Jaylen Waddle – July 27, 2023
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Thursday, July 27, 2023
WR Jaylen Waddle
(What’s it like going out there and competing against guys like CB Jalen Ramsey?) – “It’s great. He had a great play on me, a special play today on me, so going up there and competing against a guy like that, that caliber each and every day; you don’t have a choice but to bring it and he is just special. He brings a different dynamic to our team so it’s always good playing with great special players like that.”
(After that play did you guys interact? What were you guys saying to each other?) – “We were just giving each other – just where I can get better at, what he’s seeing from his perspective that made him make the play. So he was just helping me out. OG to a younger guy, so he was just helping me out.”
(That was a play that worked for you guys yesterday, so I guess outside of CB Jalen Ramsey making a great play I guess, what were some things that made it different or better this time around or maybe better yesterday?) – “No, just another day of practice, of getting the rust out. First practice kind of getting back in the flow of things, people starting to hit their stride a little more today and just continuing to get better and get familiar with each other’s games and stuff like that.”
(How do you think WR Tyreek Hill is doing? I know he had that off-field incident. Now he’s been a little quiet in the first two days, but how do you feel he’s kind of doing from a mindset standpoint?) – “He’s great. He’s a great professional. He comes in, has great energy each and every day and when he hits the field, he’s a special player so that’s what we look for. He’s a leader, he’s a captain and he’s a special, special person, not even a special player.”
(You were talking about some of those battles earlier. Whether it’s CB Jalen Ramsey or CB Xavien Howard. Do y’all get excited about them like maybe we do as far as maybe what the one-on-ones, or the team drills look like?) – “Yeah, but you know we see each other so much throughout the day and the week so when we get out there, it’s always exciting. Maybe y’all get more excited than we do because we’ll just be out there, but when it’s time to compete, we’re trying to go at each other for sure.”
(Do y’all keep tally of “all right, I got you three times in practice?”) – “No, some people be on it one day. They’re going to have their days, we’re going to have our days, but it’s the NFL. You’re going to get locked up, you’re going to get routed up. You can do anything. It’s great players.”
(WR Tyreek Hill set his goal – 2,000 yards – what are your individual goals for this upcoming season?) – “Just be more consistent. I think I had a lot of ups and downs last season so just staying consistent throughout the whole season is kind of my goal for this year.”
(You got stronger this offseason. How are you feeling with the added muscle?) – “I’m feeling good. I’m feeling great. Put on some pounds, been in the weight room a lot more so I’m feeling good.”
(You mentioned pounds. Are you ready to tell us how much you put on?) – “Not yet. I want y’all – I need to get a good impact on somebody and y’all be like, ‘yeah, yeah, that’s that weight he’s talking about.’”
(WR Tyreek Hill mentioned how much he feels more comfortable in the offense here in the second year. How do you feel you’ve grown in the second year of the playbook?) – “Yeah, you just get more familiar. You kind of get a feel of Coach McDaniel’s – what he’s going to call, more detailed on the little things that they really hone-in on. So just getting a year under your belt to really lock in on the little stuff and this offense, it’s all about little fine details. So just locking in on that is key. I think we’re all doing a great job of just continuing to learn.”
(We all saw what happened at the end there with CB Jalen Ramsey leaving on the cart. How concerning is that for you and did you get a good look at what happened?) – “I actually didn’t. That’d be more of a question for someone else. I really didn’t get a good look on it, but I know Ramsey is a tough player.”
(I know you talked about getting bigger and stronger. How much bigger are you weight-wise or just body or muscle, I should say?) – “I think that’s GQ-classified. Can’t tell you all that, but hopefully y’all can see it in these arms, these legs. (laughter) And me running and stuff, but GQ-classified.”
(Were there plays last year you went back and looked at the tape with Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker or even you noticed yourself and said, “gee, I wish I would’ve been able to break that tackle.” Was that something that you noticed or saw?) – “Oh yeah, definitely. You kind of get that feeling throughout the year especially later in the year going through a whole bunch of games, but that’s just keeping up with your body and how important the pounds are to continue to take those type of hits throughout the season from safeties and linebackers and all different type of players.”
(Is that the biggest thing where you think adding the weight and the muscle could help break tackles?) – “Not necessarily just breaking tackles. It’s just a long season. Just having those extra pounds just to withhold and stay healthy throughout the whole season.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel had mentioned yesterday how the offense was like a foreign language last year. QB Tua Tagovailoa had to learn to communicate. Where is your comfort level with the offense and overall …) – “I’m very comfortable, like I said. It’s just getting more familiar with the play calls, getting familiar with Mike (McDaniel) on call. Kind of getting a feel of what he’s thinking inside. I’ve been playing with Tua (Tagovailoa) for a while now so I’ve kind of got a good grasp of his thoughts. So it’s just another year with the same coaches so that’s big.”
(I know last year, late in the season there was maybe snap issues as far as the play clock and stuff like that. Do you think the comfort helps in some of those categories as far as getting to the line and moving a little faster?) – “Definitely. All that just hones into the little small details that I really think that we’re zoning in on especially this offseason. They’re emphasizing how important procedure is and getting a good grasp on it before we make it a habit.”
(How have you seen QB Skylar Thompson kind of take a little next step year in his first couple practices?) – “I love Skylar honestly. I love how confident he is. He’s got a strong arm and he knows it so he believes he can make every throw and we believe in him, too, so I love his game. I love his confidence.”
(What have you seen from CB Cam Smith so far?) – “Man, Cam (Smith) is great. I think he’s really finding his stride now, getting into training camp, starting to get more familiar with the calls and being in his stance and kind of honing in on trusting what he sees, so Cam’s been great. He’s giving us great looks out there. I think he’s going to be a great player for a long time in this league.”
(I know you know QB Tua Tagovailoa very well. Have you seen much difference in him in particular this offseason? Has anything changed in your view?) – “He got an arm sleeve. (laughter) That was pretty unique to see. So that’s like the biggest thing, but no, Tua has been great like he knows the offense, knows it very well. So he’s just continuing to be a great leader and look to him and he’s our captain, our leader, so he’s just been great.”
