Jason McCourty – June 4, 2021
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Friday, June 4, 2021
DB Jason McCourty
(Head Coach Brian Flores and S Eric Rowe, who I know you know from New England, they both talked about the leadership skills that you possess. I’m wondering if being in a new environment, being around some people that you need to get to know, what’s your approach and how you can impart leadership in a positive way onto some of the younger guys?) – “Yeah, I think it’s natural. I think what you said to begin with is first and foremost, it’s important just to get to know guys. I think a part of leadership is listening and serving, and you can’t know how to do that until you get to know the guys around you. This is a really good time for myself to be down here, get to know the guys in the locker room and get to know not only them but the support staff, the people in the cafeteria, just everybody in the building. It helps to build comfort when you’re walking around and you know someone’s name, you know who to request, you know who to ask what. That’s kind of all a whirlwind right now. For me, I’ve had to do it twice – I guess three times. It started in Tennessee, then I had to do it in Cleveland and then doing it in New England, and now here in Miami. So just getting acclimated, getting to know guys. I think as the days develop into weeks and months, you start to get a feel for what the team needs. You get to know a guy, you can learn a little bit about his own personal journey, his battles, and you can help them not only on the field, but in life as well; because I’m a good amount older than a lot of these guys in the locker room. I’m just looking forward to getting to know guys and just being able to be a helping hand where I can.”
(How did this come about? Were there other teams that were interested? Was your connection with Head Coach Brian Flores really a difference-maker? How did this come about?) – “Just the free agency process, I think obviously you guys have seen with a lot of people that it’s been a little bit different with this year post-COVID, with the salary cap dropping and the whole nine. A lot of guys were signing a lot later. For me, I’m sure you guys saw I took a visit to the Giants. I was talking to ‘Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) and obviously I know (Defensive Coordinator) Josh Boyer and all of those guys throughout the process. This just felt like a really good fit for me. I think it came down to obviously some familiarity with those coaches, but then just kind of knowing guys down here, from Eric Rowe to Jamal Perry to Elandon Roberts, Emmanuel Ogbah. I got a chance to play with a lot of the guys that were on the defense here and there was some familiarity there. I think I’m a good fit here and I’m looking forward to getting to know the guys here and getting to know the system and what it’s like to be a Miami Dolphin and just try to help in that way.”
(With your position, obviously you played some cornerback, you’ve played some nickel. How comfortable are you being a safety, being the centerfield guy free safety, sort of like your brother. Obviously you’re twins, but do you feel like that’s the next evolution for your game?) – “I think for me, over the last three years in New England, I got a chance to line up at every position in the secondary – from nickel, to corner, to free safety, to sometimes strong safety, to sometimes on third-down packages, kind of a dime linebacker spot. I think for me, more important than comfort with any specific position, it’s just building comfort in the defense. Obviously I played for ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) as a coordinator in 2018 in New England; but the Miami defense isn’t exactly the New England defense. So for me, rather than focusing on becoming a free safety or cornerback or nickel, it’s how can I learn the entire defense to understand, ‘ok, when the free safety is moving this way, he’s doing that because the corner is now thinking this way and the nickel is going to be moving in that direction.’ I think the more I can understand the totality of the defense and why the moving parts are moving the way they are, the more I’ll be able to learn for myself and be able to play better, and the more I’ll be able to help the guys around me as I understand the defense as a whole.”
(What is it like coming down from a rival to another divisional opponent? Obviously you get to play your brother twice a year in different jerseys.) – “It’s fun. It’s different. Obviously I walk into the locker room and you see the DeVante Parkers or Jakeem Grants. Those are the guys you’re game-planning for for the past three years twice a year, so it’s different. Now you’re getting into the locker room. But I think the thing is in our league, you’re used to it. Every year, the only thing that’s constant in the league is change. Every year you see guys coming and guys going; and for me, it’s just trying to get in and know the guys. You play against them, you know them from their jersey number and what they look like on film, but then you walk in the locker room and you see a guy and you’re like ‘he kind of looks familiar.’ Then we go out there with the jerseys on, and you’re like ‘oh, that’s Allen Hurns,’ or whoever the case be; because now you’re getting to put the numbers in the game with the face. It’s definitely different. ‘Dev’ (Devin McCourty) is already talking trash to me about the Week 1 match up. I want to come here, I want to have fun and I want to help this team win football games.”
(I was going to ask if you have anything at stake or any early bets on that Week 1 match up?) – “Nothing too early, but I told him the family is already going to be more on my side because who wouldn’t want to come down here and visit rather then going up to the snow where he’s at and visiting. (laughter)”
(As you were talking at the very start of the earlier question about leadership, it struck me that you sounded a little bit like Head Coach Brian Flores. I couldn’t help but wonder if whenever you’re playing days may end – and I’m not rushing you out the door, so don’t get that idea –but whenever that time comes, do you possibly see coaching in your future because you are such a well-known leader?) – “I have young kids. I would love to coach them one day. I don’t know if my wife is going to be on board with me staying at the facility until the early morning hours game-planning and getting ready for the upcoming opponent. But obviously I have a deep love for this game and a passion for it, and also a passion for helping people. My wife told me early on in our college days, never say never. You don’t know what the future holds, but I can’t envision myself coaching at a high level right now.”
(I know that you have a very positive relationship with Head Coach Brian Flores. Can you kind of fill us in on what it is that you believe makes him a unique person?) – “I got a chance to be around ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) in 2018 and then obviously my brother has played for him for a lot longer, so he’s talked to me about ‘Flo.’ I knew who ‘Flo’ was going in and for me, just getting to know him, he’s genuine. And I think that, as a player, when you have a coach and you have somebody that’s always genuine, that they do what they say and they mean what they say, it goes a long way. I think as players, things aren’t always going to go the way we want them personally, whether it’s playing time, whatever decision it may be, what defense you run or offensive play you call or how the rotations work; but I think if you have a guy that’s honest and is consistent, you can respect and you can really give your all and be willing to play for him. That was the vibe I got from ‘Flo’ in 2018 and it was a joy to play on his defense and be able to go in there and contribute, and I’m looking forward to now getting to know him as a head coach and being able to see how it all goes.”
(I want to ask you with such a young roster, especially one on defense that needs a leader to step up, how weird is it to be the new guy who’s going to have to step in and kind of be one of the more vocal guys and vocal leaders?) – “I haven’t even really thought that far into it. I feel like every situation is different. I had a chance when I left Tennessee to join a roster in Cleveland with Emmanuel Ogbah, and I think he was in his second year at the time, and that roster – they all called me ‘Uncle Mac.’ (laughter) That’s how much older I was than a lot of the guys in the locker room. It just develops over time. I think who we are naturally and how teams come together and how guys build chemistry, I think it just happens. And when it happens organically, I think guys gain respect for you. For me, I’m coming in obviously going into my 13th year, so there’s going to be a level of respect that guys are going to have for me just knowing that, ‘hey, he’s been able to do it for a long time;’ but I think for my part, you don’t walk in the building right away and think that you’re going to start telling a guy what to do. I think for me right now, I’m in the process of learning from the guys here, whether it’s a rookie who’s maybe been here for a little while, maybe got to do a little bit more meetings because the rookies are able to be around more. There may be things in this building that they know more than I do. Or how do I get here, where do I go there? So I think part of being a leader is understanding that you don’t always have to be in front. You don’t always have to be the one that speaks up, and I think a very important part of it is when you’re on a young roster is empowering young leaders. And I think that’s something I got a chance to always talk to my brother, Matthew Slater and those guys being in New England the past three years, about being the older guy when you talk about legacy and passing it on, and what are the young guys on the team that you’re trying to build those leadership qualities that you see to try to push them to become more vocal or really step into that leadership role because you want to see them progress and start to build on their careers the same way that those were older guys when I was a young guy in the league that were helping me progress and get to where I am today.”
(I also wanted to ask you – a 13-year veteran – I’ve been doing this long enough to know other than the terminology, the defense doesn’t really change. So why are you acting like you don’t know this defense?) – “(laughter) For sure. You come in and you know some things; but like you just said, the biggest thing is terminology because you don’t want to be here – you don’t want to be that new guy where you get there and they call something one thing and you’re the one guy out there calling it what you called it in your old team because after the first day or two, guys are looking at you like, ‘bro, either learn the defense or go ahead and stand on the sideline.’ (laughter) So I think that’s the biggest thing, is like, ‘all right, this in my mind, I may associate to this is this coverage, but now that I’m here, I have to call it this.’ And then obviously there’s going to be some new things that are put in as we all evolve and try to get better, so it’s just about understanding those things. Then I think two, it’s just learning to play with the guys around you. When you’re on a team for a little while, you know the defense and you both know it, but is he more comfortable doing this role in a defense or that role in a defense? How can we put ourselves in the best position to hey, when we get in and we get this call, ‘hey, you’re better at blitzing, you go ahead and take the blitz; I’m going to go ahead and take the coverage.’ It’s those small nuances that the more you get to play with each other, you get to see what guys like and what they’re used to.”
(I wanted to go along those lines. I saw you out on the field today a lot talking to those kind of guys – young guys – a lot. So are you telling them or are they telling you, in this case in particular because like a previous question, I’m sure you know this defense pretty well.) – “Ongoing conversations. We could be talking about what we’re doing for dinner, what are the weekend plans. I think it’s all about getting to know guys, so it’s an ongoing conversation. I may be asking him a question. I may be explaining to them. I think one thing as an older guy, you learn your stories can become valuable for a lot of things that guys are going through or questions they may have. I might not have gone through it, but throughout these 13 years, I might have heard three different guys who had a similar story that you get to share. So a lot of times, I’m talking to guys, I’m telling a story – either something I experienced or something secondhand that I learned from somebody else. I think this time is special when you get a chance – like you guys mentioned me in Year 13 – I’m an old guy. You don’t know how much longer you’re going to play. That camaraderie, those conversations, those relationships you build are the things that you’re going to miss most so you try to take advantage of that as much as possible.”
Raekwon Davis – June 4, 2021
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Friday, June 4, 2021
DT Raekwon Davis
(After having a productive rookie season, what do you hope to add to your game this year that will make you a better player?) – “Pass rushing. I feel like there is a lot of stuff I could’ve done more, but definitely pass rushing.”
(You got a new d-line coach this year in Austin Clark. I’m wondering what it’s been like working with him and how he’s helped you kind of develop that pass-rush game?) – “It’s been fun. These last couple of days, he’s been working with us on technique things, on pass rushing, different things we like using. Like with me, I’m a power guy. He’s been working on me with that. It’s been fun. Usually last year he was just teaching the run, but now he’s doing both. It’s been real fun.”
(There is an older gentleman you like to post on your social media when you are working out. I wanted to ask you who that guy is and why you have such a blast training with him?) – “His whole thing is called ‘monster making.’ His name is Sean. I just enjoy working with him. He’s fun. He gets me going. He makes sure I’m just working and staying ahead of the game. (He’s a) fun guy. Every time I’m working with him, it’s serious business, serious weight, and I enjoy working with him.”
(With the emphasis on the serious weight, what are you trying to accomplish with your body?) – “Just trying to slim down more, so I can have the ability to pass rush and have the ability to gain more snaps on the field. Just make sure my nutrition is good and all of that.”
(Did you get kind of surprised by how productive you were as a rookie? Because you didn’t get a ton of playing time early on, but as the season went on, you blossomed.) – “I really don’t – I still feel like it wasn’t a good season. It was all right. Just as the game went on, I got experience with the game and I started moving fast.”
(You guys added another Crimson Tide guy with WR Jaylen Waddle. How would you describe Jaylen’s speed and what do you remember about his speed back at Alabama?) – “Just he’s a fast guy. He gets open, he gets loose, he gets that ball and there is no catching him. He’s explosive and he can control the ball however he wants to do it.”
(Have you been back to Mississippi this offseason? Little bit of a home meal?) – “Yeah. Yeah, I go back and see my son a lot when I’m down on my off time.”
Durham Smythe – June 4, 2021
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Friday, June 4, 2021
TE Durham Smythe
(Entering your fourth year, what’s this evolution as a player been like for you? You came in initially as an in-line guy and now obviously you’re trying to be a more well-rounded tight end. What has the evolution been like?) – “I think you hit it kind of on the head. Obviously my first two years here really, a year and a half, two years; my primary responsibility was the run game and pass protection and things of that nature. But I think at this position, we’re all trying to become more well-rounded so you can stay on the field more often, have more variety in terms of who we put on the field at what times and just kind of being able to be on the field, like I said, more often. I think that’s where it is, just kind of working towards that still. That’s the ultimate goal is to become totally well-rounded.”
(When you see the team draft a tight end, sign a tight end, draft a basketball player to develop, what goes through your mind as a guy in the final year of his contract?) – “I think the way I think about it is, is that when you’re a team like we are that’s kind of trying to start shifting this culture – and I think we’re on our way of doing that – winning more games, becoming more talented; you want to just bring in good football players. And that’s kind of how I look at it. Hunter (Long) is a good football player. Cethan (Carter) is a good football player and you want to surround yourself with good players when they’re available and I think that’s what we’ve done. I think we’re pretty deep at this position. I think we’re pretty talented from top to bottom, which is kind of fun, just to be around guys who are good or have talent. That’s how I look at it and I’m not the one making the decisions, but I think that’s just what you want to do, is bring in the most talent.”
(There were obviously four players who have done a very good job from the same draft class with you, TE Mike Gesicki, LB Jerome Baker, K Jason Sanders going into your last year. Sanders got the extension a few months ago. Would you like to get an extension at this point? Has your agent discussed it with the team?) – “That’s something that is the classic ‘leave it to them to discuss.’ That’s the classic thing. I love it here. I love the team. I love playing here and that’s really what I’ll say to anyone asking that. I obviously don’t have a hand in a lot of those things. I just enjoy playing here, enjoy the guys, enjoy the culture and stuff like that. So that’s how I respond when anyone asks that – when my mom asks that. (laughter)”
(Why is TE Mike Gesicki giving you a hard time about your confidence? Why is he haggling you on social media every day?) – “I deal with that every day. (laughter) So you guys are seeing it now because it’s on social media. I deal with that every day. I’m actually staying with him right now for these couple weeks, so he was actually right next to me on the couch when he did that. These are things that happen on a day-to-day basis and now it’s in the public eye. You guys can see what I deal with on a daily basis, so that’s nothing new to me. (laughter)”
(What’s it like being TE Mike Gesicki’s roommate?) – “It’s pretty solid. We have a pretty good rapport with each other. It feels like we’ve been roommates for the last, really, three and a half years at this point, so we’re pretty used to each other. We don’t have too many issues there.”
(TE Mike Gesicki going to accuse me of wanting to get clicks, but if you really hate him as a roommate you can tell us.) – “The thing is, is that I don’t pay right now to stay with him, so I’m not going to say one negative thing or else that might change. (laughter) So that’s really where this is coming from.”
(I wanted to ask you about Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends George Godsey. You’ve been in his tight end room obviously for a year now and going into your second year. I was just curious about what you think about his promotion to co-offensive coordinator, what he brings to that position and just some other kind of changes you’ve seen in the offense so far?) – “With George (Godsey), he’s just a very smart guy. He’s an encyclopedia in terms of, really, offensive knowledge in general, which I think has really helped me and Mike (Gesicki) kind of develop the last couple years; understanding offenses, not just from the tight end position, but kind of from an overall perspective. And it wasn’t surprising to see him get promoted. He’s been in a situation where he’s an OC (offensive coordinator) before. I think that’s where he’s going to thrive because he knows so much about it. Really both the guys that are there – George and ‘E’ (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Eric Studesville) – they’re doing a great job. I’ve been with them the last three years. They’ve done a great job for the last three years, so I think it was very deserving for the both of them and I think the offense is still coming together at this point. It’s so early. We’re kind of working on techniques and such and just kind of getting out there and running football plays, which a football play is a football play. So I think we’re still developing that, but I have a ton of faith in those two guys.”
(TE Mike Gesicki told us I think it was last week that he’s pushing to get five-tight end sets on the field and throw you guys the ball every single play. How’s that debate going?) – “I’m going to say the same thing. We’re both pretty big supporters of the tight end – I don’t know what you want to call it – tight end wave, tight end position in general. So yeah, if we can do that, I’d be a full supporter. I can play running back. I know Mike said you don’t want to see me carrying the ball in the backfield, but I can. (laughter) So we’ll keep pushing for that and percentages are unlikely, but we’ll keep pushing. (laughter)”
(I wanted to ask you how did you end up living with TE Mike Gesicki and does it come up that you make substantially more than him this year?) – “(laughter) The situation is I had an apartment down here, lease ran out. I was back in Texas for the offseason and when OTAs were kind of up in the air, I just kind of stayed back in Texas working out and then when we decided to come, Mike still had his place. I knew he had a guest room, so I said – I didn’t ask – I said, ‘I’ll live in your guest room for a few weeks.’ That’s what I’m doing and every now and then he’ll bring that statistic up, but – we’re not going to get into the serious financials, but he’s a second-round draft pick, etc. (laughter) It goes much deeper than just the number for this year.”
(It does even out.) – “Yeah, absolutely. (laughter)”
(I wanted to ask you, Chiefs TE Travis Kelce didn’t name himself, but he named TE Mike Gesicki as one of the top five tight ends in the game right now. I guess what do you think about that and maybe we’ll have you continue saying something nice so you can continue living rent-free?) – “Yeah, (laughter) in all honesty, I think it’s deserving. I give him a lot of crap, but I think it’s absolutely deserving. Being with him for the last three years and seeing how much he’s developed, I don’t know if everyone sees that on a weekly basis, but I do and I think he is a top-five tight end in this league. The things he can do in terms of changing a game are impressive and it’s cool to see a guy like Travis (Kelce) who’s been established as one of the best in the game for so long give him some credit because it’s definitely deserving.”
(In all seriousness, what is it like for you to have gone through these past several years with TE Mike Gesicki to lean on, to bounce ideas off of? It seems like if we see one of you guys, we always see the other. So what’s it been like?) – “In all honesty, it’s been great. To have someone that’s not only in your rookie class, but in the same room as you who’s going through the same things you are from the very beginning, it’s been really cool. And like you said, kind of in the offseasons and through the years, we have bounced a lot of things off of each other in terms of what we do well and I think to an extent, it’s helped both of us a good amount. I think that’s been really nice for me personally and it’s just been fun. It’s been fun to have somebody to kind of grow with in this league for the last three, three and a half years.”
(Now I know you can’t say anything negative about TE Mike Gesicki, but I’m going to put you on the spot. Tell us one thing about Mike that we don’t know that we should know.) – “Wow, there’s just so many. All right, so his basic knowledge of – so he’s a smart guy. Mike’s a smart guy. He knows football very well. If you ask him academia questions, he might get those potentially right; but basic knowledge of most things in terms of like, common sense, let’s call it – movies, shows, anything in pop culture – he knows absolutely nothing. He knows nothing. You can ask him any question. He won’t be able to answer it. Any song, any – whatever. The other thing is he claims that he’s a pretty good cook and he doesn’t know anything about it. He can make baked salmon, but if it’s not baked salmon and he tried to make something, he’d probably poison us with undercooked meats or whatever. So common knowledge is a zero and cooking skills very low. Those are two fun facts for you.”
Brian Flores – June 4, 2021
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Friday, June 4, 2021
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I wanted to ask you, the Patriots players you brought in over the years, how has bringing those guys in helped you with what you want to do here – whether it’s instilling the culture or already knowing some of the defensive principals that you want you want to run?) – “First and foremost, it’s about us feeling like they fit as people, just from a character standpoint. Then as players, obviously understanding the system is part of it. Leadership is part of it; but overall, at the end of the day, it’s about talent and what we think is their ability to help our team and this organization.”
(In regards to guys that you’ve known and kind of came up with over there, to give them an opportunity to reunite with them again, what has that meant to you?) – “For the guys that we brought in from there, obviously there is familiarity and relationships there and understanding of what I try to represent, what we try to represent, which are guys who are tough and smart and love to play, compete and are team first. There is familiarity from that standpoint and an understanding of that, and hopefully they can put those things into action.”
(It’s been pretty widely reported that you’ve been pretty flexible with how the offseason would go to help try to assuage some of the concerns of the NFLPA. I was curious, have you gotten out of this what you normally would? Has there been any difference in this? And how encouraged have you been by the turnout?) – “I think we’ve gotten a lot out of it. This time is about communication and fundamentals and techniques and learning the playbook, understanding the playbook, having an understanding of concepts offensively, defense and in the kicking game, building rapport with teammates. We’ve been able to work on some individual techniques and fundamentals; and then communication, cadence, shifts, motions, adjusting to shifts and motions. I think we’ve gotten quite a bit out of it and we still have today, next week, and then minicamp. Hopefully we get a lot more out of it.”
(We’ve talked in the past about that free safety spot being a communication spot. Obviously there are no starters yet, but with a rookie maybe competing for that role in S Jevon Holland, how much do you put on him as far as communication, as far as leading the back end of the defense early in his career?) – “I think all of the rookies have a lot on their plate right now – a new environment, new playbook, you’ve got to learn the names of your teammates and the people in the building. They’ve got a lot on their plate, along with Jevon and Jaylen (Waddle), Jaelan Phillips and really all of the rookies. This is what I would call a step-by-step process, more than this thought that we’re going to put everything on them, and say hey ‘learn it all.’ It’s more of, ‘Hey, here is a coverage, here is some terminology,’ and then we get a feel for how quickly they learn it. This is all positions. This is not specific to Jevon. How quickly do they learn it? How well do they understand it conceptually? Can they communicate it? And then you give them more and then you give them more, and then at the end of the day, their role is going to be what they make it and how much they can retain and then communicate out in let’s call them those signal-caller positions. How much they can retain and then communicate to the rest of the group. It’s really up to them, to answer your question. There is no ‘hey, it’s going to be this timetable,’ or ‘hey, we’re going to give them all of this information.’ It’s really about how much they can retain and how much they can handle. As rookies, that’s something – we’re getting to know them and we’ll try to figure that out through time. But he’s done a good job thus far, I would say.”
(We spoke to QB Tua Tagovailoa recently. He said a lot of things and one of the things that got a lot of attention was when he said this: he said, “I didn’t actually know the playbook necessarily really, really good.” What are your thoughts on that and him having been a rookie?) – “My thoughts on that are – they kind of go back to what we talked about last week with him being more comfortable, him just having better command in the huddle right now. Honestly, I just think he’s comparing last year to where he is right now, and I get it. I understand that. I remember being a first-year position coach and coming out of that year, going into the spring, going into the next season and saying, ‘I could’ve been better last year. I should have been better. I’m better now.’ So I think contextually, I think we all understand where he’s coming from given just the conversation I had with you guys last week, if that makes sense. I think he’s thinking about where he is right now versus that time a year ago, just reflecting. And that’s good. This time is about reflection and where you are now versus where you were six months ago. I think he’s worked hard to improve in a lot of areas, and I think he has and I think he’s kind of communicated that out.”
(This kind of goes back to an earlier question, but specifically with DB Jason McCourty being here, almost everyone when you talk about the McCourtys talks about them outside of football and how good of human beings they are and obviously you have a lot of experience working with Devin and also Jason together. Just bringing him here has to be exciting for you, just because of how great he is to have around.) – “Yeah, I mean Jason, from a leadership standpoint, from an experience standpoint – he’s a good player as well. I think he brings a lot to this team; but again, I would say it’s not about Pats players or former Patriot players. It’s about guys who we feel like fit this team, and those are the types of guys that we bring in. It’s not just former Patriots players but it’s guys from various other teams as well. So the guys who we feel like fit, we obviously do our due diligence trying to find out about the person as well as the player, and obviously Jason fits the bill as well as a lot of the other guys we brought in.”
(We know everything is obviously voluntary now and when guys aren’t out there, often it’s because of personal commitment or maybe they’re just training in their hometown or something like that. I was going to ask you without naming any names, do you believe any of your absences are related to guys who have contractual issues? Maybe they want an extension, maybe they want more money or based on your conversations with everyone, do you feel like that’s not a factor in any of the absences?) – “You mentioned it. It’s voluntary. I think after last year where there was no offseason, I think guys around the league and our team’s no different; they found a different way to train and they feel comfortable doing that. We have a few on our team and I respect that. I have no issue with that. I think my conversation with every player on this team is they’re doing what they need to do to be ready to contribute to this team and practice and play at a level that’s going to help us. I have no issue as long as they’re ready to go. I’m comfortable with that and I support it.”
(I just wanted to go back on the QB Tua Tagovailoa comments. It seemed like he was kind of trying to tip-toe not throwing maybe his relationship or work relationship with Chan Gailey under the bus. Were there times where you felt like he wasn’t able to check plays or alert plays or didn’t have a full grasp of what you guys wanted to execute offensively?) – “Honestly, last year is last year. I’m more of a forward-thinker. I’m really kind of focused on practice right now or walkthrough, which we’ve got in a couple hours. I understand the question, but I think Tua – we’ve talked about his growth a lot from the last six months and how he’s reflected on that. I think my focus is on helping him improve on a daily basis. Obviously you use the past to kind of point you in the right direction of where to make those improvements and we’ll just continue to focus on this one day at a time and help Tua and really every – I know a lot of the focus gets put on one player, but it’s really every player on the roster. We as coaches, that’s what we’re trying to do, is help them all get better, improve, reach their potential. If we can do that with the individual players and then pull it all together in different units, in groups; then hopefully we have a team that supports one another and can be productive on the field.”
(In what ways did you see improvement out of DT Raekwon Davis during the course of last season?) – “I think like every rookie, every time you practice or get a rep, it’s a good experience. Whether it’s a good play or a bad play, you learn something from it. I think that’s – I think you see improvement through the course of his fundamentals, his techniques in practice; and you see that translate into the team portion of practice or whatever run period or play-action pass period or whatever we’re doing in practice. You see those improvements. You see them in the game. You see just an understanding of what we’re doing conceptually, what we’re doing, why we’re doing certain things. And it’s not just Raekwon. It’s not just Tua (Tagovailoa). It’s really all of the players. This game is about forming good habits. I talk to the players about that really on a daily basis. We’ve got to practice good habits from a ball security standpoint, from a footwork standpoint, from a hand placement standpoint, from attacking the ball. You’ll hear ‘Chuck’ (Cornerbacks Coach Charles Burks) tell the DBs to attack the football. You’ll hear (Defensive Backs Coach) Gerald Alexander talk to the safeties about bad breaks lead to missed tackles and we can’t have missed tackles so we can’t have bad breaks. Those are the – we have to practice good habits and we see guys improve on those habits on a daily basis. That’s the improvement that we want to see. Every coach is tasked with helping the players at their position improve and we all try to work together to make sure that happens. The players obviously put a lot of work into it as well. Whether it’s Raekwon, whether it’s Tua, whether it’s Brandon Jones, whether it’s Jesse Davis, we’re trying to improve all of these guys. We hope all of these guys improve.”
(With Defensive Backs Coach Gerald Alexander and Cornerbacks Coach Charles Burks, I’m curious because obviously you were a defensive assistant coming up. Do you see any of yourself in any of your younger defensive assistants and kind of share your experiences with them as they go about their career?) – “It’s not just the defensive assistants. I know I mentioned those guys, but it’s really all of the coaches. We’ve got a fairly young staff. All of these guys work hard. They’re all hungry to learn and get better and improve and find different ways to help the guys in their groups get better. That’s why they’re here. But specific to ‘Chuck (Charles Burks) and ‘GA’ (Gerald Alexander) and (Linebackers Coach Anthony) Campanile and (Defensive Line Coach) Austin Clark, ‘Grizz’ (Wide Receivers Coach Josh Grizzard), obviously (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends) George (Godsey) and (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs) Eric (Studesville), I think we’ve got guys who are passionate about the game – ‘Lem’ (Offensive Line Coach Lemuel Jeanpierre) – passionate about the game, passionate about coaching, passionate about helping their guys improve, passionate about learning the game. There’s so many things about the game that we’re – the game evolves and it changes every year. Different schemes, different concepts, different modes of play, different rules, different situations. All of these guys are eager to learn it all and try to pass that information to the players in hopes that the smallest thing is the difference between making a play and not making a play. And oftentimes in this league, as good of players there are, the difference between making plays is (small). I think we’re all trying to find different ways to make up that difference. I think ‘Chuck,’ ‘GA’, Josh and really everyone on the entire staff, I think they’re all passionate about this and I can hear it on the field. I know they’ll continue to do that. ‘Lem’ is the same way, (Quality Control) Kolby (Smith) is the same way. We’re all just trying to get better, myself included.”
(We talk to you a lot about QB Tua Tagovailoa obviously because he’s the quarterback, but is there maybe a way that you can contextualize or give us an example of maybe his practice methods or routines that you’ve seen, in your eyes, from last year to this year, and maybe how he’s grown?) – “Are you talking about…”
(QB Tua Tagovailoa. I know we talk about the comfort. Maybe an example that you’ve seen like, “this kind of stood out to me,” and how he’s maybe grown. Or “I noticed this was improved from last year,” or something because obviously we weren’t there a lot last year so we can’t compare, and this year is a little different because it’s walkthrough.) – “Similar to what you’re saying, it’s walkthrough. So just from a meeting standpoint, I can talk to it; but from a – I would say he wants a process. He’s trying to put together a process for how he studies, how he eats, how he trains, really kind of everything. I would say I’ve seen that. So from a scheduling and process and routine and system standpoint, he’s got a system in place or he’s putting together systems that he thinks will help him do X, Y or Z – whether it’s training, whether it’s meetings, whether it’s fundamentals, throwing mechanics. I’ve seen that, for sure.”
(I’m wondering whether there have been internal discussions or with other teams about possibly holding joint practices this summer.) – “Yeah, there have been some discussions. Nothing truly, truly finalized just yet; but some discussions. We’ll see how this goes. Honestly, we don’t even have – we’re kind of still waiting on some of the final protocols and what we can and can’t do. But yeah, there have been some discussions. I’m always in favor of doing joint practices. I think they bring a lot from a camaraderie standpoint, from a competitive standpoint. I think you can get a lot out of those. I know we did with Tampa a couple of years ago and my experience is you get a lot out of those and it kind of breaks up training camp in a good way, in a positive way.”
Eric Rowe – June 2, 2021
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Wednesday, June 2, 2021
S Eric Rowe
(What is going on with the blonde streak? And since I’m the hair expert, what’s the thought process behind this?) – “Well, really it’s my wife’s idea. She was like, ‘let’s change it up.’ I said no at first. But she was like ‘no, no. I want you to change it.’ So I was like ‘let’s just do it.’ Now it just kind of stuck to me.”
(So you liked it after you initially did it. This isn’t a serious question, but yes?) – “Yes, so after I did it, I was like, ‘oh, I’m feeling it.’ And she was like, ‘I told you.’ I was like ‘ok, ok.’”
(I wanted to ask you about your evolution as a player. Obviously when you came here from New England in 2019 you were a cornerback. Now you’re a safety. You’re kind of emerging into that role as a tight end coverage guy. When other players look at you and revel in your development as a player, what do you tell them that can help them get there?) – “It just takes time. I’d tell them it just takes time and patience. Obviously you need to learn the defense, but then kind of within that, kind of just know your role, kind of who you are as a player. I always tell people, if you’re a DB, you can always get better at man-to-man coverage. Even if you’re a free safety that you play the post 90 percent of the time, if the coaches know you can cover man-to-man, there is always value in that. I always tell them no matter what, just always work on your man-to-man skills.”
(I’m curious your reaction when they moved on from S Bobby McCain, and obviously now there is a good possibility you will be playing alongside S Jevon Holland. What’s your initial observations of Jevon athletically, and from a mental standpoint in terms of how he’s observing stuff?) – “The Bobby decision, that’s just how the NFL goes, right? At the end of the year, teams are always switching out players, adding players, letting go of players. That’s just the business side, so I really can’t say much on that. I’m not upstairs making roster moves. But as far as Jevon, I’ve worked with him the past couple of weeks. He is athletic. He has nice size; and then I’ve talked to him and he’s a smart guy. He’s picking up the defense pretty fast. We’re just doing walkthroughs right now, but I see him picking things up pretty quick.”
(Has S Jevon Holland tried to form a bond with you? Obviously it’s going to be important to establish the same level of connection and communication that you and S Bobby McCain had.) – “Yeah; but that comes with time. I think right now, he’s just trying to get the playbook, get the play calls, get the adjustments, get all of that down. That just takes time.”
(Just piggybacking off of that, obviously you and S Bobby McCain were veterans in the backfield and now if he wins the job, S Jevon Holland would be a rookie. Does that put more pressure on you to maybe have a bigger vocal or communication role in the backend? Or how do you guys kind of balance that?) – “To balance that, obviously we all have to know all of the coverage adjustments. But as far as Bobby, he was a great leader, very vocal and he was a huge piece of our defense. Now that he’s gone, and if Jevon wins the job, either way, you’ve got to just step up, right? I need to be more vocal out there, but also there will come a time with Jevon, once we actually start running reps and he gets to know the defense, he’ll be more vocal and kind of bark out the calls., adjustments and whatever. We all just have to pick up that role.”
(Going back to that earlier comment of just walking through right now, I was curious because last year in the midst of the pandemic, you talked about how you can’t go out in your backyard for instance and work on simulating fitting the run for instance. Now that you are in OTAs, I’m wondering how much value is there, even in just walkthroughs, in having the offseason program to go through stuff like that, like fitting the run and whatever else it might be?) – “Yeah, yeah. Last year, you can’t work on run fits when you’re by yourself. Even though we’re not doing full speed reps, it’s still a lot of the mental game. Doing shifts, kind of seeing shifts and adjustments and missiles, and kind of the calls that at least at the backend at safety, we have to give. It provides a lot of value rather than just sitting at home, kind of going over the Zoom calls, going over the playbook. That’s always different than when you’ve actually got people running at you, things moving fast. That’s the value – at least this year – it provides. We’ve got a couple of new calls and the first day, I kind of struggled with like shifts and adjustments, getting your mind thinking again, rather than just sitting on a computer looking at the screen, looking at the film. It does provide a lot of value that we’re actually here doing walkthroughs.”
(Since last year was kind of a shotgun of information with training camp and all of that kind of stuff being rapid fire in August, since you’ve been here since Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer and Head Coach Brian Flores’ first year in 2019, have you seen an accelerated growth in everyone’s knowledge of being in that same mindset, in terms of having the playbook and the checks and everything down?) – “Yeah, for the players that were kind of here with me since ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) first got here. Obviously everyone adds a play or two or a couple of new adjustments, but kind of like the core plays, you know them like second nature. Then it’s on us to get the new guys – either rookies or free agents – and bring them up to speed with whatever playbook plays that we’ve got going on. Yeah, you can say it’s a pretty accelerated growth.”
(I have to ask you about DB Jason McCourty and being reunited with him. Are you guys not going to stop until every Patriot comes down to Miami or what?) – “(laughter) I think it was today that somebody asked me ‘how many former Patriots are on the team now?’ I was adding it up and I think it’s five or six. I think there are quite a bit of us. Two of them left last year. There was still a good amount last year. I guess that’s the deal going on right now.”
(What do you think DB Jason McCourty will bring to this defense?) – “Playing with him, and I know him pretty well outside of football, he brings a lot of knowledge and a lot of wisdom of the game. I still ask him questions – football related and stuff. He brings leadership. I remember playing with him in New England, when he got signed it was like instant leadership from him. I didn’t know him at the time. I just knew his brother Devin (McCourty). They are pretty much the same. Obviously (they are) twins. He’s the same guy. He will bring instant leadership to the back end and just a lot of wisdom to the game.”
(In terms of the carryover, how much different does this team look than the 2019 team that you came here and were a part of?) – “It’s a lot different. In 2019, we had I think before camp like half the roster change before Week 1. We had new guys trying to learn the playbook on both sides in five or six days to run a game. Now, we’ve got a good core of people still from that team, but then also last year, even though we were still young, more kind of like older guys and vets that have playing experience coming onto the team. In 2019, we had practice squads and first- and second-year players come. So it’s a big jump from 2019 until now.”
(When you went up against TE Travis Kelce and TE Darren Waller, those were two really big games for those tight ends. What did you learn from that experience, or just going up against those guys? What can you take away from how you defended them and how they performed?) – “Obviously those are two of the best tight ends in the league, along with (George) Kittle. What I learned is – I knew the mistakes I had because right after the game, I was watching film like ‘what did I do wrong, what can I do better?’ With both of them, I just got to step my game up. With them, they are not really tight ends. They are just big receivers that can run. I know this year, I know we’ve got the Raiders in Week 3 back in Vegas. I’m ready for that. I’ve been waiting for that all year because that one got me, so I need a rematch on that. But just with them two, you’ve just got to take your game to another level.”
(I think we all collectively like you, that we didn’t criticize you too bad for those games, jut because those guys are all-world tight ends.) – “I don’t know. Even though we got the win, I was like, thank God we got the win; but God that was a tough game.”
(Do you see a sense of guys who are upbeat right now? What I mean by that is it’s more open. We are seeming to get back to a sense of normalcy and your OTAs are getting back to a sense of normalcy. In general, what do you notice right now as you guys go through this? Everything seems to be opening up a little bit more, there’s more freedom now. When you guys are out there, do you have a sense of we’re going to get back to normal now as we practice and get ready for season?) – “In that sense? Yeah, with the new rules the NFL keeps putting out, if you’re vaccinated or not, it’s creeping there. I think the one thing guys are excited for is having the fans back. I’ve seen some reports of stadiums kind of going back to full capacity or at least having some sort of fans in there. I think that’s the thing guys are most excited about.”
(In light of you guys going 10-6 last year after the 5-11 season in 2019, I’m wondering what kind of difference, if any, are you sensing from everybody as an overall vibe in terms of the confidence of the team?) – “I think with last year, we knew we were really a game away from the playoffs. This year, the guys that were here last year, we all know that it obviously starts in training camp and it starts at the beginning of the season. Last year we went 1-3, kind of a slow start and we all know our focus this year is coming out and having a better start. It’s tough when you go 1-3. You’re kind of digging from the hole. Kind of from there, you want to jump out, 2-0 or 3-0. Those games could’ve been the ones that put us in the playoffs. We all know what we’ve got to get done though.”
DeVante Parker – June 2, 2021
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Wednesday, June 2, 2021
WR DeVante Parker
(What were your thoughts when you heard the Dolphins drafted WR Jaylen Waddle?) – “I was excited. It brings another guy, another weapon, to the team. That’s another guy that can help us.”
(What has impressed you about WR Jaylen Waddle and the time that you have spent with him on the practice field so far?) – “He’s a very quick learner. He listens to what you have to say. We just coach him up and he listens to you. He texts the coaches.”
(Have you had a chance to kind of picture how much WR William Fuller V and WR Jaylen Waddle will be able to open up maybe some one-on-one coverage for you?) – “(laughter) Nah, there’s none of that yet. I’m just taking this one day at a time, really. I’m not looking to the future or anything yet. Just one day at a time.”
(Do you have – I know last year when we talked to you, a big goal was playing 16 games and doing that. Do you have any goals for this upcoming season that you want to put down?) – “Nah. I have the same goals I always have. That’s it. Except now we’ve got another game.”
(I noticed you working before OTAs, before all of this voluntary stuff, with QB Tua Tagovailoa. Was that right?) – “Yes.”
(How did that come about? And how beneficial was that? Because obviously you didn’t have any of that this time last year.) – “I would say – Tua, we’re all in a group chat. Tua put us in a group chat and texted us and we’ll just meet up and start throwing and try to get the rhythm down early.”
(Have you seen benefits already on the field?) – “Yes, I have.”
(How so?) – “His mechanics looks different.”
(With Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends George Godsey and Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Eric Studesville being the new offensive coordinators and putting their minds together to come up with a new playbook, what have you noticed is different? What’s changed about the new plan?) – “I don’t really know. We’ve just been moving around in different spots, I would say. That’s really it. We’re just moving around more than usual.”
(Do you envision your yards per catch and the number of yards that you run on each route, do you think that’s going to increase this year? Do you think there will be more downfield plays?) – “I’m not real sure about that. We’re still early. I’m just focused on right now and when that comes, it will come.”
(I wanted to go back to the offseason workouts that you guys have been doing – the receivers and the quarterbacks. Just the chemistry that you guys can build on the field, just from joking with each other and going through plays and just spending that time together, how do you think that really can make a difference for you guys?) – “I’d say it can help out a lot. Just spending time with each other, even if it’s off the field, just getting that camaraderie going. Everybody knows each other better than what we had before.”
(Last year, I asked you about what’s something on the field that you’re working on during the offseason and in training camp, and you told me comeback routes. Is there anything specific on the field that you’re working on this offseason to get better at?) – “I would say just routes, period. Just getting out of my break quicker.”
(Is that something that’s more mental? Physical? In the classroom? How do you go about making that happen?) – “It’s just more mental. That’s all.”
(Last week, when we were talking with QB Tua Tagovailoa, he kind of surprised us when he said that he didn’t feel he had the playbook down really well last year. What do you make of that statement?) – “I’m not sure. He’s his own guy. That’s just how he felt about it. I have nothing to say about that. That’s just how he felt.”
(You talked about QB Tua Tagovailoa and his mechanics, that they look different. I guess they feel different. What about them, if you could explain to a novice reporter, is different from your perspective?) – “Footwork. (Getting) the ball out quicker. All of that.”
(Last year, obviously you didn’t have a full offseason with QB Tua Tagovailoa or anybody. What about the extra reps with just him as the guy – QB Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t around – and what does it do for your chemistry and his chemistry with all of the guys on the starting offense?) – “It just comes down to getting a lot of reps in with him and just taking it to the game. That’s all it comes down to.”
(Do you feel like you guys know each other’s way to go about things now? The way he throws a certain route, the way he runs a certain route, have you all gotten a better grasp of that?) – “Yeah, we talk about that a lot. Yeah, we have. That’s something that we’re looking forward to.”
(Is there anything you want to talk to us about? I always love doing these medias with you because you’re really short but very nice. Is there anything you want to talk about with us?) – “No, I’m good. (laughter)”
(This offseason, what are some things that you’re working on personally for yourself to improve?) – “I’m just trying to get quicker, faster and more explosive.”
(I had to look this up and when I did, I couldn’t believe it. This is Year 7. When you hear that, what does that say to you? You’re clearly one of the most tenured players on this team. You’re one of the leaders I’m sure now. One of the guys that’s been around. What kind of an accomplishment is it to have seven seasons with any one team? That’s very rare in the NFL.) – “I would say there’s something for being – it doesn’t happen very often. I’m just proud that I’m still here and be able to do what I’m still doing.”
(Was there a time where you though that having this kind of longevity might not happen for you here?) – “I never had that in my mind at all. No.”
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