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Jaelan Phillips – July 27, 2022 Download PDF version

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

LB Jaelan Phillips

(How was it to get pressure on the quarterback on the first day? I saw you get a couple of pressures today on the far field.) – “I’m just glad to be back, always trying to work my moves, always trying to make it to that next level. Definitely good to get back. It feels great out here. I feel blessed. I’m real excited”

(There are a bunch of quality edge guys on this team with you and LB Andrew Van Ginkel, DE Emmanuel Ogbah, and LB Melvin Ingram now. We saw you opposite Ingram quite a bit today. What’s it like playing opposite of him?) – “Mel is someone I’ve been watching for a long time, ever since I was in high school, really. He is a great leader. He’s been mentoring me some, taking me under his wing. I’m really grateful to have him on the team, for sure.”

(Is there anything from a communication standpoint that you need to work on with LB Melvin Ingram in case you’re with him as opposed to LB Andrew Van Ginkel? Obviously you’ll be playing opposite of both.) – “It’s just building that bond, that familiarity. We just met each other a couple of months ago, but you can already tell we have that bond. We have a great relationship, joke around with each other, so it’s really fun.”

(How would you compare where you are now starting this camp as opposed to starting your rookie camp?) – “I’m a little more comfortable, for sure. Obviously being in the system for a year, having a whole entire offseason where I’m not prepping for the draft and doing all of that stuff. I definitely had a lot of time mentally to focus on the playbook and make my keys and reads and everything.”

(How jacked were you for the start of camp with the way you finished last season?) – “I’m just so excited. Never satisfied. Last year was a great learning experience. I’m definitely looking to build on that. I’m excited to have the opportunity to come out here and get better.”

(Not often do you get to see defensive rookies come back who’ve had outstanding first seasons. How much confidence does it give you to have such a young core like that?) – “It’s really the whole defense. We’ve got a lot of guys coming back returning from last year. Being able to build on what we did last year is going to be great for us. I really feel like that’s my family. I’m really blessed to have them.”

(What was it like with a new coach, new practice, new look this year? Practice was a little shorter. What was it like today?) – “You could definitely feel the intensity. We’ve been doing this since OTAs. I think we’re kind of used to working with Coach (Mike) McDaniel. Like I said, I’m so blessed to be out here. I’m just excited.”

(What about Head Coach Mike McDaniel’s influence? He takes a selfie with the media this morning. What has he been like, what has he shown you, and what surprised you about him being a head coach, like ‘Wow, I didn’t expect that from a head coach?) – “He’s true to himself. He’s the same guy every single day. He brings a lot of excitement, energy and passion. He really cares about what he’s doing and he’s super knowledgeable. Having a guy like that as your coach definitely inspires greatness.”

(How many pounds less did you end up arriving at today compared to the start of camp last year?) – “I can’t remember. I was a little heavy last year. I’m sitting at a healthy weight right now feeling real good, real comfortable and fast. I’m feeling good.”

(Knowing how lighthearted and personable that Head Coach Mike McDaniel is, is it almost compounded even further when you might get a criticism from him or if he’s telling you something that’s not necessarily a positive? Do you almost compound it as something to heed or listen to because if he sees it then it must be something that’s going on?) – “Yeah, Coach McDaniel keeps it real. You know that if he’s telling you something, that’s because he cares and it’s constructive criticism. Hearing that from him, there is this whole saying that if coach stops talking to you, that means he doesn’t care. It’s definitely always good to hear that criticism and take heed to that.”

(Coming in after a breakout season here in this new era for Miami, how does it feel for you to – what’s the excitement?) – “The excitement is for the city, it’s for the fans, it’s for our team. We haven’t won a playoff game in 20 years. Our goal is to have the most team success as possible. I think we’re all excited for that opportunity. We’re all out here working our hardest every single day, getting closer, creating that bond and just going after it.”

(With the season you guys had, you’re potentially in the same position kind of like CB Xavien Howard to be here for a really long time. Would you be ok with that?) – “Absolutely. I love the Dolphins. I love Miami, I love the Dolphins, I really feel like this is home for me now. I’m just focusing on this year, focusing on day-by-day, and whatever happens in the future happens. But I’m excited to be here now.”   

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