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Minkah Fitzpatrick – July 27, 2018 Download PDF version

Friday, July 27, 2018

S Minkah Fitzpatrick

(How much more real does this feel as opposed to OTAs or minicamps or rookie camps or any of that stuff?) – “All of that felt real. I was wearing a Dolphins uniform, living in Miami, so it all felt real. I’m just enjoying every single thing, every single day, day to day; but like I said, it’s been real since my name was called at the draft.”

(I see Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke coming over and talking to you a lot. How much are the coaches in your ear here to make sure you’ve got things right, just mentally, as opposed to also physical?) – “They’ve got me moving around a little bit so they know it could be kind of hard. So they’re trying their best just to make sure I understand all of the concepts because the more I understand the concepts, the more I can move around. So they’re just trying to make sure that I understand the game, the concept and what we’re trying to do. So they’ve helped me out a whole lot.”

(What’s it like coming in as a first-round pick and having veterans around you and having to mix in with them at the same time?) – “It’s not new. It’s almost the same thing like in college. It’s just a little bit different. It’s not that much different but you just come in and you’re a rookie and you don’t say much. Somebody said a rookie isn’t supposed to be heard, he’s just supposed to be seen. That’s it and that’s kind of how I approach it. I go in there, I sit in my locker, listen to everybody talk, observe, see what they’re doing and I just follow and lead where I can lead.”

(Do you feel like you’re being seen?) – “Yes. I think I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. The older guys see me working. They see me doing what I’m supposed to do. Like I said, I’m just not trying to be extremely vocal right now. I’m just trying to observe and learn from everybody else (like) the older guys – Reshad (Jones), T.J. (McDonald), ‘X’ (Xavien Howard), Bobby (McCain) and all of thos guys – and keep me pushing.”

(Where specifically have you progressed since you got here?) – “I would just say understanding the game. I had an understanding of the college football game. In the pros, it’s a little bit different. So I just have to understand the game, break down different games from last year, watch film with the coaches and just learning. I’m learning every single day. I think that’s the main difference in me. I’m an athlete, so not too much is going to change there; but just understanding the small things about this concept, this scheme, this defense and the NFL game overall.”

(When they’re playing you guys with three safeties, does that take some adjusting to get you set? Or is that pretty natural?) – “It’s pretty natural. We haven’t really played too many three safety looks. We play like two safeties and a nickel or two safeties and an extra corner or something like that. We haven’t done too much three safety stuff.”

(You haven’t been on the field with S Reshad Jones and S T.J. McDonald at the same time up to this point?) – “No.”

(Is starting important to you as a rookie?) – “It is, just because I’m used to playing. I’m going to go out there and work my hardest to earn that starting spot. It is important to me.”

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