Adam Gase – May 10, 2018
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Thursday, May 10, 2018
Head Coach Adam Gase
(I wanted to ask you about your offense. It seems to me that you haven’t been able to run it the previous two years. The first year, RB Jay Ajayi emerges. The second year, QB Ryan Tannehill gets injured. Have you been able to run your offense, and if not, is that a source of frustration going into Year 3?) – “I think at times we have. We’ve had to make adjustments throughout the year where some things … The first year, Jay (Ajayi) took off, so we felt like our best chance to win games that year was to make some adjustments. We went to huddling and really running the football a high percentage of the time and use play-action pass. Then the next year, we had a specific way we wanted to do things. We had to change some things around with the injury situation – with Ryan (Tannehill) – and we were changing in the middle of training camp.”
(Can you give us a little bit of a scouting report on each of the rookie tight ends that were selected and a little bit of what went into the philosophy of doubling down at the position?) – “We like the group that we have here; we just wanted to add to it. The way that (General Manager) Chris (Grier) had the board stacked, it worked out in our favor as far as Mike (Gesicki) being available. We kind of emphasize that position of a pass-catching-type tight end that can win one-on-one matchups versus safeties and linebackers. It was the right time for us. We felt like he was the best guy at that pick for us. We thought it was a good addition. Then we get later in the draft and all of a sudden Durham (Smythe) is there. We were interested in him; we were high on him. We weren’t sure where he was really going to be and if he would fall to that spot; and when he did, we felt like that was a guy that we knew had extreme value as far as his blocking in run and pass protection. We felt like he was a better route-runner than a lot of people were giving him credit for. We felt like his production could be something that we value a lot here, especially with what he showed in the run game.”
(How surprised where you that S Minkah Fitzpatrick was available at No. 11?) – “When all four quarterbacks went … We knew somebody that we liked (would fall) if all four quarterbacks went. We were going to be in good shape.”
(How much of an immediate impact do you see S Minkah Fitzpatrick making on the defense?) – “We’ll see how this goes. They’re not going to be here for a little bit, this afternoon sometime or tonight. That’s just going to be the start of the process. We’re going to see how everything shakes out and we’ll get the best 11 players on the field.”
(You’ve made some kind of funny comments at times about RB Kenyan Drake. What’s different about him right now compared to when you first got him in the organization?) – “I think he’s matured a lot, just whether it be the playbook, just him personally. When you’re in this league, after you get through that first year and the second year, sometimes there’s a little bit of a feeling out process. You’re trying to figure out, ‘Who are you?’ You’re starting to get older. You really realize this is a job and it’s different than college. I see a different guy – the way he prepares, knowing the situation he’s coming into this year. It’s been a good process for him to watch his maturity level both on and off the field. I think we just have a guy that’s really looking to bust out.”
(I feel like I’ve heard a ton of running backs – not just here, but everywhere – talk about wanting to become factors in the passing game. How do you make that happen? What determines whether that actually materializes or not?) – “You want to be able to catch the ball. That’s a good start for it. It depends. Some guys make a living just catching check-downs and being able to get yards after catch. Some guys you’re able to flex out and get one-on-one matchups. I think we’ve got a guy that can do multiple things. You can put him in the slot if you wanted to. You can use him in empty, you can use him from the backfield. He just can create a lot of different matchups. He has a really good feel for a lot of different types of routes, which there’s a lot of value there, because now linebackers, when they cover him, they’re not really sure what he’s going to do. He’s not tied into one thing or two things.”
(How do you feel about coming out of the draft without a quarterback? And how does your confidence in QB David Fales kind of tie into that?) – “There’s a lot of confidence as far as the guys that we have here right now. We did a good job as far as lining up what we thought was the quarterback rankings. The way we had them, we felt like those guys were going to go before No. 11. We knew that was probably going to be the case and we felt good with Ryan (Tannehill) starting and the Brock (Osweiler) and David competing for that No. 2 spot. Now you add Bryce (Petty) and that’s going to be an interesting competition. Really, we’re just going to see how it all works out for us.”
(What was it about QB Brock Osweiler that made you say this is worth a continued investment?) – “I probably took longer than everybody else. When we started the free agency process, guys were talking about the fact that, ‘He’s 27-years-old. He’s played for you before and you were part of the guys that drafted him. You know him well. He wants to be here.’ They were almost selling me. I really had to go through things and just make sure that he was good getting back with me and understanding the situation we were in and kind of what he was going to be competing for. I didn’t know where his money was. Those guys were kind of keeping me up-to-date with all of that. Just hearing him and where he was mentally and what he wanted to accomplish and how he kind of wanted to get his career rolling again, after we had that conversation and we got him in the building, everybody really liked him. I felt good about it. We ended up making that move and ever since then, I’m seeing the same guy that I saw in his younger years.”
(Obviously nobody cares that QB Brock Osweiler is in this situation considering how much money he’s made the past two years; but what do you think when a quarterback is put through that ringer? What does it do to them emotionally and confidence-wise?) – “It can hurt you. If you’re mentally weak, it can go one direction and it can be a bad one. I’ve known him since he was 20-years-old. I’ve seen this kid have to sit behind a Hall of Famer. It’s a good thing and a bad thing sometimes. When he had an opportunity, he did some good things when he got to play in Denver. Things didn’t quite go the way he wanted to in Houston. It was a quick stop in Cleveland. Now being here, I just see a guy that’s excited. He’s enjoyed getting back into this offense and the way that we’re coaching him right now. I think he just enjoys that whole process.”
(Are you comfortable with QB Brock Osweiler as your starter if QB Ryan Tannehill can’t be? Or if somebody terrible happens…) – “Well it depends which one of those guys ends up winning the No. 2 job out. Those guys wouldn’t be on the roster if I wasn’t. I’m comfortable (with them). I’m comfortable with the two guys – between David (Fales) and Brock – I’m comfortable. If I wasn’t, then we’d have somebody else here.”
(Right. So my question was if something terrible happens to QB Ryan Tannehill, would you have to bring in another guy like last year?) – “No. Nope. Nope.”
(Going back to S Minkah Fitzpatrick for a second, and the way he may fit into the secondary, a lot has been talked about possibly S T.J. McDonald being a hybrid player or a linebacker. How do you see that playing out and how do you see him embracing or not embracing that kind of role?) – “I mean T.J. is playing safety. If we have to make adjustments somewhere … He’s not moving to linebacker. He’s going to be a safety and then we’re going to figure out a way to get our best 11 players on the field. How it all plays out, I can’t tell you right now, because what you think right now and what it ends up being in the first week of the season can change quickly. We learned that last year on both sides of the ball. You keep working guys at the positions that you think fit them best and then when things start sorting themselves out and you have to make an adjustment, you make it then.”
(It’s still very, very early in the offseason program but how would you describe how QB Ryan Tannehill has looked and how would you describe his mindset?) – “His mindset is … I mean … I haven’t seen a change. I’ve seen a guy that’s very confident. I know he’s excited to get back out there. I know us as coaches, we’re excited to have him out there. He’s just really smooth with the operation that we’ve been able to do as far as what we’re doing in practice or those throwing sessions. It just feels smooth. He has a great relationship with all of those guys to where the communication is at a high level right now. He looks good to me; but at the same time, he still has to go through all of those steps with the doctors and with our trainers. We’re just going through the process of it all right now. I know nobody wants to hear that, but that’s just what it is.”
(Are you confident the pieces you have on defense will make this a much better group than it was last year?) – “I think so. I think we’re looking at a group that’s looking to play good team defense. The way that our coaches are doing things right now, I really like what I’ve been seeing on air.”
(Has there been a scheme change on defense?) – “No.”
(Nothing? But there’s going to be personnel … You’re moving defensive ends inside?) – “We’re looking to stop the offense.”
(How is your comfort zone right now on how the offensive line has come together?) – “We’ve added some pieces there and we’ve got some guys returning. We kind of made some changes, a couple unexpectedly. Some opportunities came up and I thought Mike (Tannenbaum) and Chris (Grier) did a good job of jumping on those. They’re not easy decisions all of the time. When you have the relationships you have with certain guys, it’s not really that fun to go through. But we had to make the right decisions for our organization and that’s what we did. Right now, I feel like that group is coming together good. It’s good to feel like you have multiple options with when somebody goes down, who your next guy is coming up and feeling like you have some depth there.”
(What did you think about the film on that Arizona State RB Kalen Ballage?) – “He’s a big man that runs fast and can catch the ball well. He really has all of the things that you’re looking for in an all-around back. It’ll be fun to see how he progresses and how things go … how quick he learns everything and how he fits in with the group. You just kind of need that open competition. You just want to try and create as much competition in practice as possible and when we get to the preseason, see who kind of really steps up and pushes themselves to the forefront. Then when we get into the season, we’ll figure out the best way to use everybody.”
(What sort of impact do you see WR Danny Amendola having in this offense and the experience that he brings?) – “I think when you’ve got a guy that’s been in a lot of big games, has won a lot of games, made plays in big games and the professionalism you just see it. The way he walks around, there’s just something about him that guys kind of gravitate too. They kind of want to watch how he does things. The way that he’ll grab guys … The younger guys follow him. It’s interesting to watch just Drew (Morgan) and Isaiah (Ford) just following him around mimicking a lot of the things he does. I think between him and Kenny (Stills) – both of those guys have been around for a minute – and watch those guys lead that group and have an effect on the other guys in the locker room in a positive way, that’s a big thing for us.”
(Ideally, how does this offense look this year and what should it be able to do?) – “I think it’s just going to be what the best thing is to do for that particular game. I can’t tell you what the personnel groupings are going to be or who is going to be on the field. I like the fact that I feel like we’ve got a lot of options. It’s all going to be about how we can play it out to where we can spread the ball around and use guys to their strengths, create efficient plays, create explosive plays, find ways to get into the red zone more and find ways to get into the end zone.”
(Year 3 now for you. How different is it? What have you learned?) – “It’s only Year 3? (laughter) It feels … I mean when you go through one season, there’s so much you learn just from that first to second year. I think a lot of the things we went through last year … You talk about unexpected things coming up and adjusting and trying to make sure guys are staying in line and on the same page and working forward. You have to really try to get creative. Then trying to see staff members, are we all pulling in the same direction? Is everybody trying to accomplish the same goal? When you end that season, you have a different thought process after that second year compared to the first year. I feel like we’re more … It feels right for us right now. I feel like we’re in a good place as far as where our staff is around the building, the coaching staff, the players. It feels like we’ve got the type of people all working in the same direction and everybody is working for the same goal.”
(You also have the roster probably more in the vision that you wanted than the first two years. Would you say that’s fair, that it’s taken three years to get the roster to where you want?) – “I’d say that’s fair. When I look at it, you kind of look at how does that group get along for that year? How do they work together? Do they push each other? Are they all pulling in the same direction? Are guys going to quit on you? Are they going to push forward when things get hard? I feel like the way that we’re assembled right now and the way that our personnel department has put that locker room together, I like our makeup right now.”
(Can you share why you like and you have confidence in QB David Fales?) – “I’ve been around him for multiple years now. I love the fact that we were able to give him that last game of the season. People can look at that as a throwaway game but I know the other team – the team we were playing (Buffalo) – that was not a throwaway game for them. That game was we get into the playoffs or we don’t (for them). When you’re playing a game like that, you’re going to get their best. You’re going to get, especially that defense … It’s a well-coached defense. Those guys were playing well. Dave (Fales) had a chance to go in there and see what he could do in real, live competition in a real game. When we look at it, we’re able to say ‘He’s right, he’s right. This guy is wrong,’ and who is doing the right stuff. The things that (Fales) did in that game … I was impressed with some of the things that he did in that game. It’s a lot of the stuff that you see in practice but you don’t know unless you get him in a game. The way that his anticipation is, the way his pocket presence is, he’s one of those guys that sometimes he makes plays and you’re not really sure how he did that. The game is a little slower for him. It’s fun to call plays when you’ve got a guy like that where you just know that ball is coming out. You just better be in the right spot.”
(You’ve said that you have the roster that you want but you have rid the team apart … You’ve moved on from three players who you yourself have described as your top performers on your team. Now you’ve got better depth arguably. Is better depth the roster that you want?) – “I think we wanted to create the roster of what was the right fit for this locker room and for this team. Sometimes you get put in a position where you have to make a decision – whether it be free agency or you feel like you’re in a situation where a number might be too high for you or where you’ve got an opportunity to have a player that makes less money but you feel like the talent isn’t that big of a swing. That’s where we’re at right now. We like the makeup of our roster. I like our players. I like where our locker room is right now. I like watching these guys work. I’m excited to see these guys compete in OTAs and get this thing going in training camp and then see how we grow as the year goes on.”
(It seems like WR Kenny Stills has been in the league forever but he’s only 26, I believe. Do you view him as your No. 1 receiver and do you think he’s someone where the arrow could still be going up for him?) – “See, I never get into the whole No. 1 receiver thing. I’m all for guys getting open and catching the ball and creating explosive plays and getting first downs. Do I think he’s the leader of that room? Yes. I think he’s one of those guys where guys look up to and they watch what he does and how he goes about his business, and they follow his lead. When he speaks in that room and he tells guys what he thinks, he’s very open. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything and I think guys respect him and they listen to what he says.”
(What about WR Kenny Stills’ performance though? Do you feel like he’s entering his prime or in his prime? Or is he still kind of rising?) – “I think, to me, there’s plenty of room for improvement. I think he’s done a lot of really good things for us these last two years. I think last year we used him in the slot quite a bit. The last two years, I think he’s one of the most productive slot players there’s been in the league. He’s a guy that creates explosive plays and gets his touchdowns. We hit the home run when we throw the ball to him. He’s a game-changer.”
(What’s the overall message that you have or plan to deliver to the rookies as a group?) – “Really it’s … Their job coming in this weekend is to get kind of used to the format of how we’re going to do things, so when they get going on Monday, they can hit the ground running and they’re not trying to figure out where do I go and how I do this. That’s why we do it the way we do it, because it’s a crash course in basically getting them ready for the end of Phase II and then jumping into OTAs. The things that we’ve experienced the last two years, we’ve had success doing this with our young guys. They’ve felt to where they could get better in that Phase II area, they’ve gotten better through OTAs and then when training camp hits … That’s the whole reason we’re doing it this way is to get them as ready as you possibly can. You want to try to avoid them swimming and trying to think too much. I think this has been something that has been really good for us.”
(What do they actually do in rookie orientation?) – “We meet with them a ton on football but then there’s a two-hour seminar on how to handle you guys. We go through everything – nutrition. (Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Dave) Puloka gets them. He goes through the entire strength and conditioning program and how he wants things done. We go through every little detail. Individual with the running backs, (Run Game Coordinator/Running Backs) Eric (Studesville) is going to take them through, ‘Here’s how we’re going to do individual.’ With the linebackers it’s, ‘Here’s how we’re going to do individual.’ So when they walk out there with the veterans, they’re not lost. They’ve heard it. They understand why we’re doing it and how we want it done. You’re eliminating any kind of the anxiety of walking out there with guys that have been in the league for 5-10 years. You’re walking out there like, ‘I at least know what to do. I can play fast. I don’t have to think.’”
