Cameron Wake – July 30, 2018
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Monday, July 30, 2018
DE Cameron Wake
(I know eating right and healthy is a big part of the way you prepare. This offseason, can you tell us if you had a cheat meal, if any? Pizza?) – “At this point, that stuff that you guys call cheat meals probably would make me sick. I don’t even think of it as a cheat meal. I just have changed my life and this is how I live. I didn’t bring it in here but my food is sitting outside right now and there’s a salad in there, some chicken breasts. What else do I have in there? Some zucchini. It’s just, at this point, it’s a lifestyle. I don’t even look for it anymore.”
(What’s the worst thing you ate? Just like one thing, the worst thing. It might be that you ate lettuce or something, but what is the worst thing? A thing you are ashamed to admit to us.) – “I’m not ashamed. I had some wildebeest. I mean, I don’t know if that’s … I would assume that they’re probably fatty.”
(Did you have a Snickers bar?) – “I’m not a chocolate guy.”
(Turning to football, it seemed as though your pass rush, certainly since the pads have come on, has been maybe what was expected last year. Do you feel like you guys are headed this year to where you wanted to be last?) – “I’d like to hope so. Obviously this game is played with pads and as a defensive guy, when you’re allowed to kind of do everything that you are supposed to do when you play football, it changes the dynamic versus when you have on a t-shirt and shorts. You can’t do a lot of things because it’s kind of frowned upon. But now, you can power guys, you can shake and bull, you can do a lot of different things. So, they’re at a little bit more – they have to do what they’re supposed to do. Like I said, when they’re in t-shirts and shorts, it takes away from some of the things that we can do and it changes the game; but it’s probably a little bit of a learning curve, getting back into it. We’ve been in shorts since April 20-whatever, and the offensive side of the ball, I’m expecting them to pick it up as well. We have some work to do on our side as far as communication and making sure everybody is on the same page, but obviously (Defensive Line Coach Kris) Kocurek is very adamant about getting to the quarterback, and I think we can go out there every day trying to make sure we live up to his standard.”
(Do you have a sense of – speaking of Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek because we’ve heard all along that he likes rotation and waves of defensive linemen – do you get a sense of how much that means for you, how much different this year might be than last year?) – “It’s hard to tell now. I think, again, he’s a guy obviously who takes care of veteran players. He, I would hope, knows more or less what I can do; but at the same time, you have to get ready for games. So, is practice going to be a direct reflection of how it’s going to be on Sunday? Maybe not. When you go out there, you have to go out there and make plays. You expect it to be in the game when situations call for it. But at the same time, you don’t want to unnecessarily beat yourself down if it’s not necessary, especially in days like this. I’m a guy who likes to go out there and get after it. We’ve had many talks and I think we’re on the same page as far as how much is too much and when to tone it down and when to turn it up. But again, it’s always a lot of fun when you have to dial it down versus dial it up.”
(Do you think you need a certain amount of snaps in a game to set up the offensive tackle to find a rhythm and a pulse to the game or do you think that you can do it on any play?) – “You have to be ready when your number is called; but again, I like to be in there to get in the flow. Maybe it’s a play where you do set up a play for later. I don’t think that’s going to be a problem with me and coach. If I want to be in there, I can’t see them saying no. (laughter)”
(When you look at the pass rush, do you ever know coming out of camp if it’s in a good place, or does it take the regular season to know that it’s in a good place?) – “You have a sense. I mean, this is always, especially when you put the pads on, this is football. You play in pads and you can’t hide. I don’t care if it’s running backs, linebackers, DBs. At some point, you’re going to be exposed if you’re that kind of guy. I look in our room and I see guys who, they’re that kind of guy who has the mentality to go in there and throw their nose in the fire. So I don’t think that’s an issue, but at the same time, pass rush is not necessarily an individual effort kind of thing. You need the entire group to work together, and that’s the things that you work on every day, building communication, timing, all of those certain things, because we all have to work together to create one single pass rush. One guy can’t win and say ‘alright, I’m going to take care of it for everybody.’ It doesn’t really work that way. As far as knowing where we are, I know the kind of guys we have, and I know there are no sheep in that room. But at the same time, we have to hunt together as a pack, and that’s what we’re working on today and tomorrow and the day after that.”
(To follow up on your thought, how would you describe how well the defensive line group worked together last season?) – “It’s probably water under the bridge at this point. We didn’t reach the goals we wanted to as a team, so to me, as a d-line, it didn’t matter what we did or didn’t do. There’s probably some teams that had great seasons at d-line and didn’t go where they wanted to, and there’s probably vice versa. I’d rather win together and I don’t focus on that anymore.”
(You’ve spent a little time in the training room. Were you around QB Ryan Tannehill enough to get a sense of his rehab?) – “Are you talking about when I was injured?”
(No, just in this last year.) – “I don’t go in the training room. I stay out of there.”
(Did you have any conversation with QB Ryan Tannehill about it?) – “I’ve spoken with him since he’s been around. I think … If you look at him today and you see the way he’s approached the game, the way he’s been playing and all of the things … I’m out there chasing him every chance I get. Obviously he did what he’s supposed to do. It’s always tough when you’ve got to step away from the game for whatever reason. I know it was probably just as difficult for him as it was for any of us; but I know even speaking to him that he wanted nothing more than to get back on the field and do everything he could to get back on the field. I think now is the time to go and … Like they say, ‘(you) reap what you sow.’ The reaping has begun for him and I’m happy for him.”
(You’ve played with a bunch of different defensive ends lining up on the opposite spot. As you think back, how has … Who has been opposite of you impacted how you are blocked as far as one lineman possibly two? For example, was there much of a difference the year you play opposite of ‘J.T.’ (DE/LB Jason Taylor) then maybe some other years and could that work to your advantage this year if DE Robert Quinn gets back to what he was?) – “I think it’s… In essence, it’s true; but I think the way offenses can kind of scheme up ends is a little different than if it was a three technique or some other variations of pass rushers. I’ve seen all kinds of different looks as far as blocking schemes and chips and guards clearing pockets and things like that; but I think when you have multiple guys – it doesn’t matter if it’s an end or not – if there’s a three technique on the backside whose doing a great job, you have to account for that. However they do it, that’s again, an offensive coordinator’s question. There is probably multiple different ways; but I think to give you a general answer, yes it would be greatly beneficial to everybody involved – me included – to have multiple guys who can cause problems for the offense as far as pass rush goes. There’s only so many guys you can put back there. If they’re double-teaming two guys and the other two guys have to win – whoever that may be – if they’re not, still you’ve got to win.”
(Your first reaction when you heard the DE Robert Quinn pickup? Obviously in his prime, he was a defensive end who had 19 sacks in one year. Your reaction was what?) – (Clapping) “Round of applause. The more help, the more the merrier. I’ve never been one to … I want to win and whatever, however many people we can get that’s going to help that happen, bring them on.”
(Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek is a pretty intense guy on the field. His personality, what’s that like for you guys to deal with in the room? Does he have funny times, or do you enjoy being with him?) – “I personally … I love it. I think it’s a man’s game and there is no room for softness, especially the d-line. This is not quarterbacks, this is not receivers. You’ve got to go in there and put your hands on somebody play in and play out. You’ve got to impose your will play in and play out. If there is any chink in the armor, you’re probably going to get weeded out of that room. He’s a guy that’s old school, hard-nosed. He’s demanding. He doesn’t bite he tongue. He tells you how it is. As a man, you’ve got to be able to take it. I’d rather hear the truth. Sometimes coaches will pat you on the back and go upstairs and tell the upper level guys that ‘He’s terrible.’ Tell me to my face I’m terrible and let me figure out how to fix it. If you can’t take that to your face, then I probably don’t want you in my room anyway.”
(Is Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek’s voice going to make it through camp?) – “No. It’s already taken a hit. He’s going to have to get some tea or some honey or whatever you guys drink. (laughter)”
(Do any of the young d-linemen stand out to you so far?) – “I actually think Charles Harris has probably had the best offseason, not just any d-lineman but probably anybody on our team. He came back in tremendous shape. He’s obviously been working on his strength. He’s been working on his football and it’s showing up on tape. I think that’s definitely going to pay off when it becomes time to put these live bullets in and get after these quarterbacks. He’s made great strides and obviously the more the merrier, I’m happy for it.”
