Jaelan Phillips – June 6, 2023
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Tuesday, June 6, 2023
LB Jaelan Phillips
(Where do you feel like this defense best suits your skillset?) – “I feel obviously being able to rush the passer, being able to emphasize the back end and let them be multiple and let them work in the coverage; it just allows us to have a little bit of time. Just being able to marry the coverage with the pass rush, I think that is going to be ideal for not only me, but everybody on the d-line.”
(What has Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio taught you guys about this defense in terms of the identity you want to create?) – “I just think that we’re obviously figuring it out and only been practicing it a few times, but really just about locking in on your technique and job. Obviously we’re going to be high-motor, high-effort guys flying around the ball and just playing for each other. There is still a lot to learn, but it’s been good so far, for sure.”
(Coach Mike McDaniel talked about how he feels like you have taken your practice performances to a different level. I’ve always thought your practiced pretty well, pretty hard. What did you do in particular to do that this offseason?) – “I just try to take it day by day. I honestly don’t think it’s been as good as he said they were, but I’m just a really hard critic on myself and constantly trying to improve. It’s been a great offseason so far. Obviously feeling confident and comfortable in the defense, comfortable with the guys. I’m just looking to build on what we did last year, and what I’ve done so far this offseason.”
(Where do you see your partnership with LB Bradley Chubb? Last year you guys had to kind of work it in on the fly midseason and all. Now that you’ve had time together, how is that working out? How much better do you think you two can be this year?) – “We definitely spend a lot of time getting closer off the field and I feel that just helps on the field. And I think when you have relationships with your teammates, then it just brings up the motivation and makes you want to play with them even more. I think it’s just iron sharpening iron with us. We’re competitive, but we’re for each other. Whether it’s the weight room, whether it’s off the field with our habits, whether it’s out here; we’re always making sure we’re on point. It’s nice to have an accountability brother when it comes to that.”
(What do you like most about his game?) – “He’s a baller. He’s a gamer. His technique is really what I like the most. I kind of look up to him when it comes to that honestly and have him kind of put me on game, showing me different techniques and things. I think he’s very crafty and obviously physically gifted, so I love having him on the opposite side of me for sure.”
(I’m going to ask you about a player – I don’t know if you expect this, but LB Mitchell Agude has been flashing every day. What do I not know?) – “You know it’s on tape, what you’ve been seeing, he’s a baller. He’s super twitchy, he’s super athletic. Me and Mitch (Agude) – we have a little bit of history now. Obviously he went to UCLA and transferred out to Miami. While he was being recruited to Miami, I kind talked to him and told him about my journey, and the blueprint I kind of found, and he really felt that and locked in with that. When he got to the Dolphins, I was like, it’s a prophecy at this point. It’s been really cool to be a mentor to him and seeing him work. We got a great young group and Garrett Nelson is doing really well, too, it’s been good.”
(This morning Head Coach Mike McDaniel praised the defense for giving the offense good looks to make their game sharper. I’m curious if you take that conversely how this offense makes you guys’ game sharper?) – “Absolutely. This offense is so multiple with the things they do. They are always testing your eyes to make sure you’re disciplined. I think that’s one of the hardest things as an edge rusher, really as a football player in general. But specifically on the edge when you have an offense with so many different motions and so many different possible plays out of the same looks, it really just kind of makes you hone in. It’s awesome having that on a daily basis. It’s frustrating at times for sure because there might be a couple of practices where they get my edge a couple of times and have these crazy plays. It’s definitely a good experience.”
(He also mentioned that the technique and fundamentals that Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio really preaches is a big part of that, and you mentioned that LB Bradley Chubb’s technique was a big part of what you look after. I’m just curious how you’ve taken from that and improved your game?) – “I’m just trying to get everything to be muscle memory at this point. I think that’s the moment where that switch happens, is when all the things you were working becomes second nature so that when you’re playing, you’re not thinking about throwing different moves, or doing different things, you’re just going. I think that’s what I’ve been trying to get to and what I’ve been working towards.”
(The effort you talked about that Head Coach Mike McDaniel mentioned this morning as well, and you said that maybe they’re maybe not as good as he said they were. I disagree with you a little there. I agree more with Coach, but DT Christian Wilkins is a guy that stands out in that way, I’m curious to hear your perspective on the way Christian works out here.) – “Christian is the same guy every day. He’s going to come with energy, yelling all the time and just enjoying life. I think it shows on the field because the passion that he plays with and the energy that he has is super contagious. I think he’s a great leader for this team, he brings guys up with him, and man, you see him on the field, that dude is different. Just break down his tape, he’s different. Christian is a baller.”
(How aware are you guys of the Heat and the Panthers success, and has it had any effect in that building?) – “Yeah, I’ve been watching. The only thing that I wish is that we could be playing now at the same time as them, because then we could really feed off that motivation. But it’s been great seeing the South Florida sports being successful. Obviously when everybody is winning down here, everybody is a lot happier. We hope that they can continue the success, we’re rooting for them for sure.”
(You got some good post moves?) – “Post moves? I’m good for some boards. I’m not really too much of a scorer. I’ll cherry pick and get some dunks in, but I’m not a hooper at all, never was.”
(Do you have any special plans once you get through minicamp at all to chill away from football?) – “Yeah, I’m headed back to Washington, Lake Chelan in particular. That’s where my girlfriend’s family is from. Her dad has a little lake house up there. We’re going to go out and chill out and vibe out. It’s going to be great. And train, too, obviously. We’ll be out there working.”
(Is there anything move-wise or technique-wise you’ve worked on in particular offseason?) – “I can’t give that away now, can I? (laughter) You know the opposition watches these, too. No, I’ve just been continuing to hone in my craft and really trying to refine my moves so that I’m not just a jack of all trades, master of none. I’m trying to really lock in what my repertoire is.”
(After your rookie year you said that you wanted to improve your run defense and become an every-down player, and it seems you achieved that goal last year. What’s the next step to being a guy that can dominate every play?) – “Just keep building on that and being consistent with it. I think in the past whether it’s the beginning of my season being slow and kind of catching on towards the end or just certain games where I might have not have that impact; I want to get to a point where I’m impacting every game in any way possible. Just getting more comfortable and confident and continuously trying to grow with that.”
(LB Mitchell Agude and what he’s shown so far, how do you like to see that from a fellow UCLA Bruin, turned Miami Hurricane, turned Miami Dolphin?) – “We were just talking about that. It’s pretty crazy how he kind of followed that same path in terms of locations as me. He’s really cool because he’s very receptive to coaching and to advice from me. Him in particular, he comes up me all that time like, ‘Jaelan, what were you doing your rookie year? What type of things can I do to work on my method and different things like that?’ I really appreciate that from him and you can see it on the field if you guys have been watching him doing his thing.”
(Just piggybacking off of that, another guy who may be a little older in LB Bradley Chubb, can you give us insight on you guys’ relationship and how you try to feed off of each other coming off the edge?) – “We’ve gotten a lot closer obviously since he’s been here. I’m just excited for us to have a full offseason, full OTAs, a full training camp to really keep gelling and developing our identity as players.”
