Bobby McCain – April 17, 2019
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Wednesday, April 17, 2019
CB Bobby McCain
(When you look at the two-deep, what do you think?) – “On paper you can say what you want but at the end of the day, it’s just about the guys coming out here and competing and working. I tend not to look at or worry about what (people) think about us. All that matters is that we believe in ourselves and as long as we believe and make a championship effort, then it’ll happen for us.”
(A lot of changes were made around here, more than any time in your career, but you are a veteran. How much do you think about the changes that were made and why they were made as opposed to ‘I’m just going to worry about football?’) – “At the end of the day, that’s not my job. My job is to come out and win football games, make plays. They made changes. It’s not like I have a say in whether they do or they don’t. I appreciate the last coaching staff and I’m working my ass off for this coaching staff.”
(What are your early impressions of Head Coach Brian Flores?) – “He’s a good coach. We all know. We know what he’s about. We’ve been playing him twice a year on the defensive side up on the north. We know what he brings to the table. He’s going to bring a competitive nature and that’s all we’re going to be about. We’re just going to be about competing, working hard, getting better each and every day and that’s what we’ve showed out.”
(How intrigued are you to find out what exactly the defense is going to look like with all the permutations, all the changes in the room and all that?) – “It’s exciting. With the change, we’re going to be able to play different defenses. You have to be able to do it all. At the end of the day, just going out and making plays within the defense. So, just getting in your playbook, understanding what the pros and the cons, the strengths and the weaknesses of the defense and going out and winning football games.”
(What’s the next step for you in your career?) – “I’m just going to keep working. I’ve never been one to look back on the past. I’m just going to keep working, keep going, taking it day by day and be the best player I can be.”
(With Head Coach Brian Flores having a defensive mindset, does that inspire you as a player? Does it make you want to play for him more knowing that he has your back as a defensive-minded coach?) – “I play football because I love football. I appreciate the coaching staff and I appreciate everything that comes with it. You get the royalties and all, but at the end of the day, I love football. That’s what I love to do.”
(How much did you pay attention to the Alliance of American Football?) – “I had a couple of old teammates on the AAF teams, so I definitely paid attention. I watched the games, for sure.”
(What did you think of the quality of football there?) – “It was good football. Some of these guys were drafted, some of these guys were on teams. Some of these guys were on the Dolphins when I was on the Dolphins, such as Terence Garvin, a running back (De’Veon Smith). (There were) a couple of guys on different teams that I know and I know can play good football. It was good, quality work.”
(When the league folded, was that a ‘wow’ moment, or were you kind of, ‘I didn’t think that thing was going to work?’) – “I thought it was going strong. I thought they had a good thing going, but unfortunately it did fold and guys were out of jobs. That sucks. Hopefully … I don’t know what the steps (are) from here, but hopefully they can piece it back together.”
(Have you talked to any of these guys here about their AAF experiences and how they were told the league broke up?) – “I’ve talked to some former teammates of mine and they said they were just at practice one day and they came in and they said it was done, so they just had to go home. That’s a bad feeling.”
(I know he plays a different position, but have you noticed anything about your new Brazilian teammate, DT Durval Queiroz Neto?) – “Yeah. He’s from Brazil. (laughter) He’s a strong cat. He just puts his head down, he works, he doesn’t say much. That’s what he’s about.”
(Is it too early to learn about philosophy of a new defense, a new coaching staff? Has it been kind of embraced by you guys on the whiteboard and then on the field the last two days?) – “One-hundred percent. At this point, you don’t have a choice. We play a game where either you’re going to get it done or you’re not. If you don’t get it done, you won’t be here. If you can get it done, you’ll be here and if you won’t, that’s unfortunate.”
(It seems like attention to detail has been a big thing, from us looking from the outside. What’s it been like on the inside?) – “Yeah, for sure, attention to detail because that’s the difference between a game. One of our coaches, he always says the difference between a bad player and a good player, a good player and a great player is this much. Just making sure you have that attention to detail. You never know. Like he says, it’s the difference between getting a fourth-and-1 and not getting a fourth-and-1.”
(Your versatility is probably one of your best assets. Do you see yourself playing more cover corner or more nickel? Do you see yourself playing multiple positions or kind of sticking to one?) – “I’m a football player. Wherever they put me, if that’s what best suits the team, that’s what’s going to win a football game.”
(I saw you at Dwyane Wade’s last home game. Where did that rank on stuff you did this offseason?) – “That was dope. That was definitely top three. Just seeing him come out, seeing the city come out and support him for everything he’s done with the three championships and just the legendary career he’s had, he’s very appreciated.
(What’d you think of the crowd that night? It seemed like a NBA Finals type of buzz.) – “Even though they weren’t making it to the playoffs, it definitely was. It was energetic. Like I said, it was his going away party. It was a lot of fun and I was just happy to be a part of it.”
(How many of your teammates were there?) – “A couple of them. I actually went with my teammate Cornell Armstrong. I know a couple of teammates were there, a lot of people I knew were there and it was a good time.”
(What were your other two on your top three? You said that was in the top three?) – “One we won’t speak of. The second one we won’t speak of. (laughter)”
Ryan Fitzpatrick – April 16, 2019
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Tuesday, April 16, 2019
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
(What are your first impressions of today?) – “Definitely we’ve got to learn to walk before we can start running. It’s nice to get this extra work out here and start installing the very basics of our offense and our defense and our special teams stuff. We’ve got a long way to go, obviously; but in terms of the attention to detail right now and the effort, all of that is good. But it’s always good on day one. We’ve just got to continue to stay with it and continue to get better with it each day.”
(How much work were you able to do with the receivers before this all started?) – “Not a ton. We’re going to have plenty of time here in the offseason to get that going. For me, one of the things I think that I do best is getting on the same page with them and a lot of it’s through hard work, whether it’s through OTAs, whether it’s after that or the minicamps and training camp. Getting on the same page is important and I’ve worked with a lot of different guys, so sometimes for me I’ll put them in certain boxes and sometimes I’ll run into guys that I haven’t seen anything like it. We’ll see how it goes, but so far in terms of the willingness to work in that group and again the excitement and enthusiasm, I’m very excited about it as well.”
(Having the advantage of working in a lot of different locker rooms, is there something to be said knowing that your coach is coming from a winning culture and can bring it to a new team?) – “I think every situation is different. We are going into this year with a fresh start, a fresh approach, and a lot of new faces whether it’s coaches or players or people around the building. I think the one thing that we’re all going to be on the same page with and the one thing that we stress and preach every day is we’re here to win. Everybody in this building, whatever it takes to get this team to win, that’s what you have to be willing to do. We’re making sure that everybody is on the same page with that and winning is the most important thing.”
(The coach-QB relationship is always so important on any football team. I know both you and Head Coach Brian Flores are new but do you guys get together and that’s some common ground you meet on and able to discuss?) – “It’s so early in the process, again. When I signed here, we had a couple of very nice conversations. Again, it’s offseason. I’m out here just trying to learn how to call a play in the huddle and trying to get the guys lined up and like I said, walking before we can run. There’s a lot of stuff going on right now on both sides of the ball where we’re really focused in trying to learn how to do our jobs the best way we can.”
(It seems like a little bit of a challenge, the number of guys out there. I think there were only three running backs and not a lot of receivers. Have you ever been a part of a thing in the offseason where the numbers are so down?) – “I think as long as we have 11 guys in the huddle and we don’t line up with 10 or 12, then I’ve done my job and we’ll go from there. (laughter)”
(You’ve had some stretches in your career where it seems like you can’t do anything wrong, you get so hot.) – “I appreciate you putting it that way. (laughter)”
(What is that like and how do you handle the flip side when things are going wrong?) – “I love a lot of things about football. One of the things I love most is the adversity and having things not necessarily go your way, but leaning on your teammates and making sure that you’re the same guy in the building every day, the same guy in the huddle on every play and going from there. That’s something I pride myself on. Last year, especially at the begging of last year, it was nice for me to go out there and have some of that success, but that was last year. I’m going to do my best. I think in the last four or five years, I’ve really gotten better every year and I think as funny as it sounds, I think my best football is still ahead of me and that’s why I’m still playing. I love being out there. I love being in the huddle with the guys and hopefully they’ll get a chance to feel that and see that with me and they’ll think the same way.”
(I don’t think you care about the Twitter trolls and what not, people talking about your weight. How do you feel about your weight? How do you feel right now on the field?) – “I would say I’m in peak offseason form. I think two weeks ago I was in peak offseason form. (laughter) The thing with me is I have seven kids, so in January we have three birthdays. We’ve got a family birthday party, which includes cake and then we’ve got a friend’s birthday party which includes cake. So, that’s six times in January. We’ve got three birthdays in March – March 1st, March 6th and March 11th – which again, that’s a tough stretch. That’s cake six out of 10 or 11 days. (laughter) Then we’ve got an April birthday. So, it doesn’t slow down. But now that the birthdays are behind me, and I think I’m going to try to go from peak offseason form maybe down to peak in-season form, I’ll be okay.”
(We talked to General Manager Chris Grier out at the owner’s meetings and he was pretty forthcoming. He said you know this isn’t a long-term deal here. Is that a conversation you had that you know that this is a shorter-term deal?) – “I’ve been at this thing for going on 15 years. I know the way the league works and I know for me, I put my focus and energy on doing the best that I can and being the best player I can be. Things have tended to work out if I did that. That’s what I do. I put my energy in getting myself better and getting my teammates better and that’s all I focus on.”
(QB Tom Brady says he wants to play until 45, is there a number you have in mind?) – “(laughter) No. I don’t have a number. I still really enjoy playing, so it was an easy decision for me.”
(We had a conversation with S Minkah Fitzpatrick about ‘Fitzmagic.’ Are you guys going to double up on that this year?) – “I don’t know what you’re referring to. (laughter) No, it was one of the first things … We kind of smiled at each other when we met. It was a cheesy line but I’ll say it again, I think there’s enough magic to go around, especially being on different sides of the ball.”
(You spoke about the new faces, the new step this franchise is kind of taking you’re joining. Where do you believe you fit in all of this?) – “My whole career – and I think for everybody, not just here, but around the league – you can’t take anything for granted. You just have to go out and work as hard as you can. That’s what I’m here to do: put my head down, ignore any and everything that goes on outside of this building and see if I can be the best player I can be and bring guys up and make the guys around me better.”
(You’ve been on a couple ‘rebuilding’ teams. What do you see as a key of being a part of those teams?) – “I think today, getting out here on the field and installing a new offense, a new language, communication is going to be huge for us. Being able to make sure that we’re all on the same page, we’re not afraid to ask questions; but at the same time, knowing that we’re holding each other accountable. A mistake here or there is okay, but when the same one happens over and over again, that’s not good. There’s something wrong. We have to find a different way to study and do it. Being accountable, not just with yourself but with others as well, and just making sure that everybody is also working on their dependability and taking this thing serious.”
(How close do you watch the draft?) – “Less and less every year. I think it drags on a lot. I get it. My kids are in it and interested in it; but if my kids didn’t want it on, it probably wouldn’t be on.”
(Have they moved down here yet?) – “No.”
Brian Flores – April 16, 2019
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Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(How does it feel to be back on the football field?) – “It feels great. I’m extremely excited to be out here and to work with the players for the first time. Our coaches are excited. I’m just (ready) to get out there, quite honestly.”
(How would you describe the approach you want your players to take the next three days?) – “I think these next three days are about fundamentals (and) technique. This is a teaching camp. We’re not going to conquer the world over these next three days, but this is a teaching camp. We talked about that this morning with the players. It’s fundamentals, it’s technique, it’s our basic information, our basic installation. It’s getting out here, getting in and out of a huddle, the quarterback/center exchange, ball security – the basic, basic elements of football, because if you don’t have that as a foundation, we can’t do much after that.”
(What went into the AAF guys that you brought in? There was a whole batch of them, obviously.) – “I think the guys we brought in, they had some success in the AAF. They’re good players. They’re good people. They’ll come in and have an opportunity to show what they can do and if they can help this team win games, then they’ll be out there, that’s for sure.”
(How would you sum up what you saw in Phase I of the offseason program.) – “In Phase I, we don’t really get to see them very much. They’re in there with the strength coaches for the most part, strength training. Our coaches get them a little bit in some meetings, so that was good. That part of it was good. I think we’ve got a group that works hard. They’re eager to learn. It’s a new system for everyone. I think they’ve done a good job over these first couple of weeks, but it’s so early. You can’t make a determination of ‘this guy can do this, that guy can do that.’ We haven’t even stepped on the field yet.”
(The roster looks relatively thin. You don’t even have enough offensive linemen to put together two lines. How do you address that with seven draft picks?) – “Right now, my focus is on getting out there and to practice with the players we have. The guys we have, whether it’s however many or however little, we’re going to do everything we can to help those guys improve and help those guys become the best versions of themselves. We’ll worry about the draft and things of that nature when we get to that. I tell those guys ‘Let’s take it one play at a time.’ I’ve got to practice what I preach. That’s kind of my objective and my goal here over the next few days.”
(Where are WR Jakeem Grant and WR Albert Wilson in their recoveries from injury?) – “Those guys are working extremely hard to get back out on the field. They’re in here a lot. They’re in here and they’re doing everything they can do to get back on the field. Hopefully we see them out there as soon as possible.”
(You guys have the international player – DT Durval Queiroz Neto. How do you work with a guy when he might not have football instincts?) – “I think this is a great time for him to be here because it’s strictly fundamentals, it’s strictly technique. It’s the most basic part of football, where you’re laying a foundation down. I talked to him yesterday and I said ‘This is a great time for you to be here.’ He’ll be working hand placement (and) footwork). He’ll learn the basics of our defense from that standpoint. I’m excited to have him. He’s a good-looking young kid. We’ll work with him and we’ll try to get … He’s been here a day. The time I spent with him, he seems like he’s eager to learn, he’s eager to put in a lot of effort and we’ll try to maximize his potential, which I think there is something there.”
(How important is it to have a veteran like QB Ryan Fitzpatrick in here at quarterback considering the transition of this team right now? Is he the anticipated starter going into the season?) – “I think Ryan is a great leader. He’s shown that already. He’s been in this league a long time. He’s smart. He works hard. He embodies a lot of the qualities that we’re looking for in our players – not even our players, everyone in this organization. That leadership is something that I think this team needs. I think every team needs that. We need that from not just one player but we need that from everyone on the roster. I think, to me, leadership is … You don’t have to be a ‘rah-rah’ guy to lead. You have to work hard and put the team first. I think we’ve got a group of guys that do that. I think that’ll help us and I think he kind of leads the way from that standpoint.”
(What have the last two months been like for you?) – “They’ve been a lot of fun. I’m living a dream. There’s a lot going on. To be in this position, you’re dealing with players, coaches. (General Manager) Chris (Grier) and I work and we’ve talked on a daily basis over the last two months. Obviously we had free agency and draft and combine and our 30 visits. Those have all been parts of this process that I haven’t dealt with before, but kind of going through it has been good. It’s been a learning process. Like the players, I try to learn and improve every day. I tell them to do that. Again, I practice what I preach, so I’ve learned and tried to improve on a daily basis and I’ll continue to do that.”
(Does it enter a different phase today when you step on the field? Is this kind of a different category for you?) – “This enters the phase that I’m used to and I enjoy the most. I’m passionate about coaching football so today is a special day to me. It’s a special day for me, for this team and I’m excited to come out here and do what I love to do, which is coach football.”
(Aside from WR Albert Wilson and WR Jakeem Grant that you just mentioned, is there anyone else that won’t be working today, that you don’t expect to be working today?) – “This is a voluntary camp. We’ve had most of the guys here. I’ll tell you this, just being frank and honest with you – I’m going to try to do that with you guys – Reshad Jones won’t be here today. He and I have been in constant communication and I’m aware that he’s not going to be here. With that said, like I’ve said already, I’m going to coach the guys who are here. I’m going to help those guys improve. Our coaching staff is going to do the same and that’s that.”
(Do you see S Reshad Jones as part of the organization that you’re building?) – “Yeah. He’s here and he’s part of the organization. He and I have been in constant communication. Again, it’s voluntary. He made a decision to train somewhere else and it’s voluntary. There’s not much we can do about it and that’s where that is.”
(From your understanding, it’s not based on S Reshad Jones’ roster status, it’s that he decided separately?) – “Exactly. He and I obviously communicated about it and it’s voluntary. That’s where it is. It’s not the first time a guy hasn’t showed up to a voluntary camp. It’s voluntary.”
(We know S Reshad Jones had surgery in February. Does that factor into it as well?) – “Yes. There’s a few factors. I would say that Reshad, he’s obviously rehabbing his shoulder and he’s training. He’s been here, he looks good, he’s been in all the meetings. That’s been good. I think he’s learning all the terminology and learning the defense and that’s been good. It’s part of the process.”
(So you’re okay with S Reshad Jones not being here or you’re disappointed?) – “I’m focused on the guys who are here. That’s where I’m at. The guys who are here, I’m going to coach them. I’m going to coach them hard, I’m going to try to help them improve and that’s kind of my stance on that.”
(Is S Reshad Jones upset about anything?) – “You’d have to talk to Reshad about that.”
(Has S Reshad Jones indicated that he wants to be on the team next year or has he asked for you to try to move him in a trade?) – “I’m going to tell you guys this: My conversations with our players, I’m going to keep them private. I’m going to leave it right there.”
(How have you gone about managing and delegating everything that comes with your responsibilities in the draft and free agency, those type of things and like you said, you’re favorite part, the football?) – “That part of it’s been good. Delegating is something that’s – I don’t want to say it’s newer in this role. I’ve delegated in the past with some other roles but it’s different in this role. I have a lot of people on this staff that I trust, so delegating to them, it’s pretty seamless for me. It’s not a huge issue. But a lot of the things, obviously, I want everything run by my desk and kind of the way I want things. I think it hasn’t been an issue.”
(Have you felt how hot it is out there? Is that a change for you guys?) – “I enjoy the heat, so it’s not going to be an issue for me at all. (laughter) I’ve heard that over and over and over again since I’ve been here. We’ll see how hot it gets, but that’s never really been an issue for me.”
(Are there any other players aside from WR Albert Wilson and WR Jakeem Grant physically that aren’t able to go yet?) – “Again, from that standpoint, I’ll … The injury report comes out, when is that? September? (laughter) So, we’ll go with that. (laughter)”
(When you first got in front of the team, what were say two or three main bullet points you wanted to get across to the players to set the tone?) – “Let’s focus on improving. Let’s focus on technique. Let’s focus on our fundamentals. And let’s establish a practice tempo that will be … Again, practice execution becomes game reality. I really firmly believe that. That’s something I’ve learned over the years. So, let’s establish a practice routine, establish practice habits and focus on improvement. That’s probably four or five bullet points but that was the crux of our conversation this morning.”
(Obviously, S Reshad Jones’ absence impacts S Minkah Fitzpatrick because Minkah you wanted to cross train him at cornerback and at safety or at least it seems so. Does he now have to primarily focus on safety?) – “Minkah is going to play multiple roles. I don’t think someone being out of the lineup would affect that too much at this time. Again, this time of year, we’re not going to be in and out of crazy alignments or defensive … We’re not going to be in our exotics, I would say. This is not the time for that. This is about, again, fundamentals and technique and basic information installation. So, not really.”
(How important do you see this time of year in terms of establishing the foundation that you mentioned of practice?) – “I think every day counts. Every day counts. I think every day is a day to improve and a day to get better. I think any situation or any time we can improve is the difference between getting fourth-and-1 and not getting fourth-and-1. I think this counts. I’m excited about it and hopefully we can win today.”
(From a draft preparation, how different is it between last year and this year, defensive coordinator and head coach?) – “Again, right now my focus is coming out here in 15 minutes and working on helping these guys improve. Again, I’m a one-play-at-a-time guy. That’s what I tell the players. I’ve got to practice what I preach. That’s where my focus is. I understand the question. I know that’s coming up and …”
(Speaking as a guy who loves today, who lives for coaching, but you’ve got the draft duties also during the week, has that been a big change? Has that been difficult? Is it a little bit of a distraction? How would you describe that?) – “I would describe it as part of the job. I’ve got to compartmentalize. You guys have talked about that already. I’ve got a myriad of things I’ve got to do, the draft process is one of them. Meetings with players is another one and then there’s various things that I’m in charge of I would say, or things that I have to do. That’s part of the job. That part of it is fun, too. That’s where I’m at.”
(What level of input do you have? Does General Manager Chris Grier come to you and say, “We like these five guys. Which one do you like the most?” How does that work?) – “Chris and I are in constant communication whether it’s on the phone, whether he’s in my office, I’m in his office. We’re in constant communication about players, the draft, free agency, AAF players. He and I have a really good relationship. We’re aligned in a lot of the things we’re looking for in players. He’s excited about seeing the guys come out here today. It’s been a very good working relationship.”
Brian Flores – March 26, 2019
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(On how everyone stays aligned.) – “We stay aligned with communication, which has been obviously a staple of the things we’ve talked about at the core of the things that are important to me and will be important to us as an organization. So we’re aligned on that for sure. From the communication standpoint, talking about players, talking about coaches, talking about philosophies, talking about anything that pertains to the betterment of the Miami Dolphins, I think communication is at the forefront of that. (General Manager) Chris (Grier) and I, and really everyone in the building, starting with (Chairman of the Board/Managing General Partner) Mr. (Steve) Ross, so that’s important to us as an organization and try to continue that.
(On taking a few steps back to take a step forward.) – “I think that’s a phrase that’s been said by many about a lot of different situations in sports and in life. Sometimes you lose a job, it’s a step back to take a step forward. That’s in any field. So yeah, it’s a phrase that a lot of people use. I believe in it to an extent but I also think there are a lot of ways to take steps forward.”
(On if that applies to this team.) – “I think right now as a team, we’re looking to improve and get better as a coaching staff, as an organization, and everything’s moving in a forward direction right now. We’re excited about the draft process. The players come in on April 1st. I’m not thinking about taking steps back right now. Everything is forward thinking.”
(The trend of hiring offensive-minded coaches around the league, as a defensive coach, do you feel the league is looking for the best man for the job or best offensive-minded man for the job?) – “I think being a head coach in the NFL is about leadership. I don’t think it’s about offense or defense or special teams. I think it’s about leadership. I’ve got to stand in front of 53 – well 90 guys, on the roster, 53 when we get to the season – and then let’s call it 50 to 60 people from equipment to IT to the training staff, strength and conditioning. I have to stand in front of the entire building and get them to follow me. To me, that’s what I think being a head coach in this league is about. There are some great leaders that are offensive guys. There are great leaders that are defensive guys. There are some great leaders who coach in the kicking game as well. Offense, defense, I’m just a coach. I can coach offensive ball, I can coach defensive ball, I can coach special teams. I understand the question; but to me, that’s the crux of being a head coach and being a leader in this league.”
(Do you think the league is looking for that?) – “Leadership?”
(Yes.) – “Absolutely. I imagine that people want leaders in leadership positions. Not that I don’t understand the question. I see where you’re coming from, but I imagine people want people in leadership positions.”
(Why is QB Ryan Fitzpatrick your quarterback?) – “Because he’s a leader first and foremost. I’ve watched Ryan for a long time. I played against him, coached against him. Well, I didn’t play against him, but he was at Harvard when I was at Boston College. I’ve known about him for a long time. The one thing you hear over and over and over again is his ability to connect with players offensively, defensively, and lead. I think he’s a great fit for us. We’re excited to have him. Again, I’m just excited to have him.”
(You were in college at the same time as QB Ryan Fitzpatrick in Boston?) – “I’m a little but older than him, a couple years older, but yes. I think he might have been a sophomore when I was a fifth-year senior or something like that.”
(On the coach and quarterback being about the same age.) – “I think we have a lot of the same beliefs as far as working hard, increasing team belief. He’s obviously a very intelligent guy, not just because he went to Harvard, but learning so many different systems, he understands the game and the concepts of the game. I think a lot of the things that are important to me, they line up as far as the things he brings to the table.”
(How important is it for you guys to draft a quarterback in 2019?) – “I think as we go through the draft process – and (General Manager) Chris (Grier) and I have talked about this over and over and over again – we’re going to select the players that we feel are the best fits for the Miami Dolphins. It could be a quarterback, it could be offensive line, it could be defensive line, it could be running back, it could be any of the positions on the field. Every position is important. Obviously, the quarterback position is of the utmost importance. So if we see somebody we like and we think we can develop and can contribute to this team, and if he’s there and we can get him, then that’s the right fit. That’s not just for the quarterback position, that’s for any position on the field.”
(General Manager Chris Grier said yesterday that we might draft a quarterback this year and next year? What do you think about that? Obviously, there have been times where teams have had convictions of a quarterback enough to take them first overall and that player has not panned out. How do you feel about the idea of maybe taking two shots rather than one?) – “I think any time you can create competition at a positon, you do it. I think that’s how competition breeds … You get the best of yourself when there’s competition around you. I think you want to build that competition on your roster, which we’re going to try to do. That’s part of the philosophy and the things that we’ve talked about. Again, I can’t predict the future. I don’t have a crystal ball. Maybe there’s a better nose tackle than quarterback at the time. Obviously, quarterback is a position (that is) vital. We’re not opposed to … Maybe we do take two – a quarterback this year and a quarterback next year. Maybe we take an offensive tackle this year and next year. Maybe we take a running back this year and next year. We can go back and forth and on and on about positions. But I think we’re going to make the roster moves and the selections that we feel are going to help the team overall. Obviously, the quarterback positon, I understand why we’re talking about it. It’s so important.”
(What is your comfort level with the roster?) – “I think you said it best: we don’t play this week. I think we’ve got time and resources. With the draft coming up and college free agents, I think to predict and make assumptions and try to look into a crystal ball right now without the roster where it will be – let’s call it two months from now – I don’t want to make a prediction on that. We’re going to do everything possible to bring the best players onto the team through the draft and maybe some other avenues. I think we’re going to put the best product on the field that we can.”
(Will your free agency philosophy change?) – “Over the next few weeks? I understand the question. I think we’re going to make the best decisions for the team. If there’s a guy we feel like we can acquire that’ll help us, then we’ll do that. Otherwise, I think we’re looking towards the draft and that process. I think there are a lot of good, young players in this draft. Hopefully we can get some good, young players into the building and we’ll evaluate the roster then.”
(How does patience align with your personality?) – “I think patience, it’s a virtue. It’s one of those things that … We have to be patient with our kids, we have to be patient with the people we work with. We have to be patient … I think it’s a quality that’s important to have. But at the same time, there has to be a balance between patience and urgency. I would say that I have a pretty good balance from that standpoint. I know we have to be patient and develop young players. I think every team in the league has to do that. I think in any corporation or any business, you have to do that, develop the young people in your business. So, there’s some patience with that. At the same time, we try to create an environment of urgency so that we can speed up the process of that development. From a big-picture standpoint, we’re all really patient. The inner workings of the building and how we interact on a day-to-day basis, there’s a lot of urgency as far as how we want to build the program and build the culture and develop players.”
(You’re the only head coach of color hired this cycle. Where do you think the league is at right now? Do you think the league is making progress?) – “I’ve said this many times. I think there is a lot of quality coaches in this league that could be head coaches in this league, that have the temperament and the leadership ability (necessary to do this job). I was fortunate to get an opportunity to interview. I interviewed at four places this year and Arizona a year ago. I was very fortunate that way. I do think there are many, many coaches in this league – minority coaches – who, if given the same opportunity, would excel in the interview process and potentially be in line to become a head coach in this league. I think the Rooney Rule is a great rule. It gives a lot of guys the opportunity to interview and get your name out there and show your leadership ability and show your offensive, defensive and special teams acumen. I think that’s what it mounts too, just opportunity.”
(On helping other minority coaches get opportunities to become head coaches.) – “I think I’m going to work every day like I have been and try to improve and get better and try to put the best product on the field. Do I feel a … To champion the cause? Not necessarily, but I know I’m an example for minority coaches in this league. With that in mind, I’m still going to go out and do my best to lead the Miami Dolphins and try to produce a winning product.”
(What are your thoughts on TE Rob Gronkowski announcing his retirement?) – “Rob is a great friend, somebody that I’ve been around a long time. He’s an incredible player, but he’s a better person. I’m going to miss watching him go out there and have fun, and play the game with the joy and the love for the game that he did. He played the game that way in practice, and obviously in games. I’m going to miss competing against him because that was fun. We lost a lot of those. He made our guys better, he made the team better, he made the defensive players better, he made the overall team better with just his passion for the game. It’s a sad day honestly because he brought so much to the game of football and he played it the way it should be played. I’m really proud of him. I love the guy and I wish him the best.”
(You said TE Rob Gronkowski played the game the way it should have been played. He has a reputation as a party guys, but he was a really good worker, wasn’t he?) – “He worked hard. He worked as hard as anyone. He played hard, he played through nicks and bruises, like everyone else does. He played with a passion and energy, and that’s the way the game should be played. He blocked, he was tough and he was aggressive. That’s the one thing, he did the little things, the things that don’t get you the fame and the status. He did those things. That’s what I mean when I say he played the game the way it should be.”
(Now that you are on this side, you’re probably not too upset not to see TE Rob Gronkowski this fall?) – “Whatever makes the game better, I’m for, so I can’t say that. I like to compete. The opportunity to compete against him, that would’ve been enjoyable for me as a competitor and as somebody who has a love for the game. I wish him the best and he knows that. He knows I love him. He’s a great competitor and I think he’s one of the best to ever play.”
(You mentioned you were looking forward to competing against TE Rob Gronkowski. Is that going to be fun for you to actually play … You’ve gone against WR Julian Edelman and QB Tom Brady for over a decade. Will it be fun to put together an actual game plan and see how it unfolds in an actual game?) – “Yeah, that will be fun. But, they are competitors and I know that, and they know that I’m a competitor and the guys on our staff and our team are competitive as well. Every game is tough. We know that. Yeah, it will be fun to compete against those guys and we’re looking forward to it. I’m sure they feel the same.”
(On his stories about TE Rob Gronkowski.) – “All of my ‘Gronk’ stories end with a spike. There are so many. He was such a great practice player. I think that’s the one thing that people don’t … There is no way to know about that. I keep coming back to the way this guy blocked. That’s kind of a lost art at the tight end position now. It’s a testament to obviously his size and strength, his athletic ability, but also his toughness and ability to wanting to go into the trenches and do those things. To me, that’s the one thing … There is no story but he did a great job in practice on a day-to-day bases.”
(On the head coaches photo yesterday.) – “It was hot out there, that’s what crossed my mind. (laughter) It was a great moment for me to sit down with the other 31 head coaches from around the league. I know I’m part of one of 32 and I’m very fortunate and very lucky to have this opportunity and try to make the best of it.”
(I know you talked about the Patriots’ sense of urgency from a team sense earlier today. Where are you with DE Charles Harris? He’s a first-round pick pass rusher, is there still room for patience for Charles?) – “I’ve watched a lot of tape on all of our players. Charles, he’s got size, he’s got speed, he’s got athleticism. He plays hard and does a lot of things we like as a staff. When you talk about patience, I think he’s an interesting player on our team. I’m excited to see him on April 1st when the team reports. We’re going to spend a lot of time with him. We’re going to spend a lot of time with all of our players and try to develop them, work on their fundamentals and techniques and try to help them improve. That’s our goal as a coaching staff. We can talk about Charles Harris and he has a lot of physical attributes, but we’re going to try to develop everybody on this team, help them improve and help put the best product on this field. I’m excited to work with him. Honestly, I am.”
(You say DE Charles Harris is an interesting player. What do you mean by that?) – “He can do a lot of things. He can rush, he can play in space a little bit, tackles fairly well. He does a lot of good things. I’m excited to work with him, just like I’m excited to work with a lot of players on our team.”
(From afar do you have any indication from watching film why it hasn’t come together for DE Charles Harris?) – “I think everyone’s timetable is a little bit different and there are a lot of factors in that. It could be 1,000 factors. I’ve seen it time and time again with just players that I’ve had. We can go over that list but that’s the reality of this league. Sometimes the timing just isn’t right and sometimes when the timing is right, you hit and you hit. We’re going to work with Charles just like we’re going to work with all the players on our team and try to improve their weaknesses and try to accentuate or accelerate their strengths. We’re going to do that on a day-to-day bases.”
(You have three starting linebackers who can all do different things. It doesn’t seem like you can put them all on the field at the same time. Can you do that?) – “I’ve run multiple defenses with three linebackers on the field; so yeah, I do think we can get that done. Like you said, those three – I assume you’re talking about (Jerome) Baker, Raekwon (McMillan), Kiko (Alonso) – are three really good players. I’m excited to play with them. Obviously, (they have) different skillsets. I think defensively, you just have to put those guys in positions to do the things they do well. That’s the goal as a staff. Sometimes that means none of them are on the field. Sometimes it means one of them is on the field. Sometimes it means three or four or five guys are on the field. Only time will tell on that. They come into the building on April 1st. We’ll see how much they can do physically and how much they can handle mentally, how versatile they can be. Can you cover, do you tackle, do you blitz well? There’s a variety of things you can do defensively. We’ll try to put those guys in the best positions to do what they do well, always. That’s at every position. But yeah, as many good players … If you’re one of the best 11, you’re going to be on the field.”
(Do you see LB Kiko Alonso on the roster?) – “I do see Kiko on the roster. I think he’s a veteran player. Again, he’s another guy I played against or watched for a number of years. This guy has been a productive player in this league for a long time. I think his leadership and style of play and the way he goes about it, from a work ethic standpoint, from a day-to-day training standpoint, and all of the things I hear are positive. I think we have two young guys and Kiko is more of a veteran player; but again, we’re going to try to develop everyone every day.”
(You had a unique perspective with Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski. You practiced against him every day and I’m just wondering your take away from him stepping away from the game?) – “I just answered this but I think he’s one of the great players at that position. Having practiced against him for nine years, this guy was tough, physical and played with a passion and practiced with passion. Again, I think he’s one of the best players ever to play at that position, but I would say he’s a better person. Obviously, we all know he loves to have a good time and he brought an energy to our team that was different than anyone else that had been there. He was always a spark plug kind of guy for us. He led that way. I was fortunate to be around him and to practice against him for these last nine years and I wish him all the best. He’s a great player.”
(Selfishly are you glad to see TE Rob Gronkowski go since now you don’t have to deal with him?) – “No. When there’s great players in the league, you want to compete against them. You want your players to compete against them because you can only get better by playing against good people, good players and feeling that competition. That’s how you reach your highest level. Selfishly, I just think it’s sad for the game of football, quite honestly. But I wish him the best and he knows I love him, so I wish him the best.”
(On the pass rush.) – “I think, again, it’s still so early. We have the draft, we have other avenues to acquire players, but we have some good players on our roster right now. There’s a lot of ways to rush the passer. Whether it’s scheme, whether it’s just winning a one-on-one matchup, whether it’s blitzing secondary players, whether it’s blitzing linebackers, corners, there’s a few different ways to rush the passer. I don’t want to get caught into it has to be one guy or two guys. I think that’s limiting defensively what you can do. I think there’s some other ways to rush the passer. The big thing is getting the guys in the building, seeing what they can handle, how much they can retain and handle schematically, and we’ll take it from there.”
(On S Minkah Fitzpatrick’s position.) – “Minkah’s a football player. I think his strength is that he can handle a lot of different positions. He’s versatile. Free safety, strong safety, corner, Star, ‘backer – you can do whatever you want with him. He’s a guy we spent a lot of time thinking about how we’re going to use him. I’m not going to give up the goods on how we’re going to do that today.”
(Would you prefer too keep S Minkah Fitzpatrick in just one spot? Is that your preference?) – “I think my preference is to see what he can handle and see what he does that will help the team win. If that’s multiple positions, then that’s multiple positions. If that’s one spot, then that’s one spot. If he can long snap or kick field goals and that helps us win, then that’s what we do. Obviously, I don’t think he can long snap or kick field goals – let’s be clear on that – but maybe he can. (laughter) We try to find out what every player can do and how they can help us win. How can they improve the team? I think versatility is going to be very important, and he’s a very versatile player. He was last year. We’re excited to work with him.”
(S T.J. McDonald – about a year ago at this time, we were thinking ‘Are the Dolphins going to possibly use him at linebacker?’ because T.J. and S Reshad Jones are similar. In your view, is T.J. a safety, a linebacker, all of the above?) – “I think he’s another versatile player. He can play safety, he can play linebacker, he can blitz pretty well. That kind of plays into some of the things that I’ve done defensively as far as moving some pieces into different locations. I think he’s been a productive player in this league. I think he’s big, he’s fast, he can tackle. We’ll find space for guys who are big, fast and can tackle, because those are at the top of my list of things that I’m looking for defensively. I’m excited to work with him as well.”
(On the process of breaking down a roster.) – “The second we got in the building, that was the number one objective, was to find out what we have, the skillsets of each individual, how they are as people – their work habits, their training habits.”
(How do you get to know the guys?) – “You lean on the personnel staff. Chris (Grier), obviously. (Safeties Coach) Tony Oden and (Running Backs Coach) Eric Studesville were on the staff a year ago and kind of know those players. You also lean on the draft process of previous years. I sat with Minkah (Fitzpatrick) a year ago. We know a lot of these players from that process. That’s why the Combine is such a vital piece of this, whether you take the guy or not, because you just gather information on specific players. That process is ongoing. You watch it, you make an evaluation, you watch it again, some things get tweaked, you watch it again, some things get tweaked. So, it’s ongoing. I think we have a pretty good feel for all the guys on our roster and we’ll make our decisions based on that and try to make the most educated decisions that we can.”
(On the tight end position and the acquisitions this offseason.) – “There’s so much versatility at that position. You have to catch, you have to block, you’re aligned at multiple positions, you can have multiple tight ends on the field – one, two, three, four tight ends – depending on their skillset, you can stick them in the backfield. I think from that standpoint, having depth in that room is important. It’s important from a practice standpoint because they’re in there blocking. It’s a physical game in the trenches, as you know, so depth at that position is vital from a practice standpoint. We go out there and we have a two tight end set. That’s two, they come out and we have another two in there. From a practice standpoint, you need that many guys. Plus, we felt like in Dwayne (Allen) and Clive (Walford), we have two quality players that we wanted to acquire and felt like they would help the team. It’s a competitive room and I think competition breeds excellence. Hopefully, having that many guys and having that competition will yield the best players.”
(On the tight end room.) – “I wouldn’t say that. I would say the young players in that room, they need, let’s call it … Everyone needs competition. I think everyone needs that. I think they need guys who have … I don’t want to say have been in the league but have been in the league, and we wanted some veteran presence in there. That was part of getting Clive (Walford) and getting Dwayne (Allen).”
(On the rule proposals and the Competition Committee.) – “The first thing I’d like to say is I think (Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach) Mike Tomlin and (New Orleans Saints Head Coach) Sean Payton, those guys do a great job kind of representing the coaches in the Competition Committee. This being my first go-around, I think it’s just incredible the time that they spend on the Competition Committee and going through the proposals and then presenting it to us. I think they do a really good job. From the rules standpoint, the one thing also that I think is just incredible and has been incredible the last couple of days is that you’re sitting in a room with coaches, GMs, the higher-ups and everyone is just trying to make the game better. You’re sitting there, going back and forth, and the goal is to make the game better. I just think that’s … I’m just privileged and fortunate. It’s a humbling experience to be in that room, give your opinions and just try to make the game better. That’s all we’re doing in there. What comes out of it is we’ll vote on the thing. Everybody knows what the proposals are. To me, my take from this week and from these couple of days has been from an ownership, from an executive level, you’ve got 32 clubs just trying to do what’s best for this league and do what’s best for this game. I think with this being the 100th season, I just feel fortunate to be kind of a part of that.”
(On overtime rules.) – “No, not this past year. I’ve been in two (overtime) games but we didn’t play defense. I mean they tweaked the overtime rules a couple of years ago. However we vote on it, I think that’s part of the game. You have to be able to adjust. In this game, you have to adjust offensively and defensively from a rules standpoint. We’ve had to coach tackling; it’s different (now). We’ve got a phrase in our building, ‘adapt or die.’ That’s part of it. It’s coaches, too – coaches, executives. Whatever the rules are – the rule changes are – then we’ve got to go out there and play defense. I don’t have a problem going out there and playing defense. That’s kind of my stance on it.”
(With the caveat that none of us really know anything at this stage, when you look at some of the prognosticators about this team this year … When you see that, does that fuel some fire? What is it when you see people saying this may not be a very good team?) – “You know, I don’t really look at much of that. That’s the first time I’ve heard those odds. My focus is … It’s a daily focus, I’m thinking about this team and how to improve it and how to maneuver the pieces to – I don’t mean just the team, I’m talking just overall as an organization – to put the best product on the field. I don’t read headlines and go into all of that. The goal is to improve every day. The goal is to work hard. The goal is to put the players in the best position to do what they do well. My experience has been that will yield a good performance or some productivity.”
(What would be a successful season?) – “I haven’t thought that far in advance. I’m working on a successful day and getting through this interview process. I don’t think that far ahead because to me, when you think that far ahead – and I’ve said this over and over again – you’re not focused on the present. I have to be focused on the present. If I’m thinking about the end of the season, I’m not locked in on today and I think I’m doing a disservice to our coaching staff, our players, our support staff, the guys who are painting the field. I feel like I’m doing a disservice to those people if I’m thinking about December. That’s not where I’m at.”
(Do you set goals for yourself for the end of the year?) – “Get better every day. That’s my goal. Get better and improve every day. I figure if I do that … That’s been a winning formula for me for my entire life and I’m going to stick to that. Just keep being who I’ve been for 38 years.”
(I want to ask you about the offensive line. For those of us who have followed the team for a number of years, it seems like forever the Dolphins have been trying to build an offensive line and there are a lot of moving pieces and it just hasn’t come together. Now we’ve seen some guys like T Ja’Wuan James leave and you have six months to put together an offensive line. How are you going to do it?) – “Well, I think the draft is going to be … We’re going to obviously have an emphasis on offensive line in the draft. There’s still some potential in free agency and some other avenues to pick up some offensive linemen. The o-line and the run game and protection, that’s near and dear to me as well. I think it’s something we’re definitely going to invest in, in the draft and moving forward. We’re going to build this offensive line because we’ve got to run the ball and we’ve got to protect the quarterback. That was something that Chris (Grier), myself, (Chairman of the Board/Managing General Partner) Steve (Ross), we talked about really even during the interview stages. It’s something that we continue to talk about on a day-to-day basis, how we’re going to build the offensive and defensive lines and this entire roster. We’re not there yet. I think it’s pretty clear that everyone knows that. But we’re going to get there. There’s a lot of moving parts to that. We’ve got to build the depth there, really at all positions. We’ve got some good, young players and we’re going to try to develop them and I think those are the steps that we’re going to take to build the offensive line.”
(On G/T Jesse Davis’ position flexibility and if he’ll be a guard or tackle.) – “I think versatility. It’s kind of going to be similar to the Minkah (Fitzpatrick) conversation. I think versatility on the offensive line is critical. His ability to play right tackle and guard is very good. We’re excited about Jesse but I think everybody on the team will understand this: we’re going to put players where we need them and where they help the team the most. So that versatility, I think it’s helpful. He had a great year last year at right guard, but we’re going to move guys around. Players are going to move. They’re going to play different positions. That’s how you build … There’s only 46 that go to the game. You can’t back up every position so somebody has got to be able to move if we have an injury or if somebody needs to step out for a play. Jesse’s ability to play both tackle and guard, that helps us. It only helps us.”
(On the usage of RB Kenyan Drake and if he’s an every-down back.) – “I think Drake is an explosive player. I’ve seen it first-hand, unfortunately. (laughter) I think he’s a talented player. He catches the ball well. He’s a good runner. He runs hard. He does a lot of really good things. But I think, and I’ll say this to all of the players, they’re going to make the most of their … The opportunities they get on the field will be up to them. Period. If they practice well, if they’re smart, they work hard, they’re tough, they block, they catch the ball consistently, they hit the hole correctly, then they’re going to play. That’s all of the backs. That’s (Kalen) Ballage, that’s Drake, that’s period. By committee or workhorse, those are phrases that people throw out there but I think the guys who perform at practice and produce in games, those are the guys that are going to be out there.”
(On giving a running back a certain number of carries.) – “It depends on the back.”
(Do you think RB Kenyan Drake can handle that kind of workload?) – “I think if that’s what’s best for the team, then that’s what we do. That will always be kind of my thought process on it. If that’s what’s best for the Miami Dolphins, then that’s what we’ll do. We’ve got some good backs. (Kalen) Ballage is a good back, as well. We may draft a back. We may not draft a back. We may pick up a back as a college free agent. I don’t know. But the guys who go out and practice well and prepare the right way and block in pass protection, those are the guys who will be out on the field.”
(On the relationships between head coaches, general managers and team presidents and how they work in different places.) – “I think communication first and foremost, that’s the most important piece between ownership, (general) managers, presidents, head coaches. There has to be an alignment of philosophies and a communication on a day-to-day basis that allows for a good work environment, I would say. With that said, there’s always going to be differences of opinion like there are in any field, but you have to be able to work through those. That’s no different from that level than it is as a quarterback to receiver to running back to offensive line, your linebacker to your defensive line. There’s always communication (and) at times differences of opinion that you have to work through. That’s in any field. I’m sure you guys deal with that as well. My short time in Miami, we’ve been aligned – Chris (Grier), myself, Mr. (Steve) Ross, our coaching staff. That was big for me, from a coaching staff standpoint, is to bring in guys who were tough, who were smart, but communicated well and worked well together. We can’t ask the players to communicate (if) we can’t communicate. That doesn’t make any sense. We have to practice what we preach. I think we’ve done a good job of that and we have guys who are willing to do that.”
(On his mentors.) – “I’ve got a lot. I think there’s one sitting over there, Bill (Belichick). I’ll start with him. Scott Pioli, he’s the one who hired me in New England. He’s been a great mentor, a great friend for a long time. My high school coach, Dino Mangiero. (He is) somebody I talk to every couple weeks and he’s always giving me nuggets about leadership, about humility. My college (position) coach, Bill McGovern, who’s a linebackers coach for the Giants. He’s definitely a mentor. Then my parents and my family, for sure – my mom, my dad, my uncle. Those are the people I lean on from that standpoint.”
(On CB Eric Rowe.) – “Eric, obviously, we had him in New England. This guy, he’s tall, long, good speed, tackles well, does a lot of good things. He has been hit with the injury bug a couple times, but when healthy, he’s been a productive player. We’re excited to have him. Obviously, we’ve got a history with him. We know what kind of person he is and his work ethic. I think he’s a good player, good talent.”
(If CB Eric Rowe stays healthy, can he compete for a starting job?) – “Yeah. I think he’ll compete to play. He’ll be competing along with all of the defensive backs on the roster to play. Like I said, he’s been a guy who’s played on the left side, played on the right side, played inside, played some safety in college. He’s another guy who’s versatile and can do a few things. Mentally, he can handle it. We’re excited to have him.”
(Is there anything that may be flying under the radar now whether it be strength and conditioning, sports science, any of those things that we’re not paying attention to that you’ve changed since you’ve arrived that you think might make a big difference come September?) – “We have a great support staff in Miami. From that standpoint, strength and conditioning, analytics, sports science, sports psychology, I’ve met with everyone from every department and asked them to tell me their vision for their specific department and what the system, processes, for those departments are and how they help us win. We’re lucky to have, in my opinion, a really good support staff that way. I’m excited to see them work with the players. It’s hard. It’s like coaching. You don’t really know until they get their hands on the players. Structurally, a lot of things are really good.”
(But are there any major changes you’ve made so far?) – “No, not a lot of major changes. There are some changes in that there are some new coaches in the building. I would say that’s the major change and getting them aligned with my core philosophies and my vision, which I would say a lot of them were already. The support staff, I think they’ve been very willing. They’ve been hard-working. They’re trying to do everything possible to help us win. At the end of the day, that’s all that I can really ask for.”
(On if the team is “tanking.”) – “I think the term tanking, I think it’s disrespectful to the game. I really do. I don’t like that term. I don’t like when people use it. This game has done a lot for me, personally. I’ve said this before, football really leveled the playing field for me as a person. It’s really the one thing that leveled the playing field. To disrespect the game and use that term, it stirs something up inside of me, to put it nicely. Those are my feelings on it. I’ve never … I’m going to go into every game trying to win. That’s always going to be my objective. I’m going to go into anything I do trying to win. I’m going to try to instill that into everybody I come across. No, there’s no tanking. You can write that over and over and over again.”
(On the future of the team.) – “Honestly, I think it’s a good business practice to have your eye on the future. I think every business should do that. Chris (Grier), myself, Steve (Ross), we’ve got our eye on the future. We’ve got our eye on the future of the Miami Dolphins. Part of some of the moves we’ve made are with that in mind; but also with that in mind, the idea here is to win games, to go out and compete and win on a weekly basis. We’re always going to have our eye on the future. Our moves, our acquisitions, our personnel decisions, the future will always be part of that. I think that’s good business practice. Regardless of your record, you should always be trying to do what’s best for the team now and in the future.”
(On the fourth-and-15 proposal to replace an onside kick late in games.) – “That’s something we’ve talked about the last couple days. I think the one thing, and I’ve said this to someone else – I think everyone is in there trying to make the game better. Again, there are pros and cons to the fourth-and-15 play. There are pros and cons to the change to the onside kick (last year), which made it tougher to recover an onside kick.”
(On the fourth-and-15 proposal being similar to the PAT change a few years ago.) – “Potentially. There are some other things in play there. We’ve talked about it in those meetings. I’m going to leave that in the meeting for now. You guys will find out how that works out. I thought it was a good proposal. It’s hard to recover an onside kick. It’s hard to get the ball back. I think now, sometimes there’s no way around it, but (the strategy is to) try to get the onside kick as the rules are set now and if they change, we’ll adjust. That’s what we have to do. We’re always going to adjust to whatever the rule changes are.”
(Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick, during this period had always leaned on Patriots Football Research Director Ernie Adams and a lot of other people, I would imagine, for their expertise whether it be clock management or game strategy. Have you found or looked for someone to fill a similar role for you in that?) – “I think we have a few guys on staff that can fill that role. Jim Caldwell, obviously, is assistant head coach. He’s been very helpful from that standpoint. We have a lot of guys on the staff who I have a lot of trust in, from (Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Cornerbacks Coach) Josh Boyer to (Defensive Coordinator) Pat Graham to (Offensive Coordinator) Chad O’Shea to (Special Teams Coordinator) Danny Crossman. Collectively as a group, we’ll get the clock management, the situations kind of practiced and gone through. I think we have a good plan in place.”
(The fascinating part in the game is you guys have to do it on the move?) – “Yes. There’s definitely some preparation that goes into that. Preparation that’s already been started.”
(On conversations with General Manager Chris Grier that this team may need to lose this year for the long-term benefit of the franchise.) – “No. My conversations with him have been about obviously rebuilding our roster; but at the same time, he knows and everyone knows that I’m always going to go out there and try to win every game we go out there and play. Yes, (the term ‘tanking’) struck a nerve, and I think it will always strike a nerve, because I think it’s disrespectful to the game. I think to even say that – and I’ve heard it multiple times – I do think it’s a disrespect to the game that I love. Quite honestly, I won’t stand for it, to be honest. That’s where I’m at. We’re going to leave it there and we’re going to try to win every game.”
(On his thoughts on Bills QB Josh Allen.) – “Big, fast, strong, athletic. He can really throw the deep ball. He’s definitely a really good young player who has a lot of ability. Obviously, the sky is the limit for that guy. He’s a good young player.”
(On how things have gone since he arrived in Miami.) – “It’s been a blur. I would say the last six weeks, the last 15 months, it’s all been – you lose the Super Bowl, you get a new job. You kind of go through the process of being a defensive coordinator and getting up in front of the room. That was all new. Then, you go through the season, there’s some up’s, there’s some down’s, you win the Super Bowl, take a new job, you have to move your family. There’s a lot going on. Again, the ‘adapt or die’ phrase we talked about earlier, that’s been in play for the last year and a-half, which is good. Again, I’m fortunate to have these opportunities. I relish every moment and every chance I get to lead this team and to lead men. That’s important to me. I got into coaching not for the fame or the status, but it was to impact people – impacting young men, impacting anyone in the building. To whom much is given, much is required. I understand that and I try to make an impact every day and help people succeed.”
(On the ‘adapt or die’ phrase.) – “No, that’s been my mantra for a long time.”
(On how the ‘adapt or die’ phrase has helped in his career.) – “I think there’s situations in a game where you have to be adaptable. Okay, it’s raining. Are we going inside? Yes, we’re going inside. We have to adapt. It’s raining. You have to play through the rain. You have to adapt. There has to be an urgency that comes with it. If you complain about it, what good is that? That’s not literal or anything like that, but we have to be adaptable.”
