Isaiah Ford – November 15, 2021
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Monday, November 15, 2021
WR Isaiah Ford
(It was good to see all your hard work and resilience pay off on Thursday. Does anyone ever mention to you jokingly about having nine lives here? Are those words that have ever come into your mind with your Dolphins career – nine lives?) – “(laughter) Yeah, I’ve heard that a few times. I’ve also heard the ex-girlfriend that keeps coming back. I’ve heard that one too. (laughter) I think it’s a testament to the way that I carry myself and the way that I work when I’m on the field, in the classroom and around here.”
(I know you were traded, released, came back and I’m sure that at times it has been tough for you, but in terms of legitimately getting settled, what does that look like when you can’t really invest in a spot because you know you might be going somewhere else? What has that been like for you?) – “I’ve been here for the better part of the last five years. I’m here in the offseason too, so this is pretty much my home.”
(What was the backstory to the long passing play in the last game?) – “Yeah, so it was a busted coverage. I think it was a miscommunication on their part. I slipped the guy outside and I’m running down the sideline. That’s usually one of those plays that we’ll see but maybe Jacoby (Brissett) or Tua (Tagovailoa) haven’t had enough time to see it or make the play and that’s something you watch with the other guys like ‘dang, I wish we could have hit that.’ You see the other guys hitting busted coverages and stuff like that. Jacoby got flushed outside, he happened to see me, threw a great ball and I made a play. I wish could have made the guy miss a little earlier and gotten into the end zone, but it was a good play.”
(Gave him a little shimmy shake, right?) – “Yeah, a little bit. (laughter)”
(Did you think you were going to retire this at some point or were you waiting for the right moment?) – “I was just waiting on the right moment, the right play. It’s all a feel thing. I even joke with my girlfriend and my mom about not being able to do it on the spot. It’s like, ‘How you do that?’ I’m like ‘Man, I got to be in the moment to do it, you know?’ It’s just my thing.”
(How much work needs to be done behind the scenes for you to stay ready when it’s your time?) – “A ton. I think the biggest thing is mentally. Mentally, you have to prepare as if you are going to play 80 snaps even though you might only play one or two, or you might not play any. But you have to continue to prepare as if you’re going to be the guy because you never know when that opportunity is going to come. When it does come, you want to be as ready as you possibly can. I think mentally is the biggest challenge, and it’s not easy but it’s something that I have a really good support staff around me, I have really good mentors that I talk to on a daily basis to kind of keep me taking the baby steps and stacking those little victories and keep putting on foot forward.”
(How did QB Tua Tagovailoa look to you today?) – “He looked like Tua. He looked good. He looked like he had no problems or anything like that. He looked good.”
(Taking into account QB Tua Tagovailoa’s entire season, from the first game through Week 10, what has impressed you most about those 10 weeks?) – “Him just being himself. I think that he’s still his natural self in terms of off the field, being a goofy guy, having fun, enjoying being here and enjoying the game of football. Then you see the confidence that’s growing the more reps he gets. It’s what – has he played 16 games yet? Or maybe right around there? So he’s still getting confidence and he’s still learning as he’s going, but you can see the confidence and the belief in his arm and in the throws that things are starting to slow down for him.”
(I know it’s been three months since August 24th when you were released after training camp and the second preseason game. Do you remember if Head Coach Brian Flores or General Manager Chris Grier said to you then, ‘You know about our relationship, you’ll probably be back?’ Did one of those two guys say something like that to you?) – “I think it was mentioned in our conversation.”
(By General Manager Chris Grier or Head Coach Brian Flores?) – “I don’t remember exactly who it was but I do remember it being mentioned and it being a possibility. I always wanted to re-focus and see where it went. I was fortunate that they wanted me to come back and thought I could help the team out.”
(Was there ever a time that you departed from here and were convinced I’m probably never coming back?) – “I don’t know. Even with me being traded last year, I remember having the exit meetings with ‘Coach Flo’ (Brian Flores) and (Chris) Grier and them saying, ‘You never know, we may cross paths again.’ I didn’t know it would be later that season but I think it’s a testament to my parents who instilled those characteristics in me. I think that if you leave a good impression, a lasting impression, that you can cross paths again and you never burn those bridges. I’m thankful for that.”
(You would seem to be the kind of selfless, smart guy who would be helpful to have around very young receivers like WR Jaylen Waddle, who’s third in the NFL in catches. Where do you think this guy is headed compared to where he is? Where do you think he can go?) – “The sky is the limit for Jaylen. He’s still learning. Some of the things that he’s seeing for the first time and he’s so naturally gifted at some of the things that he just does it without really kind of explaining it or knowing why he did it, but it’s the right thing to do. The more he understands coverages, finding those soft spots in zones and understanding and getting comfortable because this is his first year in this system as well. The sky is the limit for him.”
(What is it that you like living in Miami that you call this home even if you’re not in-season?) – “I think the weather is the big thing, right? Sunshine year round with the occasional rain. You can’t beat it. I grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, which is four-and-a-half hours from here. I’ve been a Florida kid at heart. I’ve been in Florida pretty much my entire life.”
(You had 84 yards receiving the other night. You had one game where you surpassed that earlier in your career. Do you remember that game?) – “(laughter) Yeah, I do.”
(Do you remember who it was against? What do you remember from that day?) – “I just remember coming in for Allen Hurns, getting a catch early in the drive. DeVante goes down with a concussion. Albert (Wilson) goes down later that drive and the next thing you know I’m in for the rest of the game. It was just that fast and it’s one of those things where if I hadn’t prepared that week, I wouldn’t have been able to play as well or even be able to function out there at all in that game. That game was pretty much the epitome of my career. Staying ready so you don’t have to get ready. Being ready for that moment and when it comes, try to make the most of the opportunity.”
