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Brian Flores – December 6, 2021 Download PDF version

Monday, December 6, 2021

Head Coach Brian Flores

(I know you said to ask you on Monday with regard to whether WR Will Fuller will play again this year. Just to get some sort of clarity on that, are the broken bones healing enough to suggest that you will get him back at some point in December?) – “He’s working hard to get back. It’s Monday. It’s specifically a bye week. He’s working hard to get back but we don’t really have practice this week so it’s kind of a moot point. But yeah, he’s working hard to get back.”

(With RB Malcolm Brown, he was the other player. Do you expect him back before the conclusion of the regular season?) – “Same as well. He’s working hard. He’s running. He’s starting to run a little bit, I believe. Getting closer and doing everything he can to can to get back. We’re not practicing this week. We’ll have a walkthrough on Wednesday. That’s where we’re at with those two.”

(We didn’t ask about RB Patrick Laird after yesterday’s game. He was ruled out very quickly after he exited. What’s his status?) – “Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to go back in the game. We’re still running some tests. Having the bye this week, obviously we’re not having a game so we’re going to have a little extra time to let guys heal. We’re still running some tests and we’ll see where that is. No final diagnosis there just yet.”

(With the bye week now in effect, what’s the approach that you all take? What’s the challenge for you as head coach to keep this momentum going and make sure that the team doesn’t come back rusty when you face the Jets in two weeks?) – “I think what we want to do is, what the message to the team will be is to get some rest, get away from the game a little bit, spend some time with their families, recharge the battery and come back in next week and prepare the way we need to prepare. We meet and practice what we need to practice. We meet and practice to have an opportunity or chance to have the results that we want. That doesn’t change. Our preparation isn’t going to change. For me, it’s more just time to heal up and recharge the battery.”

(Earlier, C/G Michael Deiter was telling us that in his opinion that QB Tua Tagovailoa is having more fun, cutting it loose. What have you noticed as he’s had more success, as the team is having more success? Do you feel like he’s relaxing in some way?) – “He’s a young player. Every time he gets snaps and every time he goes out there and plays, he gets a little bit more comfortable. He gains confidence. We’ve seen that in his play and hopefully that continues.”

(I enjoy watching some of the player interaction with each other including the celebrations. The whole Waddle waddle, the Jaylen Waddle thing. DT Adam Butler had a celebration yesterday I had to look up. I didn’t know what it was. It was called Dragon Ball Z. Do you enjoy watching that stuff, the guess having fun like that?) – “I think our guys support each other. They enjoy playing together. I think it’s good to see guys support each other.”

(This doesn’t relate to the NFL or the Dolphins, but we’re in this amazing run in college football where guys are getting 10 years, $95 million, $110 million. It’s just crazy years and crazy money. How do you think guys in your league are paying attention to this crazy growth rate that’s going on in college football right now?) – “I don’t coach for money. I coach because I enjoy helping young guys reach their potential. It’s not really something I take a look at.”

(I wanted to ask you about the roles S Eric Rowe and CB Nik Needham played in yesterday’s game. It seems that they embody your vision going into the season for that cross training – they play safety, corner, slot corner, all of that stuff. How much do you think that helps the team at this stage in the season when attrition really starts to set in, to be able to have some cross training to play multiple spots?) – “I think Eric and Nik are two guys who are smart and play multiple positions. With S Brandon Jones out, those guys were able to, as a package, fill those roles that Brandon usually fills. I thought they need a nice job, both of them, of tackling and communication. We needed it and it helped us for sure. Having that versatility is definitely helpful to fill the void if attrition, as you mentioned, happens during the season.”

(Mario Cristobal, it’s clear that he’s coming to the University of Miami. I’m if you have ever crossed paths with him in coaching circles, if you know about him, have you ever met him?) – “I haven’t. I know he’s done a great job at Oregon and from everything I’ve heard, he’s a very good coach and leader. Congratulations to him. I didn’t know that. Congrats to him.”   

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