Josh Rosen – September 20, 2019
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Friday, September 20, 2019
QB Josh Rosen
(So your reaction to being named the starter?) – “I’m excited. I’m very excited. I’m looking forward to going out and play and fight another day.”
(Were you surprised, I guess with the timing, that it happened this week?) – “I don’t know. I didn’t really have any expectations. I was just trying to just practice as hard as I could day in and day out. When (Head Coach Brian Flores) told me to get in the first two games, I just put my best foot forward so I didn’t really have any expectations.”
(Obviously this is what you’ve been looking forward to since the time you got here, but just how your time last year starting 14 games – how did you feel that prepared you moving forward especially as you take on Dallas’ defense?) – “I think any experience is good experience. I’ve got plenty of things that – I remember even saying Sam Bradford teaching me throughout the dog days of training camp in Arizona that I still take with me, and ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) has been an unbelievable help really since I got here. I think to answer your question, any experience is good experience.”
(This will be your chance to lead this team now as the quarterback. How do you approach things differently as far as the locker room presence?) – “I don’t think drastically differently. I think you just sort of gradually come into that role, but I’m not going to do anything tomorrow or the next day that I did drastically different from yesterday.”
(What is your leadership style?) – “A lot of it is very relationship-based. I think you’ve got to know the buttons you can push and where with certain guys. I like establishing a friendship and connection with a lot of the guys that I’m playing with and get to know them and know that I’m as invested in them as I hope they are in me and this team’s success. That and then the vocal aspect will come with time, but I’m not really a big ‘rah-rah’ guy. I don’t do a lot of motivational speeches and stuff, but I’ll definitely pull guys aside and try to have tough or easy or any kinds of conversations just to try and make sure we’re all headed in the same direction.”
(Why do you think you’re in this role now as a starter? What have you focused on most over these past few weeks that have elevated you to No. 1?) – “I think just consistency. Just being able to consistently get a little bit better every day. I didn’t know what the threshold was, but in Coach Flo’s (Head Coach Brian Flores) mind, there was a threshold at which would be enough for him to name me that starter. I just put my head down for the last couple months, and I guess I hit it.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores said he thought you kind of saw an opportunity to seize this job. Is there anything you kind of changed your mindset going into this week that said, “hey, this is up for the taking for me?”) – “Kind of. Maybe a little bit, but I think I got the message in the first game when he put me in at the end that there’s some kind of time clock clicking. It was just sort of my responsibility to get all my stuff right, I guess you could say; but when he put me in the first game, I kind of understood the situation where everything was heading. I just had to patiently wait and keep grinding and know that inevitably it was coming.”
(How does this offense get better?) – “Execution. I think it’s a really complex system coming from New England. I think it’s only a matter of time before enough of these reps and enough of these game reps and practice reps, we’ll get it down and slowly improve. I’m hoping and rooting for dramatic improvement, but I don’t think we’re going to go out and score 100 touchdowns and throw for a million yards. I think the key is just to keep grinding away, don’t do anything drastically different than what we’ve been doing, to trust the process and just continually try to get better and better over time. Obviously right now, we need a spark, and I’m going to try and provide that spark; but not by doing anything crazy out of the ordinary from what I’ve done that’s gotten me up to this point in my career.”
(That being said, what is a realistic expectation for how you can play?) – “I don’t know how to say this without getting myself in trouble. (laughter) But I like to think I’m a pretty aggressive player. We have really good athletes on our team and I’m going to try and let them be the ballers that they are. I think I have a bit more of – I think ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) is a very explosive player as well. I think we all realized that last year. But I think we have different play styles and hopefully mine provides some part of spark to the team.”
(We saw even in the late games you went in you were taking those shots deep whether it was to WR Jakeem Grant or some of those other guys. Is that what you’re mentioning where you may be able to take a few of those deep chances to create some of those big plays?) – “Yeah, absolutely. At the same time, you have to know when to taper it back a little bit and play more diligently. That’s been the battle of my – me against myself – throughout my entire career as I’m a very aggressive player. But sometimes I’ll take chances that’ll be like, ‘Oh, oh. Good job.’ Great in the moment, but sort of that affirmation that it worked. Maybe the next time it doesn’t, it isn’t a good thing.”
(Where do you think you are now in terms of reading defenses and keeping the offense on schedule?) – “Better than yesterday. I don’t know. To give you a frame of reference in terms of against what, but better than I’ve ever been and I’m just continuing to try to improve upon it.”
(There has been a lot of talk about this team and the future and them drafting a quarterback and all the different stuff. Head Coach Brian Flores said he advised you to focus on now, but does that cross your mind at any point what this team’s future and long-term plans are?) – “Yeah, absolutely. You definitely think about it to an extent, but it doesn’t really change anything I do or affect it. I’ve got ears and I’ve got eyes. (motions to the TV in the media room) I’m watching something is going on with (John) Harbaugh and Andy Reid. You see and you hear things, but it does or doesn’t affect you. You try to not let it affect you.”
(Both you and briefly Head Coach Brian Flores has mentioned QB Ryan Fitzpatrick’s role in helping you get ready for Sunday. What are some examples that he’s done to help prepare you to start?) – “All kinds of stuff. ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick), as a veteran of his stature, he’s got a good amount of say even within the game plan. I think he’s someone that even a couple of coaches lean on here and there. With me specifically, he helps me with study techniques that have been good with him throughout his career, helps me with different ways of seeing particular defenses, different little tips. I think in football when, a lot of the times you game plan so heavily, you have a million things to look at; but when you get onto the field and you have to snap the ball, you can’t look at a million things. You got to realize what’s the important information that I need and how do I use that information to execute this particular play. ‘Fitz’ has been probably most helpful with trying to understand what information is valuable with regards to defenses and your own plays and trying to play fast on the field.”
Brian Flores – September 20, 2019
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Friday, September 20, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(You made a change at quarterback after – we assume – them having equal reps of competition this week. What went into that decision?) – “Like I said, we gave them both reps each week. We liked where Josh (Rosen) was. He had two good days of practice. We decided to make the move after a good practice yesterday. It wasn’t just the two practices. He had been practicing well up to this point. We felt like that was the right move for the team.”
(Was there something I guess that changed your mind from when you were telling us it was QB Ryan Fitzpatrick early on in the week to when you made the decision with QB Josh Rosen?) – “He made some good throws. He had good practices. I think he maybe saw an opportunity and jumped at it in practice really well. Not to say that wasn’t the case in previous weeks. He’s been practicing well. We felt like it was the right move for the team. Again, I’ve been with Josh – his development is very important to me. So I never wanted to throw him in there too quickly; but I do think he’s ready. I think he’s shown me that he’s ready to go.”
(How much improvement has QB Josh Rosen shown you in regards to reading defenses and late throws?) – “There’s been a lot of improvement. That’s something that we’ve focused on really since he got here – reading defenses, making quick decisions, pushing the ball downfield when it’s the right time to do those things, getting in and out of the huddle, managing the game correctly, limiting mistakes and turnovers and things of that nature. I think mentally, he’s processing all of that a little bit better. I think he’s ready to go.”
(How did QB Ryan Fitzpatrick handle the news?) – “Obviously he was disappointed. He’s a competitor. He loves to play; he wants to play. He was disappointed and if he wasn’t disappointed, then that would be a bad thing. That’s the case for every player on the team. They all want to play. We only have 11 guys that can play at a time. So yeah, there was disappointment; but the one thing I’ll say about ‘Fitz’ is the way that he’s handled this, it’s been impressive. He’s grabbed Josh (Rosen), he’s got him up on the white board, ‘What do you think of this? What do you think of that?’ (He’s) talking him through different protections and talking him through different QB processes. That’s been really encouraging. Again, it’s a tough situation. A lot of guys would be angry. But here’s a guy who is so selfless and his willingness to put the team first, I’m really impressed by that.”
(What are your hopes and expectations for DE Taco Charlton?) – “He’s been here for five hours? My hopes are that he comes in, learns how we do things, gets into the playbook, learns the defense and knows what time the meetings are. I like to take simple steps through the process. But from a football standpoint, learn what we’re doing defensively – alignments, assignments, our techniques. He’s a smart kid. Just spending some time with him, he understands fronts and rush techniques and games, stunts. They do a good job of coaching in Dallas. They’ve got some good coaches there, specifically (Defensive Coordinator) Rod Marinelli, so he’s been well-coached. There is some carryover from what they did and some of the things that we do. I’m excited within the first few hours about the possibilities and the potential; but he has to take advantage of that. Again, the first thing I told him was, ‘You’ve got to be ready to compete. We’re not giving away any jobs here.’ He’s going to have to fight for his opportunities on the field. He understands that. In a lot of ways, he relishes it, which I was excited about. It will take some time but hopefully we can get him going.”
(DE Taco Charlton’s skillset is what? What intrigues you? What things physically does he do that intrigues you and General Manager Chris Grier?) – “Well, he’s big, he’s long, he’s strong. He has good pass-rush potential. We’ve had him for a few hours. What I saw of him today, I was happy with. But like any other player, the goal for him is to improve, learn the defense, get better on a daily basis and if you do that, then the results will come.”
(A lot of guys have come down here and played days after arriving. Is there a possibility that he can play against his old team?) – “Yeah, there’s a possibility. It would be a tough thing to do, obviously. He wants to play. The kid loves football. That’s clear. He wants to play. Hopefully if we can get him up to speed, then maybe (he can play Sunday). That’s a tough thing to do though. No promises on that; he knows that. He’s been in meetings, he’s been asking questions, he’s very eager to get in there and whether it’s scout team to defense. With that type of attitude, he’ll be in there sooner than later.”
(Does QB Josh Rosen have a chance to prove to you that he can be your long-term answer here at QB?) – “I think for Josh, what he needs to do is focus on his preparation for the next 48 hours leading into the game, and then taking one play at a time. I think that’s kind of the best approach for him – to take a long view on this. Then you start thinking about five or 10 years from now, then you’re not really locked in on right now. That would be my advice to him. Is there potential for that? Yeah, obviously. There’s always potential for that. But I think when you start to think that far ahead, you lose a little bit of right now. Again, you don’t know the difference between making that throw on third down and not making that throw on third down. Maybe it’s – I know I’ve said this before – one more play of film he could have watched and one less thought about 10 years from now. That’s kind of always my approach with players and really anybody.”
(Are you confident that QB Josh Rosen will have adequate protection considering you guys gave up seven sacks last week and the line is still in a flux situation?) – “I think every week, that’s at the top of our priority list – protecting the quarterback. We didn’t do a good job of it last week. We need to do a better job. Obviously that’s a point of emphasis. I am confident that we’ll get him protected. Look, it’s a tall order. They’re got a really good rush. We know that. The players know that. The coaches know that. We’ll do everything possible to get him protected but it’s going to take us getting aligned, knowing our assignments, executing the fundamentals, the techniques, play after play after play after play against a good team that’s physical, that’s fast, that has good players. It’s a tall task; but I think this team is up to that. They’ve worked hard this week and we’re going to need – if we’re going to have a chance, we’re going to have to protect the quarterback. It’s at the top of the priority list.”
Michael Deiter – September 19, 2019
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Thursday, September 19, 2019
G Michael Deiter
(What’d you learn from the Patriots?) – “There’s a lot of stuff they did with picks, twists that you need to have better awareness, better technique, all that stuff. Every week, there are going to be different things that pop up where you go, ‘I need to have better technique there, better awareness here, better communication here. Every week there’s going to be different stuff.”
(How much different is this compared to college?) – “It’s a lot different, but sometimes it isn’t. it’s football, no doubt. But it’s really good football. It’s the best football you’re going to play. The people you’re going to go against are better than you’ve seen before. The competition is different. The guys you play against are so smart. They’re smart. They’re mature. They’re pros, so it’s just different. It’s a lot different.”
(You obviously came in as a very polished run blocker because of the Wisconsin offense and your talents, but you’ve held up as a pass blocker. I don’t think there’s been a sack that a metric site has charged against you. Have you been pleasantly surprised at how you’ve done as a pass blocker?) – “No. I would say I’ve done not a good enough job as a pass blocker. That’s something I need to get a lot better with, and the run game. You said ‘polished,’ but I don’t think so. I think there’s a lot I can get better with. Especially with protection, I can get a lot better with some stuff. I’m definitely super jacked about my performance in the pass game. I want to get better.”
(Have you studied any linemen on tape, any NFL linemen?) – “Not since I’ve been here, no. I’ve just been (doing) whatever ‘Guge’ (Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo) wants me to do technique-wise. That’s what I’m studying now – whatever he wants me to do.”
(And were there major technique changes that you had to make from what you learned in May and June under former Offensive Line Coach Pat Flaherty compared to what Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo wants you to do?) – “Nope, not really. (There are) a lot of similarities and a couple differences here and there.”
Preston Williams – September 19, 2019
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Thursday, September 19, 2019
WR Preston Williams
(Your communication with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick – has it continued to grow as the days go by?) – “Yes, definitely. I’m starting to get a better understanding of just what ‘Fitz’ wants me to do, just slowing the game down. When I first got here, it was kind of fast – just coming from college, the transition. But, ‘Fitz’ took me under his wings and showed me the way. ‘Fitz’ has been in the league for a long time. He’s a vet. He is just telling me that it’s football at the end of the day and these guys are better but they’re just more patient. I learned that. I watch film a lot, so I just watch film on them, and just try to diagnose their tendencies and everything.”
(It it the extra work too sometimes, because QB Ryan Fitzpatrick looks at you a lot?) – “Yeah. Over time, me and ‘Fitz’ became close, and just got our chemistry down better. It’s the same thing with Josh (Rosen). ‘Fitz,’ he’s a leader on this team. I look up to ‘Fitz,’ and everybody else does too. ‘Fitz’ knows what he’s talking about.”
Daniel Kilgore – September 19, 2019
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Thursday, September 19, 2019
C Daniel Kilgore
(As a leader here, have you taken on any responsibility in terms of trying to keep the spirits up of younger guys who might be deflated by the margin of defeat the first two weeks? Have you felt that necessary to do?) – “I think the guys have done a really good job of coming in and staying motivated. We’ve got a really young team and there’s not like a whole lot of guys that have been through this before. A lot of this is new for a lot of guys. The will and the want to win is that much higher. I’ve not had to say too much to anybody. Everybody has been willing to come in and tried to get better each and every day.”
(You’re always upbeat and have a good approach to things; but knowing that obviously it’s going to be an uphill struggle and a rebuilding year, how have you handled it from a personal standpoint? Has it gotten you down or deflated you at all?) – “I’ve been through situations like this before. It’s frustrating. My first three years, I was part of some really good teams. The last few years, it’s been tough. But for me personally, I try to separate work from going home. So kind of when I go home, I’m not completely zoned out away from work because I still have work to do and have film to study; but I go enjoy my time with my daughter and my wife and try to catch some (of a) break and stay off of social media, because I’m sure a lot of people have a lot of things to say. For me, it’s really kind of to get a break and still knowing at the end of the day that you’ve got a job to do and you come in every day and do that job.”
(You mentioned how frustrating it was the first two games. You know QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has been sacked several times. Does pride set in? Not that you didn’t have pride but does pride start to set in that you have to better protect him back there?) – “Yeah. That’s the No. 1 job for us is to protect the quarterback. When we’re not doing our job, it’s very frustrating. I’ve said this before: you’ve got to look at yourself in the mirror and see what I have to do better and see what the guys in the room have to do better, and start over every day and really keep building days and stacking days of getting to the point to where he’s not getting sacked. We have another great defensive line we’re going to this week and it’s going to be a large task for us because we have exposed ourselves a little bit in the first two games. But this group has done a really good job of preparing for this Sunday.”
(Do you think rebuilding is either when you have a lot of young guys in terms of they’re just happy to be in the league and might not get caught up in why the roster isn’t better?) – “I don’t know about the rebuilding part. I think the younger guys are quicker to want to do better. If you had an older crew, they might get down and be like ‘Gosh, it’s not how it used to be,’ or something like that. They’re motivated to get better. Again, this offensive line room has done a really good job of staying motivated.”
(Not to reveal any game-plan specifics but is it safe to say adjustments have been made on this offensive line – as we just talked about – to better protect QB Ryan Fitzpatrick?) – “Yeah. It’s just more or less staying inside out, winning our individual battles, communication – it’s going to be loud at AT&T Stadium. That’s a real generic protection deal. That’s every team. That’s all 32 teams of communicating and making sure everybody is on the same page.”
Brian Flores – September 19, 2019
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Thursday, September 19, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I know we’ve moved on past the S Minkah Fitzpatrick trade, but there was one thing that would bother me if I didn’t ask you, and it’s a better question for you than for General Manager Chris Grier. I know last year, Minkah, when he was in slot – his coverage area was 49 passer rating against. On the boundary, 80 passer rating against. One number is exceptional. One number is good. Why not just allow him to play one of those or both of those spots and relent to his request to do that and move forward with the player?) – “I would say that is – I’m really – My focus is on Dallas. Minkah is in Pittsburgh. We wish him all the best. I think he’s a good player. I think there was – I wish it could’ve been different; but the situation is what it is, and to spend energy talking about why this, why that – I’d rather spend my energy someplace else.”
(And one non-Minkah thing. Just as far as understanding your general philosophy, do you feel like the coach – and I can understand this if you feel this way – do you feel like the coach always should have final say in how a player used even if the player wants to be used differently? Is it the coach’s job to know, “hey, this is how you should be used. I don’t need to know your opinion about how you feel on the issue.”) – “Can you repeat the question?”
(Yeah, if a player asks you to play a certain position – if he expresses a preference – is your opinion as the coach always should be the one to make that decision and the coach should never acquiesce to the player about he wants to be used? Not S Minkah Fitzpatrick specifically, obviously – a general philosophy question.) – “I would say, I think there are multiple answers to that. Yes, as a coach, you want to put a player in a position he feels comfortable in, as well as a position that we feel is best for that particular player and for the team. I think the player – in our building – most players feel the same way. I think we’re always trying to put guys in the best position to help the team. That will never change. Sometimes, players are in positions where they aren’t as comfortable, but they’re doing it and for the team, so that’s kind of my thought there.”
(Regarding LB Sam Eguavoen, he’s a guy who we know has played pro football but not NFL football through two games which is a small sample size. What have you observed about him? How has the transition been for him?) – “I think he’s done a good job. I think this is a guy that’s tough. He’s smart. He works extremely hard. He’s in here early. He stays late. I think he’s played well in the kicking game. He’s gotten some opportunities defensively and played well there. Hopefully he continues to improve and grow. I think we’ve got a good player there.”
(Has there been anything on the field that LB Sam Eguavoen has done well whether it’s reading his keys or coverage or attacking plays or anything along those lines?) – “I would say he’s gotten better in every area – reading his keys, coverage, tackling, fitting the run – and I think that’s kind of showed up in games a little bit. There’s obviously some things he could do better. He’s working on those. Communication. He’s done a lot of good things. Football is very important to him. He’s obviously taken advantage of an opportunity here, and hopefully he continues to do that.”
(You guys have produced three sacks in two games. Where is your comfort level with not just the sacks, but the amount of pressures that you’re getting as a team?) – “I think we need to do a better job there. It’s something we’ve talked about as a staff – how to create more pressure whether it’s blitzing more or five-man pressure or just winning one-on-one rushes. It’s something we’ve talked about. Obviously we’ve got to put the opponent into those passing situations to create those opportunities. We need to do more of that. I think it’s – there’s a lot that goes into it, and we have to do a better job overall as a team. We’ve talked about that as a staff, and hopefully we get an opportunity to do that on Sunday.”
(Barring QB Ryan Fitzpatrick being ill or hurt, can you now say with certainty he’ll start Sunday, or is there still some question about that?) – “Yeah, right now he’s the starter. Again, we split reps every day. Josh (Rosen) has had to go in both games. He’ll be ready to go if we need him; but yeah, that’s where we’re at.”
(How has QB Josh Rosen responded this week at practice with the leg after being rolled up on Sunday?) – “Well, he went right back in the game. He responded well. It’s the first couple of weeks of the season. Everybody has a ding or a bruise. Guys are playing through some things. It’s no different for him, and I think he’s working through it.”
(How is G Michael Deiter doing?) – “I think he’s – He’s a rookie. He’s leaning how to play in this league. From an assignment standpoint, from a communications standpoint, he’s been good. From a technique, fundamentals, execution standpoint against two good defenses, I think he’s done a good job; but I think it could always be better. I think every experience is a good one for him, especially as a young player. I like where he’s going. I’d say he’s trending up.”
(What type of role are you looking for out of S Doug Middleton – the safety you signed yesterday?) – “Doug – My first thought goes to the kicking game. He’s had some – Obviously he’s fast, he can tackle, he’s tough. There’s some things I like about him from that standpoint. As a defender, and really in the kicking game as well – he’s been here one day, so there’s a lot to take in. What are we doing in the kicking game, what are we doing defensively – he’s been here a day. We’re still trying to figure out what he can do defensively. He’s got some experience in the kicking game. I think that’s kind of where we would start.”
(Obviously S Steven Parker has been here for – I think this his third week. Does he have a comfort level with the defense and do you have a comfort level to put him out there with the starting unit?) – “He’s gotten much more comfortable each day he’s been here. I like Steve. He works really hard. He’s spent a lot of time with our younger coaches, as well as ‘T.O.’ (Safeties Coach Tony Oden) and (Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Cornerbacks) Josh (Boyer), getting up to speed on what we’re doing. He’s a lot more comfortable now than he was when he got here. He’s obviously played a little bit the past couple of weeks, and I like what I’ve seen. I like what I’m seeing at practice. Again, this is another guy who football is important to him and he wants to take advantage of his opportunities. I think he’ll do that.”
(We’ve seen a lot of snaps for DE Avery Moss. I know obviously you started the year with DE Jonathan Ledbetter at the spot before he got hurt. One, how has Avery played with all of those snaps? And two, would your hope be to emerge from this year with at least one young defensive end who you can eyeball and say ‘okay, this guy could be a part of our future?’ Whether it’s those two, whether it’s DE Dewayne Hendrix on practice squad, somebody like that?) – “I think Avery, again he’s been here three weeks. He’s a guy who’s worked extremely hard to pick up the defense, to learn a couple of different positions, to get adjusted to a new climate, to find a place. There is a lot of other things that go into this, for these newer players. I think he’s done a good job. He’s gone into games and played tough and played smart. He’s given us some good snaps. I’m happy with where he’s at. As far as your question about coming out of the – really, I’m focused on one day at a time. But I think we have a lot of good young players on this team who are all developing, who are all working to get better. I’m seeing improvement on a daily basis, and I think, hopefully, it continues on that trajectory.”
(I’m just curious what you thought. It seems players have been a little bit more empowered recently, not just with S Minkah Fitzpatrick but with Jacksonville CB Jalen Ramsey and some of the players across the league feel like they can ask out or say they don’t want to be somewhere. What are your thoughts as a coach on that seeming to happen more frequently?) – “Me personally, as a guy who has built a career on building relationships with players, that’s one thing that I would say – it’s not disheartening; but as a guy who has built his career on building relationships, you hate to see that. That’s kind of how I felt about the Minkah situation. But like everything else, you deal with a little adversity and you have to move on, get better and try to improve the team. As far as what happens around the league, I’m not there. I don’t know what those situations are like. I really don’t have much of an opinion on it, to be honest with you. It’s not something I think about.”
(What is something that you’ve learned in cultivating relationships with players in the past month as players have requested trades?) – “I’m just always going to be myself. I’m always going to be honest, transparent, tell them the truth. I think that’s been the case. I’ll always be that way. I think that’s the best way to approach really any situation. I like that we’re getting that and I want that to be something that’s reciprocal. I think that’s the best way to build trust. Ultimately in this game, you need trust from coaches to players to the different groups. When you have that, it’s a really good thing and it’ll help you win. We need to continue to build that.”
Ryan Fitzpatrick – September 18, 2019
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Wednesday, September 18, 2019
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
(How hard is it to try to put offensive drives together when the scoreboard isn’t in your favor during these games?) – “I think the first two (games) – when they get out of hand like that, you get out of your base offense. (You’re in) more of a 2-minute mode, trying to get some stuff downfield. I think both times in the second half of the first two games, it was a lot of that. We just have to be better early. We want to start fast, and it’s always a point of emphasis for teams; but that’s been a tough thing for us, especially the last game. Starting fast – which didn’t happen – and good, positive plays on first down, which didn’t really happen. Those are things that we’re focusing on and emphasizing.”
(So not only are you not able to execute the game plan, but you’re having to divert what you do offensively because of how the second half is unfolding. Is that what you’re saying?) – “You get into a different mode where you get away from the run game a little bit and you start throwing the ball a lot more trying to play catch up and come from behind. That’s a mode that you want to try to avoid and stay out of, which means you’ve just got to play better early on.”
(As the voice of experience on this team, what kind of sage advice can you give these younger players at this point in the season?) – “It’s only Week 3, right? So just come to work every single day, put your head down and just do your job. Focus on doing your job and do the best you can at what you’re doing, and if you do that and you get better, then collectively the team is going to get better. That’s our message right now, focusing on us and trying to do a better job individually, which collectively will bring everybody up.”
(Is there a different mental or emotional impact on you when these big losses happen the way they do?) – “I think sometimes they are harder to put behind you. A lot of times with a loss – whether it’s a 1-point loss or what we’ve seen the last few weeks – you’re always kind of down for a little bit. To have two in a row, maybe it lingers a little bit longer but by Wednesday, you’ve got to put all your focus and energy into the next team and the next game. I would say that may be one of the differences.”
(How have you found ways to compartmentalize some of these current struggles?) – “That’s it. You have to – that word – you just have to compartmentalize everything that you’re doing and put it behind you and put all your focus into this week. That’s it. It’s a difficult thing to do sometimes, but as a football player and really as a quarterback, that’s how you do it. You block out the noise. It’s the other way, too. When you’re winning and everybody’s happy and you’re doing so great, you still have to put that on the back burner and really focus on what you’re doing because every week presents different challenges.”
(Was there a part of you that was wondering if you’d start this week after how the first two weeks have gone?) – “I’ve seen it every way – I truly have – between a lot of different instances. Starting because of suspension, starting because of a guy breaking his jaw, not being in, then being in, not being in and having somebody tear his ACL and being in – there’s a million different things and ways that it’s happened in my career. For me, always being ready and knowing that when I have my opportunity, I’ve got to go out there and do my best. My whole career has been like that, and I’ve just tried to do my best and putting my focus into what I can control. The first two games – obviously, there’s a lot of things that I need to do better in order for us to perform better, and that’s what my focus is on right now.”
(Have you ever had to share the job where you’re playing and the other guy’s playing and you’re playing and the other guy’s playing?) – “There’s never the two-man – like you would see in college, like the platoon – you don’t really see that in the NFL, so that’s not really something that happens. You’re-in-or-you’re-out-type deal.”
(Do you find it more beneficial in general when a teammate or teammates is having problems with drops to just not talk about it because it’s such a mental thing or to actually openly discuss it?) – “I think it’s unique and different for every guy, but it’s not – there are certain things. There’s the elephant in the room. There are certain things, whether it’s the Minkah (Fitzpatrick) trade or Laremy (Tunsil) or Kenny (Stills) or dropping the ball or throwing an interception that some people treat them as taboo, but it’s really – you just have to be open about it and put everything out there. (You) know that guys are going to make mistakes but maybe getting to the root of why it’s happening. That’s not just for drops. That’s for bad decisions, bad throws, all that stuff; but I think as a whole, just overcommunicating on all that and getting it out there is an important thing.”
(You mentioned the “elephant in the room” topics. Do you guys as a team kind of discuss those topics maybe as we do? Like do you mention the trades or different big things that happened about the team?) – “A lot of this stuff, it’s got to be talked about and put out there, and then you move on. That’s kind of the way that it’s been handled.”
(Has it been discussed that this roster doesn’t seem like it has the talent right now to compete? Is that something that was brought up among you guys?) – “No, I mean guys – with transactions happening, that’s brought up (like) whether guys are here or not here or who’s getting brought in, who’s not. That stuff is just open and honest and gets discussed right away, and then you move on and again, just bury your head in the game plan and what you can do every day to improve.”
(Having said that, how hopeful are you that the dust has kind of settled – at least with major moves at the top of the roster?) – “In the NFL, you never know. Especially as the season goes on with injuries and different things as well, it’s just part of it. There’s always a revolving door of players coming in and out. You’ve got to do your best to control what you can control.”
(How do you feel about the overall talent level of the first four opponents on the Dolphins’ schedule?) – “(They’re) really, really good teams obviously. The thing is, it’s the NFL. There’s talent everywhere. Obviously especially the first three weeks in what I’ve seen and now what I’ve looked at for this week with Dallas, they are very talented teams. Dallas has a great defense. The things that they’ve done, they’re playing very well offensively right now; but what we’ve looked at, they do a great job on defense and rallying to the ball and making plays. The speed of their defense – all that kind of shows up on tape. Physicality.”
(There was a story they brought up during the broadcast that you were getting texts during the week that people thought you might be asking for a trade because of the name “Fitzpatrick?”) – “Yeah, I think something flashed on ESPN, and I got a couple ‘what the –‘ you know, ‘what’s going on?’ (laughter) It was Minkah. (laughter) You know, that kind of deal.”
(This might be a good time to revisit the trademark thing?) – (laughter) “None of that was my idea. That wasn’t me.”
Jerome Baker – September 18, 2019
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Wednesday, September 18, 2019
LB Jerome Baker
(On practice this week.) – “Nothing has changed. We still go out there and go to work. Our mentality didn’t change. If we want to go out there and win, ultimately we have to get better during the week. Today was just another day to get better.”
(You guys always say, It’s the next game – one game at a time. You don’t even talk about what happened, and you just worry about Dallas, and just trying to get better?) – “Yeah. That’s the main focus. Just worry about what we can control, and ultimately we’ve got Dallas coming up. That’s a great team. We (need to) go out there and just get better during the week, and Sunday give it everything we got.”
(Is it difficult at times not to listen or watch what others are saying on the outside, with what has happened in the first two games, and the score? How you’ve been outscored.) – “It depends on the person really. For me, I feed off of it. When somebody says I can’t do something and talks about our defense, it really hits me. I go out there and try to push everybody as much as I can, and just give it everything I have so we can get wins on Sundays. That’s my approach. I take ownership of it.”
(When you say you feed off of it, you feed off the fact that people are saying what they are saying? I know you guys are 21 point underdogs going into Dallas on Sunday.) – “I mean, yeah. It depends on the guy. Some guys, they just can’t listen to it. My whole career, somebody always says something about me. I kind of embrace it and really just want to show that we can play great defense, and ultimately get a win.”
(Talk about this Dallas offense. They’ve got a weapon in in the air and they’ve got one on the ground.) – “Yeah. They’ve got some good weapons – (Amari) Cooper and ‘Zeke’ (Ezekiel Elliott). Their o-line is big. They have Dak (Prescott) back there. They definitely have some weapons. I know with the guys we have, we can definitely contain them. We just have to ultimately go out there and do our job, and we’ll be fine.”
(You’ve said that there is some who go off of the stuff that is being said about you and you want to prove yourself. There are others who might have the personality that two straight losses kind of get them down and lose motivation. How do you sort of even that out a little bit? Do players talk to each other and try to pick each other up?) – “That just comes with your leaders. Your leaders always have to stay positive. Your leaders always have to set the tone. That’s really just the leaders. My job is to lead and get this team going. That’s all I can do. I never put my head down because others are watching me. When it comes to days like this, we want to go out there and perform. Ultimately on Sundays, we have to perform our best.”
