Elandon Roberts – September 12, 2022
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Monday, September 12, 2022
LB Elandon Roberts
(What do you remember about facing Baltimore last year and the success you were able to have defensively?) – “Last year, Baltimore came out and did some things that we expected them to do and stuff like that. But with their type of offense, they can give you looks and do a lot of stuff off of it and whatnot. Lamar (Jackson) is the engine of that offense. It’s all about Lamar. He’s a big part of their offense. I feel like he’s the engine that gets everything going.”
(You started your college career at Morgan State in Baltimore. What was that experience like playing at an HBCU?) – “From an HBCU standpoint, it was great. I was only there for a semester but it was great. I’m trying to rep Morgan (State). I graduated from the University of Houston and I always throw up the Cougs all day, but when Morgan State is balling, that’s near and dear to my heart. I loved everything about the experience there.”
(What was your feeling when you heard your coach say this is a defensive team?) – “Just as a defense, as a whole, we try to go out there and do what we’re paid to do. And that’s get the ball back to the offense. I think it’s a great compliment from him but as a defensive player, we’re just doing our job. I think the whole defense would say the same thing. So each week, we’re going to go out there and try to stop opponents and give the ball to our offense to give them a chance to do what they do best.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel was saying that there were no celebrations or parties today. As a veteran, how tough is it to put a game behind you like yesterday’s? And then how emotional was yesterday – a first-year coach, home opener, New England and all of that?) – “To answer your first question, I feel like that just shows the growth of our team. We’ve been young a couple of years now since I’ve been here and it shows the growth of your team to be able to put a win behind you and move forward because it’s not a one-game-a-year type of thing. Each week it’s a new opponent. No opponent is to be slept on. Every game is a big game. So being able to turn the page quick and getting focused on Baltimore, that just shows our maturity of the team and where we look to go this season.”
(Were there times in previous years where you felt like the team kind of celebrated a little bit too long and didn’t move ahead to the next game?) – “I feel like that’s a good question because throughout the NFL, you have teams that maybe you feel like celebrated too long. But like I said, I feel like we’re in a good place as the Miami Dolphins to be able to flip the page. We’re putting New England behind us. That was a good team win. But right now we’ve got our full focus on the Baltimore Ravens.”
(Early in the game yesterday, the Patriots were moving the ball well and by the end, the final statistics showed you guys had a solid defensive game. What flipped the switch or adjustment did you guys make to make it happen?) – “I think it was the first game. With the Patriots, you guys have seen it, you didn’t really know what offensive coordinator you were going to get. It’s not using excuses but just speaking facts. Once we got adjusted, we were able to put some things together from a total defensive standpoint.”
(What did you see from special teams yesterday? Two field goals and three punts inside the 20. It seemed like you guys were on top of it. What did you see?) – “I feel great about all of our phases – offense, defense and special teams. If you have those three and you can play complementary, sometimes you think offense can win it and sometimes you think defense can win it. But you need all three to come together and win a game. All three phases being on the same page, that’s what is going to take you to your ultimate goal.”
(What has LB Melvin Ingram done for your defense, do you think?) – “I think Melvin has done a great job for the defense. Just like the other guys on the defense, everybody is just out there trying to get better, do their job and whatnot. I think everybody, even defensively, offensively and special teams – from a whole team standpoint – you might get patted on the back for this and that but we’re looking at what we can better at as a team. That’s what we’re going to do, which we did today. Now we’re putting all of our focus on the Baltimore Ravens.”
(Then with CB Kader Kohou, was there a moment back in May or June where you noticed him and thought he might be something?) – “To be honest, anybody that gets an opportunity to play in this league and is out there making plays, whether it’s the first day of practice, it is what it is. Every man, we look at them like they must be here for a reason. If you can help this team be better, then we’re going to embrace you. I think Kader has done a great job of controlling what he can control when he’s in the game doing his job. That’s all you can ask for. I’m proud of him, with the first game, just as a defensive leader. We know as a defense that Kader can move on, put that game behind him and like I said, the entire defense and Dolphins organization, we’re all turning the page towards the Baltimore Ravens.”
(Did you know CB Kader Kohou could hit like that? He had the play where he jarred the ball loose.) – “The last three years, everybody on the Dolphins defense can hit. We’re big hitters. I don’t think you can name one guy that isn’t hitting. I think that’s what we do best is fly around and hit.”
