Albert Wilson – September 2, 2021
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Thursday, September 2, 2021
WR Albert Wilson
(The first couple of weeks you were like the most dynamic player we’ve seen in training camp here in 10 years and then we didn’t see you for a while. Is what was keeping you sidelined anything that worries you that could be an issue this season?) – “Nah, we are ready to go. Nah, we are ready to go from here on out.”
(Do you feel good?) – “I feel great. Yep.”
(It seems like with the addition of WR Jaylen Waddle and WR Will Fuller to this room that there is an emphasis on creating separation amongst the receiver room. Is that accurate? Is that where you guys are right now?) – “I just think overall as a receiver, that’s your job. But yeah, we definitely have a lot of guys that can do that. We definitely put an emphasis on it, so yeah.”
(What do you think about that combination of speed that you guys added?) – “It’s great. I feel like the coaches can do a lot with it stretching the field vertically and horizontally. I think that puts a lot of pressure on defenses. I think that’s why they went out and got these guys so we can have an advantage on offense.”
(Is that maybe underrated around the league? It seems like for a long time, when people thought of a wide receiver it was the 6-foot-4, big catch radius, jump ball guys. Have you noticed a shift more towards guys who can…) – “Yeah, for sure. It became more of a passing league. It was kind of run downhill and have your backs going and getting them a lot of touches. Now it’s a passing league. You definitely want a lot of guys that can stretch the field and run great routes and stuff like that.”
(How excited are you to see how coaches is going to use you and WR Jaylen Waddle and WR DeVante Parker and all sorts of different creative packages? Are you excited to see what Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends George Godsey and the guys come up with?) – “Yeah, definitely. It’s always exciting when you have a lot of guys that’s working with you, that can do a lot of things. It makes the offense a lot more exciting.”
(After a week or two of training camp, it was obvious to all of us that you were on this team. That was our assessment. When you returned to the team officially in the spring, did you feel like you had a little bit of an uphill battle? Did you think all along that you were going to be on the roster?) – “I just knew if I had the opportunity to make this team, I was going to make this team. I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself. The year off helped me build myself mentally and physically. I just knew if I had the opportunity, it was a done deal.”
(What’s it going to be like next weekend playing a football game for the first time in a year and I don’t know how many months?) – “A blessing. I worked really hard to get to this point and now that it’s finally here, it’s definitely a great feeling.”
(What was your time away like? How did you stay prepared after excelling so much early in camp? And how did it feel this week to be able to come back?) – “Training. The same schedule I’ve been on, I pretty much stayed on that same schedule. I knew when we had a bye week, I took that week off. When I knew the guys were in the building, I was going into the facility and training. I was trying to stay in the mindset, but to step away from the game and think about other things, it made me realize how much I do love football and how much I do love playing for the Dolphins. Getting back, I wanted to show everybody how much I love this game and how much I love the team.”
(What about missing time from practice? Were you able to get right back into it this week?) – “Yeah. I’m still around the building every day and walkthroughs and stuff like that, so it doesn’t seem like any time passed.”
(I’m guessing that you guys haven’t shown everything in your bag of tricks either in the preseason games or even when we’re watching. How excited are you to see everything that you guys know you can do in action in a game that counts?) – “Very exciting. It’s all talk until it’s done. For us to get out there as a unit and have everybody back and just go out here and compete against another team, we’re very excited for that to happen.”
(What stands out to you about this new offensive scheme and what it can do for you guys?) – “It’s more so about the guys they went and got and the guys that are in the room. We can do a lot of things, a lot of different things. We’re all similar, but we’re all different. That’s the most exciting part, just knowing we have weapons in the tight end room, in the running back room, the quarterbacks are doing their thing, the receivers are holding it down. That’s the most exciting part, just everybody working towards one common goal and getting it done.”
(Do you think the added weapons help QB Tua Tagovailoa be more of the point guard on offense and distribute the ball to everyone?) – “Yeah, for sure. I think anybody in any position, just like a lineman getting three more linemen that are just like him, or receivers like you’re saying packing the receiver room out, I think it builds a lot of confidence from not just him, but everybody on the offense.”
(What’s it like when you look back at Head Coach Brian Flores’ first year here. You guys suited up 80-plus players and now you look around the locker room and you know what you have. Make the comparison between the two teams for me.) – “I’m not sure what you are asking.”
(Just how much more talent maybe you see on this team compared to a couple of years ago when guys were coming and going all the time?) – “They do a great job of scouting and getting the guys in. I feel like guys come and go, but their goal is to have a better team each year. I definitely feel like they’ve been doing that since they got here.”
(You don’t have WR Will Fuller for Week 1. What will the receivers have to do and what will it be like once you get him back?) – “They are going to be in trouble if they keep letting him rest like that. The guy is special and he’s got a lot of speed. He stretches the field vertically and does the right things. When we definitely get him back, we’re definitely going to take a step forward with the offense.”
(I saw some guys got some new jersey numbers today because of the roster. How has No. 2 worked out for you?) – “I love it. It’s something my dad played in when he was in sports. I’m the second, so it means a lot to me to wear this number. I’m just happy I can do it.”
(I saw you all dancing. It seems like you were jamming today. What’s the vibe like in that room personality-wise?) – “We’re real tight. Most of us have been around each other for a couple of years. Adding Jaylen (Waddle) and him just being a young guy and just tagging along like the little brother and wanting to be a part of the team, that’s a great thing. Will (Fuller), the same thing with him. He’s just trying to find a new home and we embraced him. I think he’s loving it here and we love having him.”
(When you were a kid, did the Mets play baseball? Did you go to the Mets spring training?) – “Yeah. I went to a couple of those.”
(Are you a Mets fan or baseball fan?) – “Charles Johnson is from my neighborhood so we grew up watching him. I played baseball myself. The Marlins, that was our team for sure.”
