Brian Flores – December 17, 2020
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Thursday, December 17, 2020
Head Coach Brian Flores
(What is the hardest part of your job? One, this week; two, this year?) – “Media. (laughter)”
(Seriously.) – “I love my job. I get an opportunity to work with a lot of people within this organization. Obviously the players, our coaching staff and also our support staff. I think from operations and Scott Bullis to equipment with Joe Cimino to medical with Kyle Johnston and Troy (Maurer) to our doctors, obviously (General Manager) Chris (Grier) and (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore) and (Assistant General Manager) Marvin (Allen) in personnel and Adam Engroff and that group. I don’t think of any of it as – every day is a challenge in this league, but I kind of embrace it and enjoy it. I don’t really think of it as ‘the hardest things about…’ I would say the hardest part of my job is I don’t get to spend as much time with my wife and kids as I would like to, but I also try to get as much time with them as possible. That’s the honest answer there. The real honest answer is media is the hardest part. (laughter)”
(I wanted to ask you if you think TE Mike Gesicki has a chance to play again, but the media thing does interest me. Can you tell me a little bit more about what you think the role of the media is and all that?) – “I have a lot of respect for everything you guys do. I think you guys give voice from our team to our fans and I think that’s very important. I guess I’m busting chops a little bit, but I really have an appreciation for what you guys do. I know it’s not easy and I think you guys do a great job. What was the other part of your question? Mike Gesicki? He is working really hard. Obviously it was a tough injury last week, so he’s getting his treatment, he’s doing his rehab and we’ll see where it goes.”
(I wanted to ask you about your time in New England and I was curious, what was more beneficial for you there? Where did you learn more – on team-building and leadership or X’s and O’s? What part of that time you spent in New England was more formative for you?) – “I learned so much. I started in personnel. Scott Pioli hired me there as a scouting assistant. Those four years in personnel were very valuable. There are a lot of guys in that department who have gone on and done well for themselves – Jon Robinson, Thomas Dimitroff, Matt Russell, Marvin Allen was on the staff there when I was there. Lionel Vital. So I learned a lot from that group. Then going into coaching, working on special teams with Brad Seely who just recently retired and Scott O’Brien who retired a few years ago as well in the kicking game. Going over to offense, working with Bill O’Brien. When I went over to defense, obviously working with Bill (Belichick), Matt Patricia, obviously Josh Boyer, Pat Graham. A lot of really good coaches on both sides of the ball. I would say one of the guys who I learned as much about coaching as anyone is Dante Scarnecchia. I know he’s the o-line coach over there, but just the relationships he built with players and how demanding he was. I think I’ve tried to take a lot of what he did because he had a lot of success. Then just team building and being around a lot of very good players, very good coaches. I had some great experiences there.”
(I know you’re fond of going down memory lane – being sarcastic here – but I wanted to ask you, when you were on the scouting side of things – the time you spent with Scott Pioli – what made you want to go into coaching or was that always the intent? And what did you learn and take from the scouting side?) – “I started wanting to be in personnel and then I just felt I could have a little bit more impact on the game, so that was the reason behind trying to get into coaching. I felt like I could build relationships with players and it’s hard to do that on the personnel side. You just don’t have as much interaction with them, so I just wanted to make more of an impact; and I’m not saying there isn’t an impact on the personnel side, there’s just more interaction from the coaching side.”
(It’s getting towards the end of the year and you guys have had some success. I’m curious what your perspective is if you get questions from your assistants about wanting to interview for a different job for a different team as you get towards the offseason, whether it be coordinator or head coach or even in the personnel department? What’s your view on that and how you handle those situations?) – “I think if those opportunities present themselves, I think they should go for it if it’s something that they’re interested in. I’ll help them any way I can. I’ve been on a few interviews and can offer some advice. We’ve got a lot of qualified people on this staff, so that wouldn’t shock me at all and I would be encouraged. We all have goals and I’m not in the business of stopping people from getting the things they want – players, coaches. That’s part of the reason why they’re here; but another part of the reason why they’re here is because they’re team-first and I think people will see that – hopefully people see that – and I would say that’s part of the reason why if someone were to want to interview our guys, that’d be part of it. That’s part of this business. If somebody comes calling for one of you guys, it’s the same thing. You’d hope that your boss would be encouraging and be helpful in that instance. I would think. I don’t know. Maybe I’m different than you.”
(I wanted to ask you, what makes Patriots WR Julian Edelman so dangerous and how does the game change when he’s on the field?) – “Julian (Edelman) is smart, instinctive, tough, good hands, good run after catch, understands the game offensively and in the kicking game and he’s got a few defensive snaps under his belt, too. He’s a very good player and I think just his toughness, his competitiveness; you feel that on the field.”
(How encouraged were you yesterday that you were able to get WR DeVante Parker and WR Jakeem Grant and I think G Ereck Flowers and LB Kyle Van Noy and LB Elandon Roberts back? A lot of these guys who have been dealing with something were able to practice yesterday. How encouraged were you by they came through it?) – ”I was encouraged. It was good to see all those guys out there working to get back as soon as they can. Encouraged, but not surprised. I think we’ve got a lot of guys who want to be out there, who want to be with their teammates, who want to help this team as best they can. We’ll see how it goes. We’ve still got a few days before kickoff. Hopefully we’ll get all those guys.”
(I wanted to ask about your defense is obviously from the same family of defenses as the Patriots scheme. How does that help QB Tua Tagovailoa and what are some things that he needs to do to fine-tune his preparation for that defense on Sunday?) – “I think just go through his normal routine and preparation – watching the film, doing a good job in meetings, doing a good job in walkthrough, doing a good job in practice, learning over the course of the week, getting more familiar with the things that they do and just try to execute. At the end of the day, that’s what it boils down to, and it’s not just Tua; it’s the o-line, the backs, the receivers, the tight ends. We’ve got to execute defensively, we’ve got to execute in the kicking game and try to put a total team effort together.”
Ted Karras – December 16, 2020
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Wednesday, December 16, 2020
C Ted Karras
(You guys obviously played these guys Week 1. Did you learn anything I guess that you can bring over to this game or have you guys both evolved to the point where it’s hard?) – “I think it’s hard translating from Week 1. Obviously there’s still some of the cast of characters, but everyone’s been season-hardened now. We’re three months into the season. Everyone’s evolved, like you said, and put little nuances in. I already went back and watched that game, but I’m really more focused on what they’ve done the past six weeks and they’re probably doing the same for us.”
(I’m curious, when you signed with the Dolphins I’m sure – you can tell if I’m wrong – but the playing time was probably important and the opportunity; but where was playing in moments like this? Games with a ton on the line late in the season, was that a priority for you when you signed and if so, how do you think it played out?) – “I knew the Dolphins were on the rise. I knew we were going to have a pretty good team based on the guys that we signed before and we came in and worked hard and put ourselves in a position to play meaningful December games. This is a divisional opponent with a lot of parallels to us and it’s going to be a big-time battle Sunday afternoon in Hard Rock (Stadium) with a lot of stakes on the line.”
(I’m wondering about your take on this as a football fan with a distinctive perspective. What do you make of the Patriots being in this situation here in December, a game under .500 on the verge of elimination? How strange is it?) – “I only know a few things. I know that they’re working really hard. I know that they’re going to be prepared and they’re going to be tough, smart and physical and it’s our job here this week to prepare ourselves to outdo them in all of that. We have a lot of guys that know kind of how they’re working up there and we’ve tried to get it going down here. I think we had good start today on Wednesday, but it’s going to be a long week of preparation and then ultimately we’re going to have to play our best when it counts the most Sunday afternoon in Hard Rock Stadium.”
(I was wondering if I could get your observations on QB Tua Tagovailoa’s poise in the fourth quarter of this past game, specifically on that 12-play drive when he was playing with a lot of receivers who weren’t getting a big amount of snaps earlier in the season and you guys were still able to score there late in the game – that 12-play drive?) – “We made it a game at the end. I think that it was a tough, hard-fought game. Obviously we didn’t do enough to win, especially in the third quarter; but Tua really showed some great leadership, a lot of grit. I think the whole offense did. I think our whole team did, coming back and making it a game at the end. Obviously there’s a bunch of plays that I wish I could have back personally. I’m sure a lot of the guys feel the same way. But we’re working hard and now we’re onto New England here and getting ready to roll in the biggest game of the year.”
(I wanted to ask, what are some of the big differences do you think is going against your defense in practice versus the Patriots defense and how do you think QB Tua Tagovailoa would do against the Pats defense knowing that it’s kind of similar?) – “It’s pretty similar. Obviously there’s going to be some nuances. A lot of the structure may be the same, but they have a lot of really good players. So do we. I think that we’re both matched up pretty well against each other and we’re kind of in the same family of defenses at least, and we’ve had some preparation; but it’s all going to come down to in-game adjustments and how we prepare throughout the week and then when we get on the sideline after a drive – whether we score or not – making adjustments to see what they’ve declared they’re going to do in the game. So that’s where our focus is. I think it’s going to be a great game and we’re ready to roll.”
(I know you just got off the practice field, but there was a report over the last couple of hours that Frank Ragnow of the Lions played through a fractured throat last week. He fractured his throat in the first quarter and finished the game. Your reaction when you hear something like that?) – “I didn’t know you could fracture your throat. That seems pretty serious. I know Frank Ragnow is a really tough player. I’ve liked his film since he came in from Arkansas, I believe. He’s a good player. I don’t really know how to react to that. I didn’t know you could fracture your throat? Are you saying like broke his neck? Or he fractured his throat? Obviously he showed some toughness there, so I hope he’s okay and I hope there’s not any long-term effects for him. Good player.”
(Obviously since Bill Belichick arrived in New England, his track record against rookie quarterbacks has been sterling, to say the least. I’m curious why you might think that is and what’s your role this week and trying to help QB Tua Tagovailoa get prepared and get the offense kind of going against a defense that historically does so well against rookie quarterbacks?) – “My main job mostly every week is identifying the fronts and helping him identity the Mike (linebacker) point. Obviously as an o-line, we’re going to have to do our part in protection and the run game to make him feel comfortable. I think that Coach Belichick is obviously one of the greatest coaches to be around the league and he schemes it up really well and he knows his opponents and tries to exploit their weaknesses. We’re going in with a good plan. We feel confident with our game plan, but it’s on us as players to go execute.”
(One other question that’s not related to the upcoming game. As a veteran, the owners are meeting right now and trying to decide whether to go to 17 games. As a veteran on this team, you know how you feel right now. How would you feel about a 17-game season?) – “I always side with our NFLPA. I believe we voted yes on that, if I’m correct, based on the new CBA. My personal thoughts is – obviously I always side with the union – I don’t mind playing another game as long as we get compensated for it. That’s our job, but that’s out of my hands. I’m going to line up 16 games, 17 games, whatever you want to throw us out there, let’s play some football and we get to obviously have pretty nice salaries and play a very fun game – America’s game – so I’m very grateful for that opportunity. But again, whatever the union wants to go with. We have a great president in JC Tretter. I back him.”
Durham Smythe – December 16, 2020
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Wednesday, December 16, 2020
TE Durham Smythe
(How do you handle this week, dealing with TE Mike Gesicki’s injury and also knowing you’re probably going to have an increased role?) – “I think at this level, you kind of have to go into every week with the same mentality. That’s something that I’ve tried to do since college, just know the entire game plan, every role within our tight end room. From that standpoint, it’s kind of status quo in terms of knowing everyone’s role.”
(That injury looked pretty ugly with TE Mike Gesicki. In the moment, I’m sure you felt for him. Did you give him any words of encouragement and how is he doing now?) – “Yeah, definitely. He’s in high spirits. In terms of logistics of everything, I have no idea. You’ll have to talk to the other guys. But Mike is a guy who is always high energy. He was in high spirits and nothing has really changed. You love to see that.”
(What do you think your evolution as a pass catcher in the offense, specifically this season, helps in your role and also helps the offense, specifically in these last three games? You’ve got 16 catches, which doubles the amount you had in your first two seasons.) – “I try to be a guy who is reliable in the pass game. Not being a 4.4 or 4.5 (40-yard dash guy) like Mike (Gesicki) and some other guys, you won’t end up with 60 or 70 catches in a year; but when the ball comes your way, you’ve just got to be reliable – a safety blanket type thing. That’s what I’ve tried to do over the last 14-15 weeks is just when the ball comes my way, catch it and be efficient in that regard. That’s kind of the mentality, that’s what it’s been all year and that’s what it will be going forward.”
(I wanted to ask you about TE Mike Gesicki’s season as a whole. You guys were drafted at the same time, him having higher expectations being a second-round pick. For him to turn in the production he has this season, with the one-handed catch and being a reliable outlet for the offense, what can you say about the way he’s progressed here during your time here together?) – “First of all, you mentioned the second-round, fourth-round thing and I tell him every day that they made a mistake in that regard and it should’ve been the other way around. I stand by that. (laughter) That was obviously an organizational mistake but I guess it’s worked out in the long run here. (laughter) I’ve known he’s had this in him since we first got here. He’s progressed a lot in terms of strength and understanding the game and things like that but he’s always had this ability. I knew that from day one. This year he was able to show it on a consistent basis. Things that I’ve seen for the last three years, everyone is starting to see now. Actually, I was just talking to him a little while ago. I know Pro Bowl voting (ends tomorrow) and I’m doing everything I can to get that guy in because I think he’s more than deserving of it this year. It’s been fun to watch and I think it will only continue from here.”
(With as well as TE Mike Gesicki has played, if he’s not able to go this week, how do you replace that level of production?) – “Like I said earlier, I think it’s just – Adam (Shaheen) is kind of the same way I am. I think we go into the game every week with the same mentality and that’s I understand Adam’s role, I understand Mike’s role and he understands ours too. Nothing really changes from that standpoint. We’ll be the players that we are. Like I said, we try to be reliable when the ball is thrown our way, be efficient in the run game and things like that. I think from that standpoint, we’ll approach this game like we have the other 14.”
Raekwon Davis – December 16, 2020
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Wednesday, December 16, 2020
DT Raekwon Davis
(When running backs get into your grasps and you don’t let go, you like to drive them into the ground. What is it like to be able to make a play like that, especially when it’s a tackle for loss, to really help the defense stop the run?) – “I just know I’ve got to make that tackle. If the running back runs through my gap, that’s my play to make, so I’ve got to make that play. If they get like five yards, my coach Austin Clark is going to see me on the sideline.”
(I don’t think we talked to you after the Patriots little scuffle at the end of that game there. What’s something that you learned after that incident that you hoped to put into action this time around?) – “I’m really not focused on that. It was just a lot of emotions. That’s all it was. Just emotions. I think we’re past that and we’re back at it again.”
(I saw that the Patriots have the third-most rushing attempts by a quarterback. QB Cam Newton has the third-most rushing attempts among quarterbacks in the NFL. I’m wondering what’s the difference form your perspective on the interior line to attack a running game that has so many quarterback options in it compared to a traditional running game?) – “Just getting a stop. We know he likes to rush and he’s a pretty good quarterback. He can rush; he can throw. Just being where I’m supposed to be at, to be honest with you. I’m just trying to keep him (in the pocket) and try to make him throw the ball, basically. We don’t want him rushing.”
(I think QB Cam Newton may be the biggest quarterback in the league. What’s it like trying to tackle a dude who might be nearly as big and tall as you?) – “It’s hard, but anybody can get tackled though. I can get tackled if I get the ball. I got tackled by Jake Fromm (in college). He tackled me. Anybody can get tackled.”
(There is a cool photograph I saw where you brought down Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire with one arm. It was kind of fun to look at his face. He looked he was in pain. I don’t know if you saw that photo, but my question is if anyone famous – a player or celebrity or anything – sort of comment on that particular play on social media or hit you up on text about it that they saw it?) – “Nah. I didn’t see the picture, though. (laughter) I don’t even remember what happened. I didn’t see the picture, so I don’t know.”
(The first game against New England would’ve been your NFL debut. I’m not sure if you looked at the film of that this week, just to kind of refresh your memory. How much different does your defense look and feel to you compared to the way your defense played in that first game? How much improved do you think it is?) – “I think we’ve improved a lot. There is big improvement. That was my first game starting as a rookie. Anybody can tell the difference. It’s a big difference now.”
Tua Tagovailoa – December 16, 2020
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Wednesday, December 16, 2020
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(I’m curious how for you, with three weeks left in the season, there are a lot of players out there who unfortunately don’t have much to play for from a team perspective. For you, what does it mean to be playing in important games that mean so much to the playoff race now as a rookie?) – “Yeah, I think all of our games are important. I don’t think it’s necessarily just this game in particular. At this point in time, this is our most important game. It’s really whatever team we have at that moment, that’s our most important game. That’s what we’re focused on. Really, we’re just preparing for the Patriots.”
(How familiar are you with Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick’s reputation as a defensive coach and what are your thoughts about seeing that defense for the first time on the field?) – “I would say I’m pretty familiar. I grew up watching the Patriots play in a lot of the Super Bowls. I would also say I’ve seen Bill a good amount at Alabama. Him and Nick (Saban) are pretty good friends. I would say (they’re) very similar in a way with I guess Coach Saban, with how they go about doing things; but I know that there’s going to be a lot of challenges that his defense has to offer our offense and we just have to be prepared this week for those.”
(I would say the defense that you face in practice is pretty similar to the Patriots’ defense. How do you think that is going to help you prepare for Sunday’s game?) – “I think our scout team does a good job helping prepare us offensively for the games. It’s all dependent on the looks that we’re going to get. I think the scout team does a good job at that. There’s always going to be new things that are going to pop up, whether it’s a front or something happens in the back end. You’ve just got to be prepared for it and adapt to that change on the fly.”
(I’m not sure if you saw, but after the game, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was very complimentary towards you, especially how you approached the latter portions of the game. He said “When I was a young quarterback, I might have tried to force some throws and tried to score 20 points at a time.” He saw a lot of composure on your part to take what was there and do it one play at a time. Where does that mindset come from? Is that just part of your DNA? How did you develop that mindset?) – “I would say that’s been our motto or our little mantra offensively. You take it one play at a time. How can you do your best job on this particular play moving forward? It’s really just the one-play-at-a-time mentality and if the play doesn’t go well, then really it’s the next snap, next play mentality. I think a lot of credit goes to our coaches and helping us, preparing us for those things where we’re in a passing situation, these guys are going to get back and take what they give you. If they give you a flat, they give you a flat. If they give you a deep route, they give you a deep route. Really take what the defense gives you.”
(The last two games you’ve targeted TE Mike Gesicki 17 times and threw three touchdown passes to him. Obviously his status this weekend is up in the air but if he’s unable to go, how do you duplicate that kind of production? Do you do it with one player? Do you do it across the board?) – “I think it’s hard to replace a guy like Mike. It’s also hard to replace any of these guys – DeVante (Parker), Jakeem (Grant). But it’s next man up and the guys that are ready to play, they’re hungry to play. This is just an opportunity for them, as well. This is a great time for me as a quarterback to show my leadership to these guys, these new guys, and then also work my timing with them.”
(I ask this because you’re playing the Patriots for the first time. When you think of the Patriots growing up as a football fan, what comes to mind?) – “I think when you think of the Patriots, you think of dominant. They’ve been very dominant over the past two decades, I would say, especially when (Tom) Brady was there. I think they have a really talented quarterback in Cam Newton and also with Jarrett Stidham. Their defense has always been their biggest deal. (Bill) Belichick takes pride and all of the DCs that have come there, even ‘Coach Flo’ (Brian Flores), they all take pride in their defense and what they do to stop offenses. That’s the biggest thing I would say, pretty much dominant.”
(I wanted to ask you about QB Jalen Hurts. He got his first start for the Eagles this past week and he’s getting another one this week. I’m curious if you were able to talk to him or see him perform and if you could share any of that.) – “Yeah, I wasn’t able to talk to him before the game or after the game but I would say maybe two or three weeks we’ve talked a good amount about whatever situation he was in and whatnot. We were going back and forth talking about it. I’m really happy to see him and how successful he’s been. It’s a big win against the Saints, so congratulations to Jalen and his team. I hope he continues to do well.”
Brian Flores – December 16, 2020
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I was hoping to get an update on some of the guys who are banged up. Do you expect WR DeVante Parker or WR Jakeem Grant to practice today? With TE Mike Gesicki, we saw you didn’t IR him yesterday. Is that a sign that things may not be as bad as some may have originally feared?) – “I think all the guys that are banged up – which for this time of year, everyone has got bumps and bruises. Guys are getting treatment. I think it’s a little early to say if whether a guy is going to be in or out. I was in the training room this morning and there were a number of guys in there getting treatment, all with positive attitudes. They’re obviously going to do everything they can to get back as quickly as they can. As you guys know, I have my medical meeting after this, after I do media. That’s just kind of how the day is set. We have our team meeting and now they’re in position meetings, so I’ll meet with (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle (Johnston) and the medical staff once I’m done here.”
(With Sunday’s game, are you concerned that you have a rookie quarterback facing a Bill Belichick defense for the first time? Or has QB Tua Tagovailoa already seen everything he’s likely to see on the football field from a defense?) – “I don’t think he’s seen everything he’s likely to see. He’s so young in his career. It’s going to be a very big challenge not only for Tua but for our entire offense and our entire team. It’s a good football team. They are obviously well coached. They are tough, they are physical, really in all three phases. They play team football and it will be a tough test for everyone on our team.”
(There were a lot of unknowns headed into that Week 1 matchup, especially with QB Cam Newton there at quarterback. Fifteen weeks later, what are the differences and some things you’ve seen on tape that makes this team different now than the first time you faced them?) – “They are well coached. Situationally, they do a good job in situational football. They run the football well. ‘Cam’ is athletic and he – just as far as extending plays and giving his receivers time to get open, he’s done a very good job at that this season. Defensively, they’ve got a lot of good players, they limit big plays and they make it hard for offenses. I think they’ve done a very good job in the kicking game. It’s a good team. They play well in all three phases and this is going to be a tough test for us.”
(You opened the season by losing by 10 to the Patriots. How much has changed for your team since then? How much better is your team since that point?) – “I think we’ve made improvements over the course of the season, which is always the goal. I think a lot of guys have really worked hard offensively, defensively and in the kicking game, to get better in a lot of areas – communication, technique, fundamentals. But that’s the case for their team as well. I think they’ve made a lot of improvement as well. Week 1 feels like a long time ago, especially in this particular year in 2020 with all of the things that have gone on and the different protocols and things of that nature. We try to take things one week at a time. This week we’re playing against a division opponent who plays well in all three phases. We expect a tough, physical 60-minute ball game.”
(I wanted to ask you about the challenges that adding a fullback to an offense creates for a defense. Is it a little more challenging in 2020 to deal with a fullback since you don’t always see it that often throughout the course of the season?) – “Yeah. It can be challenging. If they add a fullback, they add a gap. They basically add a gap. Defensively, it’s something that we’ve seen. We have a fullback as well. We’ve seen those types of plays; but they do a good job in the run game. They really do. They’ve been able to pick up chunks of yardage. I would say they’re top five in the league in rushing, so they’ve done a good job from that standpoint. The fullbacks are a big part of that. We’re going to have our work cut out for us as far as getting that defended. Those are the things we’ll be preparing for all week, as well as the rest of the things they do. They’re not just a running football team. They’ve got play-action, they’ve got drop back, I think they lead the league in screen yardage. They play well defensively and in the kicking game also. It’s a tough test.”
(This game has two really good No. 1 corners in CB Stephon Gilmore and CB Xavien Howard. You’ve coached them both. Are there any similarities or maybe any differences that you see in their games?) – “They are both very competitive, obviously very talented, both have very good ball skills, both excellent players. They are both team-first guys. They’ll be the first to tell you that it’s not their personal situation but more about the team. Both excellent players.”
(You talked about the Patriots are good from an execution standpoint when it comes to the run game. What does it take to have an efficient run game, one that helps you out on first and second downs?) – “Good execution. Good fundamentals. Good technique. Look, you can’t have a good play without good fundamentals and good technique. Good fundamentals, good technique, good effort and then good execution based on what the defense is giving you. They’ve done a good job from that standpoint and we’re going to have to do a good job defensively of defending their run game. That’s what we’ll prepare for along with everything they do offensively – runs, play action, drop back, screens. We’ll also get into third downs and the things that they do in the red zone, the QB runs. I think all of those factor into their entire offense, to include the run game.”
(With the understanding that your sole focus is this week, there is some clarity now when it comes to the AFC playoff race. In your mind, do you have to win out to make it, so you don’t have to rely on any help?) – “We just take it one game at a time and the focus is this week. Like we’ve said for the last several weeks, you’ve got to take care of what’s in front of you and focus on that. If you don’t, then the rest of it doesn’t matter. We’ve got a big game this week against a division opponent. It’s a good team and that’s where the focus is.”
(There has been a lot of debate in the analytics department about the value of the run game as we’ve evolved over time. I’m curious your view on the value of the run game as teams become more pass heavy in this league?) – “I think running the football is important. I think moving the football efficiently is important, so run, pass, screens, RPOs (run-pass options), gadgets, trick plays, I think it’s all about moving the football consistently. Quite honestly, how we do that – whether it’s run, whether it’s pass, however we do it, as long as we move the ball efficiently, that’s the goal. That’s the goal for every offense. Conversely, defensively we’re looking to stop all of those plays. Yea, the run game is very important.”
(You just listed off, run, pass, screen, RPO, gadget, trick plays – is that how you view offenses or am I missing something?) – “Is that how I view offenses?”
(I’m saying is that how – the different compartments of offenses for a defensive mind. Is that how you view things sectionally? Or is there more?) – “I wouldn’t call myself defensive minded. I coach football – offense, defense and special teams. I think those are elements of offense in today’s game – run, play action, drop back, screens, RPOs. Unless you see it differently. Maybe I’m seeing a different game than you are but whether you’re offense of defense, I think those are the elements of what you’re seeing in the offensive game. That’s what you’re seeing defensively. Maybe I’m missing something – four strong pass offenses, five strong pass offenses. 2-by-2 formations, 3-by-1s, empties. We can get into all of that. But whether you’re an offensive coach, defensive coach, to me I just coach football. They are all parts of it. We can get into the kicking game if you want. Oh, you don’t like the kicking game. (laughter) We can get into that too – field goal protections, things of that nature. It’s just coaching ball – not offense or defense, just a football coach.”
Brian Flores – December 16, 2020 (Conference Call)
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Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Head Coach Brian Flores Conference Call
(I wanted to ask you, head coach is obviously a leadership position as much as it is X’s and O’s and you’ve made some tough decisions the last couple years. I wanted to ask you about – you guys are obviously having a pretty good season here, but you replaced both coordinators after just one year. How difficult was that to make a decision to move on from both your coordinators after you guys had had a fairly good finish last season?) – “I think in this position and in any leadership position, you’ve got to make tough decisions – things that you feel are best for the team, the organization. It’s not always easy, but I think you always have peace knowing that you try to do the best for the people that you’re essentially serving.”
(On the same vein, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was a very popular player inside your locker room, then you made the decision to switch to QB Tua Tagovailoa. Were there any concerns on your behalf when you made that switch that it might not be popular with your players and inside the locker room?) – “Again, when you’re genuinely and authentically and sincerely trying to do what’s best for the team, as a leader you have peace making the decisions you make and that was the case with going with Tua (Tagovailoa). We just felt like that was the best thing for our organization.”
(And how has that worked out making that switch and how has QB Ryan Fitzpatrick handled it?) – “Ryan (Fitzpatrick), he’s a special guy and he’s handled it well and obviously he’s a competitor and it’s something that – he wants to play, but he’s been supportive of Tua and all of his teammates. He still brings a lot of leadership to this team and obviously if we need him, he’ll be ready to go.”
(I’m just curious, I know LB Kyle Van Noy didn’t play last week with the injury, but what has he brought to the table and is it the fit that you imagined when you signed him in free agency?) – “Kyle (Van Noy), he’s tough, he’s smart, he’s competitive. He loves to play. I think he’s brought some leadership to our team and he’s been a good fit.”
(When you were with New England, obviously there were times you guys went down to Miami and you struggled in Miami regardless of the team you had. Were there any commonalities in that, in the performance of Miami vs. New England in Miami?) – “To think back on those days, I’m really kind of focused on what’s going on today and today’s practice and meetings. It’s hard to think back to two, three years ago. We’re playing against a tough opponent. They execute well offensively, defensively, in the kicking game. That’s kind of where my focus is.”
(Do you think your team – we’re in Week 15 – has established an identity yet and if not, what would you like that identity to be?) – “As an identity, I hope people see us as a tough, smart, disciplined football team that competes for 60 minutes as a starting place. I think that’s what I think we are. I think we can always improve and get better. I think they’ve worked to do that, so hopefully that’s what other people see as our identity.”
(Almost two years into your run as head coach, do you feel you’ve been able to kind of establish what you want in a football team or are you progressing in that area?) – “I’m probably never going to feel established. Just got to keep working, keep improving, keep trying to develop. That’s me personally and hopefully our team is that same way. Just continue to try to improve and get better. We’re going to need that this week to have a good week of preparation against a good football team. And ‘establish,’ probably not the right term. Right now, we’re just trying to just get better.”
(Is it odd at all kind of having flipped roles? You’re in wild card position trying to solidify your spot in the playoffs and the Patriots have basically a 2 percent chance. It just seems to be a different dynamic. Does that hit you at all?) – “No, I don’t think we’ve really flipped roles. I think they’re trying to win one game and we’re trying to win one game. That’s where we’re at and that’s kind of our thought process and I’m sure – actually I know – that that’s what they’re saying in their building. I could see how people could think that it’s flipped, but for us it’s a one-game season; it’s the same for them.”
(I guess this might be a little bit building off the previous question, but I’m curious and I know you’re focused on the here and now and what’s going on this week, but the way you guys finished last year, have you seen that carry over to this season and what did the way in which you guys finished last year say about the culture that you’re trying to establish in Miami?) – “Last year, it was last year. I don’t think it really has any effect on what’s going on now. There’s different players, there’s different coaches, it’s a different year. It’s 2020. We’re trying to coach through a pandemic – coaching and playing through a pandemic, I should say. I think our guys, they work hard, football is important to them, they compete, we ask a lot of them and they try to perform to the best of their ability. That’s really at the end of the day, that’s all we can ask for. We’ve gotten that out of a number of guys on this team and we’re trying to teach the young guys how to be professionals and I think they’re taking to it and we’re just trying to improve and get better every day, and we’ll try to take it one day at a time and let the chips fall where they fall.”
(Is there anything – you mentioned trying to teach the guys how to be professionals – for the young guys that were with the team last year that are still with you guys, do you think they were able to learn anything about how you guys finished that season off as strongly as you did when you guys were not in playoff contention? Was that a lesson in and of itself?) – “I think the lessons – I can’t speak for them individually – but I think the message has always been whether it was last year or this year or next year, let’s try to get better every day. Let’s try to improve every day and if you do that, more times than not, you’ll end up having success and seeing the fruits of that labor. So hopefully that’s what the guys who were here took from last year and then hopefully they build on that and hopefully our guys this year are building on the same thing – those same principles.”
(I’m just wondering what LB Kyle Van Noy has brought to your defense both on the field and from a leadership perspective off of it?) – “Kyle (Van Noy) has been a very good addition. He’s tough, he’s smart, he’s competitive. He’s brought leadership and he’s been a really good fit so far.”
(Patriots QB Cam Newton has been the starter all year. You saw him in Week 1. What have you seen from him as the season progresses and do you still – even though the passing numbers aren’t what they are – do you still see him doing things to help the Patriots win?) – “I think he’s a very good player in this league. I think he does a really good job extending plays. I think his ability to scramble is something that you always have to take into consideration on every snap. I think he’s a leader. I think he’s a problem, so we’ve got to do a good job from a pass rush standpoint, try to keep him in the pocket, not let him extend plays and allow his receivers more time to get open. Good player, good team, good run game, good defense, good special teams. We’re going to have to play well this week.”
(On the subject of culture – I know this is more of a big-picture question and I know you’re uber focused on this week, but we’ve seen what you’ve done in Miami, Sean McDermott has done in Buffalo, what Ron Rivera is doing in D.C., even Matt Rhule in Carolina – in your experience as both a player and as an assistant coach and now as a head coach, how important is culture and establishing that culture? Is that the baseline where you start? You have to have a culture if you want to be a successful program?) – “Sorry, when you mentioned me as a player, I always chuckle when people mention that. (laughter)”
(Yeah, Boston College. We’re not talking Division III here.) – “I wasn’t very good, so that kind of threw me off. (laughter) But yeah, I think when you talk about culture, to me culture is about people. And that’s the case in any organization. It’s about the people within the organization. I can’t force anyone to act a certain way. It’s about bringing the right people in for the Dolphins who are tough, who are competitive, who love to play, who are team-first and that’s players, that’s coaches, that’s equipment, that’s nutritionists, our medical staff; it’s everybody. And everyone bands together for really one goal and do it for each other, so to me, I think the word ‘culture’ is thrown around, but there’s a lot of people that are involved in building that. It’s not just one person. It’s certainly not just me. We’ve got a good staff here really all the way around – media, our food catering group – everyone, they work hard. It’s important to them and I think they’re all part of that label of culture.”
Eric Studesville – December 15, 2020
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Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Running Backs Coach Eric Studesville
(What was your reaction when you learned that RB Myles Gaskin would be unavailable? I think it was just the day before the game?) – “My first reaction was concern for him and making sure that he was all right and that everything was going to be fine with him. Any time you go through this, these relationships with these guys – that was my first concern. Then the second thing obviously was what we were going to do next and who we had to get ready next and what we had to do to move forward because there was still going to be a game being played, so we had to get ready.”
(Obviously you guys have been struggling with the run game this season and it’s been an execution issue. I know it’s not all on the backs and you’ve got a number of issues and absences to deal with, but how do you help this offense from a run game standpoint become more efficient?) – “I think the answer is right there within the question. It’s execution and it’s all of us that are involved in it. We all have a hand in it and we all have to do the right things and keep working for it, but it’s execution at the end of the day. There’s no easy fix. We all have to do our part.”
(Unless I was seeing incorrectly, it appeared to me that RB Patrick Laird was on the field most third downs and obvious passing situations. Can you just speak to what it is he does well in the passing game?) – “I think all these guys are prepared for whatever we need to have done. Patrick (Laird) can play on first and second down, too; but we started kind of defining some roles and some things that he can do well and the third-down package, he spends a lot of time getting ready for that – the pressure packages, the things we’re doing. He knows our empty formations and things as all the guys do. But I just think we try to define a role for him where he can contribute because we have him up and we want to use him when we can. I thought he did a really nice job. He had four runs the other day. Three of them were really good efficient runs for us, moved the sticks and then he did some things in the passing game for us that really helped, so I thought he did a nice job.”
(Last year I never thought I would see a team go through as many running backs as you did and you might have topped that this year. What has this experience been like knowing week-to-week you have a different featured back?) – “I’d love to be able to tell you that I haven’t been through this before, but I have in – I forget what year it was – but when we played in Kansas City one year in Denver and I lost, I went through three backs in the first half. So it’s happened before and that comes to how we set up the room, which is everybody’s got to be prepared for everything all the time. You never know when your opportunity is going to come up and that’s how we talk about it, that’s how they’re coached, that’s how they talk about them preparing and getting ready so that no matter when that time is, you’re ready to go in the game and perform and do what the team needs you to do to give us the best chance to be successful.”
(I was curious about WR Lynn Bowden Jr. and WR/RB Malcolm Perry. Obviously they have special plays that they can do and they can also be emergency running backs. Have they at any point spent time with you, with the running back room? How does that work in terms of if they actually had to be the lead back in a game suddenly?) – “I don’t know that – would they be a lead back – I don’t know. Fortunately, we haven’t gotten to that situation yet where we’ve run out of backs. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. There’s lots of roles for different guys and we try to keep things as variable as we can – running backs that can run routes and things of that nature – so you’re always changing things up and I think that’s to our advantage and we do whatever we think gives us the best chance to win from week to week.”
