Elandon Roberts – August 16, 2022
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Tuesday, August 16, 2022
LB Elandon Roberts
(What do you guys get out of joint practices, and now when you get back here, you’re going against each other again. What’s the difference?) – “In a joint practice, you get a chance to see other teams and practice their schemes. In practice amongst each other, we’re able to still practice a different scheme and get better as a defense. The advantages go hand-in-hand. It’s just how you look at it.”
(We just had RB Chase Edmonds up here. How much of a headache is it having those speed guys?) – “It’s challenging but it gets us better for teams that we’ll play this year with a lot of backfield speed. We look at it as an opportunity to be able to see it early and know how to adjust to it and know how to play with our techniques and stuff like that. It’s a good thing we’re able to see it in our own practice so we get chances to rep at it.”
(What was the vibe like on the sideline pregame with Head Coach Mike McDaniel?) – “Locked in. Locked in just like every coach. Even the players that weren’t playing, we were all locked in, seeing what Tampa was doing, giving input to the guys when they got to the sideline and vice-versa with the coaches. We all work together as a team and working together as a team, that’s what’s going to get us to where we want to be.”
(We saw DT Christian Wilkins taking notes. Did you guys have somebody in your group doing something like that?) – “Everybody has their own thing and Christian, his thing is a notepad. Everybody is different.”
(How are you feeling? We spoke to you back at the beginning of the offseason and you said the process is a lot different this year because you’re not rehabbing. How do you feel?) – “I’m feeling good. I’m ready to go. I’m feeling good.”
(Did you ever face RB Derrick Henry when you were with the Patriots? What’s he like? I’m sure he’s a handful to tackle. He’s getting up there in age right now, but he’s still got to be a force to be reckoned with.) – “You can’t look at age too much. I think something that’s a problem is they look at people’s age but he’s still putting up big numbers every year. Is he aging or is he getting younger? Derrick is a great back and I’m pretty sure he’s going to be at the top of the league once again this year.”
(They say he’s a guy that wears on you as the game goes on. Is that true or is that a myth?) – “I don’t know. I haven’t played Derrick in a little minute.”
(We talk a lot about the offense and how they are trying to build up a new scheme. You have a lot of continuity on defense. What are the talking points on a day-to-day basis when you do have so much continuity and you know the defense but you’re trying to perfect it? What are the points of emphasis for the defense on the day-to-day?) – “The points of emphasis are always the same. Play technique sound, play within the defense, trust your teammates and everything will fall together. That’s one thing we look at day-in and day-out in practice. To answer your question, just because the group has been together for so long, we’re able to take steps in different directions to make our defense evolve a little bit more and stuff like that. But right now, the good thing about training camp is we’re able to control what we can control and get better at what we can get better at. Training camp is a constant, just getting better at fundamentals. That’s one thing when you’re in the nick-pick of a game is you’ve got to go back to your fundamentals. That will bring you to where you want to be brought to.”
(When you talk about evolving, should we expect some wrinkles in the defense or something like that?) – “The NFL evolves every year. I expect it in all 32 teams’ defenses that everybody should evolve and you will see little nuances in every team. Just like the media. That question, you probably didn’t ask that last year but you’re evolving as a media guy. (laughter) That question I didn’t expect it from you, but you’re evolving as a guy. You’re getting good. (laughter)”
(As a defender, you’ve got to like a practice like today. Six interceptions from the defense.) – “That’s just how we hold ourselves as a standard. If that’s not the standard – turnovers win games. We have to (pride) ourselves in it and going against our offense and being able to do that is good. We’ve just got to be able to put it together when it’s time to go on Sundays.”
(What about some of the guys – S Brandon Jones got two, CB Noah Igbinoghene got one, what’s that like?) – “I think all of those guys, just like the total defense, we hold ourselves to a certain standard, and each day they come to practice with that same standard. It’s a good thing. There’s a standard between the whole defense.”
(You’re another year away from that knee injury. How different do you feel this year compared to this time last year?) – “I feel a lot different. I got my speed back. It’s going to be a good year. I’m blessed that God gave me the ability to heal up the right way and be able to feel back to normal and be able to put the best product of Elandon out there for the Dolphins.”
