Mike McDaniel – November 21, 2022
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Monday, November 21, 2022
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(Wanted to start with just a cornerback update. The weekly “will CB Byron Jones practice” question and how is DB Keion Crossen’s shoulder? Will he be able to practice this week?) – “My crystal ball? You shine it and it still doesn’t work. (laughter) Nothing’s changed with Byron (Jones), but we’ll continue to be hopeful and optimistic.”
(And then DB Keion Crossen, just covering corners.) – “Yeah, he’s a guy that it’s the same deal. He had a shoulder that would make most pretty up in the air for a two-week recovery game. I’ve learned to not count Keion (Crossen) out. He’s both a very committed professional and also a freak of a healer, so we shall see. But he’s done a lot of work in that in the time that we have been away and will continue to do so to try to make it to Sunday. And if he doesn’t, then he’ll hopefully be ready to go for the next week.”
(Just to clarify on CB Byron Jones. I know you said at the end “hopeful and optimistic” – is that hopeful and optimistic that he will play this this calendar year or this season?) – “Yeah. I’m generally just a hopeful, optimistic person. But yeah, specifically, (I’m) hoping and being optimistic towards his play. And goodwill and his family’s health and all those things as well.”
(After the last game, Browns DE Myles Garrett was very complimentary of the play calling and scheming that the Browns faced. He talked about how the Browns were out of position and the Browns felt that the Dolphins offense was a step ahead and he made a reference to the concept of scripting. He said, “It wasn’t like a first 15. It was like a first 60.” And so I don’t know that I’ve ever asked you about the scripting concept. But do you guys go into a game with like, here are 15 plays we’d love to get to early, or is it more than that? Can you fill us in on that?) – “That’s a really cool compliment from one of the better players in the National Football League that I think is unfortunately giving myself and the rest of the coaching staff a little too much credit. I think that there’s execution of plays that, to me, what I saw was our players adjusting to, really to their adjustments in real time fast and playing 100 percent with conviction. So I think that credit should really be put on the shoulders of the guys out there really owning all the rules and all the responsibilities within their own assignment. As far as scripting opening plays, I’ve never been one to be light on the amount of plays that you go into a game so that you can adjust to whatever unforeseen thing comes your way. It’s something that we got used to doing – I would watch Coach Shanahan do it. When you start to have any sort of success, being able to adapt to unforeseen gameplan stuff, which is kind of old hat and we’re kind of used to now. As far as how you script stuff, generally, we go to the game with an opening 24, but that is not including third downs and that isn’t 100 percent. Like I don’t stick to that. Giving an opening 24 plays to the players, the point of it is so that you can get another orchestrated walkthrough of plays that you know you’re going to hit and try to hit early, that sometimes you can abort mission on play six. Sometimes you make it all the way through. Sometimes you skip around. But generally, we’ll go into a game with a vision of how we will execute our offense and that’s something that you work tirelessly over the week, and you kind of digest what your players are executing well during the week and what you think you’re going to get. You try to do your best in crystal balling, but it’s something that will – generally it’s about 12 runs, 12 passes, intermixed and that’s pretty consistent every game.”
(Kind of like Madden.) – “I don’t know. Again, I was more of a (NCAA) College Football Create-Dynasty guy. Once people started beating me, so I don’t – Madden analogies, maybe? I don’t really know. (laughter)”
(So you have 10 games of experience where you are the full-time primary play planner and caller from the sideline. Some new stuff you were involved, but now it’s like a different role. So in what areas do you feel like a little more comfortable now that 10 games have passed relative to that part of the job?) – “We’ll see. Us here with the Miami Dolphins, we’re very deliberate in everything we do, so it’s technically 13 because the preseason was definitely not just a ‘go through the motions’ type thing when you have a new offense. So 13 games in, I think there’s always stuff that you’re working on. For me, I don’t think that journey is ever complete necessarily. You’re doing two things at once. You are coaching players up on technique and making sure that they develop during the season, but you’re also kind of catering your offense to what they’re good at, and both of those things kind of work and are intertwined. I think that part I’m always chasing. I don’t think I’ll ever feel like ‘alright, gold star.’ I think you can always adjust and think a little outside the box, and kind of tailor your scheme to what your players are really good at. I’ve always thought an important part of play-calling is minimizing or eliminating emotion out of your decision making, which is very, very tough to do. I’ve done a better job with that over the course of the season as the season progressed, trying to just do things not based upon anything but the best decision possible and go from there. I think there’s a lot – I mean, the list is just long. I’m not very comfortable – I equate feeling a sense of comfortability, in my mind, it kind of makes me feel like I’m not working hard or lazy. So I don’t think there’s anything that I’m very, very comfortable saying ‘alright, I got that.’ I think just admitting that you’re a fallible human being and trying to do your best is very liberating and also it does get the best out of you because it frees you from feeling like you need to be perfect. So across the board I would hope that grading myself, the best stuff is way in front of me and you guys have seen the worst and haven’t hated me for it.”
(I was going to ask you about the game plan as well. What is your process? Who did you learn your process from? Who do you rely on most when you’re putting it together? Is there certain coaches that have certain responsibilities?) – “It didn’t take me long to realize how unique and special some of the guys that I was fortunate enough to work with, how unique and special they were at their craft. So starting with Coach (Mike) Shanahan, then to Gary Kubiak and then to Kyle Shanahan; those three people probably kind of established what I see preparing for an opponent, what that looks like. And within that vision, I’m also very aware and have seen the best outputs are collective, so for me, what that looks like is watching as much tape on the opponent as possible in a day and a half. So half a Monday and then all of Tuesday and in that process, collecting all the information from the staff by way of them coming into my office, giving notes. We kind of have a nice routine, but it’s not really a staff meeting-type situation because I feel like you can get more tape watched independently. But then you just take all those collections of thoughts and kind of move forward and tie things together and you just do that within your staff. Each position coach does have an area of expertise, so they can kind of approach it like they’re the head coach of that situation, whether that’s red zone or third down or short yardage, or four-minute or backed up. All those different situations so that instead of having a bunch of people trying to memorize tendencies and know the opponent inside and out across all phases; make sure that they know they are responsible and held accountable for ‘Okay, well, alright, it’s short-yardage. I know who to talk to.’ And bounce through. That’s in-game and really when you’re putting together the game plan. So that process is – the cool thing about it is, what I enjoy most about it is, it’s a collection of individuals. And there’s no shortcut to a game plan that’s really up to the standard of your players, in my opinion. You don’t just make stuff up. You don’t just ‘Hey, what if we put this guy here?’ These are all – if your game plan is sound and tied together and complete – I tell the staff all the time – there should be a ‘why’ attached to every single thing that you’re doing. That’s every alignment, every motion, and that’s kind of the way we approach it and the way that the staff has really, really come together and understanding that there is a why, a reason for every little nuance, every variable. And even if the why isn’t 100 percent accurate, just having the level of detail and preparation to have a reason behind it gives you a good chance to put players in position to make plays, which is the whole point.”
(How much value do you put into being in first place at this time of year?) – “About as much value as – how about a lottery ticket that you don’t check the winning numbers? I mean, is it worth something? I don’t know. It’s very similar to the way that I felt about our offseason program. If you guys recall, I gave the most time off to the players that I’ve been around, that I’ve experienced and I know they had experienced. And I gave it to them because I felt they deserved it because they won the first quarter. I thought that they won the first quarter of a game. Being in whatever place at this stage of the season is cool, because each and every win, which puts you in first place, is hard-earned, not given. And so it is like winning another quarter of a game. But does that mean anything? I mean, it all depends on how you handle it. I think there is an element, once you get closer to the end of the season, that you feel pride in controlling your destiny. I think that is a cool deal. But at the same time, is it totally necessary to achieve your goals? It’s not. The point is that you continue to progress. I’m super fired up to be where we’re at right now, if we continue to progress as a football team. I think the last game you guys saw, you felt a little more complete contribution from the team that we were hitting on, in one way shape, or form, in each phase. That doesn’t mean each phase was null of a miscue or whatever, but you felt a team execution win and that’s a cool spot – Game 10 – for that to occur. But literally, nobody gives two – about who’s the Week 10 champion. So it’s an accomplishment that isn’t one that we’re chasing, nor does it matter except in the moment and how you use it. So I’m happy with where we’re at, I’ve been in first place and won the division after 10 weeks. And I’ve been in last place after 10 weeks and won the division. So it’s neither here nor there. As long as we keep moving in the appropriate trajectory, I’ll be good with it.”
(Bringing back LB Brennan Scarlett, what can he provide your front seven and what did you see from him both when you had him in the offseason in training camp and then also now working him out before signing him?) – “I’m excited to have him back to add him to the group. I saw a ton of versatility and a level of combative attitude that I think is cool for any football team when you’re a defensive player. I think adding him to the already really productive ascending crew of versatile players, I think it helps the team. But more importantly, I think his addition helps the guys that are playing pretty well to have a little insurance. And who knows, maybe we’ll get him some live action at some point.”
(Can you describe kind of the energy or the mood and the vibe in the building now coming in the home stretch?) – “It’s a very cool vibe because you get worried. Call a spade a spade, we’re above .500. At this stage of the season, you have a bye week. Do people get comfortable? And the vibe was exactly the opposite, exactly what I’d want to see, which was a group of people that are confident but hungry. And that’s what you want to gain from winning football games is confidence, not any complacency. I haven’t seen any of that. I see a team that recognizes they have an opportunity in front of them. They also recognize how, like it is every year, parity is crazy in the National Football League. In particular, our division, which first and last place is a huge one game. I think their mind is right. I think they’ve come in refreshed. I asked them to deliberately rest and I feel like they did. But they are definitely charged and ready to go to play the sport they love and see how far we can take the team.”
(Before the bye, I asked LB Bradley Chubb what he hears from an offense when him, LB Melvin Ingram and LB Jaelen Phillips are on the field at the same time. He just said it’s a lot of talking and kind of disorientation from the o-line trying to figure out who is where, who to block, what they’re going to do. From a coaching perspective, what does it add to your defense and what does it do to an opposing offense, when you can put three pass rushers of their caliber on the field at the same time?) – “I think from a defensive standpoint, if you’re creating any hesitation from an offense, especially known passing situations, that’s a win for the defense because defenses are typically reactionary. You’re waiting to see what alignment, which dictates your assignment. But on pass rush situations, on known passing situations, that is an opportunity for a defense to kind of dictate the terms, and them make somebody else react. So it’s huge, as long as guys are able to still do what they do well, which is get the edges of blockers, and get home to the quarterback, while playing good sound, structural defense for rush lanes. When you have a bunch of pass rushers on the field that have had success in the league, there’s also humility that has to be in place because you can’t just freelance. You have to rush with a group. A lot of times there’s inner-working games, that maybe traditionally an edge rusher only reaps the benefits of. He doesn’t have to do the dirty work. That’s not the case. So you have to have the right types of people. That’s why it’s hard to do. And then when you have the right types of people, you have to have coaches that really can expand their mind and maybe do stuff that they haven’t done before. A lot of people working together for that stuff to be in place. And then you also have to be tied with the rest of the defense to know that, you can take a risk here or there because you know that the quarterback is going to take two hitches, because our coverage is going to be right. All those things are really cool to do. It’s hard to pull off. That’s why more people don’t do it. But we’re afforded some talented edge players that have the right types of mindset, that can allow a team to put three of those guys out on the field at one time if the opportunity presents itself.”
Jeff Wilson Jr. – November 14, 2022
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Wednesday, November 14, 2022
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
(Your attitude coach said is infectious on the team. Because when you do that and want to run over a defender, it seems like everybody else wants to do the same thing as well.) – “Yeah. I mean, it’s just contagious. I’m glad I can be that point. Obviously, it’s not like these guys are not physical or haven’t been playing hard or running hard since before I got here. It’s just the fact that even if it was me on the other side, to see somebody else doing it, it would turn me up to be like I want to get some of that because I like the affect it brings.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel actually has a name for it. He called it Wilson-itis.) – “Yeah, I guess you can say that. That’s just me. That’s how I play the game, and that’s how I’ve always played the game.”
(What’s the kind of reaction you get on the sideline when you come back from a run? You put a Euro step on somebody yesterday. What’s the kind of reaction you get from your teammates when you go back?) – “It be pats (on the back) and a good job, but it’s the facial expressions that say more than words or any other thing. Just to come back and to see the guys giving me that look like, ‘I feel you brother. Keep giving it to me. I feel you. You’re turning me up.’ That’s what gives me the thrill out of it, to see them come back and be hyped and ready to play some NFL football.”
(You’ve been with Head Coach Mike McDaniel for probably the longest now. Do you ever wonder what’s going on in the mind of that dude? Because he’s not the typical coach. He never gives a typical coach speech. You just never know what’s going to come out of his mouth. Just talking about that mind of Mike.) – “He’s a mastermind. He’s a guy that does a lot, that has a lot on his plate now. I can only imagine how much more it’s turning than what it was before because he’s always thinking, he’s always working, he’s always prepared and he’s always trying to be the best. So when you do that, it causes a lot of hours. I’m just thankful to his wife and family for being a great support to him. That way he can be at his best and give us all that he can. He’s doing a tremendous job. But trying to figure out what’s exactly on his mind? I think that’s impossible. (laughter)”
Mike McDaniel – November 14, 2022
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Monday, November 14, 2022
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(There were a lot of fans asking last night about LB Trey Flowers. I know a month ago you’d said you weren’t sure if he’d be able to come back like the DE Emmanuel Ogbah injury. Is it possible he might return or would you expect him to be out for the year?) – “Yeah, there’s no change. I think I can quote MacGruber on this, okay, and that’s ‘Never ever say never ever.’ (laughter) But yeah, no change.”
(So out at least for the foreseeable future?) – “Yeah.”
(And then obviously K Jason Sanders has a very good body of work over five NFL years. He’s struggled this year. Have you and General Manager Chris Grier and Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman decided if you will bring in kickers just to take a look or is Jason Sanders your kicker unquestionably moving forward?) – “He’s given me no reason to believe that he won’t get the things corrected. So we’re always doing that regardless, with regard to every position to make sure that you are up to speed on your contingency plans because you’re only one soft tissue (injury) away, especially at those positions. But I have no reason to think – first and foremost, Jason (Sanders) holds himself to a high degree of scrutiny and has high demands of himself so he expects more. But it’d be one thing if he’d given me any reason to think that he can’t get it corrected. So until he proves otherwise, we’re feeling good about where we’re at with him.”
(We’ve reported the news on DE Emmanuel Ogbah, but to hear it from you and just whatever you can elaborate on his injury?) – “It was very unfortunate for him. For the individual, it sucks because he is one of the type of veteran players that didn’t take his investment by the organization lightly and it just seems he’s just had hiccup after hiccup. Just unfortunate luck this season, so with regard to health and his injury occurred on a play that really fired me up. He really set the edge on the right tackle and stayed in for a play because he just felt weird. So it’s very unfortunate. I feel terrible for him. That’s the hard part of being invested and being along on the journey with some of these guys, but we’re just going to have to have what’s occurred all season at every position, which is to have guys step up and account for his production and his missing voice in the locker room.”
(Update on DB Keion Crossen?) – “Haven’t talked to (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle (Johnston) about him specifically today. I do not have an update on it. But I guess I can further update you guys on Wednesday. (laughter) Just be patient. Just be patient. (laughter)”
(When you see receivers blocking downfield like we’ve seen this season and specifically yesterday, what does that tell you about their desire and their responsibility, how seriously they take it?) – “It tells me that they’re trying to win football games and they get it. It tells me that they are being coached right. It tells me that they’re that they’re approaching the game the right way. If you’re shortsighted, you can think, ‘Okay, I’m a receiver. I get paid to catch footballs.’ And that’s a very shortsighted investment because you’re also, as a receiver, depending on a lot of people to do the right things for you to get receptions. Yeah, you’ve got to sauce people up and do cool receiver stuff, but you also have to have a line executing appropriately. And you have to have a quarterback executing appropriately. And that’s all easier on both those parties when you’re able to run the ball. And in this league, if you want to run the ball with success, it’s not negotiable. You’ve got to have receivers play that way. I saw some guys make some impact plays and get involved, and if you’re trying to play good offense at a high level and you have the aspirations to be a really good group in the league, you better run block. It changes the energy and the mentality of a football team when that’s the case. I’m glad you mentioned that because it’s not happenstance. Not only did we get our first explosive touchdowns … But it’s not a coincidence. You’re breaking these long touchdowns because guys are committing to the process and having the desire and determination not to have the person that they’re in phase with be a part of the tackle. It’s cool football.”
(Yesterday in the locker room, when you were talking to the team, you kind of challenged the players, so to speak. You used a phrase – “make 2022 one of those years you remember forever.” What constitutes a year that you would remember forever?) – “When you go through things, when you’re fully invested. Contrary to popular belief, you can’t really control ultimate outcomes. You can’t – I’m not worried about that. I’ve learned a life lesson in my experience, that you get out exactly what you put in. You’ll make 2022 memorable if you and a collection of other individuals decide to invest as much as they’ve ever invested in their craft because in that experience, there’s highs, lows, there’s relationships. But ultimately, I know this for a fact, you get the most out of whatever you got. And you’ll remember that. So I make it less tangible, or a proclamation about ‘we will do X.’ If it’s more about – if you reflect on some of the things that you’ve done in team sports, some of the guys speak on it candidly, guys that have won stuff and guys that have gone to the playoffs, gone and done stuff in the playoffs; the common denominator is that players decided to put team first and individual stuff second and you invest and you go through hardship and you go through triumph, and you become closer as a team and it kind of defines you as a human being as well. So that’s all. It’s the 100 percent investment, which so far I’ve been very happy with. But it’s long-distance running. It’s not a sprint. So we still have a lot of the race to go.”
(OL Austin Jackson was active but didn’t play. Do you see that as a plan going forward or was it more so just he was available if someone got hurt and maybe he could start on the other side of the bye?) – ”We were hoping not to play him because we felt that good about him being able to really – we felt like if we could get through this game, we just loved his progress and he could not have a setback, we would be out of the woods as best we can control with that stuff. So he was there for an emergency and we were hoping not to have to play him and we were fortunate not to.”
(This is the bye week for you all. I know you get some time off. Do you have plans to visit a high school game? Have you had a chance to try a Publix sub? I’m just curious some of the things that you planned for the bye.) – “Yeah, I have – I’m still working on the phrase or how to coin a phrase, but it’s half regen, half dad. I don’t know, I’m not creative enough right now. I emptied the tank this this first half the season, so all my wit’s gone. But I think it’s important. Just philosophically, how I see going about business, you’re competing against people all the time within your own personal – within your building structure, within the people in your position group and around the league. To separate yourself in how you go about stuff, it’s the intentionality and being deliberate, but the thing is to do that the right way, it’s an exhausting process. It is to – deliberate practice is a brain drain. And in order to do it the appropriate way, you have to have deliberate rest as well. So I’m a leader by example. I’m going to show these guys how to rest my butt off, and then when I’m not asleep, I’ll be daddying and husbanding. I’ll have some honey-dos. I’ll do my chores, because I won’t want to be in the doghouse. I might kind of, at the end of the week, just kind of skirt some of those honey-dos, just knowing that there won’t be ramifications because I’ll be back at work. (laughter) But until then, I’m alright.”
(FB Alec Ingold played easily his highest number of snaps yesterday, on the day when the running game had it’s best outing of the season.) – “Correlation or causation? (laughter)”
(What say you?) – “I don’t think it’s a coincidence. We knew going into the game that we were going to have him on the field a lot. He provides a very physical presence and is adjusting to playing. He’s played fullback before, but what that means and how we’re utilizing his skillset is a little different than he’s been used before in his career – a little more versatile. He’s got a lot more running. He’s not as much close quarters stuff. I thought he did a tremendous job, and he’s starting to come into his own in that regard. So, he stepped up to the plate when we needed him to, and he’s a tone setter for our football team that we count on, week-in and week-out, to help establish a physical style of play. I was happy to see him be put in some advantageous situations, and he took advantage of them yesterday.”
(The physicality of RB Jeff Wilson Jr.’s run style, was that something that you think this offense was missing for the first eight weeks of the season?) – “I think that it’s something that benefits the offense. I’m not sure if I would say necessarily missing, but it definitely adds another dimension. I guess we weren’t necessarily lacking it, but with a guy like him that brings energy every time he touches the ball, I think that is infectious. I think it does help the team. Whether or not I don’t think necessarily we were missing it, but I think it does change a little – there’s residual effects to other eligibles, not just the running back room and not just the offense. There’s residuals to the whole team as well. I think he electrifies the defense, too, because when you’re on the sidelines and you see someone punishing defenders and straining and doing everything they can for each and every yard, it makes every eligible better. I think him and Raheem (Mostert) play off of each other extremely well. They always have. And I thought you saw some pretty cool stuff from Raheem, too, playing off of Jeff’s energy.”
(So it’s one of those things that it’s not necessarily quantifiable? Like there’s no stat that’s going to say, “This is what we’re getting with Jeff Wilson as much as…”) – “You’re exactly right. I was trying – it’s made me so happy, because I couldn’t articulate it. I really couldn’t, but when we were talking about it, I was like, ‘Just wait, guys. Just wait.’ I was very excited, because I knew we could benefit from something that wasn’t necessarily that we were missing but he could add something that could do more than whatever his stats are. Whatever the Jeff – we’ve got a case of the Wilson-itis, I think, maybe. The whole team benefits from it, and ironically – or is it ironic? Is it correlation or causation? But Cedrick Wilson Jr. also had his most physical game. So maybe the Wilsons are just long-lost brothers that rubbed off on each other, I don’t know. (laughter) But I think that it is something that our game can continue to grow in all aspects. I think it was the most physical that we’ve played on both sides of the ball. I think Jeff Wilson contributed to that, but I think we’re all just kind of growing in how we play our style of football. There’s a lot of people putting some more physical stuff on tape that it’s only going to help the Dolphins.”
(Going back to your daddy duty this week, I saw your shoes yesterday had a picture of your daughter on them. I was curious kind of the behind the scenes of how that came to be and just how special it was to have that picture with your daughter?) – “So she can’t really talk, but she’s a savant of painting and she designed – no. (laughter) That was gifted to me. That was a surprise on Saturday. I have people on top of people – yes, I was surprised on Saturday. I’m getting my haircut on Friday by Steve, you guys might know him, and then he’s like, ‘I’ve got a present for you on Saturday.’ I said, ‘Cool.’ I didn’t expect that. Salute to Service, which is very meaningful to me and I very much appreciate it, but then to have a picture of myself and my daughter, it was just like, what world am I in? This is unbelievable. So then I went down the hall and checked with my regulatory advisors to make sure that I would not be violating any NFL rules, and I think I passed all tests so then I put them on. It was a really cool thing to be able to support an unbelievable cause for people that sacrifice really everything they have, in a selfless manner, for our way of life. And then to have that on top of a painted picture of my daughter, who when I saw her on the sidelines before the game, they were talking about them. So I pointed and she goes, ‘Ayla,’ which is her name, so she recognized herself on a shoe and I almost just broke down crying before the game. So that was pretty cool. I felt very fortunate to be a part of it. Those shoes are – I took them from the game home and I’ll probably be wearing them doing dad duty all week while I take out the trash.”
Jeff Wilson Jr. – November 13, 2022 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 13, 2022
Postgame – Cleveland
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
(How good does it feel to just have this type of impact so early on especially going into the bye week 7-3, part of a team that feels like it is doing something special?) – “It is kudos to all those other guys. I’m just a running back. There are a million running backs in this league and like I said, we have three good ones that were up today and was active. So it could have been any one of those guys because the way our o-line attacked, and the way our receivers attacked down field helping us get to the open field.”
(Is this the most special group you have been a part of?) – “Oh man. Special. Like I said, I think it is early to tell. We’ve got a long journey, a long ride, but the way the guys brought me in, the love, the facility, everybody around that showed me. Man, I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.”
(Is there a healthy competition going on with you and RB Raheem Mostert?) – “There’s no competition. All that stuff’s up to the coaches – whoever’s in, we’re going to roll and that’s just how it is.”
Raheem Mostert – November 13, 2022 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 13, 2022
Postgame – Cleveland
RB Raheem Mostert
(What has the bond been like in the running back room over the last few since RB Jeff Wilson Jr. has gotten in there? Obviously, you said you guys aren’t worried about where the ball goes, but just the bond you guys have?) – “We’ve worked together for a number of years. For him to come in and play the role that he’s doing, I can’t be much prouder. I said it last week and I’ll say it again this week; he’s definitely a guy that we can count on in the run game. I’m just happy for him, because like I said, I saw him when he was just crawling in the league, and now he’s blossoming. He’s doing unbelievable things. We feast off each other. We’re a good 1-2 punch.”
(This is the first time since 2003 that the Dolphins haven’t punted in a game. What does that say about this offense?) – “It’s just high flying. We did take a chance on fourth down a couple times and I think we were 1-for-2 or 2-for-3 or something like that. But it’s all about how we can operate on this offense. We are doing a great job, especially like I mentioned earlier we have got (No.) 1 (Tua Tagovailoa) directing everything and putting the ball in a great position, and then you have (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) calling plays, doing what he has to do. It’s up to us players to get the job done, so we’ve been able to do that.”
(The Dolphins put up 39 points – how much better can this offense be?) – “We’ve got to check the tape. That tells a lot. We’ll see what it entails. We’ll watch film tomorrow before we head out for the Bye Week. But it’s real simple – we’ll watch the tape and go back to what we know and do what we do best.”
Bradley Chubb – November 13, 2022 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 13, 2022
Postgame – Cleveland
LB Bradley Chubb
(How did it feel to get the sack?) – “It felt good. It’s only a half, so I can’t feel too good about it, but I just have to keep working. The numbers are going to come and I’m just excited to be here.”
(Was it less thinking and more doing today than last week?) – “For sure. Last week was a whirlwind trying to figure out my living situation, kind of having the emotions of getting traded, all that type of stuff and now I’m comfortable, I’m good. My guys help me out every time I need them. I’m a lot more comfortable and feeling like myself.”
(It seems like everyone has been pretty welcoming here. Can you talk about how you have kind of just become a part of a team) – “Yeah, like you said, it wasn’t really an awkwardness or anything like that. Last week, I was figuring myself out, wasn’t really talking to anybody. Now guys are starting to see my personality a bit more and I’m starting to see theirs. I’m starting to hang out with guys on the days we don’t have stuff too late. It’s cool to so quickly be a part of this team and continue to build. Like I said it’s only kind of a sample of what this defense and what this team is capable of, so I’m excited to see what we do after the bye week.”
Christian Wilkins – November 13, 2022 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 13, 2022
Postgame – Cleveland
DT Christian Wilkins (Transcribed by ASAP Sports)
Q: You guys are going into the bye week with a four-game winning streak. As a team, it seems like you are playing your best ball. As a team captain, can you speak to how confident this team is feeling right now?
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: Yeah, well, we’re just trying to do our job each and every week. The objective of the season is to do this all year. Whether you win, whether you lose, you always want to get better. You can win games in this league, but it doesn’t mean you’re getting better, you know what I mean? That’s kind of our goal. That’s what we wish to accomplish each and every week. We feel like we’re doing that. We probably played our most complete game today in all three phases. Yeah, there were things we can clean up on and things we can get better on, but this is probably our most complete, I would say. But yeah, an objective of ours is definitely just to sprint into the bye week. We didn’t think about it or want to sit on a loss or sit on a bad game. We all wanted to come out here and sprint into the bye week. That was kind of the mindset, and we did just that.
Q: Limiting Nick Chubb to under 100 yards this game and the front four with you, Bradley Chubb, Melvin Ingram, and Jaelan Phillips. What’s the thoughts of that four and the domination that you guys…?
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: First of all, I got a lot of respect for (Nick) Chubb. I think he is probably the most pure, the best pure running back in the league. For us to do what we did against him, I mean, he obviously popped a few of them. You know, I got a lot of respect for him. We did a decent job up front. Still a lot we can clean up. We have a lot of guys that can go on that d-line. It makes it a lot better when you look to your left, look to your right and you are like, ‘alright I got a dawg over there, a dawg over there. All I have to do is do my job.’ It makes it a lot more fun. We’re all gelling together. We have good energy. We have a good camaraderie. We’re hoping that that allows us to play better and play for each other.
Q: Do you feel the pass rush now coming in greater waves? There were three instances where those guys split sacks.
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: No, definitely. I just think it’s just everybody is hungry. Everybody is trying to go eat, but we’re doing it for each other and doing it together.
Q: As someone who has seen Tua from year one to year three. The numbers he is putting up… as a teammate, how gratifying is that?
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: It’s great to see. He is someone that we have always believed in inside the building and as teammates and regardless of what people think of him on the outside, naysayers, whoever. We’ve always had his back since day one, and we knew he could do things like this. A lot of respect for him for blocking out the noise, just locking in on his process and doing his job, and he has been able to be a great pro. He is doing some really good things this year. So hopefully he can just keep it going and keep leading us the way he is because he is doing a phenomenal job this year.
Q: I do have to ask. I am sure you probably heard some of those “MVP” chants. What were your thoughts on those?
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: Hey, man, that’s cool. I’m glad our fans are coming out and showing a lot of love and giving him the respect he deserves. Again, if they feel that way, man, chant for that man. I think he is doing a pretty good job this year.
Q: What can you say about your newest teammates Bradley Chubb and Jeffery Wilson Jr.?
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: They’re alright… They’re okay. They’re decent additions to the team. (laughter) No, I really like those guys a lot. Starting with Bradley (Chubb), I think he is a heck of a player. Person? Eh, he went to NC State, so we’re still trying to settle our differences there. But, yeah, he is going to be able to help us a lot especially down the stretch and as he learns the defense and gets more comfortable. He has come right in and been someone that was a good fit right away to the scheme and just to the type of guy he is. And Jeff, it’s fun to watch him rush. I don’t know who pisses him off before every game, but damn. He is a lot of fun to watch, and I’m glad he is on our team. He is a great teammate as well.
Q: Angry Run contender this week maybe?
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: Yeah. Like I said, he is just fun to watch. It doesn’t matter if he is getting no yards or 20 yards, he is going to make you feel him. It’s fun to watch.
Tyreek Hill – November 13, 2022 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 13, 2022
Postgame – Cleveland
WR Tyreek Hill
(What does it feel like heading into the Bye Week 7-3? Obviously, you guys didn’t overlook the Browns today.) – “It feels good. I feel like we’re in a great position. Obviously with football, things don’t go as planned. So we’re in a good spot and we’re very confident with where we’re at.”
(You guys have been waiting for WR Trent Sherfield to get into the end zone. How happy were you to see that happen today?) – “I was very happy. He had one stolen from in Detroit, so for him to get in the end zone with everything he’s had to deal with throughout the course of his career, definitely happy for him.”
(The way you guys ran the ball today, when this offense is doing that, it’s going to be pretty hard to stop, no?) – “Yeah, for sure. For sure. The offensive line, they did a great job. Coach (Mike) McDaniel and the whole coaching staff did a great job of scheming. Even Mike Gesicki, he did a great job coming in, putting his helmet on someone today. It felt good. It felt good, guys just flying around, making plays for each other. And that’s what football is about. You have to have spirit.”
