Mike McDaniel – December 18, 2023
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Monday, December 18, 2023
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(We were just talking about how difficult it must be to play football with a broken nose.) – “Yes. That’s not for everybody. (laughter) Two gauzes? What’s funny – so the information flows on like a need-to-know basis during the game. Generally, you would find out as a head coach that someone had a broken nose. But with Andrew Van Ginkel, I think it speaks to the prerequisite toughness and kind of the guy is, because he was just like, alright gauze it up and let’s go, I never knew about it until I saw his face. Have you guys seen him? I mean, it’s two – so I was like what happened to him? ‘Oh yeah, he broke his nose.’”
(With OL Austin Jackson, is there any concern that the oblique could be as serious as what LB Jaelan Phillips went through where I think he missed three out of four games? And with CB Xavien Howard, was he close to playing with the hip yesterday or is he more week to week?) – “With Austin, I would say that it’s not – the timeframe isn’t what Jaelan Phillips’ was. It’s not as severe. However, we’re going to have to see how he progresses during the week. So day-to-day I would say, with some optimism, but there’s a lot of unknown. Then I guess there’s a new gradient that you guys could use. Inherently to me, if you are working a player out before the game, inherently, they’re close. If you are taking it to the game day and putting them through a workout, for me, that is close enough that you couldn’t rule it out. As far as how it progresses during the week, we’ll take that a day at a time. But I think with the guys that we’re working out before the game, that lets you know that it’s close because if it wasn’t close, we wouldn’t be working them out.”
(FB Alec Ingold just mentioned that he believes RB Raheem Mostert’s record-setting touchdown football is headed to Canton. How cool is that? Did you get notified that that was happening?) – “No. That’s really cool. Especially with a player that I have so much history with, I can remember the first time that he had – he’s always had internal confidence, because it’s the only way you can sustain in the league when everyone tells you you’re not good enough. But with the 49ers, Green Bay 2018 at Green Bay, I can remember the first time that I saw it click in his eyes that it’s not just internal belief; I am a good running back and here’s the tape to show you. The journey has been long so I’m very invested in his story. I just know how many obstacles or points of adversity he had to persevere through to be here this year. Then on top of that, the season that he’s having on the heels of every single one of you guys were trying to get us to trade for a running back all year. Right? No? (laughter) There was just a lot of talk about – he doesn’t bring that up, but you just know that people have ears. So that noise, it’s cool for him to have the season he’s having. And one thing that I can tell you, just because there has been some individual success stories and some statistics that have garnered – there’s just some guys that have been producing, is that the team is really proud of having a hand in it. He knows that it takes 11 people to orchestrate a football run play or a pass play on every down. But the team takes pride in it. The team was happy for him. He had a violent spike, but players were aware to (see) is the ball in the stands or not? Just knowing that was a big deal. It is about as cool as it gets.”
(How likely is it that you will have your starting safeties intact for Sunday?) – “We started two safeties that did a great job. In terms of the guys that were out this game, talking about (Jevon Holland) and (DeShon Elliott), right? We’ll continue to take it day by day with Jevon (Holland). I’m proud of him because he is earning his captainship. He already had earned it, obviously, by his teammates voting for him consecutive years, but it’s a special thing to be a very good player or an elite player at your position in the National Football League. It’s a different feather in your cap when you’re able to make people better when you’re not playing. He was just a coach on the field all game day. He’s been tirelessly trying to get back, so his body will tell him and us when it’s ready to go. But I can promise you that he’s been as diligent as anyone really going after that. Then DeShon (Elliott), he’s been progressing well and we’re anticipating those final stages (of concussion protocol). But again, with concussions, unfortunately, we’re well-versed in that and I just want to make sure that he’s good to go and don’t really worry about a timeline. But very optimistic as you can tell.”
(There’s obviously a long list of injuries we’re trying to get through. DE Emmanuel Ogbah is another one I don’t think we addressed yesterday. What happened to him?) – “Soft tissue. It should be day-to-day. We’ll see for this week.”
(You know the narrative of this team’s record against other contenders is going to resurface this week and down the final stretch because every game remaining is one of those types of games. What are your thoughts leading into this final stretch?) – “Not much. The thoughts are firmly with getting better from this previous game and as I talked to the team today, I instructed the players that anything other than to concern yourself with the next opponent, which for us is the Dallas Cowboys, any other narrative that has to do with good teams or playoff seeds or the next three games, all that stuff; I gave them the clearance to tell all members of the media to – with all due respect – eff off, with all due respect. (laughter) Because all we’re focused on is the Dallas Cowboys and they definitely deserve our attention. So as we clean up our game from the previous, we’ll be thinking about that, and the narratives will be what they be and we’re not really concerned. We now that’s going to exist but it’s really inconsequential for what we’re trying to do.”
(In both games against the Jets this year, it seems like the quick game and the running game, you guys were able to get on the perimeter in both those contests. I was curious to hear your perspective on TE Durham Smythe’s contributions to that?) – “He’s a player that in a year and a half, you’d be hard-pressed to earn and garner more respect from me as a coach. He’s really carved out a very important role for how we do a lot of things, whether that is in the run game, in pass protection or converting a critical third down, which I think he was responsible for two first downs. And so every time he’s on the field, he’s a big part of what we do. There’s a lot on his plate on a week-to-week basis. He goes above and beyond for the team. Sometimes in install, we’ll have a play up in two different personnel groups. One, he’s the primary target in one personnel group and in the other personnel group, he’s not the primary target and I’ll ask him in front of the group, ‘hey, which personnel is better to run this play in?’ And he’s like, ‘I think both are great.’ That’s how he approaches everything he is. He’s the consummate Miami Dolphin because he is just trying to do whatever it takes for the team to win.”
(Have you crossed paths at all with Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy? I’m sure over the years you have, but what is your thoughts on him as a coach and the path he’s taken?) – “I think obviously he’s been a fixture in the National Football League for a while and that’s justified because he’s on many different teams, found the successful formula to reach them. He’s been the head coach of numerous gigantic games and the only way you do that is if you’re adept at your job and I’ve been very impressed how he’s molded this particular team and this particular franchise into his own. He does a great job with that and I think one of the big indicators that I always hope to strive for is to have players that believe in you and every time I hear players talk about him, there’s definitely belief behind their eyes and their words. So he’s done a great job there. They’re a double-digit win football team and I think they’re going through something that six days ago, we went through. So history has told me that he’s going to have his guys ready to play hungry as well as Coach (Dan) Quinn and all the guys.”
(Is activating RB Chris Brooks a simple decision to do so by tomorrow and also OL Isaiah Wynn, is he out for the season or is there some possibility he comes back?) – “I think Chris Brooks, he’s gotten himself to a pretty good place. Watching him on a day-to-day basis, he’s – rookies especially you go through a season at the NFL level and it’s so many games. It’s so long. But in that, you can see guys that are capable of transitioning from okay, I’m a rookie, well maybe I’m not a rookie anymore, maybe I’m something between a rookie and a second-year guy. That maturation and understanding what it takes to execute stuff at the NFL level, guys can depend on him. They trust him and his strain and effort is something that adds value to the team, so it’s an easy decision to have him up or have him activated.”
(OL Isaiah Wynn?) – “Yeah, again, I don’t like to completely shut the door on anything. What I do know is he’s been doing well and I haven’t been really worried about a timeline for both us and him. So it’s not really on my radar at this time. I’m not really looking for – I’ve got enough injuries on the plate. What I do know is I see him in his process and he’s going about it diligently.”
(With OL Robert Hunt, do you think he needs another week of just rest and sitting out with the hamstring before you think about bringing him back?) – “I’d like to see how he develops this week. I’m not going to rule that out. I’m just optimistic that it’s going to turn the corner and he’s going to feel good. So I’m just watching him do his diligent work as he desperately wants to be with his teammates. I think he’s showing them that.”
(CB Cam Smith?) – “Another soft tissue. He had an injury in training camp that he showed his teammates his internal toughness and fortitude, he came back pretty quick. Really it’s day-to-day, but I’m optimistic about him.”
(WR Jaylen Waddle’s injury didn’t worsen overnight or anything did it?) – “No. He’s just a tough guy that has a high pain tolerance but is feeling a little sore today.”
