Xavien Howard – November 4, 2021
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Thursday, November 4, 2021
CB Xavien Howard
(Did you know that you weren’t going anywhere? Like when we talked to you, did you know that you weren’t going anywhere?) – “I just play football. I don’t make those decisions. I’m here today so that’s a blessing.”
(What’s the mood of the defense? I know that you guys had a really strong first half, first two quarters against the Bills and things didn’t go your way in the fourth quarter. But what’s the mood? Are you guys trying to take some of the successes from that first half against the Texans?) – “I feel like we played decent as a defense. I feel like even though we didn’t win the game, I feel like the defense did a lot of good things, especially against an explosive offense like the Bills. We just got to keep getting better each day and just go out there, try to do our jobs and do the best of it.”
(The Texans announced that QB Tyrod Taylor is going to start this Sunday over QB Davis Mills. How much does that change your gameplan and as a cornerback, how does that change the way you’re approaching the game?) – “Oh Tyrod man, he’s been in the league a couple years. I feel like he’s done a lot of great things. One thing when I think about Tyrod, people sleep on him. I feel like he also can throw the ball with the running that he can do. Extending plays and stuff like that, just staying on my guy will be the key for that.”
(You called it a blessing that you’re still here. The team obviously is 1-7. A lot of guys would be thinking.) – “A lot of guys at home, also. Just being in this position, being able to play football is something I love to do. It’s a blessing.”
(What gives you hope that the direction of the team can change course? Not just the rest of the season but over the coming years here?) – “All three phases got to bring the best of their games. We haven’t done that. Some days it’s offense, some days it’s defense and special teams. I feel like we got a great thing. We just ain’t never get that time just to really everybody do their job on all three phases.”
(One of your first breakout games was against the Patriots on a Monday Night Game when you were going up against WR Brandin Cooks a couple of times. What do you remember about going against him?) – “I had a breakout game before that and it was Denver.”
(I said one of your first breakout games. What do you remember from that?) – “I do remember. It was a Monday Night Game. I did my thing that night. I’m sure he remembers that night also, so you know he’s going to come in and give me his best and I’m expecting the best from me also.”
(You’re hoping to be matched up one-on-one against him most of the game?) – “It don’t matter who it is. I’ve got to do my job.”
(When you defend players with that much speed, what’s your mindset in terms of not letting them get behind you?) – “My mindset is using the right technique against speed guys. Being physical and I’d say just keeping everything in front of you and not behind you.”
(You’ve been playing through a few injuries. How do you feel now compared to a week or two ago? Is it better?) – “Yeah, I feel great. A lot of guys fight through injuries that people don’t notice and they just out there playing. You’re never 100 percent playing this game. You just have to have a strong mindset and go out there and do your job the best you can do it.”
(You’re a Houston guy. Does it mean something to you playing against your hometown team?) – “No, not really. I just want to win really.”
(Who did you grow up rooting for?) – “(Laughter) Not Houston. Dallas.”
(So like when you in Texas you got to, it’s hard to be nothing but a Cowboy fan?) – “It’s not hard to be a Cowboy fan when you Texas. But it’s like, what does everybody talk about when you go to Texas?”
(The Cowboys.) – “Cowboys. Houston? (Laughter) Nothing against that organization though, but the Dallas Cowboys are the team growing up in Texas.”
(Were the Texans even a franchise yet when you started getting into football?) – “No, I think it was still the Houston Oilers at that time.”
(There were some years when there wasn’t any team there.) – “I don’t remember that (Laughter). I’m ’93, that’s before my time.”
Elandon Roberts – November 4, 2021
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Thursday, November 4, 2021
LB Elandon Roberts
(Houston QB Tyrod Taylor is going to start for the Texans. I don’t know if you’ve gone against him a time or two before but what do you think is a key against him in particular?) – “Tyrod is a good player. When he was in Buffalo early in my career, I went against him a lot. He’s a good quarterback. He can throw, dual threat, obviously his running capability and stuff like that. Veteran quarterback in this league that has seen every defense and seen every coverage and seen every type of scheme thrown at him. I know for a fact, probably, that Houston is glad to have him back. He’s a good quarterback.”
(With QB Tyrod Taylor’s scrambling ability, how much does that put you guys in an uncomfortable spot because he can cheat and get those extra yards?) – “It affects you. It affects you because you always have to make sure the quarterback is accounted for. I think what benefits us is that we have played against quarterbacks like that this season that have scramble capabilities. We know in the sense from a defensive schematic standpoint, okay what will put is in a bind and what won’t. Like every other week, it’s going to be a 60-minute game.”
(I wanted to ask you about the run defense. You guys, since DT Raekwon Davis came back, with the exception of Buffalo QB Josh Allen’s big run, you guys have been tightening up as a run defense. What has been the difference that wasn’t there early in the season?) – “I think we just honed in as a defense and just started – we just really honing in as a defense, fixing some things and just been playing better run defense. I think it’s all 11, whoever is on the field, defensively-type job.”
(As a captain, and I wouldn’t ask you this specifically what it is that’s private, but are there things that you would suggest to Head Coach Brian Flores or that you have suggested over the last few weeks to try right the ship whether it’s a change in routine, bringing in inspirational speakers or anything at all? The changes you privately suggest to Flo.) – “In like what way? What do you mean?”
(In terms of maybe we change the practice routine, maybe we do this a little differently on Thursday or Friday. Anything at all that you feel like because of your experience, knowledge and role as a captain, that you can privately go to Head Coach Brian Flores and say, ‘How about we do things this way, just my idea.’ Do you feel comfortable doing that and do you do it?) – “I think as leaders, we have those conversations. I think that’s at every club, though. At my previous employer, we did the same thing. I think that’s just like a regular routine just as a leader and a captain in the building.”
(You go back with Head Coach Brian Flores longer than most of the people here. What has this type of adversity been like for him?) – “Personally I think that’s a ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) question. I can’t.”
(In terms of what you’ve seen him and how Head Coach Brian Flores has responded to it?) – “I mean, how he responded to it to me is that he comes in each week working on what we need to get better at. He’s putting us in a good position as a football team to go out there and be successful. I’m not speaking for him, but I don’t see him hanging his head. I don’t see him this and that. I just see him trying to fix problems and coming in each week ready to work, just like he expects us to.”
(Unless I’m wrong this is you’re sixth year in the NFL and in your first five years you never played on a team that won less than 10 games. How difficult has this been in dealing with the situation with the team with the record it has?) – “You don’t want to be in the situation but just because I haven’t been in the situation, I use it as a learning experience. As a leader, how can you lead if you ain’t ever been through something? Just like growing up – a lot of adversity. I didn’t have a lot of schools calling me going to college. Sixth round pick and stuff. If you ain’t never went through it, how are you going to know how to move when adversity hits you? I just take it from a leading standpoint of just each week being there for my guys, learning from the adversity and one thing about leadership is you got to be willing to learn as well and learn from others. That’s what it’s teaching me on a personal level.”
(I asked CB Xavien Howard too because like him, you guys are both Houston-area guys. Did you grow up a Texans fan? He said he grew up a Cowboys fan.) – “Nah, I didn’t grow up either one.”
(Who did you root for?) – “When I was growing up, I was a Philadelphia Eagle. It’s kind of funny because that’s the team I lost to in the Super Bowl. Me and my dad always joke around about it. But no, I didn’t grow up a Houston or Dallas fan.”
(How do you become an Eagles fan?) – “I liked Donovan McNabb – black quarterback. A lot of people are afraid to say that but I’m not afraid to say I was going for him because he was a black quarterback and then I just kind of fell in love with that organization.”
(Were you around a lot of Cowboys fans? Division rivals?) – “Yeah, all my family are Cowboy fans. It’s Texas. That’s mostly what it is, Cowboys fans. I think Houston came in like 2002, 2003 but it was the Oilers there first, so you still got a lot of Oiler fans.”
(You mentioned something earlier that you learned from this leadership experience. What have you learned? What have you picked up?) – “I picked up a lot. Even from like I said about ‘Flo’s’ (Brian Flores) standpoint, ain’t no head hanging, ain’t no this, ain’t no that. We are going to get better. We are going to get better as a team. A lot of people may look at the record and say oh that’s this or their season is done, but they need to really start watching film because if you look at the games, we’re getting better as an overall team. The average fan wouldn’t understand that because they are just looking at the game, they don’t really know what they’re looking at. But if you are really a football person like you say and you really know the game and you look at the game and not look at certain stuff, you’ll be like, ‘This team is getting better,’ and we are getting better each week.”
Mike Gesicki – November 4, 2021
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Thursday, November 4, 2021
TE Mike Gesicki
(This team obviously will have a decision on you at the end of the year, which should be a big decision as you’re one of their best players. But I’m curious if the frustration of this year – we saw it on the sideline with you – has the frustration of losing made you any less interested in remaining a long-term part of the Miami Dolphins in the future?) – “No, absolutely not. I think that we have a phenomenal organization. I think that we have coaches that are in here into the late hours of the night preparing and helping put players in position to be successful. We have great guys in the locker room. An unbelievable strength staff that is helping guys maximize their abilities on the field. The best trainers. The best people in the kitchen. The best media team. Security staff. The list goes on and on about all of the positives about this organization. The product on Sunday, I think, will follow. I think that we’re close. I’ve said that for weeks now. I think it truly shows each and every week that we are close – very close. At some point, we’ve got to turn the corner. I’m not going to come up and make predictions or statements or anything like that but our goal is to turn the corner this week. That’s the only thing that we can do. We’re focused on this week and playing Houston. We’re ready to go out there and maximize all of our opportunities to hopefully give all of the people I just named – the coaches, the staff, everybody that works in this building – what they deserve.”
(One other question on the future and forgive me as I know it’s nothing players like talking about ideally. But has General Manager Chris Grier or Head Coach Brian Flores ever left you with the impression – you or Jimmy Sexton – the impression that this will get done and we want you here long term? Is that your understanding? Or have they never said anything to suggest that?) – “Honestly, I don’t really get involved with it. I know that every player that’s ever been asked about their contract says, ‘Oh, I’m just going to leave it up to my agent.’ But that’s honestly what the situation has been for me and I’m not even avoiding anything. I haven’t talked to anybody. I haven’t done anything. The only thing I’ve focused on is going out there on Sunday and doing whatever role is asked of me, whether it’s going in there and blocking corners and safeties and outside ‘backers, or going out there and catching a ball on third down or fourth down or whatever it is and making plays to help this team. I think that when you focus on just your role and your assignment and you focus on your technique out on Sunday, and you make the plays that you’re asked to do, everything else will kind of take care of itself. I think that’s how I approach this thing.”
(You ended last season and battled an injury. Obviously players who are in the final year of their contract, their main concern is injury that could impact future earnings. Is that something that you worry about and is that a motivator towards trying to get a deal done?) – “No. Honestly, I was not expecting to come in here and talk about contracts or anything because I really don’t think about it. (laughter) Health and all of that kind of stuff, I don’t think about that either. I just go out there and try to, like I said, produce and make the most of my opportunities. I think everything else kind of takes care of itself. I’ve obviously been blessed with health but that’s not up to you. That’s just the game. I just kind of take it one play at a time and let everything else kind of handle itself.”
(How is QB Tua Tagovailoa throwing the ball this week?) – “He’s doing well. I think he’s done a good job. I think that honestly, collectively, we’ve kind of done a good job of just coming together and like I said, talk about turning the corner. I think that it’s something that we’re really focused on. We’re focusing on the little things. Focusing on doing everything possible. When you’re in the huddle, just listen to everything that’s being discussed in the huddle – play call, formation, shift, motion. Whatever it is. Snap count. So this way when you go out there, you line up and you don’t want to make negative plays before the ball is snapped. We’re trying to prevent from kind of hurting ourselves, which is something that’s shown up, because we’ve got talent. We’ve got the ability to make plays. We’ve got great coaches and a good team and all of that kind of stuff. But we have to be able to put it together and not hurt ourselves.”
(I think one reason you were asked about QB Tua Tagovailoa is because he’s been listed on the injury report as limited with a finger injury on his throwing hand. Has he thrown well this week?) – “Yeah. I don’t get into all of the injury report stuff. If you guys want to get (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle Johnston up here, I can call him and you guys can ask him those questions. (laughter) I stay far away from the injury report.”
(The alignment stuff, was it something where you just came in on Monday, you guys looked at the film and sorted it out? Or as you kind of alluded to, is it more that this entire week it’s been a point of emphasis – the alignment and kind of a lot of the pre-snap stuff?) – “I think obviously that kind of stuff can almost get overlooked because you are thinking about the play, you are thinking about what route or thinking about who you are going to block or which combination or trying to read the coverage. I think that kind of just goes back to focusing one play at a time, focusing on your alignment, your assignment, the communication and technique that needs to go into the play, and not having those small things equate to big things. That’s just kind of the focus and that’s been a focus for us this week.”
(I know you don’t want to talk about that specific play at the end of the first half, but just knowing the fact that you actually pointed out to WR Jaylen Waddle to get into position, when you are learning the playbook, do you kind of study the other wide receiver spots?) – “Yeah, absolutely. I think in my position, I’m kind of moving around a little bit. This season we’ve had some injuries at that position so I’ve had to kind of fill in here and fill in there. But also, just the play call that we ran, I kind of knew what was supposed to happen. Obviously there was miscommunication or whatever it was. Stuff like that happens but we need to be able to overcome that and prevent that from happening.”
(At the beginning, you cited all of the things that you have going for you in this organization. To look at the list, it’s a long list that you cited. Is there a time that you want to scratch your head and say, ‘well, why aren’t the results reflective?’) – “Yeah, I think that’s natural in this business. When you do have all of these great people and you do have so much hard work and you have this big nice building and you’ve got everything and anything that you could possibly want, why aren’t the results there on Sunday? That’s when I always going back to we’re close. We’re a ball bouncing the right way for us – instead of going out of the back of the end zone, maybe somebody falls on it in the end zone (and it’s a) touchdown. Or a ball maybe hits a returner in the finger but they go to review and it doesn’t hit the returner in the finger. I don’t know. That’s what I mean when I say we’re that close. Obviously you don’t want to leave it up to those plays. You want to be able to go out there and control the game on your own terms. But we’ve just got to keep pushing, keep pressing and keep trusting. I think that’s the biggest thing because it’s easy to get down and it’s easy to not have belief or trust anymore when you’re 1-7. But I think this is the time when you can really improve and really get better and fight through adversity. I’ve been on a team before where we were 1-7 and we weren’t supposed to win a game the whole year and we come out and have a couple of wins to end the season and people are on a high note and all of that kind of stuff. I’m not saying that’s this year, but I’m saying that we have to be able to fight through adversity and build off of positives to, kind of like I said earlier, turn this corner.”
(That was going to be my follow up, about a couple of years ago…) – “Yeah, this is a different situation. Every year is a different situation, a different team. Obviously the record is similar. Actually it’s exactly the same. Like I said, we’re trying to turn that corner.”
Mack Hollins – November 3, 2021
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Wednesday, November 3, 2021
WR Mack Hollins
(Tell us about your Halloween?) – “We lost a football game. Got home, caught some balls on the JUGS. Went to sleep. Prepare for the next week. Not too eventful.”
(Did you go trick-or-treating?) – “No, I think I’m over the age limit. As much as I would love to knock on some doors and get some free candy and pass it out next year. Then the kids realize I got the stale candy so they stop coming to my door and I can go to bed early. (laughter) That’s deep thinking. It’s next level stuff.”
(How often do you put in work after a game? You said you went on the JUGS machine.) – “Yeah, every time after a game, win or loss. Some of the guys will come to the house, turn on the garage lights and if you angle it just right in my garage, it’s not so close that it’s dangerous and you can shoot and catch. We’ll get 100 or 200. It’s kind of fast when you get a good group of guys.”
(Is it the whole receiving corps?) – “The whole receiving corps has but it’s not all 12 of us at the same time. Sometimes it’s four of us, sometimes it’s eight of us. Off days it will be more. I think win or lose, you have to continue to put in the work. It’s easy to just be like, ‘We’re losing, I don’t need to put in the work,’ or ‘We’re winning and I don’t need to put in the work.’ You just got to keep going, keep going, keep going.”
(Is the garage door open as you are doing this? Are your neighbors there? What do your neighbors think of this?) – “Yeah. The neighbors know by now. Sometimes I’ll bring the JUGS out in the street and I’m shooting like 50-yard balls down the street. They kind of know that’s just what Mack (Hollins) does. Their kids will come and play with us so now I’m the cool kid on the block. They’re okay with it because I’ll throw with their kids or do two-on-two, Mack is the permanent quarterback and I get to show my skills.”
(They catch balls with you? Is that how you get your contested catches?) – “Yeah, you get the little kids and they’ll take like, I got a bunch of pool noodles and I’ll let them just hit me as hard as they can while I’m on the JUGS. They think they’re having fun but really, I’m getting the better of it. It kind of goes back to the candy stuff, it’s always thinking ahead. Like telling your little brother or sister, ‘Hey, go upstairs and grab this, I’ll time you,’ and then all of the sudden they run up there to go get it. (laughter)”
(Has Head Coach Brian Flores or anyone in the building this week brought up examples of teams who dug out of big holes whether it be 1-7 or something else and made something of their season? Have you heard anything like that this week?) – “Not me personally. I think for us, it’s just what do we need to do to get a win. You focus on your keys and how can we execute those keys on Sunday. But no, I haven’t really got any examples like ‘Hey, this team was not doing well and they turned it around.’ I don’t think I’ve ever got those. Even if we had a good season like last season when we were playing well, it wasn’t like, this team did well and look what they ended up doing. You just kind of got to put the blinders on and keep pushing.”
(Has Head Coach Brian Flores or Stephen Ross or any of the players done anything different to keep you guys engaged, motivated, spirits up this week? Any motivational speakers? Anything out of the ordinary these last three days?) – “Nah, for me motivational speeches don’t really do anything. They’re not really worth it to me. Motivational speeches make you feel good for that speech, then you break the huddle and the motivation is over. Preparation makes you confident. The work that you put in the offseason and in practice that week is what makes you confident on Sundays. All the ‘rah-rah’ speeches in the world aren’t going to make you feel like ‘oh, I’m going to play different than what I did all week.’ For me, the motivational speeches don’t really work.”
(What stands out to you about the Texans defense?) – “They fly around a good bit, which is good to go against a team that challenges you. We’ll be prepared and we’ll give them our best run for their money.”
(What observations, if any, have you had about QB Tua Tagovailoa’s emotional state in the last week or two and if it’s changed at all now that the trade deadline has passed?) – “I haven’t seen anything from him that’s different. I couldn’t say like hey, he’s acting different now that 4 o’clock on Tuesday has ended. He’s the same guy. He comes to work, he prepares, he keeps the guys engaged and tells guys, ‘Hey, this is what I want, this is what I don’t want, this is where I’m seeing things when we break the huddle and you’re running routes.’ To me, he’s the same guy.”
(How often do you think about the record? About being 1-7 and is there anything that, moving on from the record, we have a game on Sunday?) – “Personally, when I think about the record, it’s kind of embarrassing. Not kind of – it is embarrassing. We’re 1-7. You put in a lot of work from the day the season ended last year until now and you’re not seeing the fruits of that labor. The only thing you can do is continue to put the work in. You can’t just give up on something because things aren’t going your way. I think it’s easy to do that. It’s easy to scrap the season. It’s easy to say we’re not going to win anymore who cares, let’s just focus on next year, let’s tank. Everybody wants to be treated like a man, everybody wants to be grown, everybody wants to be the big dog this and that. If you want to be all those things, you can’t do that type of stuff. Nobody on this team is and nobody on this team is going to at any point. I certainly won’t allow it nor will the coaches or any of the other captains. We’ll continue to work hard, we’ll continue to push ourselves and whether the fruits want to come or not, we’re going to get them.”
(Is there any product in the hair at this time or no product?) – “Right now, there’s some SheaMoisture in it. SheaMoisture, I mean.”
(We need more tips, the routine or something like that. You have curly hair in this humidity is not easy.)- “I know it’s not easy, that’s why I just pick it out. If I brought the curls in, the helmet would have messed it up and I would have came here looking goofy. I decided to just pick it out so that I can have an excuse for why it’s so wild. Every once and a while, if y’all see me traveling to a game, you’ll see the curls really going if I don’t braid it up and keep it out of my face because it’s about 500 degrees.”
(When was the last time you got a haircut?) – “The last time I got a haircut was – what is it, 2021? The day before training camp in 2019. It’s been some years. I’ll trim the sides here and there. Every girl in here is probably like, ‘You got a lot of split ends,’ and I do. (laughter) I definitely do.”
(Can we get Shea to sponsor you?) – “I mean, Shea? I know y’all see it. Just imagine the things we can do, imagine the things we can do.”
(How long does it take for you to come up with your videos every Friday?) – “What I’d like to say – weeks and weeks. The honest truth? I’ve done them 8 a.m. on Friday before. Sometimes it’s quick thinking, sometimes it’s really prepared. Like last week, if I know it’s something specific like the Crucial Catch, I knew we had that game so that was kind of prepared. I’ve done some breaking practice on Friday like oh, I go to get this done in four hours.”
(Inaudible) – “Sitting in the locker room when guys are like, ‘Did you see this,’ or ‘Have you heard of this?’ And I’ll grab that and if I can Google some more stuff and do some research and find at least like four or five more facts, that’s worthwhile.”
Jerome Baker – November 3, 2021
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Wednesday, November 3, 2021
LB Jerome Baker
(In terms of not playing last week, was it more of a pain issue or a movement issue where you just would’ve been limited? And are you certain you’ll be able to play this Sunday?) – “It’s a little bit of both. But right now, it’s just taking it day-by-day, and just trying to get better and get back out there.”
(So is it iffy for Sunday?) – “Right now it’s just day-by-day. Just trying to take one day at a time and have consistent days.”
(You had mentioned that this is the first time you had missed a game since high school. I don’t know if you traveled with the team, but what was that like watching the game, and what was going through your mind as you were watching it?) – “It’s definitely something I’m not used to, that’s for sure. I just tried to get the guys that are going out there and get them ready the best I can. If that’s saying things that I see or give little tips or whatever it is, I just really try to help the team win as much as I can. Not being out there is definitely hard. It’s definitely challenging mentally. But at the end of the day, I love this team and I want to see this team to do well, so I try to do as much as I can.”
(How did LB Duke Riley play?) – “He did his thing. He definitely did good. We all made some mistakes as a defense, but overall the effort was there. He communicated very well. That’s what we expect in our linebacker room. If one guy goes down, the next guy has to step up and make plays. He definitely did that.”
(If you were trying to define why this season has gone the way it has, what would you say?) – “We’re not consistent with executing. What I mean by that is, in this league it’s hard to win games. But it’s really hard if you’re just beating yourself. For us, it’s the little things that we do that just keep coming up that we’ve got to get done and get fixed. If it’s the penalties, if it’s the lack of communication, letting the guy free, or snapping the ball early. Whatever it is, those little things we keep saying ‘we’re going to get it next time, we’re going to get it next time.’ They keep showing up and we’re still not getting it done. That’s whey we come in every day and we’re harping on the little things. No matter if it’s a small thing everybody knows, we still got to communicate. We still got to lock in on it. I think that’s the main thing. We just got to execute and really be consistent with doing that.”
(Looking at the roster from what you had last year, a lot is similar. So what has changed form last year when there was so much positive?) – “I can’t say it’s an exact thing because if I knew exactly what it was, I’d definitely try to get it fixed. I think the majority of it is just executing. We’re a talented group, we know that. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how talented you are if you beat yourself. We definitely got to execute and I think that’s the main point. We definitely got other problems, but that’s definitely the main point.”
(Do you feel like you’ve got somebody on the team, whether it’s a player or coach, that keeps you guys accountable when those mistakes become consistent?) – “Yeah, we’ve got great leaders on this team. We’ve got great guys as far as holding everybody accountable. I think the one part – it starts at the top and that’s ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores). He definitely holds us all accountable. He doesn’t care who you are or how long you’ve been here or whatever you’ve done in the past. For him, it’s every day you’ve got to show that you are consistent and you go out there and make plays. That’s been his message since he first got here. He’s going to have the guys that are accountable, the guys that do the right thing and help this team win. He’s going to have those guys out there and it doesn’t really matter who it is. It starts with him and at the end of the day, our coaches are on the sideline. Us as players have to execute. That’s why I keep saying it’s definitely us. We’ve got to execute at the end of the day.”
(When mistakes happen in the game, how hard is it not to think ‘here we go again?’ and just move on to the next play?) – “I wouldn’t say it’s hard. When I say that, this is our job. This is what we do for a living. If you’re dwelling on the past play or the past game, it’s going to be a longer day for you. When things happen, you really have to flush it out of your head and go on to the next one. If you let it dwell and you let it keep being on your mind, it’s going to affect you and affect you and affect you. You’re going to look up and one bad play may turn into a bad game for you. At the end of the day, we’re professionals. We’ve got to go out there and do what we do every play. Is it easy? No. But this is what we signed up for, so we’ve got to get it done.”
(From watching film on Houston, what kind of things have you seen from this offense?) – “They are fast. This is a fast team in general. They are a fast team. It’s just easy to tell they play fast. They’ve got high motors. They’re definitely just a fast group. I don’t even know what their record is or whatever, but they’re going to come in here and they are going to try to win a ball game, and we’re going to do the same thing. We’re all desperate for wins here. Sunday is a great opportunity for us.”
(They are pretty fast? That team speed really stood out?) – “That was just the one thing for me is ‘these guys are fast.’ For me, just personally looking at the running back room, it’s like alright, they’ve got some guys that can run. Just going guy to guy, you’re like ‘alright, this is going to be a fast game.’ It’s going to be a great challenge for us. We’re definitely excited and Sunday is a great opportunity for us. We’ve just got to get it done.”
Christian Wilkins – November 3, 2021
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Wednesday, November 3, 2021
DT Christian Wilkins
(We spoke to Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer yesterday about preparing for Houston QB Davis Mills and QB Tyrod Taylor. Just curious how much have you been watching both and what are the differences in the scheme they may be running if Tyrod can come back?) – “Both quarterbacks are good players and can get it done. Obviously, Tyrod has played a long time in this league and he has a good, productive resume. He’s dual threat, can do a lot of things with his feet, passing the ball and just a real smart guy. Like I said, he’s played a long time in this league. Mills, he’s a rookie obviously but he shows some good potential and everything like that. He does some good things as well. We’ve just got to prepare for both guys and be ready for whatever and just follow the gameplan to the best of our abilities. They both present challenges, different challenges a little bit. Both are good, solid players.”
(I know you played with Houston QB Deshaun Watson at Clemson and I think you are still close with him. I’m curious how this process has been for you hearing all the rumblings of this and knowing both the quarterbacks pretty well?) – “You definitely hear kind of everything. I just try to focus on what I need to focus on and getting my job done. That really doesn’t affect me until it affects me, I guess. I just try to focus on everything, focus on my job and making sure this team has the right mindset each week. Focusing on being a leader for the team regardless of what type of rumors or things are being talked about, whatever mumbles you hear.”
(Are you happy though with the deadline passing and no major movement and your teammates are still around here?) – “I don’t make those decisions. If any of the decisions are made, I still try to be the same guy in the locker room, same presence on the team regardless of who’s here or who’s not.”
(Have you adopted the Head Coach Brian Flores’ mentality of taking things day by day?) – “Absolutely. That’s been drilled into me for three years. I mean drilled into me. (laughter) I definitely take that mindset not just in football but in life too. I think that’s just a great way to approach things. Focus on the task at hand, be great where your feet are and just take everything one step at a time and then you can look up at the end and see the result you have.”
(We heard LB Jerome Baker say that something that stood out about the Texans offense was the team’s speed especially coming out the backfield. Is that something that you notice?) – “Yeah, they have a lot of really good players, a lot of fast guys. They got some solid players over there so we are going to have to prepare well. To his point, yeah, they definitely got a lot of good speed guys and a lot of speedy skill guys, offensive linemen who can run side to side and things like that. Their speed can definitely pose a threat so we definitely have to try to prepare well for that.”
(You were talking about the day by day but I’m curious do you have a favorite coaching cliché in all your days of what you’ve heard?) – “Man, golly. You put me on the spot right now. I don’t want to just give you an answer just to give you one but there is a lot that I’ve heard and a lot that I know. I’m sure later on in the locker room I’ll be joking with somebody and say something like, ‘Oh, that’s what this coach used to say to me.’ I’m going to have to think about that one to definitely give you my favorites.”
(Alignment, assignment?) – “Yeah, there’s a bunch of the clichés and corny sayings and stuff. It’s just funny with those things because they’re engrained. Like you’ll hear them forever. I’m sure I’ll be 40 or 50 and still hear X coach saying this, you know what I’m saying? A lot of those are so cliché, so corny. But they’re true and they stick with you. I guess they’re that way so you can remember them.”
(When someone does something that doesn’t show a lot of sportsmanship – that’s my words not yours – like Buffalo QB Josh Allen waving bye-bye to you during the game. Do you hold a grudge? Or are you able to say, ‘I don’t care, it’s all part of competition. It doesn’t matter. I don’t dislike the guy?’) – “No, it’s really all part of the game. Honestly, I love when things get a little chippy or things get a little whether it’s a little gamesmanship or little battles within the game. I’m sure if, and you can ask a lot of other guys around the league, they would have a lot to say about me. (laughter) I said if you ask other guys around the league, not if you ask me. (laughter) That’s just part of it and that’s when competition is at it’s best. Honestly, if it ain’t like that, I don’t want it. To a degree, I sometimes try to create that. It’s fun. I honestly laugh at it all. It’s funny to me and it’s funny to think about it the next day like, ‘Dang, you really said that.’ Or ‘he really did this.’ It’s nothing personal. It’s all love. We’re all brothers in arms in this league but when we’re against each other, we’re competing our butts off and it doesn’t matter if you’re my best friend in the world or if I don’t know you at all, we’re competing. You probably get it worse if you’re my best friend in the world because I got some dirt on you. I know what buttons to press. (laughter)”
(So if the game is going on, just a normal game and you’re in the third or fourth quarter, and now all of the sudden things get chippy and someone say something or makes a gesture to you, what goes on inside of you? How much more do you turn it up at that point?) – “It depends. I don’t know. I try to create it early in the game or like if it happens or whatever, I just try to go with it. Not that what other people say affects you to that point to where now I’m going to play angry or now I’m going to compete harder. You should be competing hard the whole time. But it definitely makes it more fun and just the whole element of everything kind of just gets heightened. You’re just like, ‘Alright, like okay now we playing,’ or like now there is another element to the game besides just the physical part or whatever else.”
(I’ve always heard about corners and how sometimes they’ll do research on the receiver. Like they’ll find out their mom’s name or something embarrassing about his childhood. Does that ever happen with offensive linemen? Do offensive linemen do research?) – “I haven’t gotten too much of that but I’m sure it does. I know there’s guys who do that. Any competitive edge you can get, guys will use it.”
(Have you ever done research?) – “I try to stay away from that. I’m just more of a mosquito, like an annoying kind of trash talker. I don’t try to get too personal but I’m definitely not going to stop, that’s for sure.”
(Do you know whose idea it was to tell Buffalo LS Reid Ferguson last week that LS Blake Ferguson was better than him?) – “I don’t know. I can’t tell you. Somebody, somebody. A funny guy made that up, I guess. I don’t know whose idea that was. Probably a pretty handsome guy’s idea. (laughter)”
(I don’t know if it’s affected you but the new taunting rule. The new taunting penalties that’s being a point of emphasis. How has that impacted those interactions?) – “You definitely have it in the back of your mind now. You definitely saw it in the preseason a lot. Just even small instances and you never want to cost your team any yards or you don’t ever want a flag against you or anything like that. It’s in the back of your mind a little bit. If you make a play or do this or do that, you celebrate but celebrate with your teammates or turn away or whatever. It’s on your mind but I hope you’re not jinxing me or I’m not jinxing myself but I’ve been pretty good with it so far, so I hope to continue on the path I am right now.”
Austin Jackson – November 3, 2021
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Wednesday, November 3, 2021
G/T Austin Jackson
(You played well last week. Head Coach Brian Flores said to us, without even us asking on Monday, that he’s happy with the move of you to guard and it’s going well. Do you feel happy you moved there? Do you feel that’s your best position?) – “I’m happy to be on the field. I’ve learned a lot of things about left guard. The biggest thing for me was – I don’t really know. Yeah, I’m happy to be playing left guard. I like to be on the field with my teammates and help them out. I’m glad I can get better at it. Just learning a new position, you never really know how it’s going to go, especially never playing it before. I’m just glad I’ve got my foot in, my confidence, I’m doing well and I just look to keep getting better.”
(Players who I know who have played the guard position over many years, they seem to be very aggressive. It seems like you’ve taken to that. I’ve seen you be very aggressive. Describe the approach that you’ve tried to take at the guard position relative to aggressiveness?) – “I think one of my better traits is that I’m very physical and strong at the point of attack. I was talking to my college coach from USC actually, and he was telling me that one of the things, especially at tackle, that I have always been good at is the point of attack. So I think that translated over to guard and it probably translates over to any position on the line, really. I think playing both guard and tackle work hand in hand. Playing guard helps me with some things playing at tackle. Things like patience. There’s a lot less space when you play guard, so you have to be more confident in your point of attack.”
(If somebody worked at an advertising agency and they said to him or her, we’re taking you off this account but we’re giving you this account instead. The human reaction might be disappointment. So when you were told you’re not going to play tackle at this point moving forward and we’re moving you to guard, was there disappointment? Were you let down at all emotionally?) – “Nah, not really. I mean it’s just different. Everybody handles change in their own ways. At the end of the day, when I went from tackle to guard, I still had to play guard the next play in that game. And I’m blocking Vita Vea. There’s not really much time to sulk about (expletive) – or stuff (laughter). Yeah, that’s that. I’m just happy to be on the field and still have the opportunity to play and compete and show what I can do, and help my team try to win some games here, which we really want to do. We believe in each other. As long as I get to be a part of that, I’m good.”
(I’ve noticed that you’ve tried to show some positive energy and emotion in the last few weeks.) – “Every week.”
(Has that been a point of emphasis for you to show your emotions on the field?) – “Nah. I show my emotions every week. Every week. Honestly, there are a lot of things you guys don’t see. If you go back, you’ll still see the same type of emotion and passion for the game. Obviously the season didn’t start out how we wanted, so kind of getting through that was a little bit of a learning experience, I would say – as a line anyways. I would say that’s every week and that’s just an emphasis to keep getting better. We all love to play.”
(I always thought it was kind of fun when a guard buries sort of an unsuspecting defensive player, maybe later in the development of the play. Are there actually more opportunities to bury guys at the guard position than the tackle position?) – “No. Well there are some, but think about this. At tackle, I’m 310, 315, 320 pounds, blocking a guy that’s 250 pounds. Versus playing guard, you are moving people that are like 330-350 pounds. It’s really just about your technique and being disciplined. You can’t just try to outmuscle a guy because they’re big too. They’re strong too. I’d say there’s probably like equal opportunities for that stuff.”
(Putting aside the playing time aspect that you addressed earlier, if you were to look back at how things went for you at tackle this season and how things are going at guard now, do you kind of take a step back and say, ‘Yeah, that move really was the best thing for me?’) – “I don’t know. That’s a loaded question. I definitely think that although I made some mistakes at tackle, I still think I’m a great tackle. I think that moving in to play guard, seeing what I can do at guard, it’s like ‘Wow, I can really play guard too.’ It’s just a matter of – the guys who make those decisions like ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) and Chris (Grier), that’s up to them. I know inside for me and my confidence level, I know I can play both and I can do both well. Even though I did make some mistakes at tackle and me moving to guard makes it look like ‘Oh, he’s a crappy tackle.’ But it’s ball. It is what it is. You do what’s best for the team. The decision-makers thought this was best and I’m with the team all the time.”
(Laremy Tunsil was a very good left guard as a rookie. I don’t know if you know that. He was drafted as a tackle but played guard and played it well. I’m just curious, have you ever looked at Tunsil from that year?) – “Yeah, ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) actually told me about that. About him playing guard. I haven’t watched too much of the film from that year. There’s not a whole lot in the archives. But there are guys like Zack Martin and Connor Williams, both the guards for the Cowboys. They were both tackles for a super long time. They’re doing well at guard being former tackles. There are a lot of people. It’s kind of just part of the game, I’ve come to learn. A lot of tackles end up playing guard in this league. Whatever happens, happens.”
(You mentioned the difference in size of players that you block at the two positions. Do you prefer that more physical style of blocking when you’re inside as opposed to the more speed rush guys playing more physically?) – “I think at tackle, it doesn’t feel as rewarding getting a knock down against someone who is smaller than you because it’s like you’re supposed to do that. But playing guard is definitely more rewarding when you’re getting good movement inside. That’s where the business is at. It’s definitely more rewarding inside.”
(You said you’ve spoken to your coach at USC about being strong at the point of attack. Was that recently or was that when you were in school?) – “No, it was actually – I was catching up with my old USC coach, Coach (Tim) Drevno. It was ‘How are you doing?’ We check in with each other like that, just kind of how like my school was. He was checking in with me and we just talked about the switch. He had some good advice and good words for me.”
(He said you weren’t strong enough at the point of attack at tackle?) – “No. You completely misread that. He said ‘I can see you playing guard because you’ve always been very strong at the point of attack.’ It wasn’t like you weren’t strong enough. If I wasn’t strong enough at tackle, they definitely wouldn’t move me to guard.”
Tua Tagovailoa – November 3, 2021
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Wednesday, November 3, 2021
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers just tested positive for COVID-19 and he’s unvaccinated so he’s going to be out for 10 days. I’m just curious – I don’t think we’ve ever asked you – but are you vaccinated?) – “Yeah, I am vaccinated.”
(I know you said that you didn’t know when the trade deadline is, but it was yesterday.) – “(laughter) Yeah.”
(Is there any sense of relief? Not that you were expecting something major to happen but just a relief that you can focus on the season now?) – “Not necessarily. I mean my focus has really only been on the team that we’ve been playing and then obviously our team. My focus has been just what we can do better each and every day, and then throughout the week to hopefully get us a win.”
(What was your reaction when you heard – if you haven’t heard – that the team was so interested in trading for a quarterback that they requested to talk to him on Monday night? Obviously that’s a step that we haven’t seen before with this team. Was that kind of eye-opening to you?) – “I never heard of that so I don’t know.”
(I guess that is the case. Your reaction when you do hear something like that is what?) – “I mean you’re the first person that’s told me that. The trade deadline was yesterday so I don’t know.”
(I wanted to ask your thoughts about – I don’t know if you’ve heard but Raiders WR Henry Ruggs III was in an accident. Before, you had played with him in college. What are your thoughts about the whole situation?) – “I mean that’s tough. Obviously my heart goes out to the families that have been affected by what had happened – the choices and the decisions. My heart goes out to Henry too and his family. Obviously it wasn’t the right choice or decision that he made at that time. I know he wished he could have had it back. But when I heard the news, that was tough for me to hear, just knowing the kind of person that Henry is. You never think this guy could hurt a soul, so when you see something like that – I’m still kind of in disbelief. Obviously, like I said, my heart goes out to the family that has been affected by it. But yeah, my heart also goes out to Henry, as my ex-teammate.”
(I know a lot of your Alabama teammates are really close and still now. Do you guys talk as a group when something affects a guy in the community like this? You don’t have to tell me what’s said but what is that like?) – “Yeah, obviously me and Henry (Ruggs) came in in the same recruiting class at Alabama. Then we also came out in the same draft class. Yeah, we’re all so close. That’s just tough. He knows he has our support. That’s just a tough situation to be in right now for him.”
(Now that the cloud of this potential trade is behind you – the trade deadline – how do you approach these nine starts that you now have?) – “I think I continue to approach it the same way that I’ve been approaching it – day-to-day, the things that we can get better with every day and then obviously look back at the film and see what we can get corrected to help get us a win.”
(On an unrelated note, how often on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis do you talk with your brother, Taulia, and check in on him and how he’s doing at Maryland? Obviously you guys are going through your ups and downs and whatnot.) – “Yeah, I try to get on the phone with my brother at least once a week. I try to call, he’s busy. He tries to call, I’m busy. It’s like we’re playing phone tag at times. But more than likely, it’s Fridays where I can get his availability and he can also get mine if he’s not playing. But yeah, he has a lot of questions every time he calls. I try to help him the best that I can.”
(Obviously nine games left. What do you feel like you want to or need to show over these nine games for yourself and for the team?) – “I think the first thing is we want to get a win. We’ll start with that this week – try to get a win and obviously build off of that. I don’t think there is – it’s not really much to prove. It’s always what can I do better and knowing my expectation for myself and kind of how I want to go out there and play. Not really to anyone else’s expectations.”
(Do you view criticism as a fuel? Some players do. Is that something that is motivation for you?) – “Not necessarily. Really, I guess my biggest critic would be my dad. That would be kind of the biggest person that I would kind of think of every time I go out and play. It’s been like that my entire life. Good is never good enough. It’s always what can you continue to do to get better at.”
(How is managing that during this period? Because obviously it hasn’t gone well. How is that with your dad and some of those conversations postgame and during the week?) – “Well, my dad is a coach at heart. He’s been coaching me all my life. He knows things I can do, he knows thing I can’t do. So if I try to make up an excuse, his line is ‘I know you better than anyone else, so don’t tell me that.’ But yeah, high expectations from dad.”
(How do you keep it fun and light when you guys are going through what you’re going through? How do you make the game fun? That’s an important part of the game, I guess.) – “I think winning. That’s what we strive to do. That’s why we practice, that’s why we work so hard, that’s why we come in early – to prepare to hopefully get us a win.”
(How are you feeling physically? We haven’t asked you about that in a while. It’s been a few weeks now that you’ve returned to the field. How are you feeling?) – “Yeah, I feel good. Obviously some nicks and bruises after games but other than that, it’s good. Thank you.”
(You were wearing, I believe it was like a flak jacket or something for the ribs after the injury. Is that right?) – “Yeah, some kind of rib padding. I think it’s carbon fiber. I don’t know. It’s some high-tech stuff. (laughter)”
(Do you still need to use that or have you gotten past the point of needing it? Or is it just part of your routine now?) – “It’s just part of my routine. I don’t ever want to feel that again, so I’m just going to keep wearing it.”
(How does it affect you in terms of throwing motion, mobility and all of that? Or does it affect you at all when you’re playing?) – “It doesn’t affect me at all. I’m glad it’s there to help protect me. If I had to get hit – I guess the science behind it is if you get hit there again, the carbon fiber is supposed to disperse the energy. I’m not no scientist, guys. I don’t know. (laughter)”
(Is it cumbersome? Are you able to maneuver with it?) – “Yeah. I’m able to move with it well, so it’s good.”
(I wanted to ask you a little bit about your relationship with Head Coach Brian Flores just because you mentioned a few weeks ago that you appreciated the conversations that you had throughout the rumors. So I was wondering if you believe the relationship is any better now than it was. Not that I’m saying that it was bad, but is it better now?) – “I don’t know if I’d say that it’s better or if it’s worse. ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) is a very open guy. For players, his door is open for any of us to come in and have free conversation with him whether it’s about football or trade talks or whatever it may be. I think he does a really good job of communicating that to us and being very transparent.”
(When we talked to Head Coach Brian Flores earlier, one thing that he mentioned he knows you would want to improve is your downfield throwing. Obviously there’s a lot of factors in that including opponents’ coverage. What are some of the things you can do to make strides in that area?) – “I think it’s giving guys chances, first off. But obviously I think you just never want to force anything down the field. You still want to take what they’re giving you and then obviously make some adjustments to make use of those downfield throws. It’s not just plays, but it includes everything. It includes action-fake, if it requires an action-fake, a good pocket, protection, everyone knowing where to lineup. It requires a lot of things.”
(When Head Coach Brian Flores was talking about your development as a young player earlier today, he said ‘we have more time.’ Do you feel like there’s plenty of time?) – “I’m not much of a patient guy. I kind of want things to happen quick. The saying is nothing happens overnight and Rome wasn’t built in a day. For me, I’ve just got to continue to trust the process and what we’re trying to get done here. Hopefully we’ll start winning some games, starting with this week.”
