Terron Armstead – November 5, 2024
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Tuesday, November 5, 2024
T Terron Armstead
(Today’s the trade deadline. You’re a veteran who is past 30-years old and have contemplated retirement ahead of this season, knowing how limited time can be in this league and with this team at 2-6, did you ever consider going to the Dolphins front office and asking for a trade to a team in a better position this season? Why or why not?) – “No, I’m here. I’m here we’re locked in trying win this game Monday night, that’s it. I haven’t thought about anything else.”
(So that would express a belief in this team down the stretch. Can you speak to what gives you confidence in this team in the second half?) – “No reason not to be, no reason not to be. We feel like we can beat anybody. We haven’t had those results, but the way that I am and the way that we are as a team, we’re going all in. So we’re going to put in all the time, effort, energy and preparation to win this next game. That’s the only way to get it done, you’re not going to just fall into a win. So we go out there and try to get one, do everything we can to get this and then we can start worrying about the next. But full belief, it’s nothing else.”
(What have you done that makes a difference in being able to stay on the field this season? You’ve only missed the one game, so what’s made the difference for you personally?) – “All the- my process and preparation, injury prevention and all that, it’s extensive and it’s been extensive for years now. Still can’t control what happens on any given Sunday, get rolled up and all those things. So (I’ve) been fortunate enough to not have any of those freak incidents pop up, but things that my body personally, we’ve put in that work throughout the week. A lot of hours spent outside the building.”
(On the same vein, it seemed like every week last year you were going with a different starting lineup. This year, that’s not the case; you’ve had continuity just about every week. How big of a difference has it made for the entire line do you think?) – “It’s been great. It’s been great to get that experience together, get that chemistry, that cohesiveness. I think you’re starting to see some of the results, and we still got, like I said and will continue to say, we still got things to get better at and try to get better at it fast – eliminating the negatives, MEs (mental errors), the missed hand usage, technique things, penalties. We have to try to get those eliminated completely from our game, but we’re doing some things well, just got to keep going.”
(The season obviously hasn’t gone as planned, but how good has RB De’Von Achane been for you guys? And also, what has been one of the driving points for his success?) – “He’s sitting right here, so that’s why there was a smile. But he’s incredible, man – he’s really got to step out, I don’t want to say this in front of him. (laughter) No, he’s incredible. He’s a special talent, he’s probably the most confident guy I’ve ever been around and that says a lot for somebody that’s so young into his journey and his career. But his confidence, his belief in his ability and his preparation is through the roof, so it’s no surprise to us in this building what he is doing – it’s no surprise to himself, at all. He feels like he should have 2,000 yards right now, but I love that about him, for real. I love playing, blocking for him, and I’ll try to do anything I can to give him a lane.”
(How has Head Coach Mike McDaniel been through this stretch? Obviously, we know him, outgoing, fun guy, joking – it’s gotten a little bit more serious with this obviously, news conferences. Behind the scenes, how has he been?) – “He’s been him, man. He’s been the same. He’s been the same, he’s been unwavering. He’s been confident, he’s showing the reasons for the result so we can make the corrections and secure the win. From the top, the belief in the building, the buy-in and all that, it’s from the top down, for sure. Mike (McDaniel) hasn’t wavered at all; we’re not talking about anything else but getting this next win.”
(How happy are you that you don’t have to see Aaron Donald anymore now that he’s retired – but at the same time, the Rams have done a really nice job of reloading that defensive line with some young talent. What do you see there going up against them this week?) – “Historically, the Rams they always keep a d-line. You know that when you see them on a schedule, you know it’s going to be one of those games. I’m glad that Aaron Donald is gone, I hope he is enjoying retirement to the fullest, wish him the best. (laughter) I had a lot of games against that man, he was really like that – first ballot, for sure. We got to prepare and get ready for a tough challenge. Like you said, the Rams, they always load up that defensive line, so it’ll be a fun challenge out there Monday night.”
(What changes when QB Tua Tagovailoa is back in there at quarterback for you guys – getting the calls from him and his operation of the offense?) – “Tua (Tagovailoa) just has a great feel for the offense. He has experience now, he’s got time spent in the offense now, he understands the layers of it. He knows where guys need to be to lineup, the motions – all of it, snap points, all those things. There’s so many small intangibles that go into our offense that he is the best person to perform and orchestrate it. And beyond that, his ability – his anticipation, his accuracy, his ball placement, timing, pocket awareness, he’s an incredible player, we know that.”
(I want to get your thoughts on the interior offensive line guys. Obviously, the run game being so effective of late, they have played a part in that. What have you seen out of the guards and OL Aaron Brewer?) – “They’re doing a lot of things well, a lot of things well. Still got some areas of improvement, as we all do, but I love their approach and their intent on how they’re attacking their process, working the technique, getting extra work in, watching guys that have been in this offense that have been successful before, seeing what they can take. So it’s been a full head of steam approach to improvement and to accelerate that improvement and I think it’s been working out for us well up front, and as we continue to do that, it’s only going to be better.”
