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Kamu Grugier-Hill – August 21, 2020 Download PDF version

Friday, August 21, 2020

LB Kamu Grugier-Hill

(I saw you had posted a video on Instagram with you and QB Tua Tagovailoa singing. I wanted to know how it is to have another Hawaiian brother on the team and kind of how you guys have developed that relationship.) – “I love it, man. I can’t lie to you. It’s awesome. For a long time, I’ve been the only guy being from home – being so far away from home – so having someone here with me that kind of grew up the same way as me, it’s awesome. We get to talk and joke a lot about how we grew up. It’s even funnier because our high schools – even though he’s a lot younger than me – are rival high schools, so we get to joke about that a little bit. It’s awesome. I love it.”

(I’m a little bit curious with you and QB Tua Tagovailoa getting along so well, is that kind of the same vibe you have in the locker room in general? And if so, why do you think this team’s personalities are meshing so well, so early?) – “Definitely. I think this locker room is a young team. Everyone’s hungry. Everyone’s coming in and wanting to work. I think it’s easy when everyone is so young and around the same age and stuff like that, for the team to kind of have a lot in common. It’s just a real friendly, family-oriented locker room, so it’s good.”

(I’ve been to Hawaii many times and obviously I’ve lived down here in South Florida for a while now. I’m wondering what parts you might be finding similar to home?) – “So obviously I was in Philly for the last four years, which is nothing like back home. So being here is definitely very similar. I was even driving around and I was just like, ‘Dang, that kind of looks a little bit like how back home looks,’ in certain areas. I just love the tropical weather, the warm weather. It’s hard to beat. It’s not home but it’s pretty close.”

(I wanted to ask you about the intricacies of the defense. Obviously this is your first time in Head Coach Brian Flores’ scheme. How similar or un-similar is it to stuff you were doing in Philadelphia, and the biggest challenges?) – “I think it’s very different but I love it, and it’s a big reason why I’m even here. There’s so many different things that we can do with this defense and it really keeps everyone very diverse and asks everyone to do multiple things. That’s exciting for me. It’s very different, but I’m getting used to it and I’m loving it.”

(I’m wondering if you still have most or all of your family in Hawaii and if so, how difficult must it be for them to watch you play in person?) – “I’m actually the only person in my family that ever left Hawaii and truthfully, I never even left Hawaii until I went to college, so that was a big step for me. But ever since I’ve left, I’m either in-season or we’re in the offseason and training; but the second I get a chance, I’m usually back home. This last year, I had to do some rehab and stuff, so I wasn’t able to get home; and obviously with this COVID stuff, it’s been difficult. But yeah, I love when my family comes out and when they do because it’s so far that they stay for like two or three weeks, which is a nice change of pace. It’s nice but it’s been hard. It’s definitely been hard this year.”

(The Dolphins have a couple of corners at safety and you’re a guy who I know earlier in your career played safety, and now you’re a linebacker. Is that kind of an indication of where the league is going? What are you sensing in terms of the emphasis on pass coverage skills?) – “I can’t really speak for anyone else in the league but just from my view of things, you go into a game and teams are passing the ball almost 40-50 times a game. I think there’s a huge emphasis on the pass and passing downs. I wouldn’t say that it’s more important, but I think guys are being asked to do more. You’re not seeing the typical 260-pound (line)backer anymore that are on the field for all three downs.”

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