Josh Rosen – August 29, 2019 (Postgame)
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Thursday, August 29, 2019
Postgame – New Orleans
QB Josh Rosen (Transcribed by New Orleans Saints)
(Obviously QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has been named the starter – how do you feel about that?) – “Not great, but at least for me, the battle and competition never stops. I’ll push him every single day for him to get better, and if he doesn’t get better, I’ll hopefully surpass him at some point. We’re teammates. We’re both Dolphins, and I’m rooting for him as hard as anyone because I think – as I said before – a rising tide raises all ships. I think our quarterback room has a lot of good talent and I think it’s making me better as well.”
(When were you told about this decision?) – “Before the game.”
(How confident do you feel that you didn’t get the starting job, considering you kind of have impressed Head Coach Brian Flores in practice and film sessions and that kind of thing?) – “I think Coach (Flores) challenged me pretty early in training camp as I wasn’t playing very well because I was just sort of drinking water from a fire hose. I think I responded pretty well and made some good progress through the preseason games. I think a lot of that had to do with focusing on my day-to-day and not trying to worry if Coach was looking or make sure I impress him here or this. I think I’ve just got to play football like I know how to play football. In our discussion when (Coach Flores) told me ‘Fitz’ (QB Ryan Fitzpatrick) was going to get the job, he told me that I’ve made a lot of really good, steady upward progress. I think it’s only time that this team is mine, but until then I’m going to be as supportive a backup as I can, and like I said, push him every single day.”
(A year and a half, whenever it was when the Arizona Cardinals took you at No. 10 in the 2018 NFL Draft, I don’t think you’d ever imagine that at this point in your career, you’d be here. How do you get your head around where career progression went?) – “I think I’m in a pretty good spot. It’s not the spot I’d prefer to be in at the moment, but it doesn’t change my progression as a quarterback. Last year everything kind of flipped pretty quickly. They told me at the beginning of the year I was supposed to sit out and try and learn behind (Former Arizona Cardinals QB) Sam (Bradford) and play that Year 2 and get ready to get, and that didn’t happen. I think any sort of projection of where my career should be is kind of irrelevant, or really difficult to pin down, I guess you could say at this point. That’s why I’m really focusing on what I can do day-to-day. In terms of my progression as a quarterback, I think I’m substantially better a quarterback now than I was three weeks ago and a way better quarterback than I was a year ago. On this progression, I think the future is pretty bright. I’m excited. I wouldn’t say it’s a setback, but the temporary – it’s not even a hurdle to cross over; it’s part of the journey.”
(Did you at any point think that as the younger guy that you might get the edge in a close race because you figure more into the Dolphins’ future than QB Ryan Fitzpatrick? Did you ever think, “yeah, if it’s close, the younger guy probably gets it”?) – “No, because there are arguments for both sides. There are arguments for both sides. You could say that you want to develop the young guy and make sure that when he pulls the trigger, it’s the real trigger and that he’s ready to do it, or you could say that you want him to trial by fire. Trial by fire didn’t work great for me last year (laughter), but I think there are arguments on both sides.”
(You obviously don’t feel great about the decision. You shouldn’t, but do you agree with it?) – “That’s a good question. I would like to answer your question but it’s just really not up to me. I think there are arguments on both sides. If the decision was made after Preseason (Game) 1 or 2, I think it would be pretty clear-cut decision, but I think I’ve made some pretty good progress in this offense and really started to get the hang of it, so as time goes on I’ll only continue to improve. Coach’s decision is out of my control. I think I did a pretty good job of making it at least a little bit difficult for him at the end. Maybe if there were a couple more preseason (games), it’d be – I’m just kidding.”
Albert Wilson – August 29, 2019 (Fourth Quarter)
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Fourth Quarter – New Orleans
WR Albert Wilson
(In October, you go down with a hip injury, you go through all the rehab, you finally get a chance to get back on the field. How did it feel for you?) – “It felt really good – just getting out there and competing against someone else besides our own teammates and just getting hit, just doing what I love again. I felt pretty good getting out there for the couple of plays I had.”
(It’s tough going through rehab. It’s tough being away from the team. How difficult was it for you?) – “I had Jakeem (Grant) with me most of the time along this journey, so it was pretty – it wasn’t as bad as it seemed. We came in every day to compete against each other – to try to make each other better, to try to make this process as successful as possible, and I think we did a pretty good job, so I’m excited for this year.”
(Looked like you took a couple hits out there after being away for a while. Doesn’t bother you, does it?) – “No, not at all.”
Xavien Howard – August 29, 2019 (Third Quarter)
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Thursday, August 29, 2019
Third Quarter – New Orleans
CB Xavien Howard (Third Quarter)
(No battle for CB Xavien Howard because you’ve got your spot locked up. What have you done this offseason to try to improve your game?) – “Overall, I just worked on my technique. Mostly with some of the guys – Bobby McCain, Eric Rowe – this whole offseason, we’ve been grinding together and just working on my technique and just being disciplined with what I’m doing.”
(When you look at that room – the defensive backs – do you like what you see in there – the players that you have, the athletes that you’re going to be going to battle with?) – “Oh, yeah. Those guys, we spend a lot of time together. We try to build that chemistry, even with the safeties and everything. We’re all working together and they’re the guys I want to go to war with.”
(It seems like when you’re out on the field, they seem to be throwing to the other side of the field. Do you ever get bored over there?) – “Oh no, I try to stay up all the time. They try to lull you to sleep then come at you, so I try to stay awake for everything that’s going on. When the ball comes my way, I’ve still got to make them pay.”
Brian Flores – August 29, 2019 (Halftime)
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Thursday, August 29, 2019
Halftime – New Orleans
Head Coach Brian Flores (Halftime)
(QB Jake Rudock got the start and had some good drives for you, put 13 points on the board. Do you like what you saw?) – “Absolutely. I think as a total team, we came out ready to play. We ran the football, stopped the run, covered kicks. We got a got a great punt out of (Matt) Haack. I think as an overall team, that was a good, strong half; but the big thing is we’ve got to finish off the second half. We’ve got to play well in the second half.
(One of the guys we got to see – WR Albert Wilson – hasn’t played all preseason. You get a chance to see him and it’s nice to see him on the field.) – “It’s great to see him out there. We got him a few touches. He played fast and made some plays. That’s what we expect to see out of Albert. It was good to see him out there.”
Davon Godchaux – August 27, 2019
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Tuesday, August 27, 2019
DT Davon Godchaux
(For a guy like yourself that knows you’re penciled in as a starter and whatnot, how difficult is it for the guys that are not sure going into this fourth preseason game and kind of know but don’t know if they’ve made the team and they’ve still got to go hard in paint?) – “I tell my guys in the d-line room all the time, ‘put some good stuff on tape because 31 other teams are watching you.’ If the Miami Dolphins don’t keep you, then you’ll get picked up by somebody else. So always, the biggest thing – my thing – is effort to the ball. Put something on tape, stand out on tape and I mean if you don’t stay here, you’ll get picked up somewhere else.”
(Obviously you know a guy that always had a smile on his face – probably not a smile today – was DT Akeem Spence. Just to see him let go, I mean, that’s got to be tough for you guys.) – “It’s very tough. We came in and we got the news, (Spence) texted us in the group message; but at the end of the day, it’s a business. That’s my friend. We built a bond here last year. He came in with (former Defensive Line Coach) Kris Kocurek and we built the bond – me, him, Vince (Taylor) and each and everybody. We built the bond. At the end of the day, it’s a business. At the end of the day, you know somebody’s going to get released. Every day somebody’s going to get released, and there’s going to be a time for me to get released whether I’m getting too old or whether they don’t need me no more. It’s just the business of it. I always tell people, ‘you can’t put your feelings into business.’ At the end the end of the day, it was very emotional for me because I built a bond with him last year coming in; but at the end of the day, it’s a business.”
(How closely as a teammate do you pay attention to those last kind of roster battle spots that go on this week with so many people fighting just for that one last spot?) – “It’s very important because I feel like, if they release a d-tackle, you’ve got to find who they’re bringing in with us and see if they bond with us, see if they gel with us because like ‘B-Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) says, the biggest thing to do is trust someone. Like the other day, a hot day out there where we’re grinding, you’ve got to build trust with that. I’ve got to be able to trust with Christian (Wilkins), knowing that when Coach calls a certain call, he’s going to be there. Christian’s got to be able to trust in me when Coach calls a certain call, that I’m going to be there for him, playing alongside him. At the end of the day, it’s all about building that trust, so each guy they bring in, you want to be able to trust him.”
Nate Orchard – August 27, 2019
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Tuesday, August 27, 2019
DE Nate Orchard
(How do you like the scheme that they’re running here? Being able to put your hand in the dirty or coming from the linebacker spot?) – “Yeah, I love the system. (Defensive Coordinator) Patrick Graham knows what he’s doing. He’s able to put guys in positions to be successful and he’s doing that with me and a bunch of guys. He sees my skillset and what I can bring to the table, allowing me to stand up and have my hand in the dirt, as well.”
(Where are you more comfortable? Hand in the dirt or does it matter?) – “Honestly, it doesn’t matter. I’ve been doing both. I’ve been in systems where I’m in a 3-4, 4-3, so I’ve done a little bit of everything.”
(Pass coverage? CB Eric Rowe said you had a little bit of a knack for that in college too.) – “Yeah, I did that with (Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach) Kalani Sitake when I was at Utah. So yeah, I’ve had experience. I’ve been in the league for five years now, so you get your hands in a little bit of everything.”
(Do you feel like this defensive system fits you the best since you’ve been in the league?) – “So far, yeah. I feel really comfortable with what we’re doing. They’ve moved me from a 5-, 9- or a 6-(technique), stand up, have my hand in the dirt. I’m comfortable being able to move around and play to my strengths.”
(When you move around that much, does that make the game more enjoyable? How does that – We’ve talked with you guys about how much more is on your plate, but in the game you seem to do a lot more than what you normally do.) – “Right. Like I said, being in the league for five years and bouncing around from the left to the right side, stand up, hand in the dirt, the game starts to slow down for you a little bit. With the work you put into the film room and the amount of time we have on that practice field, things start to slow down and you start to see things coming.”
(How difficult is this week for you when you start to see guys when you see guys disappear in the locker room. Guys that you’ve built bonds with and stuff like that.) – “It gets to that time of year. As you guys know, last year being on Hard Knocks, the whole storyline there. Things start to wind down and guys start to leave. It’s the hardest part of this game. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to know that it goes back to being a business and you’ve got to be able to put that aside and not let it break you down. Keep progressing and keep putting your best foot forward.”
(What’s the approach for guys that are on the cusp of making the team, or not making the team going into that fourth preseason game?) – “You’ve got to be able to block out the noise. Knowing what’s at stake, it’s tough. But at the same time, don’t let it take away from your game. Be who you are and approach each game, each snap, as if it was your last and just enjoy it as much as possible.”
(You are tied for the NFL lead for sacks this preseason. What does that mean for you?) – “It’s preseason. At the same time, it’s great to be able to get out there and stack them back up. It’s been a while. I get to get back into my groove. I’m in a great scheme where I get the opportunity to go out and do what I love.”
Jake Rudock – August 27, 2019
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Tuesday, August 27, 2019
QB Jake Rudock
(What have you learned about this offense since you’ve cracked the playbook and what do you like about it?) – “I like the fact that the coaches and the offense allows us to kind of us every guy in a different way. With that said, it’s obviously a tried and proven system, so it’s just nice that it’s – get everybody on the same page. Everybody’s going towards that same goal.”
(You’ve been in the league now several years now. How do you approach this week? We all know what happens at the end of the week. So many players get cut. How’s your mindset?) – “My mindset is just to go out there and play football. Honestly, it’s not – you can’t be worrying about what’s going to happen in a couple days. It’s just, ‘how can I do a good job today?’ and then tomorrow and then when the game comes, do the best that you possibly can.”
(As you go into that fourth preseason game, how do you approach that knowing you will be getting a lot of repetitions and you still have to put a lot of skillset on tape?) – “I think it’s just preparing for the game. Watching the film like you need to watch, get the reps at practice, working with our coaching staff to have a good plan for what we want to do and just going out there and executing.”
(Are you expecting to start Thursday?) – “I don’t know yet. We’ll see. I’m sure Coach (Flores) knows all that. (laughter)”
Jerome Baker – August 27, 2019
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Tuesday, August 27, 2019
LB Jerome Baker
(How does it feel that some guys you were friends were are now gone like DT Akeem Spence, a guy that always had a smile on his face, now not in this locker room anymore?) – “It’s still a business. Guys like that, you still keep in touch with on a personal level; but it’s a business and you’ve got to take it like that. It’s still a business.”
(For a guy like you who’s obviously solidified himself on the team, what about guys that have not solidified themselves on the team heading into that fourth preseason game and still trying to make the roster. How do they approach that?) – “Give it all you’ve got. When you get comfortable, that’s when you slip up. You always want to give it all you’ve got no matter what it is. If it’s practice, if it’s walkthroughs, give it all you’ve got. You never know when it’s going to be your last opportunity.”
(When we came in here, guys were pumping the joy and pain, the joys of training camp, but also the pain of training camp. How fitting was that as training camp comes to a close now?) – “It’s been a long, tough one; but it’s finally time to get ready for the regular season. We’re excited. It was a tough one, but it’s time to do the real deal.”
(What have you seen from FB Chandler Cox? I know you probably haven’t gone full speed a lot against him, but you’ve probably seen him a couple times.) – “Full speed? I have. I’ve been watching him since he was at Auburn. He’s a guy that can bring the hammer every time. Every day he brings it. He’s definitely going to have a good year.”
