Zach Sieler – November 24, 2024 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 24, 2024
Postgame – New England Patriots
Dolphins DT Zach Sieler
Q. Take us through that strip sack and then seeing Jordyn Brooks pick it up after.
ZACH SIELER: Yeah, we made a great call right there off of what’s been going on earlier in the game and how to work through that, the scheme and the protections they’d been giving us. So I was able to work with one of the guys in the middle and kind of delay some stuff, and I was able to get to that gap on the backside and just the big thing I was trying to make sure of because a lot of these scrambling quarterbacks you don’t want to take a full shot and work through them because they can get off or they’ll throw it down, so I was trying to get that backside arm and was able to get the ball with it, then Jordan to be able to pick it up and get a few yards.
Q. How does it feel to see these pass rush wins turn into sacks after for a while they weren’t especially for a guy like Chop Robinson?
ZACH SIELER: Yeah, I think in general, and all the stuff up front only can happen because of what the guys are doing in the back end. Rushing coverage is one of our biggest staples. We talked about it Day 1 with (Jalen) Ramsey, (Jordan) Poyer, (Jevón) Holland, Storm (Duck) and all these guys that are stepping up and doing amazing jobs back there, allowing us to be able to get to the passer. But seeing Chop, just the games he’s had and the game he had today is incredible. I have all the respect to him. He’s just a testament to just putting his head down and working and just listening from older guys and taking their teachings.
Q. You were looking at 2-6 with a big climb. To get to where you are now, I’m wondering if you can reflect on what it took to get to these three wins and also look forward to Thursday night when you have a pretty big test.
ZACH SIELER: Obviously 2-6 is tough, but we still have a long way to go. Now we’re 5-6. So it’s not like we’re not in the clean. We’re not out of the hole. And we’ve still got our backs against the wall. I think that mindset when we went to 2-6 and getting some guys back and being able to work off each other and getting our stuff – taking the extra hours to get our techniques and our fundamentals together and working as one unit is really showing up the last few weeks, and it’s something we’ve got to carry through the rest of the season and hopefully post.
Q. When this team was struggling, it seemed like it couldn’t play complementary football, but when you see the offense doing well, is the defense wanting to do well and just that synergy that’s happened the last few weeks to get these wins. What’s that like for you guys?
ZACH SIELER: Yeah, I think that’s the biggest thing where when you can put a game together like this where you have all three phases – offense, defense and special teams – and to be able to play as one, it shows what we feel we’ve been able to do since Day 1. And we need to be able to do this every week and do whatever it takes each week to get to this point and execute every weekend and Thursday.
Q. What have you seen out of Chop Robinson over the last month?
ZACH SIELER: So the last month, a lot of guys talk about a rookie wall, and I’ve seen him just work everything he can since Day 1 to not have that happen to him, and I feel like he’s only going up right now. He’s taking tips from (Emmanuel) Ogbah, Calais (Campbell), (Bradley) Chubb, (Jaelan) Phillips when he was around in the room with them and just really working through everything he can to not have that happen to him and as well as just improve his game and accelerate the college-to-NFL transition, and I think it’s been showing up amazing these last few weeks.
Q. Do you let yourself kind of think about, oh my, we get Chubb back, we could really have something here?
ZACH SIELER: I respect the heck out of (Bradley) Chubb. I cannot wait to see him out there. Obviously we were together last year a lot of the same side, and we want to think about each week. I don’t know what his story is. He can do his thing and work however he can, and I know he’s working as hard as he can to get back and I can’t wait for the day if and when he does. But we’ve got Green Bay in four days.
Q. Obviously New England had a different quarterback last time. What did you learn about this Patriots’ offense in the first meeting that you kind of used to your advantage today?
ZACH SIELER: I think it’s obviously a new quarterback and I think he’s going to be a great quarterback. He’s got a lot of gifts and abilities and as he’s working through this year and learning, I think it’s going to be a lot of battles in the future. I’m excited for that.
Q. What do you do for with four days until another NFL game? How do you get your body prepared?
ZACH SIELER: Ice tub. Ice tub. Normatec, massage, a lot of stuff like that. And Calais has taught me a lot extra, just different things that he’s learned through the years, as well, to be ready, and stuff starts last week, too because you really think about it, from last Thursday, which is usually your big day in the NFL with our team, is you’ve got two games in seven days. So really you’ve got to start ahead of time without looking into the next game.
Q. Speaking of ice, it’s supposed to be pretty cold on Thursday. Mentally how do you prepare to play in an environment like that?
ZACH SIELER: I try to not think about it at all. Obviously growing up, up north, playing games in the upper, upper thumb of the upper peninsula in November at Ferris, outdoors. I’ve played a lot of games like that and there’s some tips and things that you can do, but in reality it’s just go out there and play. The biggest thing is just keeping loose, not letting anything get tight.
Q. Are you glad they didn’t trade Calais?
ZACH SIELER: There’s no one’s game I’ve come to respect more than Calais’s up front on the d-line, being with him this year and just the energy, the attitude and the mindset he brings every week. It can’t be matched, and that’s the reason why he is who he is today and doing what he’s doing at 17 years.
Q. How much of a lift was it for this entire franchise when Tua came back? Obviously the turnaround in the offense is apparent, but does that seep over to the defense, too?
ZACH SIELER: Absolutely. Just the energy that you have, the competition and team, going good-on-good or whatever it is during the week, and just really kind of honing – iron sharpens iron, and having Tua with his energy and everything he’s got going on back there offensively has just been incredible. Just to rally off of that on both sides of the ball is incredible. We talk about complementary football, so when they’re doing that, we can do our thing, and vice versa. You want to have a team that’s well rounded that can pick each other up on both sides of the ball and really work together to win games.
-DOLPHINS-
Mike McDaniel – November 24, 2024 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 24, 2024
Postgame – New England Patriots
Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Q. What impressed you about Tua’s performance?
MIKE McDANIEL: I think it was another game where he’s found a way to improve the way that he plays the position throughout the game. In previous years, we’ve just spent a lot of time talking about the most monumental thing that you have to overcome as a quarterback, which is playing the position regardless of the ebbs and flows of motion. So not changing how you play based upon positive or negative results and letting every play stand on its own. I think since maybe the Buffalo game on, I think he’s really taken a step forward in that direction, so him playing at the level that I think that he has the last couple games was a feat in and of itself because it’s become more of the norm and not the exception. I think making the plays that he needs to make, understanding the progressions and how to get completions, when to extend plays – he came in at halftime frustrated that there was too many hands, as he put it, on a couple of those red zone opps where he almost turned the ball over, and was frustrated with himself but then moved on. That’s the key for our team is when you have a confident player touching the ball every play that is impervious to the emotions of the game, good or bad, as a collective unit, you can be a problem for people to defend.
Q. How important was WR Jaylen Waddle getting the opportunities he had and coming through with those opportunities?
MIKE McDANIEL: I think one of my favorite things about this game that I’ll remember is Waddle has been taking his route running, his release work, the nuances of the receiver position, and he’s had so much growth over the last month and a half while also fielding questions left and right, whether it’s in the media or even at home, like where is the production, where is the production, where is the production. To get better when the ball isn’t coming your way so that you’re aptly prepared when the ball does, it’s everything that I believe in, everything that – it was an earned game for him. He got the opportunities and because his mind has been in the right spot where he’s been focused on what he can control and not all the other noise, he was able to really make some big-time plays in those moments. It’s something that I don’t think people truly spend the time really putting themselves into receivers’ shoes. In the National Football League, especially if you’re one of the better receivers in the league, you have expectations of output that you have no – a lot of times you have no ability to control. A lot of players get worse from situations like that. He’s been eager to help the team win, and he’s been doing that week in, week out, by plays off the ball or plays when he doesn’t have the ball. For him to make some plays on the ball this game was much deserved, and we had a lot of teammates that are fired up for him.
Q. You’re not one to duck narratives, reality, or whatever. We’ve been waiting 11 months, 12 months, whatever it is, to see you in a cold weather game again. You’ve gotten back in the mix. You won the three games you had to. What’s next for the Miami Dolphins this week?
MIKE McDANIEL: Well, you’re just going to let me really lean into this victory for a while, huh? (laughter) Yeah, I’m eager for those moments. Just like you’re eager to settle the score if you don’t – if you believe that you’re not just a front-running team, you have to win when there’s some adversity going on. And so instead of just complaining and wallowing in the fact that people say those things, we’ve been able to win some games with our backs against the wall, so to speak. The same thing applies with – I’ve already told the team, there’s two things that will be said until we do something about it, (and that is win games against) good teams and (in) cold weather. It doesn’t bother me in any way, shape or form. We have some plans on how to attack this week, but I relish that opportunity because, yeah, there’s one way to correct that. I know there’s a locker room full of people that believe and are eager to set that narrative straight, but there’s only one way to do it, and there’s only one way you’d want it to be done is you want to go earn that sentiment or maybe some take-back from some people that have strong opinions, or they’re going to be right and it’s your choice as a team. We’ll get started on that tomorrow. Tonight will be less Packers and more Barbies, right Ayla? (laughter)
Q. There was a report this morning that this club was ready to trade DT Calais Campbell to the Ravens and that you stepped in and argued or made the point that he was too valuable to lose.
MIKE McDANIEL: I guess, yes, the offer for compensation for his services was real, and I think it wasn’t like it was Chris (Grier) versus me. It was more that Chris looks at it the way I do, or we work together, and I may or may not have thrown an adult temper tantrum. (laughter) I think you have to look at – that’s the tricky thing about Chris’ job is he has to look long-term and short-term at the same time, what’s the best for the organization, and then he also – we rely on each other for things that I need to be on top of, and one of those is the locker room and what one individual does for an entire team. I think it speaks to Calais because that was a strong compensation for a guy that’s – he just passed the 30-year-old mark. (laughter) It speaks to how he’s playing. It speaks to what he means to the team, that teams would be willing to do that, and there was some competition for that. But yeah, my job is to speak on behalf of what’s the best thing for the 2024 Dolphins. I’m just fortunate to work in an organization where myself and the GM can be transparent and work together, and he didn’t want to see any more adult temper tantrums.
Q. I know the game got out of hand a little bit. Your thoughts on watching QB Drake Maye today, what you saw from him today and throughout the season?
MIKE McDANIEL: Yeah, it was what we kind of prepared for. He had ownership of the game even a little bit more than what had shown on tape. He made some plays in similar fashions that he made on tape. I think when you’re able to be a pocket passer but then extend plays and make teams pay when you’re in man coverage or two man, it’s a problem. He’ll continue to make plays as he gets better and better in the pocket. It’s a guy that honestly, I’m not really rooting for his development, being in the division, but I can appreciate the player, and they have a very good player to work with at that position. We’ll continue to have to be on our stuff.
Q. You pulled your starters for a series there in the fourth quarter and then put them back in after the fumble six. What went into the decision to go back to your starters?
MIKE McDANIEL: Well, personally it’s my least favorite good problem to have is a multiple score lead in the fourth quarter and trying to figure out the perfect scenario. I had a lot of conversations with players that – there were a lot of guys that were resisting coming out, which is a phenomenal thing. That’s exactly what you want. Then I won a couple arguments with some of the players, and then the results of when they weren’t out there, I quickly backpedaled out of that and allowed them to do what they wanted to do from the jump. Guys wanted to stay out there based upon wanting to finish the game and the amount of emphasis that we’ve put on not just starting fast but finishing the way that you start and finishing strong, and although it wasn’t – the fourth quarter wasn’t necessarily completely smooth, there was some positive stuff going on, specifically players that wanted to be on the field and lead us to victory.
Q. There’s obviously a lot of season left, but when you look back to when you were 2-6, what did you guys do right to get to this point to put together this nice stretch?
MIKE McDANIEL: I think starting with the captains and the leadership council in the locker room, guys chose to believe, and that’s hard when everyone is telling you the opposite. They chose to believe. They chose to focus on what matters, which is doing their jobs, and they focused on not getting ahead of themselves and taking it one practice at a time, one meeting at a time. I think you can’t understate – three-game losing streaks in the National Football League feel like an eternity, and we’ve had two of those this season. Like I explained to the team when we were 2-6, it is feast or famine basically with the team, because if you can stay together through all that adversity, generally the season has great things in store because, like life, it’s not about avoiding adversity, it’s about flourishing within it. Or you can lose another game and you can have people – you can have issues left and right. What I’ve seen is guys that have fought for something they’ve believed in starting April 15, 2024. They believed in this team taking a step, taking another step from the two previous seasons. It didn’t start out the way that we were used to, so you really can’t hide. You find out who really believes in what you’re doing, who really believes in each other, and there’s nothing more powerful than us against the world, and sometimes fate allows you to be in those situations. What does that leave us? Our record now is 5-6, and the Packers aren’t going to care about our three-game win streak. The Packers are going to want to make us the team that can’t win in the cold or beat good teams. We’ll have an opportunity on Thursday to either prove them right or wrong, as well as everybody else in front of a bunch of families that are digesting and judgmental. (laughter)
Q. What has LB Chop Robinson’s development done for the defense?
MIKE McDANIEL: It’s been very timely, I’ll tell you that. You hope – you have a lot of forecasting in the draft process. You feel strongly based upon all the work and all the talent, but then it comes down to the human being. The NFL season is brutal for rookies, so to see him come on and continue to have a bigger effect on NFL games, during the period of time where every other football season he’s ever played in his life is ending, it speaks to who he is. It speaks to the entire outside linebacker and edge room, some of the most competitive, relentless players we have on the team, that are as invested in each other as anyone. Man, it’s real cool to see a player handle all of the pressure that comes with being a first-round draft pick on a team that needs the rookie class to produce and to just chop wood every day – see what I did there? (laughter) And get some results that weren’t just earned this week. It’s been earned since the day he was drafted. I’m fired up and can’t wait until this game is his worst game.
-DOLPHINS-
Jaylen Waddle – November 24, 2024 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 24, 2024
Postgame – New England Patriots
Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle
Q. How did it feel just to be so involved in the offense and to have the kind of game that you just had today?
JAYLEN WADDLE: It felt good. Always feels good after a win, having a good game. Having an individually good game don’t mean nothing without a win so that’s always good.
Q. Did you have a sense today might be your day?
JAYLEN WADDLE: No, not really. We’ve got a lot of playmakers on the team, so somebody normally has a day. If it’s not ‘Nu,’ (Jonnu Smith) then it’s ‘Reek,’ then it’s Achane, ‘Heem’ (Raheem Mostert). We’ve got a lot of playmakers. That’s what makes this offense so great. We’ve got guys that can make a play any time.
Q. It sounds like you’ve got good perspective, but it’s got to be hard to be patient because you haven’t gotten the targets in the past and today you really showed up.
JAYLEN WADDLE: I mean, it’s good. I can go back to college when we got a lot of playmakers all over the field. That’s what makes this game so exciting. That’s what brings the fans out, playing with such great talent. So no, it can’t be like that.
Q. You haven’t been frustrated at any point this year?
JAYLEN WADDLE: No, man. I was more frustrated from the losses than individual, me having individual goals or anything. That’s more like a media thing, really.
Q. Speaking of losses and wins, that’s three in a row. As far as wins go, how close do you think you are where you want to be, the type of team week in and week out, especially on offense?
JAYLEN WADDLE: I think we’re headed in the right direction. We’ve got big games coming up ending the year, so it’s important that we start playing our best ball heading into this last stretch of the season.
Q. Have you been seeking anything in terms of confidence, swagger? In the past you’ve played with so much confidence and so much swagger. Did you feel like you recaptured anything today?
JAYLEN WADDLE: No, man, I have the utmost confidence in myself to go out there week in and week out and play to the best of my ability. Never confidence, always got swag for real, for real.
Q. Tua said he’s excited to go up to Green Bay and kill some narratives. This team in cold weather hasn’t had the most success. Do you feel the same way?
JAYLEN WADDLE: Yeah, man. Cold weather game. It’s going to be real football weather. They’re bringing their best. We’re bringing our best. Thursday night football, man, that’s what it’s all about.
Q. Do you feel Jonnu Smith having the success he’s having starts to open things up for you and maybe now Tyreek Hill, too?
JAYLEN WADDLE: Yeah, man, Jonnu has been balling. He’s been tremendous for us in the run game, the pass game. Having the defense worry about him might take someone off of ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill), might take someone off me, opening up in the run game. It’s great having all these playmakers on the team and on the field, man.
Q. How are you celebrating your birthday?
JAYLEN WADDLE: I don’t know, man. My mom didn’t even make it down, sadly, so I’ll probably just watch some Monday Night Football and go to Renzo’s house or something.
Q. How do you think this stretch of games for Tua since he returned from injury, how does it compare to some of his best stretches as a professional in your opinion?
JAYLEN WADDLE: Yeah, man, Tua has been playing great ball. It’s really just him, for real. I can’t even explain it. He comes to work every day, and he just brings that swag, that confidence, and when he goes out there and plays like that, man, it’s just fun.
Q. Take us through that touchdown you scored and the feeling of pretty much capping off the day for you by getting into the end zone.
JAYLEN WADDLE: Yeah, RPO, really. Tua kind of did a no-look that kind of messed me up a little bit, but yeah, man, just had determination. Wes (Welker) has been telling me about getting in the box all week, previous weeks, and just had to fight to get in there for real.
Q. Did you see Stephen Ross did the Waddle again?
JAYLEN WADDLE: I didn’t, I did not. Mr. Ross be hitting it, though. He be hitting it.
Q. Are you waiting for a huge moment or what’s going on with the Waddle?
JAYLEN WADDLE: I don’t know, man. It was getting like out of hand. When I go out in public, people be trying to tell me to do it, so it’s just like, ah.
Q. What do you mean Tua threw you off because of that no-look? Was he looking over there?
JAYLEN WADDLE: Yeah, he was looking probably safety off, create space for me, allowing me to get past him, and I was making some YAC.
Q. Are you saying you’re retiring the Waddle?
JAYLEN WADDLE: I don’t know if retiring. I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s retiring. It needs a break for a little minute.
Tua Tagovailoa – November 24, 2024 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 24, 2024
Postgame – New England Patriots
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
Q. You were able to get the ball to WR Jaylen Waddle early and often today. How much of that was a concerted effort and how much was just a matter of how the game and flow of the game went?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think it was just a matter of how the flow of the game went today with what they wanted to do. We got to see early on and Jaylen (Waddle) had his opportunities and he made use of those opportunities.
Q. For you the way the offense is moving right now, what do you feel different these last few weeks that’s worked that it just seems like everything is there for you in front…?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: It’s just going through the progressions. I think that’s where we’ve taken a step forward in this offense in retrospect to last year, is one and two aren’t there; we’re able to flip our feet, work through the progression and what that entails for us, if he’s open. If not, knowing where our checkdowns are. I think that’s the biggest difference.
Q. Your confidence has to be through the roof right now. What’s it like when you’re on the kind of heater that you’re on right now?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I would say it’s always great to win. It’s always great to enjoy the win. But there were some things second half-wise that we knew we could have capitalized on that we didn’t, things we said we wanted to do coming out in the second half that we didn’t and those can be frustrating. But I would say we’re still below the .500 threshold and it’s a long way to where we want to get to. We’ll enjoy this win, but this next one is going to be big for us, and we’re excited to go down to Green Bay and show everybody on primetime what we can do.
Q. Did you expect to see this much single safety high looks?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: You know, honestly, going into the game, having my mind with what they put on film this year, what they do, and then you go back and look at the rest of the years where they were successful in stopping some of our in-routes and whatnot, so you kind of have in mind, okay, these are the ways they could potentially play us, but then I also still have in the back of my mind, be ready for two (high safety), be ready for two-man, variations of four, whatever that looks like. And so preparing-wise, that’s sort of how we – that’s sort of how I go about my process so that I don’t get stuck on what the progression is and I can progress faster knowing what the coverage is.
Q. Did you think you were done when you came out at 31-7?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Not necessarily. Mike (McDaniel) came up and told me that he doesn’t like doing that, taking a guy out and then having to put him back in, but I told him at any point, I was ready, whether I had to sit out the rest of the game or not.
Q. When you talk through your progressions, like with Jonnu Smith on the first touchdown, where was he on your (progressions)?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: He was probably four if you’re counting the numbers on the progression. But that’s what I’m saying; like with what the defense presents us, it helps speed up the process with getting through the progression and getting to guys.
Q. You said a few weeks ago that you see what happens one by one, see if you guys can get on a streak. This is three in a row. Now that you’re in that mode, would you want it to be get that streak, get that going?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: It feels good to win any way. But yes, getting into a rhythm of stacking wins up in the win column, I definitely think that’s a big morale booster for the guys in the locker room, and this is something that they can take into this upcoming week. Guys are feeling good. Everything feels better when you win.
Q. This will probably be remembered as the Jaylen Waddle game, bust out game for him. Had you had to counsel he will him during the last month and a half or so when he hasn’t been getting the ball as much as he had in the past?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: No, I didn’t have to do any of that with ‘J. Dub’ (Jaylen Waddle).
Q. How meaningful is it to you to know that you’re 7-0 against a divisional opponent in New England?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: It’s great. It’s great any time you can find a win against a divisional opponent. It’s not my win, it’s the team win so I’ll leave that at that.
Q. You mentioned the significance of the coming game, but what do you think about maybe playing in some cold in Green Bay?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, I mean I’m excited to kill narratives, so let’s go. Bring it on.
Q. Talk a bit about avoiding interceptions these past couple of games. Obviously today and last week against the Raiders, just talk a bit about not giving New England’s offense any opportunities off of those?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, ending of the half, in the first half, definitely didn’t like how we ended there, too many hands on the ball off of decisions and off of placement of the ball. That needs to be better. You just never want to put the team in a situation where we already have points to not get points.
Terron Armstead – November 22, 2024
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Friday, November 22, 2024
T Terron Armstead
(I know everybody here – us, your teammates, your coaches – admire you for playing through stuff. With the knee was it just kind of wear and tear that it’s developed where you didn’t practice the last week and a half?) – “I’m not even going to get into it, for real, just trying to do everything I can to be ready for Sunday. That’s it.”
(Feeling good?) – “It don’t matter.”
(How pleased are you with what – you continue to put high level stuff on tape – are you pleased with your year personally?) – “For me I try to treat every game the same. I try to be my absolute best, keep the quarterback clean, make lanes for the running backs. So I really don’t even get into to grades or the way it looks. Like every game I approach, I try to be the best I can possibly be, so I try to treat them all the same.”
(How much have you enjoyed these long sustained drives that we’ve seen so many of these last three weeks, four weeks?) – “It’s great as far as it’s a testament to our execution, to be able to execute whatever we dial up. We love the explosives, though, don’t get me wrong. Like I would love to see one-play drive, two-play drive. We love to see it, but to be able to have sustained drives and execute down after down, eliminating the penalties, the turnovers and all those things. It’s hard to do, to have 15-play drives and run that many plays without those mistakes. So it’s been great for us to be able to execute.”
(And I had one other thing for you. I know you’ve helped LB Chop Robinson a lot. Without giving away what, with the success he’s had the last couple weeks – like 13 pressures, two sacks – have you seen little things he’s done that you’ve said to yourself “I helped him with that, I’m pleased”?) – “Chop (Robinson), he’s scratching the surface of what he’s going to be. His work ethic, his ability to take what you give him – a coaching point, a tip or something that you see and apply it like immediately – is incredible. But the way that he goes about his business, his level of professionalism as a rookie, he’s got a lot more production that we will continue to see.”
(What allows you to have so many occasions to be able to make it to a game day despite not practicing on certain weeks like you did last week?) – “It’s a lot of mental. I’ve got to be locked in on the playbook, know my assignment and then have a plan for each player that I’m going against. So I do that. I do my homework. I make sure I’ve got a plan on how to attack each rusher, how to fit in the run game against who I’m going against so just a little extra work.”
(I asked Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith about how the 33-year old T Terron Armstead is different than the rookie he first met. He said you were actually wise beyond your years as a youngster, but he got a little emotional in describing you as a friend. Can you talk about your relationship with him?) – “Yeah, Frank (Smith) is a huge reason why I’m here. Our relationship, our connection. Back when I was in New Orleans as a rookie, I didn’t start right away so there wasn’t much time for my development from the head o-line coach, I would say, and Frank, man, I’m talking about every day after practice, before practice, after walkthrough, before walkthrough; we hit it – technique. It was me, Senio Kelemete and Bryce Harris – us three. I mean like every day, we’d grind it out. And then you started to see my growth and development as a player and being NFL ready and when that time came, Sean Payton gave me the nod. It wouldn’t have happened without Frank, plain and simple. So I’m forever appreciative of everything – the time, the effort, the energy – that he gave to me and he’s truly a friend. He cares.”
(How is Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith different? How is he different 11 years later?) – “He’s definitely different. It’s cool to see, like it’s great to see his growth and development because we were together two years and then we weren’t for the next eight. So to come here and he’s offensive coordinator but back when I knew him, he wasn’t even allowed to speak in the o-line room. He couldn’t even make a coaching point or adjustment. It just wasn’t the climate of the room. That wasn’t his position. So any type of coaching would be off to the side or after practice. So to see him running the room, running us and the entire offense – he’s talking quarterback play; he’s talking receiver routes, depths and all that. I’m like, look at my dawg, man.”
(He’s a guy whose name has come up for head coaching jobs…) – “As it should.”
(What are your thoughts on that and did you ever see some of those glimpses back then when you first met him?) – “I was always really trying to digest everything as I came in as a rookie, but to see him and his development now and the success he’s had, successful players he’s had in his position room; but the fact the ‘Frank approach’ and why he has such close relationships with so many players is he truly cares about the individual, not just the player. And we know we’ve got a job to do so he hits that hard, but he’s also somebody that has no problem getting personal and showing you that he’s got your back regardless. Frank is somebody that you would go in an alley with. I don’t know how well he can fight, but he will fight.”
(The way TE Jonnu Smith has been further incorporated into this offense, what kind things do you think it could open up?) – “He’s been great. Jonnu (Smith) is a weapon. He’s a weapon. He’s a running back with the ball. He’s given us an added dynamic that we haven’t had honestly in the last couple years, so people try to take away Tyreek (Hill) and (Jaylen) Waddle, but now, with Jonnu and (De’Von) Achane out the backfield, ‘O’ (Odell Beckham Jr.), Odell, he’s getting more and more touches. Malik Washington. It’s making us more dangerous so you’ve got to kind of pick your poison.”
Mike McDaniel – November 22, 2024
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Friday, November 22, 2024
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(Why has T Terron Armstead not been practicing recently, and do you think he’ll still be able to play through the knee injury?) – “I think he’s along the same lines of utilizing one of the assets that ‘T-Stead’ (Terron Armstead) gives us is the ability to know his body, how many reps he needs for an opponent to perform and to try to gain as many games with him as possible when he’s battling through something by way of rest. So I think this was an execution of that. I think pending today’s practice, I feel optimistic about him playing but we’re able to utilize him and his connectivity to what we’re trying to get done and his experience where he’s – it’s very, very rare that left tackles can feel comfortable playing in a game without at least two to the three days. He’s proved to be the exception, so when we can, we try to enhance his ability to play on game day by giving him rest when needed. So he’s working and hoping to have him, but we’ll see how today goes.”
(Is CB Kendall Fuller still in concussion protocol?) – “Yeah, he’ll be out.”
(With T Terron Armstead, we always ask these injury questions but what about the season you’re getting from him?) – “I think case in point, he’s found ways to be involved in practice more often this year and as a result, he’s gotten really good at some technique and fundamentals that he can utilize within the offense. There’s always guys that get better as their career goes, and I think he’s one of those guys and that’s because of – I think he still has the NFL Combine record for the 40 (-yard dash) for offensive linemen. So he was supremely talented, but also he had the mind and passion to be an elite left tackle in this league and as a result he continues to get better and better. It’s something that isn’t necessarily the norm, but I’ve been fortunate in my career to be around a couple guys that have been able to have their best play be in their thirties. I had Trent Williams in San Francisco before, and ‘T-Stead’ is much like him in that way where he is utilizing his understanding of the game and his ability to execute and perform with his God given abilities.”
(Will FB Alec Ingold be available?) – “We’ll see what happens today. I’m feeling as optimistic as I’ve felt in the last three weeks, but that will be subject to setbacks or just how I feel, so it’s an important day for him.”
(I know you had been optimistic about LB Bradley Chubb being able to play this year when we last asked you, maybe about three weeks ago. Do you still feel that level of optimism?) – “Yes, I still feel the same exact thing as the last time you asked me.”
(Excellent. I know at one point you had said that you think LS Blake Ferguson will play in a game again this year, do you still think that?) – “I still think that as well.”
(How is WR Tyreek Hill navigating his wrist pain as far as you can tell?) – “Phenomenally. Understanding – I think he was really empowered by the information of the deep dive of finding out all the pros and cons of the variables, the way to treat it and to understand it’s going to heat up on him sometimes and how to prevent that while also not changing his game too much. I think with a competitor like that, sometimes it’s hard to tell how much it’s hurting him because adrenaline. He seems to fight through and will himself to certain things, but I think more than anything, when your captain is not only executing, but doing so in spite of an ailment, it leaves a locker room full of players that have a tough time making excuses. So I think that’s a big deal when your best players are willing to do whatever it takes in the game of football, which a lot of times has some sort of pain tolerance involved just by the nature of a very physical and violent sport. How to manage it, he’s putting a clinic on how to manage it, how to treat it and how to perform and so very, very grateful for the way he’s attacking that.”
(Can you talk about managing the challenges of two games in five days coming up? Although this is such an important game, you have to take it one week at a time, but just knowing on the back end you have a…) – “You’re telling me we have two games in five days? That will come to my awareness very quickly after the only thing that exists, which is today’s practice, and then there’s another day of preparation and then the Patriots game. But I think simplicity in situations like this are of primary importance. It’s very simple that we can’t worry about a game that’s after a game and say, ‘Yeah, let’s think about that game assuming we win this game,’ that’s a recipe for humility, fast humility. So the biggest thing I’ve been doing with the team is talking exclusively about the Patriots and how we need to approach our jobs in all three phases collectively, and we’ll get to the rest of the schedule after that.”
(Do you expect a roster move with S Patrick McMorris and OL Isaiah Wynn this weekend, or is that more likely next week or beyond?) – “More likely next week. I don’t have the crystal ball so I can’t say with 100% certainty since we still have this practice. But I would anticipate it’s more likely next week or a time after this week.”
(You said QB Tua Tagovailoa has taken a gigantic step with controlling the emotional part of the football game. He’s mentioned this Seakeeper mentality. I’m curious to where that Seakeeper lesson came from and also when did you realize he’s made improvements in the emotional piece of the football game?) – “This is something we’ve been chipping away at, as it’s very much one of the biggest mountains you have to climb as a quarterback. As a talented thrower like you have with Tua (Tagovailoa), sometimes he wants to will the result of a game based upon something he decides pre-snap. That has been something that came up in his game that I’ve noticed because that’s part of all quarterbacks’ game is trying to make things easier on yourself from a decision-making standpoint and lock into what you’re going to do post-snap, pre-snap. Working through that or looking at attacking that the same way you’re attacking anything else in your game, if you’re trying to have a higher completion percentage on plus 40-yard throws, which was a thing at one point that was talked about in press conferences, you work on it. You work on that difficult task that is way easier said than done, and I think in the quarterback room that being ever-present on the tip of the tongue of Coach (Darrell) Bevell in terms of talking about each play stands on its own merit. That’s something we’ve been talking about for two-and-a-half years. Then it takes another step forward when you have player ownership. In this circumstance, the phrase Seakeeper was Tua’s to connect the idea we’ve been talking about – myself, Frank Smith, Coach Bevell, we’ve all been talking to him about. He kind of equated it to his newfound understanding of boats and what a Seakeeper product does which steadies everything. I think that is something that not all players are even capable of getting better at. At the quarterback position, it is extremely difficult to work at something as incessantly as you have to, to be a starting quarterback in this league, to wear the team result on the shoulders of if you’re winning, the quarterback gets a pat on the back. If you’re losing, he gets pointed at, so that makes it very difficult. But it’s also one of the biggest things you can equate to his recent play, is his mastery of that in those games and that once you’ve mastered it in one game, it doesn’t mean you can master for the next. That is something that is ever-present that you’re always thinking about. Your mindset based upon both success and failure within a game and how to appropriately play the position, which is classic Tua, great learner. He’s learning better and better.”
(Browns and Steelers were in the snow last night. I don’t know if you saw any of it, it was a pretty good watch from my couch. When you see the highlights or you’re watching the game, are you thinking what might I call in the snow here? Because I suppose calling the game is different in those types of conditions.) – “I think that does come up situationally. Obviously, the weather isn’t premier for throwing the ball in the air far, however there are certain types of throws and certain types of situations and known passing situations where you still can operate the same way and there’s situations that you can’t. I think for me, it’s a lot easier to adjust to the environmental circumstances just because inherently, when you’re calling a play, you’re thinking that it will work. And when you can’t picture how it will work or it’s a little easier to – but you’re also attacking that during the entire work week, understanding that while meteorology isn’t an exact science, they’re generally in the right stratosphere. So the most difficult is adjusting to very wet games, because a lot of times you don’t know that to be fact based upon the whole week.”
(What has the greater incorporation of TE Jonnu Smith done for this offense?) – “I think the proof is in the pudding in terms of the last two weeks. You’ve seen very high percentage throws in terms of shorter throws go really long, and you can see his physical skill set which is he’s a hard guy to tackle and very competitive with the ball in his hands. That extra space that defenses tend to give our offense by the overindulgence in paying attention to our premier receivers, the way to equal the playing field is to have players take advantage of that space. I think Jonnu (Smith) has done a phenomenal job in that regard. I think Tua (Tagovailoa) has done a great job understanding the value of progressions and playing on time but also distributing the football. I think there’s a multitude of players that have assisted in what Jonnu has been able to do. I think Julian Hill had some exceptional YAC situations, and I think Malik Washington has done the same. So I think he’s an example of players finding success in a way that really complements the other skills to your offense and he’s done a great job and is a fun guy to have on our side.”
Tyreek Hill – November 21, 2024
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Thursday, November 21, 2024
WR Tyreek Hill
(It’s obviously been going well with long efficient drives, but at some point knowing that you guys second-to-fewest 20-plus-yard passing plays in the league this year, at some point will a big play be needed?) – “Of course. We’re always looking for big plays and obviously Tua (Tagovailoa) understands what he has to work with whenever he’s on the field. So whenever that time comes, he’s going to take a shot so just waiting on our moment.”
(We’ve seen a lot of receivers in the league over many years, if they don’t get a lot of targets they’ll complain. Are you impressed with how you and WR Jaylen Waddle have handled from a maturity standpoint this year in terms of not having a tirade obviously about not catching a ton of passes?) – “We don’t really care about none of that. As long as we’re winning, plus we already got our back end so we’re good. I feel like a lot of people get football mixed up with stats and worrying about what a guy is doing instead of worrying about the win-loss column. I was just saying this to my dad the other day. I said, ‘A lot of people have stake in the game that I grew up loving so much and turning into betting and turning it into fantasy numbers and stuff like that.’ It’s like I can’t even enjoy a day out with my wife and my kids. Somebody is always walking up to me and is like, ‘I drafted you No. 1 and you’ve having the worst fantasy season of your career.’ And it’s like, ‘Bro, I do not literally care.’ I’m with my family. It’s like bro, the only thing I care about is the Miami Dolphins winning games and me and ‘J. Dub’ (Jaylen Waddle), we obviously understand that. If that means we’ve got to block a thousand times to get teams out of Cover 2 or Cover 4 or whatever the case may be, we’ll do that. We’ll come down and crack some safeties or pin some d-ends, whatever we’ve got to do. So all for the team.”
(Is that the product of that 54-yard TE Jonnu Smith touchdown, was everybody went up to get the guys up front and then he was wide open?) – “I mean, we went back and watched it on film. I feel like that was just a miscommunication by their defense obviously. If you go back and watch it, they actually doubled Julian Hill on that play. It was two guys on Julian Hill. It was No. 44 and the safety was rotating down doubling Julian Hill and then I was manned up on the corner.”
(And one guy went up on motion…) – “See a lot of people, they don’t be respecting Julian Hill. They doubled him on that play. But I’ve been saying that all week. A lot of people have been ignoring me. Go back and watch it.”
(You said you want to keep the winning going. What is the mindset now getting ready to face the Patriots on Sunday?) – “The mindset is obviously we’re in playoff football right now. We’ve got to continue to play ball. Can’t lose a game and we obviously know that. Our backs are against the wall, so that’s the mindset. Guys are preparing like it at practice. The preparation has been great. Guys have been flying across the field on defense so it’s been a great week of preparation so far.”
(The Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, there was a funny clip where it looked like after TE Jonnu Smith was running, you maybe said something to him. What went on there?) – “Their whole sideline was telling me the whole game, like saying, ‘Oh, jam him up, jam him up, he can’t get off a jam.’ So when Jonnu was open I was like, ‘oops, sorry.’ So it was great, it was a great moment, man. Football is always fun especially in a moment like that when your teammate is scoring and then you’re obviously on their sideline so I get a chance to talk trash. Nothing against Coach Pierce, he’s obviously a great coach. He’s been doing a great job with that team, so it was nothing.”
(What did you think of that first touchdown TE Jonnu Smith caught? He throws the ball up in the stands and it lands with his family?) – “That’s crazy. Now that’s next level, but that’s truly amazing for that to happen because I feel like I had a similar situation and the fan took the ball from me for my mom. But for that happened to Jonnu, that’s amazing, man.”
(You had to be pretty confident that he was going to outrun all those DBs because you knew it was a score.) – “Jonnu (Smith) is fast, believe it or not. I really think Jonnu can run like a low 4.3. He’s that fast and the way Coach (McDaniel) uses him, he does a great job of using him, putting him in situations to make plays that I’ve never seen before. So Jonnu, he’s a real special guy.”
(So no doubt, you knew he was gone.) – “I knew he was gone. No doubt. It’s like Steph Curry when he’s shooting a three and Klay Thompson and everybody is like this. (laughter) I already know.”
(What do you like about WR Malik Washington and his potential long-term and his skill set?) – “I was talking to Wes (Welker) about this and I’m like, Malik (Washington) is one of those guys that can play in the league for a long time, because obviously he’s smart, but he’s one of those guys that he doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty. He’ll go in and block a d-end, block a linebacker and then he’ll come and then make a clutch third-down catch, and that kind of reminded me of me my rookie year coming into the league. I had to do some of those similar things and it kind of developed my game a lot and it kind of gave me the trust of the coaches amongst the staff in Kansas City. So Malik, he’s a hard worker, very coachable guy. Loves the game, always the first one in meetings, always. And he’s just one of those guys that every receiver coach wants in his room because he’s eager to learn, always asking questions, too many questions, but he’s going to play in this league a long time.”
(Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith was saying today that he’s seen QB Tua Tagovailoa grow in the area of scramble drill. Tell me about that.) – “Yeah, my biggest thing is he’s not fat anymore so he can move. He’s more mobile. I don’t know what more to say. He looks amazing. I don’t know what to say. (laughter)”
(Do you encourage him to continue to look for you guys and…?) – “Yes. Yes, I do. I think that’s where the big plays happen, and obviously Tua knows that whenever we’re down the field and he breaks outside the pocket, it’s very hard for a defensive back to keep up with whoever it is – me, (Jaylen) Waddle, Odell (Beckham Jr.), Jonnu (Smith), De’Von (Achane), whoever it is – down the field, because those extended plays are the ones that we really want and something that we’ve been harping on this whole entire offseason.”
(What does WR River Cracraft bring now that he’s back? A guy who you’re always taking first in your wide receiver draft with WR Jaylen Waddle.) – “Well, all I’ve got to say is we’re undefeated with River Cracraft back. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
Jonnu Smith – November 21, 2024
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Thursday, November 21, 2024
TE Jonnu Smith
(Speaking of preparing for Sunday, WR Tyreek Hill said that you guys are kind of having the mentality now that playing backs against the wall, like playoff football. Is that something you’re also seeing and kind of getting ready for the Patriots and knowing that you guys can control your destiny?) – “Well yeah, we didn’t accomplish anything. It’s nothing that we won two games back-to-back. It’s very hard to win in this league, but we’ve still got a long way to go. So we know the position that we’re in. We know each individual has to look themselves in the mirror and say, ‘I’ve got to be the reason why I help this team win.’ And that doesn’t mean you have to be Superman, just do your job and don’t be the reason why it goes the other way. So I think we all have that mentality and just playing with that mindset and it’s been transferring to wins.”
(One other thing WR Tyreek Hill mentioned is not only praising how you’ve been playing but saying Head Coach Mike McDaniel has used you in creative ways. Are there ways this year where you’ve been used that you haven’t been used before? A couple of ways, anything new in your usage this year that Mike sort of explored?) – “I would say I’ve been in a lot of offenses where I have been put in a lot of positions: running back, receiver, fullback, slot – I’ve been everywhere. I’ve lined up everywhere in my career. Going on eight years now, obviously this is my skillset. Every team that I’ve been a part of has known that, what my skillset is. I would say Mike (McDaniel) has just the way that the production and the efficiency is going, it’s just kind of panning out a little better right now. And that’s just the way it’s been going. Mike does a phenomenal job at getting guys the ball that he knows can help this team win. So we just continue to trust in him, put trust in his system and just continue to stack these wins.”
(I know you said you didn’t care about stats after the last game, but after you found out you were the Dolphin tight end since the AFL-NFL Merger (1970) to have 100 yards receiving and two touchdowns, what was your reaction to that?) – “Now that was a cool stat. That was a dope stat. Like I said, I’m not – it’s something you can go home to your kids and talk about, you know what I mean? It’s cool to hear that. What year was that?”
(Since 1970, first tight end to do it.) – “I wasn’t even thought of at that time, man, you know what I mean? I wasn’t even thought of; my mom didn’t even know my dad at that time so it’s a cool stat. But again, just trying to focus on the main thing – keep the main thing, the main thing.”
(Talking about your kids and your son caught the football, what does he do now with it? Is it in his room? Is it in a little special case?) – “Dad’s still figuring out how we’re going to go about this one. This one’s a little different, this one is a little different. This one is extremely special just the way it went down. It’s not just a regular football that’s sitting in our – we’ve kind of got like a little sports bar area in our house with helmets, jerseys and that – this one is a little different, so we’re still figuring out how we’re going to treat this one.”
