Brian Flores – December 23, 2020
Download PDF version
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I wanted to ask you, what are some of the challenges that go into defending a Jon Gruden offense?) – “It’s very multiple – a lot of personnel groups, a lot of shifts, a lot of motions, good players, good run game, good pass game. It’ll be challenging – very challenging for us. We’ve got to do a good job really communication-wise, fundamentals, technique and we’ll try to limit them; but they’ve got some explosive players, good backs and quarterbacks – regardless of which one is out there.”
(What’s your approach or is your day-to-day the same with the reality that you guys are playing some meaningful games right now? How much do you think your players or people in the building are thinking?) – “We just try to take everything one day at a time and just try to improve on a daily basis and try to focus on what’s right in front of us. Today is our walkthrough – our meetings now and then walkthrough and then practice. And just try to build on that and just try to handle what’s right in front of us instead of thinking down the road. I think that’s kind of the best way to approach things this time of year.”
(And in facing the Raiders, I talked to them yesterday and they seemed pretty resigned knowing they’re a longshot. What’s kind of the danger of facing a team that may not be having the playoffs to play for?) – “To me, it’s just a dangerous team. They’re talented. They’re well-coached. In this league every week, there’s good players and good coaches and I’m sure they’ll come out, compete and play hard. They still do have a chance, so I expect them to play well. And they have I would say most of the year.”
(I have a question more about the week in general, just kind of a two-part question just being Christmas week and the holidays. How do you structure? Do you structure it differently – I know you guys have to travel basically on Christmas Day – but structure it to make sure that you get to enjoy your family and the players do? And what is kind of a Flores family Christmas and the memories you have whether with your children or when you were a child?) – “It’s the holiday season, so we’ll try to make some time that everyone can spend with their families, but also try to get the work in because it’s an important game also. I think our players understand that, so we obviously worked some yesterday, we’ll work today, we’ll work tomorrow as well and then we’ll have some time to spend with our families tomorrow evening and Friday – Christmas morning – before we leave. As far as the second part of that question, Christmas for me has a lot of great memories. Again like I’ve said before, similar to Thanksgiving – my family would get together all the time and just enjoy each other’s company and celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ, and just enjoy one another.”
(As far as areas where your defense can improve, what jumps to mind for you?) – “I think we can improve in all areas – run game, pass game, pass rush, setting the edge. There’s never been a perfect game and we can always improve in a lot of different areas – play-action, less penalties. I could stay here for a while. (laughter)”
(I wanted to ask you, this offseason when the team was adding free agents, how important was it that you one, added guys who were familiar with what you were doing in order to help you take this defense to the next level and two, adding guys who can do multiple things, play multiple roles, fill multiple spots?) – “I think we wanted to add the right people – guys who are tough and smart and competitive, love to play, team-first – so I think with every addition, we have that in mind. But I don’t know if familiarity was – I know you mentioned that, but guys like Shaq Lawson, (Emmanuel) Ogbah, Byron Jones – they’ve never been in this defense like guys like Elandon (Roberts) and (Kyle) Van Noy (have). We’re just looking for the right people – guys with a skillset – and all those guys are good players. They want to be coached and they work hard. I think they’ve worked hard this year and improved. That’s all we’re really looking for.”
(As far as the offense and downfield passing, where do you feel the offense is relative to its development and potential for downfield passing?) – “I think we moved the ball effectively last week. Relative to downfield passing, I think if there are opportunities for passes down the field, you take them. If there’s not, you try not to force them. At the end of the day, it’s about moving the ball and trying to score points and put ourselves in good position. And again, it’s like I tell the players, let’s do all the little things and then the big things hopefully show up. If you try to force the big things – you shouldn’t force the big things, you should just do all the little things. I know everyone wants explosive plays and wants interceptions and sacks and that’s what everybody wants, but I hope we just continue to try to make smart plays.”
(When you were evaluating and deciding on QB Tua Tagovailoa, how important was ball security over that enormous arm that say, a Chargers QB Justin Herbert has? How important was it that you had a quarterback that you could trust wouldn’t turn the ball over?) – “I think that’s always at the top of the priority list for anyone looking at any offensive position. Turnovers are the No. 1 reason why people lose games, so I would say that’s hopefully at the top of everyone from a Dolphins’ fan list. Hopefully it’s at the top of yours. So yeah, it’s at the top of mine. It was at the top of – I think it’s one of those where anyone who’s doing an evaluation; if they feel like this guy’s going to turn the ball over time and time again, I don’t see why you would take a chance on somebody like that. Tua’s done a good job from that standpoint. It’s something we stress on a daily basis – taking care of the football. It’s not always perfect. There’s a lot of good players in this league who are consciously trying to take the ball away. We’re trying to do the same thing defensively and in the kicking game. That’s the game. Defenders are consciously trying to take the ball away and offensive players should be consciously trying to secure the ball. So yeah, I would say that’s very high on my priority list of anyone who handles the football – punter, snapper, center, quarterback, running back, tight end, receiver. Do you intercept the ball? You’ve got to secure the ball. We had that a couple weeks ago – we got an interception and we fumbled it. Thankfully we got it back, but yeah ball security is at the top of my list.”
