Terron Armstead – August 11, 2022
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Thursday, August 11, 2022
T Terron Armstead
(That was probably the most 11-on-11 work you’ve had all camp. How do you feel?) – “It felt good. It felt good. I’m still knocking rust off, trying to get in a groove, get landmarks, techniques, hand placement and all of those things. Just trying to check boxes and get that work in.”
(We asked Head Coach Mike McDaniel about whether QB Tua Tagovailoa would play in the preseason game. he said that he’s encouraged by the idea of not seeing him. I’m sure you don’t expect to play any snaps on Saturday night, right?) – “I’ll do whatever the coach says. Whatever he needs me to do. So if I’m playing Saturday, I’m going.”
(Do you feel like you need those reps?) – “Always. We all need work. Everybody, everybody. You never get to a place where you got it or you’re perfect. It’s a daily progression so whatever coach feels like that is, we’re going to roll with it.”
(I saw in that final 11-on-11 period that you were in there and then you pulled yourself out. What’s it like to get close to a complete practice?) – “We’re getting close. We’re trying to be conscious of load. I get in there and I’m having fun and it’s hard to be conscious of sticking to the plan, sticking to the load. I just didn’t want to go overboard dealing with some pain. It’s time to be smart. Right now it’s still August. Getting ready for the live bullets.”
(You’ve been a part of some really good playoff teams. Where do you think this team is at now compared to what you’ve seen?) – “We’re still in the early stages. Just off roster and scheme, I think we got a really good chance to be something special. I honestly do. I think we’re extremely talented, high effort, high energy. We’ve got leaders in the right spots. We’ve got great players all over the field. It’s hard. It’s hard to go out and do it every week. We can start off 1-0 and look like a Super Bowl team, but if you don’t do it next week and the next week, then it’s all for nothing. We’re just trying to take it a day at a time. That’s really my message to this young team. Just try to do it one day at a time. We’re not playing in a Super Bowl today. We’re not there yet.”
(How did you think the first team offensive line group did overall over the last two days when you were together?) – “We did a lot of really good things. A lot of impressive work. That is a damn good d-line over there too. They have a championship caliber d-line. It was great to get those looks and styles of play that were different. We did a lot of really good things. We improved in communication. I’m really excited about that. Technique-wise, I saw a lot of guys implement things they were struggling with earlier in camp. I think Austin Jackson had a great two days. Rob Hunt too. We’re all just trying to get better – our wins and losses – and minimize those losses as we keep progressing.”
(Overall, do you think these joint practices can be a good measuring stick to where you guys are at?) – “Yes, for sure, for sure. I think you just have to understand the goal of what you’re trying to do. You are trying to see where you match up, where are your areas of improvement and your areas of strength. We’re not scheming, so we’re not going gameplan to gameplan. A lot of these plays wouldn’t be great against that Tampa defense. A lot of the things they do wouldn’t be great against the Miami offense. But we’re out here going with what we do versus what you do. In a real game week setting, it will be a lot of stuff that you saw today that you wouldn’t see in the gameplan.”
(What do you think of the way the run game is coming along and how are the guys on the line picking up the wide zone?) – “We’ve got a chance to be really dangerous in the run game. We’ve got to get more reps at it. It’s a different scheme for me and a lot of others. The running backs are getting on track – besides Raheem (Mostert), he know the offense in and out. It’s a scheme that you’ve got to get reps and know exactly where you need to fit, where the running backs are trying to go and the landmarks and stuff. That’s something we’re going to continuously work on and improve. Once we get to a place of comfort in that landmark and scheme, it’s going to be a real weapon for us.”
(I’m going to ask you about a couple of young guys in T Greg Little and T Larnel Coleman. What do you think of how they looked?) – “I’ve been impressed with those two. They’ve made huge strides, probably the most – those two I’d say, respectively, have made the most strides in this short period of time in camp. Greg is strong. He’s young but he’s a veteran. He’s played a lot of football. He’s experienced. Larnel has a lot of tools. Great tools – his length, his strength, he’s an intelligent player. Just trying to clean up technique things and getting those guys comfortable and confident with the scheme so they can play fast.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel said that he was pleased with how he sees guys playing for each other. I want to get your perspective of what he means by that and what it means to you guys to play for each other.) – “There is nothing more important than that. We are working for each other. Our job is to protect Tua (Tagovailoa), open lanes for Chase (Edmonds), Raheem (Mostert), Myles (Gaskin), Sony (Michel) and everybody. I’m working with Liam (Eichenberg) hand-in-hand, literally. What I do affects him. Today we had a play where they ran a stunt and I set out too wide and got picked, and the guy looped around and it would’ve been a hit or sack on Tua. That was 100 percent on me. It looks like Liam, but that was 100 percent on me. Those things, we are working together. We are working together. I’ve got to be more conscious not to get away from the protection, knowing it’s just me and him versus those two.”
(Do you feel there is a value off the field of going to dinner and stuff, hanging out in the hotel? Do you think there is a value to that for how you guys build those bonds, camaraderie and communication building?) – “For sure, for sure. Any relationship, whether it’s boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, buddies or whatever, you’ve got to spend time. That quality time and just getting a chance to know each other and bond, it’s important.”
(How much work did you get in the preseason the past couple of years?) – “Maybe none. Maybe none as far as preseason games. I don’t think I’ve played in a preseason game in a while, I don’t think.”
