted to go. The same approach that I had when adding a guy like Tyreek and all these different playmakers that we’ve got to have – get the ball.”
(WR Tyreek Hill last year talked about the speed of CB Ethan Bonner, the young corner. Besides his speed, what skills stand out to you with him as he tries to find his way in the league?) – “Man, (Ethan) Bonner probably has had like the craziest jump from I think any player from last year, in my opinion. He just seems like a totally different player out there. He’s more patient at the line. Maybe it’s just a year under his belt. His patience, he’s using his long arms. He obviously knows he can run, so he can stay hip-to-hip with anyone and he’s playing with a lot of confidence out there. I tell ‘EB’ (Ethan Bonner) every day, ‘You’re getting us better.’”
(What does patience mean for a cornerback? When you say “patient” what does that mean?) – “Patient at the line of scrimmage. They run a lot of Cover 1. It’s best-on-best and just staying patient at the line, waiting until the receiver does his move and being confident, shooting his hands. He’s playing great ball.”
(How is he consistently posting one of the fastest mile per hour times last season?) – “I ain’t going to lie. Like he was on special teams, I was telling Mike (McDaniel), the special teams guys, they’re going to always get the highest mile per hour, so it’s different. (laughter) But Bonner is running though. Bonner – besides the point – but Bonner is one of the fastest guys on the team. I think people be thinking we be joking, but Bonner is probably top three.”
(Speaking of special teams, the new kickoff rule. Have you lobbied to be a kickoff returner for this team?) – “Me and Mike (McDaniel) and ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill) had talked about it a little bit before the first or second practice. We talked about it a little bit. Yeah, it’d be something, but I mean ‘Brax’ (Braxton Berrios) is a dangerous returner, so he’s going to handle business back there.”
(Now that the contract stuff has died and you can get to the football part of it, what does this team need to do – both sides of the football – to get over the hump and be where you want to be at the end of the season?) – “Stay consistent. The later games, we’ve just got to stay consistent, buying in with Mike (McDaniel) and all the guys are preaching and just play together, I think is going to get us over the hump. You look at our roster, I think you can stack us up against anyone in the league and be confident that we can play, but just staying consistent. Obviously being healthy is going to always be key, but honestly just staying consistent.”
(The success you had in Alabama, can you impart some of that on these guys in the locker room?) – “I ain’t going to lie, our locker room is pretty solid. We’ve got a lot of OGs that have done a lot of great stuff in this league and done a lot of winning. We’ve got Super Bowl champions on this team, so I think just adding on that into the locker room is always great and they kind of bring that championship mindset to the team and out there at practice.”
