Mike McDaniel – December 29, 2023
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Friday, December 29, 2023
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(Is QB Tua Tagovailoa playing Sunday?) – “Yes.”
(Are WR Jaylen Waddle and OL Rob Hunt out Sunday?) – “Waddle will be out and we’re going to work some more Rob Hunt today to see where he’s at.”
(How much activity has OL Rob Hunt gotten in team portions, if anything?) – “He got a little work yesterday and the day before, so that was kind of where we were at. You can kind of control things when it’s not in a team environment more. There’s a little more risk when you get into the team environment, so then you wait until you feel comfortable doing that. We haven’t had any setbacks, so it was a good risk and we’ll see what is in store for today.”
(How did QB Tua Tagovailoa sustain the thumb injury?) – “A high-stakes, left-handed thumb war with me. (laughter) Bad decision. I really haven’t been worried about it at all just because he sustained it – I didn’t know about it during the game. When I found out about it the day after the game, he let me know what play it was. It was in the first quarter and he played the entire game without saying anything and has just been getting treatment on it. It was off an opposing player’s helmet in the first quarter. He was spinning it through the fourth.”
(And how about QB Tua Tagovailoa’s quad? What’s the status of that?) – “He feels real good about the quad. He’s been very intentional and deliberate during the week to make sure it wouldn’t be an issue at all. When he puts his mind to something – it was encouraging.”
(Just to get some clarity on S Jevon Holland, I know he’s practiced or participated, more this week. Is he closer to being back in the lineup or at least dressed for game day?) – “I’m optimistic about Jevon. The biggest thing is him not having any setbacks today, and so we’ll see how he handles that, or his body, I should say. Like I’ve been talking about from the onset, the deliberate nature of him, you just really, really have to be careful to not make yourself vulnerable to setbacks with him because he’s all gas and no brake, really. I’m encouraged by him and we’ll see what today has to offer.”
(RB Raheem Mostert and RB De’Von Achane?) – “Raheem is probably a guy that I’m least worried about in life in terms of, I just know him so well and his prerequisite toughness. He’ll get a little work today. He’s had a good week. And then De’Von, no issues with him. It’s been a good week for him too.”
(Where is WR Robbie Chosen in the concussion protocol?) – “Where DeShon (Elliott) was last week. The final stages of clearance will happen today and I’m optimistic that will be the case.”
(I’ll pivot off of the injuries and go towards a psychological question. So you guys come off a big win last week over the Cowboys, the first win over a winning team, all that stuff. The Ravens get a big win over a team that is favored in that game. What’s the approach for managing the emotions coming off of such an emotional high, going into another big game? How do you approach getting the guy’s minds back to that exact same place as they were ahead of the Cowboys game?) – “Each week is independent of itself. This one was really easy, just because you know the challenge. You know you have a high regard for the team you’re playing. The opportunity to play the NFL’s best is just that for us. We’re excited about that opportunity because as competitors, that’s what we want to do. We want to go against the best and put our best foot forward and see how it plays out. I think that is definitely a legitimate question. There’s different types of scenarios and a lot of times after a big win, you feel as though you have to manage the emotions because we have another big game in front of us. This one was not that way. There was a lot of excitement about the win, but once Wednesday started, the Dallas game could have been two or three months previous for all the players’ concerns. They have been locked in at the task at hand.”
(I ask this question against the backdrop of your growth as a second-year head coach. Could you guys have had the same success in the run game last year as you’ve had this year if you’d have called more rushing plays? I think you guys were 29th in rushing attempts last year and I think you’re 12th or 13th this year.) – “I hope not or I should have called more running plays. (laughter) I think last year was its own entity. I think this year, there’s no doubt in my mind that we’re better upfront at really everything we do, just with a more concrete understanding, more reps of what we’re really trying to accomplish. The one thing I can say is … if you put this year’s team, the same number of attempts against last year’s opponents, we’re without a doubt better at doing our jobs, which speaks to not only the deliberate nature of how it’s being coached, but the players I think have such an understanding and buy-in to what we’re trying to do that they’re able to execute responsibilities beyond just what we’re asking for. They’re taking stuff to another level. You have to be that way. This last game was a great example, to have success running the football when everyone knows you’re running it at the end of the game. That’s a great litmus test for where you’re at. That’s a tough thing to do and this group here doesn’t blink at any adverse situations. They were happy to rise to the challenge and they sure did.”
(How fair is it to say you’re coming for Dan Marino’s records considering how much the game has changed? They didn’t throw it as much.) – “So there’s a backstory to that that’s long. (laughter) I drive to work on Dan Marino Boulevard every day. From the onset, when I first saw him in the building, I’m like, ‘you’re Dan Marino.’ And he’s like, ‘would you be okay if I sat in the meeting?’ I’m like, ‘What? Yes. I’m just honored that you’d actually be interested.’ But he’s around in the quarterback meetings a lot, in our staff meetings and in those, over the course of time, you throw a jab out here or there and every time you throw a jab out, he says, ‘I’ve been waiting for someone.’ He’s the biggest Dolphins fan and he wants every success that Tua and the guys can have and so when he was coming to the coin toss, I think there were some records up there, so literally I said that to make Dan laugh. That was the only reason, because we talk about breaking records and he’s like, ‘finally.’ And on top of that, what you just alluded to is 100 percent the case. Like 5,000 yards in 1984 is pretty much the equivalent of 6,500, I would say, now. That record stood for 27 years or something like that. So there’s a reason is stood for that long and it’s a mind-blowing number. I remember as a kid just being so involved in stats and I was a huge John Elway fan and he wasn’t sniffing 5,000. So yeah, you’re exactly right. That’s like inflation. You have to account for inflation so it would be about 6,500 to break his record I think.”
(I wanted to ask about the fact that this unit, this defense, you’ve already got the franchise sack record with two games more to play and you’ve had some injuries in that group. How much is a testament to what you’re doing collectively on defense?) – “I’ve said this to the team numerous times, but the sacks, the quarterback hits, that is a defensive stat – team defense – because to be able to do that, of course, the people that are getting the numbers deserve them. They’re executing pass rush whether it’s just straight rush or there’s games or blitzes. All those things. They deserve all the credit they get, however, there’s a coverage aspect to it that I think speaks to the greater big picture of what the defense is doing on pass downs. What’s really happening is the inner play between coverage and pass rush is so tied together that guys are starting to feel how long they typically will have success – if they can hold up, you can be aggressive in coverage in certain different ways because realistically you know that there’s going to be a quarterback off the spot after a certain amount of time. I think as a defense, that’s a defensive stat that has to do just as much with the pass rush as the coverage. If there are blown coverages or leaky coverages, some of those hits or sacks can be avoided. So I think that really speaks to everyone. That’s what I’m really, really happy about with the Miami Dolphins team. Our team is a collection of people and a lot of people contributing, and when one guy goes down, another one steps in and rises to the challenge. The locker room that the players have built is really strong and guys are playing well with each other.”
(There was a moment in the Jets game where Solomon Thomas is down on a knee and you’re walking toward him. He’s a defensive player, you’re offensive. I know you were together in San Francisco, but can you tell me about that moment and maybe anything about your history with Solomon?) –– “I think people lose sight of, especially with pads, helmets, that this is a relationship game. I‘ve never shortchanged anybody that I’ve been able to be on a team with that there’s a certain bond there that never leaves. With a guy that I was there, he was our first draft pick in San Francico. Solomon Thomas is a great human being, great work ethic. When you have a relationship like that, a former teammate, there’s a part of that that never leaves you. If the relationship is right, both sides feel the same way. I was just trying to make sure he was okay. I don’t like seeing anybody get hurt on the football field.”
(I was watching the Browns last night, and was like, ‘wow, No Deshaun Watson, no Nick Chubb, no Jedrick Wills Jr., no Jack Conklin, and yet here they are fighting for one of the top seeds in the AFC. I was thinking about how even the Texas Rangers in baseball won a World Series without two Hall of Fame Pitchers, Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. What lesson is there in that? Can almost any injury actually be overcome?) – “I think adversity is an opportunity, for one. For two, I think it speaks to where your attention lies. So if a group of people are so focused on doing their independent jobs for the collective goal and only worry about that, there’s kind of a mindset that things happen in football, or in sports as you related, and not focusing on, ‘oh, our guy’s hurt,’ and focusing on what my job is. Let the people that have to step up to replace that player worry about their game; I’m going to worry about mine. And collectively, the idea of minimizing internal distractions, I think is a life lesson for all people because it’s very, very easy to go into the world of worry. It’s one of the reasons I don’t spend – for example, how the offensive line has played out this yea – I don’t spend any time bitching or moaning about, ‘oh, this guy is hurt.’ It’s what’s the next thing? How do we adjust? What are some of the skill sets of their replacement? And move on. I think that’s what you’re seeing with the Cleveland Browns is a lot people were worried about what they didn’t have except them. And their focus, when your focus is on the opponent and not what you don’t have, really cool things can happen. Because they were put behind the eight ball with injuries, now the accomplishments are that much more satisfying. So, henceforth, adversity is an opportunity because now they have this cool moment of a galvanizing team experience that the reason why it’s so cool and so impactful is because they’ve overcome some things to do it. That’s kind of the name of the game in life and football, and they’re doing a tremendous job providing that example.”
(With WR Tyreek Hill and four other good receivers available Sunday, pending what WR Robbie Chosen’s status is, do you think there’s something more that can be called for WR Chase Claypool? Is he on top of the system? Is there something there you’d like to maybe extract?) – “There is. In practice, there’s been an uptick in involvement and particularly in this game. Really everyone understands what Waddle brings to our team and then understands that it’s an opportunity for playmakers to make plays in his absence. So yeah, there has been. Chase has done an unbelievable job defining to me who he truly is. Whatever narratives existed before, all he’s done here is chopped wood and gotten better and assimilated into a system that isn’t necessarily easy. And he’s done it with the intent of helping the team through selflessness. It’s been really cool to watch him define himself with his teammates and take advantage of whatever opportunity is given. He also had a couple really good plays on special teams last week. And yeah, I expect to see a little bit more of him too.”
Tyreek Hill – December 28, 2023
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Thursday, December 28, 2023
WR Tyreek Hill
(How are you feeling health-wise? How did it feel being back out there?) – “It feels good. It feels amazing to be back out there with the guys. I told him every day is a blessing to be able to step on the field, especially with the position that we’re in, fighting for the No. 1 spot in the AFC. It’s great to be able to play the sport that we love each and every day and inspire people all across the world. It’s awesome.”
(What do you think if WR Jaylen Waddle can’t go?) – “He will be a go. I’m going to keep saying it. I’m going to manifest it. I’m going to put that out there in the air. The type of player he is, his mindset, he understands what’s at stake and he knows that he’s our guy. He knows that without him being on the field, it is going to be difficult but if he can’t go, we all support it. It’s a next man up mentality.”
(What has impressed you most this season from QB Tua Tagovailoa from Week 1 now to Week 17?) – “Just how vocal he has become over the weeks. I feel like Tua has done a great job of just stepping outside of his shell and doing things that aren’t comfortable for him. I think he is doing a fabulous job of that. The team needs that because he’s the franchise guy and a lot of guys will follow suit. He’s done a great job of that this year.”
(As much of a competitor as you are, how painful was it to have to miss that Jets game?) – “It sucks, man. It sucked a lot. I wish I could have played. But the most important thing to me is obviously health and also for us to get a win. I’m glad it happened for a lot of reasons, especially for Tua (Tagovailoa) and especially for (Jaylen) Waddle. I’m proud of the way that game went and that also gave me a week to recover. It was a win-win.”
(Did you talk to Cowboys LB Micah Parsons after the game?) – “Nah, he didn’t want to talk to me at all. The only thing he said was ‘Man, just send me your jersey.’ And then he was like, ‘Thanks for the tickets.’ That’s it. Micah is my guy though. I know a lot of people see us going back and forth on Twitter but it’s nothing serious. It’s just play for fun.”
(You mentioned QB Tua Tagovialoa. He’s dealing with a thumb injury. Have you seen him battling through whatever he has to go through?) – “I didn’t even know Tua was hurt. I didn’t even know he was hurt. That just goes to show what type of guy he is. I didn’t even know Tua was hurt.”
(Regardless, is he a guy that is just going to battle through anything?) – “Yeah. I feel like his career speaks volumes of that. Look at what he’s had to go through in his career.”
(Looking back at that Week 2 game you played against the Ravens last year, it was a crazy comeback. What do you think that kind of meant for the team at that moment? There were still a lot of questions about QB Tua Tagovailoa and about you in this offense. What do you think that moment meant?) – “It meant a lot. There were a bunch of new and fresh faces in this building so for us to be able to come back and win that game, it says a lot about the people that we have inside this building. I’m just looking forward to this matchup this year. It’s going to be fun. Who would have thought that both of these teams would be fighting for the No. 1 seed. It’s going to be special.”
(Do you feel like the national media’s approach to debate on the television shows, the sports programs, has changed since you entered the league?) – “What do you mean by that?”
(Well, the way the programs are structured and each person takes a side and seems like folks have to make the boldest statement possible.) – “Yeah man, that’s what TV is. I feel like it’s all about debates. That’s what people want to watch. People don’t want to watch, I guess, the right thing being said. They want to see people getting downplay or I don’t know. I just don’t know. For me though, I just wish former players would be more supportive of current players right now. That’s really all I got to say because as an active player and as a former player, you should know what we have to go through day-to-day. We have families. We have lives. We deal with that. Then we have to come in and go to work and do this and that, and then we also have to perform on Sundays. There’s a whole lot of things that go on. I’m not making excuses for anybody, but as a former player, they should at least know that, because not everybody has had the perfect career. You can go back and critique their careers and stuff like that. But that’s all I could ask for – if guys, former players, would just support us. Guys have bad games all the time. It happens. I’m human.”
(Is there a trick to blocking a lot of that stuff out? Because you’ve been in situations where at this point in the season, you’re fighting for the top seed in the conference going into the playoffs. Have you figured out ways to kind of let those distractions go by the wayside?) – “Have you read my Twitter bio? I’m Twitter’s biggest instigator. (laughter) I love that kind of stuff. I feed into it. Because I feel like that’s what helps me sleep at night. When people trash talk, especially me – I can’t speak for nobody else – but especially me, I live for that. So when I drop a pass, get on me because I’m going to say something back to you. As far as everybody else though, I tell the young guys just stay off that stuff. Don’t pay that stuff no mind, because in two days or three days, all that stuff is going to go away and people are going to be on to the next topic. That’s just how the world is unfortunately. If you keep that mindset and that approach on it, you’ll be alright. But if you try to dwell on it and say ‘oh, this person thinks this much of me.’ Who cares, who cares. The only person that can judge you is one person. And that’s God.”
(So the Colin Cowherd ‘thug’ tweet?) – “I was joking. I was totally joking. (laughter) You see how I added ‘thug’ in there? It’s just to have fun! And I’m sure he’s going to say something back like, ‘oh, can you believe Tyreek Hill said this?’ Yes, give me more followers baby. That’s what I want. (laughter)”
(He said it was hurtful half-jokingly.) – “Oh, he said that? He understands. I’m just having fun. I’m a big fan of Colin Cowherd ever since LaVar Ball was on there.”
Frank Smith – December 28, 2023
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Thursday, December 28, 2023
Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith
(Has QB Tua Tagovailoa, to you, looked limited at all by either injury he has, including the thumb injury?) – “This time of year is December, and everyone’s working through stuff. So ultimately, as we’re going through each day this week, we’re making sure that we’re getting ourselves ready to play on Sunday. The big thing today is focusing on today and getting better today, and ultimately, as Tua and all the guys work through it, we’re just making sure we’re focused one day at a time as we get ourselves ready for Baltimore.”
(Is it possible on any of the throws that there any limitations on throws QB Tua Tagovailoa can make with the thumb?) – “Ultimately guys, we’re going to focus on today and what we can get better on day. I mean, as far as right now with Tua or just any of the guys, they’re working through today. We’re focusing on what we’re going to do today, not necessarily all the variables to stuff. We’re just making sure that we are working on our gameplan and everything we’re going to do to execute for Baltimore.”
(Do you need to get your backup quarterback extra repetitions this week?) – “I mean, when it comes to any injuries or anything that we’re working through, ultimately, we’re making sure that we have all the contingencies that we need to, just in case any variable occurs. So whether it’s the offensive line, wide receiver, quarterback, running back, defensive back, like all positions, we just try and make sure that we cover our bases in case any scenario potentially occurs.”
(How did the thumb injury happen? Did QB Tua Tagovailoa hit on someone’s helmet throwing the ball?) – “Yeah, I think it was something on one of the throws or something like that in the game. I’m not 100 percent sure. I can’t remember exactly what it was. But like everything, I think the big thing is as you go through it, it’s the last week of December. I mean, I’ve got a paper cut in my hand too that I’m working through. (laughter) I’m trying to push through. But ultimately, it’s just for us, it’s worrying about today, making sure that we’re getting ourselves ready for Baltimore this Sunday.”
(Are you going to be available for Sunday with that paper cut?) – “I’m questionable. (laughter)”
(Is QB Tua Tagovailoa going to be available Sunday?) – “(laughter) We’re working through stuff. Today’s the most important thing, and we’re going to make sure we get better today.”
(Here’s one that I think you can answer. A thumb injury to a quarterback on the throwing hand, how complicated does it get in terms of either gripping the ball, throwing the ball, or simply taking a snap? What’s the biggest concerns?) – “It’s just, there are multiple factors into everyone’s different things. You can’t say there’s one thing specific. I mean, ultimately, we’ll make sure that we’re in the best situation possible to put ourselves in position to be at our best. So as far as Tua (Tagovailoa) and all the guys, they’re working through things. They’re extreme pros and they’ll make sure that they’re getting better every day to get themselves ready for each game that it presents.”
(How have you seen the Ravens defense evolve since the Week 2 matchup last season?) – “I mean a new coordinator. We were new last year as well. I think as they’ve grown in their system, as we have, you can see guys that are really playing well together, communicating, intent. They have a very good understanding of what schematically they’re trying to do and they play very well together and they’re an opportunistic defense. Obviously, they’ve had some success in recent weeks, so for us, it’s a great challenge. I mean, you couldn’t ask for this time of year for these great games, because as a competitor, you always want to face the best and be at your best. We’re really looking forward to it and it’ll be a great challenge because they have a good defense.”
(What’s been the biggest thing that you’ve seen from QB Tua Tagovailoa from the offseason now entering Week 17? Or what has impressed you the most about how he’s been able to grow throughout the season?) – “I think it’s like stuff we’ve kind of talked about all season, or even from the offseason. It’s just understanding the intent and understanding familiarity with your guys and really just being on the same page as far as expectations. When you start as a new program, there’s a lot of stuff you’re working through. Now you hopefully have seen a couple looks a couple times so you can have anticipation and be able to play together. The greatest thing about Tua and all the guys is just how they go about their daily process. I mean, it’s not a surprise when you see how everyone goes about Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or really the entire offseason since April. Just guys who were deliberately present, focusing on getting better today. When you have an environment like that, you love coming to work and you really can just focus on trying to improve on all the little things you want to get better at in all phases your game or anything that’s bothering you. It’s great to hear their conversations about football and it’s no surprise how they’re all getting connected and getting stronger each week.”
(How do you adapt the offense if WR Jaylen Waddle can’t go, at the expense of possibly having you just recycle an answer about WR Tyreek Hill?) – “It’s not necessarily recycling answers. It’s more for us, it’s stuff like as we go through the season, we ask all these things, but it goes back to our offseason and how we go about everything. We try to make sure that we always are moving guys around and getting guys work with things so we all can be connected for the time that we’re going to have to show up and do what’s required for Sunday. So again, we have contingencies to work through so we can make sure that we’re putting our guys in the best position possible.”
(With WR Robbie Chosen potentially being out as well, if WR Jaylen Waddle and WR Robbie Chosen can’t go, you kind of lose two speed elements. Is there somebody on the practice squad that’d be kind of like a natural backup to those guys?) – “I mean, we still got Thursday, so we’ll see how the week goes before we determine what we’re going to do for the roster. But again, we make sure that all the variables and stuff that we’re considering everything to make sure that we can have our guys in the best position for Sunday. We’ll worry about today and we’ll make sure that we get the guys that are capable to play and help us be at our best on Sunday, and they’ll be ready to go.”
(What did OL Liam Eichenberg do pretty well on Sunday?) – “The one thing that I think that’s an intangible that’s really hard to measure is just – what was it that Rocky Balboa said? I remember that one movie. It’s like, ‘toughness isn’t how much you can dish out, it’s how much you can take and keep moving.’ Man, is he a tough guy. His resiliency really through the year and to – I mean, think about it. For playing all across the offensive line, working through stuff, it’s a real testament to who he is as a person. I think having to be up there, communicate, working through different things, it’s been awesome. I think his versatility and dependability have been really a valuable feature, especially for the different things we’ve had to work through on the line.”
(Speaking of that, I’m doing something on your backups and the jobs that they’ve done this season. Can you tell me what you think about the jobs that they’ve done overall offensively, but then especially on the offensive line and especially when you have to come in mid-game as opposed to having days to prepare?) – “I thought you were listing my backups. I was like, ‘Tell me who they are.’ (laughter) I think for us, it’s just we’re always trying to make sure that as we go through things, we accurately know where our guys are at and what they’re capable of and making sure that we’re every day working on our ongoing skill development. That’s why after practice, our guys are really working with the assistants and their position coaches trying to maximize things they’re trying to work on. It’s always that, because it’s a long season and you never know when your time is going to get called up. You could be inactive for a month or two and all of a sudden, bang, you’re in a starting role due to the nature of the situation. If you train in the intent that it could be tomorrow and every day is that’s how your preparation goes. It’s part of the mental process to getting yourself ready. I think that’s the fortunate thing about a lot of the guys here is just they take that approach to everything they do. Everything is about helping each other. You’re serving your teammates, you’re serving everyone. So if I choose to not take today as the most important time, ‘It’s just Thursday,’ then it’s a Thursday and the Thursdays start adding up as opposed to, ‘No, it’s Thursday.’ That focus I think is the biggest thing that the locker room really carries every day. I think that’s a great part of the program.”
(What did you like about what RB Jeff Wilson Jr. did on those two carries on the last drive?) – “Finding the running lane and hitting it with purpose. I mean at that point in the game, time isn’t on your side so it’s yards, getting north. He was very decisive with his runs of physical on contact. The greatest thing is when you see him run the ball, is you guys get to see the passion he has for what he does. He’s one of the guys you love going to work with every day because just his energy towards everything he does. Good, strong carries at the end and really helped set us in position to be where we wanted to be at the end of the game.”
(It’s tough to highlight any element of the Ravens defense, it’s so good across the board, but I think I’ll start in the back end. What does S Kyle Hamilton do on tape to really expand their ability to be flexible in that secondary?) – “Range. Understanding of the system. You can tell he’s on his details. You can see him and the guys on the back end communicate well together. Really the whole defense overall, you can tell they have a very good understanding. They all know where their role is and inside of it. It’s a credit to their coaching staff and their program. They’re a well-coached team with very good players who know where they need to be and when they need to be there. I think it’s just a challenge when you play a program like the Ravens, because they’ve been able to do it for a long time. Now they have another guy whose stepping into a role and playing well, so it will be a good challenge for us on Sunday for us to execute what we want to do.”
(Do you think there’s value to having that tape of them playing the 49ers just six days ago, an offense that’s somewhat similar to your guys’ with all the motions and the middle of the field passing game? Is there benefit to seeing that on tape six days before playing them?) – “It gives you sometimes, maybe if you had a, ‘I wonder what they would do if we did this,’ so you can see maybe some similar motions and stuff like that. But ultimately, each game will be different. But sometimes it does help you because some teams don’t motion. Other teams do. So when you play a team that gives you some motion stuff, sometimes it helps you in your preparation for, ‘OK, that’s what you think would happen if you move him here,’ or something like that.”
(I was just going to ask how OL Robert Jones and OL Lester Cotton had played in the last couple of weeks?) – “Two guys that – again, you have a locker room full of guys that you just love going to work with because of the energy they bring every day. It’s just physical guys who enjoy playing the game. The greatest thing about both of them is they’ve been asked to do so many different things for us over their time here, and the way they step up and rise to the challenge, you just couldn’t ask for better guys and their physicality, especially when they play the game. They just love playing football. You just want a locker room full of guys who love coming to work every day, and those guys kind of epitomize it.”
Danny Crossman – December 28, 2023
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Thursday, December 28, 2023
Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman
(What can you say about K Jason Sanders’ performance with the five field goals, and the whole special teams really?) – “Every time we send Jason out there, we expect positive results. We haven’t run him out there a lot with as aggressive as we’ve been on fourth downs, but in this particular game, it was his time and fortunately, not surprisingly at all, he answered the bell.”
(How has K Jason Sanders been hitting the ball now as compared to the last couple of years, or even earlier this year?) – “Absolutely the same. Absolutely the same mindset, physically, everything is exactly the same it’s been over the years since I’ve been with him. Again, (we have) absolute confidence in Jason when we send him out there. In this particular game, the team needed him, and he answered.”
(You say exactly the same, but sometimes the ball goes through and sometimes it doesn’t, so something has to be different.) – “No. That’s the nature of the beast. I have not come across anybody that’s been perfect in their career. There are ups and downs, ebbs and flows to every position, on every team, throughout the season. It’s part of it. As long as he’s hitting good balls, I don’t get concerned. This year he’s hit good balls. He’s had a couple of misses. You have two blocks in there that have nothing to do with him. We worry about what we see on a day in and day out basis. He’s been hitting good balls all season, and hopefully continues to do that.”
(What goes into hitting a good ball? Can you explain the technique?) – “It’s really the ball flight. The rotation, the ball flight, the pattern, is it moving, is it not moving, where is the tip. We talk about ball flight and hitting the ball. What is the target and where did the ball go based on the target. We spend a lot of time at practice and we film every single one of those. We have a pretty good idea of what the ball flight is doing and if the ball is not flying like it should, there are things you do to tweak that, whether you do it with Jason, or whether you do it with the hold. There are some ways around that, but he’s been striking good balls all year. Fortunately he was needed this game and he performed well.”
(Is the target always down the middle, is it that simple?) – “No. It isn’t that simple. A lot of different aspects that go into it.”
(How tough is the play S Elijah Campbell made to down that ball on the two-yard line. He kind of had to run through a couple of Cowboys on the return team.) – “That was a heck of a play. He transitioned into trying to execute one technique into a different technique. A really good play by him. A good spot. A good punt by Jake (Bailey), but really an exceptional play by Elijah down the field. That is not easy to do. He transitioned from one aspect of trying to make a play in one particular way to making it in another way. It’s good to see. A big play in the game.”
(It seemed like the ball was exploding off K Jason Sanders’ foot Sunday maybe more than we’ve ever seen. The 57-yarder for example looked like it may have been good from 65 yards easy. Am I off in my assessment? And secondly, what would lead to that?) – “If I had it in a bottle, I would bottle it and sell it, and probably be doing ok and make a couple of bucks. (laughter) He had a good week. He usually has a good week, but had a good week, had a good Friday, was good in pregame. It was not surprising that he hit the ball well. For whatever reason, if it looked like he was hitting it better, good. I hope that we can find the answer and we can find that every week.”
(You mentioned that nobody is perfect and I would agree with that, although the guy that you are going to face on Sunday is pretty close it seems in K Justin Tucker.) – “He’s been outstanding. You look at him and he’s having another great year as he always has, and he’s (1-for-5) from over 50 this season. Again, nobody sees that coming. He’s in my opinion the greatest that’s ever done it in the National Football League and in my opinion, a Hall of Famer. But as I’ve said, there are ebbs and flows to every season, to every game. I think we’ll have two good kickers in the game this weekend.”
(They’ve won a game in overtime recently on a punt return. What are you telling your guys about WR Tylan Wallace?) – “He is a physical ball carrier. He is tough to bring down. You look at his big returns this year and he’s broken a lot of tackles. He runs through a lot of tackles, is a physical player and makes good decisions. Their kicking game there has been good for as long as I can remember with John (Harbaugh) being there. We expect nothing different this weekend. It’s a good group at every level. The specialists are good, the core players are good, they are well-coached from the top down. It’s going to be a heck of a test.”
(We don’t talk about the holder very often. A couple of things on that, P Jake Bailey notices there is only 10 on the field. He told me after the game, and I’ve never thought of this, he says there are four on each side of LS Blake Ferguson. But talk about him noticing that, and how difficult it is for a kicker to change holders.) – “Starting with the number, that’s just part of his operation, part of our sequence that we execute on every play. Hopefully it doesn’t come up a lot and we don’t have to talk about it again. But that’s just part of the operation we work every time we step on the field as a field goal unit. We have the same thing with the field goal block unit and really every team we have someone responsible for that. In terms of changing holders, it is. It’s never an issue. It’ll be different for the first couple of days, but fortunately at this part of the season, those guys have been working together since last spring. We spend a lot of time together and there have been a lot of balls put on the ground and talked about in terms of the spot, the spin, the lean, whatever it may be. It’s a good group, but every time you are successful making a kick, it’s the snap, it’s the hold, it’s the kick, and it’s the protection. The whole group, like anything, it takes all 11 guys on any team, on any phase, to have good execution.”
(How long does it typically take for the holder and kicker to have that chemistry?) – “It depends on what that guy has come from. If he’s an inexperienced guy, who he has held for in the past and what that guy likes. Some guys like certain leans, forward, side, back. The muscle memory develops after X amount of holds. You take a guy that’s been some place with a different kicker for four or five years and his mindset and muscle memory are one thing, and then you may have to tweak that. it doesn’t take long. They are professional athletes for a reason and they work on their craft and execute it.”
(When the holder notices that 10 men are on the field, is that an automatic timeout?) – “It depends on the time, the situation, where the ball is at on the field. There are a lot of things that can tie into whether or not we want to take a timeout or we’ll take a delay, whether we’ll get somebody in there. There are a couple different scenarios.”
(I was talking to P Jake Bailey after the game and he was saying all the kicks, the process has been pretty much flawless this year. He was saying that the laces are out. Tell me about laces out. What’s the significance of that, and why can’t a kicker hit the laces?) – “It affects the impact of the football and how much pressure you’re able to generate. When you hit the laces, being a hard surface, the ball is not going to compact as much, so you’re not going to get as much distance.”
Vic Fangio – December 28, 2023
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Thursday, December 28, 2023
Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio
(Your guys had two plays that were among the biggest plays of the game with S Deshon Elliott and S Brandon Jones. Tell me about Brandon Jones and the season that he’s had and kind of what you saw in his play?) – “I think the season, in a weird way, has worked out very well for Brandon. As you guys know, he missed all of the offseason, missed all of training camp. He got to play in the fourth game of the year, got thrust in the action. He wasn’t really ready for it. He and I talked about that. Then he got to play a few weeks later in a game, one of the starters was out. And then has now had this long stretch here – I don’t know, three or four in a row – where he’s had to play full time. In a different way, it’s worked out great for him. And he’s playing much, much better now.”
(Your defense has faced their fair share of mobile quarterbacks, but with Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, what kind of differentiates him?) – “Yeah, fair share mobile quarterbacks? Yes. Then there’s Lamar Jackson. (laughter) He’s unlike anybody else. The only other player that’s been like him in the last 50 years is Michael Vick. He’s a tremendous player. Kudos to Ozzie (Newsome) and Eric (DeCosta) for picking him. Thirty-one other teams that passed him by are kicking themselves. He’s really improved over the years. Dynamic with the ball. Good passer. He makes their offense go.”
(This team has set a franchise record for sacks. What’s working so well in the pass-rushing department? And has the sack production exceeded your expectations?) – “I just think we do a good job of rushing as a unit and playing good team defense. Changing up coverages buys the guys another second or two to get there. I think it’s all 11 guys playing together. And the guys rushing as a unit, not as individuals. To think we set a record for this franchise after 15 games, I really didn’t expect that, but I really don’t think along those lines either with records.”
(With QB Lamar Jackson, what’s your willingness to put a spy on him and give him different looks?) – “Yeah, I mean the pure definition of a great quarterback is there’s no one way to play him. Because if there was, everybody would do it. So you just have to mix up what you’re doing. Along the way, they have a hell of a run game. Both from the players ability – o-line, tight ends, runners – and the scheme of it with Lamar at the helm makes it a difficult task. There’s a lot to prepare for, a lot to defend in this offense.”
(What ways has LB David Long Jr. improved from Week 1 to Week 17?) – “Yeah, I think he has. Just incrementally he’s gotten a little bit better each week in the small details.”
(A lot was made about the shadow or not shadow decision in the Cowboys game. You guys did not shadow WR CeeDee Lamb and he got off to a hot start but then kind of cooled down. What stood out to you or what changed in the final three quarters of the game?) – “Yeah, we kind of changed the way we were playing him. But he primarily in that game was in the slot. He’s a hard guy to match with one guy.”
(Any feelings remain towards John Harbaugh and the Ravens in the way of the last meeting between you and him?) – “No. I mean what happened there was they ran a play at the end of the game instead of taking a knee to get an extra four or five yards rushing. Our players were all upset about it. The way the timing worked Mondays after our games, I would meet with the media before any player would, then I’d have a team meeting. So I took the hit. I said something publicly and I told the players that so they would let it go to bed and they never said anything. It was one that just finished the story without our players getting involved. I could care less if they run another play.”
(Can you tell me what you’ve seen from your backups this season? Guys such as LB Andrew Van Ginkel and LB Duke Riley and CB Eli Apple and S Elijah Campbell and S Brandon Jones when they’ve been called upon.) – “Yeah, I think they all, to various degrees have played well when called upon. Especially after they’ve had chances to prepare for their playing time instead of just getting thrown in there in the middle of the game or at the end of the game with not much work not only for that week, but the previous week. I think they all have done great. I never looked at Van Ginkel as a backup anyway. We talked about Brandon already. Duke, I’m not surprised that Duke has played well.”
(How did LB Melvin Ingram look filling in for DE Emmanuel Ogbah this week?) – “Yeah, not bad considering the circumstances. He’s only been here a little bit, hadn’t played any ball since last season. I think Melvin is an instinctive player. Football comes natural to him. But he hadn’t played. I think the more he gets in the football shape, the better he can play.”
(The Ravens have added a bunch of eligibles in the last few years to help QB Lamar Jackson and the offense. How have you seen the offense evolve with getting guys like WR Zay Flowers, TE Isaiah Likely, WR Odell Beckham Jr.?) – “The offense has changed a little bit from last year. They’ve had change in the coordinator. They kept the same running game basically and they’re throwing the ball a little differently now. They’ve got the best group of receivers that they’ve had there in a long time.”
(Out of curiosity, do you get to know players names or numbers? I was going to ask about Zay Flowers but I didn’t know if I should say number four or Zay Flowers.) – “Both. There are some weeks it’s just the number and some weeks I know the guys name totally. That’s why I always come in here with a flip card. (laughter)”
Jason Sanders – December 27, 2023
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Wednesday, December 27, 2023
K Jason Sanders
(On being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week) – “It’s cool when you get recognized because I’m not the only one that gets recognized. It’s the whole offensive line that is on the field goal unit the series leading up to the kick. When I get recognized, they also get recognized too. Then I have a phenomenal snapper and holder that I think are Pro Bowl worthy this year. Jake (Bailey) not so much just based on the amount of punts we have, but the way he’s hitting the ball and Blake (Ferguson) as a snapper, I think are very strong Pro Bowl candidates this year.”
(How many text messages did you have after that one on Sunday?) – “Quite a few, quite a few. A lot of family hit me up. It’s always nice to hear from loved ones and people that are tuned in.”
(You’re one of the longer-tenured guys here. Just to be in the position you’re in as a team with two games to go in the season, how special is this?) – “This locker room is different. Everybody cares about each other. Everybody likes being around each other. So you take a team like that and a coach that cares about his players, it’s been a fun year and a fun year to be part of.”
(I’m pretty sure in the past you’ve shown quite a bit of respect for Ravens K Justin Tucker, for obvious reasons. How well do you know him? Have you had much interaction with him over the years?) – “Most of my interactions come from playing. We’ve played quite a few times now, maybe four or five, a couple preseason games. It’s just confidence. You can see how confident he is when he’s going up to hit the ball. I’d say that’s his best quality.”
(Out of curiosity, with cleats before this game, what’s your process of finding the right footwear? Weather, temperature all of that.) – “I’ve been wearing the same cleats since college, so nothing really changes as the years go on unless new cleats are designed. You might try them out, but for the most part, you buy a bunch of one cleat you like and you try and stick with it until you run out or they discontinue maybe.”
(Are you going to wear the ones you kicked the winners in this week again or you going to put those on the shelf?) – “Yeah, I’ve been wearing those all year. I save them for Fridays and Sundays just so they don’t get too worn out. But once those get to a certain level, I’ve got a few more ready.”
(How many do you buy?) – “The problem with kicking cleats is that they change every year. New ones come out and then they don’t feel the same as they did last year. Or you like the new ones more than the ones last year. They change every year so when you find one you like and feels good on, you buy seven, eight of them. When those run out, you try and find them again or you move on to something else.”
(So how many cleats do you go through would you say in a given season?) – “I go through two. Most of the time I wear the same cleat but maybe a newer cleat of the same model at practice. Then you save the one you like for Friday and Sunday when it’s closer to gameday.”
(We got a good line from RB Jeff Wilson Jr. just now. He said that he needed Sunday’s game for his spirit and for his psyche, because he hadn’t played a lot this year. Was a game like Sunday, even though you knew obviously you could still hit consistently 50-plus field goals, was a game like that you think helpful for your spirit, your psyche, just to have the chance to kick pressure field goals, a great distance as well? – “I mean, the games like that are always good for you. It won’t hurt. But as a kicker, you’re painted as a villain if you miss, and you’re the hero if you make it. So I mean, all of that is just noise and if you just continue to do what you know you can do. I think that’s the most important piece in being a kicker.”
(You’ve never lacked for confidence, but does a game like Sunday help?) – “Of course. I mean, you go out there and hit big kicks like that, it’s definitely not going to hurt you. (laughter)”
(Looking back, was there anything that happened before the Cowboys game that you can look back on and say yeah, this is why this game turned out so well for me?) – “No, I mean you treat every – it’s the same line I give every year. You treat every game the same. There is no different game. It’s between you and the yellow poles every game. So like I said, I have a good holder and a good snapper, what makes my job that much easier.”
(So it’s not like you had an exceptional week of practice or anything like that?) – “No, not at all.”
(What was it was like being lifted on your teammates shoulders? I know DT Christian Wilkins had you in the locker room. On the field who was it?) – “Raekwon (Davis) was there. Jake (Bailey) started it. Our punter started it. But it’s just cool to see our guys go out there and play a good opponent and come out with the win like that. It’s something special.”
(P Jake Bailey’s got some strength to left you up.) – “Jake didn’t lift me up that high. (laughter) It was some of the other guys.”
Jeff Wilson Jr. – December 27, 2023
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Wednesday, December 27, 2023
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
(It might be a little chilly in Baltimore, like 50 degrees. I think 50 is cold… they say it’s not cold. Is 50 cold?) – “No, not really. It’s not that cold, especially when you’re playing like a regular sunny day. You get moving around a little bit. For everybody else it might be a little chilly, but for us on the field, it’s just like the best football weather.”
(How does your style of play align with what the Dolphins need at the end of the season here in regard to having a running game, going against a physical Ravens defense?) – “That’s my cup of tea. That’s always been because I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder and it hasn’t left. I feel like the more I get in the league, the bigger it gets. It’s just to a point where I’m ready to just knock it over and me knocking it over and just letting the world know that I can play and don’t ever play with me on my name again and that’s just kind of where it’s at. I’ve been around the league a long time so I don’t like to play games, so it’s business and that’s really what it is.”
(You’re a Texas guy. Did it mean a little more to you to get that clinching first down, if you will, against the Cowboys?) – “Oh yeah, no doubt. I’m still getting texts from people back home. I’ve been there, I went to college there, was raised there, born there. So I know everybody. All my aunts, my uncles, my cousins, you’ve got to think they’re Cowboys fans. It’s been that way since we were young so to get that done against them, that was another one of the greatest feelings, and just getting that win with the team and clinching the playoffs and whole nine. To have that above my family members, I’m going to use that for a long time.”
(What were you saying in that moment, what were you shouting?) – “I really blacked out. I can’t even tell you, but I know one of the words I was saying, ‘don’t play with me.’ That’s just kind of what I meant.”
(What’s the best reaction you got from the Cowboys game and in regards to your first down run that clinched it?) – “Like I said, it was just going back in those huddles and even before I got it, just looking in my teammates’ faces, man, and seeing their eyes, knowing the urgency that they had to get the job done and knowing what was at stake, seeing that grit. And then after that, seeing the smiles, kind of like the weight had been dropped off people’s shoulders and it’s like, all right we can kind of – still with the urgency because it’s still a football game and the clock hasn’t struck zero – but it was like all right, now we can breathe now and the whole time we’re holding our breath for the whole drive. Like blow it out, like get your breath out so that’s kind of what it was like.”
(I asked QB Tua Tagovailoa a few minutes ago about the satisfaction, not just winning a game because winning is always great but winning when you come back. What’s that extra bit of joy or whatever it is you feel?) – “That’s just championship football and especially coming down this stretch and going to where we want to go, you’re going to have to win these games like that. It’s not going to be always easy. It’s not going to be peaches and cream. Sometimes we’re going to have to get down and dirty. Sometimes we’re going to have to come back, sometimes we’re going to have to put our foot on people’s necks and end the game. Obviously we didn’t do that two weeks before so to come back and do that now, that’s what we needed and that’ll let us know that we’re getting prepared and we’re on the right path to getting to where we want to go.”
(That’s what this team did a year ago in Baltimore.) – “Yeah, but that was last year. This is a whole new year and like I said but with another note, the people there, they haven’t forgot about that either though, so we know they’re taking that into consideration. But for us, this is about us.”
(Being along for the ride with RB Raheem Mostert for so many years, what does it mean to see what he’s doing this year?) – “Man, like we got emotional after the game. I ain’t going to lie. Just us talking, our personal goals and our aspirations. Like we share those with each other so to see that being done, that’s an inspiration to me. That inspires me and that lets me know that no matter what even though how my situation has gone, I still look up to see him and see him, you know what I mean? Like imagine where he was at when he was in my year, but look at him now. So that lets me know to always go back to work, always pick my head up and always be happy around these guys because you never, man, you never know.”
(What’s the best part of playing on the road in a tough environment for the one seed? I mean this is a big money game.) – “This is like the middle of football. This is the football that you really love as a kid, you dream about, you fantasize about these type of games because I played in Baltimore before so I know the crowd, the energy is going to be electric because they know the stakes just as well as we do. So to go out there and be in that environment and that’s what we’re entering into and that’s what it is from every week from here on out so to go and get those pre-trials right now, I feel like it’s tremendous for our team and I can’t wait for it.”
Bradley Chubb – December 27, 2023
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Wednesday, December 27, 2023
LB Bradley Chubb
(You play football your entire life to play in games like this. How special is it?) – “This is what it’s all about. Just being in a big moment with two great teams that are going at it. This is what you live for. This is what you work so hard in the offseason for. At the end of the day, this is not the end goal. We still have a lot to do and a lot to prove. This is just one step in the right direction.”
(You talked about how this team comes together. You guys seem pretty close. What’s the secret sauce with this team versus other teams you’ve played on?) – “I can’t really put my finger on it. Guys just buying in with one another and just that brotherhood. I don’t know how it is built, but it’s organic here. Guys love each other, guys play for one another, and I feel like that’s what caused some of the success. That’s part of it. You play 10 times harder for a guy because you know what he has off the field. It makes you grow closer as a team, and that’s what we need this time of the year.”
(Can you talk about how difficult it is going up against a quarterback like Lamar Jackson?) – “It’s real difficult. He can do pretty much anything. He escapes a lot of trouble with his feet, with is arm now. He’s done a lot of great things with his arm this year. Just to be able to corral him upfront, that’s going to be our main goal, to try to make him as uncomfortable as possible so those guys on the back end can cover up. They’ve got dynamic receivers, dynamic running backs, so it’s going to be a challenge for us as a whole defense. We’re excited about it. At the end of the day, these are those games you live for, those games you play for. I know they’re going to bring it and we’re going to bring it as well.”
(The last game of 2023. How important is it to end on a good note?) – “End the year on a good note, the calendar year, for sure. Going into 2024 with everything we want right in front of us. It starts by doing it day by day, and that’s what we’re focused on is today, which is Wednesday, finishing it off strong, and be back at it tomorrow.”
(Day by day, game by game, but it’s hard not to get those late December feels with so much on the line. How do you guys balance that out? You got to be excited just for the feel.) – “Yes, for sure. You understand the magnitude of things. But at the end of the day it’s like, that’s what makes this job so hard. The physical part, everybody is good physically. It’s that mental part of locking in on what you have to do because this is a Wednesday on December 27th. There are so many things ahead of you, but you’ve got to focus on what’s in front of you right now. That’s what we’ve been trying to do, and that’s what’s been working out for us.”
(You’ve got a couple of guys on the defense that are former Ravens – S DeShon Elliott, DT Zach Sieler. Any tips they’ve given you on stuff to look for?) – “Not necessarily tidbits, but those guys are playing with an extra little bit of motivation because that’s where they started their careers. I had the same thing when we played Denver. Alec (Ingold) had the same thing when we played the Vegas. You always got that fire under you from where you started, but I know those guys are going to do exactly what we need them to do – not anything outside of the ordinary, just be ballers like they are. I know they are living up for the moment and it’s going to be a good moment for this whole team.”
(I know you guys don’t talk about this stuff and don’t think about it, but you guys are the leading sack unit in franchise history with two more games to play. How big is that accomplishment for this collective group?) – “It’s dope, just knowing the guys in the room, and seeing how we’ve started to get cohesive together. Early in the year, we could tell we were good, but we didn’t know how good we were going to be. Guys just started buying in, playing with each other, rushing off of each other, letting it just happen organically. You’re so honed-in on the process that you forget to look up sometimes and see the things you have done. It’s cool to have that accomplishment, but we know we’re not finished yet, and we want to set that mark even higher.”
(How much is the coverage an assist to you guys?) – “I tell those guys all the time it’s a huge assist. Having all of those guys back there, intimidating names, faces, bodies all of that. Just seeing the quarterback having to double pump and step up a little bit. You’ve got guys to push up the middle and it just makes our job so much easier. Working together, I know those guys want the picks and stuff like that and all of that, but it’s going to come. I feel like it’s one of those things where we’re hot right now, but when we really need them, those guys are going to get hot as well when it comes to those types of things. Working together has been dope for sure.”
(That split second before making a tackle on QB Lamar Jackson what is going through your head about how to make sure you corral him and get him down when he’s so slippery?) – “You got to focus big time on finishing. That’s been the thing on my year. It’s the thing I’ve been trying to work on and not get frustrated with. I just got to go out there and the next opportunity I get and finish. That’s the main thing this week – for myself, and this defense – it’s going to be the word finish.”
