Charles Harris – May 5, 2017
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Friday, May 5, 2017
Defensive End Charles Harris
(What do you hope to accomplish from these three days?) – “(I hope to) really get acclimated to the system. There’s a difference between collegiate and professional. (I’m) just really taking after the guys (and) learn the system. (We’re) getting acclimated to the workouts, to the schedule (and) the routines. (We’re) getting to know all of the staff (and) making sure all of the resources are being utilized.”
(Since you landed in Florida, what’s been an eye-opening or cool moment for you?) – “I guess the change in temperature. I think that’s the biggest thing – the humidity and everything like that. Coming from Missouri, it was 40 degrees and raining when I got on the plane. Now, I stepped out here and it was 80 degrees and hot and sunny. So that’s probably the biggest change.”
(Can you talk about that transition of the circus of the draft and then getting here and how that transition has been for you?) – “It’s been real smooth. I believe Miami did a great job of making sure everything’s easy and well going. It wasn’t hectic; it wasn’t overwhelming or anything like that. I’m glad the cameras and everything is over with the whole draft and stuff is over with. So now, it’s all about work. Behind these doors, we’re all going to work and that’s what it’s all about.”
(Have you talked to DE Cameron Wake?) – “I haven’t. He texted me though. That’s the biggest thing I got. I think I’m supposed to speak to him later on today, so that’s pretty exciting just to finally meet the legend in person.”
(Through training camp and through the season, is DE Cameron Wake a guy you’re just going to observe and what he does?) – “Hands down. I’ll be that little brother. You can’t get away from me – the little brother that mom’s tell you ‘He has to go with you up the street.’ That’s what I’m going to be. In every way, shape or form, I’m going to make sure I take after him. That’s a guy everyone around here pumps up and hypes up and I want to be the best so I’m going to learn from the best.”
(Anybody you know back home underwater or are you away from that? The flooding?) – “No, I do not. I haven’t gotten any news of anybody that I know personally. But it is a pretty bad situation either way, so prayers up, for sure.”
(Head Coach Adam Gase was just in here and said, ‘We’re going to get DE Charles Harris better?’ What is it that you need to get better at?) – “Whatever coach wants me to get better at – whether it’s stopping the run, whether that is parts of my pass rush, technique, stance, all shapes or forms. Whatever they want me to improve at, that’s what I’m going to do – on the field, off the field, things like film study. Things like that, that you can’t improve in if you don’t really know about. All coordination, in terms of training, strength and conditioning. All phases of the game, (I want to) make sure I get better.”
(What are your initial impressions of Head Coach Adam Gase now that you’ve gotten to meet him and his style?) – “(He’s a) real laid back coach. (He’s) on you when he’s on you. You can tell he’s got that other side of him that he’ll snap on you. So far, he’s been real cool, real laid back. He told us his rules. He told us his demands. It’s up to us to meet them. So that’s kind of what it’s all about.”
(We hear a lot about your first step as a pass rusher. How quick is your first step?) – “I think it’s one of the best you’re going to see, for sure.”
(Have you seen anyone with a faster first step?) – “I don’t know if I can compare and contrast, but you’re going to see when I’m on the field, for sure.”
(What did Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke say that he hopes you bring?) – “He didn’t say anything specifically. Of course, (he wants me to bring) a humble mindset and willingness to learn. I think things are going to be a lot different coming into a new system so an open mindset and willingness to learn and to adjust.”
(You keep saying ‘to learn’ but you’re also quoted as saying, ‘I’m going to dominate.’ What makes you believe that?) – “That’s the part. I’m willing to learn and I’m also willing to apply. I think I’m easily motored. I can play any way the coach wants me to play. Once I get everything down, the basics of the game and the system and the defense and things like that, everything else is just second nature. That’s when our athletic ability comes over. So once I learn the plays, once I learn the system, learn the technique and all that stuff, the rest of it will be cake for me.”
(Do you feel pressure to start, to be a three-down player, to live up to whatever first-round expectations people might have for you?) – “No, I have no expectations for me. I feel like everything is repeating itself. So coming out of high school, I was a zero star. I know how it feels to be at the bottom. I have the same mindset now. I feel like I’m not in the first round. I don’t feel like a first-rounder, second-rounder or anything like that. I feel like another player, another rookie that just came in – we just had a rookie meeting just a few hours ago – and working my way from the bottom. We’re on the same level across the board in terms of our knowledge of the game and our experience on a professional level. Coming into this level, it’s a whole other game. I can’t come in with that mindset, ‘I’m a first rounder. I’m this. I’m that.’ Like I said, I’m willing to learn, willing to adjust and just get better.”
(When I spoke to your former position coach and University of Miami Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach Craig Kuligowski … Have you seen him yet?) – “I haven’t.”
(University of Miami Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach Craig Kuligowski is not far away. But I asked him why you have so much success on the field and he said because it’s important to you. Can you explain why football, performing well, why is it important to you?) – “It’s just intrinsic. I want to be the best. Nobody told me to. I didn’t have a father or mother tell me to pick up the ball or go run as fast as you can. That’s just me. I feel like I’m blessed with a mindset to want to be the best. I just want to get better. That’s why it’s important to me. I have the opportunity, why not capitalize on it? The Miami Dolphins took a chance on me so it’s time to make their investment pay off.”
(General Manager Chris Grier was saying right after the Dolphins selected you that the team kind of played it cool so that, I guess, they didn’t let other teams know how interested they were in you. Looking back, did you sense some of that?) – “I didn’t. At the Combine, I had a meeting with them. It was a great meeting – probably (one of) my top three, in terms of the feel of the atmosphere, the feel of the room, the feel of the coaches. Post-Combine, I didn’t really have any contact with them. Shoot, they just selected me. I was surprised when I got the call, but I was also happy.”
(The Dolphins talked about maybe moving … I know you just got here. But they said that you’re capable of going inside on pass rush downs. That could be pretty cool if it’s DE Cameron Wake, DE Andre Branch, DT Jordan Phillips and you. How comfortable do you feel with the inside on third down stuff?) – “Anything. Whatever gets me to that quarterback. Whatever it takes for us to get off that field and for us to win a game. At the end of the day, whether I have to play three-technique, two-technique, five, nine … It doesn’t matter what it is. I’m going to do what I have to do. Whatever coach asks me, I’m going to do, for sure.”
(Have you thought about this yet? this is early … You play the Patriots twice. QB Tom Brady back there. Have you thought about…) – “I haven’t, but shout out to all of the Miami Dolphins fans telling me over and over ‘You have to hit Brady.’ But I’m going to take it one game at a time for sure – one quarterback at a time. They’re all the same at the end of the day. It doesn’t matter if it’s Tom Brady or the bottom of the bottom, it doesn’t matter who it is. We’ll take it one game at a time. We have Tampa first and we have to handle that.
(But you did smile when you said hit Patriots QB Tom Brady.) – “Oh yes, you have to.”
(Speaking of looking far ahead, the Dolphins are in Kansas City on Christmas Eve. Are you aware of that? You’ll kind of be back at home, right?) – “I’m aware but, like I said, there’s not any more importance to that game than it is the first game of the season or the last game of the season. I feel like when you start stacking chips on one game, that’s when you start looking towards them and you don’t focus on other ones. So I’m going to take it one game at a time, for sure. Of course it’ll be a blessing to play in my hometown, my home city; but the Chiefs are my enemies. I can’t have no love for them at all.”
(What number did you get?) – “I got number 90.”
(How do you feel about it?) – “I feel great. I feel great.”
(Have you ever worn that before?) – “I haven’t. Mr. Wake got 91, so I’m going to take one step down. But I guess it’s alright, I’m the little brother. Number 90, number 91.”
(You see some of these first-round picks get cars for their moms and things like that. Do you have any plans to do anything like that?) – “Yes, I’ve got something in the works. I can’t really say right now because she’s probably going to be seeing this. But I have stuff lined up for my family, for sure.”
