Jake Rudock – April 18, 2019
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Thursday, April 18, 2019
QB Jake Rudock
(Did they bring you in for a workout first before signing you?) – “We just came in, kind of had a little mutual interest there and I was just happy everything worked out.”
(Was the interest only because of South Florida roots for you or did it go beyond that?) – “I’m from down here, so I think that obviously helps it. I grew up watching the team. My family is still here, so I definitely come back a lot. I think that might have maybe helped; but at the end of the day, I just wanted to be somewhere playing football. I couldn’t be happier to be here.”
(Do you still have a bedroom in your parents’ house?) – “Yes. They want me to live forever, so we’ll see what happens. (laughter)”
(Have you been staying there during the three-day camp?) – “Right now, yeah. The first two weeks, it’s like ‘Yeah, this is normal.’ I’d maybe come home for a week or two in college or in the offseason, come home for a week or two and then the third week you’re like ‘Goodnight Mom. This is weird.’ (laughter)”
(Are you living there now?) – “Yeah. They’re really nice to let me stay there.”
(In Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach?) – “We’re in Weston.”
(Obviously Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Jim Caldwell knows you well. Without giving away state secrets, can you share, as he assessed you and as you guys have talked, what areas he sort of eyeballed as areas where he thinks there’s still significant room for growth with you?) – “I think it’s all facets of the game. I think the good thing about Coach Caldwell, one of his strengths definitely is he pays attention to little things. We talk about little things becoming big things and even just the snap from the center, how important that is. Little things, maybe you’re doing something not perfect. That’s the thing. He always harps on trying to be perfect and doing everything absolutely to the tee.”
(Does the success you’ve had in preseason – obviously you’ve thrown a handful of regular season balls – has it left you with the belief of ‘I know I’m an NFL quarterback?’) – “Every year is different. Yeah, I think I can play at this level; but at the same time I need to keep working. That’s 100 percent guaranteed. I’m very fortunate to have ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) in the room, a ton of years of experience to help me grow. I could definitely learn things from Luke (Falk) too. I think we have a very good quarterback room and that helps me try to become a better player and do whatever our team really needs.”
(Being here growing up, you probably dreamed of something like this. I know it’s the NFL and it’s a business, but what’s it like to play here?) – “The first three days out on the field, it’s pretty cool. I don’t know if you guys know this – the stands, they’ve been there for a while. (laughter) We didn’t have the cover when I was a kid, but I’ve been to those fall camps sitting in those stands with my Dad. It’s just really cool. I’m sure it will get a little more surreal later, but I think you’re just so focused, you don’t always have time to think about it until you guys obviously like to remind me and have me reminisce and all that.”
(You mean there’s no moment like when there’s going to be fans here and you come out as a Miami Dolphin, and I know half the fans in the area will probably be here to see you?) – “We’ll see. When that comes, we’ll cross that bridge when it gets here. I’m definitely excited for the opportunity to be here and work with these guys and try to improve.”
(What do you hope to accomplish?) – “In general? Right now, I’m just trying to get in the playbook, understand things and mesh well with our guys. I think that’s a big thing too, understanding strengths of our guys and what they can do. I just have to learn. Right now, that’s the biggest thing – learning and continuous improvement and get a little bit better every single day.”
(I know you saw Dan Marino probably when you were in high school. He was on the sidelines a few times. To walk out there and Dan Marino is out there…) – “It’s cool. I’ve kind of got to know him a little bit over the years, growing up down here. I got to kind of know him a little bit. Now seeing him every day, it’s a little different. It’s super cool, especially a guy like that. Retired number, everything he’s done – it’s just really cool to have a guy in there giving us input, helping to try to improve each one of our games.”
(Has he given you feedback on your game? Has he watched you and given you views on areas?) – “A while ago. Way before I got in the league, I came for a local day and we talked a little bit. It’s very cool just to have a legend like that in the room with you.”
(Having only three quarterbacks here right now and there’s not a lot of guys at running back, you’re getting a lot of reps I would assume. Is it very important to get as much as you can in early here?) – “I think we’re very fortunate that the new staff allows us to get that extra week. These last three days of work have been huge, especially for me trying to develop and learn a whole new system. Every guy is in this boat trying to learn and improve, and I think that’s the best thing about it is we can actually get on the field and kind of put it into practice as opposed to sit in the room – ‘What would you do?’ ‘I would do this, I’d go left, I’d go right.’ Actually doing it on the field, it’s a whole other animal, so it’s pretty great we can come out here.”
(Having a guy like QB Ryan Fitzpatrick who’s been around for a while and he has a personality, I’m sure he’s been blunt with you guys?) – “Ryan has no personality. (laughter) No, it’s awesome. What does he have, a decade and a half of experience? That’s unbelievable. I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve had great quarterback rooms back in Detroit and here. Fitz has done a great job of just helping me and he’s so open to questions and giving input even if I don’t ask. That’s awesome for a guy like me.”
(This team is almost unique in that the quarterback position is so wide open, not just this year but into the future and obviously you as a young player. How does that affect your view of what you can accomplish and your opportunity that you’re going to get?) – “Honestly, right now it’s trying to have a good day today. I think that’s as far forward as I can look, honestly. It’s kind of how I’ve always been. You have to focus on having a good day today, and then right now it’s how good can I be in the meeting room. Can I get better? And improve from there. Obviously, we can always speculate in the future, but it’s kind of good to have that small, short mindset for me personally.”
(How have you done the last three days?) – “I think I’ve done alright. I’ve (done) one some good stuff, done some bad stuff. (I’m) still learning. It’s a game and you have to learn the new offense and schemes and all that stuff. Definitely one thing I want to do is continue to improve. I think that’s what everybody wants to do, for sure.”
