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Andre Branch – August 1, 2018 Download PDF version

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

DE Andre Branch

(You’re a total team pro, so I wouldn’t think coming off the bench would bother you. But was that a conversation you had with Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke or Defensive Coordinator Kris Kocurek after DE Robert Quinn was acquired?) – “I don’t focus on that. I just focus on getting better each and every day.”

(With the things that you’ve worked through, how does it feel to now be out here and be able to go full speed and do all of the things that you want your body to be able to do?) – “It feels good to be healthy for once again. I played half the season hurt and it just feels good to be back to 100 (percent).”

(What was the dark point for you when you’re having to deal with that and you’re not able to perform like you wanted to? How bad did it get?) – “Watching film and knowing that wasn’t you on the film. I watched film and just bending and being able to push up on my knee, it wasn’t there. But I did everything I could for my team. I don’t regret anything, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to be smart about it.”

(Does it heighten the excitement for you this year knowing you’re back and you get a chance?) – “For sure, for sure. I love this game. The Dolphins want me here. I want to be here. My teammates love me. That’s all I can ask for.”

(How much of an advantage does it give you guys to have five quality defensive ends? That doesn’t even include DE Cameron Malveaux and some of the young guys.) – “It’s great. Those are the types of … the reps, like last year when I had to push through things, I probably would have just been like, I’ll sit this one out. We’ve got five dogs and we’ve got some young boys that are coming along. We’re happy about it, very excited about it and we should be fresher at the end of the season.”

(What can this defense look like?) – “It could be very special. We’ve got to work together. We’ve got a long ways to go, but at the same time, we’re getting better each and every day.”

(How would you describe Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek’s coaching style?) – “Awesome. To be completely honest, I’ve always had those type of coaches. Even going back to Pop Warner. I’ve never had a lackadaisical coach. It’s good. He’s high energy, so you have no choice but to be high energy when you come to practice.”

(When were you first able to really get going physically out on the practice field during this recent offseason? How long did it take until you were able to go full speed again?) – “OTAs. I would say OTAs.”

(OTAs you felt back to your normal self?) – “Yes.”

(Last year, when you were hurting, what’s the point where you say, “I need to take a couple of days off of practice?”) – “It depends on the guy. Some guys play through it. Some guys would have just sat down and just ended their season, but I’ve never been that guy. I never want to let my brothers down and that’s why I pushed through it the way I did.”

(Even like taking a Wednesday off to manage things so you’ll be better on Sunday?) – “I think it’s all about communication with the training staff. You communicate with them, they communicate with the coaches, and the rest will handle itself.”

(DE Cameron Wake said the other day he thinks DE Charles Harris is the most improved player on the team. Are you seeing that?) – “He’s a monster. He’s a monster.”

(So DE Charles Harris is a different guy this year?) – “He’s always had talent. It takes time. He was a rookie coming into a program where he’s expected (to do) a lot. He’s a high draft pick. I’ve been there. There’s a lot of things on your shoulders and you’re young, you have no clue what to do and who to go to; but he’s coming into his own.”

(The heat has been nice, but what’s the trick to staying cool? I see guys with water on their head) – “The heat has been nice for who? (laughter) I just hydrate throughout the whole day and at night, and then in the morning. That’s all you can do. If you don’t hydrate, you’ll see guys backing out. And if you ask them, what did they do? They’ll be like, ‘Well, I didn’t drink enough water, I didn’t eat dinner,’ or something like that. You have to eat, you have to drink. That’s the most important thing.”

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