Josh Boyer – October 13, 2022
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Thursday, October 13, 2022
Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer
(So you guys have faced a lot of high quality receivers. You get Vikings WR Justin Jefferson this week, what makes him so tough?) – “I think his body control, his ability to catch the ball from all angles, he has very strong hands. He has a very quick, I would say, release. He’s sudden at the top of the routes and he does an outstanding job of tracking the deep ball.”
(RB Dalvin Cook, same question.) – “Dalvin Cook, he’s a dynamic runner. He’s very strong. He does a good job of pressing blocks and he can take – if space is available – he can take a play and make it a big play in a hurry and he’s been very good at that. He’s very physical, he’s very big, he’s very fast and he presses blocks well. He has great vision so he’s able to find seams in the defense and he’s been an outstanding player for him. They also use him in the pass game when there’s space there, and that presents an issue, too. And we’ll have to guys to close to him quickly.”
(What was your evaluation of how CB Noah Igbinoghene did in his first snaps on defense?) – “I thought there were some really good clips out there. I think there’s some things that we can improve on and I think especially, I would say all of us, you internally look at yourself; and I would start with me and things that we could detail and coach a little bit better. But I did think he had some positive clips out there, for sure. I thought he had some good ones and I think there’s some things that we could probably detail and coach a little bit better and get him a little bit better on, but I thought it was a good start for him.”
(Through the first three games of the year, you guys had one of the best fourth-quarter defenses in the league. Obviously that slipped down after Cincinnati and New York. How big of a topic of conversation has that been? How big of a concern is it for you guys right now?) – “I think when you look at the past two weeks for us, we look at a lot of different things and things that continue to be issues, and then you make an assessment of okay, are we coaching this? Are we stressing this? Is there a different way to do it? Is there a better way to detail it? And I think that’s kind of the process that we’ve kind of taken this week going into it. If there’s some better ways to do some things that we’re struggling with, that we need to implement that and we need to get it done in a hurry. And we have a great group of guys. We have a great challenge this week, so it’s an awesome opportunity and it’s very humbling when you come in and the majority of your coaches, and the majority of the players; everybody looks at it as ‘it’s my fault.’ So the accountability is huge and the work ethic, and I would say the dedication to get it right, has been an awesome thing. So this has been a really exciting week for us and we’re really excited for the opportunity this week.”
(To follow up, what are some of those things that you guys might not be executing as well in game situations as you did the first three weeks of the season?) – “Well, I would say there’s things even in the first three weeks that I would say are still ongoing things that we need to improve and get better without going into scheme or specifics on that. But I would say there’s things that we’ve kind of pinpointed that we need to probably detail better – that’s probably a good adjective to use, on how we approach it and the amount of progress that we need to see on that to be really the defense we want to be.”
(I remember last year when we asked you about some of the early season struggles from the defense and you talked about having to evolve and how teams catch on to what other teams are trying to do. At this point in the season do you think that the defense has evolved enough to stay on its toes or to keep opposing teams on their toes?) – “Yeah, I think we’ve definitely had a variety of different things. I think the way we detail and execute things, I think can be better. I think there’s been certain situations that we obviously can get better. There’s a lot of things – and without getting into specifics on every single thing, because I think that would give you a schematic disadvantage if you went into all those – but I definitely think we’ve had a high volume of defense in a lot of different things that we’ve thrown at people and I think that us executing better, communicating better and detailing it better as coaches, and I would start with myself on that, I think that will allow us – and like I said, I’m really excited because our players, they’re accountable, they’re dedicated, they’re working hard and we’re really, really excited. That’s the beauty about sports, especially we’re talking about, you know, Game 6 here. So when things don’t go your way and then you’re presented with another great opportunity in front of you the following week, it’s a great opportunity and that’s what we’re looking forward to.”
(What led to LB Channing Tindall’s first two defensive snaps of the year on Sunday and do you want to weave him in a little bit more?) – “Channing (Tindall) has been making great progress in practice and obviously physically, there’s a lot of things that we like that he does, and I thought he did well with the snaps that he was in there. And obviously, you’re always trying to work ways to get guys involved, especially if you think they can excel or succeed at those. And it’s like all of our guys, I was excited for his opportunity. Just like Noah (Igbinoghene), I was excited for him to get an opportunity. And when guys go out and they execute, you try to create more opportunities for them just knowing and understanding that you always want to put them in a position that they’re comfortable with, that they can handle and that gives them the best opportunity to succeed.”
(It seemed like the first three weeks, this team really did well at playing complementary football, P Thomas Morstead’s punts and nailing people inside the 20, you guys with the stops, the offense with the big plays. It seems that that hasn’t happened so much the last couple of weeks. No. 1, is that accurate? And No. 2, how does that affect the defense when you, I guess it makes you have to work a little harder?) – “Yeah, I mean a lot of complementary football is really kind of field position based. So you kick the ball off, if they get a decent return, that puts you a little bit behind the eight ball. Or if you start on defense and you give up a couple of drives – even if you do get them off the field, and they punt, now it’s a plus-50 punt and your offense is backed up. So all the yards are important as you go down and that’s really how you kind of play a complementary game. If the offense turns the ball over and you’re able to get a stop on defense – you could go through the games, and I would say all three phases, we’re working hard to make sure that we can play a more complementary game. And I think there’s always, from opening kickoff, there’s always opportunities for each team to play complementary football. So if you kick the ball off and you pin them down and you’re able to get a three-and-out or call it a four-and-out or you’re out in the first series, then you’re not punting it at midfield, your offense is not backed up, and then they have less field to go. Or the same thing, if you can create a turnover defensively, then you’re putting your offense usually in better field position. Now if you create a turnover in your minus territory, then you’re really preventing points there, and then it’s the offense, okay, they get a couple first downs, now they can put the opponent in a, call it, poor field position starting point.”
(Not to pin everything on one guy but with the pass rush, DE Emmanuel Ogbah has been the impact pass rusher the last couple of seasons and this year he’s got one sack in five games and we’re not really necessarily feeling him all that much at least from our vantage point. What do you see happening with him this season?) – “Again, I start with self-reflection. And that’s not an easy thing to do. I don’t know how anybody else feels about that, but when you look at things, and you have to sit there and tell yourself, ‘hey, this isn’t good, this isn’t good,’ that’s not a fun thing to do, but I do think that we can detail things a little bit better. I think he’s a dedicated player for us. I think he works hard. I think we can put him in some better situations from time to time and I know it’s important to him. And like I said, that’s why I feel really blessed to be here and be around the guys that I’m around because those guys – all of them are like, ‘Oh, this is my fault. This is my fault.’ He’s accountable, but I do think we can detail things and put him in a little bit better spot and then I’m really excited for his opportunities coming up. And I know you guys have heard Mike (McDaniel) say this a lot that adversity is an opportunity. And that’s really the way we look at it. And I know that we’ve kind of approached things, I would say, tweaked a little bit different this week just on the things that we emphasized or detailed and our players are working hard at it, and hopefully we’ll see those results on Sunday.”
(How much of an emphasis have the missed tackles been and how much do you think this can kind of clean up some of the problems that you faced in recent weeks?) – “Again, it ties all in together with complementary football, detailing things that we want to work at and get better at. And again, I would say any time that we can eliminate yards after catch or yards after contact, it’s going to do two things. I mean, really it puts the offense behind the chains, which sometimes narrows down the plays that that you can see. And the other thing that it does is it saves you field position. So it’s definitely something that that we’ve emphasized, and it’s definitely something that – and again, you can say something like, ‘hey, we need to be better at this,’ but like, okay, what are you doing to get better at it? And are the things that you’re doing to get better at it, are they helping you? If they’re not, then what you need to do is detail it a different way or take a different approach. And I think that’s the great thing. Nobody’s complaining, nobody’s making excuses, nobody’s quitting. Our guys are really detailed in what we’re trying to get done. And like I said, we’re really excited to go out there and play a really good football team this Sunday here at home.”
(We’ve all seen how effective your defenses can be with Cover 0 over the past few years. Not having your top two corners for either the whole game or part of the game at least 100 percent, how much does that factor into how reluctant or willing you might be using Cover 0?) – “I think when you’re talking about call it, and again, there’s different ways to go about pressure. I think when you when you factor all that in; one, you look at the offense, what what’s available to them and then what’s available to us defensively. And I think anybody that you see us put out on the field in any call that we make, we’re very confident in those guys. And I think we have a lot of guys that we’ve been able to play on defense that we’re pretty confident in. I don’t think it so much changes. It’s more like what do we think puts us in the best spot against that offense? And again, obviously, you’d like to have every player that’s available to you. When you don’t, you adjust and you don’t want to really put players in, call it a disadvantage. But I don’t think it really has to do with so much the player who it is. It’s really basically what the offensive structure is, what they’ll do to it and then our matchups. That’s really kind of what it comes down to.”
Eric Studesville – October 13, 2022
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Thursday, October 13, 2022
Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Eric Studesville
(What has RB Raheem Mostert recently? We were just talking to Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith, and he says RB Chase Edmonds will still get his opportunities as well. Just kind of the dynamic of them two right now?) – “Well, I think right now, those guys have been sort of taking the reps and who we’ve had in the game the most. We have great confidence in both of them. Raheem (Mostert), played well last week, having 100 yards and doing some things. But I’ve got a very talented room – I, we – we have a very talented room of guys in there, and there’s going to be opportunities for everybody in there. We’re going to need all of them at some point in time, so we just keep moving it around. We think that’s to our advantage, and we think that’s an advantage that we have with our running back room.”
(We saw RB Myles Gaskin get his first real carries of the season. You spoke about a lot of the selfishness of that room, but obviously a guy like RB Myles Gaskin, who was really getting a bulk of the carries his first couple of years maybe kind of stepping back into a secondary role and then having an opportunity on Sunday, just how have you seen him handle the first month or so of the season?) – “I think it speaks volumes to the room. The room is that we have a talented group in there. There’s a lot of guys that are good football players, and they’re unselfish. I think I’ve said that before. They’re competing – they all want to be the lead dog. They all do, and really, you want that from a running back. Their opportunities are going to come, but they all want to contribute whatever way that is to help us win. That’s the one thing about that room is that all those guys are going to do whatever they have to do to try to help us win. I think that’s the mentality that you have to have, because you’re going to need different guys at different times. Things are going to happen along the way. They’re all ready to go. They all prepare great, and when their opportunity comes, they’ll be prepared for it.”
(Are you operating under the assumption that you’ll have RB Raheem Mostert available on Sunday?) – “I’m always operating under the assumption that I’m going to have all of them until we make a decision as to who we get. But that’s why we have to all be ready for it, because we don’t know what those things are. Different things happen at different points in time. I expect Raheem (Mostert) to be there. I expect Chase (Edmonds) to be there. I expect Myles (Gaskin) and Salvon (Ahmed) and Alec (Ingold) and everybody to be ready to go because it’s – we just never know when those opportunities are going to come.”
(We’ve seen some instances where you’ve had RB Raheem Mostert and RB Chase Edmonds on the field at the same time. What type of challenges does that pose for a defense as opposed to just having a standard maybe FB Alec Ingold in there or maybe an extra wide receiver by having those two running backs?) – “We don’t know – that’s why we do it, right? We do it to see what the defense is going to do and what kind of challenge that poses to them. It may change a lot of things. It may change a personnel grouping. It may change the front. It may change how they perceive coverages. It may change what they think is going to happen – is it run? Is it pass? Is it – whatever that is, that’s to our advantage. And so the ability to put those two guys on the field, who are two of our better players, it’s just one more thing that they have to prepare for, and they have to chase ghosts on and try to figure out where we’re going with that.”
(Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith was saying that the run game success that we saw against the Jets kind of built off of the Cincinnati success. What’s been going on in the last couple of games? What have you liked that you’ve seen last couple of games?) – “Well, I think the thing that I liked the most is that this entire offense is committed to this and getting better. We’ve done some things that we could have certainly could have done better. There’s been some plays out there that we’ve hit not as consistently as we want. So I think there’s an urgency in the entire group to get better, and that’s what we’re seeing. We’re seeing that guys aren’t saying, ‘Oh, this isn’t this.’ They’re committed to it. They’re focused on it. They’re taking care of each other. We’re trying to get this run game going better, and it takes everyone in the run game (and) it takes everybody in the pass game. I think what we’re seeing is that the whole group is saying, ‘You know what? We’re going to all put this on all of our backs to get this improved.’”
(Where does that come from? Is it that they know the offense depends on it, or the coaches are making that a priority or it’s it comes from inside?) – “I don’t think it’s a different priority than the pass game. We want every play to be successful, so we’ve all got to be coordinated on every play to get better. That’s not – that’s run, pass, or whatever that is, screenplays, whatever that is, we’ve all got to be in on this. It’s not coming from one place, other than I think all of us – coaches, players, the entire organization – we want to be the best team possible and we’re going to keep pushing to be excellent in what we do. And if we’re not excellent, then let’s figure out ways that we can get better.”
(Getting WR Tyreek Hill involved in the run game and having that play where TE Durham Smythe comes in under center in motion and scores, that kind of creativity that you guys have began to add or expand on, how much do you enjoy that aspect?) – “I like all those things, because I think those are – again, I think that goes back to the conversation just a moment ago, that’s more things for the defense staff to prepare for and chase ghosts for and get ready for, and I think that’s to our advantage.”
(Last week when I talked to RB Raheem Mostert about what you guys might need to do better to improve the running game, he specifically said calling out IDs and stuff like that. How have you seen that area improve over the last couple of weeks?) – “Well, again, I think it’s the same message. Right? We’re all in on this, so we are all involved in pass protections and run game, that way we all know where everybody’s going and why and what the purpose of that is. And that’s on – the entire coaches, players, all of us want to get these things right, and that’s what we’re practicing, that’s what we’re meeting on, that’s what we’re correcting, that’s why we watch tape – all those things to make sure we are on the same page. Because that – when we’re all on the same page, that increases our chances for execution.”
Danny Crossman – October 13, 2022
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Thursday, October 13, 2022
Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman
(The missed field goal – nobody expects a 54-yarder to hit, but what happened on that?) – “It was just a little inside out. Again, we expect – any time we send Jason (Sanders) out on the field, we expect points. We wouldn’t send him out there if we weren’t expecting points. So again, just another little inside out, missed by a hair. But you only get points if they’re through the uprights, and when we take the field, we expect points.”
(I know in Week 2, you had the kick return touchdown against the Ravens that you allowed. Obviously, you haven’t allowed a touchdown since then, but some returners are getting pretty long returns. What has kind of stuck out in those plays, maybe a call or is there maybe somebody out of place?) – “I think it’s a little bit like we talked about before – we’re shooting ourselves in the foot with a little bit of some technique issues. Some – we talked about couple weeks ago, it’s like fitting a run and everybody needs to be in the proper gap and the proper fit. If you get off against good football players, like you’re going to see in the National Football League, you’re going to get leaky and you’re going to give up some yardage. So we’ve got to clean up those technique issues. Again, I’ve always told you guys, it all starts with me. We’ve got to be right and we’ve got to be where we’re supposed to be.”
(Can you assess how S Clayton Fejedelem did in his first game back?) – “It was like a first game – there was some real good stuff and there’s some stuff that we got to get cleaned up. But it was good to have him back.”
(How much of a boost can a player like S Clayton Fejedelem lend to special teams? Just having that veteran presence there.) – “Well like anything, I think when you have a guy that has experience and has had success and has been a productive player, when you get that guy back, I think it builds everybody’s confidence, first and foremost, and it’s a great example for the younger guys.”
(How has TE Tanner Conner come along in special teams?) – “He’s growing. When you look at his background and where he is now, a lot of things for him the first time is literally the first time. (laughter) But we’re very happy with Tanner (Conner) and how he’s progressing and very happy to have him on our club.”
(Something that I thought that I saw – the kickoff return when TE Durham Smythe went out, WR River Cracraft came in. That seems like it’s usually a heavier player or tight end. Is it his blocking? Why was that?) – “There’s a lot of different things that go into why certain guys are at certain spots. That was a situation we had multiple guys at that certain time with some injury stuff. So you’re allowed to have 11. We hope to only have 11, but we’d like to get 11 out there. So we have a lot of guys that we ask a lot of in terms of what they learn and having to be able to play multiple spots in a backup role, but that’s the National Football League.”
Frank Smith – October 13, 2022
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Thursday, October 13, 2022
Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith
(The blocking of the tight end room – outside of TE Durham Smythe, who I guess is in question this week in case Durham can’t play because of the hamstring – with TE Mike Gesicki, with TE Tanner Connor, with TE Hunter Long obviously coming back, is there enough blocking skill there to run the offense entirely as you might want to?) – “Yeah. And I think also, when it comes to that, there’s also different options as far as scheme, different things we can utilize to help everyone execute what we need, fundamentally. So I think that, yeah, if Durham can’t make it to the game, then we have a plan and we have contingencies like we talk about for all positions. But ultimately, our job is to put our players in the best position possible to execute what they do well.”
(What was it like having a week where you prepare to have QB Teddy Bridgewater as a starter, and the first play he goes out and you have QB Skylar Thompson going?) – “Yeah, the last two weeks have been an interesting time in the NFL to be honest. But also really a great time for us to really act upon the adversity that the NFL provides for this roster to really learn nothing’s guaranteed, for everyone to maximize their opportunities. But if you dwell on what you don’t have, you will be reminded really quickly of what you won’t get, and that’s not winning. So our goal is always around here to focus on the future, focus on the present and make sure that everyone that’s active on game day is preparing in a way to make sure that they can help us execute to win a football game.”
(Now, what gives you confidence in QB Skylar Thompson with a full week of preparation for him to start?) – “Well, I think it’s pretty evident from what you guys have been able to witness through training camp, for Skyler, he’s not your average rookie. The way he’s been able to prepare, the way he’s been able to execute, we have full confidence in what he’s going to be able to deliver to help us win on a full week of preparation. The scenario to which he went in, I can’t even imagine sometimes. It’s the second play of the game and you’re standing there and you’re kind of by yourself. I mean the rest of his position group that he’s been prepping with the entire offseason was not available. So he’s by himself pushing through and I think you really saw a lot of the moxie he possesses and the reason why he’s going to grow and continue to get better. We felt like this week, with him being available and getting the full preparation, that he was our best chance to help us win.”
(Let us get some, I guess, an explanation on the offensive tackle situation last week and this week. OL Brandon Shell made his debut at left tackle. But you have T Greg Little, who I believe has flexibility. So why go with Brandon on the left side as opposed to the right side last week? And then how is OL Austin Jackson after yesterday?) – “I think overall, it just stresses back to our goal to create consistency for guys at positions. When you’re flipping guys constantly, you’re not allowing for that to happen. We felt all along that if we can create consistency for the guys, we’ll give them the best chance to execute when we need them to be at their best on Sundays. And always, it’s never a finished product. There’s always things to work on. There’s always the ebbs and flows of the game that create challenges. But overall, at the tackle position, we’ve tried to create that consistency so if and when we have to make changes at those spots, we try and make sure that we’re not flipping them back and forth because in the course of a week, just with our experience, we found it’s extremely challenging. It would be challenging for many positions – if you’re on one side, you’re on one side. That’s just kind of like, you’re back in the 1980s and you’re going strong guard, quick guard like everyone else was doing.”
(And OL Austin Jackson, are you optimistic?) – “Yeah, extremely. I think A.J. has done a great job in his rehabilitation, his preparation, being active and involved. He is such a hungry learner. I mean just coming into the NFL so young. I mean, he’s just been really fun to work with. I know we’ve all enjoyed his progression. So we’re very optimistic and hopeful that he’ll be able to help us this Sunday the rest of season.”
(I wanted to ask you about T Terron Armstead. Obviously he signed here in the offseason, and yet he hasn’t been able to practice hardly at all really. How sustainable is that? Does it hold him back more? Or is it a matter of having an opportunity to work on chemistry with the other guys?) – “I would think if he was younger in his tenure, maybe more. Now granted, practice is where you want to refine and work on the things that you’re trying to get ready for Sunday. Terron, and like many elite tackles in this league, though, have such a wealth of experience to draw upon. And I mean, it’s a credit to him in the last couple of years in New Orleans – I know it was very similar, as far as making sure any little things are being maintenanced and also his mental focus and his stamina is elite. Like he’s able to stay on-task through everything else. So we haven’t had any concerns with that. Just knowing the guy since he was a rookie, he’s one of those guys that when you draft him, he acts like he’s 31. I mean, he acts older, he’s more mature, he’s always been that way. So I don’t think we’ve particularly had any concerns, and we won’t probably going forward. I mean, you’d love to have practice time, but it’s the NFL and sometimes it’s not available. But especially for younger players, you’d like to be able to practice more.”
(I know he had some injuries early, but what’s been the issue or challenge in getting WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. involved into the offense?) – “I think that the challenge is, ultimately, just trying to make sure that we’re getting guys in positions to do what they do well, and then secondly, how does the game play out? Like, guys have opportunities throughout the game plan, where we really want to have options. And then ultimately, what the coverage is dictating, what the defense is trying to do can sometimes have us adjust and have to move the ball around. Or the primary gets open immediately. Or when we thought a check-down was going to be there, or obviously the second progression, first or second, we have to adjust. I wouldn’t say that for us, really, we’re trying to make sure that we spread the ball around, because great offenses make sure they push the ball around as much as it can. So I think that the continued work in practice by all guys is to try and work on – getting involved in the offense is the most important thing because that’s where we build the confidence for getting ready for Sunday.”
(Watching the games, it looks like on a weekly basis, you get good blocks on the perimeter from your receivers. I’m curious if you agree with that. And then also, as kind of an underappreciated part of the position, if you can maybe just quantify how valuable it is to have that good blocking on the perimeter?) – “It’s vital. I think (Wide Receivers Coach) Wes (Welker) does a great job with one, playing the position of such a high level, and then understanding how to execute the fundamentals of perimeter space blocking. (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) also has experience because that’s kind of been a hallmark of their system of having all skill players be good blockers and understanding that that element is going to help them get more opportunities in the ball with being good blockers. So overall, yeah, there’s always stuff you can improve on. I mean, we never really think everything’s a finished product, especially at this point in the season. The growth is from week to week. I mean there’s obviously a couple blocks that occurred in the game on the perimeter that we feel that we could have improved on. But overall, we like we’re progressing, especially with Tyreek (Hill) and Jaylen (Waddle)’s production in the passing game. The fact of which that they strive to be not just effective blockers, but excellent blockers is just a credit to who they are as players and who they are as men.”
(You guys seemed to play complementary football very well in the first three games. Maybe not so much in the last couple. What kind of stress does that put on your unit and each unit when don’t get that complementary football?) – “The biggest thing is it’s just kind of the name of the NFL. I mean, if everything goes the way you thought it was going to go, every game would be boring, and you’d play out exactly as you prepared. But it’s our ability to adjust, it’s our ability to communicate, it’s our ability to push through the adversity that the 17-game season provides. And I think that’s truly where you learn the measure of your football team and how you’re built and what kind of guys you’re going to be able to count on when it really matters in December. So I think you normally would say, even our Baltimore win, it didn’t really go the way you would want it to go. But it went a good way at the end. And I think we learned from that. And then the Buffalo game was a back and forth contest. I mean we didn’t get a whole lot opportunities with the ball, but when we did, we tried to maximize it. And now the last two weeks, we’ve had some adversity where the quarterback at the start of the game didn’t finish it, and that is the NFL at its most. So I think ultimately, we’re learning as a football team that the next-man-up mentality has got to be the most vital and important thing. And I think that as coaches, our fundamental job is to communicate, educate and prepare our guys to be able to handle those variables and be able to execute regardless of situation.”
(It seems like for the longest time, the Dolphins have had a challenge in putting together kind of a dominant offensive line. What is it that makes it so hard to put together that kind of line? Are there things that the average fan doesn’t even think about that makes it that hard?) – “Absolutely. It’s a great question. I think it comes down to like last year, when I was in LA, and (General Manager) Tom Telesco was talking about the challenges that they were going through through the years of trying to get their line back because they felt their heyday years were back in the late 2000s, when they were running the ball with ‘LT’ (LaDainian Tomlinson) and they were really controlling the division through running the football. And the challenges are just as you allocate resources to the position, there’s uncontrollable variables that occur, (like) injuries, a guy maybe you wanted to have back and free agency and he moves on because of the market so high. I just think that sometimes guys – you have to make sure in your evaluation selection, that you’re making sure you’re finding the right type of guy. Sometimes coaching change is a big issue. I know that happened in LA when I was there, that they had been through a couple of different changes at not only the head coach but the position coach. So I think ultimately, if you’re trying to develop players, if you don’t have consistency of their coaches, that’s hard for a guy because he’s getting a different message each year. So I think ultimately, if you want players to have sustained success, you’re trying to create a world where there’s consistency and availability. And I think that is, in all life, in all jobs we work, that’s the hardest thing is trying to create a consistent environment where you can be at your best. And I think if you look at this group, they’re kind of a hallmark of there’s been injuries, there’s been changes in position coaches, changes in head coaches. None of those are excuses but that’s the reality of the situation, the adversity that the group’s got to overcome and meet the challenge head on with a positive attitude, and just realize that they are control of their efforts, their attitudes and their approach. They’ve got to trust us that our number one goal is to help them be their best, and then we form a bond and push forward.”
(What went right with the running game last week?) – “I think there was some consistency that we were looking for that we’ve kind of been talking about here with you guys. Just what are the little things where we can get better? There was some fundamental stuff that we’ve been really stressing that guys up front were able to execute. I think that we were able to create some space in the defense that our runners were able to exploit. I think some of the explosive runs contribute to a higher overall yards per carry. I think of the game before in Cincinnati, you add back and there was a throw on one of the runs that if we would have handed it off, you’d been looking at a double-digit gain. There was a penalty on the Tyreek (Hill) run, which would have been a double-digit gain. If you add those two onto our total, we’re looking at over a hundred yard game. So Cincinnati was kind of a prelude to that, and then we were able to capitalize on some of those learning lessons from Cincinnati into last week. So ultimately, week to week, it goes into how we improve and it goes from – it takes all 11 and to run the ball effectively in this league and you’ve got to be committed to it. I think we got some good positive growth that we’re really going to look to build on this week. And ultimately, the 11 that are in there every play have got to be able to execute collectively.”
(You talked about finding space in the run game. Are you seeing teams play more two-high against you guys to open up those spots? And is that something, in conversations with the coaching staff, like if teams are going to try to take WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle away, we have to take advantage of the lighter boxes?) – “Yeah, absolutely. I think that what we’re trying to do, ultimately, and with who we have, we’re going to see some of those coverages. And when we get those coverages that are advantageous for the run game, we got to maximize it. And that’s where I would think that we think collectively, that’s a great area where we can improve and really with the emphasis in probably the last two or three weeks, we’re starting to see the growth because the guys are really seeing how important and how small the margin of error is. So I think yeah, as teams try and make sure they have roof over the coverage on our wide receivers, we’ve got to make sure that our foundation is good in the running game. So I think that we’ve made growth and this week will be a great opportunity with way that they play their defense to try and continue our growth in that area.”
(Is RB Raheem Mostert setting himself apart as a lead back or do you still kind of see it as matchup based who will get the bulk of the carries?) – “I think Raheem has done a tremendous job and Chase (Edmonds) too. I mean his opportunities are going to come. Again, it’s a long season. To rush to any decisions about what we’re going to need or who’s where and who’s in what spot, in a month, we’ll be sitting here and saying it’s flipped. So I think we’re fortunate to have two backs that we feel really good about. Right now, Raheem is playing some really good football. But Chase is going to come up huge for us at some point. We all know that; we feel that. He had an excellent day of practice yesterday and really challenged himself. We’re excited for him to have another great day of practice today and look forward to him on Sunday and build into the next month and quarter of the season.”
Jaylen Waddle – October 12, 2022
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Wednesday, October 12, 2022
WR Jaylen Waddle
(Do you remember your first start in the NFL and your jitters? What’s some advice you’d like to give to QB Skylar Thompson going into his first start?) – “Just be confident. You prepare the right way. I know he’s going to have a great week of practice. So just go back to your preparation, go out there and ball out and have fun.”
(How important was it for him to get some action, QB Skylar Thompson, in a regular season game? How different do you think it will look this week?) – “I think he kind of had to learn on the fly coming in, being the backup, and then going in the game and having to play a lot in the game. It’s just experience. All that just adds up. I think he’s going to have a great week and come out prepared.”
(What’s his skill? What’s QB Skylar Thompson’s skill that most impresses you?) – “Honestly, I think its his confidence. He’s confident he can make every throw. He’s confident he knows what the defense is in and trusts his reads.”
(As a team, what are some things that you guys need to help QB Skyler Thompson this week in terms of offensively?) – “I think just being on our assignments and not putting extra stuff on his plate. He’s a young quarterback, so us knowing our assignments and being real detailed in how we go about our jobs is definitely going to be key.”
(In terms of the Vikings defense, what are some things you’ve learned or seen throughout the film?) – “They play well together. I think all their DBs and their front seven, they’re all in-tune and play well together. They’re definitely ball hungry. They try to get the ball out. It’s going to be a great test for us.”
Skylar Thompson – October 12, 2022
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Wednesday, October 12, 2022
QB Skylar Thompson
(So, after the game – it was a weird situation where you’re coming in after the first play – and you said you wanted to look at the film. What stood out to you the past few days watching the film of your first NFL game action?) – “Yeah, there was a lot of learning. Definitely some things to be proud about and excited about moving forward. But then there’s definitely some plays out there that I wish I had back. That’s why I really like the past – like 24 hours after the game, I really like that time to really digest how I felt after the game, being able to watch through the film, kind of see how I was playing, how our team was playing, kind of get a feel for what I was feeling on the field and see if that aligned with what I saw on film. It definitely was a tough loss, but I’m really encouraged about where we’re at today and guys were having a great attitude and coming to work and just have an opportunity to get better each and every day like we always talk about here. Today is a great opportunity to do that.”
(How would you describe your emotions driving to the facility today knowing you’re about to make your first NFL start?) – “Yeah, I mean, it’s exciting. It’s a dream come true. It’s something that I’ve worked for my whole life. There’s a ton that goes into that. I didn’t get here just by myself. There are a lot of people that have contributed to help me get to where I am today – my family, my past coaches, my current coaches, my current teammates, Teddy (Bridgewater) and Tua (Tagovailoa). There’s a handful of people that have helped me get to this spot and I’m not the type of person to point the finger at me and I did it by myself and all that type of stuff. That’s not the case at all. I’m very grateful for this opportunity and I’m super excited to go to work today and have this opportunity in front of me.”
(How do you handle a practice week with the expectation of being a starter as opposed to getting thrown into the fire in the middle of a game?) – “Yeah, I mean, it helps kind of knowing – I’m a very mental visualization person. I like to put myself in situations before they happen and all those types of things. Just having a week of prep, being able to – most importantly, just build the continuity of the offense with the snap count, the cadences, the protections, the timing of routes. All of that stuff is so important to build throughout the week. For me to have a week to build that, build confidence with the guys and build that trust and timing is going to be really, really important.”
(Your week is going to be a lot different. People are going to be hitting you up, friends, family. How do handle all that attention? Is there anyone you lean on that gives you advice?) – “Yeah, I mean, my dad. My dad is probably my go to. I have a great circle around me of people that have supported me from day one as a person more so than a football player. At times like this, that’s what I really lean on is those people, and then just try to tune everything else out. It’s all white noise and just trying to focus on doing my job and doing whatever I got to do to help the team win. And yes, that roll has increased a little bit this week. But I just try to keep things as strict in my routine that I’ve been doing and try not to change too much stuff up this week just because some circumstances changed.”
(Internally, which players have come to you and said, ‘We got your back, man?’) – “Man, I’ve had countless guys. I mean, too many to name. There’s been a great support system that I’ve had from this team and guys that are showing trust and belief in me. And for me being a rookie, walking in here and having that support, I think it just speaks volumes about the type of guys we have in our locker room. The people we have in this organization is tremendous. I’ve said this quite a few times that when you come to work every day with great people, it makes the work fun because you know the days are long, you’re sacrificing a lot of time out of your day to be successful and to win. Having great people surrounding you during the process is big time and I’ve been very fortunate being in this organization and being surrounded by great people.”
(You mentioned some of the support and people who helped you get here. Can you take us through maybe the first person you called when Head Coach Mike McDaniel told you that and what that conversation was like?) – “Yeah, I called my dad. He was emotional and excited for me. He just told me that I earned it and he was proud of me. My dad and I have been through a lot. This has been my ultimate goal and I think for him as a father, being able to hear me express I’ve accomplished a goal of starting a game in the NFL, it meant a lot to him. I told my girlfriend and other people in my family that I’m really close with. But I’m not – like I said earlier, the attention on me, that’s not the type of person I am. I just kept it very tight-knitted with the people that I’m really close with and shared the news with them and just moved on and continued my routine of what I normally do on a Tuesday.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel was out earlier and he mentioned getting with you and focusing a little bit on like 10 plays that you wish you had back. When you looked at those, was there a common thread that you know you can work on this week?) – “Yeah, I think just my feet not aligning with my eyes. We preach here to listen to your feet, and if you’re hitching too many times, it’s time to get off that read and get to the next one. There were times I felt like I was kind of just getting through my progression a little bit quick and missing a guy or so, and just forcing stuff that we really haven’t talked about in meetings or things that are part of the progression and just playing outside of what the scheme is coached to do. I think that just a sign of me pressing and trying to do too much. That’s one thing I’m focused on this week is just taking what the defense gives me and not forcing anything and just playing good complementary football on offense. That’s what we talk about all the time here about what we want to do.”
(What was it like for you Sunday going back to the sideline without QB Teddy Bridgewater, without QB Tua Tagovailoa – no teammates in the quarterback room there to help show you what they’re seeing on the field?) – “Yeah, it was a different feeling. Obviously spending so much time with those guys and being on the sidelines with him so far this season, not having them there is definitely different because we do talk about things on the sideline and Teddy points out things to me or vice versa. We’re all working together there. So I’m excited to have those guys back this week and having them around me. Like I said, they’re a huge reason why I’m having this opportunity. They’ve helped me a lot. Whether they’ve vocally said something to me to teach me something or whatnot, they’ve taught me a ton through their actions and the way they carry themselves, the way they prepare. I’m very, very grateful for those guys.”
(I know you said after the preseason that you felt like you had shown you were good enough and shown that you belonged in this league. After your first game, what was your takeaway there? The game, was it different in the regular season compared to maybe the preseason?) – “Yeah, I mean, it’s a lot different than the preseason. The defense is more complex, there’s a lot more going on, the offensive playbook is expanded further. So all those things kind of going into one. It is a different game than the preseason. That’s one thing that I felt at the beginning of the game and what’s encouraging for me is I do – reflecting back on the game, there were moments where it was slowing down for me and I was trusting what I was seeing, making a good throw and making some plays for us. So there were some positive things to come from that and to grow from.”
(To follow up on some of the support you’ve gotten from the team, what have conversations been like specifically with the receivers on this team? Have WR Jaylen Waddle or WR Tyreek Hill been in contact with you as you prepare?) – “Yeah. Tyreek (Hill), (Jaylen) Waddle, Mike (Gesicki), Trent (Sherfield), River (Cracraft), everybody has shown support in me and supported me in this process and are excited for me. That gives me confidence. I’m looking forward to having a week to prepare with those guys and build that timing and trust and that’s going to be big time for me, having a week of prep with those guys. I’m excited. They’re great teammates and I’m very fortunate to take the field with them.”
Mike McDaniel – October 12, 2022
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Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(The league-owned TV network reported today QB Tua Tagovailoa will throw and I guess my question is with Tua throwing, is there a possibility he might play Sunday? Or do you want to be cautious and rule him out for Sunday and wait another week even if he clears protocol this week?) – “It’ll be exciting for today because really in these situations, you are relying on all medical advice and what people can do. And what I’ve been told as he can go out and throw and do some individual work this week, or today. So that’s exciting for everybody, just because really, we just miss his personality. He’s a guy that we rely on, not to mention all of his play and all that stuff. Now when talking about this week and playing, I don’t see a scenario – I don’t see him being active and I’m not going to – I do not plan to have him play at all. It’s something that this whole process is a little tricky and today he’s just getting back to playing football for the first time in two weeks. He hasn’t been on a field playing football in two weeks. So today the focus is – again, I’m not trying to get ahead of myself and think about the ‘Z’ component. I’m worried about ‘A’ and ‘A’ is getting him on the field and having him throw a football and being around his teammates. And that’s what today’s step is and then moving forward we’ll go about 12 to 24 hours, right? But I can say with certainty that he’s not going to be playing this Sunday.”
(What’s the update on QB Teddy Bridgewater?) – “Teddy is currently progressing through the protocol. He feels good. The soreness on his pec is getting better, but in this stage of the protocol, he is unable to do anything football-related with his team. So when you guys are out there, I’m sure you’ll see him, but he won’t be with the rest of the guys. He will be on the side working with the trainers and trying to progress through this stage of the protocol as deemed.”
(So does that automatically mean or likely mean that QB Skylar Thompson is going to be the quarterback Sunday?) – “Really, Teddy’s (Bridgewater) whole week is going to be – he’s just getting back and able to do work with the trainers today. Tomorrow he’ll be able to do a little bit of football in a limited capacity. And as a result, we’ll be moving forward with planning on starting Skylar Thompson this week.”
(You mentioned QB Teddy Bridgewater will be able to do limited tomorrow. If I’m correct, would that be stage three of where he is in the process?) – “The stages are a foreign language to me. I don’t really keep up with them because it’s very simple. You’re dealing with all these medical professionals that are giving you instructions on what someone’s allowed to do. And what I do know is he’s allowed to do non-contact football tomorrow in a limited capacity. So that’s where we’re at. I’m not really sure what stage that is, but the stage as I understand it, is that he can play a little football, but he can’t be in any sort of situations where he can engage in contact. And thus, it has to be a very limited role.”
(In regards to that, I know that position is different than others because of the prep during the week. If QB Teddy Bridgewater is cleared on Friday or Saturday, what’s your comfort on him being able to play without having much full practice?) – “That’s a tricky question. As long as everything goes to plan with regard to his protocol procedure, I’m very confident just in Teddy in general, so he’ll be active for the game in that scenario and be backing up Skylar (Thompson).”
(With QB Tua Tagovailoa, and that report that was previously described, it said that even if Tua is cleared that he won’t play on Sunday. Is that accurate? And if so, what’s the threshold between being cleared medically and you being comfortable putting him back at risk?) – “So it is accurate in that there is a definite scenario that he will be cleared before Sunday’s game. But in this particular scenario with regard to him, like I just said, he hasn’t done a thing on the football field for literally two weeks. That wouldn’t be fair to the player. That wouldn’t be fair to the team. I think that’s something that I don’t feel comfortable putting them in that situation. So I guess (whatever those) sources are, they’re pretty accurate. I need to find out who your sources are. (laughter)”
(If QB Tua Tagovailoa is not going to play this Sunday, is the target for him to play in the Steelers game?) – “I’m just excited to get him on the football field and see – there’s some progressions we have to make in terms of, ‘hey, he has to throw a pass.’ As far as his exact timeline of when he’s going to play, I’ll be excited to consider that whenever that comes up. Right now, I’m just really focused on him getting out there and feeling good and being around his teammates, and that those types of decisions aren’t in the immediate future right now. I’ll handle that when that comes after. Let’s just get through this week and see where we’re at is basically the way that I look at it.”
(And the report said that QB Tua Tagovailoa was evaluated by four independent specialists. I guess the first time the after the Bills game, you were confident in the evaluations that happened. I guess how do you feel now about the evaluations about where Tua is that he can practice today and is cleared to practice?) – “Again, as a football coach, you want to make decisions based upon information, and I’m much more comfortable making decisions in my area of expertise. So that’s one of the reasons why we were excited to get some of the best, most renowned people in their field of expertise and get their opinions on it, so that I’ll be relying on those exclusively because I do not fashion myself as a brain expert. That’s one of the reasons you get multiple opinions and you see the most skilled, highly prepared, schooled and knowledgeable professionals that that you can get your hands on, so that you can have the most information possible from experts and not laymen.”
(Can you give us updates on CB Xavien Howard, T Terron Armstead, WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle?) – “’X’ (Xavien Howard) and (Terron) Armstead need the whole week. You’ll see ‘X’ out there today. I don’t think you’ll see Armstead, but that’s one of those situations that it’s kind of become the norm, hasn’t it? But we just kind of have to take it day by day. So I know they’ll do the best they can to move forward and play the game because I know it’s eating at them. And then the third – Tyreek Hill? He’ll be out there today. He’s going to get some work in, and he won’t be practicing with a boot on. (laughter)”
(On Monday, you had alluded to your captains kind of embracing that role of team captain. Coming off these two losses and some adversity here this season, what are you hoping to see from those guys this week?) – “Well, I’m hoping to see them. I think we had three out of our seven captains last game play the entirety of the game. So I’m hoping to see them, one. But also, as I’ve stated to you guys and as I’ve stated to the team, this is not something that is foreign to NFL teams. You lose two in a row – that’s the adversity that in one way, shape or form, happens to every single team. Captains need to help lead people in the direction out of that. So how do you do that tangibly? A multitude of ways – and I really put a lot of pressure on those guys to make it their team, because it is. One example that I was pumped about – I think you guys will have an open locker room today – Tyreek (Hill) and the captains decided that they wanted to take a step forward with all their opponent prep with regard to the team and their preparation with our game plans in general. So he made the move to take the ping pong tables out of a locker room. That, to me, is leadership. To me, leadership is acting, not talking. There’s a bunch of different examples from those guys, and that’s why they’re captains and that’s why I rely on them, because it’s about solving problems, not complaining about them. They, collectively, as a group of players, wanted more time investment during the week on their jobs for Sunday. So instead of just saying it, they did something about it. And that’s the whole reason that I really have a lot of love for those guys.”
(I wanted to ask you about QB Skylar Thompson. Some coaches would start the veteran, even on limited work, as opposed to the rookie. What gives you the confidence that he’s able to handle that moment?) – “What gives me the confidence is that I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think the team would agree in terms of their confidence for him. You’re always trying to keep the pulse of how everyone feels. The quarterback’s job is to make people better, and he’s – as you guys have noticed and a lot of people have noticed, he’s not the run-of-the-mill rookie. But also, it’s not just about the quarterback, it’s about a collective group of individuals working together. He’s going to have the opportunity to have all the full-speed reps this week because of the position that Teddy (Bridgewater) is in the protocol. We’re very fortunate to have three quarterbacks that our guys really believe they can operate at high level with. So it wasn’t that difficult of a decision for me to make in this set of circumstances.”
(When will you make a decision on QB Reid Sinnett and whether you need to have a third quarterback available on gameday?) – “I think the way things are going, it’s probably going to be later in the week because I can’t wait (for) what’s in store for me today. There’s a lot of moving pieces, especially when you have a limited gameday active situation and with all the guys that really strain to make it on gameday with all of our bumps and bruises. That compounds that whole decision a little bit. So you end up having to take the week to kind of process everything and see where people are at to make sure that those guys feel healthy. If the need is necessary, that does come at a cost to another roster spot for that gameday active. So you have to assess where that comes from and what groups can afford that, so there’s a lot a lot of different variables that go into that equation.”
(What’s one teaching point that maybe you could share with us that you’ve given to QB Skylar Thompson after his first real game action going into this week?) – “When I talked to him yesterday, I talked to all those guys yesterday, (and) the one thing I said to him is that you take stuff, you learn stuff, but you also have to understand what the situation was last week. I want you to – there were some things that he was definitely happy with. He definitely left the game feeling like, just like he thought in the preseason, that he’s an NFL player. But also, I made sure to (say), ‘Hey, look at these 10 plays that I know you’re not happy with. OK, what’s this common denominator?’ There was some footwork stuff, there was some timing stuff, all of which you can kind of connect to that was his first live full speed rep of that footwork, that concept, that progression. ‘So, this week, you’re going to be afforded all those full speed reps. Understand that game is that game – take it for what it is. You got, basically, your first start out of the way. This week, you have a great opportunity to hone-in on the details of all the things you’ll be asked to do on Sunday. So move forward with that and gain confidence with that because if that’s the worst that we’ll see, which you talk about controlling the controllables and if you’re going into a game, especially as a rookie, completely blind without reps, if that’s the worst you’re going to do, we’re all right. So you should get confidence, in an ironic way, from that game that you, without a shadow of a doubt, can play up to your own personal standard. And that, I wanted him to – because to me, that’s a big deal. It made me confident in him that he was able to do what he did, own the game plan and be a pretty darn good decision-maker without having anything full speed of that given gameplan, which in this game and the National Football League, the difference between that is the difference between an interception or a completion. So timing is everything. This full-speed work is vitally important, and I know he’s going to make the best of it this week. So be excited and just go after it because everybody believes in you.”
(Did I hear you correctly when you said that if QB Teddy Bridgewater clears protocol that he would be backing up QB Skylar Thompson?) – “If there’s no setbacks and he clears protocol, yes, he’ll be backing up.”
(What kind of impact can that have for QB Skylar Thompson on the field? Because I mean, on Sunday, he goes in, it’s his first game action, no teammate, or I guess no quarterbacks on the sideline with him. How big of a difference will having somebody in the room on the sideline be?) – “Huge. Huge, because in a game experience for a quarterback, you get coached. There’s a lot of stuff going on and you’re taking in information from one, two, three voices. But then when you have a peer that has gone through it and has seen it, that translation – it might be one word, it might be a pat on the back – that teammate support is a very immensely huge thing for a player like that. That’s the great thing about that room that we really – really, I hope all the rooms on our team can really be inspired by that group because they support each other, they make each other better and it will make a definitive difference, for sure, having that support from his brother on the sidelines this week. It was a lonely sideline last week. He just – all Skylar (Thompson) had to talk to was (Quarterbacks/Pass Game Coordinator Darrell) Bevell and myself. We’re great guys, but not that great at conversations. (laughter)”
Mike McDaniel – October 10, 2022
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Monday, October 10, 2022
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(Has QB Tua Tagovailoa been ruled out for Sunday against Minnesota?) – “Tua (Tagovailoa), right now, I’m not even really thinking about his timeline. As I said before, he is – we’re just trying to get him as healthy as possible. We’re pretty much in a 12- to 24-hour reoccurring evaluation process, and he’s doing well. He was here today, but he is not ready to take the step to do some football stuff yet. So that will be – talk to me every 12 to 24 hours.”
(Where is QB Teddy Bridgewater at? Is he still in concussion protocol?) – “Teddy (Bridgewater), he had no symptoms today. He had no symptoms yesterday, but per the rule change, he is being treated as though he has a concussion. So he is in the subsequent protocol.”
(This week, you play the Vikings as you mentioned before. The names that come to mind include Adrian Peterson, Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper, Cris Carter and the late Hall of Fame Coach Dennis Green. I know you spent some time early in your career as a running backs coach with him in the UFL. What was that experience like and what are some things that you keep with you today that you learned from him?) – “That was a very impactful experience, specifically with Coach Dennis Green, because he was a unique and unique-spirited leader. So it was very – he was very outside the box, so it left a big impression on me, just how he saw things for what they were, how he didn’t try to follow the path of least resistance, nor did he really concern himself with what others were doing. He would tell me stories about how when he got to Minnesota, he specifically altered the offense to a digit system that was foreign to him because all the – he wanted to have something unique and different and a competitive advantage against all the Coach (Bill) Walsh disciples that were coming from that tree. So all those things were very impactful. He was such a good human being and that will forever last with me.”
(A couple of offensive line questions, T Terron Armstead, what are you hearing? Is he back in South Florida? And then T Austin Jackson?) – “He’s back in South Florida. I think the visit went well. The one thing I’ve learned with Terron (Armstead) is I can trust him as much as I’ve ever trusted any player. So I know one thing, he will do whatever it takes to play Sunday. The one thing that myself, the coaching staff and his teammates know is if he’s not able to play, it’s because he’s physically unable to play. So (I’m) trusting that process and excited that he’s taken a step to get that thing healthy. And then what was the (other question)?”
(T Austin Jackson.) – “The plan is to hopefully – we plan and hope to see him practice this week in a limited role, but he’s done a great job getting himself back so that we could even consider that this week.”
(In the past hour or so, we’ve seen a couple of videos from some of the local TV stations showing QB Teddy Bridgewater after the safety. And in those videos, at least from what we can see from those angles, we did not see him stumble. What have you been able to see on video so far? Have you seen anything that indicates a stumble or doesn’t indicate any stumble whatsoever?) – “Honestly, I don’t really concern myself with all of that, just because – I was there at the game. I was watching him intently. It was the first offensive play of the game and I didn’t see him stumble, but I’m also not really in the business of grading and coaching spotters. The rule is in place for player safety and I’m all about that. Honestly, whether he stumbled or not, the rules are the rules. My only takeaway from the whole process was really my personal relationship with Teddy (Bridgewater). Teddy was very prepared to play that game. He put a lot into it, and I was excited to see him play. My heart hurt that he was unable to execute something he was very prepared for, and his teammates were excited to see him play.”
(Regarding QB Teddy Bridgewater, given the area that he’s in now where he’s not showing symptoms but he’s in the protocol, what would be the soonest that he could possibly participate in a practice? And how reluctant would you be to play a quarterback if he hadn’t practiced the previous week?) – “As far as the protocol, for good reason, the coaches aren’t involved in that. So I know in a perfect world where there’s absolutely no setbacks with anything – again, this is kind of uncharted territory for us – the soonest that you can be on the field in a limited capacity, non-contact, would be Thursday. However, I’m not going to try to guess if that’s going to come true or not. This is, again – I just do the best with the situation given and try not to spend my time worrying about things that I can’t control as best I can.”
(If QB Teddy Bridgewater only has a couple of limited practices leading up to the game, just based on his experience, would you feel comfortable having him play in the game on Sunday?) – “These are a lot of hypotheticals. I think I would like – I would like to see when Teddy (Bridgewater) can practice, which is not up to, necessarily, us in general. And then once that happens, assess the situation, which there are some compounding variables. I think he does – the one thing I do know is that he will do everything it takes to prepare to play in a football game. I’m very comfortable with that. You just have to really do right by the football team and the player in terms of whether or not you’re putting a player – whether or not he feels comfortable to execute his responsibility. So that’s too early – there’s too many hypotheticals for me to even assess that. What I do know is he’s a pro, and if and when he’s called upon, I know he’s going to put his best foot forward for himself and his teammates.”
(Can you quantify just the level of, I guess you’d call it misfortune, to have three consecutive games where a quarterback hits his head the same exact way on a hit and is caused to miss time because of it?) – “It’s a weird question for me to be asked because I’m not lying. The adversity is an opportunity is real to me, only because that is life (and) that is football. So as opposed to sitting here and saying, ‘Wow, this is hard.’ Winning is hard. Being the National Football League, whether you’re a coach or a player, is hard. All things that are worth achieving are hard. So in an odd way, I haven’t really – let’s just put it this way. I think I would feel guilt and feel as though I was shortchanging the Dolphins and the team if I was spending any time thinking about how hard it is. I think you always want your players to be healthy. I think you always make sure that your roster is built so that you have players capable to execute in light of any sort of injury, and you do that the right way, you’re confident in all your players and whatever hand is dealt, you have to deal with.”
(A couple of your cornerbacks, CB Xavien Howard and CB Byron Jones, are you optimistic for this week?) – “Again, no setbacks. I’m not sure. I don’t expect to see Byron this week. I don’t. ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) had a – we were happy with where he was at today and he’s a guy that he’s fully embraced his captain’s role. He takes it very serious. It pained him to not be on the field with his teammates, much like it did the other three captains that were playing – or two-and-a-half because (Terron) Armstead dropped. So I know for a fact that he, like the other captains that are on the sidelines, will do everything possible to be ready for Sunday, and we’ll see him if he’s ready to go.”
(How about TE Durham Smythe?) – “He’s really in the same lump, I guess. It’s all the true professionals that do things the right way that appear to be getting injured. So he’s a guy that I wouldn’t count out at all. But it was a serious enough deal for it to be unknown for his game status. So we’ll treat that day by day. It’s a real – I don’t know, crapshoot right now when it comes to injuries. But an unintended consequence that is a positive is that I think our team is getting used to not blinking when guys go down. That is a part of our sport that you don’t want people to lose a competitive advantage if you’re like, ‘well, we got no chance because this guy’s hurt.’ That is not the mindset of the football team. We have a lot of good football players that can contribute and perform if those guys aren’t able to come back.”
(Are you moving forward this week with practices and everything with the assumption that QB Skylar Thompson will be the starter on Sunday?) – “I’m moving forward to – it’s too soon for me to really pinpoint that. There’s, again, I kind of have to wait and assess the whole situation, which I do not have in scope. What I do know is that Skylar will be practicing on Wednesday and hopefully Wednesday I’ll have a better feel of the direction that we should go that’s best for the football team.”
(After watching some of the film from last night, what did you like about what QB Skylar Thompson did?) – “I really respected the fact of how – being a backup quarterback in this league is not easy. And what people don’t understand is you have a finite amount of reps during the week because you can’t deplete your athletes and you can’t have endless amount of reps. So typically, starters get anywhere from 80 to 100 percent of the practice reps. So a backup quarterback, especially a rookie, is a tremendous challenge because you have to own the whole gameplan, visualize it, be able to call it, be able to line people up and then execute appropriately. I think he was way on top of the gameplan in a way that I don’t think typically I’m used to rookies being on top of. I think he was also frustrated with his play but confident that he – it was more of like a frustration in the moment like ‘my feet are messed up, that wasn’t the right timing.’ Overall, it’s exactly what I thought it would be where I left the game knowing that the game is not too big for him and that was probably if he has any say in it, that was probably the worst that he will feel like he’ll perform as a professional. And that was good enough to (almost) win. So I was very happy with the player because it takes a lot of prep and it’s a big stage that everyone isn’t up for.”
(When you say it’s too soon to pinpoint if QB Skylar Thompson will be starting, is that only because of the availability of QB Tua Tagovailoa and QB Teddy Bridgewater? Or does QB Reid Sinnett factor into that?) – “You guys didn’t bring up Cedrick Wilson. (laughter) No, there’s just like, too many variables right now for my head to even absorb. I think those decisions are important and without a shadow of a doubt, I’ll make that with the best interest in the football team. But there are literally too many variables that I don’t feel comfortable going down that road. But hopefully in the next couple of days, I will.”
(Those variables are challenging enough coming up with a game plan for a tough opponent, but then you factor in you don’t know which quarterback. What does that add relative to the challenge of your install and everything that may go into this week?) – “It a nice challenge, but nothing that myself and the rest of the coaching staff isn’t paid to do. That’s just kind of how I look at those things. No one really cares how hard it is. Do you want me to sit here and be like, ‘Man, this is hard?’ No. It’s a different sort of challenge, but every week you’re trying to solve challenges. Whether it’s what the defense presents, some of the issues, maybe injuries that you have. And then there’s some weeks that those are compounding. It’s difficult but nothing that I don’t see as part of what I expect from myself and what I expect from the coaching staff, so you don’t need to shed any tears for me.”
(Yesterday you said you were optimistic about WR Tyreek Hill’s status. He obviously was in the boot after the game. Are there any updates on his health kind of going into the week?) – “He looked pretty good today, but we’ll take that day by day. I know he won’t – if and when he plays next, he won’t play in a boot. I know that much. (laughter) But he’s another one. We have a lot of guys that really care about playing football and take the responsibility, especially the captains, that take that responsibility very serious. So days after games, especially with leg and ankle stuff and feet, typically things are pretty swollen. He felt all right, but it’s going to be – with him he’s a fast healer, but you just don’t know those type of things. So like most of my life right now, we’ll take it day by day.”
(A couple of QB Teddy Bridgewater questions – back to him. No. 1, I know you guys can send video to the league. Would you send – I don’t even know where he would send a video of him allegedly stumbling, but would you send that video to anyone to get a clarification on the rule? And No. 2, would you send video of the intentional grounding? And what did you think of that call?) – “So the two things as far as those procedures go. One, I wouldn’t see any reason to send the league a video because it already happened. So like, am I in the business of grading spotters? No. I mean, it is what it is and I’m not really concerned with – again, I would feel irresponsible on my part to be like, no one cares if we think this, that or the other. Secondly, typically there’s a communication system set up by the league in regards to penalties. And the way it works is that you have designated coaches each week and if you have a discrepancy with a call or a question, you submit them in a form format that’s standardized the day after the game, and they generally get back to you pretty quick. So I’m sure we’ll get a clarification on that. But typically, I don’t really – again, I don’t really spend my time worrying about past things, whether they’re misgivings or whatever they are that are outside of my control. I’m more concerned with doing my job as it relates to the football team, the coaching staff, the players in the organization, and then preparing our team for the next challenge ahead, which you know (the Vikings are) 4-1 and doing a great job so we would not be giving ourselves the best chance to compete against them if we did anything otherwise.”
