Jordan Cameron – June 2, 2016
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Thursday, June 2, 2016
Tight End Jordan Cameron
(On if he was frustrated about not maximizing his receiving skills last season and if he thinks that will change under Head Coach Adam Gase) – “No, this is one of those questions we were talking about probably going to get asked. My mindset is all on this year. I have a whole new offense to learn. That’s in the past and right now I’m just focusing on getting this offense down and getting the details down in this position and this new scheme. So that’s my mindset right now. The past is the past and I’m not worried about it.”
(On if the message from Head Coach Adam Gase has been about maximizing the tight ends in the passing game and if that excites him) – “If you look at his offenses in the past, they use the tight end. But like I said, it’s one of those things right now (where) we’re not game planning and scheming. We’re not going to put everything in that we’re going to do for the tight ends. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re kind of in the basic stages right now so I’m hoping that would be the case. If that’s what this team needs, then that’s what I’ll do. But I have a very cliché mindset about all of this. I’m doing my job right now and that’s what I can control.”
(On if he’s gone back and watched film of Denver and Chicago tight ends and how Head Coach Adam Gase involved the tight ends there) – “(Head Coach Adam Gase) does a good job of putting them in spots to succeed. There are a lot of times you want to get coverage indicators and you put a tight end out wide and you see who’s guarding you. If it is a linebacker, you know it’s man to man. Stuff like that. So he does a good job of putting guys in positions to win and finding the mismatches.”
(On the importance of tempo in this offense) – “It’s very important. We’re stressing right now our tempo, our speed of this offense. Playing in this heat has to be a positive factor for us. We’re the ones conditioning in this every day and it’s one of those things that we have to use it to (our) advantage. The other teams don’t have the ability to train in this heat and it’s no joke. I think it’s one of those things that, if we’re in shape and we work on this tempo that he stresses so much, it will be definitely a thing for us that will help us in the future.”
(On his first meeting with Head Coach Adam Gase and if he said anything that made him feel good about his future in Miami) — “No. I mean I’m still here, so I think that says it all.”
(On how difficult it was for him to take a pay cut) – “It’s one of those things. It doesn’t feel good but at the same time I didn’t do much to deserve … Last year, if you want to talk about last year here’s what I’ll say about it. I didn’t do much to deserve a raise. I’ll tell you that much. For me, this year, having a year with (Head Coach) Adam Gase and knowing what he’s done with tight ends, I’m looking forward to it. I have a lot of work to do so I’m not going to say I’m going to be this guy (or) I’m going to be this player. I’m just going to do my job today and I’ll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.”
(On where he is at with his chemistry with QB Ryan Tannehill) – “It’s always a work in progress. We get better every day. It’s one of those things (where) you have a new offense so we’re learning the timing of the routes. He’s learning the timing of the routes. That’s why these OTAss and these minicamps are so important. We have to go full speed and maximize each day and (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase keeps talking about emptying the tank and I think we’ve doing that. I think this offense has been driving and grinding the last two weeks.”
(On whether timing of the routes is a rhythmic, spacing or pacing thing) – “All of it. There is a lot going on with this offense, especially being (in this) scheme. There’s a lot so each route is different. Each route changes with an adjustment with the defense with the way the defensive end is playing. There are just little timing things that you can only work on full speed. You can’t do it in a walk-through. It’s not going to be the same. These things – the fact that we have these practices and we had a minicamp to start – are huge to just to get the foundation of the timing down. It’s like you said. The patience on a route is different than this route so we have to get the timing (down). And each player is different and each player has different footsteps so it’s a lot to work on.”
(On if the quarterback or tight end carries most of the burden) – “It’s definitely both of us. I mean if his timing’s on and mine is off, it looks bad on him but it’s my fault. It’s one of those things we both have to be on the same page and it’s just all about going full speed and maximizing and I keep saying (it), emptying the tank. That’s what we have to work on so we can do it during the week and it’s not going to be weird or strange on Sundays because we’ve been doing it the whole year.”
(On tempo and how much communication comes into play) – “That’s the name of the game – it’s communicating. That comes in preparation during the week and understanding where guys are and understanding where you are in this offense. I think we’re in that stage now where communication is huge. Everyone’s not 100 percent dialed in on the offense so we need to talk to each other about lining up and where this ball is going to go. So we talk about it and we have to make it translate to the field and that’s the stage we’re in now.”
(On if he’s seen anything from TE Thomas Duarte) – “He hasn’t been here. I think the UCLA guys are on some other schedule. I don’t know about those guys.”
(On if he feels he is a better blocker now than when he arrived in Miami) – “Definitely. I think that’s something that we’ve been, especially in these last couple of weeks, our (Tight Ends) Coach Shane Day has been doing a great job of pushing that and the technique. And just getting out there and being physical and aggressive and just having the right technique and everything. And not being sloppy with it.”
(On if he’s talked to Dan Campbell) – “Yeah, we talked I want to say a couple of weeks ago. He’s doing (well). He’s a great guy. I can’t say enough good things about him. As good as he is as a coach, he’s a better man and I think that says a lot about Dan (Campbell) and everyone loved him. He’ll do a great job in New Orleans.”
(On if it is too premature to see subtle differences with QB Ryan Tannehill in the new offense) – “I think it’s too premature to say that. You could tell he’s more vocal, I would say. His abilities, he has so much ability. He can run the ball. He can throw the ball. He can do a lot and he’s very smart. All of those things are very positive and he’s kind of stepping into that role and understanding how powerful he can be. I think he’s going to do some special things. Like we all do, we have a lot of work to do. He’s willing to put the work in so that’s what you want to see out of your starting quarterback.”
(On if was there something that was said to sway him to take a pay cut) – “I got a lot of phone calls regarding (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase and his ability to maximize guys and their potential and get everything out of them. One of my good friends is (TE) Julius Thomas, who played for him (in Denver). He called me immediately and said you have to play for this guy. It was one of those … it was kind of like a no brainer. I’ve had a lot of conversations about him and what he can do. It was kind of the things I heard about Coach Gase (that helped make my decision) and I think I made the right decision.”
(On Head Coach Adam Gase and how he has re-energized the building) – “(Gase is) a fresh face in the building and his energy and he’s young and he’s very vibrant and he gets players – which helps for us. He has so much confidence in his ability to call plays and set up an offense and that’s kind of contagious and I think (our) guys feed off that. When he’s calling a play, you just feel like, I don’t know, you can’t really describe it. He’s definitely a player’s coach and he gets it. He knows how to communicate to us and he’s very black and white, which is good. It’s been awesome so far. We’re in the beginning stages and we have a lot of work to do but I think we’ve definitely gotten off on the right foot.”
