Brian Flores – February 27, 2019
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Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(For those of us in New England, it’s jarring to see you in aqua and orange.) – “It feels good in aqua. I’m excited to be in Miami. We’ve had a really good start. Obviously, we were behind a little bit with me coming in after the game, but we have a lot of really great people in the organization. I feel like we’ve put together a pretty good coaching staff and those are guys I’ve kind of leaned on, along with Chris (Grier) and our entire organization. We have a lot of great people there. I wouldn’t call it a smooth transition, but it’s been a good transition.”
(Can you talk about how the guys from New England – what they’ve done to help you so far and how having that comfort level helps you?) – “Just kind of putting together the staff, I wanted people that are smart, that are mentally tough. I wanted our staff to kind of reflect what I’d like to see from our team – smart, tough, guys who communicate well. We ask players to communicate offense, defense, special teams, so our staff has to be able to communicate that way also. That was big. That was one of my main objectives as far as putting a staff together. I’m excited with the group we have. It’s a great group from (Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks) Jim Caldwell to (Special Teams Coordinator) Danny Crossman to (Offensive Coordinator) Chad (O’Shea) to (Quality Control) Josh Grizzard, all the way across the board. We have a lot of great people and I’ve leaned on those guys. This is a team effort all the way across the board. You’ll hear me say that on a week-to-week basis when we’re in-season. I’m going to say it in the offseason as well. Right now, that team is … our coaching staff, our personnel staff, really the entire organization.”
(You mentioned that you guys are a little bit behind, but how much does it help to have some familiar faces on your staff that you’re comfortable working with?) – “I think that’s very important. I think camaraderie and being able to communicate and be aligned is very important. I think that’s something (General Manager) Chris (Grier), myself, our coaching staff, our personnel staff – I think we’re aligned as far as the type of players we’re looking for, the type of team we want to build. This week is a big part of that process.”
(I’m sure culture is very important with that and taking over a new team. What have you learned from New England to help establish your own type of culture in Miami?) – “Like you said, culture is very important. I would say a lot of the things that I learned in New England were about putting the team first. I think that was another part of something that was important to me was putting together a staff and people around me who don’t have egos, who work well together. I think that’s going to be a big part of what we do in Miami.”
(You defended against this team for years. Whenever you look at them from the other side, who do you see on the offense that you see as explosive playmakers?) – “I definitely spent a lot of time coaching against this group. There’s definitely a good group of players here, really across the board – offense, defense, in the kicking game. A lot of this process has been about evaluating our current roster. That’s where it really starts. When we come to the draft and free agency, that’s all well and good, but if you don’t know what you have, it makes no difference. We feel good about a lot of our players. We’re going to try to add more pieces to the puzzle and try to put the best product out there possible.”
(From winning a Super Bowl to taking over a new head-coaching job, what has this last month been like for you?) – “It’s been a blur, but it’s been fun. I’m fortunate. I can complain about not sleeping, but the opportunity to coach this great organization and work with the people I’m working with, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s been fun. There’s always something to do, there’s always someone to meet with, there’s always a meeting to go to. It feels like there’s not enough time but I’m trying to crunch time right now, because everything’s important.”
(As you go through the roster, what, if anything, has surprised you in these past couple of weeks?) – “I can’t say I’ve been surprised by anything. To me, I’m kind of ready for anything, ready for any and everything. I think we have some good young talent, some veteran players who display leadership and can help build some of the core values that we want in this team. I think this is a good group and I’m excited to move forward with it.”
(When you look at the personnel on defense and the issues that they had last year, what is one thing that needs to get done on the defensive side of the ball?) – “I think that we’re trying to get better in every area. Pass defense, run defense, kickoff coverage, kicking, punting – everything. I wouldn’t say there’s one thing, because everything is important. I always tell people the difference between getting fourth-and-1 and not getting fourth-and-1 … if you focus on one thing, then that might not be the difference. Everything is important.”
(In particular, stopping the run last year was a big issue for this team. What did you see went wrong and what needs to get better?) – “Again, I wasn’t here last year. I can’t speak to what happened last year. My focus is on what we’re trying to accomplish next year. Not even next year – this week. Again, I’ve always tried to stay present and in the moment. I’m not really worried about the past and what’s gone on there, although I can’t sit here and say you don’t learn from things that have happened in the past. But last year was last year. We’re focused on 2019. Really, that process started when I got off the plane and touched down in Fort Lauderdale. We’re moving forward.”
(What are some factors that went into the decision – obviously, to be collaborative – but to have Defensive Coordinator Pat Graham call the defense on game day?) – “I would say Pat is someone I have a lot of respect for. I think he’s an incredible coach. I think he’s the smartest guy in the room, quite honestly. (He’s a) Yale grad. He likes to tell people that. (laughter) A great friend of mine. We spend a lot of time together. I feel good about him as a coach, him as a teacher. I feel great about our entire coaching staff, from Chad (O’Shea), to Pat (Graham) to Danny (Crossman), to Jim (Caldwell), to (Offensive Line Coach) Pat Flaherty, I think we’ve put together a pretty strong staff – (Running Backs Coach) Eric Studesville, (Safeties Coach) Tony Oden. Pat (Graham), I’m very confident in his ability as a play-caller. But it’s a collaborative effort. It really is. Having done it for a year, I know that it’s not just one person making the calls. You’re getting thoughts, comments, help –really, that’s the word – from various people, whether it’s the corners coach or the safeties coach or the head coach. It’s definitely a collaborative effort. This is a team game all the way, through and through. From the coaching staff to the personnel staff, and that kind of filters down into the team on Sundays or Mondays or Thursdays. That’s always kind of the hallmark of how I want our team to be built and I want that displayed on a day-to-day basis.”
(Would it be ideal with the new staff to have a rookie quarterback that you can mold?) – “I think we have to be ready for any and all situations. I think if that’s the situation, then that’s the situation. I think we’re always developing players. We’re developing rookies, we’re developing second-year players, we’re developing seventh-year players. I think we’re in a business where we’re all looking to improve as players, as coaches, that’s personnel people, that’s equipment managers, that’s nutritionists. We’re all trying to improve. I know you’re saying developing a rookie, I’m just saying I’m trying to develop everyone.”
(With you and Defensive Coordinator Pat Graham running the defense and Chad O’Shea as the offensive coordinator, do you envision trying to be like the Patriots on both sides of the football, doing what you guys did there?) – “Right now my vision is really focused on this week and the players in this draft and trying to get to know these guys. Again, this part of the process is so vital, so important, as far as getting to know these players, their strengths, their weaknesses, how they fit with our team. Then, we’ll get to that, the play-calling, who’s doing this and who’s doing that, when we get to that. Obviously, that’s something we’re working towards also. But the focus right now is on these players at the Combine.”
(On a personal level, what’s it like for you being here as a head coach?) – “It’s incredible. It’s a dream come true. But at the same time – and I’ve had this conversation with many people – I’m never going to feel like I’ve arrived. This isn’t the finish line; this is the start line for me. I’m excited to be in this position, but at the same time, I know that there’s a lot of work to be done in all areas. We’re always all trying to improve on a day-to-day basis. We want to build a tough team, a smart team, a team that can play under pressure. Players need to know that. The entire organization needs to know that. We’re going to work towards that every day.”
(What was the idea behind bringing Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Jim Caldwell on your staff?) – “We’re trying to bring in as many great people in the organization as we can. If you embody some of the qualities that we’re looking for, if you’re mentally tough, if you’re smart, you’re very intelligent, if you communicate well, if you put the team first, if football is very important to you, you probably have a shot at being a part of what we’re trying to accomplish. That’s across the board. It’s not just coaches. It’s from the top down. Chris (Grier) and I are aligned with that mind. Those are the type of people we want in the building.”
(With your evaluations with Offensive Coordinator Chad O’Shea and Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach Jim Caldwell, where does QB Ryan Tannehill fit in the mix for you guys moving forward?) – “Right now, everything is kind of in process. I’ve been here three-and a-half weeks. We’ve gone through the evaluations of the roster. Everything is in process. We still have time. Obviously, we’ve made some evaluations, but we still have time to make those decisions. Having played against Ryan, he’s had some success against me personally. I think of the last game we played. He’s done a really good job, but those things are in process right now. We haven’t made any final decisions. Everything is on the table. Chris (Grier) and I are aligned on that. Again, we talked about the types of guys we want in our program. That part of it, as far as the evaluations and getting everybody on the same page, has been good.”
(What did it mean for you to have that Super Bowl and to go out in your Patriots performance on that stage and that performance? What did it all mean for you?) – “It was great; but again, it happened quickly. It’s almost like it didn’t happen, quite honestly, with all that’s gone on.”
(Did you get the chance to break down the game at all?) – “I watched it briefly. I thought the guys played well. Again, it’s a testament to the players. The credit goes to them. They practiced hard. They played hard. They played with the discipline, the toughness and the team-first attitude that we’ve talked about already this morning. They reaped the benefits of that. But that happened and it was over. I was on a plane and I’ve been in Florida since.”
(So you haven’t enjoyed it at all?) – “I’m enjoying my time right now in (aqua).”
(Obviously, you have some familiar faces on the staff. Is it important to bring in players that you’ve coached as well?) – “I think it’s important to bring in players who want to play our style and do the things … First, I would say bring the culture, bring the leadership and the toughness and the intelligence that we’re looking for. I don’t care where that player comes from. Hopefully, we’ll find a good number of them this week. It’s all part of the process. Again, this week is so important because you get to know these guys. We’re not going to be able to pick every guy we like. I understand that. But we get to know them and maybe down the line, this conversation that was had here, just kind of helps that process two or three years from now – ‘When we talked to so-and-so at the combine, that was a good interview,’ and he’s available. Things like that. This is all important, not just for right now but in the future.”
(Have you had any contact with RB Brandon Bolden and WR Danny Amendola at all since you’ve gone to Miami?) – “I have not. But again, (they are) two guys who were incredible in New England, guys I have a lot of respect for, who embody a lot of the principles (and) core values that I believe are essential to winning.”
(How do you evaluate this rookie QB class and what stands out to you?) – “I’ve watched a good number of them. It’s a good group. Again, the evaluation is still ongoing. We’ll meet a group of them this week and that’s a big part of the evaluation. Again, we won’t be able to pick them all, we know that, but we’ll go through the evaluation process. Right now, we’ve kind of talked about the types of players we’re looking for. You guys have already heard it – we want them smart, we want them tough, mentally and physically. We want them fundamentally sound. We want them to be able to play under pressure. We want to be able to coach them hard. This is a demanding league, so we have to be demanding on our players. They need to understand that.”
(Some defensive coaches, there are quarterbacks they hated to defend. What type of quarterbacks were your worst to defend?) – “You can look at the stats and you can probably figure that out on your own. Look, each quarterback is a little bit different. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Guys who are mobile, that’s a strength. Guys who have great accuracy, that’s definitely a strength. Those are kind of qualities that are standard things you’re looking for – guys who are accurate, guys with leadership, command of the offense. I think that’s definitely a quality you want in your quarterback. Mobility is great but every player’s a little bit different.”
(What are your thoughts on QB Kyler Murray?) – “I think he had a phenomenal year this year. I think he’s a great athlete. I think he’s a very good player.”
(You just said earlier a lot of quotes that many times we heard at Bill Belichick press conferences – ‘Last year is last year,’ ‘We’re focused on 2019.’ Is that intentional or does he just sort of rub off on you and many of the coaches under him?) – “I think last year was last year. Maybe it does rub off. Maybe it’s something … I feel like there’s some good in that. If we focus on last year, then we’re not focused on this year. I would hate to take away from this year’s team focusing on whatever happened a year ago. If I’m copying Bill, then I guess I’m copying Bill in that situation.”
(Have you had any chance to talk much with Bill Belichick at all?) – “No.”
(Has anyone between Bill or Josh McDaniels or Bill O’Brien – many of his Patriots guys have gone on to become head coaches. Has anyone given you good advice or helped you navigate through situations so far?) – “I’ve talked to a few different guys. They said it would be a blur. They said it would be a whirlwind. It happened fast. You’ll have a lot to do. You won’t have enough time. But the big thing they’ve all said is to be yourself, to stick to your core values, to stick to the things that are important to you, which I’ve tried to do, to get good people around you. I’ve tried to do that. And to always be true to who you are.”
(How do you feel about the current climate in the league for African-American head coaches and general managers like you and Chris Grier and is there any disappointment that there isn’t more guys getting opportunities like the one you have?) – “I’m glad you asked that. John Wooten of the Fritz Pollard Alliance was incredible to me during my process as far as the head-coaching search and that whole situation. He’s been a dear friend, a mentor. He’s stepping down this year, so I just wanted to kind of publicly thank him and thank the Fritz Pollard Alliance for all they do for minority coaches. He was great to me and I think that that’s something that’s near and dear to my heart. I think there’s a lot of very capable coaches in this league and whatever I can do to help those guys get an opportunity, I’m all for it.”
(How lucky are you to have Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach Jim Caldwell on your staff? That’s a guy that’s been a head coach a couple of times. You’d think he would get another chance.) – “I’m excited to have Coach Caldwell. He’s been a great resource. He’s been someone (who’s been) a sounding board along with some other guys on our staff, whether it’s Danny (Crossman) to Pat Graham to Chad (O’Shea), but Jim specifically, he’s definitely been a sounding board and somebody – again, he’s done it. ‘What’d you do in this situation when you were wherever you were?’ It’s something that was important to me to have someone like that on staff. Again, if I’m going to tell my team not to have egos, it has to start with me, so I don’t have an ego from that standpoint. He’s been really great to work with.”
