DeVante Parker – June 2, 2021
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Wednesday, June 2, 2021
WR DeVante Parker
(What were your thoughts when you heard the Dolphins drafted WR Jaylen Waddle?) – “I was excited. It brings another guy, another weapon, to the team. That’s another guy that can help us.”
(What has impressed you about WR Jaylen Waddle and the time that you have spent with him on the practice field so far?) – “He’s a very quick learner. He listens to what you have to say. We just coach him up and he listens to you. He texts the coaches.”
(Have you had a chance to kind of picture how much WR William Fuller V and WR Jaylen Waddle will be able to open up maybe some one-on-one coverage for you?) – “(laughter) Nah, there’s none of that yet. I’m just taking this one day at a time, really. I’m not looking to the future or anything yet. Just one day at a time.”
(Do you have – I know last year when we talked to you, a big goal was playing 16 games and doing that. Do you have any goals for this upcoming season that you want to put down?) – “Nah. I have the same goals I always have. That’s it. Except now we’ve got another game.”
(I noticed you working before OTAs, before all of this voluntary stuff, with QB Tua Tagovailoa. Was that right?) – “Yes.”
(How did that come about? And how beneficial was that? Because obviously you didn’t have any of that this time last year.) – “I would say – Tua, we’re all in a group chat. Tua put us in a group chat and texted us and we’ll just meet up and start throwing and try to get the rhythm down early.”
(Have you seen benefits already on the field?) – “Yes, I have.”
(How so?) – “His mechanics looks different.”
(With Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends George Godsey and Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Eric Studesville being the new offensive coordinators and putting their minds together to come up with a new playbook, what have you noticed is different? What’s changed about the new plan?) – “I don’t really know. We’ve just been moving around in different spots, I would say. That’s really it. We’re just moving around more than usual.”
(Do you envision your yards per catch and the number of yards that you run on each route, do you think that’s going to increase this year? Do you think there will be more downfield plays?) – “I’m not real sure about that. We’re still early. I’m just focused on right now and when that comes, it will come.”
(I wanted to go back to the offseason workouts that you guys have been doing – the receivers and the quarterbacks. Just the chemistry that you guys can build on the field, just from joking with each other and going through plays and just spending that time together, how do you think that really can make a difference for you guys?) – “I’d say it can help out a lot. Just spending time with each other, even if it’s off the field, just getting that camaraderie going. Everybody knows each other better than what we had before.”
(Last year, I asked you about what’s something on the field that you’re working on during the offseason and in training camp, and you told me comeback routes. Is there anything specific on the field that you’re working on this offseason to get better at?) – “I would say just routes, period. Just getting out of my break quicker.”
(Is that something that’s more mental? Physical? In the classroom? How do you go about making that happen?) – “It’s just more mental. That’s all.”
(Last week, when we were talking with QB Tua Tagovailoa, he kind of surprised us when he said that he didn’t feel he had the playbook down really well last year. What do you make of that statement?) – “I’m not sure. He’s his own guy. That’s just how he felt about it. I have nothing to say about that. That’s just how he felt.”
(You talked about QB Tua Tagovailoa and his mechanics, that they look different. I guess they feel different. What about them, if you could explain to a novice reporter, is different from your perspective?) – “Footwork. (Getting) the ball out quicker. All of that.”
(Last year, obviously you didn’t have a full offseason with QB Tua Tagovailoa or anybody. What about the extra reps with just him as the guy – QB Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t around – and what does it do for your chemistry and his chemistry with all of the guys on the starting offense?) – “It just comes down to getting a lot of reps in with him and just taking it to the game. That’s all it comes down to.”
(Do you feel like you guys know each other’s way to go about things now? The way he throws a certain route, the way he runs a certain route, have you all gotten a better grasp of that?) – “Yeah, we talk about that a lot. Yeah, we have. That’s something that we’re looking forward to.”
(Is there anything you want to talk to us about? I always love doing these medias with you because you’re really short but very nice. Is there anything you want to talk about with us?) – “No, I’m good. (laughter)”
(This offseason, what are some things that you’re working on personally for yourself to improve?) – “I’m just trying to get quicker, faster and more explosive.”
(I had to look this up and when I did, I couldn’t believe it. This is Year 7. When you hear that, what does that say to you? You’re clearly one of the most tenured players on this team. You’re one of the leaders I’m sure now. One of the guys that’s been around. What kind of an accomplishment is it to have seven seasons with any one team? That’s very rare in the NFL.) – “I would say there’s something for being – it doesn’t happen very often. I’m just proud that I’m still here and be able to do what I’m still doing.”
(Was there a time where you though that having this kind of longevity might not happen for you here?) – “I never had that in my mind at all. No.”
