Tua Tagovailoa – December 11, 2024
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Wednesday, December 11, 2024
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(Your completion percentage, which has been stellar, especially in your stretch coming back – you and Lions QB Jared Goff are on the verge of possibly surpassing Drew Brees for the all-time completion percentage, which is like 74-and-change. Achieving that would mean what for you?) – “To surpass any record in the NFL, I think is an accomplishment in itself. You’re talking about legends, Hall of Famers in the past that have played this game. You’re talking about future legends, future Hall of Famers that are playing now in this game. That would mean a lot, but I think for us, right now, just trying to keep the main goal, the main goal and to find a win this Sunday and go on a run that we’ve been talking about in that locker room as a team, that would be a little more special than any other record I would say.”
(What do you think of Texans QB C.J. Stroud, now as you face him in the regular season for the first time?) – “Yeah, I think he’s been playing pretty well. I know there’s been some hiccups, but for the most part, I think he’s been able to bounce back. You see the mental fortitude that he takes and brings into his game. I got a lot of respect for his game. I’ve also been able to talk to him a little bit, at the Pro Bowl last year. Very good guy, very humble, very competitive as well. That’s what you like to see in a competitor.”
(Non-football related question. A lot of NFL and some NBA players have actually had their homes broken into – obviously Joe Burrow, etc. The NFL put out that security alert. Is there any fear or concern on your end for yourself or your teammates?) – “I have personal security just because my house had gone broken into – not necessarily my house but one of my cars. So it’s a little too close for my comfort with my family being in the house. So we got personal security to take care of all of that. When we’re on the road, we got someone with my wife. Got someone also at the house surveying the house. So just to let that be known, they are armed. So I hope if you decide to go to my house, you think twice. (laughter)”
(How long ago was that your car got broken into?) – “It was either last year or two years ago. So the personal security guys were actually pretty recent as well this year.”
(How much does that weigh on you, being a public figure? You’re one of the most public figures on this team. Do you feel like you might be a target?) – “I wouldn’t say necessarily I would be a target, but I wouldn’t want to play the chances with my family, my kids sleeping. My wife sleeping, me sleeping at the house.”
(Getting back to [previous] question, how do you stay focused on the task at hand amid all this noise about potentially breaking records?) – “I think the success that we found offensively, being able to distribute the ball to different guys has allowed us to find success in the short game and then in the mid-passing game as well. That’s basically what it entails as well, is just find a completion wherever it may be. But with all the statistics and what not, all we’re trying to do is stay on the field, find ways to elongate our drive so that we can find ways to go down and put the ball in the end zone.”
(When you look at this Texans defense, from the pass rush all the way up to their secondary, what stands out on tape?) – “They play really well. Sound football. They get some depth in the back end, so they try to mitigate a lot of explosives, but you’ve got to have your Ps and Qs when you’re dealing with a rush that they have. Very similar structure to the team that we just played, but they don’t necessarily play the same way, if that makes sense.”
(If you had the chance to speak to Chief Tagovailoa, what do you think he would say to you today, as far as you coming back from IR, just the stats that you’ve been able to produce?) – “I don’t know. I don’t know if it would be like a motivational thing or ‘you’ve got to be better at this,’ or it could be like, ‘I’m proud of you,’ like I wouldn’t know. But I do know that he wouldn’t be satisfied with whatever’s going on right now, that’s for sure.”
(—- Texans, what do you remember from seeing them in those joint practices last year and how much can you take from that setting?) – “You can take a good amount. That’s their defense structurally. They do things different with their fronts and their backers, but you can definitely take what they’ve done in our joint practices and try to implement that into some of the plays that we have. But it’s also another thing to where it’s different with that I feel like, versus game planning. And so we’re going to have to see what their plan is defensively, normal down and distances and then third down.”
(On the touchdown to WR Tyreek Hill on Sunday, I noticed you changed your launch point a little bit against that six-man pressure they sent you. And for a room full of people that don’t get a chance to experience what it’s like to play quarterback and make those decisions in two seconds—) – “Anybody can play quarterback, brotha.” (laughter)
(You said OL Aaron Brewer could in mic’d up. I’m curious what goes into that, both in the physical aspect and the mental aspect to know that rush is coming, I have to move. What all goes into the ability to make that quick adjustment in 1.8 seconds or whatever it is?) – “You kind of have a gauge if you’re looking at film, you’re watching film with ‘got to have it’ situations, what teams like to do. And there’s only so many ‘got to have it’ situations that people have, and you see what they run, so they ran zero right there, and I think our right side, which was the short side, did a great job because we had that same rep in practice where we let the inside guy go and he picked up the outside guy and they learned from that, they sorted that. They came down on the inside guy, let the furthest guy outside rush and I was able to move off the spot to buy me some time to be able to throw it to Tyreek (Hill) and that’s what ended up happening.”
(This past game, it was the best that both WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle had together, since maybe the opener. What did it mean just to get the connection with both of them together going again?) – “Yeah, it was good to get those guys going. It’s pick your poison, really. If the play entails for ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill) to get the ball, but the coverage doesn’t allow him to get the ball, we’re going through our progression and you really see that with our guys this year, especially Jonnu (Smith) is a great example, right? Doesn’t get the ball the entire game, then when it’s time for our guys that we call playmakers to make plays, it’s overtime, the game was over, like this is not even in a quarter of a game. He hadn’t touched the ball, now he touches the ball, like you can see that guys are itching but guys aren’t going to complain about it. They’re just going to be ready whenever their time is called.”
(I don’t know if you’ve been keeping in touch with Teddy Bridgewater, but his team is playing for the state championship this weekend. Any shoutout you have for him?) – “Yeah, big shoutout to Teddy, ‘Teddy B,’ ‘Coach Teddy,’ man, jeez. Big shoutout.”
(I wanted to ask you, with this team having to have the mindset of ‘we’re in the playoffs already and every game is a must win,’ what kind of mental toughness or resolve does that kind of create for you guys?) – “Yeah, it creates mental fortitude, but I think we’ve had the reps earlier in the season, and we’ve continued to have those reps as the season progressed. Oh, it feels like we’re going to win this game, ah, we give up at the end. Feels like we’re going to win this game, we end up giving one at the end, or something like that. Then we find a couple wins here; then we lose again. And just the mental fortitude I think the guys have, it’s been in that playoff mode, but I think having those reps have definitely gave guys epiphanies, like ‘a-ha’ moments in which it’s like, ‘man, yeah, I felt like because this was a big game that I needed to do more than what my job asked me to do when really, all I need to do is go back to the basics and fundamentals of what we’ve been doing in OTAs, what we’ve been doing in training camp because that’s what’s gotten us here and that’s what’s helping us win games.’”
(Going back to Sunday, I think WR Tyreek Hill mentioned that he had run the wrong route and you kind of made it known to him, “hey, I need you to run it this way.” How much value is there in knowing that your teammates are going to respond to your leadership and your correction in that way?) – “I think it tells you a lot about the relationship that we all have with each other, to be able to do that first and foremost. I think in any workplace, that is very important to have. If you were to yell at my man right here, and y’all didn’t have a good relationship, he’d look at you crazy. (laughter) And so I think that’s definitely what is the forefront in us being able to communicate that to each other, and that goes for everybody on the team.”
Jaylen Waddle – December 11, 2024
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Wednesday, December 11, 2024
WR Jaylen Waddle
(What’s changed in the last couple of weeks where it’s been more like the old days in terms of you and WR Tyreek Hill getting a lot of targets?) – “That’s just confidence from the OC, the quarterback going out there and letting us play fast, putting the ball in our hands and expecting us make plays.”
(What kind of momentum does that win in overtime provide you going into this week?) – “It means a lot. It was a hard-fought game; it was a game we really needed to win. It just showed what this team could do. It definitely gave us a lot of confidence, but it’s a whole other team, a whole other gameplan. We’re just going about it like any other week.”
(Do you find you’re getting thicker skin just considering the last three weeks have already been like the playoffs for you guys right? Must-wins every week?) – “It’s a must-win. We definitely got to win out if we want to make that chance to play in the playoffs. Every game is important, every game we need and it’s fun. It’s a fun experience, especially with this team, with these guys. It’s fun.”
(What do you see in the Texans matchup?) – “A great team. Definitely get the ball, ball hungry team. Their d-line is really tied into their backend. It’s going to be a hard game. I think they have like a top five ranked defense, get pressure on the quarterback. DBs are playing great, (Derek) Stingley Jr. is having a career year. They’re a good group.”
(Earlier you mentioned confidence when you were asked about what changed. Did you make any appeal or reminder to coaches that you can do what you can do?) – “No, man. I think over the years, they kind of know my ability, know what I can do and know the type of guy that’s in the locker room and on the field. They know.”
(Were you thinking inside, “Man, I’m really looking forward to when they open it up again?”) – “I really look forward to winning, man. All that is good, but having a good game with an ‘L’ really doesn’t mean too much.”
(What’s it going to mean to go back to Houston?) – “It means a lot going back. Got a lot of family, and friends coming to the game, so it’s going to be big.”
(You’ve played there before?) – “We had a preseason game there last year. We practiced there for a week.”
(How many ticket requests did you get, ballpark?) – “If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me. (laughter)”
(You think 100?) – “No, not 100, but it’s going to be definitely more than 100 people there that I know, for sure.”
(How did it feel to the partner with T Terron Armstead and Calais Campbell for the Christmas event this past Monday?) – “That was great. Giving back to the community that support us is always key. The event went good. ‘T-stead’ (Terron Armstead) and Calais (Campbell) were great. A lot of teammates came out and supported us, so that’s always great.”
(How much do you think you’ll reflect when you’re back in Houston, when you back in your hometown? Just a childhood dream, I’m sure?) – “I remember my first game was at NRG – it used to be called Reliant Stadium. I remember going and watching the Texans play when I was a kid, so just playing in the stadium now is going to be a surreal moment.”
Zach Sieler – December 11, 2024
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Wednesday, December 11, 2024
DT Zach Sieler
(How does it feel? Finally, to get your first AFC Defensive Player of the Week award.) – “Honestly, it’s really incredible to blessed with this award. My wife and I were just talking about it. So this time five years ago is when I was released from Baltimore and got down here. So it’s kind of cool like five years later, then to have this happen this week was pretty cool.”
(You’ve come a long way, haven’t you?) – “Yeah, it’s been a special journey.”
(We’ve all talked a lot about this, but do you remember the emotion you felt when John Harbaugh and the coaches said, “We’re going to let you go?” Had you at all wondered, “Is this even the career for me?”) – “It was my second year there, I was released after camp, cleared waivers, put on practice squad, moved back up probably halfway through the year and literally this time – I think it was week five years ago – cut the second time and really didn’t know what to think. My agent at the time called me and was like, ‘Hey look, I don’t have any teams asking about you. I don’t know what’s going to happen. Hopefully something shakes out and you get picked up. If not, I know Baltimore said they’d love you back on the practice squad.’ So I actually redid the brakes in the RV Thursday night into Friday, because I wasn’t working on Friday, not knowing where I was going and my brakes were shot. So I pulled the pads and all that off the RV, but I did that and then Friday afternoon I got a call and he’s like, ‘Hey, I don’t know where you’re going but you got claimed.’ I think he said Cleveland, or someone called and said, ‘Hey look, we put a claim in for him. We don’t know who got him, but we didn’t get him. Do you know who claimed him?’ And he was like, ‘I have no idea.’ So then about 20 or 30 minutes later, I got a call from Miami saying, ‘Hey, look, there’s a flight out at eight o’clock tonight, can you make it?’ I’m like, ‘Absolutely.’ I’m sorry, that was Thursday night – Wednesday into Thursday. But then Friday morning, showed up, got here, went to all that stuff. I did practice Friday, and then we were at the Jets actually that time and then ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) had me stay here that weekend to kind of get my feet wet, and then the next week was Giants, Cincy and New England.”
(You’ve been one of the best waiver claims in Dolphins history. Has General Manager Chris Grier or anyone in the organization ever kidded with you about that or said some line to that effect?) – “I think the contracts we’ve signed and them keeping extending me is kind of that notion they did for me, absolutely and just saying that appreciation there.”
(What would it mean to you to make the Pro Bowl?) – “It would be everything. To me, just to be able to come from where I came from. Just from walked on D-II, cut twice in the NFL to even have a chance of making it is just an incredible journey and makes me emotional because coming from where I came from in high school, I was always told ‘You’ll never play in college, let alone in the NFL.’ I think it’s a cool story and I love to share that and talk to kids and families and schools or whoever asks about that. Especially being from a small school in the middle of nowhere, not a lot of scouts or people kind of came by that area, so it’s pretty special and it’d be something cool.”
(What are you most proud of in what you do week after week?) – “For me, I think – and this is something I want to make sure I teach my son is – it’s the name on your back, as well as the name on your front. You represent the organization, as well as your family name and then obviously everything else is it’s all glory to God. So to be able to go out there and to emulate and to show that, and hopefully it shows in my game and in how I act on and off the field. To me, that’s what I pride myself on the most.”
(What does desperation do for a team knowing where you guys are trying to make the playoffs?) – “I think it’s more of a backs against the wall, it’s every week is a playoff week and I think it’s, ‘Hey look, we’ve got to do everything we can in our power.’ Stay late, extra tape, extra tubs, whatever you need to do to get the win. I think we did that last week and we need to do that this week.”
(Another tough matchup with C.J. Stroud at quarterback, what do you see in the matchup?) – “Great young quarterback, has good feet, has a heck of an arm. We’ve got to contain him and get back there and stop the run. They got a great back, Joe Mixon, o-line, they’ve got Laremy Tunsil who was here. Just got to get at them up front.”
(When you talk about all the adversity that you have fought through, you must be the perfect leader here to see four straight wins ahead, that’s nothing compared to some of the stuff you fought through, right? This is doable, to make the playoffs?) – “I think it’s honestly taking it at a week at a time basis – that’s what I always have focused on my whole career, my whole life. Obviously, you need to look big picture at some point and it’s hey look, to get there we need to win out. So it’s what can we do this week and what can I do today to get to that point and ultimately hit that goal.”
(I guess at 1 p.m. you won’t be scoreboard watching, but how much do you guys pay attention to the standings maybe once you get back to the locker room or later that night?) – “I mean if you’re winning, that’s all you can do to control. We can’t control what other teams do, whatever happens there. I think at the end of the day, we’ve just got to win out and go from there.”
(The last three seasons, I guess two-plus seasons since Head Coach Mike McDaniel has been here, you’ve been one of the best and most consistent big game performers on this team. I don’t know if that’s occurred to you, have you thought about that? I mean the touchdown in the playoff game at Buffalo, everything.) – “No, I haven’t really thought about that. I guess to me, it’s just do what you do when your number is called. Be that one-eleventh and be that guy to go out there every day, every snap and play your hardest ball. You don’t know when your play is going to come. Something we always joke about and always say up front is the ball rewards those who run, so I think that gives you those opportunities – it definitely did that touchdown in (Buffalo).”
Mike McDaniel – December 11, 2024
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Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(Did anyone else emerge from the game Sunday beaten up to the point where their status is in doubt for this week beyond T Terron Armstead and WR Dee Eskridge?) – “We have some bumps and bruises – I wouldn’t say forecasting for the week. There are some guys that we’ll be downshifting our tempo some portion of the practice that if we didn’t might not be able to go, but we still have a lot of time and fortunately there wasn’t any of those injuries you hate to see. We feel more bruises than injuries I think at this point, and I have some optimism for several guys that are working through stuff, so no news is good news.”
(How do you envision the second week of practice going for those window guys – LB Bradley Chubb, LB Cameron Goode and LS Blake Ferguson?) – “I’m excited for their work week. I think this week represents 100% increase in what they’ve done thus far, so I think that’s exciting just in general. For me, I’m just waiting to see the signs of guys that are unable to tolerate not playing in the games anymore and that they’re ready, so some good week of opportunity and observation really to get those guys jumping back in, but we won’t get ahead of ourselves. We’ll let it play out because again, especially guys coming off extended missed time, half of it is what they’re able to do that day, then half of it is the feedback the next day. Because when their bodies are telling them something, we’re trying to listen to make sure that we don’t overcook the whole process.”
(Rough estimate of how much time you and Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans spent talking football and how much will that be used against each other this week?) – “That conversation of DeMeco (Ryans) and I talking football started in 2006 because he was a rookie – first pick of the second round – draft pick who became the Rookie of the Year and was the starting Mike linebacker and made all the calls. It was my first year as a full-time NFL coach, so we were the exact same age, I think, and just watching him as a player. Then we get back together in San Francisco and how fast he took to coaching was not a surprise because again, you can’t underestimate the quarterback of the defense as a rookie from the jump. I think philosophically, the tape makes more sense when you’re watching the opposing team just because we kind of know the starting point and the philosophical beliefs. At the same time, so much of – like for me – what DeMeco coaches, it doesn’t matter that I know. It’s the nuts and bolts of coaching that actually matters to players when you’re talking directly impacting how well they play the game. So much of it is consistency of fundamentals and details and mindset that it’s helpful to a degree, but I know how well-prepared he’ll be. I know to call the game, I know how well-prepared his team will be. They kind of take on his playing mindset just collectively. I remember feeling that when we had our joint practices against them and then you can just see it on tape, the relentless physicality and the connectivity and strain. It’s all real so I know to be prepared based upon my experience with him, and we’ll have our guys tuned up because it’s a challenge but one that we welcome.”
(Houston has one of the league’s best pass rushes. Does QB Tua Tagovailoa’s quick delivery time help to ease your mind in that respect and does it help to negate a little bit of the effectiveness of that pass rush?) – “I’m very, very confident in Tua’s ability. I’m also a football coach that’s directly observing very, very good pass rush, so you don’t take that lightly. I think the biggest part is it’s a collection of individuals on both sides of the ball that kind of determine QB pressure and sacks. What do I mean by that? Well yes, Tua has to have a quick delivery; he has a quick delivery if there’s someone that’s running the appropriate route in the timing of the play, so that has to be in unison. The launch point in where we’re blocking from and where he can make those decisions, that has something to do with it. Defensively, sacks come in bunches when coverage is on point. So there’s a lot of stats sheets filled just around the league in general that the sacks go to the defensive end or the defensive tackle and goes against the offensive line, but in reality, the quarterback didn’t have anybody to throw to. I think overall in this situation, the talents that Tua has delivering the football, who’s to say it’s plus or minus the talents of the pass rush? I think overall they’re very, very good at pass rushing. Tua is good at getting the ball out. Overall, I think it’s going to be more of a complexion of the unit or the entire group and defensively, how are they defending, how are they covering with pass rush, (and then) offensively, how are we protecting but how are we moving down the field, beating reroute, beating man coverage, separating the timing of the play. Those things I think are what it’s going to come down to – less individuals, more a collection of the group.
(You’re one win closer to a .500 record. These past couple of weeks special teams played an important role in winning and losing. Specifically WR Malik Washington, what have you noticed this week about him?) – “Factually, I think every week special teams is special in its own right. Plays are plays. A ball is being moved by a group of people, or attempting to being moved, down the field to get into the end zone. If you don’t get into the end zone, you get closer and then try to have one player use his foot to get it through the uprights. That whole thing, yards, field position, it all plays together. I think this past game we don’t win if we don’t have three phased complementary football when it mattered most. The ebbs and flows of each game, the first quarter is different than the second et cetera, et cetera. I think it was after a three-and-out, it started with Siran Neal on that punt making a play. The defense responded to that momentum and then you’re getting yourself to a fifth quarter without timeouts, being able to have a shortened field. I think the equivalent of two extra first downs he was able to execute on that kick return – monumental. I think if I’m a fan of just maybe the Miami Dolphins and I’m observing Malik Washington from one week to another, I think I already know what I need to know of who he is. It was just a week ago that he had probably one of his worst football moments in a muffed punt, but he didn’t run from it. He works tirelessly and as a result, if he was passive by any measure, that’s a touchback – that ball could’ve gone through the end zone. But he aggressively fielded it and displayed his confidence and I think also displayed what makes him unique. There is a lot of rookies in the National Football League, but if you – I don’t know the ratio of sixth round draft picks that are playing and contributing versus not, it’s the exception to the rule I would say and that’s because of things like that. But I think he really got to show people who he is, and all you need to know is how his teammates feel about him. They absolutely love him because that’s the greatest respect you can pay towards your team is being accountable for a mistake and then making up for it in the moment of truth.”
(Today DT Zach Sieler received his first AFC Defensive Player of the Week award. What’s your reaction to that? Do you think he’s playing at a Pro Bowl level this year?) – “Yeah – I know the coaches that I talk to after games think so. I think Zach Sieler – he represents a lot of things that I firmly believe in. He’s a player that far after he gets done playing, he will serve an example for the next 20 rookie classes of perseverance and what you can do if you just refuse to give up and attack adversity. This is a guy that was – I think there was a random stat that he was the first player to be cut to sign a contract at whatever level he signed at, whatever that number was. And what has he done with that? Earned it every week, and then some. Week-in, week-out, he finds ways to make plays. He is a monumental piece to our team. Every Sunday, a lot of his teammates are relying upon him bringing what he has to offer for the team and he never, ever backs down and loves the game of football and is just one of the cooler players I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach, quite honestly. So he’s very deserving of accolades and I have a feeling it won’t be the last.”
(Going back to the question about QB Tua Tagovailoa, I noticed on the touchdown to WR Tyreek Hill, he kind of drifts away from that hot pressure off of the backside and finds a new launch point that you mentioned in that answer. So I guess kind of a two-part question, is that something that is inherent to him in the play or can he be coached to do that? And also, if you could describe the value of the little nuanced details of Tua’s game that kind of takes him to a different level?) – “I think everyone is observing how much the nuanced things within the quarterback position have helped his game. I think it was probably the summer of 2022 when Tyreek (Hill) was going public about how accurate he was and people thought he was crazy, and now people are talking about how accurate he is. The accuracy hasn’t changed, it’s quite literally the same. What’s changed is playing the position and how, for me, Tua represents the epitome of accountability and security in one’s skin. So often, one of the bigger challenges in this profession – coaching, playing, whatever – is you have arrows coming at you left and right and it is human nature to be like, ‘Listen, I’m good. This is not my fault,’ and that’s not him. He’s attacked his game in a relentless fashion, and I think the greatest example is I’ve talked to him a ton today and zero has been about any feat, anything that’s happened literally last week. We watched film on Monday and talked about his game-winning touchdown but turned the page, firmly Texans. And that’s, when it comes down to it, win, lose or draw, praise, the anti-praise, you have a game against a very good opponent that you have to prepare for in the National Football League. There’s a lot of distractions, but can you focus on your job and how it relates to all of your teammates and how vastly important that is – I think that’s what he’s really doing a great job of. He is right now, could care less about completion percentage or 300-yard games or whatever. He’s trying to make sure that he’s doing the right ball-handling on run plays, as well as knows how to move everybody in and out of the huddle, lead the offense and lead this team.”
(I wanted to ask about CB Jalen Ramsey. The Jets targeted him in a way that we haven’t seen much here. Your thoughts on them taking that approach, how he handled it and how he’s played in general this year?) – “I think one thing that can happen when you have an asset such as Jalen Ramsey is you can lean on his talents in very aggressive ways and sometimes kind of give all help to all others – not just safeties, but body position of underneath coverage. There’s certain times that I think he believes, and we believe, that the defense is best served when he’s on an island. And then within that, I think sometimes with those bold approaches, a play here or there can happen, then there can be another play that is affected. Ultimately, taking on the responsibility of being the big ask of the defense for that week is not something a lot of people would even sign up for. Based upon our experience, you aren’t totally thinking that he’s going to get targeted that much, but we all know in the game of football that there’s a lot of nuances, a lot of change and you have to adjust. As a head coach, I couldn’t be happier that one of our top competitors on this team was challenged because I just know how he responds. I thought he had some of his best technique within that game. He’s a very prideful dude that is one of those guys that takes everything personal on the football field in a good way. So I know we’re going to get the best version of Jalen Ramsey versus the Texans which is mostly what my brain is on right now.”
Alec Ingold – December 9, 2024
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Monday, December 9, 2024
FB Alec Ingold
(As you watch the tape in meetings, what has stood out about why the run game has regressed in terms of yards per carry so much these last five weeks?) – “Yeah, it’s a good question. We’ve talked a number of times the past few years about how the run game is kind of the epitome of all 11 having to be tied together. So I think where we’re at right now as a team, obviously extremely efficient in the pass game, being able to move the ball in a number of different ways and when we’re operating so efficiently sometimes those looks, we need to do a lot better job as players to be able to take those looks, be all on the same page to be able to execute because when we’re throwing the ball seven, eight yards a clip, 12 yards a clip, 14 yards a clip; sometimes a four-yard run doesn’t feel the same, right? And I think a lot of guys can clean up our assignments in the blocking schemes to be able to kind of make sure that we are moving the ball in the run game just as efficiently and effectively as we are in the pass game. So I think it’s definitely an area that we can grow in and it does take all 11 to be able to make that happen. We’re not playing horseshoes or hand grenades right now, and ‘close’ isn’t going to cut it. So December football, a lot of teams need to be able to run. We’re going to be on the road quite a bit and I think that’s going to help, so I think it’s really button down the hatches there. It’s definitely a growth opportunity for us heading into this stretch.”
(I know there’s a difference between excuses and explanations. You guys don’t make excuses but and explanation for the run game decline, your snaps are down, OL Austin Jackson not there, T Terron Armstead not there yesterday – not an excuse – is that a legit explanation?) – “I mean I think there’s a lot of – when you start to look at the circumstances of why something isn’t happening, sometimes the simple answer of not being able to execute is the tough one that you have to really dial into. I think being able to look at those circumstances and why we aren’t performing with those 11 guys on the field, being able to run the ball. There’s no finger pointing, there’s no excuses and it’s simple, but it’s hard to do. And I think that’s the challenge that we all have to kind of embrace and not look at any sort of outside help, any sort of outside explanation and truly just dialing into how all 11 can be in this run game and we can improve down the stretch cause I think that’s the only way we win the games we need to win, is for all 11 guys to be able to take that ownership and not have to look for who’s on the field, who’s off, situation of the game, like it shouldn’t really matter at this point. It’s who’s on the field and how can we execute?”
(What about short yardage specifically? Does it just come down to being more physical than the opponent or are there still some minor details and technique that can be fixed there?) – “Probably a little bit of both. I think being able to, when you talk about fast, physical, elite technique in short yardage; getting the right feet in the ground, being able to do all the things we need to do to move your guy one yard so the running back can get through that line of scrimmage, I think it really is details, I think it’s that focus. Yeah, a little toughness can help, too, a little tenacity to get after it, but I think short yardage in the run game is something that we’re all going to be having our hand in. I think Tyreek (Hill) and Jaylen Waddle have been doing an outstanding job run blocking – all wide receivers. Malik (Washington) has been doing a great job as well in that run blocking. So all 11 are bought in, it’s just, man, we need to continue to grow in that area and we’re all tied together and we all have our hand in that.”
(I would agree with anything you would say about the importance of the run game – I find it odd though that when the run game was doing very well, the team was on a losing streak. And now, it’s almost like it’s reversed what you would expect, isn’t it?) – “Correlation, causation, that whole thing. I think wins are important so we’re going to take that, but if we get this run game and the pass game all clicking, you’ll be able to see the offense at its full potential and I think that’s what we have to strive to do every single day at the office. How can we continue to, each asset, each piece of this game, put it together for December to play really good football and I don’t think we’ve hit that stride yet as an offense which is exciting because there’s something to work on, and it’s frustrating at the same time because it hasn’t been coming together the way we’ve seen it come together in the past. So I think it’s just really learning from the past, understanding you’re inspired for what’s ahead and in the future and what can be, and then being as present as possible to make sure that we’re executing when those run plays are called, pass plays are called – it doesn’t matter what the call is – to all 11 to be able to execute there.”
(Is it like a split personality? Is it like two different personalities -that type of running game while QB Tua Tagovailoa was out as you had to have as opposed to the type of running game you have now with him there?) – “When your back is against the wall no matter what, I think it brings the best out of you. In a lot of guys in the run game we had to step up and we had to do that. I think that sense of urgency, I don’t think you can wait for your back to be up against the wall anymore, like it’s a one-game season from here on out so that sense of urgency that we’re carrying through run game, pass game, installs, Wednesdays, Fridays, it shouldn’t matter. At this point, everything’s important, every single detail matters, all your single efforts from blocking all the way on the backside of a play not thinking that’s going to be the home run block. All of those things matter at this point in the season, so that’s the battle that we’re fighting and I think we’ve got the right guys to do it.”
(Can you switch between one or the other? That power running game and then the zone blocking?) – “Yeah, I mean I think it’s all a piece of it, right? You want to have both assets depending on what the defense is presenting to you. What guys are making plays on both sides of the ball so that you can be able to have as many plays on that call sheet that could be explosive. You want to score every single snap that we touch it. You’ve got so many explosive guys between De’Von (Achane), Jaylen (Wright), Raheem (Mostert), Jeff Wilson (Jr.) coming up big in a couple key snaps. We have a great room in the running back room. All of our wide receivers, tight ends, Jonnu (Smith) obviously, there’s a lot of guys that can do some special things with the ball in their hands, so every single time that we step on the field, every single snap, we’ve got to be able to be explosive and do whatever it takes to get those efficient yards that we need.”
(If I told you, you were playing with a guy who’s on pace to break all of the single-season tight end records, would you be surprised?) – “I would assume it’s the guy that catches JUGS before every single walkthrough, every single practice every single day; it’s probably that guy that I’ve been seeing showing up every single day. I think it’s cool to see – I didn’t understand that, I didn’t know that he’s on track, but not surprised in the least by the work ethic you see. Throughout the year, I think Jonnu’s game this last – everyone’s talking about how he didn’t get the ball and then he does in overtime; it’s like throughout the season it kind of epitomized how he’s been approaching things. Like when his opportunity, his number gets called, he’s been working relentlessly and tirelessly to be ready for those opportunities, so really, it gives me goosebumps right now thinking about the amount of work and how it shows up on the field. All of his efforts have been showing up in a number of different ways and his habits, routines, his standard, he’s leading by example in a number of ways in this building.”
(I’m doing something on T Terron Armstead and he’s got an event this afternoon, a shopping spree – I’ll ask you about your event next – but he had a deal last week of kids, I guess educational. Here’s a guy who’s got a hip-hop album, outstanding player, yesterday, he’s injured. I see him at one point talking to T Patrick Paul, at another point talking to LB Chop Robinson. What do you think of all of this with Terron? How do you describe him? What do you think of him?) – “He’s one of the best pros I’ve ever been around. He doesn’t talk very much, but when he talks, people listen. He has a very unique leadership style to him. He’s almost like a father figure it seems like in the huddle. You can tell when he’s on the field, guys have confidence. All 10 guys outside of Terron have confidence when you see ‘72’ in the huddle, and I think that carries over into the locker room. You see him and his presence; it’s calming, it’s confident, it’s not arrogant in the slightest and I think the more things that he’s doing off of the field, I think that bleeds onto the field, being a role model and example for a lot guys, myself included, looking up to his academy, his financial literacy work that he’s doing. Having a building with ‘Terron (Armstead) Family Foundation,’ that’s unbelievable stuff that he’s been doing over the past decade, and you can see it show up in the game and to have a career that he’s had up until this point, has been outstanding.”
(And tell me about your event. It’s up in Coconut Creek, right? $100 for every 30 yards of offense, is that right?) – “Yeah, we’re going on the 16th, we’re going up. We’re going to surprise the kids, play a little Santa Claus, give them some give back, some toys and all that stuff and last year we did that event and I was like, ‘man, this is cool.’ You get the shoes, you get the clothes, you get the toys, but I wanted to be a part of something that’s going to stay there longer than I’m going to be around playing football. So we were able to fundraise and build these kids a nice outdoor park for them to be out there and just be kids, man. It’s those little things, the perspective, the smiles on their faces. I can’t imagine the amount of memories that are going to be made over there outside at SOS Children’s Village. So really excited to see all the smiles when that thing gets released.”
(I’d like to ask you a little bit more about T Terron Armstead and just kind of what he’s going through because we haven’t seen him be able to practice for several weeks and yet he’s out there trying to make it go every Sunday. How difficult is that and how much respect do you have for him?) – “Utmost respect. I think the past few years seeing how – I’m a big rep guy. I need practice, I want my body mechanics, I want to work all the way through the week and for him to get all of those reps for the past few years where he’s battling whatever injuries he’s battling and then show up and put the cape on, on Sunday has been inspiring because he’s a pro’s pro. He’s not taking vacation, he’s not hanging out. Like he is working every single day whether it’s boxing, whether it’s whatever he’s doing for cardio. He’s been taking care of all of his business, all the time. So to see him be able to go through all that adversity and still perform at a high level week in and week out is extremely inspiring and to see there’s a million different ways to get to Sunday and to be able to be a performer. I can assume that’s not the easiest way to do it, probably not how he wants it, but it’s inspiring to see him show up to work every single day.”
(What’s different about December football?) – “I think the margin of error is extremely small. People are climbing or they’re falling. I think there’s a lot of holiday season going on, there’s a lot of end of the year, there’s a lot of noise going around and the better that you handle that noise as a team, to stay connected to make sure that you’re using every single ounce that’s gotten you to that point, to be that edge, to be that separator in December football. The teams that win in December are the ones that are winning in January and February and there’s no secret to that. I feel like hitting your stride in December is extremely important because every single play matters that much more, all that little effort adds up. You get a lot of high stakes poker being played on the football field in December and I think that’s where the true separation of good and great is.”
Liam Eichenberg – December 9, 2024
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Monday, December 9, 2024
OL Liam Eichenberg
(Early in the game you were able to draw an unnecessary roughness penalty or unsportsmanlike call. Are you good at getting under people’s skin?) – “Yeah, it kind of seems to be a trend surprisingly. I really didn’t say anything. I think I was just playing through the whistle trying to stay connected and I think that’s kind of when guys get angry. When you kind of just stay on them. So just trying to stay on my guy and make sure he doesn’t make the play and if I get hit in the face or something happens, it’s part of the game. It’s a physical game, but yeah, just trying to block my guy.”
(That was very early. The second play of the game. Did it continue between you two throughout or did everything cool down?) – “Yeah, it normally does whenever you kind of annoy them in the beginning for the most part. But I try to play hard. I try to block who I’m supposed to block and I take it as I’m just doing my job.”
(When you reviewed the film, what were some of the things that why the run game wasn’t really working and also what were some of the things that you saw that could be easily improved because I know Head Coach Mike McDaniel just said just need to be blocking better, but it’s a little bit more complicated than that, I’m sure?) – “I think it kind of goes back to all of us being on the same page based on where the point is made and all of us going to the correct guy after that point. Definitely communication can be improved, but at the end of the day it kind of goes back to technique and fundamentals. I always say this, but me having my left hand outside of the guy and then me trying to transition makes it a lot harder compared to if my hand is set. Techniques, fundamentals, hand placement, head placement, it’s all important. And I think it’s something that we’re going to stress and continue to stress on. At the end of the day, it kind of comes down to us doing it, so we’ve just got to be more intentional.”
(When it comes down to short yardage specifically, down there does it just kind of get more so to it’s physicality but also some of the finer technique things too?) – “Short yardage is one of the best things about football especially the offensive line. You’ve got to come off the rock and this past week, we know ‘54’ (Javon Kinshaw) kind of likes to swim a lot on the goal line and you can’t be timid, though, because he may not swim and then he’ll jet. It’s all about leg drive, pad level, and hand placement and kind of running our guys into the endzone. That’s kind of how you view it.”
(Are you a guy who looks at big picture, playoff chances, and what you’ve got to do? Or are you just 1-0 this week?) – “No, I’m just focused on this week. Focused on Houston, kind of one day at a time for the most part. That’s how I view it. These seasons, my past years have kind of gone by in a blink of an eye. Kind of just focused on this week and getting better.”
(How does it feel not to be moving around as much? You’ve got your spot on the line.) – “It’s nice. It’s been a long path to get here, but there is a lot I need to improve on still. And I know that, and it’s kind of something I’m working on every single week and every single day. It’s nice, but at the end of the day, what are the team needs? And I think I’ve taken that mindset since the day I got here. Just trying to get better.”
(What was your impression of T Patrick Paul and the way he played… being called upon early in that game?) – “I looked over and I was like, ‘oh man, Pat is in here.’ I didn’t even know he came in, to be honest I saw him in the huddle and was like, ‘oh, he’s in here.’ Three spots away seems so close, but I’m mainly talking to the center and the right tackle. I thought he did a great job. Super talented rookie and I think his future is going to be bright, and he’s going to do very well here for the Dolphins. I’m excited for him, and he’s come a long way since he’s got here.”
(His size, he’s kind of hard to miss though, isn’t he?) – “Yeah, he’s a big boy. He’s got that big helmet on, too.”
(How tough is it to go from – talking about short yardage – to go from that side-to-side blocking and then you have to go forward? Is it like a different type of personality you have to have almost on the line?) – “I think it’s more of just kind of knowing the situation you’re in. Obviously defensive linemen are going to play short yardage, goal line similar. Compared to first-and-10, second-and-6; they may think pass, they may think run. So you’ve got to be on top of it. That’s just how it is every single play.”
Mike McDaniel – December 9, 2024
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Monday, December 9, 2024
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(At this point, is there any consideration given to surgery for T Terron Armstead, or is this more of a rest until he’s able to play again type of thing?) – “Yeah, it’s a rest thing. I think you might have seen his frustration level to try to contribute in this particular game and it’s something that he can’t control, so you talk to him about – I’ve been very proud of how he’s handled all of it because he’s probably at a new level of maturity to handle these types of things based upon his necessity. I think we’ll let it cool down a little bit and what that means for time moving forward, I’m going to make sure that my communication is steadfast with him, and we’ll play out all the scenarios with our group.”
(What were you hearing from him as far as what he was experiencing? Was it sort of tweaks that indicated it wasn’t right?) – “Yeah and just going into the game, just knowing what was ahead of him in terms of like he was trying to will himself. I just made it very clear that, ‘don’t waste your time trying to be a superhero.’ We had extra communication last week so that he did what was best for the team just in case actually what happened, did happen that he didn’t make a competitive choice that would put our team in a compromising situation. So that communication has to be honest and direct. Otherwise people make decisions for the wrong reasons. I already knew going into the game, much like I always do with him, but like what he was ready to do to will himself and I didn’t want him to put himself in harm’s way or the offense, and sometimes the honest truth is the hard truth that, that day, he didn’t have it.”
(When you look at the film, what were some of the things you noticed that went wrong with the run game yesterday?) – “There were some opps that we missed. I think the tonality and what people view changes a lot when probably our best run situation, I think the guys were frustrated with the results having higher expectations going into the game. As a result, we get a holding penalty that changes on a 30 or 40-yarder. It might have been what, the fourth-longest of the season or something of that nature that got called back. That’s a piece. I think we need to block better. That’s been a focus of ours. They get paid. Too. They had a good plan, changed things up in a way that they were still able to play aggressive. They have a good front, a good defense, so give them credit as well. There was stuff that I expect to be better and I think it’s also magnified when you’re taking in the totality of what the players on offense are doing. What do I mean by that? There’s a lot of times with the consistency of the decision making and accuracy of Tua (Tagovailoa) that I’m exchanging tone-setting run plays for tone-setting pass plays. Protection is firm and telling guys to be aggressive and then when you’re throwing a five-yard out route to Julian Hill for 14, you’re throwing a five-yard out route to Jaylen Waddle for 10, you’re throwing a five-yard out route to Tyreek (Hill) for, I think one time it was 13, one time it was nine. They’re getting less opps after not taking advantage of ops. So the key is, is you take advantage of those opps, you make people overplay the run structure one way. Then you get another call and another opportunity in the run game going the opposite way. I think the numbers do represent something that we absolutely need to improve; however I think it’s magnified given the circumstances, adjusting to 75 percent completion percentage and giving guys opps that are very good players on our team. So it’s a priority for the blockers to run the ball better. They need to take advantage of their opportunities better and they’ll get more opportunities.”
(Going back to T Terron Armstead for just a second, did you feel it was more of a pain tolerance issue or an issue of further doing damage to that knee?) – “I think he has a very high threshold of pain and pain tolerance. It’s when you’re compromising both potentially the player and unable to do his job as he knows how to do it. He’s able to do a lot of really cool things and we’re very, almost desensitized to however we’ve had to get him to game day. There’s not professionals at the left tackle position that do that really, and so to do that, you have to be very trusting in your body because you’re doing a lot of things mentally during the week and if your body doesn’t meet the expectation that you have going into it, things can snowball quickly and for him and his teammates, we’ve also been taking advantage of the adversity has been an opportunity for Patrick Paul, for instance on Wednesdays, being able to get all season, being able to kind of develop his game so that he could be ready for a situation like this should it present itself, which I think undoubtedly, deep down, that factors into how compromised in a position Terron feels that he can put himself in. His bottom line is he feels he’s got a (captain) ‘C’ on his chest and he’s won in this league, and he wants to make sure that his locker room does whatever it takes to win. And I think he exemplified his winner mindset ironically by being responsible and communicative in the game. And he does see the big picture and what we have in store for us one game at a time, and each one of them was crucial and crucial for him and his prep and he’s trying to just do right by his play and his teammates.”
(When you guys added TE Jonnu Smith, obviously the emphasis was on improving the contribution from the tight end position. How much of that was just taking some of the plays that you used with the 49ers, George Kittle and implementing here? Or is this all just a new origination of plays?) – “I think the process, you’re hitting the nail on the head with the starting point and you’re forecasting. But for me, you’re finding the individual player and what he’s good at and so then you traditionally put it in a bucket of your experience and to see what things, what he gravitates to, what he doesn’t. Very much of training camp was just trying different things and then leaning into things that you could see he could use as a competitive advantage. For us, there’s elements as the starting point to a lot of the stuff that we do in the offense that go all the way back to 2005, but much like the ever-evolving way to attack defenses and the different defensive presentations that get thrown at us, there’s a lot of different things that we kind of try with him that I hadn’t tried in the past with a tight end. I think the biggest thing, regardless of position, thought we could really benefit from the extra space that the other three eligibles get based upon over attention on ‘10’ (Tyreek Hill) and ‘17’ (Jaylen Waddle), and that expansion of the field that the defense is defending, how to best take advantage of that space. And I think we’ve done some elements of it, realistically. I don’t think I’ve – some of the short-and intermediate routes that we’ve really called a lot too, I had never called it or been a part of an offense that has ran it that much. We’ve probably run more screens to him than ever been used to, just adjusting to his skill set. And I always respond to conviction in play and when I see guys have confidence, you lean into that. So we’re really evolving to his game. It started with a lot of stuff that we’ve done in the past, but it’s kind of morphed into a unique contributor that can play in the core and I’ve never had a tight end take two screen plays back-to-back; that’s because he’s never had Jonnu Smith. I think he has his own skill set and his own niche on this offense that really is problematic for how defenses want to defend us.”
(After you guys made the game-tying kick there at the end, the broadcast showed QB Tua Tagovailoa on the sidelines kind of getting the guys fired up, going. Were you in earshot of that?) – “After the game?”
(No, during the game. After the game-tying field goal.) – “Oh yeah, so we had communicated previous to that, and then all we were – just the possession before, you just wanted the ability to have your last drive, get the game tied. I think he was very confident, and I think what we had talked about is, ‘Hopefully, we have an opportunity to score a touchdown to win the game. If we have the opportunity, we need to make sure that our mindset is not to go get points; it is to go win the game.’ So he was, I think, probably calling his coin toss shot, felt very confident that he was going to win that by not saying anything, I guess, because they chose right? They chose heads. So I think he was letting everybody know – it’s a part of his kind of growth within our offense and just as the quarterback and kind of understanding his value to the team. And I think the best person to inspire confidence and conviction in what we’re about to do is probably him, and I think he’s fully recognized that. So in the situation where the offense was going to be positioned to have the opportunity to have the ball in overtime, he wanted to make sure guys’ minds were right. That we’re going to score and nothing else.”
(When you look at the run game I’m wondering if stats or situations are the better judgement. You’re 1-4 when you have over 100 yards rushing and 4-1 under 100 yards rushing in each of the last five games. So what does it mean that you’ve had those numbers and those results because I know QB Tua Tagovailoa has been there and Tua hasn’t been there. How do you reconcile that?) – “I think it’s important to have versatility in how you execute, given that you have different presentations week in and week out. I think to be able to adjust in-game, I think going into the game, I would’ve expected a different box score if I was guessing. I think for me, if you’re going to have 47 pass attempts or whatever it was, you better be a super high completion percentage without turnovers. If that’s the case such as this past game was, there was a multitude of situations that we passed not because we couldn’t run it, but because of trying to attack what was coming at us and as long as you are – because the starting point for running the ball versus passing is that it’s a proactive, safer line of scrimmage dictating-type play. Well, there’s also ways you can dictate the line of scrimmage on pass plays and if you’re not leaving yourself as vulnerable to negative sacks, quarterback hits or turnovers; I think having an open mind to, all right, there’s plenty of times in the last couple games that historically my brain would say ‘run the ball.’ But with a high level of production and maybe a predictive coverage and maybe a non-predictive front, it is easier to change a 3-technique to a 4i (technique) than it is to change from Cover 2 to Cover 4. So the variables. It’s something that I look at it this way: I have no problem and I don’t think the players have any problem being able to say ‘we need to block better’ and I can show them how we need to block better, but again, that being said, some of the statistical variance has to do with some momentum built and the decision-making, trust in timing of the pass game and our opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. I think if the wide receivers weren’t – if ‘10’ (Tyreek Hill) and ‘17’ (Jaylen Waddle) weren’t as in a good place running certain routes, that choice to pass the ball at certain times wouldn’t be as advantageous. There was certain times in short yardage that people – their kneejerk – if you don’t run the ball, is that you’re passing because you can’t run or based upon a previous result; however, there’s not many times other than short yardage that defenses are giving us presentations with not zoning linebackers just jumping in the middle of the field. You might some man coverage opportunities. There was one at the 21-yard line in the end of the first or beginning of the second quarter. It was probably the best pass opportunity that we had all game; it was incomplete. So there’s so many different moving parts. Bottom line is we’ve never shied away from saying things need improvement. I know the blocking mechanism and handing the ball off and getting the production that we’re going into a game expecting; that needs to improve and I think it would also look very different if the pass game production was different or if our opportunities, we took advantage of them fully and didn’t overcook an outside zone to the right, that was a 30 or 40-yarder that we get called back for holding. That doesn’t get called back for holding, there’s probably going to be another run opportunity in the next two plays just based upon getting them on their heels. And then you have all sorts of different scenarios play out, so front end, have to take advantage of opportunities when given and you can see in games like that where the really premier situations can be few and far between, so you’ve got to take advantage of them.”
(Do you have an update on WR Dee Eskridge?) – “I would say still getting more information back, but it would be unlikely for this week and more in the timeline of the weeks following. Not anything close to IR-related, but it definitely calls into question this week.”
Kendall Fuller – December 9, 2024
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Monday, December 9, 2024
CB Kendall Fuller
(Obviously so much has been made about head injuries in the NFL. How concerned were you about the second concussion and did you even have to consider not playing the rest of the year or beyond?) – “I think after the second one it was mainly just getting the knowledge, all the information you can to make the best decision for you. So that was pretty much the process, the thought process is get all the information that I can to help me just understand the decision that I’m going to be making. Our team, our training staff did a great job of giving me all the information I could to make a smart decision, a safe decision, and I was happy to get back out on the field.”
(When did you feel back to normal after?) – “Not too long after, genuinely. Physical movement, exercise always helps. I was lucky to where the symptoms were very mild, so not too long after but with it being the second one, we definitely had to be just a little bit more cautious with it, for sure.”
(Did you have conversations with QB Tua Tagovailoa during that process?) – “Yeah, I had a conversation with Tua, I think like right after, just kind of seeing different thoughts that he had, the process that he went through and things like that. I talked to a number of guys that I’ve played with who’ve had concussions and things like that, definitely just reached out to everybody.”
(Did you give any thought to wearing the guardian cap?) – “No, just the science that they go through, the league, (with) different helmets. Guardian cap can help different helmets, (or) there may not be that much of a benefit to have it. I pretty much got the top-rated helmet that you can wear.”
(Is that new or is that one that you’ve had?) – “No, I haven’t had it, so it’s a new helmet for me.”
(What’s the name of the helmet?) – “I’m not even sure. (laughter)”
(How did it feel? Did it make a difference? Did it feel good?) – “I mean, yeah – the helmets that you wear before feel safe. You can say it makes a difference whenever you come out of a game healthy, but at the end of the day, any time you take the field there’s a risk of a head injury, risk of any type of injury. They say the NFL has a 100% injury rate. I can say it makes a difference because I came out without a concussion, but I’ve also had many games with the different helmet where I came out without a concussion.”
(I know you’ve known CB Jalen Ramsey for a minute, since high school, I think. Tell me what do you see in how he’s being used here? Being close to the ball, shadowing people, DK Metcalf, Garrett Wilson and what is it like playing opposite him when you have to kind of change your game when he’s shadowing somebody?) – “I don’t think of it as too much of me having to change my game. You play corner in the NFL, you play on the right side, left side, I played nickel a good part of my career as well, but Jalen (Ramsey) is just a guy that can do everything. He likes to do everything. He has such a big skill set, and as a competitor, even for him, it’s fun when you’re able to do so many different things on the field, where you can go cover a top guy, get inside, blitz, disguise a blitz, pop out. So for him, I know he’s enjoying it, just having fun being able to be all over the football field.”
(What does that do to an offense? I guess they always have to be aware of where CB Jalen Ramsey is, right?) – “Yeah, I mean it makes them study and prepare. He’s a gamechanger no matter where he lines up, so they have to prepare for all the different places and all the different things that we ask him to do on the defense.”
(The play at the end of regulation, are you thinking in that moment any throw near the sideline get the guy out of bounds, make sure we save time for the offense? On the very last defensive play, getting Davante Adams out of bounds?) – “Oh, the back shoulder? At that point, you really just – if I could go back, I would’ve played a little bit more underneath of him knowing that they’re not necessarily trying to take a shot. But really just try to keep them (and) make it as hard of a field goal as you can, so that was really the mindset. Let’s try to play tight coverage, make them kick a long field goal. Genuinely that was the biggest goal and the biggest mindset we had.”
(How do you look at how you guys did yesterday? You got the win, of course; they had two 100-yard receivers. How do you reconcile that? Did you guys do a good job?) – “It ain’t nothing to reconcile; Kader (Kohou) has been in the league three years, me and Jalen (Ramsey) both nine years, there’s days where you look at the film and you’re like, ‘Dang, we could have been better.’ You don’t necessarily reconcile it. When you leave the game, you know you could’ve done better. It always feels good to correct things and knowing that you need to get things fixed after a win. I mean after the game, we just know different things that we’ve got to work on, get better to be better for next Sunday.”
(How was it to have the three of y’all back together?) – “It was fun, just having everybody out there. Any time you can have everybody healthy, it gives you a better chance to win. For me, just being out for the last however many weeks, just being back on the field, being next to them, going out of the tunnel with them and things like that, it was definitely fun.”
(How many quarterbacks would you say right now could throw a back shoulder fade? How many can use it consistently in their game?) – “It’s the NFL, all of them got it. All of them just can do it maybe at a better rate than others. ‘A-Rod’ (Aaron Rodgers) especially with the different guys that he’s had, he can do it as good as anyone. But I think all of them have it in their bag, it’s just a matter of – if we’re playing golf, I may be super good with my 7-iron. You could hit your 7-iron, but it just may be what I do best and that’s what ‘A-Rod’ does best. I think everybody has it, but his is definitely elite.”
(I don’t want to get into your medical history at all, but you mentioned the conversations you had with some of the doctors and everything. Was there anything that you learned throughout this process that’s going to help you down the line?) – “Mainly just you’re understanding what type of risk you’re taking actually going out on the field. Just asking them, ‘Hey, is there more of a risk of me getting a concussion with me going back out there just because I’ve had one in the past,’ and things like that. There’s nothing that they can sit here and tell you down the line, ‘This is going to happen, that’s going to happen.’ It was mainly just understanding the risk that I’m taking going back out on the field.”
(Is there a secret to December success in the NFL? I know it’s a battle of attrition and everything like that, but how does a team succeed in December?) – “Health is definitely one of them, just having everybody out there healthy, and then I don’t think it’s a secret, it’s just a matter of 11 guys on the field doing their job and winning their matchups. I don’t think it’s necessarily a secret; football is always going to be football. When you have guys going out there and making their plays, whatever team makes the most plays is going to win. It’s just a matter of it’s December, every game counts in December, but at the end of the day, it’s still football.”
