Xavien Howard – May 14, 2019
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Tuesday, May 14, 2019
CB Xavien Howard
(How pleased are you that it worked out in terms of the long-term deal getting concluded?) – “I’m happy the deal got done. I’m here today to get better.”
(Was it important to you to be the highest-paid cornerback contract in the NFL, which is how it turned out?) – “My agent took care of business and I’m here today. I’m just here to better. That’s it.”
(What made you want to be here long-term as opposed to testing free agency?) – “It happened, like I said. My agent did his thing and I’m here today.”
(Thinking back to when you were like 13-, 14-years-old. If I had told you that you one day be signing a piece of paper that says $76 million on it, what would you have said to me?) – “Man, it’s just a blessing to be in the situation I am right now. Right now, I’m just focused on getting better, improving each year. I’m happy to be here.”
(After one of the games last season, you said you were the best cornerback in the league. Now you’ve got the money to match it, do you feel kind of validated here in the NFL?) – “(laughter) I’m going to say the same thing. I’m just here to get better. That’s it.”
(As good as you are, Head Coach Brian Flores was saying last week you can get better. Do you like having that coach who will push you, and where specifically can you get better?) – “Yes, most definitely I can get better. There’s a lot of stuff out there that I can work on to help my game and become the top corner in the league.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores specifically said that he considers a leader on the team. How do you plan be the best leader you can be?) – “I want to communicate with the new guys coming in. I’m really a guy that doesn’t talk a lot, but I want to lead by example and I’m also going to communicate more and help my guys out, help my team win.”
(What did it mean to you that the team identified you as one of the guys they wanted to have here for a long time?) – “It means a lot to me. I’m here. There’s a lot of stuff out there that we can do. I’m just happy to be in the situation I am and continue the five years here that I’ve got.”
(Have you had a chance to talk to Managing General Partner/Chairman of the Board Steve Ross at all late in the process?) – “Yeah, I did. I did. He congratulated me and stuff like that. He said he was happy to have me here.”
(And your line to Managing General Partner/Chairman of the Board Steve Ross was what? Thank you?) – “(laughter) I just told him this feels unreal right now. It hasn’t hit me yet. But every day I’m waking up every morning to come here and do my job.”
(We saw a lot of players running to this wall, this TNT wall. What does that mean to you guys?) –“It’s discipline that Coach (Flores) is teaching. He says it takes not talent. Any time we mess up or do anything wrong, we’ve got to run to the wall.”
(Last year we talked about how hurtful losing is to you and how important winning is to you. When you think about the fact that you’re going to be here in all likelihood six more years, what do you hope for the team to accomplish during that period of time?) – “It’s competitive sports. Everybody wants to win. I just want to do the best thing for my team and just help it. Hopefully have a good season.”
(How important is it for you to remain humble now that you have this deal?) – “That’s my attitude. That’s the type of guy I am. You don’t see me out here just bragging about doing anything. I’m just here. I’m the same player.”
(Are you going to buy yourself something nice?) – “No, I’m going to save it.”
(A watch? A car?) – “No, I’m going to save it.”
(I’d brag a little bit if I were you.) – “Why?”
(Please talk about what you’ve learned about the type of defense that Head Coach Brian Flores wants to have and how does it suit your skills?) – “From what he’s been doing and what I’ve been seeing, what he did in the Super Bowl and a lot of stuff that he did, that’s what he wants his team to be and that’s how he’s going to build it – discipline, good conditioning, running to the ball and (you’ll) be a good team.”
Eric Rowe – May 14, 2019
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Tuesday, May 14, 2019
CB Eric Rowe
(I see you out here. You guys are still out here after practice working on stuff. What’s that all about?) – “There’s always something to work on. For me, I like to get some releases in at the end of the day, just to keep up my technique just in case I don’t get too much in practice man-wise or press-wise. So yeah, after practice, I like to get a little bit in. Just a little bit every day, it will stack up.”
(Working with a guy like WR Kenny Stills, he seems receptive to helping you out after practice.) – “Yeah. I can already tell, I haven’t been here too long, but I can already tell he’s one of the guys who likes to get some work in after. So usually I just try to grab him. He’s probably one of the best at it. It’s the only way to get better.”
(How much of that comes from your years in New England and learning how to do things correctly? Everybody is talking about Head Coach Brian Flores having his things from New England, but as a player, it has to stick right?) – “Yeah, it stuck to me. I was there for three years. Just kind of being with the guys up there, their work habits, I just catch on and now it’s kind of ingrained in me. It’s almost like second nature.”
(How nice does it feel that a guy like that wants to bring you around? Head Coach Brian Flores wanted to bring you in specifically.) – “It feels great. It always feels great to be wanted. Obviously, they see potential in me. Just as a player, it just gets your confidence up and you want to work even harder.”
(Did anybody impress you? I know S Minkah Fitzpatrick said he was all over the place today and he likes that. He likes not knowing where he’s at.) – “Yeah. From last year, I saw him bouncing around just kind of on film and now being here, they’re asking him to do a lot and he’s a smart guy. Just being around him in the locker room, he’s a smart player so I know he can do it.”
(From a defensive standpoint, is this very much similar to the Patriots’ approach from what you’ve seen so far schematically, how the practice is run defensively, etc.?) – “Yeah. The way practice is run, the way we’re working, how hard we work – it’s all similar to being up there. To me, it’s not new except the heat. I know it’s not bad right now but I have to adjust to that.”
(It seemed like you got much of the first-team corner snaps today opposite CB Xavien Howard, correct?) – “Mhm.”
(Is it important to you to be a starting NFL corner again? You’ve obviously been that at different times in your career in Philadelphia and New England.) – “Yeah. It’s just important to me to stay healthy. Right now, I know he has me running with the ones, but for me it’s just trying to improve each day because it’s not just competing – obviously against young corners here that are really good – but it’s competing with guys on all 32 teams and all of the receivers out there. Kind of through my years in New England, I learned that you’re not just competing with the guys – you have to compete with yourself because there’s receivers on the Falcons, the Seahawks or whoever we play that are really good, so you have to get ready for them.”
(When you signed here, did either Head Coach Brian Flores or General Manager Chris Grier tell you what they like about you?) – “Yeah.”
(And that was what?) – “Just that even though ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) and (Defensive Pass Game Coordiantor/Cornerbacks Coach) Josh (Boyer) know I’ve been hurt, they see that I still have potential. When I was healthy, I was playing good. They know that I’m all healthy now and cleaned up, so I should get back to the level I was at.”
(Not just you, but this team has a pretty big chip on their shoulder just from the outside noise.) – “Yeah. I don’t really know what’s going on on the outside noise. I learned not to pay attention to that. But just kind of from the grapevine, everybody has a chip on their shoulder. Everybody wants to be great.”
(What you mentioned about things being similar structurally to New England, how comfortable does that make you feel as you transition over here?) – “It’s almost like second nature to me. It takes the learning curve out of it. I know the defense, I know what the coaches want, I know how much they expect, what they demand. All of that, that learning curve is out. Now it’s just me just getting better as a player.”
(You’re lining up opposite the highest paid corner in NFL history. What do you admire about CB Xavien Howard from having watched him from afar and now his teammate?) – “From afar, I heard he was getting a lot of picks. He’s a great player and even working with him, I see how hard he works off the field, on the field, kind of his behavior. That’s the key to being a great player.”
(What can you tell us about this ‘TNT’ wall?) – “He (Brian Flores) put that wall up. It means ‘Takes No Talent.’ It’s basically just saying that mistakes that we make – offsides, false starts – little stuff that really doesn’t take any talent to get good at. If we mess up – I think we had 10 guys on the field or something – and he’ll just send us to the wall until we get those bad habits out of us.”
(What’d you see from your quarterbacks today?) – “Honestly, I don’t even know. I mean yeah, I’m watching them, but I’m watching the guys in front of me on defense. I saw some good balls being thrown – over routes and some good balls. I saw a really great deep ball to DeVante (Parker). It was a really nice play.”
(You got to watch the GOAT – Tom Brady – for a few years there. Obviously, you don’t compare people, but when you need to have a quarterback on the other side that can get you somewhere, how important is that? I know you’re a defensive guy, but the big story here is who is going to be the quarterback of this team.) – “That’s not my decision to make or to even judge. That’s not my job. Whoever they pick, obviously they’ll make a great choice. Whoever it is, they’ll lead this team, they’ll lead this offense. It’s just OTA’s right now. They’re learning a new offense. The receivers are learning routes. They’ll get the timing down, but whoever they pick, I trust in the coaches.”
(You won the starting job obviously in training camp last year. The Jacksonville game was a tough game for everyone early in the season. How did you react emotionally to losing the starting job quickly? Obviously a change was made after that game.) – “The reason I did bad in Jacksonville was because, I should not have played, but I was playing injured. I was playing with a like a sports hernia in the groin so I couldn’t really run. Obviously, me being prideful, I was like ‘I can do it,’ but obviously I couldn’t hold my speed. After that game, I just knew that I just needed to take some time off. The coaches knew. You heal up because you can’t play with an injured guy. You can’t play injured. Obviously, it hurts and affects the whole team. After that game, I just had to kind of get back into my zone.”
(How similar is what you’re doing here to what you’ve done in the past in New England on defense?) – “Everything is really similar. The way that Coach (Josh) Boyer, how he wants the corners to be played, how ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) wants the defense to be ran, kind of what everybody expects, what the coaches expect. Everything is really similar so it’s nothing new to me.”
(Does that give you an advantage?) – “I wouldn’t say an advantage. It would give me an advantage personally, so I can improve my techniques and not focus on learning new calls, new terms, maybe like to some other players that have to put that in their mind. For me, it’s just like I already know the terms. Now I can get better myself.”
(When the defense had to run and touch the wall, that was because 10 players were on the field, or was that another day?) – “I think it was 10. It was either 10 or 12 players. We couldn’t get the right amount of people in there or something and that’s just a mistake that obviously in the game, that would be a penalty. Or if it’s 10, that would just hurt you on defense. Mistakes that we just can’t make.”
(What does running cross-field and touching it do for you physically from a physical standpoint?) – “It hurts. Even though it’s a slight jog, from running way over there, it’s tiring. You don’t want to make mistakes like that. I think it’s just more, not a physical thing, but it’s more of a mental thing. We can’t have a fumble, a ball-security issue, or a false start, or if the QB fumbles the center exchange – stuff that really doesn’t take much effort to get right.”
(The fact that you have the most experience with Head Coach Brian Flores, what should we expect? What should the team expect from Coach Flores?) – “They will expect competition. There’s a lot of good guys defensively. I don’t even know much about offense but defensive-wise, a lot of guys in each position and everyone is competing. That’s what everybody expects from him, to kind of get everybody to improve each day because if you’re complacent because there’s no one pushing you, you won’t get better. I know and I think the team should know that he’s going to have competition at each position to make everybody better.”
Jordan Mills – May 14, 2019
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Tuesday, May 14, 2019
T Jordan Mills
(What are your thought on this opportunity with the Dolphins?) – “It’s a great opportunity. It’s a great team, great young team (and a) new coaching staff. (We’re) coming out here to build a championship, playoff caliber type team and get an opportunity to play for this great organization with a great history. It’s a true blessing and I’m glad to be here.”
(You played your last six years in Chicago and Buffalo. How is your readjustment to the weather?) – “I’m from Louisiana, man. (There isn’t) much of an adjustment. Even though I’ve been in the Chicago weather, I still go home in the offseason. The weather is no different. It gets hot. I’m not saying that I can push through – well, I can push through but I’m not saying that I’m the guy that can deal with it all the time – the heat is the heat. Even you all are standing outside in the bleachers and you still feel it. I’m a Louisiana guy and I’ve been dealing with it my whole life.”
(To play the number of games you have, do you walk into a room and see all the eyes focus on you like you have the most experience?) – “I (don’t) have a lot (more) experience than some of these guys do like ‘LT’ (Laremy Tunsil), and (Daniel) Kilgore and the rest of these guys. I’m just coming in to add my savvy, my experience and just come out here and compete and work hard every day. That’s the task at hand right now, to come in and help this team get better each day.”
(You have experience playing against this team. What stands out to you about the Dolphins the past couple of years, just going up against them?) – “They are a tough team. They bring it every time. When they are playing in Hard Rock Stadium or when they come up to Buffalo, they bring it every time. They never give up. They have a toughness about themselves that nobody has. Not everybody practices in this heat. Not many teams can say that. The way we grind and the way we push, we are pushing towards something great, but we’ve got to take it one day at a time.”
(When did the Dolphins first show interest in you, when did you first get that feeling?) – “I was just, honestly, the time until I got here, I was just working out and training hard. I just left that up to my agent. Whenever they wanted to make that move, they made that move and now I’m here. I wasn’t really paying attention to that. I knew I was going to end up on another team sooner or later. I just had to keep continuing doing what I’ve been doing for the past six years, seven years and I landed here. I’m going to make the best of it.”
(What were some of the options you were considering if it wasn’t Miami?) – “There were a few other teams but it doesn’t matter now. I’m a Miami Dolphin and I’m glad to be a Dolphin. Respect to the other teams, but I’m glad to be here in Miami.”
(Your first impressions of watching QB Josh Rosen and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick today?) – “They’re great. They are hard workers. They are some of the first people in this building and the last ones to leave. All of our quarterbacks, they command the huddle, they bring great leadership to our team and they are great players.”
(We know you’re new here, but is there anything you can share with us about the TNT wall and what that means and what that is for this team right now?) – “The TNT wall is just nothing but hard work, dedication and just holding ourselves to a higher standard and to focus on the fundamentals and the little things each day. It’s not always much, always focusing on the big things. (It’s) the little things that make a team great. Fundamentals, technique and things like that, being ready for practice and focusing on individual and team periods. That’s what it’s all about.”
(It’s early, but kind of with QB Josh Rosen and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick as leaders in the locker room. what have you taken away from that? What have you seen from them?) – “When they need to talk, even when they don’t need to talk, you hear their voices. When we’re on offense and the defense is on their side, they’re commanding the offense and talking to make sure that everybody is at where they need to be. (They) make sure, Ryan and Josh, communicate to the o-line what they wants to do and things of that sort. Them being vocal and not also vocal, but showing it in their technique and their pass routes, their readings and stuff like that, they don’t always have to be vocal to show their leadership. The way they work, the way they train, the way the study shows a lot.”
(Is there one thing between the two of them is kind of similar in that aspect?) – “They work hand and hand. Obviously, Ryan Fitzpatrick is a veteran. He’s been around for a long time and Josh is young. Josh acts like he’s been here, like he’s been a 10-year vet and Ryan helps him along. They have a lot of similarities, like I said. They are the first ones in the building and the last ones to leave. You see them working out together and studying together. It’s a great dual – not dual but trio because you got No. 5 (Jake Rudock) back there slinging the ball. They’ve got a great relationship.”
Brian Flores – May 14, 2019
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Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(Are you expecting S Reshad Jones today?) – “Reshad won’t be here. We’ve had a few conversations but I’m going to keep those conversations between he and I. Obviously this is all voluntary so (I have) no issues. We’re kind of worried about the guys that are here. We’re going to coach those guys and that’s really where we’re at there.”
(Do you expect S Reshad Jones at the mandatory minicamp in June?) – “Yeah, I expect him at the mandatory minicamp. Yes.”
(To what degree, if at all, do you expect QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to possibly serve as a mentor for QB Josh Rosen?) – “I expect Ryan to compete for the starting position. I expect him to lead from the quarterback room but really the entire offense. Obviously he has a wealth of knowledge and a lot of experience. Again, there is competition but at the same time, we’re trying to build a team. We’re all trying to help each other become the best versions of ourselves on the field. I expect him to be the leader that he is, which he’s done a good job of that so far.”
(Is WR Albert Wilson out there practicing or is he cleared to practice?) – “Albert is working. He’s been very diligent. He’s working hard to get back. He won’t be out there today but he’s definitely doing a good job as far as a rehab standpoint.”
(WR Jakeem Grant?) – “Jakeem, he’s working. He’s doing well. He’s been out there a little bit. We’ll see. We’ll see what that looks like today. But all of those guys who are dealing with stuff, everybody is really working to get out on the field as soon as they can.”
(What will you be looking for from the quarterbacks?) – “We’re looking for leadership. We’re looking for accuracy. We’re looking for an understanding of what we’re trying to do offensively from a protection standpoint, from an alignment standpoint. We’re looking for guys who can consistently move the ball down the field.”
(I know you’re going to play defensive backs in different roles. As the roster is constructed now, it would seem as though there would be a greater need for S Minkah Fitzpatrick at cornerback than safety. Would you agree with that?) – “I think you kind of answered it yourself. We’re going to play guys in a lot of different roles. Minkah is obviously a very versatile player; but we have a lot of versatile players in the back end. We’ll move guys around and kind of try to get the best four or five guys on the field that we can.”
(The group of cornerbacks that you have at this point opposite CB Xavien Howard, you have a lot of young, intriguing guys. CB Eric Rowe obviously and others. Do you like what you have as far as other cornerbacks beyond CB Xavien Howard on the roster. What skills do you see there?) – “Yeah, we like what we have; but it’s so early. It’s OTA No. 2. There is a lot of time here for guys to improve, get better (and) learn the system. We’ve yet to play a game. We’ve yet to put on pads. We’re so early in the process that to kind of make an evaluation, you’re just kind of speaking into the air. We’re not there yet to make true evaluations.”
(To be clear and follow up, Fitzpatrick will get some reps at cornerback? Is that accurate?) – “I thought you were talking about Ryan Fitzpatrick. I was like, ‘No. Ryan Fitzpatrick will not get any reps at cornerback.’ (laughter) Minkah, again, we’re going to move guys around. We’re going to move guys around. It may look like he’s playing cornerback, he’s playing safety, he could be playing linebacker. It depends. I’ll know what he’s doing. You guys probably won’t. (laughter)”
(I want to ask you about CB Eric Rowe. What was it that you saw from him in New England that said he would be a good fit here, bringing him along in your system?) – “Eric is smart. He’s tough. He plays, he has a lot of athletic ability. He’s tall, long, (has) good speed (and) tackles (well). There are a lot of things we like about him. Again, he’s another guy who is working really hard and is doing everything he can to improve on a day-to-day basis from a fundamentals and technique standpoint. I think we’ve just got to continue to do that. We’ll see the chips, wherever they fall, that’s where they fall.”
(What went into signing RB Mark Walton and what gives you confidence that the issues the last few months won’t be an issue going forward?) – “Well, you know, (General Manager) Chris (Grier), (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore) and myself, we brought him in for a tryout. We thought he did well in the tryout. We had multiple conversations with him and we felt comfortable signing him to the team. We felt like he could help us.”
(You and much of your coaching staff have links to New England. Is what we’re going to see out there today basically a New England-like offense and a New England-like defense? Are you running that system?) – “I mean obviously you’re right (in) a lot of the staff has roots in New England. I would say there’s going to be, from a format standpoint, maybe a little bit of that. But each team is different. We don’t have the players – we have different types of players, I would say. To go out there and, let’s call it copy and paste, that may not fit. It may fit; it may not. We’re going to do what we feel is best for the team – offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. If some of those things align with some things we did in New England, then so be it; but that’s not necessarily the case.”
(Did you guys change the language, the so-called verbiage of the thing? Or is it the same?) – “Yeah, we changed the language. (laughter)”
(You had to think about it there.) – “No, we changed the language. I didn’t really have to think about it. It was whether or not I wanted to give that to you. (laughter)”
(What’s been your take on RB Kalen Ballage since you arrived here?) – “I’ve been very impressed with him. He’s smart, he’s talented; but he has a humility and a work ethic that I really like. He’s doing everything he can to really try to improve on a day-to-day basis and you see the improvement. You’ve seen it from when we started on April 1st through yesterday’s practice, and he’s continued to improve every day. I’m looking forward to working with him. (He’s a) good, young player.”
(I know it’s just one day but QB Josh Rosen, what did you and your staff notice about how the ball comes out of his hands yesterday?) – “I mean obviously he’s a talented play. (He has a) big arm; but like everyone else, he’s got a long way to go (with the) fundamentals, technique (and the) playbook. It’s so early. We’re not going to cut the roster today. It’s so early. There’s an evaluation process here that’s ongoing and until we get into the nitty gritty of OTAs to veteran minicamp to training camp to preseason games – everyone kind of knows the schedule here – we’re not cutting rosters today.”
(Do you anticipate doing a week-by-week or month-by-month evaluation of the quarterbacks, so to speak?) – “(It’s) day-to-day. Everybody is getting evaluated in this building every day, period. That’s just what it is.”
(Is there a point where you’ll have a leader in the clubhouse so to speak, at least internally?) – “If I had a crystal ball and I could predict the future, I wish I could tell you that; but we don’t. I think from a leadership standpoint, somebody is going to have to stand out to be the leader of the clubhouse, but I don’t know. I can’t tell you who that’s going to be.”
(I have a general question about leadership. The quarterback always needs to be a leader. Among other positions, are there certain guys – veterans or if they’ve been to a Pro Bowl – that you think must be leaders or do you kind of leave it up to the players to decide whoever makes the plays or whoever they choose to follow, that’s the leader?) – “That’s a good question. I think, to me – and this is my general opinion on leadership – if you work hard and put the team first, you’re a leader. Now, some people may think you have to be a ‘rah-rah’ emotional, get everybody hyped up (guy) to be a leader, and that’s just simply not the case. If you work hard and put the team first, you’re a leader. I want to have 53 leaders on our team. I want 90 on our team right now. That’s something that you can develop. That’s something that you can talk about. If you work hard and you put the team first, you’re showing leadership. Pro Bowls, I mean you can be a Pro Bowler and be lazy. That happens. If that’s the case, you’re not really a leader. You’re just an elite talent. Hopefully that answers your question.”
(Is not showing up to OTAs and the offseason conditioning leadership?) – “I would say look, everything is a case-by-case situation. It really is. Again, it’s voluntary. We’ve got players all over the league who have shown a lot of leadership over a long period of time who haven’t shown up to the voluntary camps. No, I wouldn’t say that. I would say every situation is a little bit different. Yeah, I would say every situation is different.”
Preston Williams – May 11, 2019
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Saturday, May 11, 2019
WR Preston Williams
(If you had gone to the Florida, Florida State or Miami out of high school. Which one would you have chosen and why?) – “I didn’t have an offer from Miami so probably Florida State.”
(You didn’t have an offer from Miami?) – “I didn’t.”
(Who was the coach at the time at FSU, Jimbo Fisher?) – “Yes, Jimbo.”
(I watched the Arkansas tape, you killed them. They are an SEC school. How did that bolster your confidence about how well you can play?) – “I always had confidence. I played at Tennessee too. So playing Arkansas, I had played them before. I already knew what to expect.”
(When we get the chance to watch you over the next few months, what are we going to see? What do you feel are your strengths on the field?) – “I’m just working. I’m trying to learn from everybody, so I can pick up a lot of stuff. A little bit of everything that I’m trying to perfect as a receiver.”
(At one point last year, Mel Kiper said that you had first-round talent. Why do you think you weren’t drafted?) – “Things happened in the past. I’m not complaining about it. I’m just moving forward. The past is behind me.”
(What was draft day like for you?) – “It was pretty good. My agent told me to expect anything on draft day, so I kept it real cool.”
(Address this opportunity that you have with the Miami Dolphins that they gave you. Although you were undrafted, you’re still here.) – “The coaches believed in me. They gave me an opportunity. I’m just here to work hard and show them what I can do.”
(Who was one of your favorite NFL receivers?) – “I like all receivers. I try to learn from everybody’s game.”
(Whose body type do you think you’re like? Is there somebody you tried to watch?) – “I used to watch Randy Moss growing up. I’m a big fan.”
(What did you think about QB Malik Rosier and some of the passes he was throwing to you this weekend?) – “He was pretty accurate. He’s a good quarterback. I like working with him. One of these days I’m going to try to throw after practice with him.”
(What’s something that you’ve learned from your off-field stuff that has made you a better person?) – “You have to be a professional on the field and off the field. I just try to stay clean and do what I’m supposed to do.”
(When the Dolphins asked you about what happened when you got in trouble – the shoving and restraining, and violation of the protection order – what did you tell them? How did you explain what happened?) – “I just told them the honest truth. I kept it real with them. At the end of the day, that’s all you can do.”
(Do you think that you would’ve been drafted if not for the off-field stuff?) – “Probably.”
(How realistic do you think it is to make this football team?) – “I don’t know. I’m just working every day and trying to do what everybody is telling me. It’s in the blue so I’m just working.”
(It’s only been two days but how do you think you did out on the field?) – “I feel like I’m progressing. I’m getting better every day.”
Kendrick Norton – May 11, 2019
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Saturday, May 11, 2019
DT Kendrick Norton
(So what has this experience been like for you?) – “It’s been good coming down here. (It was) a quick turnaround, just hopping in and getting to know everyone and the new coaching staff. It’s been good so far.”
(What is it like having a bunch of fellow Hurricanes out here?) – “It’s always great having a lot of familiar faces, even some guys that I don’t know personally like Clive (Walford) and stuff like that. Just seeing some older guys is nice.”
(After last season not working out kind of how you wanted to, especially coming out of the draft, has that kind of reinvigorated you with this opportunity here?) – “I’ve just been coming out, refocusing, trying to stay hungry, focusing on the small stuff and taking all of the things that I learned last season and trying to apply them.”
(There are plenty of defensive tackles in this rookie camp. How do you think you did as far as the job of separating yourself from that group?) – “I think I did pretty well. I’ve been here five weeks so I’ve tried to come out and lead the younger guys and help them out with learning things and helping them get lined up when they couldn’t. I felt like I did pretty well.”
(What are your initial impressions on DT Christian Wilkins?) – “He’s a good athlete. He plays with great pad level and he has a lot of upside to him.”
(I saw Head Coach Brian Flores talking to you guys. What was his message to you guys at the end of this practice?) – “He was just saying we’re going to keep focusing on the things that we do. We want to keep focusing on conditioning and getting ready for next week.”
(What did you learn about yourself last year with how your season went?) – “I just learned I had a lot to learn. I came out and tried to soak up as much as I could from the older guys and be ready for when my time comes.”
(It has better prepared you, hasn’t it? Do you feel a little more professional in this situation?) – “Yes, definitely. I feel like I have a lot of answers to different things that I see on the field, just sitting behind a lot of older guys and actually having a chance to learn. So it’s been good.”
(What do you expect from UM and Manny Diaz for 2019?) – “I expect a lot from Manny Diaz coming in and taking over. I think he’s going to come in there and he’s going to get them right. I expect a lot from them. I think they’re going to do well.”
(Did you enjoy playing under Manny Diaz? What was that like?) – “Yeah, that’s my guy. Manny Diaz is a fiery coach. He expects nothing but the best from you and he won’t accept anything less. I love Manny.”
(What kind of impression do you think you left with the coaching staff?) – “Our coaching staff here?”
(Yes, this one here.) – “I think I left a pretty good one but every time you come out on the field, like Coach Flores says, rent is due every day. So you have to come out and apply the same effort and get better every day.”
Brian Flores – May 11, 2019
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Saturday, May 11, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(What can you tell us about RB Mark Walton and his tryout this weekend? What went into that decision to bring him here?) – “He’s here on a tryout. Obviously he’s a talented player. We wanted to definitely take a look at him and see if he was a fit for us on the field (and) off the field. I think he’s done a good job really in the one day that he’s been here. So we’ll see how it goes.”
(How much did you guys discuss or talk about RB Mark Walton’s background or his past and the things he’s been involved in this summer before making that decision to bring him here?) – “It was discussed. Obviously (General Manager) Chris (Grier), myself (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore and) our staff, definitely it was something that we discussed. But again, it’s a tryout. That’s kind of part of the process is getting to know him and getting to see him both on and off the field.”
(How many running backs do you feel like you need to carry into training camp?) – “That number is fluid. You need enough obviously to practice with and then obviously to get through the preseason games. There’s not a specific number but five (or) six backs, somewhere in there is probably a good number.”
(How would you describe your personal opinion and philosophy on giving people more chances?) – “I’d say I think … I think people deserve a second chance. I believe that. I think that’s the case. I don’t want to judge people based on one incident (or) two incidents. I think it’s a case-by-case situation for a player and just for people in general. That’s kind of my stance.”
(Yesterday, RB Chandler Cox was working out with the tight ends for at least part of the time that we saw. Is that because that’s more of his skillset or why was that?) – “I think he’s a versatile player. I think he’s somebody that can move around in the backfield and in some tight end positions. You can split him out a little bit. He’s going to work with the tight ends, he’s going to work with the backs, he’s going to move around. He’s somebody that’s got that ability. He’s going to work in the kicking game as well. He’s thrown the football. He’s a former quarterback. We’ll see what he can do there.”
(WR Preston Williams from Colorado State, he looks the part but what strengths did you guys identify of his?) – “He’s a talented player. He’s got good size, good speed (and) he catches the ball well. (He’s been) smart in the one day that he’s been here. He’s got a long way to go like all of the rest of the rookies; but he’s off to a good start and we’ll see how he develops.”
(It’s only one day but when you look at the tape of practice yesterday, did anybody go ‘WOW! LOOK AT THAT GUY!’) – “No. (laughter) That didn’t happen.”
(QB Malik Rosier is a guy obviously that fans down here are well familiar with from his UM days. Have you had a chance to form any opinions on him?) – “I think he’s an assertive … I like his assertiveness at the quarterback position. He clearly has some leadership ability. He can get these guys in and out of the huddle, makes his ‘Mike’ points (and) gets everybody lined up. I thought that was good. Again, he’s here on a tryout basis as well. I thought he had a good day yesterday. We’ll see how it goes today but I think he’s off to a good start, as well.”
(A lot of times when you talk to second-year players they’ll say that it makes a huge difference being in the offseason program as opposed to training for the Combine and running 40s.) – “I would agree.”
(How do you see that manifest itself out there? Are they quicker, more familiar? How do you see that?) – “I think there’s, obviously, some continuity built being in meetings, being in the weight room and getting out there from a conditioning standpoint. They’re better suited to go out there and perform rather than some rookies that are coming in and everyone’s training a little bit differently. They have no idea what – from a playbook standpoint – what they’re going to get. When you combine learning the playbook with your conditioning, with your strength training and put it all together, it’s all laid out, it’s all in a uniformed structure, and there’s a process there. It all works better together. Yes, I think that second year when they’re in here and they’re in the offseason program, there’s a process and a structure (for) the way things are done. I think you get a better player and you get better performance.”
(With T Isaiah Prince, he’s a guy who kind of looks like a basketball player with how tal and how long he is. When you’re out there on an island at right tackle, does that height and length benefit you or can it be used against you?) – “I always think of things defensively, so yes it can benefit you, for sure. When you’ve got a guy that long with that much size, it’s hard to get around a guy like that. Yes, I think that definitely benefits him. Again, he’s another guy who definitely needs development. He’s a guy who we’re looking forward to working with at a few different positions. He’s a smart kid. He’s talented. There’s no doubt there. We’re interested to see how he can help us and what he can do.”
(When you look at all the undrafted guys that you signed, about how many would you estimate you guys thought might’ve been drafted?) – “We were fortunate we were able to sign a few guys we felt really good about. The draft, how that works, you just never know at the end what teams are really looking for. (There were) a couple there that we felt like had potential to get drafted late. We were fortunate enough there to, at the end when they did go undrafted, we signed a couple of those guys and we feel good about this rookie free agent class as well as the guys we drafted. Once they get here, whether you’re drafted, undrafted, AAF, it doesn’t really matter. Everyone is going to have an opportunity to compete for a position, whether it’s offense, defense or in the kicking game. The guys that come out of that competition will be the guys who are playing in the fall.”
(You have five defensive tackles in this rookie camp right now, obviously with DT Christian Wilkins. Do you feel like there’s a hole to be filled there at that position outside of bringing in Christian and drafting him? DT Kendrick Norton is a former Miami Hurricane. What do you like about his game?) – “You asked if there’s a hole there, and I talked about it yesterday, I’m trying to create competition, really, at all positions. To me, there’s a hole everywhere. I think we need to try to get the best players at each position. We’ll try to bring in as many guys as we can. There’s a limit obviously to 90 that we can sign. That’s the case there. As far as Kendrick, we like what he’s brought to the table so far. He’s got size, he’s got good power, he’s smart. He’s got some versatility also. We like what we’ve seen from him.”
(Do you distinguish and differentiate nose tackles from defensive tackles or are they all just lumped in?) – “There’s a little bit of distinction, I would say. It’s based on the player’s skillset. Nose tackle, d-tackle, penetrator, big end, defensive end – there’s a few different distinctions. But it’s up to the player. We may feel one way that he can only do this. If he goes out there and shows us something different, then he can do a couple of things.”
(So you break them up into five different groups?) – “I can keep going. We can go to 15 if you really want to. (laughter)”
(We have time.) – “I’m not going to give you everything in my bag. I’m never going to give you that. (laughter) You can just trust me on that. I’ll give you a little bit.”
(What about the secondary? Do we have a rover?) – “A rover? That’s a few different things. (laughter)”
(I have an offensive line question for you. When you say you want to play the best five guys on the offensive line – I think you’ve said you’re a best-five guy. Why are you better playing the best five? For example, T Laremy Tunsil played guard his rookie year, so you’re better off playing a tackle at guard than a left guard, somebody who came up playing left guard? Better football player makes a better unit, that’s what it is?) – “I would like to think that. I hear what you’re saying. I appreciate the question. There are some cases where you don’t want to take a guy completely out of position just to get the best five. That’s not the best five. That’s not the best unit. So, I appreciate the question. That’s why we talk so much about versatility and getting these guys to learn multiple spots so we can put our best five guys out there. There are times when a guy can only play right tackle and that’s it. If you try to move him somewhere else, he can’t get into a left-handed stance. That happens. That guy is pigeonholed. I think we all understand that, and we’ve become pigeonholed as an offense (or) as a defense when we’re talking about d-tackles, nose tackles, d-ends – guys who can only play one position. There’s only 46 guys that dress. So if we’re not versatile, injuries occur in this league and guys get tired – hopefully not our team because we want to be conditioned; but eventually, guys will get tired – you have to be able to shift guys around and that’s where versatility comes into play. I understand the question, and we want our best five guys from an offensive line standpoint. (It’s the) same on the defensive line. Really, (it’s the) same on both offense and defense. We want our best 11 guys out there. If we’re locked into ‘You can only do this,’ then if that works, then it works. If it doesn’t and we can get the best five guys out there, we’ll try to do that.”
Myles Gaskin – May 10, 2019
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Friday, May 10, 2019
RB Myles Gaskin
(How was it getting back on the field?) – “It was good getting out here, getting back to real football after the last couple of months of just working on 40(-yard dash time)s and stuff like that. It’s fun to getting back into a playbook, learning a new scheme and meeting some new dudes, meeting my new family.”
(There’s only about 50 guys out here, so plenty of reps. It has to be pretty fast-paced. What did you think about the pace of the practice?) – “It’s what you want. You want as many reps as you can get, especially being new like all of us are, trying to pick up this playbook as fast as you can. I’m going to speak for myself personally, but that’s how I learn the best in the playbook is just doing it over and over again.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores said this was going to be a lot of teaching. How much teaching was there?) – “It was a lot of teaching, I can’t even lie. Like I said, I’ve only been here in Miami two days, so I’m trying to learn the playbook, learn all these new names, meet all these new people. It’s a lot going on but it is what it is and I’m enjoying every second of it.”
(For the career that you had in college, was it a disappointment for you that you were not drafted as early as you probably wanted?) – “It is what it is. It’s gone and done with now. I’m not too worried about it at all. That’s in the past.”
