Calais Campbell – November 17, 2024 (Postgame)
Download PDF version
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Postgame – Las Vegas Raiders
Dolphins DT Calais Campbell (transcribed by ASAP Sports)
Q. I think in one of the hype videos the team put out, you can hear you say “all it takes is a spark to light a fire.” Does it feel like that fire is lit after today?
CALAIS CAMPBELL: Definitely trending that way. Obviously the fire is still real small. We’ve got a long way to go, but we’ve just got to keep fanning it, just keep doing the little things that matter. Today was a big step in the right direction. Obviously a lot of plays we left out there, you want a perfect ball game, but it’s a win. It feels good, but like I told the guys in the locker room after the game, we’ve still got a big hole to climb out of. So we get to celebrate it for 24 hours but we’re right back to work.
Q. You’re always a guy, pregame, in the middle of that big huddle, around the whole team. What is that moment like, especially you’re such a veteran but this is your first year with this team and being that guy that leads that charge?
CALAIS CAMPBELL: Yeah, you know, the best feeling in the world is when the guys look to you. They say ‘talk to me.’ They want to be inspired and so I always try to think of something good. But for the most part it’s just bringing good energy. Bring good energy and looking them in the eyes and let them know that I’m going to bring everything I’ve got, and if we play together we can win, we can beat anybody.
Q. Did the blocked punt go through your hand?
CALAIS CAMPBELL: I can’t wait to watch it on tape. I don’t know how they blocked that. You can’t be more free. The funny thing is we were watching tape. I could tell by the way the guy short set that if we got in a situation I had a chance to block one. I never told anybody. I just in my head was like, I might have a chance to block one this week. Sure enough, I got my little swim move and I was right there. And I kind of got a little too big-eyed and kind of hesitated and I don’t know how I missed it. It had to go through my hands. Had to. But this is football. I will take that probably every day of the week. I’m glad my guys had my back and held them to three. But I’m going to go out and die on my sword by giving my best effort to make plays that win ball games.
Q. Sounds like one of those aggressive penalties you referenced a couple of weeks ago. Did he kick you in the helmet?
CALAIS CAMPBELL: Yes, he did. Yes, he did. (laughter) Right on top of my head. But that’s how close I was. But if I had blocked the punt it would have been much better.
Q. That’s impressive form, to get his leg up to 6’8″.
CALAIS CAMPBELL: He got it above my head and came back down. That was quite impressive.
Q. How do you feel about playing special teams?
CALAIS CAMPBELL: You know, I like to be able to impact the game. And especially when it comes to like blocking field goals and stuff, that’s something I love to do. Even on field goal protection, I really try to – those are big points. Those are plays that’s going to win us ball games. So I know when I’m on the field my side is going to be protected. I haven’t given up a block my whole career and I don’t plan to. Those guys are getting good; they get those good jumps and stuff. But I just try to be out there to help the guys. I don’t mind playing special teams. This punt stuff is a little unique. I haven’t played a lot of punt rush over the years. But the Tennessee game I got my hand on one and still went forward, so I don’t know if they call it a blocked punt. And then today I should have had a block. It’s not bad. I’ve been having an opportunity to affect the game.
Q. What’s it like being part of the game where both teams held the ball for so long? Such long drives, fewer possessions but longer drives?
CALAIS CAMPBELL: Yeah, for us, we’ve been really good on third down and get off the field. Today they had a really good game plan and they made some plays to keep those drives alive and made it tough on us. But we just kept fighting, kept believing and found a way to win a ball game. But you’ve got to take your hat off to them. They had a really good game plan. That (Brock) Bowers kid, that boy is good.
Q. What is it that’s making you and Sieler mesh so well as a duo?
CALAIS CAMPBELL: I think some of it is just natural chemistry. He’s a great player that is very cerebral and he understands how to take advantage of what they’re doing. I’m the same kind of way. It allows for us to kind of communicate on the line and adjust based off what they’re doing and allows for us to make a lot more plays. And there’s times where we kind of do too much and it’s like, ‘oh, man, we messed up.’ And there’s times where it hits perfectly and it’s right there. And that’s football. But that’s my guy. Sieler, when he’s out there, when I’m out there with him, I feel like we can dominate anybody.
Q. You mentioned you still have a hole to dig out of at 2-6. Things looked bleak here, but now you guys are 4-6 and we’ll see what Denver does, but you could be right there in the mix. You personally, how rewarding is it to be part of this turnaround?
CALAIS CAMPBELL: We’ve still got a long way to go. It doesn’t get to be rewarding until we get to where we want to go. So just it’s a good opportunity. We gave ourselves an opportunity, but we still are in the hole. We’ve still got a long way to go. And the guys know it, but the good thing is there’s life. We’ve got a lot of life, a lot of fight left. This next one is going to be a big one. Division game at home against a team that’s playing hungry. I know Drake Maye had a pretty good game today. They lost, but he played well. We’re going to have our hands full. We have to go earn it again, but this next one is going to be huge.
Q. The Raiders under 60 yards rushing. What was working well for you guys today?
CALAIS CAMPBELL: Great game plan. We had a really good game plan. I think earlier in the year we really struggled stopping the run and we put a lot of emphasis on really our techniques and what we could do to stop the run. I think it’s been three games in a row, three or four, where we’re keeping teams at 100. But we still have – that’s the key, right, if we keep teams under 100 yards rushing we have a chance to win the ball game. Obviously we didn’t win all those games we did that, but we gave ourselves an opportunity. So I think it is four straight games and we’re trying to keep that going. That’s a big part of our success.
Q. You mentioned what Drake Maye has been doing. Did you already check what they did today before you got out here?
CALAIS CAMPBELL: It’s one of the first things I do, look at the scores, what did guys do. I mean, I’m just a football fan, too, so I like to see what the scores are around the league but also the team we’re getting ready to play, trying to see how they played.
Q. What are your thoughts on Gardner Minshew? He’s had ups and downs this seasons as far as passing-wise. How were you guys able to adjust to what he was doing well as the game went on?
CALAIS CAMPBELL: I think he played really good football today. I think the offensive coordinator did a good job as well, giving him some good reads and putting him in position to be successful. But he executed and he made some big-time plays. I think late we got him in a situation where we had a big advantage, any time you get a lead like that – our offense played great, gave us a big lead and we were able to make plays. Jalen Ramsey does what Jalen Ramsey does. But it still was impressive. Gardner, he’s come a long ways. We were teammates back when he was a rookie and to see his development has been really cool.
-DOLPHINS-
