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.”
George Godsey – December 15, 2020
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Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Tight Ends Coach George Godsey
(What would you say you have learned about QB Tua Tagovailoa in the time that you guys have talked on the sideline during games?) – “There’s a lot for him to learn as a rookie and I think each day, each play, each situation that comes up – it was a unique situation at the end of the game last week – I would say there’s a lot. I think there’s good conversations that happen when we come off the field. There’s good conversations obviously prepping for the series and a lot of that information is coming from up top with (Offensive Coordinator) Chan (Gailey), so there’s really a lot to dive in on that question.”
(If TE Mike Gesicki is out for a while, how do you see that impacting the position and the team in general for that matter?) – “As far as the position goes, I think that’s really where the offseason, training camp, making sure that everybody knows the rules can change, especially this year. I think going into the season, that was kind of a priority, not only just with Brian (Flores) as the head coach, but just each position and just making sure that everybody was ready in case of something from medical standpoint. Obviously we know in this league that injuries are a part of the game, so depending on Mike’s status; if he’s there, great. He’s actually improving each week like we expected him to. And if he’s not, it’s the next guy up. We’ve had that issue at other positions and guys have stepped up so I think just from an offensive perspective, our guys are ready to step into a role if their number is called.”
(I want to ask you more about that situation and obviously it’s the reality that it is the next guy up, but TE Mike Gesicki does some special things that very few people on the planet can. We see him make these acrobatic catches, kind of fearless across the middle. How big of a part of your offense has he been with that dynamic playmaking?) – “Yeah, he’s made a couple good one-handed catches that we haven’t seen from the other guys. Each day in practice we see what everybody’s capable of, but we’re confident in that group. It’s a diverse group like we’ve talked about. They’re able to all block, they’re able to all catch and of course Mike’s had his opportunities to go out there and perform, especially on third down. In practice we rotate the group quite a bit, so they’re all familiar with those roles, so like you said, it’s not just a guy in there or a guy out of there. You don’t know what could happen, a shoe could come off. There’s a bunch of different variables that could happen, so all the guys prep as if they’re going to play and then it’s just a matter of who’s out there. I think it’s getting familiarity with the quarterback, too. We’ve had a couple guys back there distributing the ball, so getting those reps like I said early in training camp will help everybody out as far as Tua (Tagovailoa)’s growth and the tight ends’ growth.”
(I wanted to get an update on TE Durham Smythe in terms of his route running and route catching. Obviously he’s had a more productive season from that standpoint this year and also, how much do you think that it helps that QB Tua Tagovailoa has spent the early portion of the season working with a lot of these backup guys?) – “It’s a big part of it – just their body language and seeing at the top of the route how they come out of routes. Some guys come out a little quicker, some guys like to body up, some guys just with their size, specifically talking about the tight end position. So that familiarity, it has to continue to grow and Durham has got reliable hands. So does Adam (Shaheen). We’ve seen the ball thrown to those guys and those guys come down with it, so they’ve gotten their opportunities. There are certain situations, too, in practice, where whether it’s a two-minute drill or a third-down play that maybe one guy has repped more than others that will continue to grow with the next guy whether it’s – even Chris (Myarick) at times – so there’s plenty of guys that know that this league, there’s injuries; and that if the next guy is not ready, then as a professional, that’s – from a coaching standpoint, that’s our responsibility and from a playing standpoint, that’s their responsibility to be ready when their number is called.”
(I think it was Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey or Quarterbacks Coach Robby Brown that said QB Tua Tagovailoa was facing some pressures that maybe he didn’t see before this season and he came out fairly well, especially in that fourth quarter. When the bodies started hitting the floor and the lead grew up to 20, what were some things that really surprised you or impressed you about how he performed in that fourth quarter?) – “Just some of the communication we were having was – we’ve got a long way to go here in this game and we’re going to take it one series at a time. There is no, for example, an 18-point play when we’re down 18, so it’s one play at a time and let’s try to string some plays together. There’s a lot of growth for him to make in that area. Just going out there and seeing different defenses. It’s different in the first, second and third quarters than there is in the fourth quarter. There was an opportunity to get better. He took advantage of it and from a pressure standpoint, we’re always going to see some unique pressures. We give a lot of credit to a lot of the defensive coordinators and defensive schemes that we face each week. This week, no different. We’ll face a very good scheme and very good defensive players from that aspect, too, so we’ll see something different and then it’s up to us to follow our rules and execute it.”
Steve Marshall – December 15, 2020
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Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Offensive Line Coach Steve Marshall
(I’ve got kind of a general collective question regarding the three rookies along the offensive line – T Austin Jackson, G Solomon Kindley and G/T Robert Hunt. Fourteen weeks into the season, you’ve talked a lot throughout the course of the year about how it’s a learning process, how these guys have to come along, I just wanted to get your general takeaway for how they’ve collectively grown as a whole this season?) – “Collectively if you’re asking, all three of them together, I think they’ve done a heck of a job. They’ve worked each and every day obviously. Some of them have had nicks and bruises along the way and each day they’ve worked hard to get better and they’ve had their moments – very good moments and then some moments that obviously they can chalk up to learning experiences – but those three guys have big futures in the NFL if they’ll continue to work and learn to be, learn how to study as an NFL lineman and become and learn the game. They certainly have great futures in front of them.”
(I wanted to ask you, we talked a lot about the run game identity. Obviously the running game continues to struggle. What’s it going to take for the offensive line to get more second-level blocks?) – “Again, it’s all execution. It’s everybody getting moving and going and when you say ‘second-level blocks,’ what do you mean? To like the linebackers? Each play we have has certain rules and what we’re trying to get accomplished on each play, so whether it’s blocking to a linebacker or blocking a three-technique or a shade, every rule has and again, running the football is just like pass pro; it’s an 11-man operation in every way we do it and we’re continuing every day to try to figure out how to keep the process moving so we can score one more point than the other team.”
(I wanted to ask you about G/T Jesse Davis. It’s well-known that his versatility is a big asset for you guys, but do you think that right guard might be his best position? Has your thinking changed on that considering how well he’s played the last couple of weeks?) – “No, I don’t think so. I think Jesse like I said, I feel very comfortable. Jesse obviously has started games this year at left tackle when Austin (Jackson) went down and right tackle and right guard. Jesse works extremely hard and he’s a true pro. He processes game plans Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Does a great job helping the young guys and I don’t look at it whether he can play; I think he can function at all three or four if you put him at left guard. We haven’t done that this year, but Jesse has had some time at left guard. I remember when I had him with the Jets, that’s where I thought he had a chance. So I don’t know if I can say that right guard is his best position, but he certainly has played and really had a very nice game this past weekend against Kansas City and look forward to figuring out a way to beat the Patriots here come about five, six days from now.”
(I want to go back to the three rookies again and ask you, these guys came in the league together. I’m wondering from your experience in all the years you’ve coached and all the rookies and players you’ve coached on the offensive line, is there something to be said as far as a benefit for the three of those guys to be able to go through this rookie season and all the highs and lows together? Like does that essential camaraderie kind of help them at the end of the day?) – “I’d say it certainly doesn’t hurt. Yeah, I think they’ve got – each one of them – I don’t coach them all the same. They have different ways of learning and how to learn, but I’d say there’s obviously a bond that is created when you come in at the same time, you’re exposed to the same things that other rookies are. There’s some merit to what you ask and I think there’s down the road, I think if they look back – I think if they all become very successful, they stay healthy and they keep working hard, then I think there certainly is some merit to that.”
Robby Brown – December 15, 2020
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Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Quarterbacks Coach Robby Brown
(What does QB Tua Tagovailoa do from a mechanical standpoint that maybe stands out compared to other quarterbacks?) – “That is a good question. Everybody is different. I know that sounds like a goofy answer but as you try to get a feel for what a guy does and what he’s good at, I think that was something I noticed watching him come out. He’s kind of got natural mechanics and those are the best ones. He opens the right way. His arm angles are good, he throws with good arm angles. I would say his mechanics just from a base throwing were pretty good when he got here.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores has talked about this that Tight Ends Coach George Godsey works a little bit with the quarterbacks on Sundays. How has your role evolved a little bit since you were away from the team for a bit and came back? What is your primary goal on Sundays? What do you do?) – “I would say that ‘Flo’ talked about that a little bit and we don’t dive real deep into how we communicate on game day. We did keep that the same when I came back, but there is constant communication between ‘Coach E’ (Running Backs Coach Eric Studesville), me, (Tight Ends Coach) George (Godsey), (Offensive Coordinator) Chan (Gailey), ‘Marsh’ (Offensive Line Coach Steve Marshall). There is constant communication on game day between everybody from up top to down low. Everybody has a role in what they are looking for and what they are doing. Without diving deep into the same thing that ‘Flo’ said, nothing has changed a whole lot there.”
(Given Patriots Head Coach Bill Belicheck’s reputation for disguising things, particularly when he’s going to be facing a rookie quarterback, ehat can you do with QB Tua Tagovailoa this week to prepare him for all of the different kind of things he might be seeing on Sunday?) – “I think it goes back to do you have a base? I talked about it earlier in the year when he was the backup, but he has to really come in – it doesn’t matter if he’s playing the Patriots or whoever it might be. He has to come in and start the same way each week. As an organization, ‘Coach Flo,’ we always start with personnel. Then you go to our personnel, then you go into what is the defense trying to do to you. The biggest thing is you don’t change what you’ve been doing. You try to build that base in the beginning and then go from there. They do do a good job of different sets, different disguises, whatever it may be. They’ve been very good for many years. That does produce a good challenge.”
(The last two weeks QB Tua Tagovailoa has brought light to his execution in the first half being different than his execution in the second half. What have been some things that have been hindering the process of the offense early in games recently?) – “I know that – and I say this all the time, it comes back to coach speak, but it’s really not. It’s execution. It’s execution across the board. Coaches play a part in execution too. We’re always trying to find that special sauce, if you will, that makes everybody execute well at all times in the game. You’re looking for execution on each and every play. The first play you go out there, you want to execute. Then you talk about if you don’t execute, and it goes to second-and-10, here’s how you execute onseocnd-and-10, then you execute on third down. It really does just come back to execution and if you knew the exact answer to get that fixed, it would never happen. We have to work really hard as coaches, really hard as an organization, to try to make that execution a reality.”
(We saw WR Lynn Bowden Jr. as a passer option a couple of times. How would you grade Lynn’s mechanics?) – “(laughter) I don’t know that I’ve spent a lot of time watching Lynn’s mechanics. Lynn is an exciting football player and we’re glad to have him. From a mechanical standpoint, you really just give him a hard time and tell him to get it there in those situations. His mechanics, I don’t know; but I do think he’s a good football player and obviously he played a lot of positions in college. We’re glad to have him.”
(When QB Tua Tagovailoa first started a month and a half ago or whatever it was, I’m sure – and you can tell me if I’m wrong – but there was a set of plays he was comfortable with and you might have focused on those early on. How much has that grown in the six or eight weeks since?) “I can tell you that obviously that grows with experience, with playing. I don’t know if it was necessarily a set of plays or concepts or whatever; but as he gets more comfortable, you want to be able to take on more and more. We’ll see how that goes. He’s done a good job of trusting the process that Chan (Gailey) and ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) have put together for him. Like I’ve said, going back to that process coming in first day, getting all of their personnel and then learning our personnel, I think he’s done a good job of studying that stuff and working hard to understand what we’re trying to do and then what the defense is trying to do to him. That helps and every bit of experience, whether you’re a coach or writer or whatever it may be, I think any experience helps whether you are extremely successful on that one play or that play doesn’t work out. You can put it in your memory bank and say ‘that works for me,’ or ‘it didn’t work this time.’ Good and bad, you can learn from both.”
