Jaelan Phillips – August 6, 2022
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Saturday, August 6, 2022
LB Jaelan Phillips
(When you guys add all of those blitzes, do you feel and look like yourselves as a defense?) – “Yes, I think we’re constantly striving to get to that point where we’re really feeling dominant as a defense. So every day is an opportunity to get better and I think we’ve all been working our asses off. It’s exciting to see everything come together, for sure.”
(How do you judge what’s the next step for this unit, for the defense?) – “Shoot, I just think continuing to work on our techniques and assignments and just honing everything in and just being able to play as a cohesive unit. I think that’s the biggest thing, being able to come together, really show our love for one another, running after the ball, all of that.”
(How good of a measuring stick are the practices against the Bucs going to be?) – “I think it’s great. It’s the first opportunity going against another team, so obviously that’s always exciting. I think preseason is early still. We’re still early in training camp. So definitely a lot of growth to be had, but it will be fun to get some opposition, for sure.”
(Personally, how much do you want to see yourself improve when you get out there on the field and show that you’ve grown from Year One?) – “I’m constantly trying to improve. I’m very critical of myself, and I have a very high standard, so I’m really never satisfied with how I’m performing and I’m always trying to continue to get better and be the best player I can for this team.”
(What makes you feel now you’re going to have a better year than you did last year? What comfort zones do you have that you didn’t have last year?) – “I think just coming into a second year, being more comfortable with my surroundings, with the defense, with the mental fatigue of being in the league. I’m just trying to come into my own as a player. I think I’m constantly learning every single day. I’m still hitting adversity and having to overcome that. It’s a beautiful journey. I’m just glad to be on it.”
(Was there any wear down last year in your first year? Because a lot of guys when they go from college to the NFL, they kind of wear down and then they kind of do something else in the offseason to kind of prepare for the marathon of the NFL. Was there anything that you had to adjust this offseason compared to last year?) – “Well last year, training for the Combine and training for Pro Day, it’s a completely different type of training. You’re training for the 40 (-yard dash), for the bench test and for vertical; you’re not training for getting out here and playing. So just having more time to try to hone in the different stabilizing muscles and different aspects of my body that I wanted to improve on, I think it was a great offseason, for sure. I worked really hard.”
(You mentioned wanting to be a more all-around outside linebacker. Where do you feel you made your biggest strides?) – “I’m just, like you said, trying to be the most well-rounded backer that I can be. It’s obviously great to be able to rush the passer, but we also need myself and the other outside linebackers to be able to set firm edges and play every single down. So I think I’ve just been working really hard on, like I said, being more consistent. I still have a lot of room to go, but I definitely feel like I’m getting better.”
(How has Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer handled this new year? Obviously, you had a defensive head coach this year and it’s the opposite this year, so it’s totally his show on the defensive side. What have you seen out of him as a far as a coach?) – “I think he’s just really confident and assertive. He really instills into us that camaraderie that I talk about and just being able to play together and play fast and hard. So he’s definitely comfortable in this position, and we have all the trust in the world in him, for sure.”
(Have there just been new wrinkles? Or do you think we’re going to see some wholesale change?) – “I guess you’ll have to wait (and see). (laughter)”
(There’s this core of a defense where you and S Jevon Holland joined DT Christian Wilkins, DT Raekwon Davis, CB Xavien Howard on the back end, LB Jerome Baker, so many other players in this core. What do you think your guys’ defense together could really do for this team?) – “Obviously our goal is to win as many games as possible. We’re constantly striving to, I keep reiterating this, but just get better as a defense. I think we have our own standards. I don’t think we’re trying to set expectations or set any specific goals. We’re just trying to do the best that we can and really just continue to improve.”
(One of the themes I hear from the guys up front is reading blocks. I’m curious, going up against this offense, do you feel like it kind of accelerates the way you train your eyes to read those blocks?) – “Oh, 100 percent. This is probably one of the toughest offenses that we’re going to go up against, just in terms of schematics. So being able to train that this early in camp is really crucial for the rest of the season. Yeah, (Head Coach) Mike McDaniel is a hell of a play-caller, for sure. (laughter)”
(What has Outside Linebackers Coach Ty McKenzie been like as your position coach? It seems like he gets after it.) – “Yes, man, (Outside Linebackers Coach) Ty (McKenzie) is intense, but he’s goofy, he’s funny. We’re really close. He really cares a lot about his job, cares a lot about his family and about us – we’re kind of included in that family category. I’ve loved my experience with him. I just think we’re going to continue to grow closer and build our bond.”
(One thing on Outside Linebackers Coach Ty McKenzie as well, Jaelan, I was going to ask you. WR Jaylen Waddle was asked this yesterday about Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker. What’s the advantage of having a position coach who played in the league like Ty did?) – “He can just teach from experience. I think sometimes that’s a lot more useful, just because he knows exactly what we’re feeling, what we’re going through and the techniques that have to be used to be successful. So I think that having a coach that played in the league is very invaluable.”
(You talked about showing love for one another. That’s something that Coach Campanile talked about as well. What does that mean to you? What does that look like? He talked about not being afraid to show love.) – “We always say that you can measure your love for your teammates by how close you are to the ball at the end of the play. Really all that’s about is just not playing just for yourself, you’re playing for your brothers around you. We’re all fighting for our livelihood. This is how people feed their families. So to really love and trust your teammates is to go out there and put it all on the line for them and for the organization as a whole.”
(You talked a minute ago about how challenging it is to line up against this offense. What is it about this offense that makes it tough on defenses?) – “It’s just very multiple. They have a lot of movement and a lot of things that are specifically meant to mess with your eyes. So being able to read your keys is one of the most important parts of our position and the defense as a whole. So when your keys are moving around and adjusting and they have trick plays here and there, it’s just a lot of processing. But I think ultimately this is going to make all of us a lot better as a defense.”
(Now to the important question, what’s the pressure like when you have the playlist?) – “When I have the playlist?”
(Yes. I don’t think you’re a double playlist guy yet.) – “Not yet, not yet. Striving for it though.”
(Oh, OK. What’s that pressure like? Like when you get the call, how much work do you put in? Or do you have a pre-set playlist?) – “I mean, I definitely had a couple of bangers on the top of my head when I first got it, but you always have to try to appeal to everybody else. But man, I’m constantly not trying to worry about what other people think, so I’m going to play whatever I love. Y’all had seen it last time, it’s a lot of Kanye, a lot of Kid Cudi. I’ll throw some old school stuff in there, too. I’m listening to some Burna Boy now, some Afrobeats. So it’s definitely eclectic, I love it.”
(How much pressure did the teammates put on you?) – “I mean, they definitely talk a lot of trash. Even if it’s good, they’re not – just because it’s me, they’re just going to talk trash, especially all the d-linemen.”
(So do they talk trash during practice or is it after practice?) – “If a song comes on that they don’t like, they’re going to let you hear it for sure. That’s for sure. (laughter).”
(So how was OL Liam Eichenberg’s day?) – “Oh man, I don’t even remember what he was playing. It was unmemorable. That’s all I have to say about it. Probably a lot of country. I like rock music. I kind of like country, like Morgan Wallen is a good artist, but for the most part, I like classic – I don’t want to discriminate against my country lovers, but that’s just not my thing.”
Tyreek Hill – August 6, 2022
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Saturday, August 6, 2022
WR Tyreek Hill
(Today is Hall of Fame enshrinement day. How much have you thought about possibly being in there one day and how you would look in a gold jacket? Have you thought about that at any point?) – “No. I don’t really try to think about any of that. At this point in my career, the only thing I’m really thinking about is just winning games and doing whatever I can for this team. That’s really it. When that day comes for me to get into the Hall of Fame, I’ll be thankful. I’ll be grateful for just being listed or even being considered to be in those categories. That would be great. But for right now, I’m just focusing on what I can control and that’s my career and that’s me going out there and balling and doing what I can do.”
(Did you have, growing up, some of those Hall of Famers that you looked up to?) – “I mean, yeah. But honestly for me, my biggest thing looking up was my granddad. I always looked up to my granddad. For me, my granddad was my greatest hero. He didn’t make it to the NFL or anything but he would teach me the things that I do every day which is work hard, out-work anybody on the field, compete and challenge yourself every day, and be a better human being than the day before. My granddad, shout out to him.”
(One thing I found kind of interesting is that you played everywhere on the field. In Kansas City, you were used a lot in the slot. WR Jaylen Waddle and WR Cedrick Wilson Jr., both of those guys have also been used in the slot. Just from your perspective, what advantages and disadvantages are there to being in the slot as opposed to working on the boundary?) – “At the end of the day, everybody is in the NFL. There are some weak spots on the field. Considering the slot is typically the – I feel like it’s maybe not the weakest spot on the field but considered like cornerback No. 3. But that’s why you play for great coaches. They know how to use you. They know how to put you in positions to make plays. I feel like I didn’t play slot that much. I feel like I’m an outside receiver. Maybe not your traditional size, but I get the job done. I do what I do.”
(The celebration you had with WR Jaylen Waddle yesterday, who thought of that? And how did that come about?) – “That’s the AB. ‘Put that S on.’ Shout out to AB, doing his thing, making music right now and transitioning from football to making music. Any way I can support anybody that I know, and somebody that played the game at a very high level, me and J-Dub (Jaylen Waddle), smaller guy, similar frame just like us, we’re going to ‘Put that S on.’ (laughter)”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel is big on giving established veterans load management and time off. You’ve been going hard in practice all throughout training camp, but why was that so important for you?) – “For me, I’ve just got to take time for my body because I’m a fast guy. I feel like all of the fast guys get certain injuries. I feel like that wasn’t really like a load management day for me. I had a little slight ding-up. I’m not really going to get into it. But I truly think those days are important because playing in Miami, the sun can weigh on you, as you can tell. It can take the fluids right out of your body. It puts so much soreness in your hamstrings and other muscles that you have in your body. Those days are very important, so it’s really up to us how we approach those days.”
(When you’re out there practicing, you’re going hard.) – “Oh, yeah. I always go hard. It doesn’t matter. I don’t care about none of that. I don’t care if I’m injured or not, I’m going to go hard. When I’m on the field, I’m going to give my teammates my everything. That’s what I do. And I expect the same thing from them, which I know they’re going to give me the same thing back.”
(You’re only a couple of days removed from joint practices with Tampa. Do you get the sense that guys are really itching to go up against somebody else on the field?) – “As far as us? Or them?”
(As far as you guys facing another opponent, do you sense the guys are getting antsy for that?) – “Yeah, man. I’m really sick of going against ‘X’ (Xavien Howard), man. He’s been locking me up in practice. I’m really eager to go against somebody else. Somebody that I’ve played twice. I really can’t wait to get to Tampa and I know the guys are very eager to get down there as well to play. Everybody is excited.”
(You lack no confidence. What is it that powers that confidence?) – “Family. Just who I am as a person. I feel like I’ve always been this way. But for me, you’ve just got to know when to show it and know when to just be yourself. I just feel like growing up my whole life, I’ve always been the fastest. I’ve always been a (expletive) talker – in track and basketball. Once I made it to the league, it kind of carried on. Then I began to make plays. Then I began to talk a little bit more. That’s probably why they got rid of me in Kansas City because I was talking.”
(Does the talking force you to live up to it?) – “Yeah, man. I feel like if I don’t talk, I don’t perform, because I perform better under pressure. That’s just my mentality. I feel like if I’m relaxed, if I’m just chilling and just vibing, then I go with the flow. But if somebody is engaging me and talking trash. Like say for instance I’m going against a DB and he doesn’t say nothing to me the whole entire game. To me, I’m like ‘Ok, we’re brother-in-lawing it.’ But if he’s sitting there and talking trash to me and doing what he’s got to do, in my face every play, then I’m going to challenge him back. I’m going to do what I’ve got to do.”
(How do you think your talking leads to confidence for your teammates as well? When they see you barking, they want to follow you and have a standout play just like you. How do you think that rubs off with everybody?) – “I feel like it rubs off in the right way and like you said, it rubs off on everyone. Tua (Tagovailoa) has even been talking trash, so I think that’s great for his confidence moving forward, going into these big games that we’re about to play. I’m just like a match. I just get the thing started and everybody else just finishes it.”
(Can you give us examples of QB Tua Tagovailoa and his trash talk?) – “Y’all have seen it. It’s kind of subtle but it’s here and there. I’ve seen the interviews you’ve all done with Tua. He kind of showed his confidence a little bit.”
(What inspired you to start your podcast and what have you learned from the experience so far?) – “The experience has been great. Just being able to meet different individuals, learning about their backgrounds and hearing their story. The reason I really started it is I just wanted to give a players’ perspective. That’s really it. I truly, when I do stuff, I do it from the heart. I really want to hear about people and I want people to understand who we are as football players, because most people see us as individuals with helmets on our head. My thing is I try to get different people. I don’t care how many followers you’ve got. I just want to get you on there to talk to you and hear your story. Then you’ll be able to relate to it a little bit. That’s really why I started it.”
(Do you feel like it enhanced the relationship with some of the teammates you’ve had on like WR Jaylen Waddle and QB Tua Tagovailoa?) – “No, I really don’t think so. I feel like our relationship was going to be there regardless of whatever because our personalities just gel so well together.”
(Yesterday, WR Jaylen Waddle had said that the thing that stands out most about your arrival here is your professionalism and your approach to the game. I was curious what you can say about the way that he approaches the game?) – “It’s the same way. I can kind of put us in the same category. When I was at his age and at his time in his career, I came into work every day. He works hard and doesn’t make excuses and does what he’s told. And when another guy got the ball, he played for that guy no matter what. So if I’m getting the ball, he’s blocking for me. Or if Raheem (Mostert) or anybody else, or if Tua (Tagovailoa) got the ball, he’s doing what he’s got to do to make plays for this team. That’s all I can ask for from a young guy trying to learn, trying to make it and trying to do what he can to support his family or whatever. Shout out to ‘J-Dub’ (Waddle) for that.”
Terron Armstead – August 5, 2022
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Friday, August 5, 2022
T Terron Armstead
(First off, how did it feel being back? I know you’ve had some load management for maintenance, but how did it feel to get back out there, especially in team drills?) – “It felt great man. It’s fun. It’s a fun game. Getting back out, I’m feeling well enough to get out back out and participate, being with my guys, competing against the defense, it was fun.”
(I was curious, I know you said you did a similar maintenance program in New Orleans, but how does that – knowing that you have a ‘day off’ from practice, how does that make you change the process? Do you do anything differently to make sure that maybe the mental side of the game is still sharp there?) – “That’s the key word – process. Understanding all this is a process, this entire segment of a season is a process where we’re building up to get to peak performance and be ready when the real live action starts. So if you’re not doing full 11-on-11 drills, you have to attack that process in a different way – that’s weight room, that’s training room. So whatever the task is that day to improve, just taking care of that.”
(You obviously have nothing to prove. You’ve proven you’re one of the better players in this league. Now getting here, you have a whole new fanbase. What do you feel as an athlete you have to kind of re-prove to the people who have never seen you on an every-Sunday basis?) – “I appreciate that. I think that’s probably the tough part of the sport or professional sports, is that every day you have to prove yourself. Your career, whatever you’ve done, it really doesn’t matter up to this point. You have to come with it every day, and that’s the hard part of greatness and sports success is that consistency. Getting to that level every day, whether I know or you know that I can go out and do it and perform, you have to come with that mentality every day to show and prove.”
(How do you compartmentalize when they’re constantly measuring all of you by the salary that you make, what cap space you take and all those kinds of things?) – “I don’t really know where that takes place. In the building, in the locker room and on the field, we all go out and try to perform with one goal in mind and that’s to win. So we’re not discussing salary caps or anything when the play is going on. We’re just trying to perform, execute and get the job done.”
(What’s been your impression specifically in team drills going against that defensive front? Obviously there’s a lot of continuity. It seemed like they were blitzing you guys a lot. What’s been your impression of that?) – “Man, real active group. Real active group. Highly talented. A lot of skill. Adding Melvin Ingram to that group is, I think, extremely underrated. He’s an amazing player and has been that way for a long time. A guy like Christian Wilkins who has been highly productive but hasn’t been that notable as far as popularity, he’s going to have a – I’m projecting that he has a standout year, more so in the stat line than ever before. (He’s an) extremely talented player, intelligent player, real good hands and feet technique. Man, Zach (Sieler), another one – extreme technique. (Emmanuel) Ogbah, I’m a fan of those guys.”
(Next week when you get to go scrimmage against the Buccaneers, a lot of people talk about whether it’s practice or preseason games, a lot of people say you get more work out of those kinds of scrimmages. For players, do you feel like you get more out of those kinds of scrimmages than you do a regular practice or a preseason game?) – “The type of the work we put in out here is high level. It’s high level, and (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) demands that. So the level that we get to and compete at every day, you’re not going to get much different. You might see different styles of play, different schemes, but we get after it. We get after it out here. I think it’s great and will translate when we go to Tampa. I played those guys twice a year for nine years now, so I know that team, the defense, and they come with it – a championship caliber team. So it’ll be a good time, good chance to get in and go technique verse technique, scheme verse scheme. But as far as the level and effort, nothing is going to beat what we’re doing out here.”
(At this stage of your career, do you need much 11-on-11 work in practice or many preseason snaps to feel ready for the opener?) – “It always – it kind of varies. You never want to put a count on it (and say), ‘I need this amount of reps.’ It’s a feel. It’s a feel. So you’re getting that rust knocked off, technique, getting your eyes, hands and feet where you want them to be, that can take however long. Ideally, I want to be able to feel like I’m ready, like I’m game-ready and season-ready as early as possible. But I’m not there yet.”
(Have you ever played with two guys like WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle and the kind of speed that they have on the outside and the cutting ability that they have? I just wonder how corners are going to be able to stay with both those guys?) – “I’ve never seen it. I’ve never seen the likes of Tyreek Hill alone. The explosiveness, the zero to 60 in 2.5 (seconds), he’s a Model X. And Jaylen (Waddle) too, those guys are extremely talented. Their burst is insane. Them, Raheem (Mostert) and Chase (Edmonds), we have a lot of weapons. We’re just trying to get those guys an opportunity to make plays.”
(As great of a player as you’ve been, obviously you’ve had some tough luck, too, unfortunately with health. Is that something you think about ever in terms of, “Boy, I would really like to play every game in a season?” Is that something that ever crosses your mind?) – “Absolutely. Absolutely, this is my job. This is what I do for a living. This is how I feed my family. This is how I make my life. So that’s – ideally, all I want to do is play. All I want to do is play. Unfortunately, we don’t always get to do what we want to do. My injuries have been a result of a lot of different things, more so compounding, coming back too early and all those good things. (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) and (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle (Johnston) and the rest of those guys have been conscious and cognizant of everything that I’ve dealt with previously, but I’m trying to get on that field every day, every play. This is what I do. I love it.”
(Is it almost a … to stay healthy in this league?) – “Listen, there’s a 100 percent injury rate in the NFL. It’s just a guarantee. Now the severity, the magnitude of the injury – you try to prehab, do all this preventative work that I’m definitely tapped into – the nutrition, the mobility, all those good things. Do everything that you possibly can do, then it’s control what you can control.”
(How difficult has this been to take a cautious approach to your practice participation and just be guarded and careful about it?) – “I wouldn’t say it’s a cautious approach because once you’re in there, you have to go. You have to go. I think it’s being smart and not just jumping right in, especially coming back from some offseason work and getting healthy. If I was just coming in fully, fully healthy, I think my rep count would be different. It was more so of a ramp up with the different studies and science and health, technology. This has been proven to be most effective.”
Jaylen Waddle – August 5, 2022
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Friday, August 5, 2022
WR Jaylen Waddle
(The contacts, what exactly do they do?) – “These are prescribed, so they are like regular contacts, but they put a tint on my eyes for the sun and things like that.”
(It’s just literally to see?) – “Yeah.”
(What’s it feel like to hear all of these kids scream your name?) – “It’s good. I’m going to go over there and hang with them for a little bit before I go to meetings. It’s pretty cool.”
(Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker, what’s unique about him and his approach to coaching?) – “It’s a different approach because he actually played and he had success in this league. You really take into consideration what he’s telling you because he did it before. It just makes it hit home a little better.”
(How would you describe Welker’s personality and approach to teaching and connecting with guys?) – “I think he’s just himself. Out here and in meetings, he’s himself. He’s not going to sugarcoat nothing. He’s going to tell you if that was a bad play, that’s a bad play. That’s all you can ask for from a coach, honestly, is to give his true opinion.”
(Coach Welker told me that Head Coach Mike McDaniel taught him how to make really good coaching tapes. And that he can make a tape that tells a story of how a play is installed to how it works. How helpful are those coaching tapes?) – “It’s good. It makes it full circle, especially if you mess up and he shows you a play that you get the same look from the defense – kind of how it’s supposed to be. So he paints that picture in your mind so the next time you go out there, what to expect and how you’re going to treat it.”
(When you self-scout yourself from last season, what do you look at and say this is the one thing that I wanted to make sure I focused on this year?) – “Honestly, my yards after catch is something I realized that I wasn’t that productive at last year. That pops out on tape when I look at it.”
(Is that more about breaking a tackle, making a move, where the ball is placed?) – “All of that goes into consideration, but honestly, I put it upon myself to try to make someone miss and get up field.”
(What do you remember about the very first time you met QB Tua Tagovailoa?) – “That was a little while ago. I remember he was quiet. He was like four lockers down from me at Bama and he kept calling me the wrong name. He kept calling me Jason. I don’t know why. (laughter)”
(On those reps against CB Xavien Howard on one-on-ones, how does that help your game?) – “Personally, I think ‘X’ is the best corner. I’m not just saying that because he’s on my team. But if you look at what he’s done in this league, he travels, he goes and plays man-to-man, so I feel like it’s good to go against the best to up my game. We’re both from the same city so it’s a little H-town throwdown.”
(Is there trash talk?) – “It can get there. But nah, we’re just out here trying to get better.”
(What have been your impressions on the rookie receivers? WR Erik Ezukanma and WR Braylon Sanders in particular?) – “They’re great. Honestly, they always come in, they are willing to work. They don’t have any problems. If they have a question, they are going to ask the older guys. They might ask me. If I can help, I try to. But normally I steer them to going to Wes (Welker) because he’s going to give them the exact detail of what it is they want them to do. I really like them wanting to have more knowledge of the game and come out here and work every day.”
(What’s the one thing that you think you’ve taken from WR Tyreek Hill that you think you could incorporate into your game?) – “I think just his approach. I think I have a pretty good approach to the game, but his approach every day. He takes every day as a new challenge. He’s really a real deal technician when we’re in meetings and things like that. He’s a true professional. I think I can take that and learn from it.”
(WR Robbie Anderson said that when he was in Carolina with QB Teddy Bridgewater, Teddy really helped him make the transition into becoming a pro. What is your relationship like with Teddy and what he brings to the team?) – “Actually, I got to grow a relationship with Teddy outside of the facility this summer. Just me throwing in his neighborhood. You know he’s from down here. He’s honestly just a great dude off the field more than on the field. Honestly what he does for his community down here and how productive he is around here is inspiring. I think so. As far as on the field, he’s the OG. He’s going to see the coverage and tell you what he saw and give you his true opinion.”
Andrew Van Ginkel – August 5, 2022
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Friday, August 5, 2022
LB Andrew Van Ginkel
(I’m curious the process of finding out you’re going to get the orange jersey for the day. How does that happen?) – “It’s exciting. You get a text that says that you were the practice player of the day, so when I got that, I was happy and just knowing all the hard work that I put in really is paying off.”
(What makes you more nervous – having to put together a quality playlist or going up against T Terron Armstead in pass protection?) – “That playlist was pretty tough. (laughter)”
(You didn’t have one, just an emergency break-glass-in-case-of-orange-jersey playlist?) – “No, I didn’t. Off day yesterday so I got a few extra minutes to spend on it.”
(Was that all your playlist or did you take some votes in?) – “No, it was all mine, yeah. Just kind of all over the place, but songs I enjoy.”
(We’ve talked a lot about changes to this offense. As a defensive player, how has this offense kind of tested you and the rest of the defense so far in training camp so far?) – “Oh man, it’s been great. We’re seeing looks that normally you don’t see this early in training camp. It really tests our edges and tests our gap defense, so as long as everyone is doing their job and working hard to improve, that’s how we have to approach each day.”
(What do you think you’ve got to prove this year? Obviously you’re working to try to get a multi-year deal at the same time.) – “For me, it’s just being myself. Go out there and compete each and every day and do what I do best and run to the ball, do the extra little stuff that people don’t always recognize.”
(We’ve heard so much about T Terron Armstead helping out the young offensive linemen. Does he ever give you tips coming off that edge, things you can do to help your pass rush game?) – “Not yet. He hasn’t practiced a whole lot, but as soon as I go up against him and see the certain looks that he gives, I should ask him.”
(Have you put on some weight?) – “No, I’m about where I was last year.”
(I know there’s a lot of continuity on defense and Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer said that really the core of what you guys do is going to be the same, but obviously you never want to stay stagnant. I guess just what percentage of the defense is maybe a little bit different or have you put wrinkles in so far?) – “It’s a lot of similarities to last year. Everybody is going to do their job. We’re going to be fundamentally sound and honestly, it’s pretty similar to last year and everybody’s just got to attack their job.”
(And so far, what impact have you seen LB Melvin Ingram make on the team so far?) – “Just his leadership and then the way he attacks each day. You can definitely feel him when he’s out there and just watching practice, he makes plays all the time so it’s really exciting.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel said that because the defense is so good, he doesn’t always have to be as aggressive because he can kind of count on the defense to slow things down. How does that feel for you to hear something like that and to know your unit is…?) – “Yeah, it’s exciting. The standard here is high and we come about each day trying to uphold that standard and if it’s not good enough, all of us players on defense, we know that we have to come out and attack the next day and get better.”
(Do you feel you’re kind of, as a unit – not self-policing, but you kind of can give that feedback to one another?) – “Yeah, for sure. We can tell right away if it’s not good enough. If we don’t set the edge or if we give up deep balls or give up splash plays, we don’t expect the offense to gain a yard so whenever they do that, it’s definitely not to our standard.”
Mike McDaniel – August 5, 2022
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Friday, August 5, 2022
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(There are a lot of – obviously with as much talent as you have at tight end, receiver, running back – there are going to be a lot of players who want the ball, touches, playing time this year. When you and General Manager Chris Grier were evaluating which players to re-sign or sign, how much did you talk, if any, about each one? Would this guy make waves if he doesn’t get as many snaps as maybe he has in the past or feels like he deserves? Is that ever a consideration when you and Chris evaluate players and specifically with tight end, you have a bunch of players who have had a lot of NFL snaps. Not all of them might get as many as they have in the past. Was that something you thought about with TE Mike Gesicki, TE Durham Smythe, etc. in signing them?) – “You adamantly discuss each and every player that you’re re-signing and I think competitors, by nature, compete and they, in general, have a yearn to have the ball. But then I try not to have preconceived notions necessarily about how players are going to respond or whatever. That’s what you do as a coach. You show how each and every play affects other plays, how things can snowball, how some days you won’t have any (opportunities) with regard to playing the ball down the field and some days you will. So it’s really not a matter of trying to avoid that. It’s kind of setting the vision of what good football takes, what type of sacrifice it takes and there’s never been a team that hurts because of too much competition.”
(What’s your approach in preseason games? Because I know typically coaches – they kind of level up and then sort of level down maybe a little at the end in terms of using starters. How much work do you want to get the guys during that and at what point will you pull back maybe to avoid injury or that kind of thing?) – “I think it’s a tough balance – an inexact science that you try to handle on a case-by-case basis and what the team needs, understanding that every time you’re playing football, there’s always a risk in that. There’s an inherent risk, but there’s also – preseason is a valuable time to hone your skills and having 11 people work together for the regular season. So realistically I don’t try to shortchange. We have three practices before we head off to Tampa and practice against them, and I try not to get ahead of myself and say, ‘Okay, this person first of all is anointed the starter. Second of all, how much are they going to play?’ That’s something that I think it’s important to wait until you get there before you really decide exactly how long each individual player will play because there’ll be starters that end up playing in Preseason (Week) 1. There will be starters that won’t. I don’t think that preseason is very valuable, but you’re also trying to figure out who is going to be on your team and we take that very seriously.”
(I wanted to ask you about the news that came out recently about Steve Ross and tampering and courtships of a coach and Tom Brady. What do you say to the team? Obviously I don’t know how much it impacts people who are actually on the field on a daily basis, but when they see themselves as an organization be discussed in the news and it involves possibly their head coach and it involves their quarterback, what do you say to them as a group?) – “You said a key thing in that statement where you’re not sure if it involves the people on the field, so that right there, the most important thing as a head coach is that that’s your entire focus. So you can say a lot by saying a lot or not saying anything at all. We have an incredible challenge in front of us as the 2022 Dolphins. I think the players are owed complete and utter focus on that, so I think there’s power in not giving legs to something that doesn’t really affect those 2022 players that really deserve full and undivided attention. I think that’s something that you can – the biggest thing is that players have an objective that day. Players are owed a lot by coaches for what they sacrifice, so I wouldn’t do them the disservice by spending any time on things that aren’t 100 percent focused on what’s important to them and their job at hand, which is making a football team and then being held accountable for their efforts moving forward on game days.”
(Is there any concern at this point regarding CB Byron Jones and his status for the start of the regular season?) – “No. The concern is with him continuing to progress. Right now that isn’t a concern for us, but it takes a full commitment each and every day for that to hold true, so right now we’re confident in how he’s rehabbing. If there’s a setback, then we’ll be concerned, but until then, we feel pretty good about it.”
(We had Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker the other day, who said something interesting about how he thought he sucked his first year as a coach and he’s come along since that time. You’ve talked a lot about developing players and for a coach that’s come along this ride with you a little bit with Wes, I was just curious about your process of cultivating coaching development?) – “That’s an important, important aspect of the job. I think Wes is really – he channels his inner player on that one and I think he was being a little hard on himself. But I think that speaks to what he’s kind of invested in, in the whole process, how far he’s come. But that’s always ongoing. That’s very important for me, as a leader of the football team, is to make sure that the players are getting resourced by people that are getting better at their craft. To always seek new and different ways to communicate with people and handle those relationships in the best way possible. So I think it’s just attention. I think it’s positive reinforcement on things that are working. I think it’s solution-finding and just really investment into the assistant coaches by myself to improve on things that really don’t work.”
(What was the thinking in just releasing DL Adam Butler with a failed physical as opposed to PUP or keeping him around? Because he was a useful piece last year. And did the fact you have confidence in other defensive tackles on the roster – DT John Jenkins, the young guys, factor into that?) – “Absolutely he was a useful piece. It takes a village in the NFL organization, and I don’t fancy myself as a CBA expert. Luckily, I have CBA experts down the ball as a resource, so certain things within the injury really kind of forced the hand in that direction and yes, we are very, very confident in a lot of the young players that we’re developing and I’m very confident in that room in general.”
(From your former experience, do you have a favorite part and/or a least favorite part of the art of the joint practice and how that works?) – “My favorite part is the competition. You’ve been going against each other for – I mean, shoot, I think it would be like, 120-some-odd days since we started in OTAs or in the offseason program. So that break-up is much needed. So it’s very, very useful in that regard where you get to go against an opponent – somebody else – for the first time and that’s super valuable. And you get exposure to different schemes on both sides of the ball, which is very valuable moving forward to the regular season. My least favorite part? I guess it’s honestly, I love the opportunity for the players in the preseason game. From a coach’s perspective, it’s kind of annoying because you’ve kind of used your bullets in practice so you kind of – it is a little challenge to not adjust from practice, which kind of gets you out of the whole process of what you want to show and what you don’t want to show. So that whole gymnastics, the fact that we have to play a game, is a very necessary evil that is important to me for the players’ opportunity. But from a working day-to-day deal it’s kind of annoying from a coach’s perspective.”
(The NFL confirmed that this team, at some point, was interested in another quarterback in QB Tom Brady. Do you feel like that motivated QB Tua Tagovailoa at all since he was still on the roster at that point? Is he the kind of quarterback or person at this point that needs reassurance in the team’s confidence in him?) – “No. If you’re a starting quarterback in the National Football League and you don’t think that there’s competition always, then that’s not the way to look at it. You look at it like you’re going to go attack this job and it’s your job to show everyone exactly who’s the best person for it. Whether or not Tua (Tagovailoa) himself feels X, Y or Z, the only thing I know is what he speaks to me about and that’s how confident he is in the way he’s playing and his skillset. I know his teammates are very confident in what he’s developing, so that’s a cool process to be involved in. I haven’t seen anything from Tua that would lend me to believe that he’s affected in the slightest by all the stuff that goes on that he can’t control.”
(How smart is S Jevon Holland? For such a young player, I notice you always come around to him and you spend a little bit of time with him, at least.) – “Oh, yes. (laughter) It has been really, really cool watching Tua (Tagovailoa) and him compete. And that’s an odd thing to say, like in regards to a safety versus a quarterback, but he plays all over the place, he communicates the defense from the call from the sidelines and he’s a student. I think Tua respects that, and they have kind of a nice competitive bond going. It speaks to how football smart he is, how to – the things that he does on the football field are super exciting for the Miami Dolphins moving forward. He is athletic and has a lot of skills, but none of that even matters if he doesn’t have a brain for football and a commitment to football like he does.”
(Obviously, the game has changed a lot publicly from 20 years ago with players using social media to kind of express their thoughts and that kind of thing. I was just curious, from your perspective, how you sort of believe in players expressing themselves publicly if they’re unhappy with something or something along those lines. Is that something that you as a coach want to monitor?) – “No, I think it’s a very important thing for players to understand, and that’s that it’s pretty black and white, your arguments and your feelings, and you express them the best on the football field. One thing that I’ve talked to the team about is I see better than I hear. So all of those things can be expressed, and it’s your job as a coach to kind of show how to handle any sort of adverse emotions and project it into your play, and how you can show your teammates you know exactly what you’re doing, show your they can count on you and show your teammates that they’re better off with them than against them.”
(Are you concerned with the quarterback-center exchange? You’ve had several high snaps. Are you concerned a little bit with that with OL Connor Williams?) – “I would be concerned if he didn’t work at it. That will – even with guys that have been doing that for an extended period of time, shoot, Alex Mack last year, that is something that when you’re asking players to do various things post-snap out of the shotgun, you have to kind of learn how to negotiate the accuracy of those. I would be concerned if he wasn’t working at it. I am very, very confident in how far he’s come. He’s earned that because of his ownership of the position that he’s trying to go and take, and I think the rest of the team is pretty confident that that’s not necessarily an issue. There are a lot of snaps that are on target as well.”
(What’s your history on that adjustment? Because a lot of times when the guy is going from center to guard, it’s not as hard. But when he’s going from guard to center to handle the ball, what’s been your history when you’ve made a player make an adjustment?) – “What’s cool is we have a plethora of offensive line coaches as you guys know, but I have firsthand experience with (Offensive Assistant) Mike Person as a player doing the same thing. Those are things that definitely come to – aren’t lost and that you’re thinking about, so it’s been cool. A little known fact, (Offensive Coordinator) Frank Smith was a center for Ben Roethlisberger in college. We have a good amount of center experience within our coaching staff and that is something I think players can really lean on and is very helpful, and that’s why I haven’t really been that concerned about it because I do have history with moving guards to center and understand the little bumps in the road along the process.”
(OL Michael Deiter, any sense of timetable?) – “He’s feeling better. We’re trying to be pragmatic and not be greedy, so expect him sooner than later. It’s not sometime this week. We’re taking it day-by-day intentionally, but also trying to battle him because he is competitive as all get out. And then the second question?”
(Which I can now cancel, in fact, because with OL Michael Deiter coming back soon, you would seemingly, and you and General Manager Chris Grier would know this far better than us, but with Deiter coming back soon, you would seemingly have enough with OL Connor Williams, Deiter, OL Cole Banwart, OL Adam Pankey. So I’m willing to cancel the second part of what I asked if you have to get to a meeting.) – “Oh, well um, thanks? (laughter) We have bullets everywhere, so we’re – adversity is an opportunity. There’s been some great snaps for a couple other players because of his injury. I really challenge guys to take advantage of opportunities and utilize those practices to their benefit. There’s never too much versatility an interior offensive linemen can have, so that’s why we’re pretty comfortable being pragmatic.”
Robert Hunt – August 3, 2022
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Wednesday, August 3, 2022
OL Robert Hunt
(You’re looking slimmer, man.) – “I appreciate that, thank you.”
(How much slimmer?) – “Since spring? Probably – I can’t give you an answer. I’m a lot slimmer though. I’m a lot slimmer since spring. A lot slimmer.”
(Is that a product of how you guys are going to play a little different of a scheme?) – “I think a little bit of both. I think it’s a product of what we’re doing here and also just how I attacked the offseason. So it was an approach to be slimmer and that’s what I pretty much wanted to attack.”
(What’s it like to have two veteran guys in the room who have seen a lot? I know one guy has been changing positions. What’s it like to have those guys around?) – “It’s good, man. Those guys played a lot of ball, a lot of ball in this league. So they can pass down whatever they learned, techniques and all that kind of good stuff, down to young guys like us. We’re young and we’re willing to listen and learn. It’s great having those two guys in the room.”
(You mentioned you’re slimmer, obviously. I’m curious, do you know what number of pounds you lose on an average practice?) – “Me? I probably lose like two or three (pounds). I don’t lose much in practice.”
(Do you change your diet at all for camp?) – “Yes, I have. I changed it probably five weeks coming into it until camp. So it’s definitely changed.”
(What is it? More of something or less of something?) – “Just less of the junk food, probably. Less of that and more of the things I need for my body, I guess – the greens, which I hate, but I try to force them down a little bit.”
(Was this something you did on your own or did the coaches, for lack of a better term, suggest it?) – “No, it’s something I did on my own. I wanted to come in and play a little lighter. In the scheme that we have, it’s a lot of running. I wanted to be my best self for the season to try to accomplish anything that I want to accomplish for myself – my personal accolades. So yes, I wanted to attack that in a different manner.”
(We saw your athleticism on display last year. How does that help learning this offense?) – “I mean, it doesn’t really have – I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I think I’m athletic, you know? So I think I can run any scheme, if I’m being honest. As far as – I like to run. I like to show that I’m athletic. I like to get out in space. I like to do what people think I can’t do – I love to do that. I guess it helps, being athletic in this system helps. If that’s the question, yes.”
(How do you judge your career so far? You came in obviously a couple years ago as a rookie and all, and now you’re established as a veteran.) – “I wouldn’t call myself a veteran yet. l think I still have a while to earn that. I mean, I don’t know how to judge my career, man. I just want to be the best player that I can be. It’s a short window that people get to play in the NFL and I want to take advantage of that and be the best player that I possibly can be and have a long career that I have.”
(What do you think has been the benefit of having the same five starters every day?) – “It’s good. I think we’re on the same page. We know our assignments. We want to win. When we come out here, we want to win against the defense. So I think it’s been good, man. All the guys on the same page, we know what it is. We’re all working. Everybody in the room is working, so it’s good.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel always talks about how he sees his job as trying to create the conditions to maximize every player’s potential. I’m curious for you, what do you feel helps you? What conditions do you like?) – “I like this – I mean I like the offense. I think this helps not just me but a lot of o-linemen. I think this offense and scheme is an o-line friendly scheme, and that’s a big part. It’s a beautiful thing. I mentioned this before, I love the offense. This is the type of offense that I want to play for, if I can, for the rest of my career, probably.”
(What’s the over/under on number of touchdowns you’re going to give us this year?) – “Oh man, I don’t have anything for you. I don’t know. I don’t have anything for you yet. We have to see and wait. Whenever we do though, I’m going to holler at you and let you know.” (laughter)
(I saw DT Christian Wilkins talking some trash to you on 1-on-1s. What did he say?) – “You know, he got a little lucky today. (laughter)”
(I did see that. I didn’t want to bring that up.) – “No, it’s all good, man. He got a little lucky today. He knows that. (laughter) I forget what the hell he said. I wasn’t even worried about it at that point. I was just worried about – I was mad I lost the rep.”
(But I mean, he wins one rep and then he’s getting in your face and talking?) – “Yes, that’s Christian (Wilkins) though. That’s Christian. I’ve got to respect Christian though, man. Christian, that’s what he does. But then I’m going to beat him and I’m not going to say anything to him. I’m just going to beat him and then just go about my business. But no, he got me today. That’s the thing though, man. We’re out here trying to get better. He gets me one day, I get him one day. That’s the beauty of it. We’re both getting better.”
(How has it gone from your standpoint with OL Austin Jackson? You’re next to him at right tackle. How do you think he’s fared to that adjustment to the right side?) – “I think he’s doing well, man. I think he’s approached the offseason well himself. I think he’s flying off the ball. I think he’s playing good football – I mean, good communication and everything. I think he’s playing well.”
Jevon Holland – August 3, 2022
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Wednesday, August 3, 2022
S Jevon Holland
(How’s the defense shaping up so far? What do you think?) – “I think the defense is shaping up very well.”
(What do you hope to show everybody in your second year?) – “I hope to go out there and enjoy myself on the football field. I’m not showing anybody anything. I’m playing for myself.”
(What do you hope to show yourself?) – “That I can be my best self. That’s pretty much it. That’s all it is. Competing with myself every day. So I plan on going out there, competing with myself and helping my team win.”
(How did you prepare this offseason? Anything special?) – “No. You know football at every level comes down to the X’s, and O’s. I did a little reset, did what I needed to do, listened to my body, came into OTAs ready, built on what we did at OTAs in the summer time and boom, now we’re in camp.”
(Outside of football, what was noteworthy about your offseason? Did you go anywhere or do anything special?) – “Seeing my family. Going back home to Cali. I love the West Coast. I just took it easy.”
(This is not California weather down here.) – “It’s not. It’s more humid here. But heat hot, in Cali the sun is way hotter. I was vibing. Just real chill. A chill offseason. I worked out. Relaxed. I did do some school too. I’m continuing school. Shout out to Oregon. I’m almost done. I’m getting my degree for my mom.”
(You weren’t around any of the fires in California were you?) – “Yes, I was. There was a fire on the hill above my house. It was huge. It was crazy. It was like Doomsday. Shout out to the firefighters in Alameda County. They handled that. Everybody got away safe. No houses damage as far as I know.”
(Is there any advice you could give to some of the rookies this year? You came in last year as a rookie, started out big right out of the gates. What do you tell them?) – “Be who you are. You got here because you are who you are. Don’t change because you’re obviously a play-maker, you’re here for a reason. It’s the NFL. You’re an NFL player. You’re a professional. Be who you are, carry yourself with respect and pride, be confident and ball.”
(For the last couple of years this defense has been stellar. Obviously you were a rookie last year. What do you think of this defense as a whole? Some guys have come back. What can you guys improve on as a unit?) – “Everything. You can never stop improving. Always looking to get better. Nitpicking the small details. You can be an inch closer. You can be a second faster. I think it’s just like tuning the car at this point. Everybody has been here. There’s a common knowledge of the defense. Now it’s like tuning that engine.”
(For yourself, did you improve on anything? Did you watch any film that you saw that you could improve on going into this season and over the summer?) – “Yes, definitely. I definitely did.”
(What’s the impact of some of the new faces defensively, some of the new veterans as far as some of those tuning things that you’re talking about that you guys have been able to implement out here on the field? Any specific examples?) – “No specific examples, but I would say that having vets that played, they have knowledge of the game and they can help the younger guys see things in a different light that align with the coach’s thought process. It helps a lot that they have that veteran leadership.”
(You’ve got a guy like S Brandon Jones too. You guys are growing into bigger roles in the defense. How does that film study process go? Do you guys lean on each other to talk about interchangeability that you guys have? Like this worked for me? Or I might adjust this differently?) – “Yes. Of course, of course. I feel like us as a unit everybody leans on each other and the DBs because if you think about it, we’re all pretty interchangeable. Without a doubt, growing with a team and coming into a second year in the same type of room, it helps a lot because of the chemistry you have, a connection, collective thought process, hive-mind type thing. It’s definitely great, for sure.”
(Seeing you in the stretch line before practice guiding guys through. How did that come to you that you are the one that does that, and how does that make you feel about that leadership position of the defense?) – “One of our strength coaches isn’t here, so I was like I’ll do it. That’s basically it. There is nothing to it. It’s cool. I can just guide everybody. There is nothing crazy. It looks like it has a different meaning, but it’s really just our strength coach isn’t here so I was like I’ll do it.”
(It paired up with what Safeties Coach Steve Gregory was talking about with you kind of playing the quarterback role on the defense. I thought there was some transition, some carryover there. But talk about that – the role of the quarterback on the defense and how in year two, having seen so little NFL reps, how you’re able to get yourself in a position to be in that position?) – “I think it’s about confidence and understanding the defense. I know as a safety, that’s kind of the guy pushing to be the quarterback of the defense, as a lot of people might say, or the middle linebacker. One of the two. But me and ‘E-Rob,’ (Elandon Roberts) we try to bring everybody in a collective mind. I don’t necessarily do it because I have to. I do it because I want to and I want everybody to be on the same page so that we’re an oiled machine. Everything is real smooth and real nice. That’s how I found myself in that role.”
(Was there a moment last year, or maybe in year two, where you thought to yourself you can take on more of that leadership role? Did you feel like you had to learn your stripes in that regard as a rookie? Or did it change at any point for you last year or this year?) – “Yeah. Coming in, of course I felt like I had to earn my stipes. My biggest thing was understanding the defense so that we all can be on the same page. It was never for personal gain. It was always because I want everybody to be on the same page, and if somebody doesn’t know something and they look back at me, I don’t want to be standing there not knowing what they have to do. I want to be able to communicate to them so that everybody is on the same page so that we’re all moving forward together.”
(Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker said that he has the rookie receivers diagram each play of the practice script so that they can visualize it beforehand. Is there something like that you did to get yourself in position where you do feel that comfort level in the defense?) – “Not pre-practice or anything like that. It sounds like I’m repeating myself, but it’s really just understanding the defense. You just have to know what the defense is, know what it takes, know where the checks are, calls and things like that. Everything that’s intertwined in the defense on that specific call. We have a lot of stuff going on. But on that specific play, you only have one defense, one job you have to worry about. As long as I do my 1/11th, boom everybody else is on the same page. If I do my 1/11th and I get the job done inside the play and the play is still going on, I can help other people do their 1/11th It’s a trickle down effect.”
