Kenny Stills – May 21, 2019
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Tuesday, May 21, 2019
WR Kenny Stills
(What makes this group different?) – “I think it’s hard to tell right now. For us, we’re just trying to learn the terminology and get on the same page with the quarterback. I guess it will be up to you guys seeing how different this offense is when we perform in games in the preseason and then during the season.”
(What about the learning process?) – “It’s different. It’s been the first time that I’ve had to learn an offense in a couple years. I like the challenge. It’s fun because all of us are learning it together. ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) knows it for the most part, so he’s kind of teaching us a little bit; but it’s a new challenge for us and I like that.”
(How does QB Ryan Fitzpatrick know?) – “Just the terminology I guess and working in similar styles of offenses. They’ve used the same words. If you think about it, sports, football – all of the concepts are pretty similar, it’s just what we’re calling it. I think he just had some experience with these formations and with this terminology, so it’s made it a little bit easier for him than the rest of us. He’s been around the block a couple of times.”
(I wanted to ask you about the slot position. You played some of the slot in New Orleans. How difficult or easy would that transition be to make?) – “If you look at my numbers, I’ve done pretty well in the slot so it’s not something that I’m too worried about. Wherever they put me right now is where I’m at and I’m having fun with it. This game of football, it will be seven years for me now in the league and I’ve been playing since I was a little kid, so anytime you can get a new challenge, you have to learn something new, you’re trying to refine your game, it’s fun. That’s what I consider every day coming out here for work. It’s an opportunity for us to get better and to grow and build on what we’ve done in previous years.”
(Did you know QB Josh Rosen before the last couple of weeks?) – “I had worked out with Josh when he was in high school. We’ve had some communication through texts, just trying to be there as an older guy and as a mentor if he needed it. So yeah, we had a little bit of a relationship.”
(Did you work out with QB Josh Rosen before he was a member of the team?) – “It was when he was in high school and I was coming out for the draft.”
(What do you like about how QB Josh Rosen throws the football?) – “Really everything. I don’t know what the right word is for it, but it doesn’t look like it’s coming fast and then it gets in front of your face and you see that it’s spinning well and it has some velocity behind it. He’s a great player and he has a bright future. It’s just like everyone else, we’re trying to learn this offense, trying to build chemistry within the locker room and with the coaching staff. We have guys here. We just have to come together and put it together on the field.”
(I don’t know how much you’ve seen from the workouts from back in high school with QB Josh Rosen to now, but where have you seen any improvements that he’s made in a short time?) – “I’ve just seen what I’ve seen here. We’ve been out here for a couple of days and he’s only been here for a couple weeks. He’s a great player like I said, and he has a bright future, so I look forward to getting out there and trying to make some plays for him.”
(A lot of things are new on the team. The receiver room has a lot of familiar faces. Where do you see the competition in that room?) – “For us, it’s pushing each other every single day. A lot of people on the outside and even some of us ourselves know that we haven’t played our best football yet, being that we’ve had injuries, we’ve had guys fighting through injuries. I believe personally that I haven’t played my best football either. We’re pushing each other every day. We have little goals, we have big chips on our shoulders and we feel like we don’t really get any respect so we have to go out there and earn it.”
(Obviously, we’re not here for every OTA, but there were a lot of plays made out here by the receivers. Is that typical?) – “We come out here every day and try and do that: make plays. We call ourselves playmakers and we know that we have a bunch of talent in our room and we have to prove that. We have to go earn the respect of every one of our teammates and the quarterback. We’re just trying to be consistent. I can’t tell you if that’s every day or not, but we’re happy with today and then we’ll try to do the same thing when we’re back out here on Thursday.”
(What’s the pushup deal that we’ve seen where if you guys score a touchdown, the defense does pushups?) – “That’s just competition. Every once in a while, coach will tell us ‘This one’s for pushups.’ Whoever wins doesn’t have pushups and whoever loses has them.”
(We saw only one set of pushups for you guys today. It was probably the goal, right?) – “Yeah. In the red zone, in the scoring zone, it’s a lot for the defense as far as communication. It’s the same with the offense. We had our day, but the defense has been playing well these past couple of days too.”
(And you obviously yourself don’t put up with half pushups. We saw that happening out there.) – “(laughter) I like to talk a little trash to ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) and the defense. Whenever we can win and whenever we can take advantage of a day like this, it’s fun for us, the competition. We’re out here trying to build something and I think that’s what competition does.”
(I saw an old clip – maybe this will ring a bell for you, maybe not – of you at a summer camp where you saw a very young QB Josh Rosen and he stood out to you. He caught your eye. What do you remember about that?) – “As you progress, high school, college and to the league, you can tell the difference between quarterbacks with their timing and the way the ball comes out of their hand. I was just impressed with the fact that he didn’t know me, I didn’t know him, and we were able to get on the same page pretty quick. It’s really impressive for a young quarterback, being a college receiver about to go to the NFL. We had a really good throwing session at that point, and I just remember telling the receiver coach or quarterback coach that we were with that the kid had a bright future and that I’ll probably be playing with him one day. That was kind of a joke and then here he is.”
(So you have a future as an NFL scout after you’re playing?) – “I’ve been around ball since I was four, five, six years old. I love it. I love scouting and looking at talent. I guess I got lucky there.”
(I’m not trying to be corny, but have you and QB Josh Rosen kind of talked about where you guys were and now kind of being reunited like this?) – “Yeah, definitely in text conversation. It’s just kind of crazy how the world works.”
Davon Godchaux – May 21, 2019
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Tuesday, May 21, 2019
DT Davon Godchaux
(Are you ready to become a 3-4 defensive lineman?) – “I don’t have another choice. This is the team I play for. (Head) Coach ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) is doing a good job of emphasizing (and) ‘PG’, (Defensive Coordinator) Patrick Graham and the d-line coach (Marion) Hobby, are doing a great job of emphasizing techniques.”
(What are the challenges when you try to switch a scheme like that for a defensive lineman?) – “Last year, we were attacking. Now you have to read the blocks. That’s probably the biggest challenge for me. (I am) used to getting off the ball, trying to attack the offensive line. Now you have to read and watch where they’re going and playing more with your hands out in front of you.”
(How does this benefit you in terms of guys moving around and being so interchangeable?) – “It benefits a lot, because once you go to the room, any GM, any owner, any coach, once it’s time for you to do what you do, they want to see how can you play? Can you play a 3-4? Can you play a 4-3? I think playing both schemes is beneficial to me. Here, we’re going to play everything. You’ve got to get used to everything.”
(When you’re at the nose tackle position in the 3-4 formation, can you help us understand the ultimate responsibility for that snap?) – “The ultimate goal is to be a team player (at) my nose position. If I’m in 1-tech, play A-gap, 2-I, play the A-gap, if I move to a three-play B-gap. It’s the same thing we’re doing. We’re playing the same gap. We just went from attacking to read.”
(How comfortable are you playing end in a 3-4?) – “I’m very comfortable. The first couple days, (I was) a little rusty. Each and everybody was a little rusty. Speaking of myself, a little rusty. I’m coming out here each and every day, getting the techniques, going through the growing pains of the 3-4, 4-3 defense.”
(In terms of improving as a pass rusher, I know we talked last December that, that was a goal. Has the new staff worked with you that? Have you worked on that?) – “They’ve worked with everybody. I think Coach Hobby is doing a great job, hitting the big bags each and every day and emphasizing the small techniques. At the end of the day, what makes the good to great pass rushers are little small things.”
Daniel Kilgore – May 21, 2019
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Tuesday, May 21, 2019
C Daniel Kilgore
(Another year, another year where the line is in flux. How do you guys deal with that going year to year?) – “This is my second team and I’ve been through six head coaches and a bunch of offensive coordinators. Every year has been different for me. The biggest thing is that I’m the oldest in the room, which is new to me. These guys are young, they are eager to come to work no matter what they ask us to do, what position. Guys are jumping in and doing a good job of working every day.”
(You have a guy like OL Michael Deiter. Does he seem like a guy that can come in right away and make an impact?) – “He’s still a rookie. Any rookie is a big question mark, I don’t care of you first overall or third round. There is still a lot of room to grow, that’s just not for him but that’s across the board for everybody. From Year 9 to a rookie, it doesn’t matter. He’s obviously a talented player. He’s got a lot of upside to him as do the other guys too. All of the rookies do.”
(Being the oldest guy in the room. How does that affect how you go about your business?) – “It doesn’t. It doesn’t really. I’m usually the first one in and the last one out anyways. Being older takes a lot of time to heal the body. I sit a little bit longer in the hot tub and cold tub but nothing changes for me. I come to work ready to get better. I’ve been fortunate to be in this business for nine years and I’m still learning. This is my career and there is still room to grow for everything that I do.”
(How difficult was it to go through what you went through last season?) – “It was difficult, I will say that. It was the first time, spending seven years out west in the Bay area, there were a lot of nuances to everything and moving my family across the country. It was difficult but this is home now. I love South Florida. My wife and I love it and we love the fans here. This is a top notch, one of the best organizations you could ever work for in the National Football League. I’ve just enjoyed my time. Each and every day I come to work, I enjoy it.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores has spent a lot of time with us talking about competition and how he wants competition at every position. How has he gotten that message across to you guys and how often too?) – “You just look at our room and how much it has changed from last year. Just the new guys coming in and just across the board, not just in our room, but you get the message from top down. That’s coaching staff, that’s everybody from the front office to the coaching staff to the players. That’s the message. In the locker room, guys realize that everything is on the line here. ‘T.N.T.’ (takes no Talent) you’ve got to approach that every day (such as) being on time, taking care of yourself, being a professional. I’ve seen a big difference in guys this year from my whole nine years of guys adjusting to the professionalism that is being ask of them.”
(You’re a long established guy in the NFL. Do you feel like there is competition at your spot?) – “Yeah, there’s always competition at my spot. Always. You know just as well as I do that they are looking for younger and cheaper guys. (laughter) So there is always competition and if you don’t feel there is competition, then you’re in the wrong spot. For me it’s always, there might not be a guy rotating with me but I’m competing with myself. There is competition across (from me) lining up to the ball. We’ve got one of the best defensive lines and that’s my competition. I’m fighting against them every day. I’m fighting to get better with my offensive line. Competition, there are all kind of phases of it. It’s not just position battles or anything like that. Everybody has got their own ways.”
(How do you feel physically?) – “Old. (Laughter) No, I feel good. I feel good. This South Florida heat really keeps the joints feeling good. I feel pretty good.”
Kenyan Drake – May 21, 2019
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Tuesday, May 21, 2019
RB Kenyan Drake
(You have a new coaching staff. What are you trying to get done during the OTAs?) – “Just get better every day. (We are) putting a lot of new stuff in the offense so we’re just trying to make sure that we come out here and get everything executed. But it’s May, so you’re not going to win any games today. The things that we do right now are going to give us the platform to launch ourselves into the season.”
(Being so involved with the passing game, working so close with these quarterbacks, what have you seen early on?) – “The quarterbacks are going to put us in the best position to win. As a skill position (player), as a lineman, everybody has to do their one-eleventh and put themselves in the best position so we can come together as a group and be successful.”
(With the new coaching staff, they are obviously seeing you guys for the first time except for on film. Do you feel like you’re competing again for a starting job?) – “We’re just out here taking it a day at a time, making sure we put ourselves in the best situation to where when it comes to August, we can all win games. That’s my mindset.”
(It’s still early with the new coaching staff, but do you feel like you’d be able to run the ball a bit more in this offense than in the past few years?) – “That’s really up for them to decide. I put myself in the best situation to help this team win games no matter what. Whether that’s catching the ball, whether that’s running the ball or whether that’s special teams, or doing whatever they ask me to do, that’s what I’m going to do.”
(Are they moving you around a lot in this offense?) – “They are putting everybody in a lot of different situations to really test people’s mental, people’s psyche, people’s physical attributes. That doesn’t exclude me from that situation either.”
(From a leadership standpoint, what is it that the coaching staff wants to see out of the guys that have been around for a few years? How do you feel you are providing it?) – “Everybody is just doing their job. I feel like the coaching staff makes it very black and white with what they expect. They are going to keep it real with a lot of people in terms of going on the field, doing your job, not doing your job. A lot of lack of mental plays, you just have to go out there and make sure that you take the things that we talk about in the film room and apply them to the field and just go out here and make plays.”
(You’ve always been team first, you’ve never complained about lack of carries. Is there a part of you though that would like to see what you can do if you get the ball 15 to 18 times a game like you did the last five weeks of 2017, as opposed to 7 ½ carries last year?) – “I would like to win a lot more games, that’s my most important thing. Whether I get the ball five times or 25 times, if we’re winning games, everybody is going to get the accolades that they want.”
(What allows you to be at peace with that sort of thing, because there are some running backs who would say I want the rock 10, 15, or 18 times a game? You’ve never said that publicly.) – “Because my work is going to speak for itself. The work that I put in on and off the field is going to equate to the success I have on the field and ultimately everybody is going to try to get what they can from a very specific standpoint in terms of what they want. All in all, we went 6-10 last year. People had good stat seasons. I had over 1,000 (all-purpose) yards and almost double-digit numbers in touchdowns (but) whoop-dee-do. We didn’t go to the playoffs; we didn’t win enough games.”
Jakeem Grant – May 21, 2019
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Tuesday, May 21, 2019
WR Jakeem Grant
(Was your workload kind of the same today or were you able to get some good reps in?) – “I get great reps in. I take a few reps every period. But (I’m) just limited, just being smart. (I’m) not trying to overdo it and not trying to go out there and have a setback. (I’m) just going out here and being smart because we don’t have a game in two weeks.”
(Obviously it’s May, but are you itching kind of to get back out there or is it just kind of chomping at the bit a little bit wanting to get out there?) – “I’ll tell you, I hate watching. I hate watching. It’s like I always ask the trainers and the coaching staff, ‘Let’s do more, let’s do more.’ And in the back of my mind, I’m like, ‘I have to be smart as well.’ But I’m hungry. I didn’t get to finish the season. I felt like I was having a good season and so I’m just hungry now and I’m itching to get back with the guys and get back going full go.”
(What was the sense of relief knowing it wasn’t the Achilles, which everyone kind of feared it might have been?) – “It was a big relief because I’ve seen a lot of guys that, some guys don’t come back from it. With that being my first injury, it kind of messed with me mentally; but I’m over that mental hump and I’m just ready to go, ready to get back rolling with the team so I can provide for the team as good as I can.”
(What is the pain level, at all, out there right now?) – “The pain level, I actually don’t have any pain. I’d say it’s more stiffness, just getting warmed up. It takes a longer time to warm up than it normally did; but the pain level is all gone and I’m just ready to get rolling.”
(In the grand scheme of things, just being able to take part in any kind of OTAs, how big is that for you?) – “It’s very big. Just with them just allowing me to go out there and just do a couple of plays a series, just to get some trust in with the quarterbacks and with the receivers and with the new coaches, and just to show them that I’m still working up to be that guy for you guys so you can trust. And also just being smart at the same time.”
(How long is that transition process, not only for you, but for a lot of the receivers out there to learn a new quarterback, such as QB Josh Rosen or QB Ryan Fitzpatrick?) – “It takes a couple of weeks for the quarterbacks to get your speed (and) how quick you are in and out of the cuts. But I feel like ‘Fitz’ and Rosen, I feel like those guys are getting a good beat on how we break and how our movement is and just getting a great development of all receivers and just playing to our favor.”
(What goes into the push-ups that we saw? How does the unit know when it is their time to do that?) – “Defense, I think they do push-ups every, if we score in the red zone, because it’s hard to stop teams in the red zone. But they do a push-up every single time and then usually on the last play of that series, the winners don’t do push-ups, the loser does push-ups. It’s just to get the competition level high so we can talk trash a little bit and just make people do push-ups and just give us that momentum.”
(I notice you guys also have been running from drill to drill. How different is that? What do you think is the philosophy on that?) – “Coach (Flores) always harps on we’re going to be the most conditioned team in the league and I feel like he’s really pushing that. He got onto me one time. He was like, ‘Jakeem, what are you doing? Are you walking?’ I’m like, ‘No sir, no sir. I’m not walking.’ I also looked back at him to make sure he’s not walking. (laughter) And he gives me a little chuckle. I mean, he’s going to keep pushing that we’re going to be the most conditioned team in the league and I’m all for it. It’s hot out here and we get to play into our favor. People have to come play down here, and what he’s doing, I love it.”
(Last week, QB Josh Rosen joked that he kind of stumbled into a wide receiver meeting. Does he or even QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, do they ever sit in on meetings with you guys to try to acclimate themselves to you guys?) – “Yeah, there’s a couple of times that they came in and just gave us pointers on what they think we should do and just on checks and stuff and adjustments that they see on the field. I love when they come in there because we get to joke around with those guys. They have a great sense of humor, as well. But when they come into the room, it’s just like when a coach is talking. When they’re talking, we’re listening.”
(Who is funnier?) – “I’d have to give it to ‘Fitz.’ He’s a veteran guy that’s got a lot of years behind his belt. He’s been around. He’s just an overall goofball and then when we get out here and it’s time to be serious, he’s serious. But he’s a funny guy.”
(Which quarterback do you like more?) – “I like them both equally. I think both of those guys are great guys. (They are) definitely different personalities; but I love them both.”
(Forgive me if you answered this before I got here, but what percentage would you say you are health-wise?) – “I wouldn’t say a percentage. I would say I’m definitely not 100 percent. I feel like I’m working each and every day to get better and I just want to get to where I don’t have to think about if I’m worried about playing on my Achilles or am I worried about jumping off my left foot or anything like that. Every day is a stepping stone.”
(Considering the injury and everything else that you’ve gone through, how big is this season going to be for you? What’s kind of your thought process going into it?) – “This is bag season for me. I feel like last year, I kind of made a big name for myself in the return game. I feel like I’m going to continue to push a name for me in the return game. I want to be the best returner in the league and I want to be one of the top receivers in the league. So I’m going to continue to go out there and play as I am, the best (I can) at everything. I’m hungry because last year was cut short for me. I don’t have (any) regrets about it. I feel like that was an injury waiting to happen and I feel like I’m glad that it happened because now I’m going to come back stronger and faster and better. This season is very important to me because also we have a new coaching staff, a great coaching staff, with new guys and I just want to set a tone for the whole team and just show them that they can depend on me and that I’m one of the guys that they can have long-term.”
(This past week, there was an ESPN analyst who went through the Dolphins’ schedule and gave the Dolphins a loss for every single game. That seems unrealistic. When you heard that, what did you think?) – “I actually didn’t hear it until now. But to the analyst, I really appreciate it. I love being the underdog. I’ve been an underdog my whole life. So whenever we go into a place or into a game expecting to lose and we win, it just makes it that much sweeter. I’m happy that they’re counting us out because once we win, that smack in the face is an unbelievable feeling.”
(What gear have you tried in your running during your rehab? Are you up to second gear on your running? Or are you really taking it easy?) – “I can get up to full gear. I’m still, with the injury and with me not being 100 percent, I can still easily run past guys. I feel like each and every day is a stepping stone. I’m going to continue to rehab, get better and be smart at practice.”
Brian Flores – May 21, 2019
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Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(Are you a Game of Thrones fan?) – “I dabble.”
(How do you dabble in Game of Thrones?) – “I watched a few. I have to get caught up. That’s how. I have a few other things going on.”
(So you don’t have a take on the finale then?) – “I do not unfortunately.”
(LB Raekwon McMillan was not here during the portion of practice that we saw. Is he fine? Is he practicing?) – “He’s dealing with an injury. Raekwon is one of our most diligent workers, so he’s doing everything he can to get back and we expect to see him back fairly soon.”
(Are you able to share what kind of injury he has or when he suffered it?) – “That injury report comes out in September. (laughter) When that comes out, you’ll get it then.”
(Do you anticipate, aside from LB Raekwon McMillan, anyone practicing last week that won’t be out there today?) – “You mean the injury report? (laughter)”
(We’ll see them out there, if they’re out there or not. I think we’re all just curious if there’s anyone that you can share.) – “Raekwon won’t be out there. Dwayne Allen won’t be out there. He’s dealing with a little something. There are a couple guys who are sick. You guys will see them.”
(Can you tell me what you’ve seen – I know there’s no pads – with your guards, specifically G/T Jesse Davis, G/C Chris Reed and OL Michael Deiter?) – “Those three guys are working hard. Right now – you said it – there’s no pads. A lot of this is technique from the basics. Shoulders over knees, knees over toes, a good base. As far as our communication with our protections, we can’t do a lot in the run game. Those guys are working on those specific things. A lot of the things on the offensive line is about getting those five guys and creating a cohesive group there. Between our center, guards, tackles and the mixture of guys who are working together, I think kind of building that camaraderie is definitely a big part of this phase.”
(Among the guards, can you tell me how active or how much they’ll be pulling? In general, average, less than average, more than average?) – “(laughter) We may pull, we may not pull. We may trap, we may not trap. We’ll see. (laughter)”
(What kind of athletes are you looking for at that position? Do you want the big physical guys that can drive-block, or do you want the athletes that can turn the corner?) – “I think you want guys who can do both, in a perfect world. Everybody has a different skillset. Some guys are bigger, more aggressive, more physical. Some guys are a little bit more nimble, can get out to the perimeter. It just depends on the specific player. Then, I think as coaches, we have to do what they do best and try to fit their skillset with what they’re doing offensively or defensively or in the kicking game.”
(What did you guys see in LB Nate Orchard?) – “We saw an athletic player, someone who has some size, has some length, has some athletic ability. I thought he did fairly decent in the workout and we felt like he would help our team.”
(Do you envision LB Nate Orchard being a linebacker or do you envision him being a defensive end?) – “That’s a curious question. (laughter) Linebacker, defensive end, I think we’ll try to put him in positions to help our team. That may be some linebacker, that may be some d-end. If we feel like he can cover, he’ll cover. If he can throw the football, then maybe we’ll do something there too.”
(With DT Durval Queiroz Neto, your Brazilian defensive tackle, how is he getting acclimated to the routine of the NFL and these camps and watching film, correcting mistakes, all that kind of stuff?) – “He’s working extremely hard. Obviously, this is very different than the football he played in Brazil. This is a young man that works extremely hard. Football is important to him and he’s working hard at the basic fundamentals and just overall defensive concepts, which are new to him to some degree. We’ve seen improvement over these last few weeks, for sure.”
(Is DT Durval Queiroz Neto able to learn defensive concepts?) – “Yeah. He’s definitely learning. It’s a situation where it’s almost like he learns something new every day. I think in some instances, the lightbulb goes off in a specific area. Not that he has all the answers, but ‘This is why we do that technique’ or ‘That’s why we do this drill.’ It’s kind of refreshing as a coach to see that progression.”
(Last week you mentioned S Minkah Fitzpatrick maybe playing some linebacker. How much did you get to see him do that? How is he taking to playing that position?) – “Again, last week we just talked about Minkah playing multiple positions. He’ll play corner, he’ll play linebacker, he’ll play free safety, he’ll play strong safety, he’ll play nickel. He’ll be all over the place. I think in all those different roles, I think he’s done an okay job kind of learning all of those positions. Again, this is a work in progress for everyone, not just Minkah. We’re asking a lot of guys to do a lot. He kind of falls into that. I think he’s working and he’s getting better and he’s improving. We still have a long ways to go.”
(I think we asked you about RB Kenyan Drake in Phoenix, and now you’ve seen him practice. What did you see from him? Is he bigger than you thought, maybe faster than you thought? What do you evaluate from him?) – “Kenyan is obviously a good player. I think he’s obviously athletic, good hands, fast, elusive. He’s a good player. Working with him has been good. He has a lot of skill and he’s working hard and he’s doing a lot of the things we’re asking him to do. Again, (it’s) still a work in progress, still very early, but I’m happy with where he’s at right now, but there’s still a long way to go.”
(The group of running backs you have, is that kind of what you had envisioned when you’re building the roster seeing that you have power, you have speed, you have guys who can do a little of everything?) – “I like our backs. I do; but again, it’s still early. Without pads, you can’t see them protect, you can’t see them run with power, you can’t see how elusive they are. You can see a little bit of it without the pads on; but with that position, there’s so much contact that at that position that without the pads, really what it’s about is different alignments, the pass game, just kind of understanding the protection system.”
(You mentioned competition various times in the last few weeks and months. We know about the quarterback competition. What are other places where there’s competition that interests you?) – “Every position.”
(Left tackle?) – “Left tackle, right tackle, left guard, right guard – every position, there’s competition. I think we can’t push our players to that next level if they don’t feel competition. That’s just my opinion on competition. I think there’s competition at every position and if the guys don’t feel that way then we’re going to try to make them feel that way, one way or another. That’s my stance on it. Like I said, in order to raise the level of the group, you need to create competition. I think the guys who thrive with competition are the guys we’re going to want on this football team.”
(Do you pay attention to some of these less-than-favorable predictions that are out there and if so, do you just turn it into locker room fodder?) – “My focus is on today. I’m not really worried about anything that’s going on outside of our building. My focus is on today. It’s on improving today, it’s on helping these players succeed and get better and try to make some type of impact on these guys. I don’t really listen to the rest of it to be honest.”
(Is there a type of skillset that you’re looking for from a slot receiver? With Danny Amendola gone, that position is kind of open. Most people are assuming that WR Albert Wilson will eventually evolve into that position. How do you determine who plays that spot considering how important it has been to the offense you’re coming from?) – “Obviously being a defensive coach, I’ve seen a lot of different slot receivers. Really, you want to put your best three, four, five guys out on the field and really fit what we do to those particular players. If you have a small guy who’s shifty and can get open in short areas, that’s what you do. If you have a taller guy who gets open with physicality and maybe a little bit deeper down the field, that’s what you do. I think we have good competition at the receiver position and I’d like to think that we will kind of tailor what we do offensively to the best players.”
(What have you seen out of LB Jerome Baker this summer and how does his side-to-side quickness fit into some of the things you like to do with your linebackers?) – “I think ‘Bake’ (Jerome Baker) is really working hard. He’s taken a little bit of a leadership role. He’s taken a step in that direction. He’s obviously smart, he’s very athletic. Again, his lateral quickness, as you mentioned, is good for the linebacker position. I think the challenge for him will be putting everything together. Really, the challenge for all of our players is consistency. That’s the thing we harp on, on a day-to-day basis. It’s not just with ‘Bake,’ but with everyone. I think he’s trying to do that and we’re going to keep coaching him to try to be as consistent a player as possible.”
(We’ve seen a couple of times this morning when you kind of get a smile on your face with questions that we kind of sense you’re not going to answer. How do you judge how much to divulge, how much not to divulge? Have there been times in the past where you’ve picked up stuff that other coaches may have let slip out from a news conference?) – “How much to divulge in this type of setting? To me, this is obviously an open forum. I like to, as much as possible, keep things in house and not give out a lot of information because other teams are watching. If I tell them if we’re pulling, we’re going to pull all the guards or we’re going to play Minkah (Fitzpatrick) at corner or we’re going to play, I don’t want to put our team at a disadvantage. Maybe the smile gives it away. Maybe I need a little bit more of a poker face. (laughter)”
(If video got out of what you guys are doing today, could it help an opponent? For instance, if you saw Jets or Bills video from what they’re doing today, could it help you win in September?) – “Probably not. At this time of the year, it’s really more fundamentals, more technique, more your basic install. So, unlikely, but obviously sometimes that stuff gets out. I’m conscious of our team and I don’t want to ever put our team at a disadvantage.”
(When fans are able to videotape stuff during training camp, would you or anybody on your staff watch stuff from a Bills’ practice or a Jets’ practice, or you just don’t even waste your time?) – “No. You don’t waste your time with that. We have plenty of other stuff going on, a lot of other film to watch rather than watch somebody’s grainy iPhone video of a practice play.”
(So you don’t worry if your stuff is out there?) – “It’s going to happen. We want our fans to come to practice when the time comes for that and to enjoy that experience. I realize that they’re going to film some of it or video some of it to have a memory. It’s like that for every team in the league.”
(I wanted to ask to about ‘T.N.T’ – Takes No Talent. What is the mindset behind that whole approach and the players going to touch the wall when they make a mistake in practice?) – “Takes no talent, that’s something I learned in high school. It’s something that my high school coach harped on for us and it was something that was basically a mantra in our building in high school. There’s a lot of things that you can do, and I think there’s a space in this game, and a space in everything, to do the things well that really take no talent. Getting yourself in condition, I tell my players this – I can go out there and get conditioned if I just go out there and run every day. I’m not going to do that, not like they do; but I could do that. Any of us in here can do that. That really takes no talent, it just takes hard work, effort. You could too. You can get out there and run every day and you’ll get in good shape. It’s just what it is. That’s kind of the mindset behind it. There’s some things that you can take care of. Everybody talks about ‘This guy is talented, that guy is talented.’ The talent on the team and a lot of things in this game come down to focus, execution, not making a bad penalty. Really, that’s not a talent issue, it’s a focus issue, it’s a mindset issue. I try to, and us as a staff, we try to make an emphasis of those specific things. Things that take no talent, I think those are the details that help you win games.”
Nate Orchard – May 21, 2019
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Tuesday, May 21, 2019
LB Nate Orchard
(After three years in Cleveland to bouncing around a lot and basically being with several teams for a month, has that been hard to deal with from an ego standpoint?) – “It’s the nature of the business. The NFL, it’s a tough league and everywhere I’ve been, it’s a business decision. But at the end of the day, the ego is great. My confidence is still sky high. I’ve got a great support system, my wife and kids and family. They keep me going. At the end of the day, you’ve got to be confident in what you do and don’t ever let anybody drag you down.”
(You’re listed as a linebacker here…) – “Are you sure? I think I’m listed as a receiver, from what I can see. (laughter)”
(Was it mostly end in Cleveland? Was there ever much linebacker?) – “I had three defensive coordinators when I was there, so I played a 3-4, a 4-3 and I believe I’ll be doing the same here – a mix of both.”
(Do you still a real opportunity here? There aren’t a lot of defensive ends on the roster from a number standpoint.) – “Yeah, it’s a great opportunity. Guys just come out here every day ready to compete. Everybody is looking for a job and guys want to compete and put the best film forward.”
(As a former second-round pick, what have you learned from the last four years?) – “Golly, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve been through peaks and valleys, ups and downs. I learned at the end of the day that you’ve got to be confident in your craft and be a professional. You’ve got to show up each day and put your best foot forward.”
(Why do you think it hasn’t worked out for you?) – “That’s a question I ask myself every day. Places I’ve been, it’s always come down to a numbers situation; but you can’t let those situations and things like that deter you from what you do. My confidence is high. I’m grateful each day for the opportunities – Buffalo, KC, Cleveland, here. To be in this league is a huge opportunity.”
(What do you know you can do well?) – “I can rush the passer. I just need an opportunity and I think it’s here with the Dolphins. I’m grateful for it.”
(You had 18.5 sacks your last year at Utah, how did you do that?) – “Just got out and rush. Like I said, (I had an) opportunity being able to be out on the field to get a rhythm for the game, get my flow and continue to rush.”
(How many times in the last year has someone approached you in public and said, “You know, I saw you on ‘Hard Knocks,’ you’re a likable guy, I’m wishing you well.” Has that happened at all?) – “They’ve approached me about the cookies. They haven’t approached me about me, but they said, ‘Hey, we’ve seen your wife and we’ve heard about her cookies.’ So people are asking, so I might have to bring the cookies to Miami.”
(Is there anything you’ve observed even just studying the playbook for less than a week that you think makes this defense unique because one thing the Patriots obviously could do, with Brian Flores and Bill Belichick up there was maximize talent, put guys in position. Is that something you’ve noticed?) – “And that’s what it is. They put guys in position here to be successful. Blitzes (are) coming from every angle, you don’t know who’s coming, what’s going on. (The) coaches do a great job. (Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Patrick) Graham is doing a great job of disguising that.”
(How weird does it feel to be wearing number 4?) – “It feels great. It feels like I’m back in high school all over again – my receiver/d-end days.”
(What number did you wear in high school?) – “Seven. Single digit.”
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