Mike Gesicki – July 28, 2018
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Saturday, June 28, 2018
TE Mike Gesicki
(On the start of training camp) – “Good stuff, bad stuff, all kinds of stuff. Everything you would expect from a rookie tight end, that’s kind of what it’s been. (Tight Ends) Coach (Shane) Day has done a great job and our group has done a phenomenal job helping each other out. Honestly, it’s not as much the mental stuff anymore as it was when I first got here. I wasn’t able to play fast and all of that kind of stuff. Now, it’s just adjusting to this weather. It doesn’t feel like this over at Penn State. (laughter) I’m definitely getting used to that and adjusting to that. Once you get used to the weather, once you get used to the heat, you can play fast and do what you do.”
(Do you feel antsy at all to put yourself in position to get more first-team reps? Because they’ve stuck with the veterans primarily as starters at this point?) – “No, absolutely not. It’s Day 3. I just need to come out here and do my job.”
(Head Coach Adam Gase mentioned that you had trouble with the heat the other day. How bad was it for you? How did you snap back into it?) – “I mean it takes a toll on your body; but I think that today, yesterday, it’s getting better. And then it’s just going to continue to get stronger, get faster, all of that kind of stuff, while taking its toll on your body. These guys do it every single year. There’s no secret potion or anything like that to get through it, but you will.”
(I remember when you got here you said, “Oh, I’ve been through some hot days in New Jersey.” Did you underestimate this a little bit?) – “No, I didn’t underestimate this. I knew it wasn’t going to be like New Jersey; but I have had hot days before.”
(Did you have to take an IV at any point?) – “No.”
(Did you end up buying a white board back in New Jersey when you had to leave this spring?) – “Yes, absolutely. I had the white board and everything. (I was) studying and all of that kind of stuff, so I came back here mentally ready.”
(Who quizzed you without TE Durham Smythe around?) – “Whether it was one of my friends, whether it was my family, anybody that could just read off a play.”
(Does this seem slower to you now?) – “Yes.”
(When you hear a play called, you know it instantly?) – “Yes. Everything mentally is there. Then when I can run as fast as I want and do what I want physically, everything is coming along.”
(How much does this change right now with pads on?) – “I don’t really think it changed much, honestly. Even when we’ve just got shells on or jerseys, you still see us out there getting hands inside, punching and all of that kind of stuff. Definitely, you add a little bit, but nothing too crazy.”
(Do you feel you’re a better blocker being around an NFL coaching staff? Have you picked up things, or won’t you know until you’re in full pads over the next couple of weeks?) – “I think blocking in uppers or blocking in full pads is the same thing. Today, I was able to get out there. I had a few good ones. Then I had a few ones to learn from. I think that’s just football and I’m going to continue to get better every single day.”
(How much confidence does it give you to make the kind of catch you made against S Minkah Fitzpatrick?) – “Obviously Minkah is a great player, but that’s my job is to go make a play. It was just a one-on-one rep. Once you start implementing that into team periods and seven-on-sevens and then when you get into preseason games … Right now, it’s good to make those plays, but that’s my job.”
(When you’re not working with QB Ryan Tannehill in team drills as much, do you try to spend time with him after practice, before, just to work on chemistry with the two of you?) – “Yes, I mean, whether you’re sitting there at lunch; yesterday was his birthday, make sure you tell him happy birthday, all of that kind of stuff. (laughter)”
(A gift?) – “Right? No, I should have run out to the store. (laughter) He’s a very personable guy. He’s trying to help everybody. He’s trying to help this team win a lot of football games. It’s very easy to build chemistry with him.”
(After three days, and you look at yourself on tape, what is your self-assessment of what you’ve put on tape?) – “I think I’m doing well, being able to … there’s no more mental errors. There’s not going to the left when you’re supposed to go right or doing this when you’re supposed to be doing that. That’s a huge progression. And then just continuing to battle this heat and get acclimated with that because … When you’re out here for OTAs and you thought, ‘All right, it’s hot.’ Then you get out there in late July and the beginning of August and now it’s really hot.”
(So what’s the trick? Do you dump water on your head? Do you keep a towel with you? Are there any tips?) – “At the beginning of practice, I try not to drink a lot of water just because then you’re full and you feel like you’re going to throw up the whole time. So just hydrate when you need to and then maybe put a towel on your head to block yourself from the sun.”
Bobby McCain – July 28, 2018
Saturday, June 28, 2018
CB Bobby McCain
(Obviously, you’re going to play a lot regardless, but do you want to be in competition when you open with two corners to be that other guy?) – “Definitely. I’m just coming out and working every day. There’s competition everywhere – corner, inside, outside, safety. You have to come out and give your best game every day, and when your number is called, you have to be ready, because your number will be called to go inside, outside, wherever they want to put you – safety – and you have to be ready.”
(How many positions do you want to play this year?) – “As many as I can. I like to know the defense. I like to study the defense. I love football. I like to know where everybody is lining up, what’s my weakness, where’s my help, where isn’t it. Knowing nickel, corner, safety, knowing it all, it helps you.”
(Who has been the most impressive member of the defensive backfield?) – “So far, Torry McTyer has been really strong. He has come out really strong and had a few really good days. He showed his offseason workouts have really paid off for him.”
(It seems like you have a good mixture of youth and veterans in the secondary. What’s that like in the meeting room?) – “It’s good. It’s good because we know how to talk to each other. We’ve got a little chemistry. We’ve been with each other for two or three years. It’s not like if I’m saying something to them, it’s like I’m yelling at them. I’m telling them as a brother – as a family member – ‘Let’s pick our stuff up. Let’s do what we have to do. Let’s tighten up,’ and everybody listens and vice versa. They’ll tell me, ‘Let’s get it together and let’s get it done.’”
(I noticed you explaining to some of the other guys in the secondary, especially at your positon, about the little things, about alignment, about leverage. Can you talk a little bit about that in your mind, because you have the experience?) – “It’s (their) first camp. We’ve got like three or four rookies and it’s their first camp. It’s just knowing the ins and outs. It starts off with alignment, assignment and technique. (I’m just) coming out there and getting aligned right and just being that veteran guy that can help because like I said, when I came in, guys helped me. So I’m doing anything I can to help the young guys make the team.”
(And explaining where they can and can’t go from that alignment?) – “Yes, exactly. Exactly. Explaining your weaknesses, your strengths, knowing where you want to go, where you don’t want to go, what can help you, what can’t. It’s all big. For you to come in as a rookie, you may not know. Now you know (and) you can put it in your back pocket.”
(Any tips for them to beat the heat out here?) – “It’s going to be there. That sun, he’s undefeated. (laughter) Hopefully we get a little cloud coverage the next couple days. Maybe not. At the end of the day, you’ve got to come out and work, because when another team comes in here on Sunday at 1 o’clock, it’s going to be tough on them.”
(What’s the biggest difference going against WR Danny Amendola compared to WR Albert Wilson in terms of same kind of body type, but are they different?) – “Yes. Albert, he played inside at Kansas City, so he can do both and so can Danny. Danny can do them both. Danny is a proven vet and Albert is proven. At the end of the day, Albert is a little faster than Danny, but Danny has got that quick-twitch movement. He’s that possession receiver that you know third-and-4, third-and-5, he’s going to make a play. And Albert, he can take the top off. He can be a possession guy. He has had a really good spring and a good camp so far. They’re both going to be really, really good for us.”
(When it comes to beating the heat, is pouring the water on the head help or wearing the towel for a little when you take the helmet off?) – “For me, it’s the towel. You wipe the sweat off. Wipe the sweat off your face, wipe the sweat off your arms. Hopefully that’ll last you for about 30 seconds and then it’s back on you.”
(I know it’s only been three days, but watching yourself on tape, what have you learned about yourself the last couple days?) – “I’m just trying to stay consistent, trying to play my technique and trying to get into that game mode, because you know it’s coming around the corner. It’s not more or less mental, now it’s more physical and mental. Mentally you have to be prepared, because you never know what they’re going to throw at you. That’s why I love practice, because (with Head) Coach (Adam) Gase, you never know what play is coming. It’s nothing you can just put a beat on. At the end of the day, it’s competition.”
(With the preseason games so close, it comes fast. It’s crazy there’s a scrimmage one week from today. Have you been told which positions to be prepared to be expected to play when a game comes?) – “Yes, be ready to do it all. I have to be ready to do it all at the end of the day. That’s what we’re preparing for now here in camp – getting the outside reps, getting inside reps. Regardless of where they put me, I’m going to get the job done.”
T.J. McDonald – July 28, 2018
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Saturday, July 28, 2018
S T.J. McDonald
(What, if anything, changes when you guys put on the shoulder pads for the first time?) – “It’s just the feeling that you have. Just the feeling that you get just being out here with the pads on. The excitement of just putting the pads on. Just hearing the sounds. Just hearing them all sound off and the physical part of the game shows up, so it’s real fun.”
(Is this real football?) – “Yes, this is real football right here. It’s real football. We’ll keep moving from here forward.”
(How do you feel about the secondary right now as far as the depth you guys have? How good can that group be?) – “I feel we can be really good. I feel good about the depth that we’ve got. We’ve got guys that are improving. When one guy comes out, the next guy comes up and there’s no drop off. We definitely need to continue to get better as a group, try not to make the same mistakes twice, be able to mesh as a group and be able to trust each other. That’s what we’re doing right now.”
(Is there an abundance there? Do you feel like you have more starters than spots? More starting-caliber guys?) – “I think that’s a good problem to have. I don’t … I think that any time you’re on the field, you’re a starter. That’s just the mentality that you’ve got to have in this league.”
(You, S Reshad Jones and S Minkah Fitzpatrick, you obviously have three stating-caliber safeties. How do you get you guys onto the field? Is it a rotation thing? What’s your best sense right now?) – “I think that’s a good question for the coaches. Like I said before, that’s a good problem to have. I think that the best players are going to be on the field at whatever spot that might be. I trust the coaches to put a plan in place to be able to get us all on the field and be able to figure it all out.”
(How would you describe the vibe among the players?) – “The vibe is great. The team chemistry is great. We all want the same thing and all have the same goal in mind. We’ve got to keep stacking these days. I know it’s hot out here. We’ve got to keep stacking these dog days and it’s going to pay off in the end.”
(What are the veteran tips of beating the heat when you’re out there during practice? Is it pouring water on your head or doing what?) – “You’ve got to hydrate the day before. If you get thirsty, it’s too late. You’ve got to hydrate the day before and be able to try to withstand it. It’s mind over matter at this point. You can’t hide from this. There isn’t any shade out here. You can’t hide. You’ve got to be able to come out here and let the dog show.”
Torry McTyer – July 28, 2018
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Saturday, July 28, 2018
CB Torry McTyer
(How was your offseason? What did you do to kind of get yourself ready for a big opportunity this year?) – “I went back home for a little bit, just working out and just doing everything I can do to help the team.”
(You got a taste of it last year. How much experience did you gain, or how much more comfortable were you coming into this year?) – “I was a lot more comfortable than I was last year. Just being one year in the scheme and just working out with some of the guys like Bobby McCain and all of the other guys, just feeding off them.”
(When they told you that you were going to open with the first group today. What was your reaction?) – “No certain reaction. I just come out here and just compete every day.”
(Do you feel like you’ve injected yourself into that mix where you hope they’re looking at you as someone in competition for that starting job?) – “I’m not really paying attention to that. I just want to come out here and work hard every day.”
(You had an interception out there. Tell me if I described it right, I guess WR Jakeem Grant was kind of running a slant and I don’t know if you jumped the route or used your speed, but you stepped right in front of it. Am I describing that right, can you tell me what happened there?) – “I was playing off and I just got a good break on the ball, so that was pretty much it.”
(What enabled you to make that? Was it your speed, did you read the quarterback, experience, sit on the route?) – “It was a little bit of both. It was just me just playing the situation and playing down and distance, and just getting a read on the quarterback.”
(And do you feel that you’re a lot more advanced right now than you were last year in that aspect?) – “Most definitely. I’m more comfortable in the scheme, just being one year in, so I’m a little more comfortable in the scheme and just more comfortable in myself.”
(What does that comfort allow you to do?) – “Just play more confidently and just play faster.”
(After you did all that work coming into the season, did you get any recognition? Anybody kind of notice it and any reaction coming from teammates telling you ‘Oh man, this looks a lot better than last year,’ or anything like that?) – “All of the guys, we all recognize each other. So we all just kind of compliment each other.”
(Nothing specific?) – “Nothing specific.”
(Are you physically different at all, faster, bigger, thinner?) – “I’m heavier now than I was last year. Last year I came into camp at around 182 (pounds). I’m at 190 right now.”
(Any veteran corners you study? Guys that you think might have similar skillsets when you look at on tape.) – “Well, I like all of our guys, so I kind of study all of our guys. Like, even, I started taking things from Bobby McCain. I take things from Xavien (Howard). I take things from Tony Lippett. So, all those guys I kind of take after.”
(Some guys who go undrafted carry a chip on their shoulders for years. Do you have that from not being drafted?) – “Always. I don’t think that’s something that I will lose. I’ll always have a chip on my shoulder until I stop playing.”
(What did the end of last season do for you confidence-wise?) – “It gave me a lot of confidence, just being out there, getting some experience at corner and just knowing that I can play with those guys. It gave me a lot of confidence.”
(Best aspect of your game?) – “Best aspect? I would say my speed.”
(What kind of speed, like 4.3, 4.25?) – “4.3.”
(I know you said you’re just coming out here trying to do your job, but how significant was it for you to line up with the first-team defense?) – “It was just, like I said, coming out here doing my job. I didn’t really pay too much attention to that. So just knowing what I need to do.”
(When you say you went back home this summer, where is home?) – “Los Angeles, California.”
(And what did you do back home? Work out with anybody?) – “Just working on my craft. Like I said, just doing what I need to do to help this team win.”
(Were there any other NFL players in L.A. when you worked out?) – “During the offseason, I kind of worked out with a few guys like (Arizona Cardinals cornerback) Jamar Taylor. There were a few other guys but nobody specific to name.”
(A lot of times when you’re coming in as a rookie you’re just trying to survive, just trying to make the cut in camp and just scrap for whatever you can get as far as a role. Do you have a bigger goal coming into year two?) – “Like I said, I just want to come out here and do what I can do to help the team win. So whatever that is, it is what it is.”
Kalen Ballage – July 28, 2018
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Saturday, July 28, 2018
RB Kalen Ballage
(On carrying shoulder pads.) – “Yes, regular rookie stuff.”
(Is that the extent you guys have had so far or did you guys have some other stuff you guys had to do?) – “No, just getting the older guys snacks and stuff like that for the meeting room. Other than that, nothing too crazy.”
(How has training camp been going for you, the first training camp in the NFL?) – “It’s been really good. I’m just getting used to it – the schedule and everything. You’re up from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at night. You try to get home and go right to bed and do it all over again. I’m just getting down the routine.”
(You’ve had a couple of nice runs out here. How seriously do you take those? Do you kind of pat yourself on the back just a little bit or do you not even acknowledge them?) – “No. I mean I’ve been playing football since I was in the third grade. I try to break a long run, give our team an opportunity to move the ball down the field. I just move about it in that manner and just try to get better every day.”
(A sense of pride or no?) – “No.”
(Just totally business like?) – “Yes.”
(What kind of feedback have you gotten from both your assistant coach and your head coach?) – “Pretty good feedback. I’m learning the playbook right now fast. I think that’s the most important thing. You have to be able to know what you’re doing in the first place. I think that’s the most important part.”
(Do you think you’ve been able to process everything quickly?) – “Yes. Yes, sir.”
(What have you learned from RB Frank Gore so far? The guy has been in the league and is a potential future Hall of Famer.) – “He doesn’t say much; but he moves by example with his actions and the things that he does and the way he takes care of his body. I kind of just sit back and watch him and look at the things that he’s doing.”
(Has anything in camp so far struck you as being really different form college?) – “Not really, just more attention to detail at every position. I think that’s the thing that’s the big gap.”
(It’s coming fast, these games. You’re going to have a scrimmage coming up one week from today and then the preseason is here. How would you describe your personal goals during the preseason?) – “I just want to win games. It doesn’t matter if it’s preseason, regular season, scrimmages. I want to beat the defense. That’s just my mindset. I’m just moving about it like that.”
(Do you have any good RB Frank Gore stories?) – “Yes. Some that will stay in the locker room that’s for sure. (laughter)”
(Any that will leave the locker room?) – “No.”
(What’s one thing that you feel that you did well in the spring that you will like to continue up until the regular season?) – “Really, just learning the playbook, like I said. The coaches understand it’s big, it’s extensive, it’s detailed. You’re going to make little mistakes here and there. I’m just trying to limit those mistakes as much as possible.”
(How is the number of plays or the thickness? They don’t really give out playbooks anymore do they?) – “A little bit.”
(How does it compare to Arizona State?) – “Well, at Arizona State, we had a no-huddle offense so everything was quick. A lot of signals and stuff like that. It’s just a little bit different from the way we do it here.”
Adam Gase – July 28, 2018
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Saturday, July 28, 2018
Head Coach Adam Gase
(We saw today CB Torry McTyer on the field when you started team drills. What about his skill set has you guys intrigued?) – “I think he’s had a good start to camp. For the way that we’ve operated over the last previous training camps and going into this one, I’ve told the defensive staff ‘let’s not wait around. If we feel like a guy is playing well, give him opportunities, especially with the first group.’ They feel like he’s played well enough to be put into that spot and compete with that first group.”
(Today was the first day in uppers. How did your offensive line look?) – “We have work to do, obviously. I think the challenge of going against our d-line probably magnifies it more, than maybe in the past. I feel like the way that they’re coming off the ball and the way that they’re rushing, it’s going to be a challenge for us all of training camp, which is a good thing for our team. I do think that as we go along, we’ll get better up front. I do like that these guys are getting some good continuity going to where they’re getting used to playing with each other. With today being the first day in uppers and being able to actually squeeze out some of these holes, I thought we did a good job of picking up pressures. It wasn’t perfect as far as being able to be firm, but we weren’t cutting guys free. We were doing a lot of good things. We’ve just got to clean a few things up.”
(Can you explain how it is that you guys came to the strategy of keeping those guys together, especially the starters?) – “Well, when we ended last season, we really thought that Jesse (Davis) played well enough to where he was going to be a starter. When we signed Josh (Sitton), that’s really kind of what bumped Ted (Larsen) out of his spot. We just kept talking about if we could get one group out there to where we weren’t always rotating, that would be ideal. We knew when we signed Sitton that we weren’t going to be able to practice him (all the time). If we were doing six-play period, we figured he was probably going to do four. With an older guy that’s played a lot of games in his career, we wanted to make sure that we did the right thing. We wanted him and (Laremy) Tunsil to work together but at the same time, we want to make sure that we’re not overusing him too early. Ted is still getting work with that first group, just not as many reps. It really helps Jesse. The more reps he gets with that first group, the better.”
(Who among the defensive tackles has really popped for you?) – “Well, if you take any of those four guys that are rotating in with that first group, it’s hard to pick just one. I think each day it seems like a different guy is the guy that’s penetrating and causing problems in the run game and then breaking through the line when it comes to any kind of pass and pass protection. It’s hard to single one guy out. I think you have different body types and you have different skill sets by all four guys; but the one thing that they’ve all four done very consistently is the way they’re getting off the ball, the way that they’re using their hands and the way that they’re striking the offensive lineman. It’s been impressive to watch but at the same time, it’s really been tough for an offensive lineman because these guys are getting shot out of a cannon. This is great work for us on the offensive side to really go against guys that are playing defense the right way.”
(When you put the pads on, does the evaluation process begin sort of for the linebackers and tight ends in terms of their physicality?) – “I would say that’s true. I would say you’re probably right with that. When we get the pads on, you really have a better sense because even though we’re not tackling to the ground, we’re thudding guys up. Who’s going to wrap up? You saw a couple of guys drop a shoulder and really reject the receiver or the tight end and our point of emphasis is we need you to wrap up because we’ve seen that enough over the last few years where a guy drops his shoulder and then the next thing you know, that guy doesn’t go to the ground. So we’re making a big point of emphasis of it’s not only making sure that you hit the offensive player correctly but that we’re wrapping up and we’re putting ourselves in position so when we do go live tackling, we’re actually getting guys down.”
(S Maurice Smith seems to be a guy who flashes every now and then at safety. What have you seen from him this camp?) – “He’s been a guy that’s improved since he’s been here. I think he had a really good camp last year. I don’t know if I want to use the word surprised but you normally don’t see a guy that is undrafted who really makes a move and then finds a way onto the roster and gets better throughout the year. I think his confidence level is extremely high right now. He understands the defense. It’s allowing him to play faster. He’s in unbelievable shape. He’s probably one of our best conditioned athletes that we have in the building. He’s really put himself in position to compete for a spot. He’s in one of those unusual positions as far as it’s a deep group and it’s really going to be ‘yes, you can play safety but can you contribute on special teams?’ Because that’s really where he’s at in his career right now where we need him to be able to do multiple things and we need him to be able to contribute on special teams.”
(A second interception today for LB Chase Allen. I know he’s working as an inside linebacker but at what point, if any, will he get an opportunity to push for that third starting spot?) – “Right now we’re trying not to move guys around too much. We want to get going a little bit before we completely make a change at that position, just because we want to kind of see how that group plays out, because you have to play a little more as a group at linebacker with the defensive line. I think it’s a little different in the secondary where those guys are kind of one-on-one so much that it becomes almost an individual game when you’re playing man-to-man coverage or any kind of middle of the field closed zone. I think at linebacker, we kind of want to see how it goes with the guys that we have out there right now. If he keeps doing what he’s really done since he got here – which is he keeps getting better, he keeps finding a way to be around the ball, he gets his hands on a lot of balls – you’re going to have to give him a strong look and really get him with that first group to see where he’s at. Last year he did a lot of good stuff. We’ll just kind of play it out. It’s so early that I think we’re going to have time to see how that group ends up panning out.”
(With RB Kalen Ballage, I think he had a long run today. How has his camp been and has the way he’s played made you rethink anything at all at running back?) – “It’s kind of like when I talk about the tight ends, we’re trying to get him as many reps as we can so he can see as many things as possible. We want to get him to the point where he can play as fast as possible. We don’t want him overthinking things. We want to be able to use his skill set to the team’s advantage and put him in great position. It really starts with his knowledge of the offense because at that position, there are a lot of moving parts. There are a lot of different spots you have to be at. There’s a lot of different things you have to do because you’re involved in all three phases of the offensive game. I think he is handling that pretty good. Every once in a while we’ll have a slight misstep here and there where his brain freezes up. That’s what happens with rookies sometimes; but we’ll keep pushing him along. We want him to be a guy that can contribute on special teams and be ready to go as a guy that we can stick in there on offense.”
(The other day you mentioned that QB Ryan Tannehill has got to learn … I think you said learn how to slide. I don’t know if it’s how to slide or when to slide but will you ever take him physically out there to work on sliding, like a baseball player? Or is it just watch film and it’s situational?) – “Well, he’s used to sliding on the leg his knee brace is on. I don’t know if you guys have ever seen a guy slide with a knee brace on and go with the knee brace first. I’ve witnessed it first hand and it’s not a pretty sight. You can get it stuck in the turf. It’s unusual to go the other way for some guys. We’ll get to a point where we’ll have to figure out how we’re going to do it; but I’m sure between (Offensive Coordinator) Dowell (Loggains) and (Quarterbacks Coach) Bo (Hardegree), one of us will think of something creative just to get him comfortable and try to make it natural.”
Adam Gase – July 27, 2018
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Friday, July 27, 2018
Head Coach Adam Gase
(How much do you feel you know about LB Raekwon McMillan and how much do you still need to find out?) – “Really, we’re just waiting to see the last element that we really haven’t experienced yet, which is a real game. I mean he’s played one snap of a preseason game. Everything else tells us that he’s exactly what we drafted him to be. Now it’s just going to be when we get to Sunday and preseason games, do what he’s been training to do.”
(What were the things you particularly liked last year about LB Raekwon McMillan?) – “I think as a rookie, you saw leadership qualities. You saw how smart he was and how fast he picked everything up. Really, for him, it’s almost … We’re trying to minimize how much he’s thinking about because he processes a lot. Really, when he sees something once, he can recall it and he knows how to adjust our defense very quickly. Really, it’s us trying to be like, ‘This is important. Don’t worry about these other three things.’ He’s heading in the right direction, I know that. It’s good to see him back out there.”
(It’s been a little inconsistent in terms of what we’ve seen out of DT Jordan Phillips over the last few years. Which version of him do you feel like you have now?) – “So far, through two days, he’s done a good job. I know when you’re a bigger guy like he is, the way that we’re running the football, it’s one thing to do it in the spring. Now that the temperature is slightly up, when you’re a big guy like that and you’re running as much as he is, it’s fatiguing; but he’s doing a good job of embracing it because it’s going to help him get in really good shape. Athletically, he does some things that you just don’t see many people be able to do. For a guy that size, the way he moves, the way that … His athleticism is really off the charts.”
(It’s not an ideal situation to have injuries to both QB Ryan Tannehill and LB Raekwon McMillan last year but how beneficial was it for those two working together during rehab?) – “I think they did a good job of pushing each other. They were always competing. You hate to say … It was good that they both had each other to go through that with. It hurt us last year but it was good for those two guys to have that other guy to really make sure you stay focused on what you’re doing. Plus, players in the NFL, they’re competitors. So having somebody to compete with day in and day out, that helped those guys.”
(As a playcaller, what’s the challenges when you go up against a defense that has three safeties on the field as opposed to maybe three corners and two safeties?) – “What are you hinting at? (laughter)”
(I’m just curious.) – “I mean we face a team that does it twice a year. It’s the same defense just a different guy, different body and different strength. They’re better tacklers historically. I think we’re lucky in the case with Bobby (McCain) where he’s a little more aggressive. He’s not afraid to throw his body in there and go make a play, no matter what size the running back is. A lot of teams don’t have that luxury. That’s why having a third safety that can almost play that nickel position is valuable because they can go in there and they can help in the run game.”
(How has S Minkah Fitzpatrick handled what you’ve seen so far?) – “I mean I haven’t had any complaints. He’s done a good job. He’s a guy that picks things up fast and he’s always around. He’s always making sure that he’s not the weak link of the group out there.”
(Regarding DE Charles Harris, he was telling us that he turned to the Lord and did a lot of prayer in the offseason. Have you seen changes in him, whether it’s physical or emotional? Any kind of a different Charles Harris? Or did you need to see a different Charles Harris even?) – “That’s hard to evaluate because he’s quiet. He seems to be, at least in my experience, it’s more of one-on-one conversation. He hasn’t really been someone that’s going to say too much when a bunch of people are around. Last year there was a lot of good he did. I know when you’re a rookie d-end, everybody thinks sacks and hurry up and get those numbers up; but we really focused on how much are you disrupting the passer? How are you doing against the run? We weren’t so much worried about how many sacks he had. I think that was just a constant battle of just keep reminding him of what we’re expecting from (him) and I think that’s always tough for a rookie. I think this year, he understands ‘I’m just going to keep doing what I’m supposed to do as far as my job, being disruptive and those types of numbers will come,’ that he’s looking for. The way that he works, it’s hard to believe that he won’t have success. He’s one of those guys that’s always trying to be on the practice field. Everything he does, it’s full speed.”
(How would you measure success with DE Charles Harris? In Year 2 is it the same? Is it apply pressure or does it need to turn into sacks or more playing time?) – “A lot of times, sacks are great because it’s a negative play; but just the amount of times that you are touching the quarterback or causing him to throw the ball early. We’re doing a great job of setting the edge in the run game. Cam (Wake) is a great example to kind of watch. When you run to his side, and this is three years going against him, he’s a way better run defender than anybody gives him credit for. He does a great job of setting the edge, bringing the ball back inside and giving linebackers an opportunity to make plays. Really, that’s what you want to be, because when you’re a really good pass rusher, some guys just end up doing that and don’t really care about the running game. I feel like Charles is very aware of, ‘I want to be a good player both in the run and pass game.’”
(So by all accounts, you weren’t the least bit disappointed with DE Charles Harris last year but you went out and got a really good defensive end in DE Robert Quinn. So what do you see Harris’ role being this year?) – “We just knew how we were going to play this year, especially with adding (Defensive Line Coach) Kris Kocurek. We knew that it wouldn’t be as many plays for our defensive linemen because we’re not going to have a guy that’s going to play 75-plus snaps or 65 snaps. The way that we’re running to the football, the way that we’re going to pursue every game, it’s going to be less snaps and we’re going to have more of a rotation. I think everybody is going to get their shots. I think it’s going to be a battle to get on that third-down rush unit, which is a good thing because now all of those guys are pushing each other and it’s going to be one of those things where if you’re on that group, that means that you’re doing the right stuff and you’re working well with that group. Really, that’s what we want. We want to create that type of competition where guys are hungry to get out there on that third down.”
(What have you noticed about WR Albert Wilson?) – “I think he’s done a good job of coming in. He took the spring very serious. He did a good job of studying. He did a good job in the meetings. He made some mistakes in the spring but he didn’t make the same mistake again. He brings a professionalism. You can tell he’s been in the league for a minute. I think he has a lot of tools, not only as a receiver but as a ball carrier, that we can take advantage of. He’s the type of guy that you just want to get the ball in his hands and really turn things into a punt return or try to get him to where at least he has a little space to where he can make an explosive play.”
(You’re in the upper pads tomorrow, is that right?) – “Yes.”
(How much can you dial it up when you’re not in full pads?) – “It’s basically the same thing. The only difference is you’re not going to go live to the ground. The majority of my career, that’s what I’ve known. I think it was just starting under (Nick) Saban at an early age. That was a big thing with him was you should be able to keep your feet and not go to the ground. It was a good way to make sure that guys were doing the right thing. Sometimes when you’re in full pads, even when you’re not live, guys have a tendency to take guys to the ground and that’s not really what we’re doing. You can get all of the same work as you would in full pads.”
(With QB David Fales, you’ve been with him for three years. Did you ever think there would be a point where he would be competing for the No. 2 spot?) – “That’s a tough one. I don’t know if I ever thought about it in the previous years. I think last year when he came back and we watched him keep improving … I think when we left training camp we thought he would be our three, but we weren’t keeping three. So when he came back and we kept seeing how he was improving and his arm strength, I noticed the longer we went, the better his arm strength got. It seemed like he really started doing a good job in the weight room where his core got a lot stronger. I think that helped his velocity on some of his throws. He has a very good presence about him, whether it be in the pocket or moving around. He can kind of see things that some quarterbacks can’t see. I think that’s something that’s caught our eye, and then allowing him to play in that last game, I think he earned the right to compete for that No. 2 spot.”
(Is that the biggest difference in QB David Fales now? Not just the pocket presence but the arm strength?) – “I think with his anticipation and the improvement with his arm strength – because I do think it’s better than what it’s been – I think that’s something that’s really caught our eye more than anything.”
(What’s your process for evaluating QB David Fales against QB Brock Osweiler for the No. 2 spot? Do you need to see all four preseason games?) – “I think it’ll probably be a little bit of a feel. As we go through the training camp practices and then when we get into the preseason, it’ll be interesting to see if somebody separates one from the other. That’s why we’re trying to give both of them equal amount of reps with different groups so we can get a clean evaluation. It’s going to be one of those things where does it feel like this guy is really accelerated? Are good things happening when one is in and it’s okay with the other? Sometimes that stuff kind of cleans up for you, especially when you get into the preseason games.”
(Wouldn’t you have thought you’d be there by now somewhat?) – “It changes. When you get into games … Practice is different. Sometimes when you’re doing a third-down period and the defense knows you are just going compared to the flow of a game when you’re in first and second down and then a third down shows up every once in a while. It’s a completely different feel in a game compared to practice.”
(What do you want TE Mike Gesicki to keep in mind throughout this training camp and through the season?) – “I think he just has to keep getting better, keep working on his knowledge of the game because a lot of times we’re running a route, he may have run the same route four different times and he’s seen four different coverages. I think the more that he keeps taking in and learning from, that’s going to be beneficial to him. Yesterday I think he lost his legs a little bit. We were kind of giving him a hard time about that but I think those are good that some of our younger guys are going through that right now and realizing ‘Okay, it’s not going to change.’ It’s about recovery, it’s about getting sleep, it’s about hydrating, all those things to put yourself in position to where when you go out there, you can make plays. Once we really start picking it up with some of the third-down stuff and the red area, I think you’ll see him kind of really start to be more involved.”
(What does QB Ryan Tannehill – it’s pretty well established that you think he’s performing at a high level – what particularly is he doing well that maybe in years past it took a little longer for him to get?) – “That’s tough one to really say exactly what it is. I think we were all trying to learn the offense and I’m trying to learn them, so I mean that was the early stages of the offense. Really, once we hit the spring last year, he was just trying to fine-tune more throws – the accuracy, the pinpoint accuracy – instead of missing throws a little bit. He was trying to put it exactly where he wanted it. This year, I think it’s even the next step. He’s trying to see things and get us out of plays and making sure that everybody’s on the same page. I just think it’s slowed down for him mentally as far as being able to communicate with guys. If a guy has a question, that’s not going to mess him up from what else he has to do. When you first get in an offense, sometimes you can get your mind all jumbled up and the next thing you know, you’re not paying attention to the coverage or you make a mistake and don’t see a guy kind of dropping in there at the safety position. I don’t think that stuff really gets him anymore. I think he’s able to kind of fix something and just keep the focus.”
(You mentioned with the backups that it’s obviously different in a game. We haven’t seen QB Ryan Tannehill in a game since December of 2016. What do you need to see to say ‘Okay, this is legit. What we see in practice is going to translate?’) – “I mean, he’s done the same … At least in my experience, what I’ve seen in practice, usually what I’ve seen is almost a better version (in games) because when you throw in tackling, and his ability … Because sometimes in practice you watch and you’re like, ‘Yes, we wouldn’t have got that throw off.’ Then when we get in a game, he stands in there and takes a good hit, but he doesn’t shy away from stepping into the throw and completes the ball. So some of the things that you think aren’t going to be real end up being real and he ends up making throws that you don’t expect him to make, and at the same time, I do think that his size and his ability to move, that’s beneficial to us because he gets us out of a lot of trouble and he helps the run game as well.
(RB Frank Gore had a nice run today. Do you scratch your head when you turn on the tape, the age of this guy?) – “I’m not paying attention to his age anymore because, I mean, he doesn’t look different. I was with him 10 years ago and he looks the same. He does a phenomenal job. He’s been preparing. All spring all I heard about was ‘Wait until training camp, wait until training camp.’ I’m like ‘I’ve got you. I believe you, trust me.’ He is the last person I will ever doubt. Just seeing what he’s done through his career, starting in college, he’s proven every person wrong that ever doubted him.”
Charles Harris – July 27, 2018
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Friday, July 27, 2018
DE Charles Harris
(What is your goal to come out of this training camp with?) – “My goal to come out of training camp is to be the best player that I can. Just take one day at a time. I feel like last year as a rookie, you look at the whole schedule; but just take it one day at a time and come out here and work hard for it.”
(How much of a difference can it make for you the fact that now you know what to expect, this is not your first training camp anymore?) – “It makes it a whole lot different. It’s the awareness of knowing how much time you’ve got throughout the day, know how to manage your time. Being a year in, it’s like you know more about recovery, you know more about how to get your mental right, how to get your spirit right and everything like that, physically and emotionally, all of that stuff. It’s a lot better.”
(Does it feel more comfortable and a lot less like you’re scrambling trying to catch up like last year?) – “Yes, not comfortable; but like I said, every day is a challenge. I don’t know. It’s less of a burden, for real. I don’t know. It’s just free. Just playing free.”
(Is the objective to add to your pass rush moves, maybe add something else or to polish the ones you already have?) – “Just really polishing what I’ve already got. Get me two or three moves that I can do consistently and perfect them. I feel like as a young defensive end, especially myself, I can do almost everything in the book. Sometimes we have too many moves. So, we’re just simplifying it and going with my go-tos.”
(They added DE Robert Quinn in the offseason. How much does that extra veteran presence helping you?) – “It’s helping a lot. Quinn, he’s a great guy. He doesn’t speak that much, but when you ask him anything, he’s right there for you. Also, it’s a different form of pass rush. Him and Cam (Wake), they’ve got two different varieties. I’ve got a power rushers and I’ve got a finesse rusher at the same time, so it’s great. I feel like I can combine both of them and be one of the greatest.”
(At any point did you think that they’re adding this guy, DE Robert Quinn’s had a season where he’s had 19.5 sacks, this affects me a little bit?) – “What do you mean?”
(As far as playing time?) – “Affect me?”
(Yes.) – “No, it doesn’t affect me. It doesn’t affect me at all. It adds to the team. We’ve got one goal in mind, that’s to get to the ‘ship, so it helps everybody.”
(How was your offseason as far as changing your body? You’re working on pass rushing moves, what did you do football-wise?) – “Football, I did a lot football-wise, working out-wise, all of that kind of stuff. I feel like I just got better mentally, spiritually and things like that. Being able to take care of my family, get stuff done off the field and understanding grace and stuff like that. I’m better mentally. Mentally is going to transition everything else.”
(Anything change as far as measurables – put on weight or put on muscle, add more speed or change your diet?) – “Change in diet. But like I said, everything I did mentally helped me out physically.”
(When you say mentally, what does that mean?) – “I’m talking about understanding … Like I said, understanding grace, understanding what it actually means worship instead of just work. A lover will always outwork a worker. At first last year, I was just checking boxes every day. I came in, I punched in, I punched out. This year it’s like I love it. I love it because I understand what it means to work. This is my work and use it as my worship.”
(How did you make that step? How did you put it together? Was it you? Did Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek help or DE Cam Wake?) – “No, I just prayed on it. That’s all that happened.”
(Do you still feel like you’re getting a big opportunity here?) – “Light is always going to shine. I feel like you can’t contain nobody. You can’t keep anybody off the field. It’s the coaches that make sure everybody is out there, makes sure the best players are out there. That’s something they handle, who plays and all of that kind of stuff. Like I said, I’m going to take it every single day and work as hard as I can and we’ll see on game day.”
(You’ve been working a lot with DE Andre Branch. Branch was hurt most of the year. Does he look like he’s back? Does he look good to you?) – “He’s always good. To me, I didn’t know Branch was hurt. Branch is Branch. Everybody is 100 percent. Everybody is good.”
(When you prayed on things in the past how has that been? Did you pray on being a first-round pick or in college, how has that worked for you in the past?) – “It’s the same thing, you don’t know which seed it’s going to be that you plant. I feel like I’ve always throwing seeds, always sending prayers up. Like I said, you don’t know which ones are actually going to reach heaven or which ones are actually going to come to fruition. This offseason I just prayed a lot, prayed about my lifestyle, prayed about things off the field. Before you know it, just like Revelation, I asked God for Solomon-like wisdom and he blessed me with it. Since then, I’ve been in my word and waking up with grace every day, taking it one day at a time and responding to life better. No matter what happens, everything is good.”
(How do you grade the season you had last year?) – “I don’t know how to do that. I’m not a grader. (laughter)”
(Are you satisfied with how you played?) – “Yes, for sure. I feel like every time I go out there … I feel like the best game I look at is the Kansas City game. People don’t understand what happened before that game. Only the coaches and everybody here knows what happened before that game. Everything that happened before that game, what happened in that game and at the end of the game with me getting hurt at the end of that game, it was just a wake-up. I feel like that’s the one game I look at and I feel like I reflect back on all the time.”
(How can you take that momentum that you had last year into this season?) – “I’ve got to take it into camp. That’s what I’ve been doing here lately is just working as hard as I can during camp. I know it’s all going to pay off. Like I said, I’m sowing seeds. I’m just waiting on the harvest.”
(It’s hard for us because we get limited interaction with you; but do you seem a little bit more up-beat than you were last year? Is that accurate?) – “Yes, that’s 100 percent. I was in a dark place last year, for sure. As a rookie, I was in a dark place. Now I’m cool. Like I said, I understand grace. I understand that everything that happened the way it was, it was for the better of me and my family and everything like that. I understand that everything I do on the field and off the field affects everybody around me. I’ve got me a community down here being in Florida, being away from how, and that was a big thing. Now I have a community, I’ve got friends, I have everything I need to get to the top.”
(When you say dark place, does that mean just because you were in a new place, a new environment?) – “Yes, a new environment and adjusting to having wealth. All of that kind of stuff, not knowing how to deal with it. Now, I have an understanding. There was a lot of confusion. I felt like I was confused last year a lot; but now I understand why everything has happened the way it did and I’m blessed for it, and I understand it.”
(Is your faith the thing that removed that confusion?) – “Yes, like I said, I just sowed seeds. I just prayed about it, prayed about all of it. The thing about us is that we always want things to happen on our time. When we pray for something, we want it to happen instantly. You can’t push it. Sometimes prayers cancel out. I can pray to not be an angry person and then someone makes me mad, I can cancel that prayer right there; so I’ve got to keep praying and before you know it, like I said, I don’t know which prayer it was, all I know is I asked God for Solomon-like wisdom and before you know it, every time I read the word, I learn something new. Every time I’m in the community and people are talking about faith, I learn something new. It’s something that I’m hungry for, so I’ve been feeding spirit lately.”
(Briefly, the Kansas City week, what was going on there?) – “That’s the same thing. That was my opportunity just to give back. I feel like I was a dead seed last year, not being able to give back while I was in season. I was too busy. That’s the big thing about me, I can’t take in too much. I can’t take in too much without giving back. That was my opportunity to give back to my city, give back to my community. I just wanted to do that. That’s what I’m looking forward to this next offseason, just giving back and giving to the kids and using my platform to benefit him.”
(That was a big turning point for you?) – “Yes, the whole summer. I went to KAA, which is Kids Across America. I went out there and stayed with them. I went back to Mizzou and talked to my AIA director Nathan Buxman and all of those guys. I did a lot this offseason. I went down to Texas to a charity event, gave back to Lincoln (Lincoln College Preparatory Academy). There was a lot of stuff I did. A lot of stuff.”
(A lot of giving?) – “Yes; but it’s like me using what I’ve already been given. I’m using my talents and not burying them. I feel like last season I buried them. I kind of stayed closed off and cut a lot of friends off; but that’s not what I was meant to be. I’m supposed to give back.”
