Matt Skura – August 30, 2021 (Postgame)
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Sunday, August 29, 2021
Postgame – Cincinnati
C Matt Skura
(How did you feel out there today and just this whole training camp, can you tell us how it’s gone for you and where you stand on this team?) – “First, I’ve had a lot of fun. I think that’s the most important thing going into training camp, just being an older guy too. The offensive line room has been amazing with Jesse (Davis), (Michael) Deiter, ‘Lem’ (Offensive Line Coach Lemuel Jeanpierre), being able to bring in new guys and really being able to create that chemistry. Yeah, I felt like I’ve had a good preseason. I’m just kind of letting my tape speak for itself and then just seeing whatever happens happens.”
(You’ve been a starter in this league and you’ve been a lot with the second team. How does a guy like you deal with that and how do you push forward?) – “I mean a lot of that is just competing with myself and making sure that I’m prepared every day. Honestly I just take it day-by-day. I know that’s kind of the catch phrase for everything but really you just never know. You’re one play away from being in the starter spot. That’s what I’ve learned over my career. I’ve just got to stay patient and work hard.”
(The team traded for a center just yesterday. What was your reaction?) – “Yeah, I saw that right before getting on the plane. Honestly I just kind of put it to the back of my mind. I was like I’ve got to get ready for the Cincy game. I’ve got to focus on that. I can’t be giving that any energy because I just wanted to put my energy towards the game. I had that to focus on. Yeah, I didn’t really think about it too much.”
(And about today’s game, QB Reid Sinnett and his performance and you being the center for him a lot of the time, what did you see out of him?) – “Just being a competitor. That was the one thing that all of us are; but I think Reid really wanted to make his stamp, especially getting the start today, getting to play the whole game and being able to fight the way he did. He took a really hard hit on that touchdown pass and then came back and converted the two-point conversion, which was awesome to see. Just seeing everyone rally around him and the rest of the guys, to finish the preseason on a win is huge. Yeah, I think we’re all really happy for Reid.”
(You spent a couple of years in Baltimore with a team that was able to advance in the playoffs and be successful. Being here with a younger team in Miami who is trying to get to that level, what can you say about the guys in the room and kind of their mental as they approach the regular season?) – “Yeah, obviously that’s the goal. You want to keep stacking games, win games, get to the playoffs and then win a Super Bowl. Being in those situations before, I think I can provide a lot of perspective in that way, especially for a group that is younger and is trying to figure out how to get there. Luckily I’ve been around a lot of guys in my career who have won Super Bowls and big in the big championship games, and just taking those little tidbits from them and giving them to the younger guys and the rest of the guys in the room. So yeah, I’m just trying to give them my experience. I think that really goes a long way.”
(Can you talk a little bit about what you’ve seen from C/G Michael Deiter?) – “Yeah, he’s had a great camp. It’s been great to kind of learn from each other, bounce ideas off each other. It’s been great.”
Jamal Perry – August 29 (Postgame)
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Sunday, August 29, 2021
Postgame – Cincinnati
CB Jamal Perry
(You can’t tell people these games don’t matter judging from the reaction afterwards, right?) – “I feel like these games definitely count, especially this last game for players that don’t get to play as much in the previous games. This means a lot to them and also it means a lot to the coaches just so they can see these guys that haven’t gotten as many reps in a game and just see them go out there and compete.”
(What do you say about the way the defense performed overall? We’re wrapping up the preseason and a lot of backups played. How did you guys feel?) – “I think we feel great. Preparation – we prepared good and had great practices during the week. We felt good about the outcome.”
(You had a near interception. What did you see on the play and almost coming up with it?) – “I just saw the guy run over. I looked at him between – I saw him through the quarterback and once he threw it, I kind of thought he was going to tip it, but he didn’t and it just went right through my arms. I was sick, though.”
(Obviously Tuesday is a big day for a lot of guys. Where do you think you stand on this team and is it stressful? What are the emotions…) – “It’s not stressful to me at least because I know I left it all out there on the field and it’s up to them to make the decisions. It’s tough decisions they have to make but it’s the nature of the business.”
Chris Myarick – August 29, 2021 (Postgame)
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Sunday, August 29, 2021
Postgame – Cincinnati
TE Chris Myarick
(Can you just kind of break down that last play? Just where were you at the start of the play? Obviously there were a lot of moving parts but what did you see from your vantage point?) – “Fourth-and-15 I think it was. We needed a big conversion there. It kind of just turned into a broken scramble play. I just followed my rules, took it deep, Reid (Sinnett) gave me a shot and I just came down with it.”
(What did it feel like to have all of the starters and everyone kind of vibing? This is a game where they aren’t playing and it may not mean much for them, but for guys competing for roster spots, what was it like to have that?) – “It was great. I think this game did mean a lot for those guys. They were supporting this team. We’ve been through a long camp all together. I think it was good for them to watch and show us support. It was a great feeling.”
(When you see that ball in the air, a big tight end like you, what are your thoughts when you see that?) – “It seemed to be in slow motion. Like I said, I just followed my rules on a broken play and he gave me a shot and I was able to come down with it.”
(Did you think the ball was coming to you? Because WR Kirk Merritt was in that area too.) – “I didn’t even see Kirk. I turned and was looking backwards. I just saw it and grabbed it.”
(Did you know if you came down inbounds?) – “I knew I caught it. I kind of was just waiting for the ref to give the sign and then I was good.”
Gerrid Doaks – August 29, 2021 (Postgame)
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Sunday, August 29, 2021
Postgame – Cincinnati
RB Gerrid Doaks
(How did it feel to have a big game back in the city where you played your college ball?) – “It felt great. Coming from Cincinnati and being able to be a big playmaker there, it just felt good to come back to the city and do what I do.”
(You’re from Indianapolis right?) – “Yeah, I’m from Indianapolis.”
(Were you able to have some family come?) – “Yeah. Only an hour and a half so they drove down – my mom, stepdad and all of them. It was good.”
(Being so involved, obviously it’s the final preseason game and cuts are coming on Tuesday. Just being so involved in the offense – 16 carries you had.) – “Yeah. It feels good to get an opportunity to get heavily involved in the game. I’m just controlling what I can control and taking it from there.”
(Where do you think you stand right now as Tuesday looms?) – “I’m not sure. Whatever – I can only control what I can control. But I feel like I did good. I feel like I had a pretty good camp. I’ll just leave it at that.”
Reid Sinnett – August 27, 2021
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Friday, August 27, 2021
QB Reid Sinnett
(What’s it like to know you’re going to get a lot of action on Sunday?) – “It’s exciting. That’s why we play the position. I’ve gotten a lot of mental reps and a chance to watch and get coached through Tua (Tagovailoa) and Jacoby (Brissett), but we all play this game to be out on the field. It’s not a position to stand and watch and it’s always exciting to be out there and be the one that’s the center of the offense and making sure that we can operate and get a chance to improve our game which is the best part about playing quarterback.”
(Describe the feeling of throwing that touchdown pass at the end of the Atlanta game.) – “It was great. Kirk (Merritt) is one of my good friends and we spent a lot of time working together this summer and it’s great to throw a touchdown pass to somebody that you’re connected to and our receiver room is special. So it’s a great chance to get to work with those guys and it always feels good to score a touchdown, but any way I can contribute and help us win is a good feeling and it helped us win the ballgame so I can’t complain about that.”
(Do you feel it’s fair that you and WR Kirk Merritt have developed this chemistry from practice squad reps to carried over now?) – “Of course it’s fair. He worked his butt off this offseason and it’s showing up on the field right now. But we spent a lot of time this offseason. He was here and I was here. Jacoby (Brissett) gives me a hard time. He’s gotten a lot of reps with Kirk lately so I’m giving him a hard time about taking my guys away. (laughter) But it’s been really fun for me to watch the things that I know he worked on and the things that he put in this offseason and how much it’s translating into what he’s putting on on the field. That’s always a good feeling as a teammate and as a close friend.”
(What do you like most about this offense that you all have instituted the last couple months?) – “I like how we’re trying to scheme up what we’re doing for each personnel and how we’re putting it together with how much talent we have around on the field. There’s always nuances to every offense and so I’m having fun kind of discovering what we’re trying to accomplish with certain things and having more tools in our belt to make checks at the line of scrimmage and make sure we’re in the right play. And that’s what’s fun for me as a quarterback, is how can we win the snap before the ball is even snapped. Can we win the pre-snap and make sure we’re in the right play? That’s what I think is so fun about playing this position.”
(What’s the biggest thing you’ve improved on these last few months?) – “I think it’s the same thing with the offense. You add more tools to what you’re able to do and I feel good. I did a good job this offseason of taking care of my nutrition and sleep and all those things and I’ve seen it translate to my game and so I feel a little bit more athletic and the ball is coming out of my hand a little bit easier. But like I said, it’s about improving within the offense and how we can get ourselves in the best play to let those guys – like I said, Kirk (Merritt) and Malcolm (Perry) make plays when they’re in space and that’s what they’re good at.”
(Do you feel like you have accomplished your goals for the preseason? Obviously you have one more game to go. Is there anything in particular also that you would like to see get better last game?) – “I had some specific goals and I think I’ve met them so far, but I think going into this last preseason game, it’s about how can we help the team win and operationally can we be consistent and smooth. And that’s the challenge for me, is I think there’s some things that we can do offensively that we’re not going to do because of who’s out there and so we’re going to do what’s best for the group. That’s a part of the game that is fun and when you go out in these preseason games, there’s not as much shifting and motioning and things like that so we’re making sure that our guys are ready to play.”
(What do you envision for your ideal game on Sunday in Cincinnati?) – “Obviously you want to win so I think if we can move the ball and give ourselves a chance to score some points, that’s all you can ask for as a quarterback. So making sure that our guys are ready to play and we move the ball down the field, that’s what you can ask for from an offense. And points come with that. Obviously there’s ebbs and flows with the game, but like I said, just trying to move the football.”
(So QB Jacoby Brissett really teased you about taking WR Kirk Merritt?) – “(laughter) A little bit. There’s different guys that are in those groups and as they start to shift, you know. It’s always fun – the back-and-forth with our quarterback room.”
(What have you learned I guess from Quarterbacks Coach Charlie Frye since he’s been in the room with you?) – “It’s awesome to have the experience of a former quarterback because there’s so many things that you get coached on or you hear sometimes and it’s hard as a quarterback because there’s people in your way or you’re working on something else so a lot of our conversations are, ‘What was the thought process here?’ or ‘Why did your eyes get here?’ and things like that rather than saying, ‘You missed the open guy.’ So that’s great from a quarterback’s perspective of the understanding that it’s difficult, that it’s a hard position to play. So Charlie (Frye) has that understanding from being a quarterback and that definitely translates to how he coaches and it’s been really, really beneficial for us. And it helps with how we’re collaborative as a group with Tua (Tagovailoa), Jacoby (Brissett), Charlie and I and Jordan Salkin. We have great conversations about what we’re trying to accomplish as an offense and making sure that the details are hashed out how we want them to be.”
(As someone who works with all position groups on the offense, what’s the impression of the other emotions for bubble guys going into the final preseason game?) – “There’s always excitement when you get to go out and play. So these guys that aren’t sure through the first couple preseason games if they’re going to play; now they know they’re going to get an opportunity to go out and showcase what they’ve improved upon and that’s always a challenge as a quarterback to make sure that we’re focused on what we’re trying to do. There’s always excitement when you get to go out and play. You feel the excitement at practice even every day when guys are getting a chance to play the game they love.”
(Can you tell us a little bit more? You mentioned earlier about nutrition, training and how things have evolved over the years. Can you tell us a little bit more about how much they’ve evolved and how they have evolved for you?) – “I went to the University of San Diego and it’s a small 1-AA school. My summers were spent – I was working and I was paying to go to school, so I was eating on a budget a lot of the time. Chicken and rice only goes so far sometimes, so I try to take advantage of all the resources we’re getting at this NFL level. (Head Strength & Conditioning Coach) Dave Puloka and John Parenti, our nutritionist, they’ve done a great job of helping me find things that work for me. It was a challenge at USD because of the resources; but here, they give us every opportunity to be successful so I’m trying to take advantage of all of that. So having their support and their help and coming through that process was a leaps and bounds change from what I’ve been through in the past and I think it’s really benefitted me.”
(You mentioned earlier maybe having more flexibility in this offense to be able to do something at the line. Where is your comfort level in doing that and going into the game this week or previous weeks?) – “There’s certain things that we’re not going to do. There’s always that level of what’s being evaluated at the preseason level so we’re going to let guys operate and let them show what they can do. But like I said, there’s always tools in our belt as a quarterback that you go out there and you can find an advantage or take advantage of a certain player and things like that. So that’s something that I think that I can bring to the table as a player. I think that’s something that I’m good at and so where I lack in other areas, I think that’s something I can make up for so I’m always trying to study and find ways from other quarterbacks and as well as from Tua and Jacoby of what are the things I can do to help my own game.”
(Were you paying to go to school all the way through and what’s it like to go from paying to play and go to school essentially, but now you get paid to play?) – “Yeah it’s amazing. I had a conversation yesterday. I still have student loans. I was paying to play football at the University of San Diego and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. But I was working at Lululemon while I was playing my senior year of football. So I’d get done with – I only had one class so there were certain days of the week where I would get done with practice and go to work because I had to help pay for some of the stuff. I joked hopefully I can get a raise and pay off some of my student loans, but it’s amazing that I get paid to come out here every day and go to practice and get to sit in these meetings with some of these guys and I think it’s been a great measuring stick for what I got accomplished at USD; and again, there’s so much room for improvement in seeing all these guys every day. It’s a great chance for me to continue to grow and be a better player.”
(With work and school and football and everything were you short on sleep all the time?) – “No, that was something that I took very seriously so I had to make some sacrifices in other aspects of my life, but school and football were always the priority. Work was something that I had to do, but school and football were always something that I really enjoyed. So I made a lot of sacrifices to take advantage of that.”
Patrick Laird – August 27, 2021
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Friday, August 27, 2021
RB Patrick Laird
(Obviously you’ve been through this whole process before. Now that you’re a veteran, what’s it like the be a ‘bubble guy’ or a player that has to wait out these decisions?) – “It’s just what I’ve been used to. I was a walk-on in college, kind of a very similar situation as an undrafted guy. I knew since I tried out for the NFL that I was probably going to have to fight for a spot every year and that’s the way I like it. It’s challenging but it’s one of the best job interviews you can be a part of. It’s a long job interview process; but I like it, I enjoy it and I’m still loving football. I’m just going to focus on playing the best football I can and hopefully help the Dolphins win this year.”
(Did you get any insight from Running Backs Coach Eric Studesville or Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coach Danny Crossman about where you are in things or do you let it fall where it may?) – “I think the general idea with this coaching staff or the advice they give is don’t be that guy that counts roster spots, so I don’t do that. I just get the reps I do, do as well as I can and let the chips fall where they may.”
(Does this time of year get easier the longer you are in the league?) – “I’d say it’s less stressful because you know how everything goes, what it takes, what an NFL game is like, how long the preseason is. Obviously last year was different but I remember my rookie season. You know what the coaches are looking for and you know what you need to do on the field to earn their trust. In that aspect, that part is easier but at the end of the day it’s still always a challenge. There’s a lot of good NFL players on this team and around the league. You’re always competing against everyone.”
(You said, ‘fighting for a roster spot, that’s the way I like it.’ I mean surly you don’t like this better than absolutely knowing you’re locked in on the roster, right?) – “I feel like everyone has to earn their keep every year. Obviously, there’s the big contract guys that have a higher probability of making the team. Everyone still has to make the team every year. Whether I like it or not, that’s the way the system is set up. I understand that’s how it is. I’m not going to wish that the coaches guarantee me a spot because I understand no one really has a guaranteed spot at the end of the day.”
(How would you best describe what the emotions are like for a lot of the guys going through this for the first time right now?) – “I think for rookies it’s probably stressful. We have a good group of young guys right now and the rookies have looked really good. I don’t think I can give them much advice. They’re doing really well. I think they understand too that it’s a challenge. They’re doing a good job.”
(Going into the last game, is there anything different around this week in the locker room, talking with guys knowing that you are fighting for spots?) – “I know ‘Coach Flo’ (Brian Flores) mentioned that some of the starters are going to be held out and its going to be the younger guys playing more. Maybe the guys that aren’t playing, they’re going to spend more time on recovery this weekend? But we have a good group of guys in the locker room that are just supportive. They know the guys that are going to play more this weekend and since we have a good group of guys, they’re always supporting us.”
(Do you notice any difference in the mood of the team? I don’t know if confidence or swagger is the right word based on where you are after the big jump that you took from 2019 to 2020, and now heading into this year with outside expectations being a lot higher than they were in the past two years?) – “I’d say that we still have a young team but we have an older team that’s kind of been around the league for a little while. I remember my rookie season, it felt like there were a lot of young guys on the team every week competing for spots, bringing guys in. I’d say now I think there is more continuity. It’s hard to judge the overall, like you said, confidence of the team; but I think there’s just guys that we all know each other better. That’s always going to build and create more chemistry.”
(You mentioned in that year, you and RB Myles Gaskin came in that year. Then RB Salvon Ahmed came in a little later. How is it that running back room it kind of feels like you all grew up together?) – “I actually trained with Myles before the draft and everything up in Seattle. I trained with him so we were friends before we even came on the team together. Salvon was there. He was still in college but he trained at the same gym. I’ve known those guys for a while. Those two are just grinders. Everyone in the running back room are hard-working guys. It’s been fun. We’re always texting each other, sending each other videos of workouts and stuff that we should try. It’s fun playing with those two.”
(What are your impressions of the rookie, RB Gerrid Doaks?) – “Like I said, all the rookies are good. I think he’s done a really good job of transitioning into the NFL. I think you guys have seen the clips. He runs hard. Gerrid is a good running back.”
(How different is what you’re asked to do in this new offense as a back compared to last year?) – “I think for me, in my role, it’s been similar. Every offense is going to have it’s nuances and things that make it different. At the end of the day, you are just trying to move the ball down the field. As a running back, there’s different ways you can do that; you can help block in pass protection, you can run the ball or you can catch it. At the end of the day, I’m doing all three of those things. I was doing that last year and will hopefully continue to do that this year.”
(I want to know, I know you are not done playing any time soon, but what is next for you after your playing days are over? What do you want to do?) – “Like you said, I love this game and I’m going to try and play it as long as I can. Nothing is set in stone but there are tons of things I’m interested in. I studied business, studied political science at (Cal) Berkeley. There’s so many things I’m interested in but maybe somewhere in the business world. We’ll see.”
(Do your teammates still call you the accountant?) – “The intern? (laughter) Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, the intern comes up a little bit. I was actually checking out at Chipotle a couple weeks ago and the guy looks at me and goes, ‘Are you the intern?’ (laughter) Right then I was like I want to text Fitz (Ryan Fitzpatrick) that I’m mad that he told the media about that. It’s a fun nickname and some people still call me that. I always have to explain the story to some of the new guys around the facility how I got that name.”
(What did you tell the guy at Chipotle?) – “At first, I was confused because I was like ‘I’m not an intern here,’ thinking he was talking about at Chipotle (laughter). Then I realized he was talking about, he’s like, ‘I’m a fan of the Dolphins,’ and then it kind of clicked. But yeah, I just introduced myself and said hello. I don’t even know if he knew my real name. He just knew me as the intern (laughter).”
Adam Butler – August 27, 2021
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Friday, August 27, 2021
DL Adam Butler
(I’m doing a column on DT Raekwon Davis. Obviously you play a similar position, not the same as nose tackle. But from a height standpoint, obviously the low man wins in your line of work, correct? How does 6-foot-7 impact you?) – “I would consider Raekwon one of the oversized players in the league. Normally you see nose guards that are shorter, stockier, stronger guys. Then you get guys like Trent Brown and Raekwon that are just unbelievably big. I guess the laws of physics just come into play at that point. Leverage is very important, but mass moves mass. If you’re just a massive guy, it works to his favor.”
(How is camp going? We see a lot of one-on-one drills and you seem to be winning a lot of those. How is it going for you?) – “I think we’ve had a pretty good start. We’re not done yet. We’re still working. I’m pleased with what I’ve done so far, but I’m definitely not content. I come out every day trying to do the right thing and trying to get on board with what the coaches want me to do and everything. That’s just my mindset every day.”
(For a guy that’s not content, how do you approach the final preseason game?) – “Just like every other game. I’m going to prepare. If my number is called, it’s called; if it’s not, it’s not.”
(Have you trash talked to any of the guys in Boston yet?) – “Nah. I’m not even thinking that far. I’m not even thinking that far. One day at a time.”
(In terms of the work that you’ve put in, you’re known as a pass-rushing defensive lineman. What does it take in that scheme to be impactful getting to the quarterback?) – “Every year, the best team wins. When I rush, I’m thinking about the team before I’m thinking about myself. I would consider myself a veteran now at this point. I have my little moves and little things that I’ve done throughout the league, and when I have a chance to execute them, I execute them. But overall, if I need to be in a certain place, or if they need me to be somewhere on a given rush, I’m going to do my best to be in the right position.”
(Throughout the league, there has been more sharing of pass-rushing … there’s a camp and whatnot. How much do you share or try to get techniques from other d-linemen across the league?) – “I just learned to run my own race. Like Raekwon (Davis) for example, he has things that he’s good at, and then somebody like Aaron Donald has things that he’s good at. Robert Quinn, things that he’s good at. Everybody – they just bring their own sauce to the table. Some people can do what other people can do. I can probably do some other things, but I try to focus on my own self. I definitely try to learn. I did a camp with Pete Jenkins, one of the most respected D-line coaches in the game. I definitely learned a lot from him doing that this offseason. I’m not above learning new things, but I definitely try to focus on what I’m good at and just try to stay in my lane.”
(What’s your favorite move?) – “I can’t say that, come on now. (laughter) I know you’ve got to ask. I can’t say that. (laughter)”
(How different is Head Coach Brian Flores now as a head coach from when he was a position coach. I know he wasn’t directly your position coach in New England, but he was there.) – “I can honestly say that I have the same respect for him now – definitely a little bit more. He’s the head coach, so you’ve got to put a little bit more respect on it. I’ve always respected ‘Coach Flo.’ I’ve always trusted him. He’s just always been a great guy. Playing for him – when I talk to him it seems like he believes in me. I’m not saying that any of the other coaches that I have or had didn’t; but just being around him, it’s encouraging to be around somebody who is a leader and speaks to you in a way that feels welcoming.”
Trill Williams – August 27, 2021
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Friday, August 27, 2021
CB Trill Williams
(How would you describe the experience of your first NFL training camp?) – “The first word that comes to mind I would say is very different. Coming out of college, it’s really eye-opening because you’ve got guys like Byron (Jones) and ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) out there and they’re executing how they would in a game in practice and their speed and me coming up behind them, it’s like I got to match their intensity every play. It’s different in a good way.”
(How would you describe the emotions when you’re waived by the Saints. The word out there was they were looking to bring you back and then the Dolphins came in and got you.) – “That process was crazy because I get there and they put me on waivers and I was only there for three days at the time. Then that Monday, I’m here. God works in mysterious ways and he put me where I’m supposed to be and I’m supposed to be here. I can only control what I can control. I’m just blessed to be here.”
(I know I haven’t had an opportunity to talk to you but you could have played or stayed at Syracuse. Why did you come out?) – “I felt like that was the best decision for me and my family. Obviously I talked to my coaches about it and they gave me good feedback. I had an ankle injury that made me leave early as well. I had to go get surgery on that. My health was my main priority and I had to go get healthy. I came back and now I’m here. I think I made the best decision for myself.”
(How did you wind up with the jersey number that you have?) – “(laughter) So I came late so by the time I got to Miami, every number from 1 to 50 was literally taken. So the next number was 51. I still get jokes about it now by my teammates and when I play other teams. They look at me like, ‘why is a linebacker covering a receiver out here?’ (laughter) So hopefully quarterbacks see me out there one day and be like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s a linebacker, let me try him,’ and then I go make a play on the ball and prove them wrong.”
(So ideally if you make the roster, I’m guessing you would want to switch numbers?) – “Oh yeah, for sure. (laughter) That’s the first thing.”
(Do you have a chip on your shoulder playing in No. 51 to play for a chance to get another number?) – “There’s a chip on my shoulder every time I step on the field. No matter the number, I’m going to play football. At the end of the day, that’s what it is – football. I could care less about the number, for real.”
(A couple of days ago, Head Coach Brian Flores said that it’s fair to say there’s two, three, maybe four spots available. Have you gotten any insight from coaches in terms of what they want to see from you, whether it’s defensively or special teams?) – “Honestly, I think they just want to see me go out there and play football how I’ve been doing and what they saw on film from me coming out of college. Like I said, I can only play football and control what I can control. I’m going to go out there and give it everything I’ve got every time I go out there.”
(I know you’ve played a lot of corner while you’re here, but you played a lot of safety back in college. Where is your comfort on corner versus safety?) – “I really don’t have a preference on either. I’m an athlete so I’ll go out there and play wherever I’ve got to be. Whatever the team needs me to play, that’s what I’ll play. But I’m glad that I got a couple of snaps at corner and I’ve moved around, so I’m a really versatile athlete. Like I said, whatever the team needs me to play, that’s where I’ll be at.”
(You have a unique first name. Is there a story behind it that you might want to share?) – “So most people don’t know my real name is Atrilleon. Within that name is Trill, so when I was younger, every time I heard Atrilleon, I was always in trouble by my mom. So every time I hear that name, I get flashbacks. But my dad had a dream one day and he said that was my name in his dream and that’s what they named me. You’ve got to call him about that one.”
(When did you start going by Trill?) – “I’ve been going by Trill as long as I can remember. It started when I was playing baseball and then my dad comes up with nicknames all the time and he called me Trill one day and that just stuck.”
(Does mom still call you Atrilleon?) – “(laughter) When I hear it, I get flashbacks. I’ll be like, ‘what did I do?’”
(Has Head Coach Brian Flores called you Atrilleon?) – “Nah. (laughter) I don’t want to make him mad when it gets to that point.”
(So how do you feel about your performance in training camp?) – “I feel like I went out there and did everything I could and I put my best foot forward trying to make this team. It’s really hard. We’ve got a lot of great DBs on this team. All I can do is just go out there and give it my all. That’s the only thing I can do.”
(What’s the biggest thing you’ve picked up on this whole training camp?) – “There’s a saying that our DB coach says. He always says, ‘Stay green,’ and that means to always accept learning, no matter how old or young you are. I see it with Byron (Jones) and ‘X’ (Xavien Howard). They’re All-Pro guys and to this day, they still want to learn new things; and that pushes me to learn new things as well.”
