Sam Young – June 8, 2017
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Thursday, June 8, 2017
T Sam Young
(How’s your house making it through the rain?) – “Luckily the roof is intact.”
(No alligators coming through the yard?) – “Got a lot toads. A lot of toads.”
(We saw a very colorful exchange when WR DeVante Parker scored a touchdown. How many opportunities does the offense get like that where you can really just gloat a dominant performance?) – “I think it’s just a testament to the competitiveness. I think both sides of the ball are out here taking this seriously, trying to get each other better. I think the more heated, the more competitive you can be, that just serves you better when it’s in a real game. You’re getting the best from both sides I think and it’s just going to make the team better.”
(Do you see the backup left tackle position as being yours?) – “No. Not by any means. I think my goal is just to continue to get better. It might be a cliché, but I think that every day I’m looking to improve, looking to fill wherever the coaches put me, whether it’s right, left, they need me to play quarterback. I don’t think that’s likely, but I’m just trying to help and continue to get better each and every day.”
(What has this team taken from the OTA’s so far? What have you noticed as a collective whether it’s playing better, playing more efficiently?) – “I think you kind of hit the nail on the head with the efficiency. I think being in the second year of the system – speaking from an offensive perspective – we’re starting to get into the details and hone in on those and take the lessons learned from the previous season, be able to improve. I think going back to a previous question was with the competitiveness. I think everything’s getting ratcheted up a notch being that, okay, we already kind of know what we’re doing and now we’re able to really pick up the tempo and pick up the pace.”
(Can you explain the logo on the t-shirt and does that apply only to the offensive line or the entire team?) – “It’s just a really comfortable t-shirt. It was one of the road trips last year given out.”
(Zero significance?) – “I just like … It’s comfortable.”
(Besides the position change of G/T Laremy Tunsil what kind of growth have you seen in him in his second year?) – “I think mainly just a comfort factor. I think the game is probably slowing down for him a bit. You’d have to ask him specifically what he’s grown on, but I think his confidence at that position. He has got some reps at left tackle, and I think he might even feel more comfortable there. It might be … You’d have to ask him, but it just looks like he has a home there.”
(What are you seeing out of G Isaac Asiata so far? Just his skills and what stands out.) – “A strong player. Moves his feet well. I think like any rookie, there’s going to be ups and downs. I know for linemen, we’re excited to get into training camp. This is great. It’s great to work your hands. It’s great to work your feet, great to learn the system, but once you put the pads on, it’s a whole new game. I’ll be excited to see how he responds and how the rest of us respond as well.”
(Can you be honest with us? How much of a disadvantage would you say offensive linemen are at during OTA’s with no pads?) – “To be honest with you, I think it’s what you make of it. I really do. I’ll speak for myself: I know it’s a great opportunity for me to work on my hand placement. When you’re getting those pads and you’re getting those bull rushes, sometimes you’re just like, ‘Okay, I need…’ Not survive, but you’re maybe not focused as much on your technique. I think this is a great opportunity to be able to say, ‘Okay, my hand placement needs to be better here. I don’t have to worry about some of the rushes maybe that you would have when pads are on.’ To answer your question, I think it’s just whatever you make of it.”
(One point that T Ja’Wuan James made last season is that it was a real adjustment going from one offensive line to another just because coaches teach technique in different ways. The fact that this is the second year for Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Chris Foerster is that a factor or shouldn’t it make it easier for a linemen to have been in the system now for two years like you and C/T Laremy Tunsil, etc.?) – “I think going back to what I said earlier, I think whether it’s having first or being in (Head Coach Adam) Gase’s system, I think it all is just beneficial. I think there’s a comfort there – to your point – whether it’s the techniques being taught or whether it’s the plays or (saying) ‘This is the angles we were taking this year. It wasn’t as good as we thought, and now we’re going to hone those in a little bit.’ Instead of starting from scratch so to speak with a new coach or a new system, we now have that familiarity we’re able build on something.”
With Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Chris Foerster’s way of teaching technique, was it much different from what you had in previous offensive lines?) – “I think everyone has got their own techniques. Everyone has got their own way of doing things. But at the end of the day it’s about you being in between your guy and the quarterback.”
(Are you getting reps exclusively at left tackle or both tackles?) – “I’ve had reps at both.”
(And mentally how does that play with bull technique and having your head straight getting everything in the place that you said that you were?) – “Luckily it’s very similar. It’s just your right hand versus your left hand. There’s slight variations in the types of plays you might see down the road, but overall the way I view it is just right hand versus left hand in the ground.”
(I noticed after the last play today Head Coach Adam Gase was on the ground with you guys doing pushups. I guess that happens if the offense loses the last play on Friday. What does it say that your coach is the kind of down there with you guys?) – “It’s pretty cool. We’re all in it together. It also goes back to being competitive. I think that be it calling the offensive plays, he probably is all in with us. It’s pretty neat to see.”
(Have you noticed anything about DT Lawrence Okoye, No. 96, and do you know his Olympic background? Do you know much about him?) – “I was listening a little bit before. The one thing he’s a lot better than most of us (at) is juggling a soccer ball. (laughter) We were messing around one day in the locker room and let’s just say he’s a lot better than most of us in that department except with the exception of Jay (Ajayi). He’s a tremendously talented athlete. As he gets better and better learning American Football, I think it will only help him and help our team.”
(How would you describe his American Football skills? Is he raw or is he second level?) – “I think he’s a very explosive athlete. I think anytime you’re picking up a new sport there’s obviously development. I’ve been playing the game professionally eight years now – or going into my eighth year – and I’m still learning things. I think as he spends more time in the game, like I was saying, I think he’s just going to continue to develop and become a better player.”
(There’s been a topic today about post football life. Amongst your stops, have you noticed that there’s more emphasis on that situation here at the Dolphins than anywhere else? I know you’ve been a part of the internship program, but within the locker room, are there conversations amongst the players?) – “Compared to some of the other teams I’ve been with, I would say there’s a lot more emphasis in just the complete person here, whether that’s charitable endeavors, whether that’s – to your point – doing some of these business combines. I think it’s creating a complete person. We had 17 guys go to New York for that (Dolphins) Business Combine with Mr. Ross and some of his companies. I think that just speaks volume to not only the type of leadership we have upstairs but also the guys we have in the locker room.”
