Anthony Weaver – November 8, 2024
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Friday, November 8, 2024
Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver
(I know it’s a week-to-week league, but are you going to move forward this week again with LB Anthony Walker Jr. starting alongside LB Jordyn Brooks?) – “Yeah, that’s certainly the plan. I thought ‘Walk’ (Anthony Walker Jr.) went out there and did a good job of both executing not only his assignment but communicating to the defense overall and trying to help guys out. So yeah, that’s the plan right now.”
(And as far as weaving in LB David Long Jr. at all? Something that had been done in reverse for a couple weeks earlier this season, is that a consideration or do you want the continuity of LB Anthony Walker Jr. and LB Jordyn Brooks playing every snap together?) – “Yeah, I certainly think that’ll be a decision based week-to-week. Love ‘Dave’ (David Long Jr.). He’s a captain. He’s an outstanding teammate. At this particular time, we just think ‘Walk’ (Anthony Walker Jr.) gives us the best chance to go out there and execute from a defensive standpoint.”
(What were some of the things you were seeing going into that decision before executing?) – “Yeah, again, I think ‘Dave’ (David Long Jr.) was doing a heck of a job out there, but I think he’ll be the first one to admit to you that he had left some plays out there. So I’ve said this to you guys before – we see that linebacker room as a position of strength and ‘Walk’ (Anthony Walker Jr.) was a good player waiting in the wings and we wanted to give him the opportunity to go out there and make those same plays.”
(Regarding CB Cam Smith it looked like he was targeted a couple of times especially with Bills WR Mack Hollins. How did he do and what are the teaching points moving forward?) – “Cam is a young player. We know he is Year 2, but in a lot of ways you can still say he is kind of a rookie out there. So the fact that he was targeted certainly wasn’t a surprise to us. When he did have his mistakes, they were lapses in technique and fundamentals, so from a coaching standpoint, that’s what you try to focus on. Now to his credit, I think it says something about him where he did get in some instances where he gives up a couple passes, gets a holding penalty and a PI, I believe, but then that most critical play late, he was there and made the play. And I think that just says something about the kid and who he is, just that even though he was targeted at the most critical time, he showed up and was there to break that pass up.”
(And it looked like he kept I guess at least one player in bounds late in the game?) – “Yeah, for sure. For sure. So again, I think you’re going to go through some young growing pains with any young player and we’re just going to have to continue to work our way through those.”
(Your pass defense in general, these last three games, what’s gone wrong in the second half?) – “I don’t know that – there have been lapses particularly in communication and we’ve given up big plays like the 61-, 63-yarder in this last game. That’s when those instances come up, particularly when we’re in man coverage. We’ve had some lapses there. I think you’ve also got to give credit to the two quarterbacks that we’ve played. There have been instances where we had them dead to rights and they’ve been able to make some things happen. That’s why they make the money they do, so ultimately I think we’re just trying to chase, as a defense, competitive greatness. You go back to old John Wooden where we’ve got to be at our best when our best is needed and right now we’ve fallen short really two games in a row.”
(I think there was a viral clip of you challenging – maybe last year or the year before – the Ravens defensive line, you have to dig deep… how do you translate that into the second half because you guys have had leads the last three weeks? How do you instill, hey, this is the time to do it?) – “I think we can talk about it till we’re blue in the face. What we have to do is you have to go out there and work for it. You have to make sure that you prepare each and every day so that when you’re in that situation, nothing is surprising to you. People always say you rise to the occasion. I don’t think you rise to the occasion; I think you drop to the threshold that you’ve been working at all week. So let’s make sure in everything we do whether it’s a walkthrough, a live speed period in practice that we’re taking all those reps like it’s fourth down and five to go in the Super Bowl.”
(It’s approaching moot point here, but since this is the first time we’ve been able to talk to you since Sunday, S Jordan Poyer’s unnecessary roughness penalty, those are such bang-bang situations. What can he do differently in that scenario? Like realistically what could he have done differently in that scenario and how do you coach him to get to that?) – “It’s unfortunate. It’s like you said. It’s a bang-bang play. It’s certainly up to interpretation from the official at that point. All you try to do with Jordan is say, one, try to go get the ball, right? And hopefully in doing that, you don’t make helmet-to-helmet contact. And at this particular time unfortunately in the league, you’ve really got to lower your target and make sure you’re in the strike zone which is easier said than done when you’re when you’re going at those speeds. So I hate that it happened. I hate that it happened to him in particular in that place because obviously you know the importance of that game, particularly to him being an old Bill. But the last thing you ever want to do as a coach is take away his aggressiveness. So you just continue to try to talk about the strike zone and then just go get the ball.”
(I know when S Jordan Poyer was out earlier this year where I mentioned S Marcus Maye, your line was “don’t sleep on Elijah Campbell.” Where is he now in your thought process? If S Jevón Holland is out again on Monday, is the best approach you think sticking entirely with Marcus and Jordan or has Elijah done something to change that thought process?) – “I have the utmost confidence in Elijah and I think he’s earned the right to go out there and play for us. So we’ll see how it all shakes out during the week with Jevón and some of these other guys, but I would not be shocked at all to see Elijah come Sunday.”
(Sometimes we worry about players trying to do too much when they face their former team. CB Jalen Ramsey gets a chance to go back to the Hollywood, California, area. Inglewood is probably kind of far from Hollywood, but how do you think Jalen is built for this moment where he’s going to face a team that he won a Super Bowl with?) – “This is, to me, like these prime time games, that’s when players like your Jalen Ramseys, your Jevón Hollands, all your guys who are supposed to be prime time guys; that’s when they show up. So there’s no situation, there’s no game, there’s no areas, no ex-team that I think is too big for him. He is going to go out there and play like he has all year and try to be impactful.”
(How would you describe that DT Zach Sieler being back could make for the defense?) – “Yeah, I think it’s huge. He should be a Pro Bowl and All-Pro player. The impact he has for us obviously off the field is tremendous and then on the field he’s showed up consistently and has been impactful all year. And then the connectivity he has with Calais in terms of their communication – both to talk nonverbally and verbally and what they’re hearing from the offensive line and being able to use that to their advantage; you miss that a little bit with him out. So if he can get out there and play, man, like I told you guys last week, I am a much better coach and it certainly enhances our pass rush, too.”
(Is the feeling any different in the locker room before a prime time game compared to 1 o’clock on a Sunday?) – “Yeah, for sure. Any time you know that you’re in the only game in town and all your peers and all your family are going to have eyes on it, there’s certainly a heightened sense of urgency there where you want to go and put your best foot forward. So the short answer – that was long-winded – is yes. Yes, there is a very big difference.”
(You talked a little bit about CB Cam Smith. Can you speak to the importance of having CB Kader Kohou in the lineup, what he does for the defense?) – “I mean you guys saw really the way we were able to move in and out of Jalen (Ramsey) being at nickel, putting Kader outside and just being able to do that seamlessly in one personnel group. The ability to do that, it surprises offenses because you really don’t know. When Kader is not out there, right now we don’t have the flexibility to do that. At some point you hope we can grow into that, but some of the guys that we have playing in Kader’s spot, like they’re very specific in their jobs and what they can do. So to have him back, particularly he was playing at such a high level prior to his injury, obviously is huge for us.”
(You’re always going to try to get pressure on the quarterback of course, but the trouble you’re having and getting it with consistently the front four getting home to the quarterback, is it almost better off, hey, you might be better with seven guys in coverage and take our chances? Is that kind of the way you look at it or will you always be aggressive even if you don’t get the results?) – “Again, I think whether or not we’re rushing four or being aggressive is truly based on an opponent. I don’t go in with any preconceived notions about ‘this is how we have to do it.’ I have faith in our four-man rush and our ability to get there. Sometimes, again, based on opponent, you want to bring some pressure and put that guy under some heat. I thought we were selective in when we chose to do that against Josh Allen where some of those younger quarterbacks like an Anthony Richardson, you’re probably going to be a little bit more aggressive because he probably will be more prone to make a mistake. So this week there is nothing that Matt Stafford hasn’t seen, so we’re probably going to be in that mode where we’re going to be selective when we decide to apply pressure and our four-man rush will have to come alive.”
(I’m trying to understand what I saw with LB Chop Robinson. I thought the first possession, he got that pressure just off his first step and I thought his sack – I don’t know if Dion Dawkins’ technique was off or it was a bull rush – can you…?) – “Let’s not take anything away from the kid’s sack and blame it on the lack of technique by Dawkins. He got chopped up is what happened. (laughter)”
(No, no, I’m not. I’m trying to understand what I saw. What did I see on that? That’s what I was getting to…) – “No, I just think Chop (Robinson) is continuing to grow. And I’ve said this from Day 1, it’s unfortunate he hasn’t had the sack numbers, but the thing I love most about the kid is like I said, his approach to work. Like he is out there every single day just trying to listen to all the wisdom that he’s getting from both coaches and players alike. Bradley Chubb is out there working with him. I know Coach (Ryan) Crow and Coach (Sean) Ryan do a tremendous job. I think even Terron Armstead has talked to him a little bit about some stuff, so he’s taking all that in. Trying to figure out what he can use particularly with his specific skillset and we’re starting to see some of the benefits of that on Sunday.”
(Did we see a combination of speed and strength, I guess would have been a better way to ask that originally?) – “I think he possesses both those traits, yes.”
(What’s unique about the Rams receiver trio of Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and now Demarcus Robinson?) – “I was with Demarcus (Robinson) in Baltimore, so I think the thing he adds for them is he’s kind of a big target and obviously he can get down the field and he’s one of those guys where if you throw him the ball he can go up and get it. Puka (Nacua) and Cooper Kupp are two of the toughest receivers I believe in the National Football League. They’re asked to do things that not only receivers do in terms of blocking but tight ends do as blockers. And then as receivers their short-area quickness and ability to get open in that intermediate window in coverage is outstanding. I mean you certainly have to account for all three of them. Fortunately I think we have the secondary and the guys on the roster do that, but it’ll certainly be a challenge for sure.”
(LB Jordyn Brooks took the blame for the long touchdown that went to the running back, Ray Davis. Was it just a miscommunication in man coverage as far as where…?) – “Yeah, in really the last two games, the majority of our communication breakdowns have happened in man. So it’s unfortunate that it happened in that particular instance. It was certainly two backers that are communicating and then at the end of the day we’ve got to get them down with a post safety in Marcus (Maye). So Jordyn is a man, right, so he’s certainly going to take blame, but ultimately we’re all responsible for that.”
(I know how much time you spend obviously training camp and other times in terms of chopping the ball out. Turnover creation bottom five in the league. How bothersome is that to you and has that been a factor in higher point totals these last two games?) – “Certainly disappointing because it has been a point of emphasis from the very moment I stepped foot here in Miami, so certainly something we’ve got to continue to work on. I think you’ve got to make sure you’re constantly have that as a point of focus in practice, particularly when you’re not wearing pads a whole lot. And I think that’s where some of the drop off has been. So we’ll continue to chase that, continue to attack that and hopefully the ball starts to fall our way a little bit.”
Emmanuel Ogbah – November 7, 2024
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Thursday, November 7, 2024
LB Emmanuel Ogbah
(I know you’re fighting through injury. A lot of guys are fighting through injury, but when you look across the field, you see a lot of guys coming back now, playing through it even though the record isn’t where you want it to be. What does it say about this team that you guys haven’t given up, still want to keep fighting?) – “It’s just the brotherhood we have here. The will to fight and the will to fight for your brothers. I’m not the only fighting through injuries, a lot of people, and we’re happy to have those guys coming back this week. They were definitely needed and it’s going to boost our whole team up.”
(You guys have been so close the past couple of weeks, even going really back three weeks – 10 points has been the difference between these last three games. What is the thing that needs to happen for you guys to finish?) – “Just keep chopping wood. Obviously it’s not going our way right now, but we’ve just got to keep playing, got to keep going hard. The sky’s the limit.”
(What is the message from Head Coach Mike McDaniel after these practices when you’re gearing up for another primetime game on the West Coast in the situation you’re in?) – “We control our destiny. The world’s watching now, you got to go out there and prove that you can do it.”
(I was just curious, I think it was DT Calais Campbell who mentioned if you guys play the way you did against Buffalo, you’re going to beat almost every team. But when the margin of error is so thin, what’s the line there between playing guarded so you don’t make a mistake but also playing all out so you can win?) – “Just do your job. Trust the man next to you is going to do his. So like I said, just keep on fighting, keep on playing for the man next to you. And the sky’s the limit, but we have to study more and just do your job, don’t mess up, don’t be the reason why.”
(DT Zach Sieler was back out there today, what was it like having him back out on there? I can see you smiling immediately.) – “Everybody loves when Zach (Sieler) is out there. He makes stuff go and we’re glad to have him back out there.”
(Speaking of DT Calais Campbell, what was it like watching him chase down QB Josh Allen last week? He ran like 30 yards to go get that tackle.) – “Man, that guy can run. But it just speaks of how his work ethic and how he works. Year 17 and he’s still doing that, you just look at that and draw inspiration from that.”
(What’s noticeably missing out there when DT Zach Sieler isn’t there? What has it been like the last few games? What did you notice was missing?) – “Just a lot, him bringing the team together, bringing the defense together, making big plays, giving us that spark that we were missing. We’re just glad to have him back.”
(DT Calais Campbell is 38 years old, are you going to be playing until you’re 38, 39, 40 or what?) – “We’ll see man. (laughter) I’m just taking it one year at a time.”
Zach Sieler – November 7, 2024
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Thursday, November 7, 2024
DT Zach Sieler
(How worried were you when the injury first happened?) – “It definitely was not an injury I ever expected to have to forego with football. I was very fortunate; God looked out and my actual physical eyesight and everything ended up being all right, the biggest thing was the swelling. So once that started to calm down, it really was able to work through kind of what happened, how to go from there and how to recover.”
(What can you tell us about how it occurred?) – “I’ll be honest, I don’t even know. I just remember just on a block, all of sudden (my) head went back and something hit my face or hand, I don’t know what it was, but yeah.”
(And you’re going to wear a visor?) – “Yeah, I’ll have a visor on for my wife the rest of my career. (laughter) And she’s right though. I’ll be honest, I don’t want to go through something like that again. As frustrating as a visor is – I remember in COVID we had the visor and the faceguards and getting in your stance, you start sweating on them and everything and it gets tough. But without the lower face – the COVID guard or whatever that crap was – it’s a lot better, just the visor.”
(What can you tell us about the incident? About getting hit?) – “I remember just coming on the edge and I don’t know what it was, but something got up in my mask and I just remember my head going back and I just had to put my hand – kind of just dark, no other way to say that. Like I said, it’s nothing that I really expected to work through. And then once that swelling got under control and I was able to work through what happened and everything, it was better. So I’m glad to be back, it sucked missing two games. It’s never happened to me. Thankfully I’ve been fortunate enough and blessed to where I didn’t have to go through something like that. I’ve played through a lot and could play through a lot, but this was something that kind of had to be worked through separately.”
(What did you experience along the way? Was it blurry vision for X number of days or how did it go?) – “It was the swelling that kind of messed with me I think, as in that was the biggest hurdle to work through. I don’t think I said this – I was fortunate enough to where my actual retina and cornea didn’t get damaged, but the swelling made it hard to kind of decipher what was going on. So once that did calm down after a few days, I was able to get a plan of attack and kind of work through it.”
(You mentioned that it sucked missing two games, obviously knowing how tough you are, what was it like for you to just not be able to help your team out, knowing the guy you are?) – “It kills me. It sucks to be in the trenches working with these guys day-in and day-out and then just on a Thursday just kind of not be able to – all of a sudden it’s, ‘Hey look you guys, it’s on y’all this week.’ And it happens, it’s football. It happens to everybody. It’s going to happen. It’s going to happen again probably, it’s just what it is. Don’t know how long it’s going to go or what’s going to happen, but just get through this injury and then go from there.”
(Anything that you notice with the defense that you feel like you can obviously add?) – “I’d like to think I bring some energy to it. (laughter) I think those guys did a great job these last couple of weeks. I think they held them under 100 yards rushing both teams and hopefully I can come back in and make that even better.”
(Where do you see the position that this team is in and the sense of urgency?) – “Urgency is a good word. We have no more time to mess around. I think 2-6, but I think we still could achieve what we want to achieve. We’ve just got to clean some things up and come together as a unit and hopefully this is the week we can do that.”
(Obviously, facing RB Kyren Williams this week, definitely one of the best running backs in the league. What do you guys hope to do to kind of try and stop him? Especially considering the past two weeks under 100 yards rushing.) – “I think the biggest thing for us this week is gap sound, play our style of defense which is do your job. You’re one piece of 11, and focus on our part and each play what we’re going to do and work from there. It’s not trying to be an all-star or make these huge plays, it’s ‘Hey, this play dictates what I can do,’ and play within the scheme. I think we’ll have a great shot if we do that.”
Tua Tagovailoa – November 7, 2024
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Thursday, November 7, 2024
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(How do you build on a performance where you had just three incompletions?) – “We just continue to find ways. We build on the things that we did good in that game and we continue to find ways to grow. In that sense, find other ways to run maybe similar routes or how I’m sitting in the pocket and how I’m trying to read through progressions and whatnot. So I would say that’s something I’ve been working on.”
(I think it was like nine different players touched the ball on Sunday. How much of a point of emphasis was it to implement that level of balance into this offense after two years where it seemed like just the game plan was WR Tyreek Hill?) – “I would say we didn’t go into the game saying, ‘hey, we’re going to need you to spread the ball around.’ We just went into the game with the mindset that this is the call, play the call out. If this is what you see, throw it; if not, then go through your progression. That was basically it and I’m glad it worked out that way that we got to spread the ball around to different guys.”
(I wanted to ask about the short pass game. I know a lot is always made about the big play with this offense, but how effective has that been for you guys and how big will that be on Monday against another really good pass rush?) – “That’s been really effective these past couple weeks for us offensively, and I think what helps with that is the run game. We’ve been doing really well in our run game, and I think going into this week, it’ll definitely help with the front that they have. They’ve got some good guys on the front end and in the back end and we’ll see how they come out and play us and then we’ll adjust from there.”
(With that RB De’Von Achane has been so big in both the pass and run game. What have you seen from him and his growth and I guess versatility that he’s brought?) – “I would say the same thing that we all got to witness his first year with his versatility and playing in a backfield and going out wide has shown itself evident. And then it really helps when he’s in the backfield and can run routes from the backfield as well and you get the matchups that you like.”
(I think it was DT Calais Campbell who said if you guys play the way you did against Buffalo, you can pretty much beat any NFL team but that the margin of error is so thin now. So where is that fine line between, dare I say, playing guarded, not wanting to make a mistake but also going all out because you’ve got to win the way you know how to win?) – “I think it starts in practice and how we prepare with conversations you have as a leader of the defense, as a leader of the offense, as a leader of the team. Having those conversations with the guys of what the expectation is and continuing to harp on the guys to stay in it, stay in it. We could be one game away from going on a streak and hopefully turning this whole thing around. So I would say that’s sort of the process.”
(Speaking of staying in it, everybody’s banged up in the NFL. You were banged up a little bit. Guys have been out. What does it say about your team, about these guys – like FB Alec Ingold or WR Jaylen Waddle who are battling, LB Emmanuel Ogbah – that they want to be in this despite what the record says right now?) – “Tough guys, tough guys. You can tell that they love football. They want to be out there for their teammates. They want to be out there to be able to help our team win games and you really can’t say anything negative about guys like that. They’re just football guys. They want to be out there regardless of what they are going through whether they’re playing at 60 percent or not; you just have nothing but respect for guys like that.”
(You talk about conversations. What would you say you get from your teammates when you’re having those conversations with them about this tough stretch that you’re going through right now? I imagine they are tough. It’s a tough moment in the season.) – “I would say a lot of guys that are on our team, they’ve got some experience in this league and some guys have actually gone through what we’re going through now and have been able to turn it around, myself included. We all have different stories of what that looks like and the outcome of what can happen if you go on a streak. All these external things, but really regardless of the experience and things that we share and whatnot; we’ve got to put the product out there on the field and win games. At the end of the day, that’s what matters.”
(Do you believe that the success in the run game and the high completion percentage on the short-range passes will at some point open up some of the more explosive 25-plus-yard opportunities?) – “I would say with the plays that have been given, we just run whatever is called. If Mike (McDaniel) calls for a shot play and we check it down, that’s just what the play entails for us to do. So it’s not like we haven’t been trying to stretch the ball down the field. That’s just what the defenses have been showing us and then there are some things on film that look like, ‘man, I could’ve hit this person,’ but sometimes it’s not within our progression with what we talked about with how we would read it.”
(You mentioned postgame in Buffalo about your dive forward for the first down and not to make a big deal out of every time you scramble and protect yourself, but you successfully slid the week before but – a different way to protect yourself, similar play to the one you got hurt on where you dived to the ground though instead…) – “Just knowing the situation of the game, knowing the time that if we didn’t get that first down, that could potentially be the game if Buffalo played their cards right with the plays and allowed us to use all our timeouts and whatnot. So to me it was important – obviously wouldn’t have wanted to try to run somebody over or try to do that to get a first down, so as you can see I sort of, as I’m scrambling to the right, I’m looking at the sticks so that I know where to dive. So that’s sort of what ended up happening on that play and luckily we got it.”
(With WR Tyreek Hill I think he’s on pace for either a career low or just lowest yards since his rookie year. Feels like the first time we haven’t been talking about the 2k race, but when we talked to Head Coach Mike McDaniel and Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith and Pass Game Specialist/Wide Receivers Wes Welker, they say he’s doing XYZ well, he’s doing this, this. From your perspective, what does a guy like Tyreek do? Like how does he positively impact the game even when he’s not getting these 180-yard, three-touchdown games we’ve seen in the past?) – “I think what’s so cool is you turn that film on, you get to watch what him and ‘17’ (Jaylen Waddle) do with the blocking game or with the run game and how they do blocking. They allow our runners some pretty big holes outside of the o-linemen, but those guys are getting to the second level quick and I really think that it translates to the way that they play in the pass game as well and that was something that we’ve been trying to find for those guys and there were also some things where if ‘10’ (Tyreek Hill) was out, ‘17’ was in. The DC (defensive coordinator) could play the chances of it being more run than pass and vice versa. If ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill) is in, okay, maybe it’s more pass than it is run. But those guys staying in the game, staying in the run, staying in the passes; it forces the DC to, ‘okay, I’m going to play my cards here and just stay in a two-shell and if these guys want to go 15-play drives to go score, we’ll be fine with that.’ So it’s sort of pick your poison.”
(How much is different in terms of the two-shell that you’re seeing now? Because I mean, I would think that WR Tyreek Hill has been double covered his whole life, but why does it look so different now?) – “I would say because it’s variations of two-high coverages with what guys want to do into the boundary or if ‘Reek’ is into the boundary, what they want to do to ‘Reek’ versus what they do to (Jaylen) Waddle. And then back side looks, some teams play two-man while they’re playing zone on the front. So it’s just different ways they try to get to their two-high against us.”
(Kind of following up on the blocking, what you’re saying about them blocking, was there any moment over the past three years and maybe even this year, any specific block that you remember where you’re like, “oh damn, he’s pretty efficient at this” for somebody who’s 5’9, 5’10, like he can actually get this done?) – “I think it was throughout the five-week stretch that I was out that I’ve heard conversations with ‘10’ (Tyreek Hill) and ‘17’ (Jaylen Waddle) talking about like a mindset that like, okay, if we can’t get the ball down the field or if we’re not getting the ball, how can we help the team with what we have right now? And so I would say it was more so of a mindset that when we came back or when I came back for the Cardinals game that it just felt different with those guys. They were in more, the efficiency went up with the run game. The efficiency went up with the passing game as well and it’s due to everyone, but those guys definitely played a big role in that.”
(With the offensive line, obviously they had a lot of criticism coming into the season. What kind of growth have you seen from that unit as a whole?) – “I would say those guys have never blinked and never really wavered from what they said they wanted to do this season. Obviously it’s different when your quarterback goes out, hearing cadences, hearing different guys in the huddle. Things can get a little dicey especially in loud environments so it’s, ‘wait, did I hear this run or did I hear that run?’ Like all right, communication, ‘oh, the snap is going.’ So I would say they haven’t wavered. They’ve been in their playbook. They’ve been doing their thing and I’m super excited for them. I think they’ve done a great job up to this point and they’re only going to get better.”
Mike McDaniel – November 7, 2024
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Thursday, November 7, 2024
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(There were a couple of players who were dealt before the trade deadline who could’ve filled maybe some need-positions, pass rusher etc. From talking to General Manager Chris Grier, was your sense that he just didn’t want to give up future draft picks for players who were available at this point?) – “There was a couple of conversations we had, both about people reaching out to us and different possibilities inward and outward. I think the action was that there was no action. That in itself, I think we believe in the roster and want to see guys come through a tough time. I think that’s really what was executed and nothing more than that.”
(Where do things stand with S Jevón Holland and CB Kader Kohou?) – “They are working. I pretty much think that Jevón (Holland) won’t be practicing today, Kader (Kohou) will be involved and we’ll see how it goes through the week.”
(You versus Head Coach Sean McVay. What comes to mind? You had time together in Washington and so many years competing in the NFC West while you were in San Francisco.) – “I think what comes to mind is I know Coach McVay and his team are always consistently a straining outfit, that they do a good job in all three phases. I know he’s going to make sure his group is very detailed, that they’ll compete, they’ll be challenging. And they’ll be complementary in how they play and they’ll be unified in their collective groups. I think it’s a good team who’s had some resolve themselves and is on a winning streak that you’re going to have to beat them for them to lose and they’re not going to give you anything.”
(You guys have a new practice squad quarterback?) – “No, we do not. We’ve been discussing that. We’re also pretty hopeful about Snoop’s (Tyler Huntley) recovery. But as it stands, it will be Tua (Tagovailoa) and Skylar (Thompson) this week.”
(Regarding RB Raheem Mostert, I know he’s a heart and soul player, Pro Bowler, he’s had a couple of fumbles. Is there a question whether he continues and you bring RB Jaylen Wright in? Or he’s still the man there?) – “That group, we try to give opportunities to each guy because they deserve it each and every game. I think based upon his performance, Raheem (Mostert) got more attempts. It might’ve been his first touch was on a third-and-11 that he inflicted force on the defense, and you earn more touches that way. That being said, he knows he has to hold on to the ball. We’ve learned how vital those turnovers can be especially in a one-score game. I think he himself would be the first to tell you that at this time, we’ve learned two hard lessons. You can’t really be in the whole scope of all right, well there’s another lesson that needs to be had when there’s other guys that aren’t turning the ball over. That’s the nature of football, and when you have a group that’s talented like they are and competitive, you have to give reason and keep that for all of your touches. There’s been about 400 touches that he hasn’t fumbled on, but that being said what only matters is this next game and is putting full focus on making sure that that ball stays with him.”
(QB Tua Tagovailoa threw three incompletions last week. What’s the message to your quarterback after you lose, but he played very well, enough for you guys to win? What is the focus in terms of improvement for him?) – “I’m careful not to have overarching, ‘that was good’ or ‘that was bad.’ For me, my job is to coach and to detail each and every snap, so whether or not his handoff, his first step was at three o’clock and not four o’clock. Whether or not your progression was too fast, or you handled inappropriate or appropriate protection, all those things. The first thing Tua (Tagovailoa) did the day after the game was come to my office and say, ‘What could I have done to win this game?’ And then of those snaps, you go through his plays and what if you put the ball here or you did this. He’s trying to be great; he’s not trying to relieve himself of burden or stress. As the quarterback, he looks at it like the stat that is next to his name is the win or loss, so when you lose, what could I have done better. As the franchise quarterback, you need him to be that way if you’re going to expect others to be that way. I think the message is coaching, just like some of his best games, some of the most valuable coaching moments come up and there’s positives when he has an overall statistically poor performance sometimes as well. It’s just important that you stay even keel and attack each and every rep so that guys truly get value out of a coach.”
(With FB Alec Ingold, another heart and soul guy, it seemed to me after the CB Jalen Ramsey interception, he starts limping on that calf. He plays the rest of the game, blocks excellently. What can you say about the effort that he gave and how is his availability this week?) – “I think no coincidence that a fullback has a ‘C’ on his chest. And I think he’s earned that through daily investment into the team and his play, and I think it says the world about who he is, and everyone knows that. Every teammate is responsible to protect Alec from himself when it comes to sacrifice for the team, and I think he’s an unbelievably valuable player on our team. So we’ll always be aggressive with him in terms of our management because he would be – if his leg didn’t work, he would be hopping, you know what I mean? So I think that’s important to know your personnel and cater to that, and he’s in a situation where he will do anything and everything, which is why he’s the captain and a leader of this team.”
(Last year, QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Tyreek Hill combined for 30 catches of 25 yards or more. This year, so far, it’s only been five, obviously Tua missed four games. In addition to the return of Tua and Tua’s availability, what are some other reasons for optimism in the second half of the season that we’ll see more big gaining plays?) – “Before the statistical result, from my vantage point, I’m coaching guys on technique and fundamentals and how they’re playing the position. I’m not addressing what coverage people are running or what they’re trying to take away or anything, I’m watching their game and I can honestly say that the two of them, in terms of route running and timing and connectivity, there’s been growth over the entire season and there’s been different challenges presented based upon – what is it, three full games that they’ve had – and I think the biggest thing is that you haven’t seen Tyreek Hill wide open and Tua (Tagovailoa) missing him and or missing a throw – their timing and their fundamentals are what will produce the results when the defense is giving us the opportunity. I think it’s important in football, defenses have really taken notice of those explosive plays and they’ve tried to prevent him by basically doubling him. I think as a result, it’s forced a lot of the offense to get better, it’s forced Tua to get on the same page with a lot of the other eligibles, and it’s forced our offensive line to block and our runners to run and Tyreek to run block a little bit. You do that and you have to understand in team football, if you’re getting double-teamed, there’s a teammate of yours that stands for a lot of reason for success. I think their game, from technique and fundamentals, has seen growth this year. They did execute on two opportunities this past game and that’s what I’m most concerned with is that their game is developing within whatever trials and tribulations they’re going through. I thought Tyreek had his best game releasing off of press coverage, and little things like that is what I prioritize.”
(I wanted to ask you, this team is seemingly running out of track in terms of to achieve the ultimate goal for what you guys began the season with or the expectations. What should make Dolphins fans confident that this franchise is headed in the right direction based on what they’ve seen so far in the early portion of the season?) – “I understand the question, it’s very valid. I think from my vantage point, I’m responsible for all things. I’m also the guy that the players lean on for football expertise, and in talking to them about their game and staying true to the most vital thing that I know to be true in any season is that there’s sometimes there’s false hope where you’re saying you’re close or you’re saying things will get better – I live in real hope which is how are people’s games getting better? Are we getting better? Does that mean it’s up to standard or that losses are acceptable? Absolutely not. But vital to football teams having success in any NFL season, is that they master the art of getting better in the noise, and don’t confuse noise with just losing. Noise is also very loud when you’re winning, and sometimes you can have that – you could be sitting at 6-2 and if the ball isn’t getting better through all the noise, I don’t have real hope. My hope is real is because the football that I’m watching and detailing is improving, and I think the team is focused on trying to have a game where they feel like their brand of football was mastered. I think the football team knows that when that occurs, things will take care of themselves in the win column. But more than anything – I’ve said it before – it’s not easy having no control but full investment, and if you’re a fan, today is miserable like the day before, like the day before until you have a win, right? Today is the most important day of our season, of our lives because we have work that can dictate the terms of what everybody wants. And as long as I see guys, in whatever noise, continue to embrace and take their individual efforts and their collective efforts to another level to get it right, I think that’s what gives me absolute hope and vigor with this team because that is real, too. I think guys are determined, and I think they know that while each individual can’t control whether or not it’s a win or loss, they can control how they are working individually and collectively. Today will be the first day on the field with that as we progress through the week and hopefully dictate what happens on Monday a little bit on Thursday.”
(At what point – I understand what you’re saying about improving and it needs to happen obviously week to week – but at what point does merely improving not become enough? At what point do you have to get the results in order to get where you want to go and make the playoffs?) – “Ultimately the game is about winning, so I’m not saying – that is ultimately how you’re judged and I think that’s fair. You tirelessly work at not obsessing about the idea or the false sense of ‘hey, we’re going to win this week.’ No, what are you going to do about it? And how are you going to affect the change? We’ve had a lot of hard conversations that ultimately have been very necessary, and in that process, you ultimately have to win in this league, but you have to take care of your business through the entirety of the preparation – coaches and players included – and then ultimately you do have win football games. That’s the whole idea so we’re working to improve that.”
(LB David Long Jr., a team captain, lost his starting job. How tough of a decision was that? What went into it and what kind of message does that send to the rest of the team?) – “I have the upmost respect for David Long as a man, as a player; and I think the important piece of it was that it was less about David Long not doing something and more about we felt like ‘Walk’ (Anthony Walker Jr.) needed and deserved the opportunity and has skills of his own in his own right that were the best man for the job. But that’s never easy, especially when you care for a human being and we’ve gone to battle a lot together. So those are things that in the position it’s not necessarily fun, but the whole team and organization are depending on you to try to do what you see as very best. And I think David (Long Jr.) respects that and regards that. I’m sure he disagrees, but it’s about understanding intent and I think the whole team loves David. That’s why they voted him captain, but also you have to – I think it was the football team was excited for ‘Walk’s’ opportunity which he made the most of, for sure.”
(Do we have a possibility that LB Bradley Chubb could practice this week or is that window not open yet?) – “I wasn’t seeing it this week, but I’ll be sure to convey it the week that I’m seeing it because I appreciate your guys’ patience. He’s doing good. We’re just trying to be prudent to his body and he’s working his way.”
(And LB Cameron Goode and OL Isaiah Wynn, not close?) – “I think both Isaiah (Wynn) and Cam (Goode) are getting closer, for sure. I don’t know the timelines the usually use but week-to-week or kind of that issue.”
Jordyn Brooks – November 5, 2024
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Tuesday, November 5, 2024
LB Jordyn Brooks
(You had a new inside linebacker next to you for this game. The move to insert LB Anthony Walker into the starting lineup instead of LB David Long Jr. What did you see from “Walk” [Anthony Walker Jr.] and then also, how have you seen Long sort of react to it?) – “I think it’s been a good transition. I thought ‘Walk’ (Anthony Walker Jr.) came in and played great, communicated well for us, kind of got everybody settled down. And as far as reaction, I don’t think it’s been any reaction. Nothing crazy, it’s been all love in the linebacker room. Everybody supporting each other and so I think it’s been a good transition.”
(You often faced the Rams being in the NFC West so many years. What can you say about their offense?) – “I think that the playmakers on their offense is what makes their team go. Quarterback and the two receivers they have. They’ve also got a good running back along with good coaches, so it’ll be a challenge, just like every other week to stop them.”
(According to Pro Football Reference, you’re the only Dolphins player on defense that has played every defensive snap this season. Did you know that? Have coaches ever tried to take you out and give you a break and you wave them off saying like, “no, I’m not coming out of the game”?) – “No, I mean I play linebacker. Linebackers don’t come off the field and so I’m used to it. Did the same thing in Seattle, playing every snap so it’s nothing new to me.”
(Can you break down what happened in the Buffalo game on that long touchdown where RB Ray Davis sort of escaped and then went downhill with a lot of room to run? From your perspective, what occurred on that play?) – “Just communication. I put that one on me, having to take the back. We were in man coverage, having a back and a tight end for the inside linebackers, just a miscommunication on my part and so I went back, told the guys, ‘that’s on me.’ Got it handled on the sideline and so that’s something that we got to get better at this week, speaking to myself.”
Terron Armstead – November 5, 2024
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Tuesday, November 5, 2024
T Terron Armstead
(Today’s the trade deadline. You’re a veteran who is past 30-years old and have contemplated retirement ahead of this season, knowing how limited time can be in this league and with this team at 2-6, did you ever consider going to the Dolphins front office and asking for a trade to a team in a better position this season? Why or why not?) – “No, I’m here. I’m here we’re locked in trying win this game Monday night, that’s it. I haven’t thought about anything else.”
(So that would express a belief in this team down the stretch. Can you speak to what gives you confidence in this team in the second half?) – “No reason not to be, no reason not to be. We feel like we can beat anybody. We haven’t had those results, but the way that I am and the way that we are as a team, we’re going all in. So we’re going to put in all the time, effort, energy and preparation to win this next game. That’s the only way to get it done, you’re not going to just fall into a win. So we go out there and try to get one, do everything we can to get this and then we can start worrying about the next. But full belief, it’s nothing else.”
(What have you done that makes a difference in being able to stay on the field this season? You’ve only missed the one game, so what’s made the difference for you personally?) – “All the- my process and preparation, injury prevention and all that, it’s extensive and it’s been extensive for years now. Still can’t control what happens on any given Sunday, get rolled up and all those things. So (I’ve) been fortunate enough to not have any of those freak incidents pop up, but things that my body personally, we’ve put in that work throughout the week. A lot of hours spent outside the building.”
(On the same vein, it seemed like every week last year you were going with a different starting lineup. This year, that’s not the case; you’ve had continuity just about every week. How big of a difference has it made for the entire line do you think?) – “It’s been great. It’s been great to get that experience together, get that chemistry, that cohesiveness. I think you’re starting to see some of the results, and we still got, like I said and will continue to say, we still got things to get better at and try to get better at it fast – eliminating the negatives, MEs (mental errors), the missed hand usage, technique things, penalties. We have to try to get those eliminated completely from our game, but we’re doing some things well, just got to keep going.”
(The season obviously hasn’t gone as planned, but how good has RB De’Von Achane been for you guys? And also, what has been one of the driving points for his success?) – “He’s sitting right here, so that’s why there was a smile. But he’s incredible, man – he’s really got to step out, I don’t want to say this in front of him. (laughter) No, he’s incredible. He’s a special talent, he’s probably the most confident guy I’ve ever been around and that says a lot for somebody that’s so young into his journey and his career. But his confidence, his belief in his ability and his preparation is through the roof, so it’s no surprise to us in this building what he is doing – it’s no surprise to himself, at all. He feels like he should have 2,000 yards right now, but I love that about him, for real. I love playing, blocking for him, and I’ll try to do anything I can to give him a lane.”
(How has Head Coach Mike McDaniel been through this stretch? Obviously, we know him, outgoing, fun guy, joking – it’s gotten a little bit more serious with this obviously, news conferences. Behind the scenes, how has he been?) – “He’s been him, man. He’s been the same. He’s been the same, he’s been unwavering. He’s been confident, he’s showing the reasons for the result so we can make the corrections and secure the win. From the top, the belief in the building, the buy-in and all that, it’s from the top down, for sure. Mike (McDaniel) hasn’t wavered at all; we’re not talking about anything else but getting this next win.”
(How happy are you that you don’t have to see Aaron Donald anymore now that he’s retired – but at the same time, the Rams have done a really nice job of reloading that defensive line with some young talent. What do you see there going up against them this week?) – “Historically, the Rams they always keep a d-line. You know that when you see them on a schedule, you know it’s going to be one of those games. I’m glad that Aaron Donald is gone, I hope he is enjoying retirement to the fullest, wish him the best. (laughter) I had a lot of games against that man, he was really like that – first ballot, for sure. We got to prepare and get ready for a tough challenge. Like you said, the Rams, they always load up that defensive line, so it’ll be a fun challenge out there Monday night.”
(What changes when QB Tua Tagovailoa is back in there at quarterback for you guys – getting the calls from him and his operation of the offense?) – “Tua (Tagovailoa) just has a great feel for the offense. He has experience now, he’s got time spent in the offense now, he understands the layers of it. He knows where guys need to be to lineup, the motions – all of it, snap points, all those things. There’s so many small intangibles that go into our offense that he is the best person to perform and orchestrate it. And beyond that, his ability – his anticipation, his accuracy, his ball placement, timing, pocket awareness, he’s an incredible player, we know that.”
(I want to get your thoughts on the interior offensive line guys. Obviously, the run game being so effective of late, they have played a part in that. What have you seen out of the guards and OL Aaron Brewer?) – “They’re doing a lot of things well, a lot of things well. Still got some areas of improvement, as we all do, but I love their approach and their intent on how they’re attacking their process, working the technique, getting extra work in, watching guys that have been in this offense that have been successful before, seeing what they can take. So it’s been a full head of steam approach to improvement and to accelerate that improvement and I think it’s been working out for us well up front, and as we continue to do that, it’s only going to be better.”
Emmanuel Ogbah – November 5, 2024
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Tuesday, November 5, 2024
LB Emmanuel Ogbah
(We heard Head Coach Mike McDaniel talk a little bit about your injury the other day. What can you tell us about it and is it sustainable that you can remain on the field and perform at the level you have despite that injury?) – “Yeah, it’s definitely sustainable. It’s just one of those injuries that just needs time to heal, but unfortunately, we don’t have time to let it rest. So yeah, I’m managing it out there. I’m still doing my job, so I’m just doing what I can do right now.”
(Has surgery ever been discussed whether it be them recommending it now or after the season? Did the doctors ever say anything about that?) – “No, the good thing about this injury is it’s not surgery, it’s just more rest and letting it heal. But yeah, thankfully no surgery is required for this.”
(LB Chop Robinson got his first sack on Sunday – I see you’re already smiling as soon as I mentioned his name. How have you seen him progress this first half of his rookie season?) – “Chop (Robinson), he’s been working. The stats kind of haven’t shown it, but he’s been working his tail off. I was so proud of him. I was so happy for him when he finally got one. I was trying to do the chop celebration with him, but it was kind of all over the place. I didn’t know when he was going to do it, but I’m just so proud of him. He’s been putting in work and he’s been getting better every week, so I just want him to keep stacking up good days.”
(What do you see going forward in terms of points to build on as far as a team that’s trying to turn it around now at 2-6? Obviously, a tough loss at Buffalo – one where you guys competed to the final seconds – just points to build on for this defense going down into the second half.) – “Just going back and watching film, it’s a lot of self-inflicted wounds that we gave up that game. We’ve just got to do a better job – our assignments, technique and just hustling to the ball and doing our part. We’re not very far off. We’ve just got to keep fighting. And like I said, it’s still a long season left to play so we’ve just got to keep working and keep one foot forward and just keep putting in the work and not let stuff slow us down. Don’t let no distractions happen, like I said, it’s still a long season and we just got to keep coming together and keep playing our best.”
(You faced mobile quarterbacks three weeks in a row. Obviously QB Matthew Stafford isn’t as mobile as the rest of the guys – I guess how does that change your job? Do you prefer facing mobile quarterbacks? Do you prefer guys that are a little bit more stationary? And then just outside of that, what have you seen from this Rams offense that makes them so scary?) – “So we have faced the past three weeks, we’ve been facing mobile quarterbacks. It’s definitely harder to go after mobile quarterbacks than pocket passers. It’s a different type of rush mentality. You’ve got to keep them in the cage. But going against a non-mobile quarterback, I wouldn’t say it’s easier because they are a good threat at passing the ball, but you can get after them more. You can take more of a chance with them. What was your other question?”
(Just overall, what have you seen from that Rams offense that makes them so dynamic?) – “We haven’t really gotten into the Rams yet. We just kind of went over the Buffalo game, so we haven’t gone over the Rams yet. I haven’t really taken a look yet.”
(Are there certain motions that still feel uncomfortable playing through your bicep injury? Like I saw an impressive tackle that you made on QB Josh Allen, who’s a big guy to bring down, but I guess that was more lats and triceps to bring him down the way you did. Are there certain motions that could be uncomfortable playing through this injury?) – “I’ve played through pain damn near my whole career, so it’s definitely just dealing with the pain. I think that’s the hardest part about it – just having to deal with the pain. But other than that, all my motions are good, just kind of fighting through pain. It’s football at the end of the day. You’ve got to play through stuff.”
(Are teams looking at you guys differently this season? Are you picking up on anything? Are they maybe not respecting you as much as the previous two years? Or are they looking at you as being vulnerable? Do you pick that up from game plan or conversation on the field or anything like that?) – “I wouldn’t say that entirely. I would say they’re actually going after us more because they probably feel like we’re, since we have a losing record, but no. We actually get their best overall. We never get a slight, we always get their best with every team we play.”
