Cameron Wake – September 22, 2017
Friday, September 122, 2017
DE Cameron Wake
(Regardless of the situation – how good one team’s doing or how bad one team’s doing – talk about being a veteran taking on the Jets and how, no matter what, it just always seems like that game sometimes might be the toughest one on the schedule because of the rivalry?) – “Any given Sunday. It doesn’t really matter. This is the NFL. You look around sometimes in college football and you see such-and-such blowing out this other team. It doesn’t happen like that (in the NFL). Every game, you’re going to be in the thick of it. You’re playing against the best players in the world. It doesn’t matter how their season’s going. We were 0-2 last year and we know how bad they want to turn their season in the proper direction, so I know they’re going to come out there and give us their best shot, and we’ve got to be ready for it.”
(What is it about the Jets, more than teams like even the Patriots or other teams, that you dislike so much? Anywhere you go, to the barber shop, everywhere, ‘Jets suck.’ What is it about that?) – “From the moment I got here, obviously, a division rival, New York, Miami, whatever it may be, it’s always been a big game, a game circled on your calendar. Again, they’ve had great teams, I think we’ve had great teams. We’ve had great games together, both ways. You just want to make sure that when you come out of that game, that you put a win in your column, because down the line, whether it’s for playoff standings, whatever it may be, you want to make sure that you can grab a win now when it’s early on in the season.”
(Do you still consider the Jets and the Dolphins a rivalry?) – “As far as I’m concerned, it is.”
(Do things feel a little bit more back to normal now that you’re back in South Florida, back into the routine a little bit more?) – “LA’s not normal? (Laughter) It’s back to our routine, things that we know, the familiarity. (We’re) obviously getting back on our normal schedule. It definitely feels good. I’m getting ready and I’m excited to go out and play.”
(When DE Andre Branch re-signed here, what was your level of excitement to have him back long term, because you guys obviously worked together pretty well last year?) – “We had a lot of fun last year, and obviously I enjoy playing with him. I think I was probably one of the guys pounding the table to make sure that we did whatever we could to make sure that he stayed. I think if you speak to him, this organization, the coaching staff, the city as a whole fits and he’s enjoyed being here. I’m pretty sure he had opportunities to look other places; but Miami is his home. I know going forward he’s going to give us everything he has, play hard, and be the player that got him into the situation he’s in. So I’m looking forward to bigger and better things, and I’m happy that I’m playing on his side.”
(Whose table did you pound to keep DE Andre Branch?) – “Pounding all tables that are presented.”
(How much did you know about DE William Hayes before he signed with the Dolphins and has anything about him stood out to you?) – “Oh boy, Hayes. (Laughter) He’s a tough football player, obviously. To be very honest, I didn’t know a whole lot about him. I knew of him. I had never met him personally; but going over his play style and the way he does his business, we complement each other so well, so it seemed to be a perfect fit and I’m glad that when he’s on the field, there’s no let down, there’s no falloff. He’s a firecracker and he’s going to give it to you every play. Again, they did a great job of making sure that room is going to be a pretty solid room to deal with, so I’m happy about that.”
(I noticed you started smiling when I mentioned DE William Hayes’ name. Funny guy?) – “Funny’s a good word to use, I’ll use that one, funny. (laughter) He’s a funny guy. A great guy. He’s funny.”
(Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke said Chargers QB Philip Rivers averaged 2.1 seconds per release in the last game. Obviously that’s a respect to the defensive line trying to get rid of the ball quickly. How hard is it, or how frustrating is it, to play against when teams are scheming against the defensive line that way to get rid of the ball so quickly?) – “Well, it’d be frustrating if you didn’t prepare mentally to know that that’s the situation. The NFL, again, is made up of the greatest football players, but also the greatest coaching staffs all over the league, of course. I don’t know if you … If you put yourself as an (offensive) coordinator, would you sit back and pat the ball with the (Andre) Branchs and the (William) Hayeses and the (Ndamukong) Suhs and the (Charles) Harrises of the world coming after you? But again, you know that going into the game that that might be a possible game plan, and you have to adjust accordingly. If you allow it to frustrate you, then you’re letting them win. You have to go out there and play every play like this is the play, that it may be 3.2 or 4 (seconds), or whatever it may be, because the moment when you concede and say, ‘Alright, well the ball’s going to be gone,’ that’s the moment when he’s going to hold the ball and that’s when the big play goes. I’ve said it many times, every single play I’m getting a sack. I don’t care (if I’m) double-teamed, 2.1 (seconds), a run play. I’m going to go out there and have that mentality and that’s the only way you can play, because when that play does come, again, you never know when it’s going to be. You have to be ready.”
(How is DE Charles Harris progressing, and how is he to work with?) – “Actually, very pleasant. Every so often, you hear stories around the league about first-rounders coming in with their chests out and their blank doesn’t stink and all that. It was none of that (with Harris). He’s a guy (that’s) humble, a hard worker. He’s eager to take on more, do more and perfect his craft. He has a lot of veteran guys in the group that he can go to and figure out different aspects of football. He’s definitely been a guy who’s taken on his role and approaches it with fire and fury, and I’m actually getting excited and looking forward to him going out and producing things on the football field.”
(I’ve had a few fans say that they enjoy using the phrase, ‘First-place Miami Dolphins.’ Does that phrase have significance to you, and if so what is it?) – “It would have significance for me in December, but there’s a long way to go. We’ve had one game. We (had one but) everybody else (had two). It’s a long season. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. If you’re in first place at 10 yards and you’ve got a 100 yard dash, what difference does that make? See me at the finish line.”
