Emmanuel Ogbah – March 26, 2020
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Thursday, March 26, 2020
DE Emmanuel Ogbah
(I wanted to ask you about how difficult it must have been for you to be a spectator during the Super Bowl because of your injury. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been.) – “Yeah, it was definitely tough watching them play, but I’m glad. I’m happy for my brothers. They went out there, did their thing. I still get a ring, so I’m excited about that; but it was actually a cool experience the whole Super Bowl. It was dope. I’m just glad I was a part of it, too.”
(How did the Dolphins happen for you? How did this come together and did it happen pretty quick?) – “Once free agency started, the Dolphins were on me hard. Other teams wanted me, too, and I just felt at home with the Dolphins because I’m always in South Florida because I train out here during the offseason, so I just felt wanted by the Dolphins and I’m excited to play for (Head) Coach (Brian) Flores. I can’t wait.”
(You played in a couple of different defenses in your career, but what do you feel like is your best fit on the defense? Do you like playing five-technique, do you like to stand up? Where do you feel like you make your biggest impact?) – “Personally, I think my biggest (impact) as an edge rusher, but I’m versatile enough to do a lot of things. That’s why Miami brought me in. I can rush inside. I can rush outside and just do my part to help the team win games. That’s why I’m here.”
(I wanted to ask you about the coronavirus. A two-part question here. No. 1, were you worried about it initially? No. 2, when you heard that some NBA players got it, did it make you feel a little bit more vulnerable?) – “I wasn’t worried about it when it first came out, but listening to the stories and talking to people about it, it just makes sense why people should stay indoors and try to avoid it because it’s definitely scary. Even though I’m a healthy guy – I don’t have a lot of respiratory problems. It’s just hard looking at that. People need to stay inside for their health and their well-being for the rest of their families; but it’s definitely hard seeing NBA players suffer from it, so that means anybody can get it. It definitely just made me extra cautious now.”
(We’re all finding different ways to do things right now. What do you think about using Zoom for interview sessions?) – “(laughter) There’s definitely a first for everything, but it’s cool. It’s a good way to interact with you guys if we can’t be there in person. It’s cool to meet you guys through, I guess Zoom, because this is my first time using Zoom ever.”
(You talked about being excited to play for Head Coach Brian Flores. What about him leads to that excitement? What is it that really attracted you to him and the Dolphins?) – “First of all, he’s definitely a defensive coach. (laughter) He inspires his players and he came from the Patriots, so he knows how to win. I’m just excited to come out here and do my part, help the team win, and I’m excited to get coached up by one of the best.”
(A two-part question. One, you’re in South Florida currently? And two, how are you going about staying in shape when everything is locked down?) – “Yes, I’m currently in South Florida, and I’m doing my best. I try to stay indoors as much as possible. If I have to go out, I’ll go out, grab some groceries if I’ve got to cook or something. But I’m doing my best – doing pushups, sit-ups, the regular stuff at home. The best I can do is try to avoid social gatherings.”
(I know your season got cut short by the pectoral injury. Where are you in your recovery at this point health-wise?) – “I got cleared about four or five weeks ago to do on-field activities now. That’s what I’m just trying to do right now. I can’t really technically do it, but I’m just trying to get on a bike and do some cardio work and just get my legs back on. I’m just trying to stay safe, trying to avoid this corona(virus) stuff going on. Like I said, I’m just getting ready.”
(I wanted to ask about one aspect of your game. You’ve had a lot of success batting down passes over the years. What do you attribute that to? What are you looking for when a play starts that might give you the opportunity to swat a pass down?) – “For me, it’s more so just instincts. You’ve just got to feel when the QB is about to throw the ball and immediately put your arm up. I also have some pretty long arms, so that definitely helps, too; but I feel like (it is) more of a feel thing to me.”
(How do you plan on learning this defense knowing that you may not have a lot of time to practice it or meet with the player and meet with the coaches, and what are some things you’re watching? What are you watching on Netflix, Hulu, playing a lot of video games – how else are you keeping busy?) – “I haven’t really gotten the playbook or whatnot, yet, and I’m just waiting on that; so as soon as I get that, I’m going to get started learning the basics. In my off time, when I have nothing to do, I just get on the game – play some Call of Duty on Xbox, play some Madden. Sometimes I watch Netflix, too, just to bide time.”
(I know you’re from Nigeria. I wanted to ask you about your Nigerian roots, and how often do you hear from people back about what you’re doing in the game and maybe how you’re being a role model for them?) – “It’s definitely tough because they can’t really watch me play. I guess they can watch online, but I know my dad is constantly posting stuff on Facebook about me, just interacting with my family back home. It’s cool. I was supposed to go down there this offseason, but the whole corona(virus pandemic) stopped me from going down there. My dad posts a lot of stuff. I call them, they call me, we talk. They say I’m inspiring a lot of people. I’ve just got to keep going, keep doing the best I can, keep doing what I do just to help bring light to where they’re at.”
(What are you most looking forward to this upcoming season?) – “Just doing my part to help the team win. I’m here to rush the passer. I’m here to make this team better. We’ve got a bunch of guys that were brought in this free agency, and we’re just ready to work. We’re just trying to put our head down and just keep working.”
(I was just wondering if you’ve spoken to DE Shaq Lawson and if you know Shaq at all since you guys were in the same draft.) – “Yeah, I spoke to him a little bit after I signed. I said, ‘hope you’re ready to work,’ because we just kind of clicked. He said, ‘yeah, I hope you’re ready to work.’ We’re just ready to get after it, to be honest.”
(Tell me about taekwondo. I read that you’re taking that up. Is that correct?) – “(laughter) No, I don’t think that’s me; but I do hand work with gloves and hand speed and all that; but no, I don’t really do taekwondo.”
