Danny Crossman – June 5, 2024
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Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman
(So do you have an open tryout for the kickoff job? I know some special teams coordinators have had safeties and linebackers. What’s your plan?) – “We’re still – as everybody is – we’re looking at a lot of different things, but to me, I still think that the advantage for the kickoff team where you can gain an advantage is to have a kicker. Because the advantage is the ball on the ground before it’s touched by the returner which enables the cover team to go, and non-kickers are going to have a little bit more difficulty trying to hit that ball consistently.”
(What have brainstorming sessions been like with something that’s so new to different special teams units across the league?) – “It’s been fun. There’s so many different avenues and aspects you look at and some things you think you’re really going to like, and then by the time you get out on the field and start looking at them, you’re like, ‘What was I ever thinking?’ And then there’s things that maybe you didn’t like and then once you’re out there, you’re executing and you’re seeing it live, you’re like, ‘Maybe that’s something we want to build on.’ But to me, the main part of this play is really two things: No. 1, it is going to be a play that starts unlike any play has ever started. It starts with the ball either being caught or the ball hitting the ground as opposed to every other play it’s either the snap or what we’re all used to – the ball being kicked, so that’s a completely different animal. Secondly, the space aspect – completely different; however, once all that stuff – you take all that out – you’re still doing the same thing. You’re still blocking, getting off the blocks and tackling, however that space differential may enable you to use and maybe look at some different players.”
(What type of body types are we talking about now since it’s mostly close quarters?) – “Honestly right now, we are looking at everything and anybody. We are not eliminating anyone when it comes to position groups that maybe weren’t part of that aspect over the last couple years. We’re back to looking at some of those people.”
(So do you want athletes? Do you want blockers?) – “Ideally your blockers are athletes, or your athletes are good blockers. But it’s a combination of are we saying could it be offensive linemen? Yeah. Could it be tight ends? Yeah. Could it be linebackers? Yeah. The numbers of eligible players that we have hasn’t changed. We’re still going to have the same active list, so you still are working off the same nucleus of these are the only bodies you have. But I do think that some of the aspects of the play may enable some guys that haven’t been part of the play now to become part of the play.”
(I’ve heard the theory that teams are basically not going to unleash what they’re doing during the exhibition season and they’re going to save it for the regular season. Do you think that that’s true or fair?) – “I don’t know and we’re not there. I haven’t begun to even think about that yet. We’re still weeding out what we like, what we don’t like, what we think can gain us an advantage, what are we going to prepare for that we think other teams may try. So right now this whole spring has been a real – it’s been a great experience because we’re looking at things and doing things that I never thought I’d be doing.”
(How does the XFL’s film come into play here?) – “It was a good starting point, but then everything changed. For them, everything was 10-on-10 within five yards and that was it. We have a little bit more maneuverability and flexibility in terms of upfront, being able to have two guys off, being able to have two returners, being able to move those guys wherever you want them as long as they’re starting inside the 20, to be able to take one of those guys and add them to the front and have no limitations on where you can put that guy to enable some more double teams and traps. So we have a lot more flexibility in what we do, but it was a great starting point to be able to put tape on him and say, ‘Wow, I never thought of that,’ or ‘Wow, that could be a real, real problem.’”
(What was your input on this whole process? Did you speak up to talk to all those guys?) – “Oh yeah, it was a great thing. That was probably the nicest thing about it. As special teams coaches, we’re the one group that has a great camaraderie and communication as a group, but then yet, on Sunday, we’re the only guys that go out there and try and beat the other guy. The offensive line group, they think they’re all the tight, but they don’t compete against one another. So to be able to sit there in a group, in multiple groups, small groups, big groups, and be able to talk about thought. There were some great things brought up, and there were some things that were brought up and people were – like anything else – ‘No, I don’t like that.’ It was a great seminar as a group.”
(On the returners, does it change the body type, the speed, power, breaking tackles?) – “Until you know what balls you get, I don’t know. Because we don’t know what we’re getting yet. We don’t know if people are going to – are they going to kick it high and deep down the middle? Are they going high and deep and outside? Are they going to kick line drives? Are they going to try and kick knuckleballs? Until you know what you’re getting, I don’t think you can answer that. I still think it’s going to be – you want talented guys. You’ve got to be able to make guys miss, you’ve got to be able to close space in a hurry, you’ve got to be able to make somebody miss in a phonebooth. And if you can do those, everybody wants more of those guys. So we’ll see.”
(What do you think Week 1 will be like ultimately? Will it just be a tremendous element of surprise?) – “I think it all depends on what game you’re watching. I really believe that. If you’re watching Thursday night, the opener in Kansas City, and then you watch all the games Sunday and then you watch what’s happening on Monday night, based on what games you’ve watched, you could see four or five completely different approaches both on the kickoff and the return based on what game you’re watching. If you sit there Sunday and you watch a 1:00 p.m., a 4:30 p.m. and an 8 o’clock Sunday night game, you could see a whole lot of different things.”
(And any indications early on what could be best alignment in the 20-yard receiving zone? I don’t know we can’t disclose what we’ve seen you guys do so far, but?) – “I know what I’m thinking, and it’s really based on where the advantages come from and trying to defend those advantages. I’m talking about the advantages of the kickoff team and how we want to try and help ourselves.”
Zach Sieler – June 5, 2024
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Wednesday, June 5, 2024
DT Zach Sieler
(Since Christian Wilkins has moved on, who is in line to be the NFLPA rep?) – “I don’t know who’s in line. I know we had a couple of guys last year that were alternates. So I don’t know if one of them is going to want to take that role on, I think a couple will.”
(Who are those alternatives?) – “I can’t think off the top of my head honestly, but I know I know them. Everyone has done a great job here and Coach McDaniel does a great job with them to make sure we are talking to everybody and on the same page.”
(LS Blake Ferguson is one.) – “That’s it, yes. He’s done a great job. I know he’s excited. I think he’d be a great representative for us.”
(What has it been like working with this group?) – “It’s been great. It’s been awesome learning Coach (Anthony) Weaver, his system, how he sees defense, playing with these guys behind us and kind of building as a unit this offseason. It’s been great all around honestly. ‘DBs’ talking, I’m hearing them loud behind us. The linebackers are really communicating upfront, and then us upfront as a D-line kind of working together and learning to play off of each other.”
(Have you been talking to any of the new guys?) – “Yeah, it’s been great. (Jordyn) Brooks has been great talking to him. He’s obviously directly behind me, so he’s always talking. (Jordan) Poyer, it’s cool to hear him back there relaying calls, which could affect us or not affect us each play, which is really good to get that communication back down.”
(Have you hung out with them outside?) – “I have not. I have a little busy. I have a little 11-week-old baby. My wife and I have been a little busy. It’s been great to get to know him, and I’m excited for camp. Being here with those guys and being here this season. Hopefully we can get back to those Thursday night hangouts.”
(With this defense, how helpful is it for you that you’ve been in the Baltimore system? And is it much crossover compared to what you’ve done in the past?) – “That was five years ago and a couple of coordinators ago. Some things have kind of triggered in my head, like ‘Oh yeah, I remember that call,’ or ‘I remember how that was played or what we looked for when we did those reps.’ So it’s been really cool to kind of circle back to that as a veteran and kind of take it with a different perspective. I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s why we’re doing that.’ Sometimes as a rookie or young guy, you don’t really know what’s going on or why you’re doing something, you just have to make sure you’re doing it to the best of your ability. Especially me, I was obviously not in the best spot in Baltimore just from a growth perspective. I wasn’t growing at the rate I should’ve been, so it’s cool having grown down here, learning football more, playing better to come back and circle around to play in this defense is a lot of fun.”
(There is supposedly a lot of rotation. How does that impact you from a chemistry standpoint? I know you and Christian Wilkins, you guys didn’t need to talk to know what you guys were doing.) – “We didn’t, and there’s nothing that beats that. Raekwon (Davis) was the same boat. We could get out there – I was with those guys for three or four years. It’s going to take time, make sure we’re talking on and off the field, hanging out and getting to know how those guys see ball, how they want to play and how we can play off of each other. And building that rotation will help, too, with keeping each other fresh and ready for the fourth quarters and stuff like that, long drives.”
(Are you expecting a lot of early season attention? We know Christian Wilkins isn’t going to be there. We don’t know if LB Bradley Chubb or LB Jaelan Phillip are going to be there. Do you think offense are going to really hone in on you early in the season?) – “I don’t know about that. I’m not other offenses. I think it’s going to be a – I mean, there’s 11 guys. There’s a lot of guys out there that can make plays. I think we’re going to do a great job, kind of like Omar (Kelly) asked, with the rotations and kind of rolling guys through in different packages and whatever we’re doing. I think it’s going to help really making ourselves multiple on defense.”
(How would you describe defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s personality and approach?) – “It’s been really cool getting to know him. Obviously being a former player and also him coming from Baltimore – I see a lot of crossover from that and that Baltimore mindset. It’s been cool circling back to that and kind of feeling him out and just again how he views football and how he is off the field, on the field. Building that rapport with him has been really fun.”
(Does it help that he’s a former player?) – “It’s great having a former player as a coach. It could be any level, even if you’re playing high school. I tell this to guys that I talk to that are younger – high school, college, it’s still the same game. The coaches are going to coach the same. If they are good, they are going to coach you the same way. Obviously, there are some bad eggs here and there, but’s always good to have a coach that’s played. I know defensive line coach (Austin) Clark played and a lot of other guys have played prior to coaching.”
Terron Armstead – June 5, 2024
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Wednesday, June 5, 2024
T Terron Armstead
(What has this offseason been like for you?) – “It’s been great. It’s been great. Spent a lot of time with the family, training, getting fully healthy. Feeling well.”
(Where are you body-wise?) – “Feel great. Ready to go.”
(Last time we spoke with you was when you were in Orlando when you were wavering on what your future would hold. Can you take us through that process? What you considered and how you came to the decision you did?) – “Yeah, just a ton of self-reflection. Analyzing the season as a whole, looking through the film, all those good things. I sat with some family, made some decisions, but ultimately this is where I belong. This is where I’m supposed to be. I love where we are as a team. I love our opportunity we have in front of us. We left a lot on the table last year, and it’s time to finish.”
(Are you entering this season feeling like it is your last?) – “No idea. I enter every season with full commitment, locked in. I don’t try to look past that at all.”
(Why is Year 12 going to be your best?) – “It’s my approach, my mindset. It’s definitely going to be my best season. I’m looking forward to having an All-Pro year. Locked in, throwing people out the stadium, going crazy. That’s our mindset up front.”
(Can you give us an idea of what the process is getting ready for a season? From end of year to September?) – “Yeah, end of season you take some time off, of course. You reflect the season. You look through, watch film, see things you could’ve done better, see things you could’ve done better as a whole. Then you get into the training part of it, more so rehab to start early on. At this time now, you get into training. My training routine may be a little different than it was five years ago. A lot more Pilates, yoga, body work than years prior running sprints and gassers and stuff like that, so it changes.”
(What are you doing to ensure you play a full, healthy season?) – “The only thing I can do is control what I can control. All the things that I’ve mentioned and nutrition, mobility, flexibility, strengthening. Everything science tells you and putting my best foot forward. I go out there and play with physicality and violence, we’re going to let it roll like that.”
(With T Patrick Paul here, obviously most guys know that they have to mentor their replacement. I know you don’t have an issue with that. What do you want to pour into him to help him be the player he has the potential to be?) – “Any and everything. Every tool that exists for him to be successful and successful for a long time is what I’m going to give him and everybody else in that room. I’ve had a short time with Patrick (Paul) so far. I’ve seen some great things on the field, impressive for sure. Got a lot to learn, a lot of areas to improve in, but you see it – for sure you see the potential. You see why he’s here. Smart young man, but any and everything that I can possibly give, show, say, see is going to be offered to him.”
(When you got into the league, who poured into you?) – “Yeah, I had some great vets. Jahri Evans, Ben Grubbs, Zach Strief, Drew (Brees), I had some great vets. Those guys – I really leaned on my OGs, and they showed me the way.”
(Quite the offensive line you guys had over there in New Orleans.) – “Oh yeah, wasn’t bad.”
(When you talk about T Patrick Paul and learn new techniques and learn this new offense, it’s different than most offenses in the league. What can you give him from your experience of trying to learn new techniques and of playing on the offensive line?) – “Take your time. That’s probably the biggest thing I’m going to have to emphasize to the young man. We’re not going to try to learn the whole thing, read the whole dictionary in one day. We’re going to take small wins. I gave him a couple of things to focus on every day. As we start getting into hands and knocking hands down and hand placement, things to do with the hat, your feet, all that, that takes time – it’s a progression. But I told him I consistently want to see him win a set every day. Every play he controls where he gets in his set with his base, with his foundation ready to go. So just small wins, he’s eager to learn everything. Just kind of make sure it’s a process.”
(How far out do you forecast that? Because obviously he wants to have an impact on the team this year, but ideally he’s around for the long haul at left tackle. How do you kind of forecast getting that stuff down for this season versus the benefit of his entire career?) – “It’s a progression. It’s a progression. But once you consistently can do certain things over and over and over where it’s subconscious, you don’t have to think about certain steps in certain positions, then you move on to the next. But until then, you don’t. And that can happen sooner or later depending on the movement and the player. So he’s doing a lot of good things really well for a young guy. Some things you’d like to see more, but it’s coming because he’s willing to. He’s going to put the work in.”
(Sometimes players get injured because they haven’t done things to prevent injuries. When you were describing some of the things you’ve gone through, it sounds from this point of view that you have covered as many bases as you can. Do you feel like you have? Is there anything more you could’ve done other than have better luck sometimes?) – “You know something you let me know. (laughter) The durability has been my Achilles heel, it’s been my issue. But me as a professional and as I pour everything into my game, that’s just what I do for a living. I try to check all boxes, for sure. But you get landed on from behind while you’re pass blocking, there’s no yoga class that’s going to prevent that. You know what I mean? Do everything that I can to be ready and I will for sure, and then we play football.”
(Is there kind of a eureka moment when it came to making your decision to come back? Like “Alright, yeah, I’m going to miss this too much. I have to come back.” Was there something that was kind of the tipping factor to come back versus not?) – “Just that burning desire. That burning desire, the love for it. Watching the film, watching the things that I did to finish the season. Had a strong six, seven weeks to finish the season into the playoffs. And it’s just – man, there’s a lot we can do as a team that we left on the table. It’s time – we got to clean the plates this time.”
Patrick Paul – June 5, 2024
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Wednesday, June 5, 2024
T Patrick Paul
(I know it’s been very early in minicamp, but what have you learned since you’ve reported to rookie camp? Technique stuff, footwork, staying low – what are two or three things you’ve picked up?) – “Honestly the first thing I’d say is just playing fast. This is a very fast offense as everyone knows. Just playing fast and understanding the coaching and understanding the playbook. I’d say that, playing fast.”
(When you say fast, this team has a fast passing game. QB Tua Tagovailoa releases the ball very quickly. You don’t have to maintain your blocks very long, do you? I’m not saying you don’t have to be as good, but that speed, that quick release is that different? Does that do anything as a left tackle do you have to make any kind of adjustment?) – “No, I’d say that ball is ball, really. With the pass sets, it’s kind of just make sure your guy doesn’t get to the quarterback. So with that, just winning at all costs. Not really thinking about when the ball is being released, but just know you’re going to man that guy down even if it’s held for 10 seconds.”
(Any vets kind of take you under their wing, or is there someone you picked something really important up from already?) – “I’d say the whole o-line room. The whole o-line room, they’re very good at teaching me and teaching all of the rookies that we have how the standard is, what to do, and what not to do. I’d say the entire room, they just all are helpful and impactful.”
(Tell me about being tutored by T Terron Armstead. What is that like? What has he shared with you?) – “He’s a mentor of the game, so I’d say just the knowledge on what to focus on each day. One of the things he told me that I can relate to is the small victories every day. Win your set. Don’t just try to get it all done in one day. Just stack days and improve 1 percent each day.”
(Is he someone that you possibly emulate on the way up? You saw what made him such a great tackle) – “Of course, yeah. I’ve watched him throughout his career. I love watching offensive tackles, and he’s one that I studied in college. It’s surreal being here right now.”
(You’ve also got T Kendall Lamm whose got a lot of experience, somebody that I really like talking to. Tell me about being there with T Kendall Lamm also, what has he passed along to you?) – “Kendall (Lamm) – Mr. Tenure. (laughter) He’s a master of his craft. He’s a great person, very smart, very intelligent. He shows up every day and he gets after it. That’s someone that I respect a lot, and he teaches me a lot of stuff every day. Just seeing how he’s been able to consistently up his game is something that is very impressive to me. I love it.”
(What’s your plans between now and training camp? Are you going to stay here? Are you going back home? Who are you going to be working with? What are you thinking?) – “I’ll probably be in Houston working out. Working out with my o-line trainer up there, and then come back here and work out with the guys up here.”
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
T Patrick Paul
(I know it’s been very early in minicamp, but what have you learned since you’ve reported to rookie camp? Technique stuff, footwork, staying low – what are two or three things you’ve picked up?) – “Honestly the first thing I’d say is just playing fast. This is a very fast offense as everyone knows. Just playing fast and understanding the coaching and understanding the playbook. I’d say that, playing fast.”
(When you say fast, this team has a fast passing game. QB Tua Tagovailoa releases the ball very quickly. You don’t have to maintain your blocks very long, do you? I’m not saying you don’t have to be as good, but that speed, that quick release is that different? Does that do anything as a left tackle do you have to make any kind of adjustment?) – “No, I’d say that ball is ball, really. With the pass sets, it’s kind of just make sure your guy doesn’t get to the quarterback. So with that, just winning at all costs. Not really thinking about when the ball is being released, but just know you’re going to man that guy down even if it’s held for 10 seconds.”
(Any vets kind of take you under their wing, or is there someone you picked something really important up from already?) – “I’d say the whole o-line room. The whole o-line room, they’re very good at teaching me and teaching all of the rookies that we have how the standard is, what to do, and what not to do. I’d say the entire room, they just all are helpful and impactful.”
(Tell me about being tutored by T Terron Armstead. What is that like? What has he shared with you?) – “He’s a mentor of the game, so I’d say just the knowledge on what to focus on each day. One of the things he told me that I can relate to is the small victories every day. Win your set. Don’t just try to get it all done in one day. Just stack days and improve 1 percent each day.”
(Is he someone that you possibly emulate on the way up? You saw what made him such a great tackle) – “Of course, yeah. I’ve watched him throughout his career. I love watching offensive tackles, and he’s one that I studied in college. It’s surreal being here right now.”
(You’ve also got T Kendall Lamm whose got a lot of experience, somebody that I really like talking to. Tell me about being there with T Kendall Lamm also, what has he passed along to you?) – “Kendall (Lamm) – Mr. Tenure. (laughter) He’s a master of his craft. He’s a great person, very smart, very intelligent. He shows up every day and he gets after it. That’s someone that I respect a lot, and he teaches me a lot of stuff every day. Just seeing how he’s been able to consistently up his game is something that is very impressive to me. I love it.”
(What’s your plans between now and training camp? Are you going to stay here? Are you going back home? Who are you going to be working with? What are you thinking?) – “I’ll probably be in Houston working out. Working out with my o-line trainer up there, and then come back here and work out with the guys up here.”
Mike McDaniel – June 5, 2024
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Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(So is this three-day minicamp turning into a two day? Is that a possibility?) – “I do see a reality where I could be inspired to adjust the tempo of tomorrow. Not the actual occurrence of tomorrow, tomorrow will still exist for sure. But I kind of leave that open to the players and what type of painters do we have at the canvas? Are they going to inspire me to paint a different picture for tomorrow? We’ll see, but I think the most important thing is that I think the spring can be made out to be a lot of different things. You can make it what your collective group decides to make it, and if at any time you’re getting things out of a May or June day that has residuals for the regular season, that’s kind of the litmus test. I’ve been seeing that littered throughout orchestration of practice – yesterday was really good. So whether I hope, or the players hope, or both, that intentionality today is what we’re looking for. If we don’t get it right, we’ve got another opportunity.”
(On a day like today, I guess in minicamp where there’s no pads, what do you look for from your offensive and defensive linemen? Is it different on the interior than on the edges on both sides of the ball?) – “There’s so much stuff right there that I love. I think there’s a whole balancing act when you’re trying to orchestrate football without pads. However, this balancing act, if you prove adept at it, is monumental over the course of a season. You’re talking about having to not have pads on to get football work. You do the math on how many allocated padded practices you have during the season. Bottom line is if you’re a good football team, you have to be able to play football without pads well, and that takes an orchestration of understanding technique and fundamentals, but also how to protect the team and there’s a fine line. You’re trying to achieve hat placement and you’re trying to maintain your gap, but not trying to bury your teammate if you have them in a vulnerable position. All of those things are a work in progress. I pretty much talk about it daily to the team and show clips on how we can execute our fundamentals and technique while protecting each other. I think it’s a little more complicated on the edges of the defense, particularly the way that we attack defenses offensively and the way we attack offenses defensively. It’s kind of a similar mindset of who’s going to set the edge, so you have to do a lot of orchestration in terms of teaching on how to get stuff out of it and not develop bad habits but get better. And then internally, the biggest thing is not having the competitive fires fuel things that don’t help us play football well. What do I mean by that? Holding when you get leveraged or shoving a guy that’s maybe at an impasse right around the ball carrier, those types of things. You have to really put the team first while in a competitive individual situation. So it’s really good teaching because the benefits of it, you see throughout an entire NFL season.”
(I wanted to ask you about WR Odell Beckham Jr. We’ve been kind of looking forward to seeing him out there. Will we see him this week? And if not, why not?) – “Well, so the head-to-toe camo for him has worked well? You guys haven’t seen him? He’s been right in the middle of the field. (laughter) No, I think – these are always funny. Everybody is excited to see players when they first get here specifically, and a player of that caliber, everyone is pumped up. But systematically what we try to do is learn the player and develop a relationship with them and adjust to their body on their timeline so we can have the most beneficial, communicative relationship of maintaining health. Long story short, working into playing with the Miami Dolphins, between myself and (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle (Johnston) we decided you guys were going to have to wait. But that’s just due to the individual process that we are very consistent with when new guys come to the team. We take nothing of assumption and make sure when guys are on the field, there’s no setbacks. We’re obviously applying that to him.”
(Early on in your coaching career you had the chance to work with Andre Johnson and seen his work ethic in the offseason. What is it about Andre Johnson’s work ethic that you took away from that time and that experience from Houston to try to bring it to the receiver corps in Miami?) – “It’s not the Canes shirt, but you’ve got Canes colors on… There’s no disrespect, it’s more than Andre Johnson went to the U and just recognizing strong question. You’ve been on tilt for this, haven’t you? You’ve been holding that in the holster. I love the example of a very talented player that made the most of his NFL career, that has no regrets because he combined that talent with ambition and desire of development. 2006 we got to Houston; I’ll never forget it. I give him a hard time whenever I see him, but that first year in 2006 – obviously great player, best player on our team and did some great stuff for us – but the whole year as position coach, Kyle Shanahan would just show him Steve Smith highlights and how he caught the ball and it just used to irritate Andre. And so that first offseason we ever had him like going into our second year, he went into the lab, went and trained and came back like almost on a man on a mission just to prove Kyle wrong about how he was catching the ball and like, ‘Steve Smith does this? OK, I’ll do this.’ And he came out the gate in 2007, two really strong games, ended up getting injured. Came back, had a good season and then had the career-changing numbers the following season in 2008. So you watched it live speed happen, you watched him do it through work tied with unbelievable gifts. I think for all players, I wouldn’t be doing an injustice at all by really looking at the way Andre handled his career and making that the standard for how people – like you have whatever talents you have available to you and regardless of how talented that is, being able to maximize those talents by the way you approach the game, it’s inspiring. He was the first player that I ever was fortunate enough to be around that was the best talent and the hardest worker.”
(Why Steve Smith though?) – “Well, 2006, that was – two-part – the prime of Steve Smith’s career. He was doing a ton of things with YAC based on how he caught the ball, so smaller dude, but he would aggressively attack slants with his hands. Andre had great hands, but he would catch with his body all things even at that time. And so then showing the residual effects of how Steve caught the ball both annoyed and motivated ‘Dre’ (Andre Johnson) to the point of a lot of hours of training and the great thing was, ‘Dre’ you proved us wrong. We win, you know? So everybody won, it was good.”
(We saw how they were used last year, but I’m curious how you would characterize the competition between the running backs right now and what do you think about what you’ve seen from RB De’Von Achane so far?) – “I think we are very fortunate to have a group of running backs that really from across the board, it’s hard to even say top to bottom because there’s such great competition and you wouldn’t be doing justice to the entire group if you were trying to crown this person or that person, but the whole group, pretty much led by Raheem (Mostert), it is of quality and depth as good as I’ve been around and been around a lot of good groups. I think the position in general, we have a lot of skill sets that their ability to affect the game is multiple so that we’ve been getting a lot of the guys different work within the offense at different places just to kind of expand their game. I think that I have literally spent zero time trying to forecast that room because I recognize supreme competition when I see it, and the great news is instead of saying what I believe or forecast, I get to just watch and allow the players determine all that for us. I know one thing; we’re going to get the best version of each individual because of that room and the way they embrace the competition while encouraging each other and having a strong relationship with teammates within that position groups is non-negotiable for those guys. All of those guys really, really lean into the fact of we want everyone to do their best and that’s where I want to succeed, not because somebody else fails. So I think that character – there’s residuals to that. I think that for your team, it’s a big deal when you have competition that’s healthy because you get the best versions of people and it manifests itself across a lot of positions, I think.”
(I know that players can sometimes use these and training camp practices to kind of tweak their game to get better, step back to take two steps forward. But how do you guys balance the evaluation of a player – maybe you’re trying to work on some things versus ultimately deciding who makes the 53-man roster?) – “That’s a tricky, tricky thing that we try to break down here with our coach-to-player relationships and what I mean by that is players are conditioned to say, ‘Well, a correction or a caveat to your game means that that’s bad.’ So you’re trying to for us in this offseason, is establish the healthy relationship boundaries of no, you want a coach to have something to help you and you want that – not criticism – more attention to your game and whether it comes in a negative or positive light, if you’re constantly bringing up how people respond and paying attention to that and they can feel that it’s more about – like for me, I want to see the next target towards a receiver after he drops a pass. I’m much less concerned about that pass that he dropped in the spring. I know he’s trying to catch it, but what I do find out that you can’t really substitute is, alright, well when something bad happens which will inevitably happen every single time he plays football, how is he going to respond. And when players start to understand from each position that that’s what we’re focused on, you get the right type of energy that’s not short-term result based. ‘Oh, there’s an incompletion,’ you start cussing. Or if it’s good, ‘OK, I can take the pressures off.’ No, this is a big-picture assignment. We’re trying to attack things with a game-like mentality more so than our opponents and then work through those residual added game reps, is the whole kind of mindset and I think practice becomes real fun when you’re using it not having it define you for the short term.”
(I wanted to ask you about QB Tua Tagovailoa. In the practices that we have been here, he either has not attended or he has not participated in 11-on-11s. If that trend continues while the contract negotiation continues, how could that potentially impact the offense?) – “I would’ve had an ulcer and a panic attack if I tried to forecast anything that comes to my plate on a daily basis. I haven’t extrapolated in that way. What we’ve been focused on is communicating with each other. The knowns are that Tua’s representation and our front office are negotiating a contract. As a player, Tua, and myself as a coach, what should our focus be on? Right, wrong or indifferent, we’re going to be held accountable for the ultimate product. Whatever way you want to see it, the piper has to be paid, so to speak, so how can we make sure that we are delivering on what we’re bound and determined is non-negotiable of developing this offseason. Well, maybe it makes more sense to, in this situation, do 7-on-7 or pass. Well, that’s an opportunity, if you take more reps, if we’re identifying specific things in our game that we’re trying to improve. That can’t be a complete substitution over time. There is something at some point that I think it’s important for us to communicate and get in front of when we’re not able to follow through with our ultimate objectives. But that’s what him and I have discussed and are fully focused on in our conversations, which is how do we improve certain things about our game. I think we found ways to do that in our current orchestration and that is not, like everything in life, infinite. At some point in time, that will be important, but for me to think that’s on the radar of even being a possibility of an issue, I’m not worried about that being the case. I also can’t say that wouldn’t be the case. Again, I try to stay in my lane to do what Tua is counting on me to do, which is get him better in every way, shape and form, and that’s what we’ll be doing today.”
(Speaking of QB Tua Tagovailoa, there’s a lot that’s been said about his slimmer physique. His teammates have had some jokes as well. I’m curious, from your perspective, on the field, how have you seen this version of Tua and maybe the movement aspect translate?) – “Seems stuck. I’m OK not being the tallest guy or the most physically-imposing. But to have a lesser joke, and I caught wind of ‘Reek’s (Tyreek Hill), and that was so strong that I was literally mad. ‘Man, I should have thought of that joke. It’s so topical.’ (laughter) But I think when your standard is that the same is worse and you’re trying to chase the best version of yourself, you find different things. We were problem solving last offseason, he went full-tilt into that, that rendered some great results. There were also some unintended consequences of the strength. Honestly, it’s just Tua trying to find another level of his game and another level of being a professional. It happens to a lot of players where all of a sudden you become pseudo-dieticians several years into your career but definitely not at the start. Seeing ways that he could maintain the strength but create some more flexibility and power, or however you want to look at it – who is the dude who drives the ball far on the PGA Tour, (Bryson) DeChambeau? So he just channeled his quarterback version of that, I guess. (laughter) It wasn’t to correct something that needed fixed. It was an opportunity to get better, in his mind I think. And ultimately, we’ll see how he does at read option and if he’s trying to be an option quarterback, how svelte is svelte? (laughter) But anything that helps you attack your job and solve problems – problems that he’s more aware of now than he was last year or the year before, just in terms of being a problem-solver at your position – you learn different things and you find value in different things. I think he’s maturing as a professional and really going after the annual offseason of ‘How do we get better?’ Not if.”
(A common refrain kind of talking about the evolution of QB Tua Tagovailoa is that last year was the bulkier version of him stayed healthy and led the league in passing. How do you balance that aspect with maybe the new version of him that may not be as bulky? The health with the mobility doesn’t always seem to…) – “It was a very concrete thing that we were trying to solve last year with regard to physical preparation. That was his ability to be available as much as he can. But more importantly, for him to have the life that he wants and to play the quarterback position, and how to keep himself healthy, we identified the ground as the big opponent that we had to defeat. So strength training those particular things while also drilling stuff for the first time, we saw unbelievable results in terms of every situation that he was presented with. He was able to provide the technique and he had the strength to do it. So you don’t know what that is. It was uncharted territory to kind of like work on training stunt doubles or something how to fall. That was uncharted territory, but you establish the strength and how to protect yourself so now you can go back to what are the things that help me do my job to maximum ability, not shortchanging any sort of strength. He is really taking his diet serious. And he hasn’t done things to lose weight, he’s done things to be in shape. I would be pumped about where he’s at now, maybe predisposed to a hair of body shaming from last year if you want to do that retroactively. But to be fair, not many people were going about things that way to be as proactive with something of that nature with jiu-jitsu. He was training jiu-jitsu and calling it something else I think at one point – judo. But he really went after it and then you find out new things. Just like every year, we’re trying our best to do the best football plays. We learn more about football plays and defenses and stuff, and we do new plays the next year a little bit. That maturation I think is an example of how he is as a professional, and understanding what his job is to the team and to the franchise. He’s going after it and controlling all of the things that he can control.”
Kendall Fuller – June 5, 2024
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Wednesday, June 5, 2024
CB Kendall Fuller
(How’s the first few months as a Miami Dolphin been for you?) – “It’s been fun, just being around the guys, getting in the building, getting adjusted out here and moving in, just little stuff like that. So it’s been fun.”
(What’s your impression of what Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver wants?) – “I mean, he just wants guys that are going to fly around, especially right now. Everybody – we’re all learning a new system, there’s going to be some mistakes. But just guys going out there, playing fast, playing physical and the more we go on, the more we’ll start executing more and more. But we’ve been looking good, flying around. So it’s been fun to watch.”
(How are you physically in this stage of your career?) – “I feel good man. I’m all about routine. I think at this point, so many guys have their routine that works for them. And you just stick to the routine and trust and know that’s going to get you to where you need to be.”
(How do you balance fine tuning individual things that you want to work with in practice but also try to stay within the structure of a new system and trying to learn that?) – “I mean that’s part of football. You got to learn what you can do different techniques that you may have to how it fits in with the system and what you’re being asked to do. So you learn that as you’re out there and while you’re out there on the field – that’s what this is for. That’s what you do in training camp and in practice and what you practice for, to see what works and see what doesn’t work.”
(Do you think that in training camp you’ll get the chance to take some reps both from the outside and inside position?) – “I’m not sure. I mean all of us are flexible guys that play multiple positions. So whatever the coaches want to do, wherever they’re looking, whatever they’re thinking is where any of us go.”
(Have you got the chance to hang around CB Jalen Ramsey a little bit this spring?) – “Yeah, this week all of us have been hanging around a lot and things like that. Me and Jalen (Ramsey) both came into the league the same time, played with some players, shared some of the same coaches. So just laughing and talking about some of that and things like that. It’s going to be fun just to get to know everybody, not just players but staff members, equipment staff, everything like that.”
(How much value if you could measure just being out here on the grass with the guys, you and CB Jalen Ramsey getting these reps together, what’s the value of that before heading into the summer break?) – “I mean ultimately, it’s just fun. Just to be able to come out here with these guys that you’re ultimately going to be going to war with, it’s definitely fun. All of us are – for the most part, a lot of us are going to be out here in the summer just working out doing our own thing, but an opportunity for us to get up and keep on building that camaraderie. Especially once you go through training camps together, grinding through the season, so it’s something we’re all looking forward to and none of us take for granted.”
(How would you describe Cornerbacks Coach Mathieu Araujo coaching style so far?) – “He’s good man. Young, a lot of energy, but also a lot of knowledge. It’s been fun working with him. Very detailed in things that he’s looking for and things he wants us to do. Just brings good energy, has high expectations for us and tries to hold us to those expectations. So it’s been fun working with him.”
(This is your first live reps against WR Jaylen Waddle this week. What have you seen?) – “Speed. A lot of speed, but also just everything from his releases. Just the preparation in all his routes, making sure everything looks the same. He’s definitely what I’ve seen on tape from the last couple years.”
(How does the talent level in the defensive backs room compare to some of the groups that you’ve had over the years?) – “I mean it’s great talent. It’s the NFL man. You play with so many talented guys at every position, whether that’s starters, whether that’s dudes like Jalen (Ramsey) who will probably be a future Hall-of-Famer, guys third or fourth on the depth chart. That’s probably the biggest difference between college and NFL, everybody has talent. Everybody can play. So it’s just fun to build the relations here with these guys.”
(How do you think training camp will help with regards to your group going against WR Tyreek Hill, WR Jaylen Waddle, WR Odell Beckham Jr., guys like that?) – “Yeah, I mean just working and just competing. Competing, getting each other better, learning from each other – that’s what training camp is for. We’re competitors, but we’re teammates at the same time. We go get a rep, one person wins, one person loses. Talking about it, learning, seeing where you can do better. Seeing what the other person saw and things like that, so it’s going to be fun just to compete.”
(Will I notice you jawing or even getting physical with your own guys due to the competition or are you not much of a talker?) – “Nah, I’m not much of a talker. Especially when it comes to the trash talk. If I’m talking, I’m communicating with the guys on defense.”
(As far as the focus of this defense, you have that championship DNA that you and CB Jalen Ramsey bring to the team. When you look at that at this point and knowing the stuff that it takes to get to that level, how comfortable do you feel saying this team has that level of reaching that point?) – “Yeah, I mean you can feel comfortable, but at the end of the day we have to keep on working. If we were sitting here after minicamp – if anyone sits there after a minicamp, especially with a new system, saying, ‘Oh yeah, we’re where we need to be,’ no team whether it’s a new system or old system is where they need to be in June. That’s going to be up to how we work in training camp and throughout the season and things like that. But with the coaches that we have, the guys that we have and the intent that everybody has for that being our goal and the intent to work towards that is definitely fun to be a part of.”
(How have you been adjusting to being in South Florida? Enjoying the weather?) – “Yeah, I train out here every summer so I was somewhat familiar with it. But definitely it’s different training in South Florida than playing football in South Florida. That’s been fun man. Just getting around and having the little stuff like F1, the tennis tournament, things like that so just being able to do things and getting around your teammates like that so I’ve been enjoying it.”
(So you would say Miami is pretty much the best place to play in the NFL?) – “I mean there’s so much going on. I tell people you definitely have to be locked in and you have to be focused, but it’s also somewhere that as athletes, you have to be able to get away from football and it gives you the opportunity to do that.”
(CB Jalen Ramsey had some pretty high praise for you, he said you guys go way back. He was saying you are going to have big shoes to fill. Can you tell us about that?) – “Yeah, I mean Jalen (Ramsey) and Xavien Howard – Xavien Howard was here for eight years, he played tremendous football. I’ve always been a fan of him. All of us came out the same year, so I’ve always kept up with those guys, Jalen, ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) and just the level they’ve been able to play at for so many years. But my biggest thing is just going out there and playing football. I’m just doing what I can do to get out there and make plays that help us win games, and that’s the only thing I can focus on.”
Jalen Ramsey – June 5, 2024
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Wednesday, June 5, 2024
CB Jalen Ramsey
(What are some things you’ve been working on this offseason to just try to improve and detail your craft?) – “Just the basics, same old same old. This is Year 9 for me, I know what it takes to be successful. We’ve got a new defense, just focusing on making sure I know the new defense and know all the positions in the defense. That’s it.”
(What’s it been like working with Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver?) – “It’s been cool. It’s been fun so far. A lot of communication between us two. I think he’ll let me show my full skill set once again this year, so it should be fun.”
(What have you noticed as far as the differences between with Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver and Vic Fangio last year?) – “I’m not going to compare them. I’m not going to sit here and do that. Y’all can do that on your own, but I think he’s a great coach. I think he’s a good hire. I think he’ll put guys in position to do really good things and show their whole skill sets. That’s fun – it makes the game fun.”
(Now that you’ve had an entire offseason to get over that injury you had, how much better do you feel now maybe than November or December last year?) – “I mean if I didn’t feel good, I wouldn’t have played last year.”
(So you were the whole way back last year?) – “I mean I played and I was a Pro Bowler, so I did pretty well.”
(How much do you just enjoy the full slate of lining up in different places and being involved in several facets of the defense, not just staying on one side?) – “Those are things that I’ve done throughout my whole career besides last year. Last year was the only time I didn’t follow and only stayed on one side of the field. So last year was kind of a different year for me rather than this being different. This is like back to what I do, back to where I thrive and made impact and have a lot of fun playing the game.”
(We haven’t spoken to you since the Xavien Howard move. What was your reaction then and what do you think of CB Kendall Fuller now coming in?) – “’X’ (Xavien Howard) is always going to be my dude. That’s my guy. I wish he could still be a part of the team. Business is business, I understand it, but I’m always rooting for him. Arguably the best corner in Dolphins history, so that’s my guy. But me and Kendall (Fuller) go way back to like high school, so that’s my guy too. It’ll be fun teaming up with him.”
(What’s it like now having S Jordan Poyer in the secondary? A veteran like that along with yourself, just a lot of veteran presence now in the secondary.) – “It’s cool. It’s cool, I ain’t been able to – we ain’t played no games, just a couple practices together, but it’s cool. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and what he’s done in his career thus far. Glad to have him a part of this defense, I think he brings a lot of knowledge to this defense along with his skill set. I think he’s a really good player and can make a lot of plays and also can make a lot of impact with the team. I think him and Jevon (Holland) can be one of the best duos in the league. I’m just really looking forward to them being the guys back there.”
(You have a new Cornerbacks Coach Mathieu Araujo. What can you tell us about him?) – “Yeah, he was here last year as an assistant. We had a good relationship last year and it’s just grown throughout the offseason and now into this minicamp. That’s my guy.”
(I wanted to ask you about what you think of WR Odell Beckham Jr. and just how excited you are to be able to play with him again?) – “It’s cool. It’s cool – I don’t know what you want me to say, but it’s cool. (laughter) That’s my brother. We have history playing on the same team in L.A., but now is now. I want to be on the same team as all my friends, so it’s cool.”
Jonnu Smith – June 5, 2024
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Wednesday, June 5, 2024
TE Jonnu Smith
(How has it been since you’ve been back down practicing and getting acquainted with the team?) – “Everything has been going great. Definitely getting acclimated, always good to be around during Phase 1, 2 and 3. Just getting used to your teammates, building that camaraderie, building that chemistry, it’s been going awesome. I’m excited to be here.”
(How similar is this to anything you’ve run in your past?) – “It’s a lot of familiar concepts. I’ve been around this offense for quite some time now – my first stint in Tennessee and obviously Atlanta. So coming in a lot more comfortable with the terminology, a lot more comfortable with the concepts and knowing what we want done as a offense. I would say the transition for me has been a pretty smooth one.”
(Have you had the chanced to visit FIU since you’ve been back?) – “I have. I have, this is home. I’m a stone’s throw away from where a part of my journey started. It’s very humbling. Every day I wake up and I still feel like I’m dreaming. There is no place I’d rather be, and there no better place for me. Again man, I’m beyond excited to be a Dolphin.”
(When you look at this offense and the potential, do you think it’s possible to have three 1,000-yard pass catchers?) – “Man, the sky is the limit with these guys. I feel like I’ve said this every year literally because it’s been my honest opinion. That’s just the way my career has went, that’s just the journey I’ve been on and the people I’ve been around. But this is by far the most explosive, talented stacked team I’ve ever been a part of. I’m not even going to say offensively, just as far as a team. Now, what does that mean right now in the beginning of June? Nothing – we’ve got to go out there and continue to put the work in. We all know that and we all believe in that. So as long as we have the mindset that we know who we are and what we can do, and we come in here and work with that mindset, I think we will be very satisfied with the results.”
(How does Father’s Day look for you?) – “I appreciate that man. It’s going to be me and my four babies, my wife by my side and all our family. So definitely excited, it’s good to be home. It’s good to be home with my kids and I don’t have to travel. So I’m looking forward to it.”
