Mike McDaniel – August 17, 2024 (Postgame)
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Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024
Postgame – Washington
Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Q. How would you evaluate the performance that you saw from the offense primarily, I guess, the first team?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I think you have to take a look at the film because when you have all sorts of scenarios in a preseason game you hate to rush to judgment; however, I was happy with the first group, that first drive, to be able to be put in a couple of scenarios. I think there were two fourth downs and to be able to make some plays in a couple different ways, I thought – you put everyone out there so that they can get the competitive advantage in Week 1 so it’s not the first ball since January or February that’s tackle. So I was happy that we were able to operate together and there will be obviously some things. There’s a couple targeting issues and a couple things that we would like to clean up, but for the most part, I thought we played to our standard, which I was pumped about.
Q. What specifically did you think of QB Tua Tagovailoa’s drive, Tua’s performance?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I thought it was probably the least amount of nerves that he’s had the first time stepping out on the football field. I thought it was just us executing some of our Day 1 concepts and he didn’t force any issues. I really liked his decisions. I liked his ball placement. I thought he did a good job in his, I think, 11 reps. So it was nice to see him out there and connecting some passes. I know he was fired up.
Q. You mentioned two short yardage situations, fourth downs. Can you take us through the process of deciding to go up the middle and run on one of them and then letting Tua throw for the touchdown on the other?
MIKE MCDANIEL: It was such a long drive, I felt good about our fourth down options. I probably would have run the ball – I was feeling pretty good about the offensive line – I probably would have run the ball the second time, but I kind of figured that it would be Tua’s last play because it was such a long drive, and I was really looking for him to get about 10 opportunities to lead the offense. So I wanted to give him an opportunity to make a play, and I thought that was a good time for him to take control and put the ball where it needed to go. And I thought River Cracraft had a great release and got an edge on the defender and made a good catch in the end zone so that was a cool moment.
Q. You guys had a number of injuries tonight. Were there any of them that really were alarming, that were concerning for you?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I haven’t gotten wind of anything that’s major extensive, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t one. It’s just the communication as you’re going through one of those games. There was a good amount of injuries on both sides. It would be inaccurate if I said there was nothing. However, during the game I didn’t have any updates of things that were what you hate to hear in games like that. But you don’t like to see anybody go down, and we had a couple guys go down. So we’ll have to assess that probably all day tomorrow.
Q. I’m not a doctor, but CB Cam Smith was holding his hamstring as he came off the field. Was that something he had been dealing with previously? Was that a similar injury?
MIKE MCDANIEL: In games like that, it’s tough. He’s been doing a diligent job working his way back. It wasn’t ideal. We were down to about – we played almost two quarters with (Je’Quan) Burton playing halfback. We had one tight end. There was a lot of stress on the special teams, let’s just say that. So it wasn’t an ideal situation. Hopefully he didn’t injure it too drastically. He’s done a good job getting himself back on the field, and I know he has the mental fortitude to do the same thing again.
Q. This was the second straight game you’ve been in this situation where you guys have been down to literally the last guy on your bench. Is three preseason games one too many? Should you guys be playing another game after this?
MIKE MCDANIEL: That’s a tricky, tricky question because I think for me, the injuries are part of the game. You do have to create some competitive environments to really assess who the 53 and the 69 are. There’s several years that stand out that the third and fourth preseason game are the reason why long-tenured players in our organization were there to stay. That being said, I had the same resistance to changing the fourth preseason game. So for me, I’m just making sure that I have all of my attention on things that I can control. I think that guys need the opportunity. How much or how many opportunities we get in the preseason, that’s up for debate. I know there’s a lot of good competitions being settled right now in the NFL, and there are also a lot of good amount of injuries. Shoot, what do you think?
Q. During the game, the team owner Stephen Ross was interviewed by CBS, and among the things he said, he said, if we stay healthy, we’re certainly a contender for the Super Bowl. Do you like those types of comments?
MIKE MCDANIEL: Absolutely. I think from a team perspective, a lot of times people hesitate to talk about goals in case you don’t achieve them. I don’t really operate that way. There’s a lot of steps before that, so I don’t think necessarily it’s on our guys’ minds right now because our goals are creating our standard and then winning the next game, and then you try to do the vision, and then you try to win the conference, and you try to win the Super Bowl. But I like the building and including the owner, having the mindset of let’s be bold, don’t be afraid of anything. We’re going to compete. I think that brings out the best in people. I’m excited that he – I think that means he believes in the program, right? But we’ve got a preseason game that follows three practices, and then we’ve got to get ready for the Jacksonville Jaguars after that. So that’s what we’ll be concerned with, but we’re building to be our best selves and that will take tomorrow and then the next day to do.
Q. Why was RB Jaylen Wright not active tonight?
MIKE MCDANIEL: Little something that came up in the last practice, something I’m not too concerned with, but it wouldn’t have done him justice if he would have been thrown out there at the tail end of the last joint practices when it came up.
Q. You used TE Jonnu Smith in a bunch of ways tonight. What does he bring to your offense?
MIKE MCDANIEL: It was cool to have him out there. I think he brings physicality and a guy that really enjoys having the football in his hands and can do some really cool stuff with that. I think there’s times when your offense is clicking that defenses will really just try to defend space, and really the field is expanded so to speak with where the defenders are defending in those situations, having fast, aggressive playmakers with the ball in their hands. They can take advantage of those types of things so I think he’s a great addition to our team, and I think there’s a multitude of ways that you can use players, and he’s no exception.
Q. In the backup quarterback battle, competition, I’ve seen it go different ways where you give different guys opportunities per day. QB Skylar Thompson has pretty much had an extensive run with the number twos. Does that mean that he’s making headway on challenging QB Mike White for that spot?
MIKE MCDANIEL: Yeah, like all position battles, just out of the sake of pure competition, when you have opportunities left, right, in front of you; for me I hesitate to make any sort of grandiose judgment. I think there’s opportunities to compete, and when you have those left before you make decisions that you let those play out. We have been very intentional with our opportunities that we’ve given Skylar. I think he’s made some plays. He’s had some stuff that he knows he can get better at. And then you’re trying to make sure that you can try to balance out the competition with some opportunities for Mike. But I think that it’s progressive. I’m not gray to throw people off the scent. It’s really a true belief that I have that you don’t try to determine how things are going to play out. You let people take control, and it will be a very important week of practice and another game and we’ll let this play out, but I think there’s been pros and cons with everyone’s play really. But I did think that Skylar did some good stuff. He had some opportunities and he was able to do some good stuff, and there’s some stuff that he could have done better.
Q. Without the benefit of looking at the film, what stood out for you defensively, any players or any concepts?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I think the overall – each team, it’s a different year, and it’s a different team. And you set out to kind of establish who you want to be. That starts with words. Then that’s the daily diligence, but then it goes to action. I think what’s standing out is the overall mentality of the defense. Our defense is someone that we’re able to be aggressive, we play fast, physical with elite technique, and when you do that play-in and play-out, you’re able to keep people from the end zone sometimes even when you give up a play or two here or there. I think the overall mindset of the team has been shown through our defense really. The last two games, I couldn’t be happier, where guys are finishing the game in non-ideal situations. That tough mindedness is exactly what we’ve been looking for, we’ve been talking about all offseason. It’s awesome to see, I think, that collective culture and where the locker room’s at, and I think you’ve seen that in a pretty cool way the last two weeks with the defense being in tough spots, guys being beyond tired but refusing to give in. There’s been some cool efforts, and I’m happy about the overall mentality of how we’re defending and making offenses earn every yard to score points.
Q. What did you see from the rookie draft class tonight?
MIKE MCDANIEL: Well, I did see a TFL, a sack. I saw really just the same thing we’ve really seen. I’ve been talking to the veterans recently just about the draft class in general and the rookie class in general that they’re very professional, and I’m happy to hear that because that was concerted. We knew to make this team you’re going to have to – there’s no just let’s jump in there and get a redshirt. This is a competitive team that we felt like could have some spots where we could, through draft or undrafted free agency, we could really solidify and make some groups very competitive, and I think that’s what you’re seeing. You’re seeing a rookie class of players that understand what their teammates need from them which is NFL preparation and execution. We did see Malik (Washington) battle, too, had some good returns and played pretty tough. There was a lot of good stuff from the rookie class.
Q. I wanted to ask you about special teams. I know it’s – especially when you’re getting close to putting together that 53-man roster. How much does that factor into your decisions about this guy or that guy? Does Special Teams CoordinatorsDanny Crossman get like five players that he can say, “okay, I need these guys?”
MIKE MCDANIEL: That’s what’s super important about the connectivity and communication within the coaching staff. What you don’t want is you get close to the cutdown date and Joe Barry, the linebacker coach, is like, ‘wait, this guy’s good on special teams?’ The connectivity of coaches communicating, I’m very happy with our coaching staff communicating with that way because they’ve been on the front end of, ‘All right, this guy’s doing phenomenal. I really like what he might be able to do on special teams. Let’s make sure we’re giving him the right opportunities on defense.’ ‘Okay, this running back might be able to help us. Okay, we’d better make sure he’s getting opportunities on special teams.’ That connectivity, I think we’ve been on the same page the entire process. I wouldn’t put a number on how many guys you get, but you know that you have to have guys that can excel in each phase so you have somebody to follow behind. I think for the most part we’re fortunate in that there’s not many one-trick ponies on this team, that the guys that are thriving in their particular, whether it’s offense or defense; those guys that are thriving are very involved in special teams and doing a good job and vice versa so that we have contributors. Because the 53 or the 46 on game day, you can’t have many people that aren’t participating, and there’s going to be a lot of field position points. It’s always been that way in punt return, but the kickoff and kick return are big plays that can determine the end result of the game. So you’d better be very well equipped in those phases this season if you’re trying to win football games like we want to.
Mike White – August 17, 2024 (Postgame)
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Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024
Postgame – Washington Commanders
Miami Dolphins QB Mike White
(How do you feel you did this game?) – “I made some good throws, made some good decisions. I made some throws you wish you’d have back, but like I said, I’m just proud of the group for fighting through that. We had some linemen go down, so some guys were playing longer than anticipated. It’s not too fun when the defense knows you don’t have a running back. But it’s a fun little challenge and it’s something you can either have a good positive attitude going into like, ‘Hey, let’s try to make it work to the best of our abilities,’ or you can not have the mentality. So I tried to have the good mentality going into it, and I thought we made some good plays.”
(Last week you talked about how impressed you were with the rookies. How much more did that excitement grow today?) – “It was awesome. Shoot, like I mentioned, (Je’Quan) Burton just rolling with the punches and same with Mike Harley, who got here a week ago, out there playing. Malik (Washington) making plays, and it’s little stuff too that you don’t really normally see from rookies. Especially in this offense, you guys know how much the receivers are asked of in the run game, and without any hesitation, they’re in there sticking their face and blocking safeties, cracking d-ends and all of that. Just the want-to from those guys and the positive attitudes, because you’re a rookie, you’re going to have your rookie moments, and none of them have gotten discouraged, none of them have gone in the tank. They’re just kind of like, ‘all right, next play mentality,’ so it’s been really, really cool to work with and really fun to watch.”
(What do you think you need to do to lock in that backup spot going into Friday?) – “Just keep doing what I’m doing, keep chopping wood. If you start looking too far into the future, that’s when you start to get kind of in your head about things and all that good stuff. I mean, this is Year Seven in the league; that’s what I’ve learned is once you start worrying about the other stuff, you’re behind the eight ball. So I’m just going to keep going out there, trying to get the guys around me better, get them lined up, it’s been a fun challenge going with the young guys just because you never know what it’s going to present. So that’s the attitude I’ve tried to have with it and I just kind of go from there.”
Tua Tagovailoa – August 17, 2024 (Postgame)
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Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024
Postgame – Washington
Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
Q. How did it feel to get in there, get a series, and convert a touchdown?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: It felt good. I think it feels good any time you’re starting to get back into a routine, getting back into the games. I had a lot of conversations with a lot of the guys who hadn’t played here last year, and they sort of said the same thing, that it was pretty good for them to get into the routine of, okay, how do I time warming up and what that looks like here. Everyone’s having to adjust their routine if they need to. So I thought that was good. Jitters will always be there going into the first series and getting the first plays out. But other than that, I think we executed the way we wanted to, and we did what we said we wanted to do.
Q. Fourth and one, what was the process of getting to throw versus completing it to WR River Cracraft?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Mike (McDaniel) just trusted us that we’d get it done. So that’s what that was. Very proud of Riv.
Q. Can you talk about the growth you’ve seen from WR River Cracraft?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, maybe this is the third year, going onto the third year, that I’ve been able to compete with River and see River. I think this is probably the best training camp that River’s had. I’m not just saying that from a football standpoint. A lot of people don’t know what he’s also going through with family and whatnot. The mental stamina and the mental strength that he has to come out every day and really work and sort of leave everything that’s going on at home at home. I just — I just think that’s where his growth has come from a lot is the mental aspect of it.
Q. During the game, the CBS broadcast, they interviewed the team owner Stephen Ross, and he said, if we stay healthy, we’re certainly a contender for the Super Bowl. I don’t know if you knew that he said that, but what are your thoughts on those remarks?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: What are your thoughts? You think so?
Q. Contender? Yeah, I think there’s about 10 teams that have a chance. What do you think?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I mean, you just said contender. I think there’s 10 teams. Are the Dolphins one of the 10 teams?
Q. I think so.
TUA TAGOVAILOA: You think so? Yeah, I would say that’s the reason we play this game. If none of us have the belief that we can do it, it won’t happen for us on our team. So of course we have that belief.
Q. I’ll ask you personally do you feel regular season ready right now?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: You never know until you get out there and you actually play your first real snap against their best and you have your best. You never really know if you’re ready until you go out there and you get challenged and you see and you get looks that you’ve never seen. With the joint practices, they do some justice within the practices, but we’re not getting hit. Outside of that, it’s just a day-to-day thing. I’m not going to say I’m ready or I’m not ready. When that time comes, we’re going to see what our team can do and see if we’re ready.
Q. What does it say about this offense, no T Terron Armstead, no C Aaron Brewer, no WR Tyreek Hill and no WR Jaylen Waddle, and you guys march down the field the first time you see the field in 2024?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, that’s not the first time we’ve not had those guys in there, and we’ve played and we’ve scored. Would it be good to have those guys? It would be great to have those guys. It opens up our game plan for a lot of deep things, and it opens up the run game as well with the two shells that we get with those guys in. But outside of that, football is football with whoever you’ve got in there. You’ve got to call the play. You’ve got to see it, envision it, and then you go through your keys. If it’s one high, this is how I’m going to read it. If it’s two high, this is how I’m going to read it regardless of who’s in.
Q. I think WR Tyreek Hill talked a little bit about how this offense needs to grind out the long drives. It might have been a little too much boom or bust last year. Do you share those sentiments?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, 100 percent. And our short yardage. We’ve got to get better with our short yardage as well. That’s something we’ve been looking to get better at come season time.
Q. Considering all the joint practice opportunities as well as the regular practices, do you feel you’ve gotten enough preseason action to be ready for the season?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, I think it was really good that we got to go out tonight and play and sort of get the feeling of what a game is. We’ll go to Tampa. We’ll assess what happens then, and we’ll see if we need any more or not.
Q. A tight end like Jonnu Smith or a weapon like Jonnu – H-back, I don’t even know what to call him – what does he do for this offense?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: He’s used in multiple ways, as you guys have seen. We had given him a jet sweep. He blocks. We look at him sort of as a YAC monster. He catches the ball, and he can get some yards after the catch. He’s very versatile in what we can do with him. We’re just slowly, slowly finding things to do with guys like ‘Nu.’
Q. How would you assess the way QB Skylar Thompson and QB Mike White commanded the offense when they were in?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think they did their best with what we had. We had guys that were going down, and we ended up not having a running back. I’d like to compliment (Je’Quan) Burton for going in and just sticking it in. Like he didn’t know a lot of plays from being in the H position, so as you can see, there weren’t many jet protections in there just because he hadn’t gotten any of those reps. So there was a lot of quick game. We couldn’t run the ball, so they — I think they did their best with what they had in there.
Jaelan Phillips (Fourth Quarter) – August 17, 2024
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Saturday, August 17, 2024
LB Jaelan Phillips on CBS Miami Broadcast (Fourth Quarter)
(First of all, happy to be back?) – “Oh yeah, ecstatic to be back. Happy isn’t even the word to describe it.”
(You’ve come off the PUP list, you walk out to the practice field on Monday and you get this giant ovation from the fans – I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fan base cheer for a guy coming off the PUP list but that’s what you got. What was that moment like?) – “It was amazing. I love the fans; they’ve been showing me so much love ever since my rookie year. It’s amazing to see that support. I’ve been seeing people like Lisa, people every single day tweeting out and tweeting at me, encouraging me and lifting me up, so it’s really amazing to feel the support.”
(You were telling me that’s why you were actually posting a lot of your rehab workouts online, so you could stay connected with them?) – “Yeah, absolutely. I think it’s cool to give the fans a kind of an inside look. Obviously, they see us play. On Hard Knocks, they were able to see a little bit behind the scenes, but just kind of share the experience with them, because they’re here supporting us every single game, so it’s only right we give them a little taste of what it’s like.”
(So how was the first week of practice? How’d it go?) – “It was great, it was really amazing. Just getting back on the field felt amazing obviously, and really more importantly just being back with my brothers on this defense. We have such a good group, really a lot of talented guys, a lot of new guys. So for me, it’s been important to really build that bond with them and it’s kind of hard when you’re not on that field to truly build that bond. Once you get on that field, sweat with them, bleed with them, that’s when you really start to build that closeness.”
(I got to ask you about LB Chop Robinson. Obviously, we get to see him in action today. You said you’ve been trying to bring out his personality a little bit, telling him to celebrate. First of all, did his first NFL celebration upset you, the Chop celebration when he got into the backfield?) – “No, no because it’s a TFL. He’s going to do the Chop when he gets his first sack, for sure. We’ve got to wait on that, but Chop has been doing amazing. He’s been doing all the right things, I thought he played really well out there. He’s flying around, playing instinctively, so it’s only a matter of time before he really gels in this defense and really gets used to being in this league. Obviously, it’s a lot different than college, but he’s doing a great job already.”
(You’re also heavily involved in the Dolphins Cancer Challenge. Are you looking forward to another year?) – “Oh absolutely, man. We’re ready to run it back, DCC XV this year. February 22, man, everybody should come out. There’s bike rides for everybody. There’s all the different distances – you don’t have to do the 99-mile like I’m going to do, but you can get in there do a little 13 for Dan Marino, there’s a 5K walk too. So all the support matters, it’s really amazing what DCC is doing.”
Mike McDaniel (Halftime) – August 17, 2024
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Saturday, August 17, 2024
Head Coach Mike McDaniel on CBS Miami Broadcast (Halftime)
(It’s been a while since we’ve seen QB Tua Tagovailoa take snaps in an NFL game, how’d you like the way your quarterback came out and ran that first drive?) – “I was happy with it. We had the same play the first play of the drive as we did last year in Houston, and he completed it instead of throwing a pick so that was a good start. And then ultimately, you just want to go see people communicate, how you rally around certain situations. We had a couple fourth-and-1’s, we did all right, so I was happy with it overall.”
(Obviously there’s some changes for the defensive front right now, but LB Chop Robinson comes out and makes a big play in that first half. What did you like of his first NFL action?) – “It was cool to get it in the game. His teammates and myself included have seen him do it all camp, so that was a good starting point. We look forward to seeing more of that.”
Stephen M. Ross (Second Quarter) – August 17, 2024
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Saturday, August 17, 2024
Chairman of the Board/Managing General Partner Stephen M. Ross on CBS Miami Broadcast (Second Quarter)
STEVE GOLDSTEIN: First off, how much did you enjoy that first drive with your quarterback?
STEPHEN M. ROSS: “He looked good, he looked good. I don’t think we’ll see him again tonight.”
GOLDSTEIN: No, QB Skylar Thompson now and that should be it, right? Wait till the regular season.
ROSS: “That’s right. That’s it.”
GOLDSTEIN: They do the NFL Players Association poll every year. Your team, A’s and A+’s across the board in treatment of players, facilities, a brand-new locker room here – how much pride do you take in those types of things of having this team be where it is?
ROSS: “Whatever we do, we want to be best in class. I mean, in my business career I’ve had the same philosophy, but we have to win on the field at the same time. One thing that – we haven’t gotten that Super Bowl, but we’re hoping but I think everything – players want to be here in Miami. They want to play for the team, they see what we’re doing. They see the facilities, they see the respect they get, so it’s great. I think as an organization, with Tom Garfinkel heading it up, we’re best in class. So, (I am) proud of that.”
KIM BOKAMPER: Mr. Ross, every time I see you, you look younger and younger.
ROSS: “I wish. (laughter)”
BOKAMPER: Speaking about the players in the locker room and everything, you’ve got this team where you want them. You’ve got a contract to QB Tua Tagovailoa, WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle, some of the young guys that are on this football team that they’re going to lean on. How important was it for you to get those guys in the fold and send a message to this football team that you want to win, and you want to win this year?
ROSS: “Well, I want to win this year and I want to win next year, as well. But you’ve got to start early, and I think having those players and signing them to long-term contracts and knowing the nucleus of the team, I think that’s important. They are stars — Tyreek was just voted the No. 1 player in the league. With Waddle and Tua and some of the important young guys, retaining them – that’s what you want to do. You want to retain as many of your draft choices that really pan out. That’s a challenge though in these times.”
BOKAMPER: You’ve got a roster full of other players out here. General Manager Chris Grier and his staff have done a really good job seeding in the young players with all the veteran talent you got, and it looks like you’ve got a very good roster out there.
ROSS: “Right now, we have a great roster and I think everybody has great expectations. But hey, it’s the old injury bug. You got to make sure that that doesn’t happen like last year. I think without that and we stay healthy, I think we’re certainly a contender for the Super Bowl.”
GOLDSTEIN: You’ve had a few years now with Head Coach Mike McDaniel, he’s taken you to the playoffs a couple of times. He does things a little differently, and you’ve got to love the positivity that he brings to the table. What are your overall impressions now that you’ve been with him for a few years?
ROSS: “We took a chance, but I was impressed by him. I mean his intelligence and as a person, he’s unique certainly, and he’s doing a great job. Everybody loves him.”
GOLDSTEIN: You look at the stadium, obviously a huge investment – time, money, everything you’ve put into it. Soccer games, the Miami Open, Formula 1 – has it met your expectations of the world class destination location that you wanted it to be?
ROSS: “Yeah, I mean I think what we’ve done has really become that, but I mean it always can get better. We’re looking at different things, how we make the stadium even better, different events here and everything. It’s great for Miami, it’s great for all of South Florida. Owning a team, I think that’s what you really want to do is bring the community together and do things to enhance the community.”
GOLDSTEIN: You talk about all that other stuff, but the stadium is beautiful here. You’ve got the practice facility right over there, there’s a medical center right there next to them where they can walk in. The state of the franchise right now has got to be at an all-time high. I don’t think I’ve ever been more impressed with any place we’ve been and with the franchise than where this team is right now.
ROSS: “You’d feel a lot better when we win the Super Bowl, wouldn’t you? (laughter)”
BOKAMPER: I’d feel a heck of a lot better. I’d like to feel a lot better.
GOLDSTEIN: ‘Go for Bo,’ that could be the motto. Get one for Bo. Mr. Ross, a pleasure. Enjoy the rest of the game.
Ross: “It’s a pleasure, it’s always great. Thank you. Looking forward to a good season, thank you.”
BOKAMPER: For any Dolphin alumni, thanks for what you do for us, my friend. Appreciate it.
Ross: “Thank you.”
Kendall Fuller – August 15, 2024
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Thursday, August 15, 2024
CB Kendall Fuller
(What was today like getting an orange jersey in a practice against your former team and then of course finishing practice with an interception?) – “It was fun. The football side of it too, but also just the relationships you build when you’re at a place for so many years. It was fun just seeing the guys. Competing against them again, competing against Terry (McLaurin). I think the first or second rep of practice he had a touchdown on me, so to be able to make a play at the end but just to go back and forth and compete against guys, go against a different team, it was fun man. It was just a blessing. It’ll be fun on Saturday to compete with everybody, so I had fun.”
(What was your perspective on that one where he beat you on the touchdown, and also the interception at the end?) – “The coverage that we were in, it was a coverage we haven’t ran as much. For me, it was a learning experience of just knowing how or when I can expect to use my safety, and whether or not I can use them or if I have to be more aggressive. Terry (McLaurin) had a good route, good catch. At the end, it was just an out route that I love to make plays on, and I was fortunately able to make a play on it.”
(You had a chance to see their rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Your thoughts on the young fella?) – “I like him, man. I haven’t watched the tape yet, but how he carries himself. He looks like a pro; he looks like he has an edge. It looks like he trusts his ability a lot. I mean, shoot – even just looking on YouTube, social media, I heard about him checking a play in the first preseason game, and to be able to have that confidence as a rookie, to go out there and play football… At the end of the day, a lot of the times you rely on Xs and Os, and sometimes you just got to play football. I’m excited to compete against him on Saturday and hoping he has a good future and enjoys it in Washington.”
(Did you bow to the Commander’s sideline on that play?) – “No, I didn’t bow. It was a celebration that I’ve been doing the last couple of years that all of them know that I do, that I did.”
(You said you basically, I think, anticipate playing on Saturday. Do you feel like you need that work in the preseason?) – “I mean, yeah, any time you get to go out there on the football field, you always make it productive. At the end of the day it’s Year Nine, every day out there, you come out here to practice today, you make it productive. There is stuff that you can learn from, grow from. Genuinely I’m not sure how much we are playing at all. I’m going in with that mindset, but at the end of the day, whether you’re on the field or the younger guys are out on the field, you’re still interactive. Any game in the NFL, preseason or not, is a blessing and you try to enjoy it.”
(How do you feel you played for Washington last season?) – “Made some plays, gave up some plays. I think I played pretty good. As a group, we didn’t play to our standard last year, but that’s a question I genuinely don’t even think about as much just being somewhere new, a new year. Football in general, you got to move on to the next play, move on to the next year. I’m with a new team, a new group of guys. It’s been exciting, and I’m excited to try to do something big here.”
(We’re going to see a lot of CB Kader Kohou with you and CB Jalen Ramsey this year in nickel packages. What stands out to you about CB Kader Kohou being a teammate and playing with him now?) – “For him to be young, I think just how like he carries himself. He carries himself like a pro, he carries himself like a veteran. Whether that’s just like his preparation, his skill set is undeniable on the field, how he is in meetings and especially the nickels for how much they remember for how much we do things. Something that I’ve always said is being able to play nickel and corner I think is one of the hardest things to do in the NFL. I have a lot of respect for any guy that’s out there playing a little bit of nickel and a little bit or corner.”
(I wanted to ask you about CB Cam Smith real quick too. Obviously, Dolphins fans are eager, a second-round pick, to see him develop. What skill set do you see there that makes you think this guy can be a player?) – “Just his athletic ability. His athletic ability, his intent. Me and him have conversations on the side where I just always tell him to be aggressive. That is something that I think (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) does a good job of. He wants guys to go out there and play with conviction. If you can come out here and play with conviction out here on the practice field, you’ll be able to learn things that you can or can’t do. I think that is something that Cam (Smith) has been doing, even his first practice back. You could see him showing up all over the tape and things like that, so I’m excited for him.”
(I missed the celebration today, so if you could tell it again that it would be great. And the second thing was those Washington teams weren’t always the best. There is a little bit more juice to this team. There were even some Super Bowl aspirations. I don’t want you to bash your time in Washington. But compare the energy of the two training camps?) – “It’s hard to say. Year in and year out, no matter what team you’re on – I was in Washington for four years. Each team, each group, each year is different. Especially being somewhere new is also going to be different. My two years in KC was different. Each and every year is different. Right now, I like the standard that we have here and the standard that we hold one another to that the coaches hold each other to, the players hold each other to. And we’re just working every single day, working to get better, working to compete against each other day in and day out. It’s been fun.”
(The celebration you did, I missed it.) – “A celebration that a lot of people on the outside won’t understand. A lot of the guys in Washington knew that that was a celebration that I always did. For them, they all knew what I meant and what I was doing.”
(Did you lobby for that orange jersey today?) – “No, (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) had said to the team yesterday that he had messed up the last joint practices by not giving it to Calais (Campbell) or Jonnu (Smith) for them being in Atlanta last year. He was like he couldn’t make the same mistake twice, so I definitely appreciate it.”
(Did you pick anything specific that might have been and inside joke to these guys?) – “No. I’m a man of faith, a man of God. A lot of them guys, even here they know that I have some Christian rap in there, some Gospel music in there, and then besides that I let the other DBs send a song to get in there.”
(What were the conversations like seeing S Darrick Forrest and CB Benjamin St-Juste when you saw them?) – “It’s fun, it’s guys that you’ve been around for the last – some guys two years, three years, four years. Genuinely not even football, but just talking to them about life in general. I know ‘Juice’ (Benjamin St-Juste) is a dad now. A lot of them coming up to me, I just got married. So just getting back around those guys, catching up, congratulations and things like that. It was fun just to see everybody.”
(How do you feel yourself coming along in this defense and what do you think of Defensive Coordinator’s Anthony Weaver’s scheme?) – “We do so much. So many guys do so many different things. They ask everybody to be able to play and do so many different responsibilities. I enjoy it, man. I just love how we’re all coming together, all working for the same task, for the same goal. Genuinely it’s been fun, I’m enjoying it. Not even just the Xs and Os, but just the people, the tone that Coach Weaver sets, I’ve been enjoying it and it’s definitely been fun.”
(Having gone against WR Terry McLaurin, and WR Johan Dotson so often in practice and linking back up with them today, is there some familiarity there?) – “Yeah, 100%. Me and Terry (McLaurin) have been going together the last four years. It’s been fun to get out there, get lined up on them. There was one route they ran where he was like, ‘Man, I kind of knew you weren’t going to jump it.’ He was able to get me on a route and things like that. So it takes you back. Fun to compete against them again and it’s going to be fun to compete on Saturday as well.”
(You’ve been on a championship team in Kansas City. Is there a common theme that championship teams have that you guys are hoping to instill here?) – “Yeah, if I tried to put it simple – great talent and great standards. If I had to just make it simple. I think we have great talent, and I think we’re building great standards. So we just got to keep putting that work in every single day.”
(I know it’s only joint practices, but did you notice anything different going against WR Terry McLaurin in the offense now versus when you were up against him the last few years?) – “Yeah, they were definitely stretching the field. Especially early on, they were quick tempo stretching the field. That first period they definitely came out strong. As a defense, we’ve got to be able to handle that adversity whenever we face it early on. Just how much quick tempo they had, the talent they have, the quarterback they have, it definitely is a great offense to go against. So many different guys, so many different playmakers, but definitely just how much they stretch the field and the tempo that they play with.”
Terron Armstead – August 15, 2024
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Thursday, August 15, 2024
T Terron Armstead
(How does it feel right now as you continue to sort of uptick your practice participation, get closer to maybe more team stuff to come possibly?) – “I feel good. I feel real good. I’ve been knocking the rust off, got some team work the other day – I think Tuesday. It was fun. It’s great being back in there with the guys, moving around, moving people. I love it.”
(Were you trying to vouch for some joint practice play out there today?) – “Yeah, I tried to get the first rack of team but sticking to the plan and to the protocols, so I turned away a little bit.”
(How much do you feel like this has helped your body and will help you during the regular season?) – “I don’t think there’s a way to truly know. I think it’s just being smart as far as everything that we can do in a preventative aspect, but football is football. You still go out there, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do full speed so I’m going to have to be in there hitting, clashing, all that good stuff anyway. So I think it’s just kind of taking a load off the body as much as we can.”
(When you see CB Kendall Fuller get, I guess, the game-clinching pick there at the end and celebrate in front of his ex-team. Just kind of take us through that moment, how special it is to see a guy succeed like that in front of his ex-team?) – “You can tell the impact that Kendall (Fuller) has brought to this team already. He’s a joy to be around, guys love him in the locker room and on the field. He’s a leader. Not the most vocal guy, but he’s a very consistent pro which you love to see. He’s always on his game, always on his technique so it’s only fitting for him to be the one to get that interception in practice against his former team.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel said the other day that you can tell the belief you guys have in the running backs by the way you’ve blocked for them. I was wondering what belief you have in these running backs. Can you describe that?) – “We have a stable. We do. We do have a stable. Very dynamic. A lot of speed and then you’ve got guys that have their own unique styles, too, so ‘SA’ (Salvon Ahmed) comes in and he just flashes in his own way. De’Von (Achane), Raheem (Mostert), the young rook (Jaylen Wright), too. So we have a lot of guys that can hit home runs. So up front it definitely gives you a boost of energy and you know you don’t got to do too much. You get your man and it’s a chance to be a home run.”
(How quickly has that belief come with the rookie like that? You guys believe in him to block for him?) – “We believe in him for sure. You see the talent. You see the ability. He’s still learning. He’s still growing, but he has a lot of game and a lot of confidence, too.”
(A question to follow up if I can – you haven’t played in a preseason game in years. What is training camp like for you? What are you focusing on? What are you trying to do day to day?) – “I think that’s the key to day to day. Just daily improvement, working my technique, cardio, conditioning. Get my hands right, get my eyes right. Just be ready to play football. So I don’t think it’s this year, last year. I think every day is its own day and I try to just go out and improve every day.”
(And then what about helping others? How much are you – you’ve got some youngsters – I get the impression you counsel them quite a bit?) – “For sure. For sure, that’s part of it. That’s part of it. The knowledge I receive and the knowledge that I still get, I try to give it back and try to explain it in a way that’s easily retained. We’ve got a great group of young guys. We do. Every one of those young guys, I believe will be on an NFL roster. So there’s a lot of talent in that room and they come to work the right way. We have a standard in that room. We try to fly off the ball. We try to be physical and set the pocket in pass pro and those guys, they come live up to it every day and it’s hard in training camp. It’s the hardest part of the year, so to be able to do it and put your best foot forward every day; those guys are receiving coaching and advice and they’re taking it all in stride. I love that room.”
(What makes you confident that OL Rob Jones is ready to step up and be the starter next to you?) – “He’s proven. He’s proven. He’s still young, but he’s got games under his belt against high-level talent. He’s proven. He’s a dawg. He’s physical, he’s strong, he’s smart, he’s tough. Everything that you want in a player. I love playing next to him.”
(Back to your students, what stood out to you about what T Patrick Paul did in the preseason opener?) – “His pass pro is looking really clean. He’s getting a lot of – he’s finding his patience in his pass sets. He’s long. He’s 6’14. (laughter) So he’s able to use his length and he’s keeping his feet in the ground. Still got some things that I want to see from him on a more consistent basis, but he’s starting to see more flashes of the dominance that he has in his body, his toolbox, and that will continue to show more consistently. Pat (Patrick Paul) has been great. He goes after it every day hard, physical. He’s freaky athletic. He’s tough. But then the tools that he’s got, the God-given gifts that he has, to be able to use those as well – more experience, more knowledge, he’ll be just fine.”
(You’ve been around a while and have a good perspective on the games everybody hears. What do you think this team has learned maybe the last year, the last couple years that have helped going into this one?) – “Yeah, I think the focus is on us. Like we’re not looking at anything outside the division, the conference, the league. We’re focusing on us and our daily intent, our daily mentality. We know we have a talented team, we know we’re going to win games. Now it gets to winning those big games, winning those big moments, the games that we’re not necessarily supposed to win, all that good stuff. And you can’t show and prove until that time comes, but in the meantime, we chip away. We’re working to be ready – to be physically, mentally, emotionally, ready for all those moments.”
(I’m sure you’ve blocked in every run scheme imaginable to man.) – “That’s a fact.”
(How much fun is it, if fun is the right word, to be on the installs for Head Coach Mike McDaniel and Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith’s run game installs because it seems to us like it’s pretty different every single…?) – “It’s great. They find ways to continue to innovate. They continue to evolve the run game. They put the defense in bonds that’s advantageous for us as far as leverage, and then they allow the o-line to be playmakers. So I’m able to get up to the second level, the corner, or maybe even a safety, things that in most run game schemes you don’t necessarily do. You’re usually blocking a d-end or double teaming on a d-tackle or something like that, but be able to get up to linebackers, corners and all that, I feel like I get a chance to make a play.”
(This team is known obviously for the two guys on the outside and QB Tua Tagovailoa and how effective you are at passing. And yet we know how diverse and talented the running back corps is. How does that affect the offensive linemen for one, knowing that teams have to defend both and how beneficial is it to this team’s long-range hopes to go somewhere?) – “Yeah, we’ve got weapons. We have weapons all over the field and we’re not apologizing for it. I want all of them out there. We’ll all be out there at the same time, and o-line, we’re going to be a weapon for us, too. We’re going to fly off the ball. We’re going to move people and give those guys an opportunity to make plays. So we know about the two guys outside, as you should. You better game plan for those two and the ones in the backfield and up front, we’ve got to do our job, too, to allow them to get the ball in their hands with space and they can make plays.”
(Flying off the ball is a phrase that I hear a lot this camp with the offensive line. They say that you guys have been doing very well at it. What does that mean? What does that look like?) – “It’s an intent. It’s a mentality. It’s an approach to knock a defensive line off the ball and then you see it consistently and you watch the sideline copy of the film and you see two yards of push off the ball. That’s automatically a two-yard gain before the running back ever gets touched, you know what I mean? So those are body blows. Those are body blows to a team, to a defense and it gives us confidence and gives us energy up front to know that we’re dominating the front like that. We have a chance to win a lot of games, a lot of games.”
(Those skirmishes that happen out there, I feel like that’s become kind of standard in training camp. You’re one of the most respected voices I’m sure in that locker room. How do you view those?) – “That’s a part of it, really. Tempers are very brolic, alpha male kind of sport. People get pushy. It’s hot, all that good stuff. But football fights, it really is nothing to even discuss.”
