Jaelan Phillips – September 8, 2021
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Wednesday, September 8, 2021
LB Jaelan Phillips
(Have you recovered from Saturday?) – “Have I recovered from Saturday? No. It was a sad, sad day. (laughter) But it was a cool experience though. Obviously the boys, they’ll bounce back. Their season definitely isn’t done.”
(Was there any fun bets between you and Alabama teammates?) – “That’s undisclosed. (laughter) We’re going to keep that under wraps.”
(It wasn’t fun for you.) – “No. (laughter)”
(Does part of you still pull for or pay attention to UCLA at all?) – “Yeah, it’s mixed feelings. I grew up a UCLA fan so I obviously want the best for them. I don’t harbor any bad feelings towards the coaching staff or anything there, but it was definitely cool to see. There’s probably like, 10 to 15 guys on the team that I played with so definitely good to see their success and cool for the city of Los Angeles to be able to get a big win like that.”
(What do you think it’ll be like to take the field for a real NFL game?) – “It’s going to be crazy. It’s going to be fun. Like Jevon (Holland) said, it’s been a dream of mine since I was little to be able to do this for a career and it’s honestly so surreal at this point so I can’t even tell you how it’s going to feel. It’s just a lot of emotions, a lot going on at once; but you’ve just got to focus on the game. I’m definitely excited.”
(Got anybody flying up to see you?) – “I’ve got like 20 people coming actually. (laughter) My sister funny enough just enrolled in Harvard Law so she’s up there – up in Cambridge – so she’s going to come. My family is flying up. I’ve got some family friends coming up, so it’ll be awesome.”
(The defense seems to be asking you to do a lot of different things and we saw a lot of that in the preseason finale standing up, hand in the ground or even dropping back. How do you feel you’ve handled all those different responsibilities?) – “Honestly, the NFL is humbling. You come out of college and you kind of think you know a lot and you know it all and it really turns out that you don’t know too much at all. So for me, it’s just been a constant battle to learn as much as I can and really try to develop all different parts of my game because I don’t ever want to be only able to do one thing. I’ve always wanted to be multifaceted; and so for me, being able to rush, being able to stand up, put my hand in the ground, cover, do all that is going to be important for me obviously and important for the team. So I’m just learning every day and doing what they tell me to do.”
(We saw you in the Bengals game obviously dropping into coverage more than you did at Miami but similar to UCLA I guess in a linebacker role. Did that feel natural to you that day and in practices? Is it still tough to get used to dropping into coverage some?) – “You said it perfectly. I really didn’t drop too much at Miami and before that I hadn’t played ball in over a year and so I’m still kind of getting used to it again. Like I said, just trying to get better every day at it, but I feel good. I feel good doing whatever they ask of me.”
(Do you have any sense what kind of role you’ll have Sunday without giving it away? Do you think you’ll have a significant role Sunday? Is that unclear to you?) – “Yeah, I mean honestly it’s really just up to the coaches and whoever they see fit to go out on that field and perform the best. I can tell you that coming up, just whenever I get the chance, I’m going to play as hard as I can and do what I can do.”
(There’s a short list of players that people think have a real shot at going after Defensive Rookie of the Year and you’re on that short list. Have you heard that chatter? Is that one of your many goals maybe to take on that honor?) – “I mean for me, it’s obviously focusing on this week first. It’s a 17-game regular season so a lot can happen from now until then. Obviously that would be great; but for me, my focus is definitely on today, next day, this week. And we’ll see how it goes from there.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores said not to put too much emphasis on the depth chart, but we don’t have our heads in the sand. We noticed and I’m guessing you did that you were listed at third team. Was anything explained to you about why and what you need to do for that to change?) – “Funny enough, I actually didn’t even see it this week. I saw it a couple weeks ago. For me, depth charts don’t really – it’s just paper at the end of the day. It’s just the names on paper and so I guess come Sunday, we’ll see who plays where and how that goes down. For me, it’s just being ready whenever my name is called, whenever I have the opportunity to make the most out of the opportunity. So it really doesn’t matter, I guess you could say, for the depth chart.”
(It’s been a while since anyone’s really played in a full stadium with fans. What’s that experience going to be like for you especially at Gillette, which gets loud?) – “Even playing – well I didn’t play against Chicago – but being in Chicago, that stadium was pretty rocking. They had a lot of people there. And even last week we had a good amount of people in the Hard Rock. That’s definitely the most fans I’ve played in (front of) in honestly all of college because UCLA didn’t – the Rose Bowl doesn’t really fill up that much. So it’s definitely going to be a pretty wild experience to just hear the crowd and experience all of that so I’m excited.”
Jaylen Waddle – September 8, 2021
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Wednesday, September 8, 2021
WR Jaylen Waddle
(In talking with DT Raekwon Davis, he said that QB Mac Jones was a jokester off the field. What do you remember from him and his personality?) – “I just remember him just being real competitive. I think when he got his time to really start, he was just really competitive about business really every day. Of course he would joke around and stuff, but he was really about business.”
(You scared the heck out of us on the field and we haven’t spoken to you since then. What did you think had happened when you went down in that ball game and how happy were you to find out whatever you found out?) – “You’re talking about against Atlanta? I just got rolled up. Something simple that comes with the game. Just something simple as far as that. Nothing major.”
(Your first real NFL game is this week. Is it nervousness all week? Is it harder to sleep at night?) – “To be honest, not really. I’m kind of still in the training mode right now. I think I’ll get more nervous the closer the game gets but right now, I’m just trying to get everything down, really.”
(Has it sunk in at all that you’re going to go play your former quarterback and you have a quarterback that you’re playing with that you played with in college? Just all the similarities and rollover between the teams, is that kind of surreal for you?) – “Not really, to be honest. It’s just like going out there, playing another game against people that you know. All of that, that comes with it.”
(We’re going to compare QB Tua Tagovailoa and QB Mac Jones forever. You were asked to compare them before the draft and you answered supporting the guy you obviously just played with. Did Tagovailoa ever say, ‘hey man, I’m better than Mac,’ to you after you gave that answer? Did he ever give you any grief for that?) – “(laughter) Nah, not really.”
(What did you think at the time when you were asked to compare QB Mac Jones and QB Tua Tagovailoa?) – “I mean going with someone you played with, obviously going into a process. So yeah.”
(Did you ever reach out to QB Tua Tagovailoa and say ‘hey, now I’m kind of thinking the other way?’) – “(We’ve) never talked about it. (laughter)”
(We just heard QB Tua Tagovailoa describe your level of communication and confidence on the sideline in telling him ‘this is why I’m running this route; this is where I’m expecting it.’ Where does that confidence come from, even in your first year in the league, to tell your quarterback this is where I want the ball?) – “I think it just comes from him. He tells me if he sees something to just tell him and let him know. So any time that I see something or something doesn’t go as we would like, I always go to him and be like ‘Oh.’ He gives me his thoughts and I give him my thoughts, then we go from there.”
(One thing that Head Coach Brian Flores talked about a lot last year with the team was the camaraderie everybody had and how much they loved playing for each other. I saw a video clip of you and some of the receivers dancing the other day at practice. How easy has it been for you to kind of slide into that type of culture and the atmosphere here of the guys kind of really loving each other and playing for one another?) – “I think it’s real easy, especially in my receiver group. Everyone is like pretty close. We see each other a lot throughout the day, so just being yourself around people, you’ve all got to come and go to be the best and get the best out of each other. I think it makes it real easy.”
(You mentioned you’re kind of still in training mode getting ready for the season. But at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday, what’s going to be going on inside of you and how do you handle butterflies, if you do get them?) – “I mean you handle them just like any other thing. It comes with it. I think if you don’t get nervous any more, you really shouldn’t be playing. Of course I’ll get nervous and all of that good stuff, but it’s time to go.”
Jevon Holland – September 8, 2021
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Wednesday, September 8, 2021
S Jevon Holland
(Describe the feeling of what you think it will be like walking out of that tunnel on Sunday?) – “I think it’ll be exhilarating, honestly. It’s a lifelong dream, playing on an NFL team, making a roster and things like that. The first game is going to be awesome, especially with the fans back. I’m really excited.”
(I don’t think we have spoken to you since you changed your number. What went behind the decision to go back?) – “Honestly I was working hard in training camp and when the opportunity came and they asked me if I wanted to switch, I was like, ‘Yeah, sure.’ Being back in No. 8 feels good. I’m back in my college number. It’s pretty cool, especially seeing some of my friends in the league wearing single digits. It’s cool to have that.”
(Does that have any significance to you from before college or does it mean anything to you other than the nostalgia?) – “I think more of the nostalgia, definitely, from college. I always wore No. 8 in NCAA 14 and whatnot. Being able to wear it in the league now is pretty crazy. I always thought like, ‘Dang, why can’t athletes or skilled positions wear single digits.’ When they changed the rule, I was pretty excited.”
(After missing some time, you seem to be running around pretty good out there today, how do you feel?) – “I feel good. Yeah, I feel great.”
(I saw you tweeting about Oregon’s uniforms. Have you made a decision about what your favorite Dolphins uniform is and is that better than Oregon’s?) – “I think NFL and college are completely different. Separate categories? I’m putting Oregon No. 1 in college, hands down, and then Dolphins No. 1 because the orange and aqua are definitely top in terms of color rush and things like that. I haven’t made a decision on the No. 1 Dolphins uniform yet though.”
(Is your impression that you will be backing up DB Jason McCourty on Sunday? Do you think that’s a competition that’s ongoing from what Defensive Backs Coach Gerald Alexander has told you?) – “Really I’m just out there in practice. I heard there was a depth chart that came out. I’m not really sure about it. We’re really just out there and the coaches put us in the best position possible to go out there and perform. I’m not really paying attention to the depth chart. I’m just trying to help the team win.”
Elandon Roberts – September 8, 2021
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Wednesday, September 8, 2021
LB Elandon Roberts
(When you think about the guys that were voted by their peers as captains, what do you think you guys have in common? What’s the common thread?) – “I feel like as a captain, all of us bring different leadership to that. It’s an honor to be voted a captain by your team. I definitely don’t take it for granted. You hold yourself to a different standard, which if you weren’t a captain, you should also hold yourself to a different standard because leadership is not about just one person. It’s about all the other 53 guys too, including the coaches. We all got to walk in this building every day and look it as we are a captain because in this building and outside this building, we are not just representing ourselves but we’re representing the Miami Dolphins as an organization.”
(For DB Jason McCourty to be voted a captain in his first half a year with the team, what does that mean? What kind of impact has he had on y’all in that short amount of time?) – “I just think it speaks volumes from his standpoint. J-Mac has been in the league for a long time. He is a great person to just be around. Definitely a great leader. Like I said, I think he’s taking it as a good privilege to be named one of the captains just like all the rest of us.”
(I can imagine that being voted, this is your fellow players deciding on this, that’s got to give you some extra special feelings to know that you are respected.) – “Yeah, most definitely.”
(What feels different? It’s Week 1. Maybe compared to the preseason? It’s got to be a different feeling in the building.) – “Oh, yeah. You’re getting ready for game week. It’s always going to be a different feel week-in and week-out. Football season starts this week.”
(What are you most excited about?) – “I’m just excited for football season to be back. You prepare all offseason for this. OTAs, training camp and now everything as a team that you have been preparing for, you can go out there and display it, and take it one week at a time.”
(What have you noticed about QB Mac Jones in film study?) – “From film study on him; he does great things as a young player. Obviously he’s a rookie. The things he does, the passes he makes, you’d be like, ‘wow.’ Which is a good thing. He will definitely be a test for us this week and we are just going to have to take it one play at a time with him.”
(Is facing a rookie something that excites defenders or do you have to view him as another player?) – “To be honest, I don’t care if he was in Year 22. (laughter) I don’t care at all, I look at him the same. I don’t care how old he is. Us, as a defense, we don’t look at it like that either. We really don’t care his age. We just look at what he brings to the team. He’s a great competitor. He seems like a very smart guy; I don’t know him personally but from film. We are just going to have to take it one play at a time with him.”
(New England is known as a team that gets off to good starts in September year after year. From your time up there, what impact did that have on setting the tone for the season when you got off to good starts like that?) – “I think every team in the NFL tries to make sure that Week 1 they get off to a fast start. I think it’s a goal for all 32 teams in the NFL. Nobody’s goal is, ‘Okay man, we are going to start off 0-1 and go from there.’ Everyone wants to get a fast start. I think it’s a whole vibe around the NFL to get a fast start.”
(Do you have any pregame rituals or something that you do on game day that is unique to you?) – “Not really. I’m just kind of old fashioned. I just stretch, put my pants on one leg at a time, strap my helmet on. (laughter)”
(Dark grind coffee though, right? Espresso?) – “Oh, I do drink coffee before a game. I drink coffee. I’m old fashioned. ‘Coach, how much time we got? Alright, I’ll get ready when it’s 30 minutes (laughter).’”
(Black coffee or espresso?) – “I got to put a little cream in mine. I can’t drink it just dark.”
(Have you had Cuban coffee out here?) – “Nah. I just go to Dunkin (laughter), get a coffee or I wait until I come to the facility. Some days, on my off days, I be like, ‘Man, I can either go to Dunkin and pay $2 or I can drive all the way to the facility.’ So I just drive all the way up here and get my free coffee, holler at a couple players and then go to the crib. (laughter)”
(Will you have a halftime coffee?) – “Nah, I don’t do a halftime. I just be trying to wake myself up and stuff like that. I try to keep the same routine every game which is; put my pants on one leg at a time (laughter), strap my helmet, ‘Coach, how much time we got? Alright, bet. Let me know when I got 30 minutes.’ And I go from there.”
(No Starbucks?) – “Nah, I don’t get no Starbucks. It tastes different.”
Liam Eichenberg – September 8, 2021
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Wednesday, September 8, 2021
T Liam Eichenberg
(How are you feeling physically? I know you have worked your way back from a couple things, right?) – “I feel pretty good. I feel back to normal. I was just dealing with a strain, so nothing too serious. Obviously it sucked being out, not being out with my teammates and at the same time, it’s hot out there. It’s grueling. Not having another body out there to rotate is kind of tough, so I just kind of felt bad for the guys. But at the same time, I was working hard trying to get back to where I needed to be. It’s been awesome to be out here.”
(You took so many snaps in the period that we saw in the periods open to the media at right tackle and left guard. Yet I believe you had a 33-game sackless streak at Notre Dame at left tackle so if you ended up at any point this week or Week 7 having to play left tackle, what’s the comfort level at that position?) – “I kind of joke with Jesse (Davis) that I’m kind of going down his path. He’s played pretty much every position. But for me, I was at right tackle, left guard. But in college, that was in college, if I’m being honest. At the same time, it is kind of – being on the left side was a lot easier. Being at left guard, just kind of the movement pattern as you know. Regardless, wherever they want me and wherever the offensive line coach – ‘Coach Lem’ (Lemuel Jeanpierre) and ‘Coach Flo’ (Brian Flores) put me, I’ll play. Whatever it takes to help this team win. I’m just excited to practice, to be out there.”
(Have you received a single left tackle snap since training camp started?) – “I’ve taken reps at right tight tackle, left guard. I took a couple snaps at center. I took a couple at left tackle. It’s been pretty much everywhere. There’s plans in place I guess in case somebody goes down; then you’ve got to shift everyone around. So wherever they need me, wherever they want me to be.”
(When you switch around so many positions, do you feel it comes natural to you to then block at that new position or do you have to kind of think, hesitate, other foot, other arm?) – “I wouldn’t say ‘hesitate.’ I think it’s just different technique. I think playing tackle compared to guard is completely different. Center to tackle is different, so at the end of the day, you have to go back to your fundamentals, technique and your coaching. The good thing is that I’m in meetings when our coach is talking to the guards, too, and I’m listening. So just kind of that’s how it is.”
(What’s your confidence level with QB Tua Tagovailoa?) – “I back him. I believe in him as much as anybody on this team. The offensive line will always be there to support him and I listen to anything and everything he says. He’s our guy. If he tells me to run a mile, I’ll run a mile. I’d do anything for him, but I have a lot of respect for him. He’s a confident guy. He’s a great leader. I’m very fortunate to be on a team with him – a guy that cares about his teammates and also who cares about this team and winning.”
(What are your thoughts on WR Mack Hollins’ hair?) – “Mack (Hollins) looks great. I wish I had hair like that. I’m kind of balding, so… (laughter) But no it’s – I’m very fortunate to be down here on a great team.”
(In theory it’s easier just to back a couple questions here – easier to switch from left guard to left tackle than it is from right tackle to left tackle?) – “I think it’s hard regardless. One day you’re at a certain spot; another day at another. I think it kind of just comes back to getting used to that movement pattern. I think any offensive lineman would say that, but like I said before, tackle is different guard and guard is different from center. So just kind of those little things that a lot of people don’t notice or know about.”
(You were asked at the start how you’re feeling physically. I’ll ask you how are you feeling mentally now that you’re a few days away from probably something you’ve dreamed of for a long time – your NFL dream?) – “I think I’m just taking it one day at a time. I don’t know if I’ll be playing on Sunday if I’m being honest with you, so for me it’s just taking it one day at a time, one snap at a time and going out there and improving every single day. Like I said before, I was out for a little bit dealing with a strain; so I’m just so happy to be back, to be out there with my teammates, enjoying practice, having fun and working hard.”
Brian Flores – September 8, 2021
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Wednesday, September 8, 2021
Head Coach Brian Flores
(Is T Greg Little back?) – “Yes, he’ll be out at practice today.”
(Is T Liam Eichenberg a full go?) – “You’ll get the injury report later on, but we expect him to practice today.”
(Are there any players who are out that could be unexpected?) – “No.”
(Can you share with us the 2021 team captains?) – “Yes. Offensively (it is) Jesse Davis, Mack Hollins. Defensively (it is) Elandon Roberts, Jason McCourty. And in the kicking game, (Clayton) Fejedelem.”
(I’m curious what your game day routine is for yourself, especially on the road. Do you get up early, get a workout in? What do you go through to mentally get yourself ready?) – “It depends on a 1 o’clock versus 4 o’clock or night (game). I try to get a good night’s sleep. We prepare throughout the week so I feel pretty good going in. Get a good night’s sleep, no work out. Maybe watch a little bit of film, go through the game plan one more time, see if there is any thought that I may have, talk to the coordinators see if there is a thought they may have. There are a thousand things it could be. ‘Hey, what do you think about this player on this, or this route on this third down play, or this concept’ or something we could do defensively that may be a little bit different than what we practiced, which is a minor adjustment. That’s the word I was looking for was a minor adjustment that we could make.”
(Do you eat something or just something you make for your own…?) – “No. No rituals. I eat what I feel like – what’s in the café, what I feel like, what looks good. I don’t have any rituals.”
(Alabama now has three starting quarterbacks in the NFL that were all consecutive. You’re obviously facing one and you have one on your own team. That program’s ability to turn out high-level quarterbacks says what about the job they do there?) – “I don’t think it’s just quarterbacks. They have position players throughout – offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers, safeties, corners, receivers, tight ends. They do a good job there of recruiting and then coaching the players so they can have success at their level, which gives them an opportunity to play in this league, and they’ve had a lot of success in this league as well. Coach (Nick) Saban has done a great job. His staff has done a great job. They’ve done a great job recruiting and we’ve got a few ‘Bama players on our team. We’re pleased and happy with those players. They came to us with good fundamentals, good techniques, knowledge of the game, knowledge of situations and that’s a testament to the program they were at.”
(Out of your team captains, I thinks it fair to say that WR Mack Hollins is a little bit under the radar during training camp. What did you see from him in terms of leadership and why he’s worthy of being a team captain this year?) – “I think that’s probably under the radar from your vantage point, but in our locker room – that’s just something no one else would know. He brings energy on a daily basis. He works hard. It’s important to him. He plays in a variety of positions. He plays in the kicking game. I think he does a lot of good things for our team. His teammates elected him captain and I think they did that for a reason.”
(How pronounced is the difference between Week 1 scouting report versus Weeks 2 through Week 17? There is educated guesswork every week obviously, but particularly so in Week 1, I would think. Is it a significant difference in what you show guys?) – “Yeah, I mean in Week 1, that’s when you have the least amount of information. I think a lot of it is predicting, forecasting based off of the preseason, based on what players have done in the past, what coaches have done in the past. But coaches change. We all go through different concepts, different themes throughout the offseason – offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. (We all) implement a few new things. I think at the end of the day, Game 1 is about fundamentals, techniques, communication, tackling well – which is obviously a part of fundamentals – throwing, catching the ball, playing penalty free. I think those things, no matter what week, those are things that are standard operating procedures you have to have. But Week 1 from a scouting plays, schematic concept standpoint, yeah you have the least amount of information. Then you really rely on your rules, believe your rules, follow your rules and your fundamentals. I think if you do that, really in any game, it’s probably your best bet.”
(What would be your thoughts for QB Tua Tagovailoa relative to using his voice to stress his input on not only the offensive concepts, but the weekly game plan?) – “There is always a discussion from the quarterback, in the quarterback room, within the entire offense. We’re running a route, here are the depths. He’s talking to the receivers, he’s talking to the backs, he’s talking to the O-line. As far as input on the game plan, yeah there is definitely input from the quarterback and quarterback room. I think that input is also based on the players you’ve got around him. I talked to so and so and he wants to run it like this, or I talked to this guy and he thinks he can get open on this. I don’t know if it’s specifically Tua’s input. I think it’s Tua’s relationships, which turns into a team input on what we would do offensively, if that makes sense.”
(Is there a cut-off point where you have to prepare for this game without T Austin Jackson or TE Adam Shaheen, or is there still hope that either of those players can play?) – “Yeah. They are not here, so we are preparing as if they are not going to play. We’ll go through the process. If we get them back, we get them back; but as of right now we’re going through it as if they are not going to be there.”
(How do you balance going against a quarterback who’s playing in his first NFL game trying to confuse him with looks, make his mind go a million miles an hour versus just doing what you do defensively, knowing he’s inexperienced and maybe mistakes you try to force will maybe come naturally?) – “I’d like to think we’re always trying to disguise and create a situation where it’s not easy for the quarterback. I’d like to think that. I think that’s always part of the game plan. That player has the ball in his hands on every snap, so if you can disrupt that player, then you have a good chance of creating disruptive plays. I think we’re always trying to have an effect on the quarterback – rookie, veteran. I think that’s where it starts, I would say just at least from a pass game standpoint. But they’ve got a very good run game. I think we’re a little bit of ‘Mac Jones, Mac Jones, Mac Jones.’ He’s a good player, but they’ve got a lot of good players on that offense and defense and kicking game, so I think for us, we’re playing the Patriots. They’ve got a good offensive line. They’ve got good tight ends. They’ve got good receivers and I think there’s a lot to handle there. If we just put our emphasis on affecting the quarterback, then they’ll probably get us somewhere else. So there’s a lot here.”
(There’s a lot of talk of players making a big jump from Year 2 to Year 3. Where do you think your biggest jump has been now entering your third season in charge here?) – “I think I just take this one day at a time. I don’t really kind of look at it of where was I last year versus this year. Right now I’m just trying to help our guys have success, help our guys improve, help our guys get better today. I just don’t think that way. I don’t think about where I was a year ago from where I am now. I try to be present and I think that’s how I’ve kind of operated. I try to get our players to operate that way and I don’t think about next week or last week or last year. I just try to be in the moment.”
(You’ve obviously gone back to New England a few times now as head coach of the Dolphins and obviously you’re focused on the task at hand which is the game and your opponent, but are there moments when you’re there where you get a little more reflective – maybe even dare I say more – I don’t think I will dare say that because you’re always motivated – but is there anything special that even after the game, before the game, that stands out when you’re in new England on that other sideline?) – “This has happened twice and one time there was no fans, so it was a very different atmosphere and then the other one was two years ago and again, I’m not a guy who kind of thinks to what happened two years ago. I was there for a long time. I learned a lot there. There’s a lot of – obviously from Bill (Belichick), and I’m very fortunate to have been there. I enjoyed my time there and there’s still some people there that I have good relationships with and then I have a great deal of respect for their coaching staff, the people in that organization; but when we go there, we’re going there to compete. And there’s no – that’s what it is. I’ve said this before – they know that. Bill (Belichick) – everyone on his staff is there to compete and that’s what I learned there and I’ve taken that with me here and that’s my approach. So there’s no nostalgia. I know I used that word the other day, but I’m just going there to compete.”
(I noticed LB Jaelan Phillips listed third-team on the initial depth chart. What factors played into that decision?) – “I wouldn’t look too deep into the depth chart. Jaelan (Phillips) has worked really hard. We have so many different groupings. You can only put one group on the depth chart so I want to say it’s the base group. Actually I think it’s the nickel group. So a lot of groupings – we’ve got nickel, we’ve got dime, we’ve got base, we’ve got nine DBs in the game. We’ve got a lot of different groupings. He’s worked hard. I think we’ll find a way to get him some snaps, but we’re going to play the guys we feel give us the best chance to have success.”
(You want to play the best five on the offensive line. If T Liam Eichenberg were to rise into that for Week 1, your comfort level in playing him at a position where he hasn’t practiced all training camp, even though he does have college experience there?) – “We’re going to play the best five. Obviously part of that is making sure all five guys are comfortable playing the position that they’re playing and we have to feel comfortable with that, that the players are comfortable. That’s what we’ll do. Liam’s played a few different positions and I think that’s the case for a lot of guys on our line. Rob Hunt has played tackle. Jesse (Davis) has played tackle and guard – left side, right side. (Michael) Deiter has played guard. Rob Jones was a tackle in college. We like the versatility and that’s why we have it, for situations like this where we could potentially be down one guy; and if that’s the case, then the next guy’s got to kind of step up. I think we’ll be comfortable with whoever we put out there.”
(You’ve said many times that you tend to be present like the answer you stated a couple minutes ago. You just focus on what’s in front of you. Do you find that players generally have that same approach or is that something you kind of have to steer them toward?) – “I think we all naturally think about the past, think about the future. I think that’s just kind of general human nature or that’s been in conversations with people about this topic. What’s in front of me, what happened – I think it’s harder to stay present. I think there’s a discipline to trying to be in the moment. And yeah, I think that’s something we talk about a lot and I think in this game, if you’re thinking about what happened on a previous play, that could affect you on the next play. So we want them to be in the moment because good or bad, we’ve got to focus on the next play. ‘I just scored. I’m good.’ No, that’s not how we want to operate. Or ‘I just had a bad play. I’m no good.’ No, that’s not how we want to operate. I think that’s not just a football lesson. It’s really a life lesson and if you can apply to that to the other things in our lives, then I think we’d all be better for it. So just my thoughts, not that they mean much. (laughter)”
(What are your on-field expectations for QB Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday?) – “Good fundamentals, good technique, good communication, good decisions and that he has fun playing this game that he loves to play. That’s part of this, too. Nobody talks about that, but that’s part of this, too. I love coaching football. I’m going to be having fun on Sunday because I’m doing what I love to do, and hopefully you guys are all doing what you love to do – covering the team – and the players are doing what they love to do – playing the game. So that’s what I’ll tell him to do.”
Eric Studesville – September 7, 2021
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Tuesday, September 7, 2021
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Eric Studesville
(I know everything this week you’re focused solely on this opponent. But if you can just for a minute, from a human side, having an opportunity as co-offensive coordinator after a very distinguished career as an NFL assistant, is it meaningful to you personally?) – “Every game is. Every game is. I think it’s an honor to coach in this league. I’ve enjoyed it, I’m humbled by every opportunity I get to do it. Every game that I get to be a part of, regardless of what role that is, is am awesome thing.”
(Since it’s a good story this week, when Head Coach Brian Flores first told you about this opportunity, was there any joy at all? What sort of emotion was there to be a offensive coordinator?) – “I think the first emotion was you realize the increase in responsibility and the opportunity that you’re given, and you appreciate the fact that ‘Flo’ entrusted that in you. That was my first thoughts in there. It wasn’t anything other than, ‘man, there is a lot of work to get done. We got to get on this, George (Godsey) and I got to get on this pretty quick.’”
(What do you want this offense to be? What would be your hope of what this offense is known for? One that keeps defenses on their toes, one that is consistently productive? What in your words?) – “I would say yes to those things for sure. I think we want to be known as a tough, physical group that’s smart, that we’re going to execute at a high level whether that’s run or pass, protection and everything we do; and that we play with great effort in what we do. Everything is centered around what gives this team the best chance to win. It is an unselfish concept; but yet there is a high level of accountability and responsibility for each and every one of us involved in the offense. That’s what I hope people see when they look at us.”
(The offensive personnel that you and Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends George Godsey have been given, what do you like especially about this group of offensive players? You obviously have the speed element among others.) – “I think the biggest thing I like about this group is how they work. These guys come to work, they are unselfish, they are willing to take on other roles – smaller roles, larger roles, different roles, moving from positions, whatever that we feel is best. This entire group of offensive players is trying to come together and create something that gives us the best chance to win. I think that comes with an open mindset, it comes with a tremendous work ethic and then it comes with a commitment to each other saying, ‘if we all get in and do this, we’ve got a shot.”
(Who taught you to coach?) – “I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve been around a lot of great coaches. I’ve taken something from each and every one of them. I had an opportunity this summer to sit down and have breakfast with my very first coach, my little league coach Will Smith in Madison, but Bob Berezowitz and Bruce Bukowski at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Everywhere that I’ve gone, there have been coaches in my life at all different levels that have impacted me. I take something from each and every one of them.”
(What did you take from your little league coach?) – “A love of the game. I learned some things about him this summer that I didn’t know. His passion for building a little league program in Madison, Wisconsin is now over 50 years old and still running, he started when he was in high school and basically gave up his high school career to start the Southside Raider football program. To have been a part of that and knowing that in hindsight now is a really cool thing. I have a lot of respect for him for doing that.”
(Was this level always the goal for you or was there a point in life where you would’ve been content with being a high school coach, a college coach?) – “I had no idea I was going to get into coaching. I had no idea. I don’t want to say I stumbled into it, but I was looking for something, and this found me at the same time I needed to find it. It was a great fit for me.”
(What’s that story? What had you been doing at the time?) – “I was in graduate school at the University of Arizona, way over my head academically (laughter) and trying to figure out what I was going to do next. I just missed the game of football and Dick Tomey, who was the head coach at the time at the University of Arizona, who I have a tremendous amount of respect for, he gave me an opportunity to see if this is what I wanted to do. He opened up that door and it became more and more and I decided that this is what I wanted to do. Since 1991, that’s all I’ve wanted to do.”
(What non-football career had you been mulling in college?) – “In college, I wanted to be a college professor. My master’s degree is in exercise physiology. I wanted to do research on the body and how it affects sports and performance. I just went a different direction.”
(Your first regular season game as an offensive coordinator with George Godsey is against one of the best coaches of all time with a defensive … is that a challenge you relish this weekend?) – “Absolutely. I relish every opportunity we get to go out and play games. We spend a lot of time and effort getting our team ready to go and how we plan as a coaching staff and our preparation, any chance we get to go up against somebody else, that’s the competition. That’s why we all do this. You love the competition of going against somebody else, and particularly the best at doing something. If you don’t want to go against the best, than why are we doing this?”
(I know you’ve talked about obviously how your running backs all work very hard. Do you think this group of backs has been under-appreciated? I know they have to show it on the field this year, but in terms of their body of work and what they’ve shown? I say by the public, not by you as coaches.) – “There are opinions on lots of different things. I have a tremendous amount of respect for this group of running backs that I’m working with. I think they are going to determine how people view them based on how we perform going forward. That’s the opportunity we have to play games. That’s why we do it. They’re going to determine how people view who they are, what they are and how productive the are.”
(What does RB Myles Gaskin do best?) – “He works. I think it’s an under-appreciated skill. He comes and he works and he tries to improve and learn and take care of his body. Everything that he is doing as a professional, he does to the utmost, and I think it’s very impressive to be around him.”
(How smoothly has the process worked in the exhibition season – plays being called … the offense. Has it gone a lot better than you expected? About as well?) – “I think it’s gone well. I think it’s gone well. There are always things we can do better. We’re always evaluating that after a game and what we could do better and how we should streamline things or make something cleaner. We are always trying to improve that process. I think it’s gone well so far. We’re going to continue to find ways to make sure it goes well because that gives us a chance when it does.”
(I know all of the offensive assistants are involved in game planning as both you guys have said. How many times do you and George Godsey meet a week?) – “Every day. We get together every morning. It starts out every morning and then there are times throughout the day where he comes in my office, I come in his. We talk about things. We talk multiple times a day about many, many, different topics.”
(If you have a play that you think is going to work for this particular week, will you write it on your desk on a Post-it note, just to remember to talk to George Godsey about it later?) – “Sometimes you get up right from your desk and go in there and draw it on his board. Sometimes he comes in and draws it on my board. There are drawings everywhere on the boards, in the staff room and things like that. We’re constantly sharing ideas and talking through everything, bouncing ideas off of each other.”
(What is the process of figuring out this offense between you and George Godsey? If you see things differently, how are you able to work through that and come to an understanding?) – “It’s not just me and George, it’s the whole staff that does this. We’ve got good football coaches on the whole staff. We get input from everybody. It’s a collaborative effort in how we build it, how we talk about it and how we throw ideas out. We work through all of those ideas all the time. It’s not just George and I sitting there and kind of throwing things at the staff saying ‘this is how we’re going to do it.’ We talk about, ‘this is what we like in this area, what do you guys like, lets throw ideas out, and let’s talk about what’s best for us as an offense going forward.’”
(What has RB Myles Gaskin worked on, or what have you worked on with him over the last couple of years that’s really paid dividends? I know you’ve talked about his work ethic.) – “I think the biggest area that Myles has improved in is pass protection and route running. Those two areas from when he first got here – he could always run the ball and doing things well. I think he’s really put time and effort into becoming a better pass protector and a better receiver.”
(What does that entail?) – “Work, study, film time, understanding dogs and blitzes and things that are happening to us. Then seeing different routes and going in and actually working on catching balls from quarterbacks and doing things.”
George Godsey – September 7, 2021
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Tuesday, September 7, 2021
Co-Offensive Coordinator/TE Coach George Godsey
(I know all you’re thinking is on New England and this game but if you would be kind enough, just sort of a human question for you, getting your first opportunity to be a coordinator again since 2016. Is that meaningful to you at this point in your life?) – “I don’t think it has anything to do with this week to be honest with you. We’re just working towards the Patriots. Unfortunately I don’t have an answer for that one.”
(When you were a coordinator last time in the National Football League, how has that helped prepare you for what you are going to do on Sunday? What did you take away from your past experience as a coordinator?) – “Every day as a coach, I have taken something out of it. I think all of us have, so we try to use those experiences to help us for this week. It’s very hard to put everything from one year before into the current situation. There’s different players, different coaches, different teams and different opponents. The teams are the same but it’s a completely different roster. It’s very hard to make it apples to apples if you will.”
(Not giving away anything strategic, what do you, Head Coach Brian Flores and Co-Offensive Coordinator/RBs Coach Eric Studesville and all the offensive assistants want this offense to be known for?) – “Our job as an offense is to move the ball and score points. That’s the bottom line. We’ve got to be efficient, eliminate bad football and make plays when we need to.”
(I know WR Mack Hollins and others have said the offense is very similar to Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey’s system, how compelled have you and Co-Offensive Coordinator/RBs Coach Eric Studesville felt in terms of adding your own nuances to make it a little different and make it harder for opposing teams to prepare for?) – “There’s some new pieces and we are trying to make them all fit into a game plan. Everybody has a role whether it is normal downs, third down, red area, two-minute, four-minute – everybody has a role. We’re trying to maximize everybody’s abilities as much as possible.”
(How do you balance creativity and ingenuity with this is what we do best and we are going to do this a lot?) – “That’s the job. We’re trying to, like I said earlier, move the ball and get first downs. There’s a little bit of everything that has to play into that by series. We’re going to try to do what we need to do to move the ball and then at times, if we get the opportunity down there in the red area, try to punch it in and limit ourselves from field goals and score touchdowns.”
(Not only is this your first game as the Dolphins offensive coordinator, but you’re going up against an all-time great NFL coach with a defensive mind in Head Coach Bill Belichick. Does that make the experience even more interesting? Is it a challenge that you like going up against a coach of that quality?) – “This is a tough league and there’s good coaches, good players and every week is a challenge. This is the first challenge of many. We’re going to have to be – especially against a quality opponent, divisional opponent, good coaching staff, good players that we are going against so we are going to have to be sharp and execute right off the bat. Even though it is game one, that is our expectation.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores has said the team is preparing to go without T Austin Jackson on the COVID list. How do you feel about the depth at the offensive tackle position and the options including T Greg Little, T Liam Eichenberg and G/T Jesse Davis?) – “I think last year’s experience was helpful for everybody to realize that this could happen at any point. It could be a coach, it could be a quarterback, could be a running back, lineman or receiver. Everything is real and when that happens, it’s the next man up. That’s what the NFL is. We prepare all during training camp for situations whether it is injuries or in this case, a COVID situation, so that the next man is ready. It’s not a roster like college where you have so many different players and the next guy can just run in and you have unlimited depth. Those players, those pros know what their responsibility is. If it comes to that, then the next man up.”
(I know you don’t have WR William Fuller V this week, but how helpful overall do you think the speed you have on your offense at receiver and running back is going to help? Is that something that you absolutely have to maximize and exploit over the next 18 weeks?) – “Like I said earlier, as far as each player’s individual talent, we have some guys with some speed and hopefully we can get those guys the ball in space and make plays. They know that their responsibility isn’t just them getting the ball too. The more we can create plays that can change field position, the better off we will be. If we have to move the ball and we are not able to get explosive plays, then we are going to have to make sure we get first downs and continue to hold on to the ball.”
(There have been some really good quarterback rooms in college and pro, thinking USC, Michigan where Michigan had Brian Griese and Tom Brady and maybe even a baseball player. USC had Mark Sanchez and Matt Leinart. What do you think it would have been like as an offensive coach to have Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones and Jalen Hurts all in the same room?) – “It’s interesting to think about. I don’t spend too much time thinking about that just because we have a lot of things that we are working on right now. Obviously, those guys had good college careers and really excellent college careers. We’re moving on to this level and their roles now.”
(Who taught you the most about coaching?) – “When you coach this long, I think everybody has got a part of it, even the lowest level to the highest level. I’ve learned a lot from every coach I’ve worked for and I’m still learning a lot. Assistants, the other side of the ball, listening to special teams coaches. As a coach, you always try to take something from everyone.”
(Going back to Houston, you served as the offensive coordinator but I don’t get the impression that you called plays based on what I’ve read, correct or not correct?) – “Not correct, no.”
(Okay, so you did call plays. What does this opportunity provide for you to be an offensive coordinator?) – “I just really worry about the current day and what the job is. I don’t really look at the big picture like that. We all have responsibilities here and we work together as a unit. That’s how it’s always been wherever I’ve been, whether I have been an assistant or the coordinator level. We’ve got another game coming up here and this is an important one because it’s the start of the season and we want to get off to a good track. Right now, there’s really not much thought into that, to be honest with you.”
(With the Patriots, I’ve always looked at their scheme, before you guys started running them, as very complex because there is so much variation in terms of what they do. How much does it help that you actually face that type of defense and this is something that is familiar to you guys?) – “Yeah, they’re a divisional opponent so we study these division teams quite a bit. We try to familiarize ourselves with them as much as possible and knowing that they are the first game of the season, just like they know us, there is a lot of time to prepare. That part of it is an important part because we are going to face them again; but right now is the most important thing on all of our radars.”
(You talk a lot about execution. You’ve got teams who know what you’re playing or what you’re calling but it’s really about execution. Early season for offenses, they generally need to get a little flow and get a little rhythm. How do you feel like execution has been so far in terms of what you guys want to achieve offensively?) – “I think through training camp, you have some good days and you have some bad days. You’re going against a lot of the same guys for the majority of it. We had some good experiences with other teams but preseason is one thing and this is the regular season. We know that they are going to give us their best and we want to make sure it’s competitive and at our best every snap. We need to be on blocks when they are called and we are asked to do it and we need to find the open guy, deliver an accurate ball and catch the ball and get yards in the passing game. Running backs need to run hard. It’s not a complex formula but going back to your original point; we talk about technique, fundamentals and they’re well coached. There will be guys in position and it’s up to us to block them, get open, catch the football and deliver an accurate ball.’
(This question is for me because I was a big QB Joey Hamilton fan. Was there crossover between you two?) – “Yeah, we were roommates.”
(Could he have played in today’s NFL?) – “If you talk to him, yes. (laughter) I actually talked to him last night. We’re still close. I think he can play in any year. He’s accurate and a good leader, that’s for sure.”
(That was my introduction to football as a quarterback, so it’s like I fell in love with him as a quarterback and then I followed you as well because I was a Georgia Tech fan. I always thought he never really got a good shot. I know he played in the CFL for a long time.) – “Yeah, he played in the Arena League and played for the Bucs some. I love him. He’ll love that you asked about him. You know he’s on the radio in Atlanta?”
(No, where is he?) – “790, or I think it’s 680 now.”
(Okay, that’s good to know. Big fan, that was one of my first fanhood.) – “Yeah, he got some yards each game.”
(We’ve heard a little bit about the RPO. What in your view does that look like…) – “There’s a lot of advantages to it and then there’s some things offensively that we have to make sure that we keep that advantage. I think it’s a part of the game just like any form of offense. Whether it’s a two-back run or a one-back team or an empty team, motion team, it’s just another tool that an offense can use. That’s how we look at it. I don’t know if that really gives you a lot of clarity on that but certainly some things in all of those different phases that can cause defenses problems, that’s why they’re all used. It’s up to us an offense to be able to execute them.”
(I know when QB Tua Tagovailoa was coming out, there was a lot of talk about him because he was really good in that part of the game. I guess when you see that from him and go back to watching that, how much can you pull from that … how much can that realistically be part of your offense?) – “There’s a lot of variables there. He was pretty good at a lot of different phases in college, as far as executing for that team – play action, regular boot game. That was part of the reason we looked at him and liked him. This is obviously a jump in personnel and who’s playing and strategy. A lot of those variables play into that more than it does actually copying and pasting, if you will, a play. That’s a little bit harder to do.”
(Let me ask you about the tempo. You talked a lot about that last year … When you add tempo, what do you view as …) – “It’s another way to play the game. Even in, I’d say every offense I’ve been in at some point, you either use it for a certain amount of plays, you may use it for more in another game, you may not use it at all in another game. There’s a lot of factors in that. I would just put that in the same bucket as an empty play or an RPO or that type of bucket more than anything. It’s just another way to play the game. I don’t think you can live in any one way and be successful at this level. If you watch most of the teams, they have a lot of different modes that they play the game in offensively. You’re trying to create your offense to have as many as possible in case the defense takes away one. At some point, so much film and so many good coaches and players that you are going to have to have a variety with that.”
