DeShon Elliott – March 22, 2023
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Wednesday, March 22, 2023
S DeShon Elliott
(I know you have a lot of relationships with some guys down here in Miami with the Dolphins but what stood out with this opportunity to join this team?) – “I feel like it was the best thing for me like football wise. The opportunity to play with so many great, great talented guys. You’ve got Jevon (Holland) over there, you’ve ‘J-Ram’ (Jalen Ramsey) over there, you’ve got Xavien (Howard), Brandon Jones. So I think just being in that DB room is going to be great. Overall, as a whole, I think we’ll just be, shoot that’s a hard group to stop. Then you’ve got Bradley (Chubb) on that D-line and Jaelan (Phillips) on D-line, a freaking funny man (Christian Wilkins) on the D-line, you’ve got Raekwon (Davis) on the D-line so I just feel like – and you’ve got David (Long Jr.) at linebacker. So, I feel like … How much greater can it get? So, why not be there? We’ve got the opportunity to win a division, an opportunity to play a lot of games, win a lot of games, go to the Super Bowl possibly. So, I think this was the best decision for me, my family and just my mental health.”
(I know you go obviously you go way back with S Brandon Jones from the Texas days. What was that relationship like back in college and how do you think that joining up with him again can maybe help that learning process in Miami?) – “Back in college, I think I was a sophomore and Brandon was a freshman when we first started playing together. We both got a chance to sit back and watch. We both didn’t start when we first got there, obviously. That was when he was a freshman. So, we really got to sit back and watch and kind of like see how the college game was and during that time period, as a young guy, it’s frustrating so we were able to bounce ideas off each other and when we finally got a chance to play together, that’s like my little brother man. I don’t have any brothers so me and Brandon grew up together basically going through college. I feel like I played a role in him being married to the woman he’s with now. I feel like I kind of played Cupid in that in a certain way. But man, it just feels good to be back being around ‘B’ (Brandon Jones) just because man, when I told him – actually I didn’t tell him. I don’t know how he knew. Him and Jevon (Holland) texted me quick and fast. It was so fast. My phone was freezing up, so I didn’t get a chance to really like answer the way I wanted to so I just put both of them on a call, a group FaceTime and shoot, them boys were going crazy. Man, it’s going to be fun.”
(I’m curious now about how you played matchmaker to the woman he’s married to. What was your role in in the hookup?) – “I think I have Twitter DMs to this day about her asking me about Brandon. I think I do right now. She was like a recruiter already. She was like a recruiter at Texas for the player personnel thing. But when he became a freshman, I think she had hit me up. She was just like, ‘what’s up with that that one guy?’ I was like, ‘shoot I don’t know, let me hear it’. So, the middleman, just a little middleman.”
(So, hold on. Wait a minute. So how did you know her because you knew her from when she was… ?) – “I knew her because my ex-girlfriend in college was her best friend.”
(I wanted to ask you about playing for Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio and how you think that playing in his defense can kind of get the best out of you?) – “I talked to Vic and I talked to a couple guys. I was talking to Jevon (Holland). It was more of like just this is a safety-driven defense. Safeties in this defense can make a lot of plays. I think this is also very similar to the system I just left from and I think I was trying to get my feet back up under me while I was in Detroit. So, I think I could just build on that and knowing that this system is staying the same. I can even be better. I have a lot of talent that I haven’t gotten to show yet because of my injuries that I’ve had over the years, but I think I’m only getting better.”
(What do you think Coach Fangio is getting in you? What are the Dolphins getting in DeShon Elliott?) – “First and foremost, a great man. I like to be able to say I do a great job in the locker room. I love on the guys because once I feel like I’m part of a family, I love hard. I think that I’m a leader in some ways, in my opinion. I’ve been told that guys naturally follow me. Then when it comes to on the field, shoot, I’m going to be that dog. They know every day you’re going to hear me. I’m going to do the best I can to be a physical presence, a ballplayer and make a lot of plays on this defense and I think down the line, boy, stuff’s going to get serious.”
(On the other side of the ball, we’ve got some guys that are similar in that way on the offense. I know you didn’t play in the game last year against the Dolphins but I’m sure you were working and preparing against the Dolphins. What did you see when you saw the Dolphins offense on tape, like getting ready for that game last year?) – “Well, this is going to be, practice is going to be fun. I think when I was watching the game last year, it was just a lot of – a lot of the things they do on tape is fast. Quick and fast. Decisions are already planned out. They know where the ball is going to, know who’s going to get the ball. And if all else fails, Tyreek Hill’s down there somewhere. (laughter)”
(On S Brandon Jones and S Jevon Holland, you mentioned being on a call with them right away. What do you think it’s going to be like working in the same unit with those guys, whether it’s competing or playing alongside them?) – “It’s going to be fun; I mean shoot, we all plan to compete. So, we’re going to just compete and try to see how our chemistry can work together. I’m sure Vic (Fangio) has some plans on how we’re all going to fit together and try to get the best out of all three of us. We all bring different things to the table. But at the same time, we’re all really great football players. So, I think we’ll sort that out and when the time comes, y’all will know.”
(I was just going to ask about that, your role. Did Vic Fangio tell you that you would be a starter, you would be competing for a starting job? Are there packages where perhaps you, S Brandon Jones and S Jevon Holland could be on the field together?) – “Vic Fangio is a very intelligent football coach, a very intelligent DC. So, I’m sure he has his plans on what he wants to do with us. But, I mean, when I came in, I talked to him. I mean, I knew I was going to compete. It’s the NFL, we’ve all got to compete, and nothing is given to you. Nothing is going to be handed to you. So, I came here to compete. I know what I can bring to the table and I know how hard I’m going to work. So, the results will show.”
(What was your reaction when you saw the CB Jalen Ramsey trade and was that a factor in you wanting to come here?) – “Yeah. Come on now, that’s arguably the number one corner in the NFL. I don’t want to hear anybody talking about ‘oh, he had a down year’. Check the numbers, check the tape. That was not a down year. Still an All-Pro. So, regardless, I feel like, shoot, why would I not go there. Playing with great players makes you great. It elevates your game. Like it’s going to help bring some out of me and the rest of our teammates. So, why would you not want to go somewhere where you can have the opportunity to be great. Money will come. No one cares about the money. Yeah, people care about the money but winning and trying to get the best out of yourself, that should be your first thing. It has to be where your head is at. I think being here is where I can do that.”
