Andrew Van Ginkel – August 4, 2023
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Friday, August 4, 2023
LB Andrew Van Ginkel
(What’s the arm workout routine looking like these days?) – “Same thing, as usual. Just worked on my diet a little bit more this offseason and tried to come back in shape, obviously with this heat in South Florida. So just taking care of my body and trying to eat healthier.”
(Is it just eating healthier? What did you cut out?) – “I just tried to eat more veggies and protein, a high protein diet, and not as many carbs. More fruit. But yeah.”
(What’s been the breakdown would you say so far inside snaps compared to outside snaps, about what so far?) – “I’m getting reps at both. Obviously Vic (Fangio) is trying to use me so I can be versatile. And obviously, the more I can do, just being able to excel at it and accepting my role, no matter what it is. If somebody goes down or something happens, I can be able to step up no matter what position it is.”
(Is it about equal or half?) – “Yeah, somewhere around there, I guess.”
(What’s the biggest difference playing inside as opposed to outside?) – “I guess, outside you’re just more one-on-one combat. You got to read everything right in front of you, kind of just you read more of the tip of the pad of the guy you’re on. Inside, you got to have more of a broad view, you got to see tight ends, a motioning back, you get to see all these missile motions. And so you got to have a broad approach to it. That’s the biggest difference.”
(How much experience have you had inside, like going back to high school at all?) – “Yeah, in high school I played a little linebacker and safety. And then my first year at South Dakota, I did. And then ever since then, they switched me to outside linebacker. But I got a couple of reps at it in my past, but obviously not to this level.”
(Going back to when you decided to come back here. You took some trips and some visits. What was the deciding factor? Was it just that this was already home for you? Or you want to in this defense? Or continue with this team?) – “Yeah, a little bit of everything. Obviously, we got a home down here. We love it down here. It’s a beautiful place to live. Obviously being in the South Florida heat is awesome. And then the scheme, it allows players to make plays. And they see that in me. I feel appreciated here and they’ve taken good care of me, so it’s a good spot to be.”
(You went to New England and Las Vegas? Pittsburgh had some interest. Was there ever a time you felt like you were on the verge of signing with any of those three teams? Like on the day of the Vegas or New England visits?) – “We took everything into consideration. We didn’t leave any stone unturned and obviously weighed out all of our options and ultimately chose Miami.”
(Is there a player or two in that linebacker room that has been helpful to you in that transition to learning both spots? And particularly the off-ball position?) – “They’re all great. Obviously, (Jerome) Baker has been inside ‘backer for a long time and excelled at it. And Duke (Riley) obviously knows everything. He’s a very reliable guy and he’s helped me along the way. So, I mean, all those guys do a good job of helping each other out. Each and every one of them want all of us to succeed. So it’s very positive and encouraging.”
(Tell us about Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense. I guess more from the outside spot because you probably have more expertise, but do you have more freedom? What’s the difference between this year and last year?) – “You’re able to make more plays, obviously. You can take a couple more chances within the defense. He allows you to play fast, whatever you see, being able to react off it and use your instincts to make plays. Last year was more gap oriented. Everybody played their gap and then come into their secondary gap. If you see an opening, and you can take it, go make it. It allows, like I said, players to make plays.”
(Does either system fit a more specific skillset better at outside?) – “They both do. Obviously I played in that system for a long time and it was pretty good to me. But I think with this system, too, I think I can excel at it.”
(How much time do you spend in the outside linebacker room versus the inside linebacker room?) – “I go back and forth. Even position drills and everything, it’s kind of back and forth. There’s really no set number here or there. It’s just kind of what we’re working on that day and what the emphasis is.”
(How’s the defense as a whole taking on the challenge of replacing CB Jalen Ramsey? Obviously a tough blow.) – “Yeah, he’s obviously an elite player, so it’s going to be tough to replace a guy like that. But you have guys stepping up, trying to compete and earn a starting role, earn a spot on this team. So the competition is very high and yeah, they’re doing a great job trying to learn the defense, which the defense is doing as a whole right now, and just being able to play fast.”
(Was it fun practicing the rain?) – “Yeah, it was. I enjoyed it.”
(When it rains, it takes away the heat and humidity. Is that good or bad?) – “I like it personally. There’s nothing playing in the rain. You feel like a high school kid again. I enjoy it.”
