Braylon Sanders – August 3, 2022
Download PDF version
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
WR Braylon Sanders
(Can you maybe enlighten us on how the pumping up the crowd thing, how that came about?) – “Me and Skylar (Thompson) were picked as the two rookies to start it off for the first open practice of the week. So me and Skylar just came up with something. I said, ‘Man, I’ll do the wave, Skylar. We’re just going to have to do something quick and simple.’”
(You were picked by the rookies or the rookie group?) – “Oh no, I think one of the vets picked us.”
(You’ve obviously been impressive in camp. Were you surprised you weren’t drafted because a guy with that high of a per catch average in America’s toughest conference often would be drafted? Did it upset you? Did it disappoint you, surprise you or?) – “No, not at all. It just added to the chip that’s on my shoulder now. I’ve just got to come out here and keep competing and making plays.”
(Was there someone who you trusted who talked straight with you before the draft and told you, “this is what you need to do better or different to be an NFL player?”) – “I just talked to my agent, my trainers and just asked the little details on what I could get better on and what they thought I could be better at, and I just worked on that during the offseason and during the training process.”
(What is your strength as a receiver? I know Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker was praising you today for your hands, your speed. What in your mind is your strength as a receiver?) – “Catching ability and speed. Just being a man downfield and making the play when the ball is thrown my way.”
(Any NFL receiver that you watch tape of?) – “I like watching Davante Adams.”
(Do you see anything similar in terms of body type?) – “I think we’re about the same height, same weight, but I just like his releases and how he maneuvers – manipulates a defender on a route – and he’s going to catch the ball when the rock is thrown to him.”
(How do you think playing in Lane Kiffin’s offense prepared you for the next level here?) – “Playing in Lane’s offense – he liked to spread it out. So it’s kind of different transitioning from college to the league. We’re more of a run and blocking-wise, so in college I didn’t have to block much, but now I’ve got to get in and be dirty a little bit.”
(How’s that going?) – “Going good. Going good. Physicality and just being ready to make the block when my number is called.”
(This morning Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker told us that he asked the rookie receivers – you and WR Erik Ezukanma obviously – diagramming plays of the script coming up the next day in practice. How has that process been and how has he helped you kind of get yourself to the position where you can make plays out here in practice?) – “It helped a lot. Just going over the script the night before you come out here and do it at full speed; it helps you a lot because you hear the verbiage, you know exactly what he’s talking about so you’re in the right position when it’s time to play.”
(About how many teams made you offers after the draft?) – “I don’t recall. (laughter)”
(So why Miami? Why’d you pick Miami? Was it they had the highest offer or another reason?) – “I met Coach Wes at the combine so just talking with him then and he was the first person to hit me up after the draft so I just felt like this was the place for me to be.”
(Was there something Wes Welker said or just his general demeanor that sold you on him?) – “Wes – he was undrafted as well, so just looking at his background and all the things he’s been doing coaching-wise and his career, I just thought that was the perfect person for me to learn from.”
(It’s obviously a crowded receiver room. If you are not on the 53 and make the practice squad, would you be okay with that or would you be really down if you don’t make the 53?) – “I’m just doing whatever helps the team win. If that’s practice squad or the 53, it’s doesn’t matter to me.”
(Has either WR Tyreek Hill or WR Jaylen Waddle or WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. made any comment to you about “boy, you’re pretty impressive?” Anything along those lines?) – “No, they aren’t going to give you a compliment like that. (laughter) They’re just going to let you know you’re doing good and you could be better, you know, when you do something wrong. But they’re just going to keep praising you and just helping you along the way.”
(Is there any specific advice that WR Jaylen Waddle, WR Tyreek Hill, WR Cedrick Wilson Jr., whoever has given you just coming into training camp this season?) – “Not specifically, but just diving in the playbook, mastering the playbook and learning my assignments and alignments.”
(We all had to catch ourselves right after the draft not to accidentally type “Braylon Edwards.” Did you follow Braylon Edwards’ career? Do you know him? Have you been confused ever with him by anyone?) – “No, not at all. But I watched him when he was at the Jets. He was a good receiver, great receiver, and I watched him a little bit. I didn’t watch him much.”
(So you were part of the pumping the crowd up portion of practice. How does that selection process work? Is it always rookies that are going to go over there and do that?) – “I have no clue. The past two days, it’s been rookies. (laughter)”
(I know just reading scouting reports on you back in April, I know durability was a question. Were there little injuries or major injuries at Ole Miss that kept you sidelined?) – “Just minor hamstring-type, soft tissue.”
(And have you done anything in training over the last several months to try to prevent those? I know it’s impossible to prevent them, but lessen the chance?) – “Just strengthening and doing a lot of mobility work and just staying on top of it. Being more aggressive, I’m trying to make them stronger. The faster you run, the more your chances of hamstring. So just staying on top of it honestly.”
(I just asked QB Tua Tagovailoa about you and WR Erik Ezukanma coming in and he said you guys have really good ball skills, called you guys the dark horses of camp so far. What’s your relationship and connection with him like, with Tua so far?) – “Tua – he’s the leader of this team. So whatever Tua says, you’ve got to listen to it. I’m just taking advice from him as far as the playbook and the little things, the little details will come with it as well.”
(Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker talked about scripting out plays the night before of practice, kind of trying to steal reps. How does that help?) – “Like I said, it helps a lot just going over the script the night before and just coming out here and hearing the verbiage and lining up fast. It’ll help you a lot.”
(Are you rooming with one of the other receivers?) – “No, sir.”
(How would you compare Coach Kiffin’s personality to Head Coach Mike McDaniel?) – “I’d say they’re kind of similar. Both guys like to have fun. Got a personality to them, so good coaches to be around.”
(Another thing that Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker said that he’s learned from Head Coach Mike McDaniel is just how to put together a video clip effectively to communicate with players. Have you noticed that the video clips are particularly helpful?) – “Yes. Just some of the plays are similar to us. Wes used to run back in the day, so he’ll show his own highlights. It’ll be funny just watching a little guy like him just getting open and making plays in the league.”
