George Godsey – February 15, 2019
Download PDF version
Friday, February 15, 2019
Tight Ends Coach George Godsey
(Do you have any experience coaching in a warm-weather climate such as this?) – “Yeah, I’m from Tampa. I went to high school in Tampa. Then, I was in Houston for three years. It was pretty hot there too. I’m actually happy to see the sunshine.”
(As far as the tight end’s role, how has it evolved in your eyes in the last few years? It seems like a few years ago, it became a featured position, but what do you think of the tight end’s role in general?) – “Those guys, they transcend other positions. They’re receivers in certain plays or they’re offensive linemen in others. Sometimes they’re fullbacks. In my experience, those guys have to have a good grasp of the offense and a good knowledge of the personnel that they’re going against, just because of the multiple roles that they play. There’s a lot of meeting time but ultimately it’s getting out there and having good instincts.”
(What one quality above any other would you want in a tight end?) – “It’s hard to just have one quality because they come in different shapes and sizes. Some are better in the run game, blocking. Some are better in the passing game. Some can do a little bit of both. Some can play in the backfield. It’s hard to just say one trait. They have to be versatile, they have to be smart, they have to be able to do whatever they can do the best and do it for 60 minutes.”
(You don’t want to single out one quality?) – “I’ve had a bunch of different ones – some that are effective blockers that can play three downs, some that are strictly pass-receiving tight ends, some that are first- and second-down only. They come in different sizes and shapes.”
(Are you okay with playing two tight ends or do you prefer one? What is your philosophy on that?) – “I’m sure (Offensive Coordinator) Chad (O’Shea) will call the best the plays that give us the best chance to score, but however many we need out there. Whatever they can do well. If they can do multiple things, then they’ll all be out there. Sometimes it’ll be four receivers out there and a back. Their role kind of goes by down, by scheme and by how we want to attack the defense.”
(What do you think you want ideally in a tight end – a seam-route runner? A red zone threat? Ideally what would you like?) – “Ideally, I’d like to play all downs and be effective at everything you do. Nowadays, it’s hard because maybe a smaller guy size-wise that can run faster is a little bit better of a matchup against a backer. In the red area, you’d like to have a bigger guy, or maybe it’s a matchup versus a DB that you like. I think the big thing is identifying their strengths and trying to use those as much (as you can), and identifying their weaknesses and trying to stay away from that as much. If there’s a tight end that maybe isn’t as good of a blocker, not that we’re not going to call on him to block, but maybe we’ll try to utilize him a little bit more in the passing game.”
(How familiar are you with the tight ends you’re inheriting?) – “That’s part of the deal right now – evaluations. It’s hard to watch every game all the time, install playbook, get ready for the draft, look at the free agents, so that’s part of the daily deal right now. I’m looking forward to working with them, that’s for sure.”
(How did you arrive here with Brian Flores exactly? I know you guys share a Patriots background.) – “That’s really mainly it. We’ve always stayed in touch. Obviously, I think very highly of him. We like to talk from our sides of the ball and kind of how we see things, so we’ve had a good relationship.”
(What kind of guy is Brian Flores? To me, he seems like he has a commanding presence. You listen when Brian Flores is speaking, but personality-wise and demeanor – how would you describe him?) – “When you kind of go through the coaching ranks, you get to a position to where you have leadership roles. Last year, part of his responsibility was the leadership role defensively, so now he’s going to carry that as far as being the head coach now. He gives us instructions, gives us what he wants and that’s kind of how it is. That’s usually what it is in that role.”
(Is Brian Flores a yeller or screamer?) – “I think everybody kind of has different coaching techniques, but you do whatever is necessary to get what you want out of it. We’re happy to be around here, we’re happy to have him as our leader. He’s intelligent, very detailed and doesn’t spend a lot of time wishy-washing with what he wants. I think that’s what we all expect and that’s what we all like.”
(We had Vance Joseph here for a year. When we would talk to him in the press conference, it was very straightforward and pretty business-like. The players said that’s how he was with them. That’s one impression from Brian Flores, but that’s kind of how I saw him.) – “It’s hard to get a lot accomplished if you’re not straightforward. The player nowadays, in my experience, he likes that. So does the coach. I think we all do. It’s kind of how everybody is usually from that standpoint.”
(Tell me about the process of coming down here. You must have had a really jumbled up time, the offseason.) – “It’s business-like, so you just kind of explain to everybody where they stand and come to a decision. It’s not as complicated as maybe you think.”
(What are your impressions of some of the guys on the roster?) – “I think that’s kind of where we’re at right now. It’s a busy time for us even though there’s really no games going on obviously, but we’re evaluating the current roster, evaluating the free agents, getting ready for the draft, installing the playbook, trying to figure out if I have a place to live or if I’m going to sleep on the floor in the office. (laughter) It’s good to get to know these guys on tape. I’ll be anxious to kind of watch them more here as the weeks go on and really get to know them when they pop by at some point. They all have different traits, different strengths, different weaknesses, so I think that’s the goal right now is to try to figure those out, nail those down and them utilize them in the best way.”
(What have you seen out of the two rookies from last year, TE Durham Smythe and TE Mike Gesicki?) – “They’re typical rookies right now. They’re just trying to get to know the NFL, get to know the personnel and get to know the schemes that may be different from college. Those guys will grow, those guys will get better. I’m anxious to work with them.”
(What’s your coaching style when it comes to tight ends?) – “Hopefully it becomes a productive coaching style, but I try to be straightforward with what we want. It may be one position at the tight end but obviously, we play together as a team. You may not get the ball every time, but we want to get open in the passing game and block in the running game (and) make sure that we can contribute on all downs and all situations.”
(What’s your position on a blocking tight end versus maybe a pass-catching tight end?) – “The tight end position, although it’s kind of grouped, everybody is a little bit different. There are guys that are bigger that block, there are guys that are a little bit smaller that run routes better. It’s hard to find that guy that actually does all three downs effectively for 60 minutes. They can’t play every down, either. Sometimes, they’re used in the backfield. That’s part of this process right now is to find out what exactly these guys do well, what their weaknesses are too and then try to lean more on their strengths. I try to do a deep dive in this position by how we characterize each player and then utilize their strengths.”
(Is it important to bring in a veteran presence for the young guys so they can kind of learn and grow that way?) – “I’ve been a part of teams that have both veterans and all young guys. I have some experience in the league and there are some other coaches too around here that do, so if there isn’t a veteran presence then we can lend that advice or experience, and if there is, certainly it helps. Like I said, now is kind of the acquisition time, so we’ll see how it works out. You usually leave that to the guys in the personnel department.”
(What is the biggest difference for the tight end position with the new special teams rules?) – “You’d like to have some special teams value from the tight end position. Obviously, these aren’t the guys that are the fastest, usually, on the team, and that’s some of your kickoff cover, punt game. But there is size to be able to block in the punt game. There is size on the kickoff return team. Every now and then, you get a guy that can run down there and is not afraid to go in there and put his head in there and tackle. (Special Teams Coordinator) Danny (Crossman) will make those decisions and hopefully those guys can provide some depth and be as versatile as possible. I think that’s the main thing a tight end can do is just help in any phase, any part of the game – run, block, special teams – and help the team win that way.”
(What do you hope to accomplish here with the Dolphins and Coach Flores?) – “I think we’re all here for one reason: to win. Do it in a team fashion and make sure we find out the quickest way to do that.”
(Working with Coach Flores, Offensive Coordinator Chad O’Shea, Assistant Quarterbacks Coach Jerry Schuplinski in New England, how do you guys go about doing this altogether here? People are going to say you’re trying to bring the ‘Patriot Way’ here. I don’t want to say that but how do you kind of replicate from success at one of the best franchises in history to a new place like this?) – “It’s really all more about the personnel that you’re dealing with. It’s new personnel for everybody getting associated. Right now, we’re doing evaluations – strengths, weaknesses, what they do the best, what they do the worst and let’s try to lean more toward what they do well. I was in Detroit last year, I was in Houston the year before, I was in New England however many years ago. I think each year is different in the personnel that you’re dealing with and you try to utilize and make sure we maximize their strengths.”
(Do you have any initial impression of TE Mike Gesicki just from what you’ve seen?) – “I think as we’re looking at those guys, it’s a young group there, so they’re learning the NFL. Whether it’s practice or games, everybody learns at a certain degree. We’re going to try to speed up that as much as possible and get as much production at the position as asked for.”
(You were with Matt Patricia last year with the Lions, you were with Bill O’Brien in Houston, now you’re with Coach Flores here. The last two guys, are they trying to replicate what’s going on in New England? Is that something that you see happening here?) – “It’s a goal to win. It’s trying to win as quick as possible, too. I think as much as we can get these guys moving in the right direction and compete. I think every day, you start in practice, you start in the offseason, so as soon as guys get here, we’ll begin our program.”
(What are some things you’ve learned from coaching with Bill O’Brien and coaching with Matt Patricia that you believe can help you with coaching with Brian Flores?) – “I think wherever you’re at, you’re working hard and you’re learning the opponent, you’re learning what you do well and trying to streamline that as quickly as possible.”
(Are you somebody that Coach Flores can lean on?) – “He and I have a good relationship. We’ve communicated every day since we’ve met each other. I’m anxious to be there really daily with him as opposed to just over the phone.”
(How do you guys go through that purgatory of when Brian Flores is still finishing the season and you’re trying to get a new job? What’s that period like for you guys?) – “Everything got finalized really after the game, so up until that point, it’s kind of just seeing if the situation really works.”
(Were you talking to other teams?) – “All of that business stuff, I try to keep to myself, just because to me it’s a non-factor.”
(Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Jim Caldwell suggested that I ask you about one of the guys in the quarterback room, QB Jake Rudock, just because you were around him last year. What skills stood out to you just from being with the Lions?) – “He’s attentive. He’s very detailed, works hard. He’s going to be a good asset to bring in here. He’s competitive, so he’ll go out there and earn it on the field. He’s from down here, too, so that probably helps. He knows the location. He’s a hard-worker. I’m really anxious to see him again down here after last season. There’s a lot warmer weather down here than up in Detroit.”
