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Cameron Wake – December 23, 2018

Sunday, December 23, 2018
Postgame – Jacksonville

Miami Dolphins DE Cameron Wake

As you probably know, the team is eliminated from playoff contention. Do you see this as a player or coaching issue, the inability to be consistent?

CAM WAKE: It’s a Dolphins issue. Can’t really separate the two. It’s not like the players can go to playoffs and coaches stay or vice versa. It’s either all or nothing. We work together cohesively as a unit and we share failures, we share successes. It’s on everybody.

Do you think major changes are needed here?

CAM WAKE: It’s the NFL. Every years changes. There will be changes this year, just like the year we went to the playoffs. I’m sure the ’72 Dolphins had some changes. It’s just the nature of the beast. The team will never be the same. It’s year-in and year-out.

I guess that was broader. Do you think the team that’s in that locker room is close to being where you need to be?

CAM WAKE: I learned a long time ago, you are what your record says you are. Would that make us one game out of the playoffs? I definitely think we have the ability to win another game this season, and we’ve seen that we have the players, we’ve made plays, we’ve played teams, beaten teams. But I’ve stood here many times and said we can’t play lights out one week and then kind of drop the ball one week, lights out, drop the ball. Then you end up like wherever we are now. The games were we played well, you have to continue to play that way. It’s not a can’t. Again, it’s a didn’t.

Do you guys feel like you were adequately prepared for what they threw at you?

CAM WAKE: Sure.

The pass rush seemed to have a really good day today.

CAM WAKE: Yup.

How do you feel about the other side of the ball not being able to help you out?

CAM WAKE: I don’t really look at it that way. We’ve been put on the field and our job is to get off the field and get the ball back to them. There are plays to be had that we didn’t make. We were on the field at the end of the game, we could’ve given the ball back to them for another shot. As a defender, put the ball down wherever you put it down. Our job is to get the ball back, no points on the board. That’s the only way you can look at it. Again, it’s not offense, defense, it’s not coaches, players, it’s the Miami Dolphins.

All season, I guess you all play for the playoffs. What is this next week like?

CAM WAKE: I think that’s not wholly accurate. There’s a lot of things guys play for, so that’s one of the things off the table, but everything else that you would typically play for is on the table. Everybody else is play for pride. I’ve been playing for pride since the day I put my pads on. It’s not anything different. There’s a lot of things to play for, it’s not just only that.

Do you get a sense going into next week that this team could be playing for coaches’ jobs?

CAM WAKE: I assume every week you’re playing for your job. I’m assuming every week the coaches is coaching for his job. I don’t think that’s new next week. I think that’s the case every day. It’s an audition. It’s a league with a short memory, what have you done for me lately, and that’s not exclusive to coaches or players, it’s everyone, again. And there are players who are going to have to – or should have and should – think that way. It’s not next week is your make-or-break. It’s you’ve got a resume and every week you have to put up because there’s somebody knocking on the door to take your job day-in and day-out in this league, coaches, players, whoever.

What do you think your lasting memory of this season will be?

CAM WAKE: That’s probably a question for March. It’s a little fresh now. Obviously, it’s been a lot. It’s been a lot going on this season, a lot of ups and downs. But again, just outside looking in, it’s not really a good place to be.

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