Karl Dorrell – July 28, 2019
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Sunday, July 28, 2019
Wide Receivers Coach Karl Dorrell
(You have six proven veteran receivers. You have some talented young guys, obviously, here as well. How tough is this going to be to whittle this down to whatever number the franchise needs to whittle it down to on Labor Day?) – “It’s going to be really tough. When you have a situation like I have, that’s what you want anyway. You want it to be tough. You want to make sure that you’re putting pressure on the guys that were already here to keep them getting better and improving on their skillset. Then you want the young guys to be talented enough to be able to push those guys and if anything, maybe even overtake them at some point too. It’s really good competition in the group. Like you said, it’s pretty deep. I’m excited about it. I like our young talent with the young guys that we brought in. I think when we added Allen (Hurns) a couple of days ago, that’s a good veteran talent that he’s here, along with the other guys that were older that were already here, so it’s a good mix. It’s a good mix of guys that are trying to fight for some spots. You’re right. There’s only a handful of guys that we’ll end up keeping and there’s 10 guys or 11 guys out there, so they’re all fighting for a spot.”
(Your first three months with WR DeVante Parker, how do you think he’s looked? Has there been an emphasis on maybe trying to high-point the ball and to use his size to his advantage?) – “Absolutely. That’s definitely part of it. He’s a guy that he does create some problems because of his size. That’s some of the stuff that he’s been improving on in the offseason, as you guys have noted. But there are a lot of other things that I want him to be good at, as well. If he’s going to be a dynamic player in this league, he’s got to be multifaceted in a lot of different ways. He’s accepted that challenge. He wants to do that. He wants to be that type of player. I’m very excited about how he progressed to this point and now we’re trying to get him ready to play.”
(What are you looking to see out of WR Jakeem Grant, WR Albert Wilson and WR Allen Hurns early in camp as they are coming back from injuries?) – “All of those guys are kind of transitioning at different levels back from injury, like you mentioned. I’m pleased with their efforts and how they’re trying to get back. They’re all at different stages about where they’re at but Jakeem, who you mentioned in your question, he’s doing really well. Of those three guys, he’s had most of the reps so far in camp and he’s really kind of surprising us and doing the things that we already saw him do in his past; but to fit himself in our offense and to be able to do some of the things that we’re asking him to do, he’s been doing those things pretty well. Albert is doing well too. From where he was late in the spring to where he is now, he’s getting on the field. He’s kind of where actually Jakeem was in the spring, just kind of gradually picking up the pace as we go. Albert is doing that and he’s in that mode right now. He’ll be ready to go, I think, in due time as well. Allen is actually recovered. He’s full ready-to-go. Obviously he’s trying to get himself back in playing shape and tuning up his game. It’s good to have a good veteran presence like him. Like I said earlier when we opened this whole discussion, I’m very pleased with the level of veteranship in this group and the young players in this group.”
(Obviously WR Kenny Stills can play boundary and slot, and you have WR Allen Hurns now at slot as well. Do you see value for Stills in the slot? He’s done a lot of good work from that position.) – “Absolutely. He’s done those things before. Kenny is kind of our versatile player where he can play inside and out. He has the speed to do that. He’s accepted that and he understands what we’re trying to get out of him and in our offensive scheme. We have just a lot of options. That’s really what needs to be said is we have some guys that are at different size levels. You guys have mentioned Preston (Williams) at 6-foot-4-and-a-half. He’s a big kid. Obviously DeVante (Parker) is a good kid. We just have a good range of players from big to small and all different speeds and different skillsets. So it’s fun. For me, as their position coach, it’s a fun problem to have. It really is.”
(I know you guys don’t want to make any kind of excuses but when you do have new quarterbacks working with the receivers, is there a learning curve that you have to allow for?) – “Absolutely. You’re right, we aren’t going to make any excuses about that. And there is (a learning curve). Sometimes as receivers, you have to get used to the different arm in terms of how the ball comes off his hand and the timing of how he throws. Then from the quarterback perspective, he’s getting used to a different group of receivers that he’s not quite used to throwing to. So there is some timing that both sides of the coin need to work on to get better. That’s why we practice and that’s why they do the little extra work that they do after practice is to try to get on the same page about what it should time out to be and what it should look like, and also to point out some ideas about how to run a route or ‘this is where I want the ball when you throw this route.’ I think there is a learning curve on both sides of that.”
Michael Deiter – July 27, 2019
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Saturday, July 27, 2019
G Michael Deiter
(How did it feel to get the pads on and crack a couple of heads today?) – “It was awesome to feel that football feeling again. It’s cool to get out here and practice with no pads on and get your footwork back and all of that, but it’s nothing like when you finally put the pads on. It’s a whole different ballgame, and it’s fun. You kind of see where you’re off. As soon as the pads come on, you realize what you need to get better at. I think that helps a lot.”
(Guys were chirping a little bit, nice fun competition between offense and defense. Guys have got to like that as well.) – “It’s going to happen. It’s a competitive game, guys are going to go down, guys are going to work. That’s just all part of the trenches.”
(The concepts in the playbook, is a lot of it new or is a lot of it stuff you’ve known in the past?) – “I’d say there is a lot of similar concepts, it’s just the verbiage is different. It’s different language that I’m picking up on. It’s good. I still need to keep working on it but it’s coming. The concepts are the same, other than there are some new pass game stuff, that’s a little different for me. But, when it comes to the run, it’s all the same concepts just different language.”
(Tell me about the physicality out here. Rookie year, first day in pads. How different was that?) – “It’s a lot different. The physicality, it’s there. People’s ability to get off blocks, it happens way faster, they are way more athletic, and then they are a little bit more physical. There is no denying that. Then there’s the heat too, which seems like it’s kind of physical too. You kind of have to battle them both.”
(You come from Wisconsin, which is known for their running game. Is there similar concepts there as there are with the Dolphins here?) – “Yeah, it’s a lot of the same stuff. The run game is pretty much going to be the same everywhere unless you’re running the spread all of the time. We’re running a pro-style offense, (so it is) a lot of the same concepts. Like I said, it’s just a lot different language.”
(Have you been able to find a hockey rink out here to get a skate in yet?) – “I need to. In the offseason, that will be something I definitely have to figure out. I’m hoping to hang out with the Panthers. That would be cool.”
(Are there any of the veterans on the line – T Laremy Tunsil or G/T Jesse Davis – that you may be able to pick their ear or someone that you’re maybe close to, to help you?) – “Jesse, Dan (Kilgore) and Chris (Reed) are definitely guys I’ve been leaning on a lot because they play in the interior. They are smart and they are good players and I need their help. Just sitting with them and hearing what I can do better from their point of view is huge. You get coached, but it’s always different when you hear it from the guys you are playing with, especially older veterans like that. It’s refreshing to see if they are seeing the same thing you’re seeing and just getting it right together.”
(What are some of the things, the rookie-hazing that’s going on, what are some of the things they are making you do?) – “There’s not really anything. Honestly, it’s pretty nice. It’s cool stuff like getting snacks for the room and stuff like that. Just helping out when they need help with stuff. It’s honestly not bad at all. It’s friendly. They are cool. I’d say the hazing in college was a lot different. (laughter) It’s pretty much been buying snacks and making sure everyone has coffee, which is cool. That’s part of being a rookie.”
(Any weird request?) – ‘No. Nothing weird.”
(Do you share a favorite candy or something with another player?) – “The biggest thing that we need to have loaded all the time is sunflower seeds. We chew so many sunflower seeds throughout the day. Everyone is passing around bags of seeds, so every two days I have to go buy a bunch of sunflower seeds.”
(Any flavors?) – “All the flavors. Barbecue and pickle are the main ones that go, and then ranch. They go fast. The originals stay longer.”
(What are any of the other things? Honeybuns, Pringles any type of things?) – “Just chip assortments. Hi-Chews. Do you know what Hi-Chews are? The little fruit candies and then the fireball cinnamon candies.
(A lot of websites and pundits think you’re penciled in as left guard for this team starting opening day. I know that a rookie kind of has to earn his way into that role. What’s the message been like in the meeting rooms, in the coaching rooms as far as where you stand on the offensive line depth chart?) – “The message is I don’t really know where I stand, but all I can do is come out here and work and play good football and learn. The biggest thing I need to do these next few weeks is just learn, and then at the end of that, I’ll have a chance to do something, and that’s fine. I’m not going to sit here and think about what might or might not happen later. All I can do right now is work, and the biggest thing I need to do is just master the playbook. Once I can get that down, I can play fast, and then I’ll be able to play at my best, and it’ll give me my best shot to help this team, but it’s not really a concern. It’s just learning and getting better with those guys.”
(It seems like you’re not really in a rush for an opportunity. With the offensive line, these opportunities just come at any moment, right?) – “There’s always going to be opportunities, and there’s opportunities to help in different ways, and as cool as it would be to come out and start, if it doesn’t happen, it’s not the end of the world. I’m not going to sit here and be like, ‘I need to be a starter.’ That’s not how that works. What you’ve got to do is come in as a rookie and shut up and work and let the cards fall where they will but do your best to make your card played.”
(How do you measure your growth each day at training camp? Are there set goals that you’ve set for yourself?) – “Definitely. Every day, there’s something I can get better with, and a lot of it’s been just small technique stuff. I think I’ve been pretty good with the playbook, but I think stuff like hands, footwork, especially when you start to get tired in this heat, that’s stuff that can go fast. So just buckling down on that stuff has been kind of my grind. And it’s gotten better, but there were some points today where I was a little tired, and it wasn’t there, so it’s stuff I need to clean up.”
(All-time starts record at Wisconsin on the offensive line, and that was at left tackle, left guard and center – is there a preference you have? Has there been some cross-training going on so far in camp?) – “There isn’t a preference. Any spot is an offensive line spot, so I’m good with all of it; but I would say I’m most comfortable with inside somewhere, so that’s about it. I’ve worked a little bit of right guard. I’ve worked some right guard in OTAs and then a little bit today, a little bit of right guard.”
(We had a great quote last year from former G Josh Sitton who said that changing sides on the offensive line is like trying to learn how to wipe your butt with the other hand. Is that accurate to say?) – “That’s a good quote, but I think it’s probably not as hard because it’s still offensive line. It’s a little different, and then the stance is a little different, but I think switching to wipe your butt would be way harder. (laughter) Way harder.”
(What’s been the percentage breakdown of each side for you so far, do you think? Ballpark?) – “I’m not sure, but it’s been mostly left and just a slight bit of right.”
(Have you practiced in this kind of heat before in your life?) – “We were down here for the Orange Bowl, but that was December, and it was not this. So no; but I’ve got three practices in now, so yeah.”
(How many pounds do you lose at practice?) – “At least usually six, and it’s weird because I feel like I’m drinking the entire – like I couldn’t drink more water I don’t think. To still lose that amount of weight, I mean this heat is different. It’s something that will definitely be an advantage once we get used to it because people have got to come play in this, and I think that’s a huge advantage for us, but we’ve definitely got to get used to it.”
(We’ve seen G Chris Reed open with the first team. Have you gotten many first-team snaps or any at all so far through three days?) – “Just when Dan (Kilgore) needs a breather. When Dan needs a breather, I’ll come in and Chris will go to center, or I’ll go in at right guard, just to kind of help those guys out; but it doesn’t really matter. Wherever I work, I’m getting good work.”
(Do you feel effective in the communication when you play center as far as getting the protection calls called out and everything like that?) – “I haven’t played much center, but if they want me to, I’ve been snapping and stuff; but if I go to play center, I’ll feel comfortable with that. It’s just something in need to keep working on.”
(Do you feel like you came in more ahead in pass protection or run blocking as a college player moving into the NFL?) – “I would say just because of the Wisconsin style, better in run. There’s a) little bit of an edge in run; but my run needs work, my pass needs work, so neither are close to being great. That’s for sure.”
Mike Gesicki – July 27, 2019
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Saturday, July 27, 2019
TE Mike Gesicki
(How do you feel?) – “Never been better. I feel great.”
(What do you feel you need to do this camp to show that you’re ready to take your game to the next level?) – “Honestly, just continue to improve in every aspect of my game. Obviously (I want to) continue to get better in the pass game, the run game and pass protection. When you’re a tight end, you have to be able to do everything, especially in this system. I want to be on the field as much as I possibly can, so I have to be able to do it all.”
(Did you do anything in the offseason different from coming in as a rookie last year to prepare?) – “Yeah, everything was different. I didn’t have to train for the Combine or do any of that stuff, so a lot of it was just being able to put on good weight to still be able to come out here and use my advantages, my quickness, my speed, stuff like that. Overall, I feel like I had a good offseason, but all that stuff is behind me now and I’m just ready to roll.”
(How much more confident are you this being Year 2 for you as opposed to last year coming in as a rookie?) – “My confidence never really wavered. I was confident last year; I’m still confident this year. I think, obviously, the experience helps and all of that kind of stuff. I’m ready to prove what I can do.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores mentioned earlier some of the things he’s looking for is blocking, breaking contact off the line of scrimmage. Is that something you feel you’ve come further on since last year?) – “Yeah, absolutely. Obviously, that’s what the whole offseason was for. That’s what getting bigger, faster – you guys know the deal. I’m obviously coming out here and we’ve got great coaches, a great system, a great scheme that talented players have to come out here and make plays. And that’s not just the plays like making catches and stuff like that. It’s getting your hands dirty, getting your head in there and go make plays in the run game.”
(How different is what’s being asked of you in this offense compared to previous offense?) – “I mean tight end is tight end. No matter what you’re told or what you think, you’re going to have to go in and run block, you’re going to have to go in and pass block, you’re going to have to go in and split out and run routes. Honestly, it’s a different system, but the position is the same. You just have to go out and be physical in all aspects of the game.”
(I know we talked to you about body weight numbers back in May. What was the final number as far as what you reported at this year compared to your rookie year?) – “I think last year I came in at like low 240s. This year I was low 250s. Something like that. The key is to be able to keep it on. You guys are out here, you guys are sweating too and you’re just sitting there. (laughter) It’s obviously tough, but you have to be able to keep it on and keep on the good stuff.”
(And that will help you how with that extra weight?) – “Obviously, when you’re asked to go in and block, go in and be physical on safeties and corners that are covering you and linebackers that are trying to get a jam on you. I think just the physical aspect of the game and being able to keep my conditioning up to be able to do all of the more athletic things that come with the positon.”
(What kind of goals have you set for yourself this season?) – “I know it sounds cliché, but my thing is just come in here every day and being positive and taking it one day at a time. Last year I was kind of looking ahead sometimes like, ‘Oh man, we’ve just got to get to here,’ like an off day, because you’re so damn tired during camp. Every single day, I’m just taking it one day at a time and trying to improve. I’m not worried about catching balls in practice and making these big plays and all that, because at the end of the day, the only thing I’m worried about is getting better, whether that’s in the run game, whether that’s blocking somebody, whether that’s being physical on my release. Even if I don’t get the ball, if I run a good route, that’s a check for me right now. I think right now in training camp, if there’s ever a time you can kind of focus on yourself, it’s right now because there’s not games you have to worry about or prepare for. Right now it’s just really hammering down your technique and that kind of stuff.”
(Does it help going up against physical safeties in practice like S Reshad Jones?) – “Oh yeah.”
(I saw you taking S Reshad Jones on today.) – “Reshad, he got after me a little bit on Day 1. I think that was something that alerted me that I’ve got to bring my game every day. He’s a Pro Bowl safety and you’re not going to go up against anyone better than him. To be able to go against him every day in practice, it’s only going to make me better. I’m excited about that aspect of our practices and the competitiveness.”
(How much more intense was practice, because you guys had to pads on today?) – “Honestly, the last two days have been pretty competitive and intense and all of that. But obviously when you put the pads on, it’s obviously different. Guys are coming out here and smacking heads and all of that kind of stuff. It was good though. It was good. I felt good. I feel like we were able to move the ball and do some things. Honestly, the goal today was to come out there and by physical.”
(How do you define toughness both in practice and then on game day on Sunday?) – “It’s all the same. You have to be able to do what you’re asked to regardless of the circumstances, regardless of who it’s against, regardless of how you’re feeling. Toughness isn’t coming out here and talking, it’s all about actions.”
(I saw something from Pro Football Focus saying you’ve caught 22-of-22 catchable balls last year. So when you had the opportunity, you made the catch. But do you ever get down in terms of not having a volume of opportunities?) – “Obviously, me being the competitor that I am, I obviously want to make plays and all of that kind of stuff. Last year was a lot about learning and a lot about growing and fitting myself into the NFL and what this positon entails and all that kind of stuff. I got plenty of years ahead of me to go out and make good plays and catches and all that kind of stuff. Last year is behind me. It’s something that now I’m able to grow on and build on. (Head) Coach (Brian) Flores is always talking about being able to build on that. (I want to) come out this year and take that next step.”
Brian Flores – July 27, 2019
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Saturday, July 27, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I believe you said yesterday that pads are on today?) – “Yes.”
(How hard is full mode for you guys? What limitations do you have and what do you want to see out of your guys today?) – “I think first and foremost, it’s about getting into a practice tempo. You have one without pads where you’re trying to get a lot of good work in but obviously staying off the ground, and when it’s not a full-contact situation, that’s one practice mode. This is a little bit different practice mode where we have pads on. We’re working our fundamentals, our technique. There is contact at the line of scrimmage, on the offensive and defensive line. There’s contact a little bit more at the wide receiver, DB, safety, tight end positions. We’ll work on tackling, but at the same time, to be in a good football position, it’s about body position. It’s about things you heard in Pop Warner – shoulders over knees, knees over toes, having good body position, staying off the ground. Basically, we don’t want anybody on the ground. We’re not coaching that. It’s not something we want our players doing. We want them in good football positions and the ability to make a block, make a tackle, and that practice tempo is something that players need to get used it. You don’t just snap, put pads on and you have high execution from that standpoint.”
(What’s the fine line? Because obviously tackling is hugely important. You said from Day 1 that reinforcing how to tackle, getting to that edge, but not putting your guys at risk?) – “I think that’s something we talk about a lot as a staff – tackling, defeating blockers, breaking tackles. That’s football 101. We have to practice it, but at the same time, we want to stay up. We don’t want any big collisions. We don’t want to get anybody hurt or injured. Obviously we tell everybody to keep their heads up, use good tackling form, good blocking form. That’s what the last two days have been about. Really the entire offseason is about those fundamentals, those techniques, body positions, hand placement, head position – things that we really need to put an emphasis on. If we see poor form, poor tackling – really, it’s for the players’ safety. It’s players’ safety first and foremost. If we see somebody ducking their head in practice, we’re going to take him out of the drill or take him out of the practice or take him out of the game if we have to. That’s for the safety of the player. I reiterated that to the coaching staff and to the players as well. At the end of the day, nothing’s more important than the health of this team, and part of that is us as a coaching staff to practice and drill the fundamentals the correct way.”
(So when the pads go on, does that begin to separate who the physical guys are and who needs to be more physical?) – “Absolutely. I think at the end of the day in football, you can never forget about the physicality of the game. It’s something that from the early days – from the beginning of the game, that’s really what it’s about. It’s a physical sport. It’s about being tough, being gritty, but at the same time, being smart, being disciplined and not letting the toughness and the aggression of the game get the best of you, which happens really on a week-in, week-out basis. That’s something that we have to practice as well. It’ll get chippy out there. That’s a good thing; but at the same time. we’ve got to keep our poise. But yeah, we find out the guys who are willing to put in that effort from a blocking standpoint, from a defeating-block standpoint, from a tackling standpoint when it’s hot, when you’ve got a big guy blocking you, when you’re tired. That’s what the game’s about. I enjoy that part of the game, and I’ll see if we can do that.”
(So other than the scrimmage, your philosophy for camp is going to be thud and not going to the ground? Is that accurate or will there might be some live periods?) – “We’ll have points in practice where we go live, points of practice where we’re thuds, points of practice where we’re tagging off. We’ve gone through that with the team. They know when and when they’re not supposed to. We’ll let them know when it’s live tackling. Again, we have to practice that, but for the most part, the tackling portion of it is really one phase of it, but it’s the interior blocking, on the interior defeating blocks, it’s receivers blocking, it’s DBs defeating blocks. All of that is critical to the success of this team, and that’s something that we’ll practice in the individuals because you can’t make the tackle until you defeat the block. It’s a step-by-step process, and I think it’s one of those things that I never want to put one before the other. You can tackle, tackle, tackle, but if you can’t defeat a block, then we’ll never get to make it there and make the tackle.”
(Other than proper technique and physical strength, from your NFL experience, what are the factors that end up making a player the things you want – physical and tough and a good tackler or blocker on Sundays?) – “I think being smart and knowing where your help is, where you need to be and where you can put yourself in the most advantageous position to defeat a block and then make a tackle. So I think there’s places in the defense for setting the edge – a firm edge here, and you know that he’s going to set a firm edge, then you know you’re not going outside of that edge. You’re going to go inside-out on that edge, and you’re going to defeat that block in that progression. Then when you get to that point, it’s about your fundamentals, your technique; but look, the talented players do a good job normally with their fundamentals, technique, and even sometimes it’s not the perfect fundamentals, perfect technique, but they find a way to get guys down, and at the end of the day, that’s what it’s about.”
(What criteria do you and Offensive Coordinator Chad O’Shea and Assistant Quarterbacks Coach Jerry Schuplinski use to determine first-team snaps at quarterback in terms of who’s playing with the first-team offensive line with T Laremy Tunsil, etc.? Obviously, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has gotten the vast majority of those through two days.) – “I think that is a day-by-day conversation. Criteria, it’s day-by-day quite honestly. It depends on who we’re trying to work together, what center we’re trying to work with the quarterback, what quarterback we’re trying to work with receivers, what backs we’re trying to work with quarterbacks, etc. You’ll see some moving pieces really on a daily basis, and it’s really a day-to-day thing that we talk about when we meet at night and then when we meet early in the morning – who’s going with what group and what’s the best way to evaluate the entire group and also those individual positions.”
(Everybody in here is aware you’re going to be here five minutes early. Does the team, by now, after how many months, aware of time schedules and all that?) – “They understand that time’s important to me and that I think it’s precious, and it’s something that I don’t like to waste. I think there’s a lot that we’re trying to accomplish here, and if we can get an extra minute here, an extra minute there, that could be the difference in getting fourth-and-1 and not getting fourth-and-1 – that minute. That’s how important it is to me. I think the players understand that. I think hopefully anyone who’s around me understands that. That’s kind of the approach I take. Maybe it’s a little out-there, as some might say, but that’s my approach and I’ve been that way my entire life. I don’t know what the difference is. Sometimes you miss a play by this much, you make a play by that much. I don’t know – maybe it’s that minute, so I want to take advantage of that.”
(What other – for lack of a better word – culture ideas have you brought here? When you talk about putting your imprint on the team, you’ve done…?) – “I wouldn’t say it’s mine. To me, it’s a football culture. It’s being on-time. It’s working hard. It’s putting the team first. It’s being tough, being smart. I think every coach, really around the league – in my opinion, if you’re in this game and you’ve been brought up in this game, and you’ve learned this game – in my opinion, that’s what every team’s hearing, so I wouldn’t call it my imprint. I know there’s a lot of high school coaches who are saying this exact same thing – Pee-wee coaches, NFL coaches, college coaches. So I wouldn’t call it my imprint. I would just call it an overall football culture.”
(Where did you first hear “tough, smart, disciplined?”) – “Where did I first that? In high school – Dino Mangiero. I’ve talked about my high school coach multiple times here. It’s the first time I heard it, and then I kept hearing it over and over and over again. Then I heard it from Tom O’Brien at Boston College. I heard it from my position coach – Bill McGovern – at Boston College, and then I’ve heard it for the last 15 years over and over and over again, so it’s been beat into my head for a long time. But when I really think back, I even heard it from my parents. We’re going to be tough, we’re going to be smart – we’re definitely going to be tough – I know that, but it was harped on to be smart, it was harped on to have respect and then be disciplined. Quite honestly, I’ve heard it my entire life, and it’s authentic, to be honest. So when I say it, I mean it. Hopefully, the people around me take heed and listen, and I think that’s the best way to create consistency and get better and improve.”
(What is a disciplined football team by your definition?) – “(A disciplined football team) doesn’t beat themselves, doesn’t have the silly penalties, plays with poise when it gets chippy, (is) smart, disciplined enough to play smart football, to understand the game situations, to understand the down-and-distance situation, the field position situation. I think those all take discipline to really look deeper into the game situation. That takes discipline. Mentally, that’s a tough thing to do, too, so smart, tough, disciplined – there’s a few different facets there. We talk about that not just with the players but with the coaches and really everyone within the organization. Again, these are things that I don’t think are groundbreaking; it’s just the way I’ve always been brought up.”
(Having worked more closely with CB Xavien Howard in the spring and early summer, how good can he be?) – “He’s a talented, talented player, and he is tough and competitive and aggressive. We’ll see how aggressive he is today, but there’s a lot of things I like about him. The one thing why I’m excited about him is he’s on a quest to get better and improve and fulfill all the potential that he knows he has and we know he has. At the end of the day, potential doesn’t really mean anything unless you take advantage of it, and I think he’s trying to do that. That’s a day-after-day-after-day-after-day process. A lot of guys have potential. They work at it one day, they work at it two days, but Days 6, 7 and 8, eh – they get a little tired. That’s the goal. That’s the goal for really everyone on this team. In order to maximize your potential, you’ve got to find the discipline, the grit, the toughness to stack good days together, and then when you get tired, that’s when you’ve really got to stack a good day. You’ve got to put a good day together. Then we’ll give you a day off, you get recharged, then we go again.”
(A question about the coaching staff’s decision of pairing guys – who works with whom – and changing that up; regardless of position, is there a chance that a guy who practices better than another guy the day before could be behind that guy the next day?) – “Yeah, there’s a chance that could happen. I guess the thought process behind that is, maybe we want to keep that guy hungry. Maybe we want to make sure that guy knows that you could have a great day, and we’re always competing. There’s a lot of levels here, a lot of things that go into it. Maybe we’re sharing a couple tidbits for you here – you can have that one, no problem (laughter) – but maybe that’s part of the process. To me, that’s a good thing. Maybe it isn’t. Maybe some people think they’re better than they are, and we don’t. It could be a few different things. Only a few people know that, though. Only a few people know what’s really going on, and then you find out on Sundays.”
(Looking at the tight ends, what does TE Mike Gesicki need to show you that he’s ready to take his game to the next level?) – “I think Mike’s done a really nice job throughout the spring and then really into the first couple days of training camp. I think – like everyone on this team – it’s again, it’s one thing to put a couple of days together. We’ve just got to string them together, and now with pads on, this just adds a whole other emphasis from a blocking standpoint, from getting releases with more contact and breaking tackles and ball security. There’s a lot of levels to it. You really can’t get a full evaluation until we get to this point, and we’re here now. This will just be the first step to the next round of evaluation.”
Bobby McCain – July 27, 2019
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Saturday, July 27, 2019
CB Bobby McCain
(Do you think of yourself as a safety now?) – “Yes.”
(Like the cornerback thing, the nickel thing, is out of your mind?) – “No. I’ve definitely got to know it all. I’ve got to know all five positions on the field. But right now, yeah I’m definitely deep.”
(When did you know the transition to safety was real? Like they weren’t experimenting.) – “OTAs around the end of spring.”
(Why does this make sense for you?) – “It’s just putting good ball players on the field, putting all of your playmakers on the field. Guys that communicate, guys that work together, guys that got chemistry such as myself, Xavien (Howard), Minkah (Fitzpatrick), T.J. (McDonald), Reshad (Jones), everybody. All of the playmakers, we’re all on the field a lot. That’s why it makes sense because you want ballers out there.”
(You guys haven’t really had that centerfielder, last line of defense type of free safety since S Isa Abdul-Quddus. Why you?) – “Because I get the job done. I’m the guy to get the job done. I get the ball on the ground. At the end of the day, I’m rangy, I can move well, I can tackle, I can cover. Free safeties do a lot more covering than you think. Just being able to get to the ball, being rangy and getting the ball on the ground, that’s the biggest thing.”
(With this transition, how much does having played nickel help you?) – “A lot. A lot because I can tell you where his help is, I know where his strengths and weaknesses are, I know where the outside strengths and weaknesses are and now I’m controlling the field in the back end, just looking around and you can tell, ‘this is where he is going. Okay, you’ve got a three-by-one, this is where he’s going.’ You can look at the quarterback, you can read him and make plays on the football.”
(How important is the communication back there?) – “Very, very. It’s paramount. Communication is paramount. It’s one of the big reasons why I have success back there is just because I communicate with guys and have an understanding that at the end of the day, we have to get the ball on the ground and stop it from getting across the goal line.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores keeps talking about how he wants a tough team and a physical team. It must’ve been fun to actually get pads on today. What was that like today?) – “It was fun. It was a lot of fun. It’s just competitive, it’s a real competitive nature out here. Guys are competing. Guys are competing for their lives. What we’re competing for at the end of the day, each and every day, is just to get better. That’s what it’s about.”
(On Sundays, how do you know who is physical? I know you all are physical to an extent, but how do you know which teams, which players, are bringing that physical aspect?) – “At the end of the game when it hits zero and you’re up or you’re down. If I’m being honest, that’s what it’s about – winning football games and having that physical relentless attitude. Being fearless out here, that’s one thing we’re going to be about. We go out each and every play, each and every day and just compete, be physical, set the edge, do everything they ask us to do and get to work.”
(What’s different this year with Head Coach Brian Flores being the coach from your perspective?) – “Definitely the curfew. (laughter) The curfew is different. We’re running. We’re going to be in shape. We’re going to be the best physically in shape football team, the most in shape, for sure, in the league.”
(You’re running a lot more?) – “Yeah. Definitely a lot more. We run a lot more.”
(The curfew is a little bit earlier?) – “Yeah, but it’s a good thing. You get guys in bed, get guys in their room and just make sure that guys aren’t just out and about. It’s good for you, though.”
(What time are you in?) – “I try to get back to the hotel around 9:50 p.m. It’s a 10:30 p.m. curfew.”
Kenny Stills – July 27, 2019
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Saturday, July 27, 2019
WR Kenny Stills
(On getting the pads back on and playing real football today.) – “It’s fun to get out here. We’re trying to change who we are as a team so you see the pads popping. It’s just we’re playing football now.”
(As you guys are building rapport amongst each other – offense and defense – guys trip a little bit. The pads kind of do that.) – “Yeah, it’s football. It’s competitive and (Head) Coach (Brian Flores) likes to talk a little trash so for us to get out there and do the same thing, we’re out here and we don’t want the days to get monotonous so (we are) having fun and talking trash and building the chemistry as a team.”
(What is it like? Last year was an offensive-minded coach and this year it’s a defensive-minded coach. Just a different comparison between the two?) – “It just makes it so when the defense has a good day, the coach is fired up. (laughter) He’s done a good job of just playing the middle; but it’s fun. We know that defense wins championships so we’re building a good D.”
(QB Josh Rosen told us you guys spent some time together in the offseason. Is that correct? You threw a little bit?) – “Yeah, Josh stayed at my house during the offseason a little bit so we spent some time together.”
(First of all, how was that – having a roommate for a minute?) – “It’s nice. I always try to do what I feel like I’d want somebody to do for me when I was on a new team, so (I was) just bringing him in and trying to help him and us learning the offense together, then just having another buddy around to build that chemistry.”
(How would you say QB Josh Rosen’s mindset is entering this camp?) – “Honestly, that’s something you’d have to talk to him about. I think he’s done a good job of preparing himself and getting ready to do everything he can to play good ball for us.”
(There were some throwing sessions too, is that correct?) – “No, I didn’t throw with him this summer.”
(So QB Josh Rosen was staying with you here in South Florida when he first joined?) – “Yeah.”
(And that kind of just helped you and QB Josh Rosen build on your friendship that you started when you first started throwing…) – “Well I had some extra space in my house so like I said, if I were to get traded to another team or picked up by another team, I would hope that somebody on that team would pick me up and let me crash at their place while I get familiar with the city and with the team and everything. So I tried to do that for guys being that I have some extra space at my place.”
(So you didn’t charge QB Josh Rosen for anything? You just let him crash?) – “No, I didn’t charge him for anything. (laughter)”
(Was this like in the spring or more recently?) – “Yeah. It was from the time he got here until when we left (for the summer).”
(There’s two of your receivers that could be big parts of the receiving unit – WR Allen Hurns and WR Albert Wilson. They aren’t doing everything yet in practice. Is there any impatience on the part of the whole group of receivers to kind of see what you look like together because you’ve got some talent?) – “We know that when the time is right, they’ll be out there. We’ve got plenty of time. We’ve got two weeks until a preseason game and then we’ve got four preseason games. As long as guys are healthy and they’re getting reps and they’re prepared for Week 1, we’ll be ready to go.”
(What’s different with this camp and previous practices under Head Coach Brian Flores than previous years here?) – “Training camp is training camp. We’re out here in the heat and we’re out here practicing hard and trying to build chemistry to go out and have a good season. I can’t really tell you the difference between the two. It’s training camp.”
(How are you doing?) – “Great. I’m doing great. I’m just trying to improve on my game and trying to lead the best way that I can and make plays and just do all of the little things. I know that if I lead by example then everybody else will follow. We’ve got so many talented players on our team and in our room and in our group. So for us to get out there and just be consistent every day and make plays and try to lead this team, that’s all we can do.”
(Did you notice a big difference today with the pads on?) – “I mean, yeah. When the pads get on, we get to get a little more physical. You guys got to see the goal-line live period we had today. That was violent. I’m excited to see where this team goes.”
(You talk about the top talent on this team here. Is it far-fetched what national people are saying, with the win total being 3-13 or less than five or less than six wins? Is that kind of far-fetched? What do you guys think about things like that.) – “We talk about the league. We know they want parity and they want 8-8 teams. The disrespect and the 3-13 and that type of stuff, it is what it is. We know that we have talent on this team. We know there are talented guys all across the league. It’s about us preparing and going out there and playing football. We’ll handle that when the season comes.”
(So you see it as disrespect?) – “I mean it is what it is. Everybody has their opinion but we’re all professionals. I would hope that you guys would have a little bit more confidence in us as professionals and our coach in preparing us and getting us ready to play.”
(You’ve obviously spent more time with QB Josh Rosen because you were all out west he noted, throwing some during the offseason. The things you’ve noticed about him, what stands out to you from being his teammate for a couple of months?) – “He’s a good player. The ball, like I told you guys before, when it comes out, it doesn’t look like it’s coming hard but when it gets up on you, it’s got good zip. He seems to be able to anticipate what’s happening out there. He’s just got to keep doing what he’s doing and then prepare himself and show out in the preseason.”
(What’s the biggest difference between QB Josh Rosen’s ball coming at you and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick’s ball? Is there a big difference in how it leaves their hands?) – “There’s always going to be a difference. They’re different quarterbacks. I couldn’t tell you anything major.”
(Did you take a road trip this summer?) – “Road trip? I did my regular road trip as soon as the season ended, but no (not in the summer). I traveled a little bit to Europe and that’s pretty much it.”
(Your activism obviously is very important to you. Is there anything that’s going to change for you this year? The kneeling is what everyone asks about but is that all the same, do you think?) – “Yeah, everything is the same for me. Obviously I’m trying to think of ways that I can continue to build on the things that I’ve done. That’s why I hosted a mental health camp two weeks ago before we started camp. I’m just trying to continue to build on what I’ve done and really focus and hone in on my message and use the position that I have as an athlete to bring people together.”
(You’ve had a pretty strong voice when it comes to equality and treating people the right way. You’ve seen some of the political discords that we’ve had the last couple of months. What does that make you think?) – “Honestly, I just continue to focus on what I’m doing. Every conversation that I have, I try to bring people together. I try to listen more than I talk and I seem to have a good response from people when talking to them, if they’re on my side or on the other side. I just continue to educate myself and listen and learn and try and use my social media to help other people learn. It’s really just about being informed. We’re all going to have opinions. We’re not always going to agree with each other but to be civilized and to agree to disagree sometimes is maybe the best way to go.”
(Do you think things are improving because you see ‘send her back’ and all of that and then you see the work that you do. How do you balance? On a national level, it seems like some things are the worst that we’ve seen.) – “When you think about humans, we’re more than likely going to be attached to the negative things. Those are the headlines that we see. Those are the things that get retweeted and shared on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter. I’d like to believe that things are getting better. The conversations that I have with people in my immediate circle and family and friends are getting a lot easier. People are becoming more informed. That’s all I’m really hoping is that people shut off the TVs and looking at the negative news and just start to focus on the good things, try to do good things for other people on a daily basis, kind of spread that love and then hopefully we can start to knock out all of those other things that are happening.”
Xavien Howard – July 27, 2019
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Saturday, July 27, 2019
CB Xavien Howard
(Just getting the shells on and cracking some heads today.) – “Yeah, (it’s the) first day of pads. Everybody is excited like we’re feeling like a kid again, just out here for the first time putting pads on. We’re enjoying that and we’re just working on getting better each and every day.”
(What’s the biggest takeaway you take away from Head Coach Brian Flores implementing his system and how much you appreciate it and like it?) – “I appreciate it a lot. He came from a winning situation and you want to bring that over here. You want to bring that coach over here and he wants to have a new mindset for the Miami Dolphins. Whatever it takes, he’s been there, he’s been in the situation. He’s putting us through everything we have to do to get better.”
(We saw LB Tre’ Watson make a couple of nice goal-line plays. Is that what you’ve seen from him? He’s a thumper?) – “Yeah, he’s definitely a thumper. He’s a good guy – a rookie. He’s improving himself every day and proving to people why he’s out here.”
Brian Flores – July 26, 2019
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Friday, July 26, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(We saw the WR Allen Hurns news. The decision to bring him in was based on what?) – “Well, I would say we’re still in the final stages of that, finalizing that. But yeah, we expect him to be at practice today. Really, the decision there was to bring in competition, bring in what we feel like is a good player, somebody who embodies a lot of the characteristics we’re looking for, is tough (and) is competitive. He’s been reliable over the course of his career. But I’d say this – I talked to Allen and told him this specifically – if he’s not ready to compete for a position, then this isn’t the place for him. He understands that. That’s the conversation we had. Really, anybody that comes into this building, that’s going to be the conversation I’m going to have with them. Allen understands that. There’s no solidified or locked in spots here. You’ve got to earn them.”
(Is the WR Allen Hurns signing based on anything you saw that you needed at that position or was it just for depth?) – “Nope. We saw a player who we thought was a good player, could add value to our roster and that’s how we’ll do business moving forward. If there’s a good player out there that we feel like adds value to our team, then we’ll try to add that player. Those are the conversations that (General Manager) Chris (Grier), (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore) and myself have really on a daily basis. That was the case here.”
(What role did RB Kalen Ballage’s spring and run up to training camp – what he did and what you saw and the coaches saw – what role did that play in him being out there first yesterday?) – “Well, he had a good spring. I know he was out there first but I don’t really look at it that way. We’ve got a lot of good (running) backs. We’ve got a lot of good players at a lot of positions, so guys will be moving. That could have been based on what happened in the previous drill. (Running Backs Coach) Eric (Studesville) and the offensive coaching staff kind of handles that. We’re just trying to get guys the amount of reps they need to evaluate them. So first team, second team, who goes first, who goes second, right now it’s about their improvement, getting better with their fundamentals and technique and really getting them enough reps so that we can evaluate it. That’s kind of my take on the first team, second team, etc. He’s done a great job, I’ll tell you that. But so have all of the backs. (Kenyan) Drake has worked hard. The two rookies – (Chandler Cox and Myles Gaskin) – they’ve worked hard. Kenneth Farrow has worked hard. Obviously Mark (Walton) has worked hard. So I feel good about that entire group and we’ve just got to get those guys as many reps as possible to see how guys fit and how they can help this team.”
(New England’s used mainly package-based scheme stuff for how they use their rotations with backs and things of that nature. Is that what we can expect from this team?) – “You can expect us to put guys into positions to do things that they do well. If we’ve got a guy who can do everything well, you may see that guy on every down. If we’ve got guys that are better in one role and not as good in another, then we’ll try to put those guys in those positions. At times, guys get tired. So some guys are going to do things that you would normally think such and such would be in that role but another guy has to step in and we need backups and we need depth and we need all of our guys to be versatile. So that’s going to be our philosophy. (We will) try to put guys in the best position to do what they do well and at the same time, we need to build depth and our guys have to be versatile.”
(What have you seen from DT Adolphus Washington and how could you use him in both a 4-3 and a 3-4?) – “Adolphus obviously is someone who is experienced in the league and played a good amount. I wouldn’t say a significant amount but he has some experience in this league and has played in multiple defenses. Right now, for me with him, it’s about his fundamentals, his technique. Looking into the future about what role he is going to play and how he’s going to fit in this scheme or that scheme, I think right now the focus for him is: ‘Let’s get better with our run technique; let’s get better with our pass rush technique; let’s get better with our alignments, our execution, our communication, and then we’ll see how they fit moving forward.’”
(What characteristics do you look for in a prototypical cornerback?) – “Tough, smart, disciplined, puts the team first. Athletic, obviously. Can tackle. Put that at the top of the list. I really should have said that first. I think that goes into the tough and smart. Can tackle. And ball skills are important to me. I think taking advantage of opportunities to create big plays on offense and then defending those plays defensively, those are big plays in football games. Those are big field position swings. We need to be able to defend them. We need to be able to capitalize on them offensively. So playing the ball in the air is important to me. Obviously playing penalty-free, there are a lot of let’s call them pass penalties that you have to be aware of in those positions. Look, you’re playing against the best and most talented players and most talented people in the world – the receivers in this league. That’s what you’re up against on a daily basis. It takes a special player to play that position down after down after down in this league. You’ve got to work hard at your techniques, your fundamentals, your conditioning, your ball skills. You’ve got to work a lot of areas to be successful in this league.”
(Two of your fastest, shiftiest receivers were hurt last year in WR Albert Wilson and WR Jakeem Grant. Do you keep up with how they were training together or rehabbing together and getting back onto the field?) – “Both guys worked extremely hard over the offseason and really into the summer to get themselves in position to where they could come out, practice, learn, compete and get back and help this team. Obviously, like you said, they both have skillsets. They’re both fast, both explosive and both have made plays in the past. Again, the past doesn’t really matter to me very much. I’m worried about today and I’m worried about guys getting out on the field, practicing, working hard in the meeting room, taking it to the practice field and then being productive on the field.”
(WR Jakeem Grant told us that one of his favorite plays was the game where he elevated and caught a pass against New England a couple of years ago.) – “I remember that one. (laughter)”
(What do you remember from that play and think about WR Jakeem Grant after seeing him make a play like that?) – “Yeah, I remember that play vividly. He’s a very talented player. He’s got speed, he’s got athleticism, he’s got quickness. He’s a tough cup. That’s just the reality of it. I think my memories of that play are not so good, but they’re good now if we can duplicate those and do that on a consistent basis. That’s something that I talked to the entire team about – consistency. Again, offensively, defensively, in the kicking game and in meetings and walkthroughs, you guys have heard me say this over and over again, I think that’s very important. Each individual player – Jakeem is part of that, Albert (Wilson is part of that, defensively and all of our guys are part of that – everyone has a skillset. We talk about that play and we need to see more of those plays out of Jakeem. If you make one play in this league, everyone has talent in this league. You can see a play here or there from a multitude of players but being able to do that and do those things consistently, that’s the mark of a good player.”
(What’s the next step for LB Raekwon McMillan in his development? His play last year was kind of a second chance at a rookie season. What do you hope to see from him in Year 3?) – “I think Raekwon’s done a really good job for us thus far. We had a little snag in the spring, and he’s back. He’s worked extremely hard over the summer. He came in in great shape. He’s on top of everything in the meetings. I think he’s done a really good job. What I’d like to see from him is like I said about a lot of the players: consistent play, consistent communication, consistently knowing where to be. Obviously, at the linebacker position, the game is – you don’t really see the game until the pads come on. So you add in the run game, you add in a physical playstyle that we need to play with, I think that kind of plays into some of his strengths, hopefully; but again, what’s happened in the past doesn’t matter. Obviously, we put pads on tomorrow – not that I’m focused on tomorrow – I’m locked in on today, but obviously that’s upcoming, and I think the roles that we’re talking about with offensive and defensive line, linebackers, fullbacks, receivers blocking in the run game, the kicking game, blocking on return units and defeating blocks on the coverage unit – all of those things count. They’re not really things you can see right now, but we’ll see them when that time comes. Today is about our execution, our communication, and we’re working towards that. To get back to Raekwon, I’m happy with where he’s at; but again, that’s one day. We need to build on one day and continue to improve and in those areas where you have strengths, you have to take advantage of those situations.”
(How has LB Sam Eguavoen gotten to the point where he is now, and how did you identify him from up in Canada?) – “(General Manager) Chris Grier and his staff, obviously they do a great job. Those guys are looking at everyone who’s got a pulse that’s available to play some football. They do a great job. They saw Sam and saw speed, saw athleticism, saw a tough kid, brought him in, met him, talked to him, and that was all even before I got here. They did a really good job bringing in a good, young, talented guy who has some developmental characteristics. He’s done a good job. We give him something, he does a good job with it and we’ll give him more. That’s kind of what I told the team. ‘Look, if you do a good job, then we’ll try to give you a couple more things to do,’ and I think that’s what training camp’s about. We talk about Day 1 and who’s with the first team and who’s doing this and who’s doing that. First-day installs, everybody’s got it, but when you put the Day 2install and then run some plays from Day 1, and then Day 4 comes, and you’ve got installs one, two, three and four, and then we got back to Day 1, then we’ll see who’s got it, who can play, who can think and understand what we’re doing offensively, defensively and in the kicking game when the volume starts to increase. I don’t take too much stock in Day 1. I thought it was a good day. I thought the guys, they worked hard. I thought there was good energy, good effort. I thought there was good communication. It wasn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I thought for all intents and purposes, it was a good day. But we’ve got to string good days together, and that’s really what it boils down to. So it’s Day 2install. We’ll sneak a Day 1 play in there or Day 1 defense or Day 1 kicking game call, and we’ll see if they remember those.”
(You mentioned yesterday that the lightbulb comes on later for some players. When you’re determining starting spots or even roster spots, how do you determine between a high ceiling player with lower performance and a low-ceiling player with higher performance?) – “It’s part of the job. It’s what we get paid to do. As coaches, as personnel guys, that’s part of our job description. I think there are guys with – some developmental players – if we feel like there’s a ceiling for them and they’ve got to play to reach the ceiling, that’s always the case – can they develop in practice? Do we stick them in for a play here, a play there in a game? That’s part of the process. It just is. I think every team’s going through that exact same process. It’s not something that’s new to evaluating and football, and it’s different. It’s case-by-case, to be frank, to be honest. Player X may need to play in some games to get to that ceiling. Player Z may just need to get those reps in practice and then gets his opportunity in a game, and he’s got to take advantage of it or not take advantage of it. It’s case-by-case. That’s part of the process, and we’ve got to do a good job of making those evaluations of who has a ceiling and who doesn’t.”
(The number of minority head coaches in the NFL is down this year, the most since the adoption of the Rooney Rule, and you were the only one hired this offseason. Can you just talk about what the opportunities are like right now in the NFL for minority head coaches?) – “I’d say there’s a great number of smart, talented leaders across the league – minority and not minority, for lack of a better term. I know of many. We’ve got some on this staff. Minority coaches who have leadership abilities, who are smart, hard-working, have all the qualities I feel are what you need to be a leader, a head coach, a coordinator, etc. That’s my opinion on it. As someone who’s gone through the interview process and been in this role even for a short time, I know there’s guys out there that I’ve been around that could do what I’m doing. Hopefully those guys get that opportunity. I think it’s coming, to be honest.”
(T Laremy Tunsil told us yesterday he did the conditioning test pretty frequently during the offseason. He said, ‘you see how this man runs us.’ When you look at the retention, I know you say you don’t put a lot…) – “Is that what he said? ‘You see how this man runs us?’” (laughter)
(I think he said, ‘you see how much he runs us.’ I don’t know if he said ‘this man.’) – “Okay, just checking. I’m going to go check on that here in a second. (laughter)”
(When you consider conditioning and tempo of practice, and I know you said you don’t put much into Day 1, but how much retention was there yesterday? How much did that part of your message get through?) – “I think the guys came in in fairly good condition, maybe because this guy told them that they better be in good condition. (laughter) I thought they were in good condition. I thought there was fairly good retention from what we went through in the spring. Like I said earlier, I thought they were ready to go. Again, Day 1 was Day 1. We’ll see how much retention they have on Day 2. My focus is on today, and again, you guys have heard it: you’re only as good as your last performance. That’s where we’re at right now. I think these guys are working though. I think they understand that. They understand they’ve got to string them together. If they don’t do that or we don’t do that as a team, then what happened yesterday doesn’t matter. Then the conditioning and all of the things they did over the summer to get to this point, they can be gone in a couple of bad practices, and then now we’re behind. Now we’ve got to review some stuff and not move on to the next install because we’ve got to go back. That becomes a spiral. So we’ve just got to string the days together. I think they understand that, and if they don’t, then this man will be telling them about it.”
