Minkah Fitzpatrick – August 22, 2018
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Wednesday, August 22, 2018
S Minkah Fitzpatrick
(Even with slot corner not being your natural position, is it a case where it’s a good way to get you out there? It’s a good way to get on the field?) – “That’s mostly what I played at Alabama. Over half of my snaps were at the nickel spot. I feel natural out there.”
(Did you guys do your rookie talent show?) – “No. Every day they have a rookie come up to the front and sing a song. One did a Rubik’s cube and stuff like that. I’m trying to hold out on it as long as I can. (laughter)”
(You haven’t had to do anything yet?) – “I haven’t done anything yet. I’ve done a lot of other smaller stuff, but I haven’t done that yet.”
(Do they give you the choice of what to sing?) – “Yes, you can sing whatever you want to sing.”
(What’s yours going to be?) – “I don’t know. I’m not sure yet.”
(How much has CB Bobby McCain helped you the last couple of weeks?) – “I just watch what he does. That’s how I learn. I don’t want to ask him too many questions. I ask questions when I need to but I learn just by watching him, observing him and seeing what he does. I just model off of that and learn from what he does as well as what he messes up on. The same goes for him. He watches me an he’ll correct me. He’ll say ‘Mink, you could’ve done this a little better. You could’ve done that a little better.’ So, just learning from him and him telling me what I’m doing wrong or what I can do better, that’s it.”
(Is it different when it comes from a player? When a player says something versus when a coach says something?) – “I’ll say so, yes. If it’s something like that. If you mess up a play, it’s about the same thing because they’re just correcting you. If it’s something like, ‘You need to hustle to the ball.’ If it’s a coach, you’re like ‘He’s just saying that because he’s a coach.’ If it’s a player, it’s like ‘He’s saying that because I need to hustle.’ It’s the same thing if it’s your parents. You always think your parents are trying to pick on you or whatever, when they really have the best intentions for you and want you to do well. When someone else tells you, you’re like maybe it is true if they say it too. That’s how it is, it does come across a different way. You do want to listen more when it comes from a player.”
(You’re covering a lot of these guys. What do you see from the team speed on offense?) – “There’s a lot of speed. All of those guys, they all move around all over the place. Kenny (Stills), Danny (Amendola), Jakeem (Grant), (Albert) Wilson all of them move around the place. Every snap it’s a new receiver and every single one of them is just as fast and quick in and out of their breaks. I know they’re a real fast offense.”
(We’ve seen how intense WR Danny Amendola is. Specifically with him, what’s it been like going against him in the slot?) – “It’s been awesome. We’re both real competitive. We’re competitors out there. Every single snap, we’re going out there competing. He might get me one play, I might get him one play; but we’re both getting each other better. We’re battling out there and that’s what it’s for. I was excited when I knew I was going to be going against him, because I knew he was a great player. Like you said, he’s aggressive. He likes competition, and that’s the type of players I like playing against because I’m going to get better in the long run and he’s going to get better in the long run.”
(Does WR Danny Amendola get under your skin?) – “No, not at all.”
Mike Gesicki – August 22, 2018
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Wednesday, August 22, 2018
TE Mike Gesicki
(I wanted to ask you about that catch in the end zone. It got on your shoulder or something?) – “That was just a play, just a normal one. I just ran a takeoff and Ryan (Tannehill) gave me a chance, put the ball up, and it’s just my job to go up and make a play and that’s what I was able to do.”
(How itching are you to get that done in a game?) – “That’s obviously the goal, that’s why you’re out here working. You’re out here practicing so that way when you get out on the field at game time, it’s time to make plays; but you have to be patient with everything. It’s a long process. It’s a very long season and we’re into two preseason games. I’m just excited to keep growing and keep getting better.”
(How would you describe your focus and your goal when you’re able to take the time to do some extra red zone work with QB Ryan Tannehill and QB Brock Osweiler?) – “It was good. It was really productive. Just being able to get those extra reps and being able to just go out there and get that chemistry, that’s something that’s really productive and I think it will pay huge dividends in the future.”
(LB Jerome Baker and S Minkah Fitzpatrick were telling us about the rookie talents. Have you had to sing or do any talented situations so far?) – “The rookies, obviously you have to get up and you have to sing or do whatever you want to do up there, so I went up there and sang. You have to get up there and (say) ‘Hello, Mike Gesicki, my school, signing bonus,’ all of that kind of stuff. It’s just fun and something that everybody that’s not standing up there singing gets huge entertainment out of that.”
(What did you sing?) – “I sang the song from The Hangover when he’s on the piano and tigers dreaming, that song.”
(We asked you about the red zone work. I was watching you blocking down here late. It seems like they were pretty happy with the job you did.) – “Yes. It’s going to be an everyday process. Whether it’s running routes or whether it’s making plays in the pass game, whether it’s pass protecting, run block, whatever it is, it’s not going to happen overnight. I’m just going to keep coming in here and growing, developing, getting better in this scheme and doing everything I can to help this offense.”
(When you watch film, I guess with Tight Ends Coach Shane Day, is he brutally honest? Is he encouraging? What’s it like?) – “Coach Day is awesome. He’s extremely positive, just kind of telling me each and every day that we’re getting better, we’re focusing on the technique and that like I just said, it’s not going to happen overnight. They knew that this was going to be a process and that we were going to have to develop some aspects of my game. I think that the coaches and everybody has done an awesome job teaching me some of this stuff and helping coach me up, and then at the same time, just being patient and understanding that.”
(You’re trying to improve all aspects of your game but what’s been the biggest challenge?) – “Honestly, probably just the mental aspect of everything. Now it’s coming a lot quicker, a lot faster; but yesterday I come in, there’s a bunch of new plays and all of this new stuff going in for the weekend and all of that. So, just kind of being able to comprehend that real quick and then being able to take that out to the field. Honestly, this is a little bit different than college. You’re not getting a ton of reps out here in practice, so when you get those opportunities, you have to make the most of them.”
(Do you find that things that you maybe had to think about during offseason workouts, now you’re just reacting?) – “Yes, absolutely. In OTAs, they would call a formation and I’d be going right, it’s supposed to be left; going left, it’s supposed to be (right). Now, it’s just I’m lining up, I’m playing fast, I’m doing my job, I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I think that that’s just natural. You’re not just going to come out here your first day in OTAs and know the whole damn playbook and know exactly where you’re supposed to go and all of that kind of stuff. It’s a learning process just like it is a process on the field with the physical tools.”
(Head Coach Adam Gase said that as far as you’re concerned, in his mind, the catches will come. What are you telling yourself about that?) – “Oh, yes. I’m not concerned about that at all. We’re sitting here going into preseason three. I’m out there running my routes, trying to win, blocking when I’m asked to, pass protecting when I’m asked to. I know that the catches are going to come. I think that Coach Gase has done a great job in this offense of getting guys the ball, getting guys in space being able to make plays and creating mismatches. In terms of making the plays, in these games right now, it’s not really what I’m concerned about. I’m just concerned about knowing my job, knowing my role, my assignment and going out and executing.”
(How important is starting for you?) – “You’re not coming out here every day just to be a backup or anything like that; but at the same time, you have to come out here with the right mindset, right attitude and just put your best foot forward and then let everything else fall where it may.”
(How did that touchdown catch feel?) – “It was good. It was a good feeling, just going up there. Not even making the play, just knowing that Ryan (Tannehill) has trust in me. In single coverage, he’s going to put it up in the back of the end zone an let me go get it. It’s not so much making the play, I know I can make the play. It’s getting the confidence in Ryan and I think that’s starting to grow and develop, and that’s a cool feeling.”
(Did you talk trash afterwards?) – “No. Believe me, I get way too tired to be talking trash. I just catch the touchdown, throw the ball because I’m going right back the next play.”
(Can you give us a couple bars of ‘Dougie, Dougie, Doug, Doug?’) – “(laughter) I’m retired with that. That was a one-time thing. I’m done with that.”
(Did you catch it on your shoulder pads?) – “Honestly, it was my helmet. I had it on my helmet and brought it in.”
Jerome Baker – August 22, 2018
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Wednesday, August 22, 2018
LB Jerome Baker
(As far as the defense, how is it coming to you so far? The learning curve, how have you handled that?) – “I pretty much lean on the older guys – Raekwon (McMillan), ‘Steph’ (Stephone Anthony), ‘T.G’ (Terrance Garvin) and all of those guys, Kiko (Alonso). I lean on them as much as I can, and they all give me the same answer: just focus on this play, on this play, on this play and after practice, you know everything. That’s pretty much my approach every day. I look at it as one rep, get better, get better, get better and at the end of the day, I look over it. I try not to think ahead; I try not to think of the past too much. I pretty much (just try to) get better every day, every rep. I know it’s kind of cliché, but that’s honestly what I do: just focus on this play and don’t worry about nothing else.”
(Not to put light on the RB Christian McCaffrey run, but how hard was that one to forget about?) – “We’re professional athletes. It happened. You just have to go out there and do the next play. The moment you start thinking about what happened, something else is going to happen. That’s the way we looked at it. It happened, (move on to the) next play. You can’t do anything about it.”
(Overall, are you pretty happy with your progression through camp?) – “Yes, definitely. I’m definitely happy, but I know I have a long way to go. Looking at Kiko (Alonso) and looking at Raekwon (McMillan) and where they are at as far as knowledge, it’s incredible. I’m definitely striving to get to that level, to get better. I’m definitely happy, but I know I’ve got a long way to go.”
(Rookie talent, have you showed off your rookie talent yet? Minkah (Fitzpatrick) was saying that he did a Rubik’s cube. A lot of guys have been singing.) – “Yes, you had to sing. I sang … what was my song? I sang a song, I know that. It was real simple. I was the second person to do it. They were telling me to get it out the way as soon as you can, so I got it out the way as soon as I could. (laughter) That was it.”
(You don’t remember any bars to the song?) – “When it’s cold outside… (laughter)”
(What was the reaction of your teammates?) – “My singing is horrible. (laughter) They can tell you what they were … It was over quick. I got it over with. (laughter)”
(Who did the Rubik’s cube?) – “That was Buddy (Howell). He did the Rubik’s cube.”
(So you sang ‘My Girl?’) – “Yes, ‘My Girl’ by The Temptations.”
(Was there something special about ‘My Girl’ that made you choose it?) – “It’s funny because the day before I was listening to it. I don’t know why I was listening to it, but I was listening to it. I was like that’s the most simplest song, you can’t mess that one up. So I sang that one, got it over with and was hoping they would never choose me again to do anything else. (laughter) It’s all good.”
Kenny Stills – August 22, 2018
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Wednesday, August 22, 2018
WR Kenny Stills
(What do you see from the team speed out there on offense? It looks like you guys have a lot of speed at wide receiver.) – “Yes. We focus every day on coming off the ball, running around, using the speed that we have. We feel like if we can put pressure on the defense, we can go out there and make plays.”
(Without WR DeVante Parker out there, it’s kind of a smaller wide receiver corps. How does that play into an advantage for you guys?) – “I wouldn’t say it’s an advantage, but we’ve got speed. We’ve got the talent. We’ve got guys that come out and make plays. It’s not something we’re really worried about. We’ll get DeVante back when we get him back. While he’s not here, we’ve got to go out and make plays.”
(What kind of growth have you seen from QB Ryan Tannehill so far this camp?) – “It’s some of the things I’ve touched on before – the leadership and just being more vocal. You see the confidence in his game. I wasn’t out there last preseason game, but the way he’s delivering the ball, the timing. He looks great. He looks confident. I’m happy to get on the field with him on Saturday.”
(What is your chemistry like with QB Ryan Tannehill? He missed all of last season but how quickly did it come back?) – “I spoke on this before, Ryan and I haven’t missed a beat. We spent a lot of time in the offseason throwing twice a week when we were not in the building. I never feel like our chemistry is going to be anything to worry about. We’re on the same page and he delivers the ball well and on time and a perfect spiral so we’re ready to go.”
(What does TE Mike Gesicki bring to this offense? He seems like a mismatch in the end zone.) – “I talked to Mike a lot about my time in New Orleans playing with a guy like Jimmy Graham, and just seeing when Jimmy had success, how it opened up the field for the rest of the guys. Obviously, they’re two different type of players, two different guys, but Gesicki can go up and get the ball. We know that if we can start to have success in the red zone and he can start to have success, it’s going to open the field for the rest of us. I’m proud to see the way he’s progressed in his blocking and his route-running and I definitely think he can help us this year.”
(Do you think he has TE Jimmy Graham-type potential?) – “I mean, the way he goes up and gets the ball, yes. He’s impressed me a lot here over training camp and these last couple of days. You don’t want to predict anything like that, but the guy can go up and make plays in the red zone. We’ll have to see what he does during the season.”
Adam Gase – August 21, 2018
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Head Coach Adam Gase
(We noticed former NFL Coach Mike Martz out there. Can you fill us in on why he’s here and what he’s meant to you?) – “I called him last week. We were just talking about some stuff. I always feel like he’s got a lot going on. He’ll say he doesn’t, but I know he does. I asked if he had any time this week – with us kind of getting into an in-season week of practice and game planning, things like that – so I asked him to come down. He was available, so he was able to come down this whole week and kind of spend some time with us. I thought it would be good. Some of our coaches know him; some of them don’t. It’s been great for me because I’ve been able to pick his brain on just some different things that we’ve never really talked about before.”
(How would you describe former NFL Coach Mike Martz’s influence in your career?) – “The majority of what I’ve learned is from him, especially about offensive football but also how to present in front of players, whether it be installing things. Just like those side conversations with guys and in front of the group. I don’t know if you really want to call it motivation, but I think maybe more confidence. He’s the best one I’ve ever been around as far as when he was in front of the group, you walked out of the room and you thought you were going to score 60 every game. You could feel that from him that he believed that. That was something I think just watching him as many times as I did, it just kind of rubbed off on me.”
(We saw DE Robert Quinn with two sacks against Carolina, but how many other plays was he a part of?) – “He’s one of those guys that’s going to have a lot of hidden plays that people won’t be able to look back and say, this is on the stat sheet. He’s very disruptive. The offense feels him out there all the time. It may have looked different the way that he kind of goes after the run game. A lot of times he can get a guy to stop his feet and redirect and that’s enough time for our guys to swarm and make a play. He’s definitely going to need to be accounted for in the pass rush.”
(How has DE Robert Quinn teamed with DE Cam Wake so far in the pass rush?) – “The pocket is collapsing quickly. That’s really what we’re looking for. It’s really going to come down for us to how many opportunities we can give those guys. That group is pretty deep. What’s valuable to us is guys are going to be fighting for playing time, so every time they’re in there and it’s a passing situation, I think we’re going to get great energy on the field of guys getting after the quarterback.”
(What are you guys having WR DeVante Parker do while he’s hurt?) – “A lot of conditioning. Just trying to make sure we don’t lose that. He still can’t catch a ball. He’s been very engaged in all the meetings. I know he doesn’t want to take any steps back mentally. If he wasn’t in our meetings, it’s just easy to get away from it and … You’re not going to forget everything, but just hearing the little details over and over again so it’s second nature, he doesn’t want to lose that. I know he had worked hard to make sure he was in great condition. He was able to run the entire training camp without having any kind of fatigue issues. I know he doesn’t want to lose that.”
(Does WR DeVante Parker run routes or anything without catching the ball?) – “Yes, we can do all of that stuff. We can work the cones, all those type of things. He’s doing it with the trainers.”
(What is your comfort level with the linebacker corps?) – “My confidence is growing with them. They’re young. We’re going to have mistakes. I think Kiko (Alonso) is … I almost feel like it’s two years ago. Last year the offseason was tough for him. He was coming off with the hand (injury). He couldn’t do what he wanted to do in the offseason. I know when he came to training camp, he was lighter and he was still trying to get used to using his hand and not worrying about it. He’s really been performing the way we need him to perform. Then we just need those two young guys to keep growing and keep learning. We know there’s going to be mistakes. We’re going to be all right with that because we feel like it’s important to those guys and they work really hard to correct those mistakes.”
(What did you see from WR Kenny Stills in his first day back and how far is he from being 100 percent?) – “I don’t know if anybody is ever really going to be 100 percent, but it amazes me that he can come back out there and run the amount he does. He missed a healthy amount of time, but today it was more mental for him than anything of just pushing through. It gets a little hot and (you have to) just keep fighting through the whole heat element of everything. It seemed like he was fine.”
(Where are you guys in terms of QB Ryan Tannehill’s pocket presence and how comfortable he’s been in the pocket? He says he hasn’t been hit so far in the first two games. Is that because of the chemistry they’re developing or his timing and footwork?) – “I think he’s doing a good job getting the ball out, but I also think he’s got a lot of space. I don’t know if he’s really used to this. Our guys up front have taken a lot of pride in making sure he hasn’t gotten touched. The two times he has actually been knocked down have been almost like … not late hits, but just like those late grabs where he’s a little bit off balance and it was almost like he fell. The line has done a great job, not only in pass protection but in the run game. We have things to clean up but I like where we’re trending.”
(You guys haven’t taken a lot of shots downfield with the ones in games. Is that just how the game has gone?) – “It’s who we’re playing. It’s hard to take shots when they’re 10 to 15 yards off. That’s why Carolina was (No.) 1 or 2 in every category. They let you get those yards and they just say, you’re not going to get in the end zone. That’s why they were a top red-zone defense. They didn’t give up a whole bunch of balls over 20 yards last year. And I remembered that going into the game. The thing that we needed to do different that last game was when we got in the red zone, we needed to execute and put it in the end zone. We didn’t do that.”
(I don’t know if you have a secret of the 53 players that are going to be Miami Dolphins this year but how many jobs legitimately would you say are open?) – “I don’t know. I don’t think that way. We’re just going to keep playing and when we get time and it’s time to make those cut downs, we’ll sit in a room and deal with that. It’s hard for me to even really put a number to anything. I could go in there right now and look at a roster and probably have an idea of where those position battles are, but we’re going to play this thing out. That’s the beauty of what we’re going through right now and being able to keep as many guys as we can to just keep competing because you just never know what’s going to happen.”
(Does QB Bryce Petty have a legitimate shot to be the backup quarterback?) – “I think everybody right now in that room, we’re just going to keep competing and get reps. Really, this game it’s going to be so much about the ones and how is it going to turn out when those guys go out? How many plays are going to be available? We’ve got three guys who want to play in the game. We’ve just got to kind of see how it goes.”
(Is there a difference between a free safety and a strong safety between mentalities? Does the free safety choose to keep things in front of him more and the strong safety goes for the kill shot more?) – “Every defense is different. For us, our guys are pretty much interchangeable, but at the same time we’ve got a pretty good idea that when we have 20 down in the box, it’s really good for us because the guy is a tackling machine. I don’t think our other guys are really afraid to mix it up, either, between T.J. (McDonald) and Minkah (Fitzpatrick). Those guys come up pretty quick. That’s why Minkah has extra value with being able to play nickel. That helps us in the run game because those receivers can’t block him.”
(Did S Reshad Jones and S T.J. McDonald have the, I guess, free safety mentality of keeping everything in front of them? Was that an issue last year?) – “Last year was so different than what it was. When T.J. missed eight weeks, that just kind of threw us … I mean, he was trying to come back and do everything he could to help us. He was playing well in training camp and then just leaving and then trying to jump right back into it; this year I notice even growth from last training camp, especially knowing when he can come down, take his shots and maybe cut across or whatever they’re doing in the passing game to where he can be effective. I do think he has that ability to keep things in front of him; but at the same time, I don’t think he’s really going to lose that aggression that he has naturally.”
(With the defensive tackle position, now that you’re facing the Ravens this week, what do you expect from that unit?) – “I think our defensive tackles have actually done a decent job. We just have to fit these things right. When we do get these guys covered up up front, and we have our linebackers running free, we’ve got to make those plays. We’ve got to fit the gaps right. I think (Akeem) Spence has done a good job. It’s amazing to me to watch him attack an offensive lineman. He must have some strong hands because when he hits those guys, you see movement. You see some pop there. He’s not a huge guy, but he’s one of those guys who just has some kind of strength you just can’t teach. Getting Jordan (Phillips) kind of going again, and (Davon) Godchaux and Vince (Taylor) have been very productive. As soon as we put pads on, Vince shows up. We just need to keep getting better at that spot. I know (Defensive Line Coach) Kris (Kocurek) is really working on getting those guys attacking the way he wants and causing chaos.”
(How have you seen RB Frank Gore help RB Kenyan Drake, and help this team?) – “Frank is one of those guys, you just watch what he does. That’s what makes him different. He’s not afraid to say something if he needs to. Kenyan has done a good job of just watching what he does. Frank is such a pro. Just watch him get ready for practice. He’s always out there early. He’s always doing something. It’s hard to keep him off the field in practice. If you try to rest him, you’ll be like, ‘Hey, you’re 35 now.’ He doesn’t care. He acts like he’s 23, which I love. And then when you watch him run, you get even more excited. I’m ready to get him on the field and get this thing rolling.”
Ryan Tannehill – August 21, 2018
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018
QB Ryan Tannehill
(On the third preseason game.) – “Yes, I think it’s obviously the closest thing you get to a real game as far as game-plan preparation. We’re setting it up how we go through a normal week so meetings, install, everything is pretty similar to a normal week. So it gives us a good dress rehearsal, so to speak, of your process through the week and creating habits of on what days you do what, and obviously getting ready to play.”
(Is this week a better gauge for where the team is than the first two preseason games because there’s more prep in it?) – “I don’t know. It’s still a preseason game so it’s not fully … I don’t think either side is fully throwing all of the cards on the table but I think it’s as close as you’re going to get.”
(When it comes to individual performance and team performance, how much do you think the preseason correlates to how someone or a team will do in the regular season?) – “I don’t know. I haven’t done a study on it or anything like that. I know that if you’re constantly playing well then usually you’re going to continue to play well. I don’t think as far as final scores or anything like that, that it’s probably a big indicator; but you kind of think about how you’re playing. Are you trending (upwards)? Are you getting better each and every week? That’s a big deal.”
(How is the RB Kenyan Drake that you’re taking the field with today different than the guy you saw as a rookie?) – “Kenyan has grown up a lot. He’s matured and kind of became a pro. I think he’s had a couple of older guys to learn from. He’s doing a great job of being in the right spot on the field and working hard every single day. He’s a talented guy. He’s had that since he got here but I think he’s added all of the off-field stuff and just a complete understanding, and he’s really taken it to the next level.”
(Is it a bit of a surprise to you with how RB Kenyan Drake escapes plays when it looks like he’s dead in the water?) – “Yes, he’s fun to watch. I’ve said it multiple times, Frank (Gore) is fun to watch with how he can skirt through a tiny hole. Then Drake, like the play last week, I didn’t even realize he had spun out of it because I had finished my fake, turned around and he’s running off to the other side. But after watching it on tape, he should have been tackled for a 3-yard loss and somehow gets out of it and it ends up being a 30-something-yard gain. I think that’s the kind of playmaking he brings to the table. Any play can be a home run.”
(Looking at third-down situations, Head Coach Adam Gase was saying that first and second downs have gotten you into third-and-long situations. Improving on first and second down, is that more mental or more physical?) – “I think for us last week it was a little bit of both. I would say it was probably a little bit more mental with the penalties, but some of those penalties or are because of physical (things) – not having your hands in the right spot and that type of thing. I would say it’s a little bit of both. They go together. I thought we moved the ball well last week when we didn’t have penalties and then we put ourselves in some third-and-long situations through penalties. Obviously we need to eliminate those.”
(What do you like about the offense right now because as you said, it looks like you guys are moving the ball fairly well.) – “Yes. We’re building in the right direction. We’re trending in the right direction. We are still installing some new things still and trying to master a few things so we have a lot of work to do, but I feel like we’re trending in the right direction. We’re getting some good work the past couple of drives that we’ve been out there and it has to continue this week.”
(Have you been touched yet by defenders?) – “Maybe bumped. I haven’t been hit, that’s for sure.”
(How good does that feel, not just to go through the preseason, but the offensive line looks like they’re a little bit more stable?) – “It’s huge. Whenever you’re able to drop back and go through your progressions, find a check down and not get hit, it obviously is going to open up a lot of things for us in the pass game and makes my life a whole lot easier.”
(When you watch the film, did you see opportunities to maybe stretch the field that you didn’t see in the game? Where there opportunities there or is it kind of what you called is what you ran?) – “I think the ball went in the right spot except for the one where I overthrew Jakeem (Grant) down the left sideline. I think other than that, the ball was in the right spot. That team plays a lot of soft coverage and they were giving us the easy underneath throws. You kind of have to just keep taking them when you play a team like that and just kind of wait for the right time. When you have the right play call and the right coverage, then you take a shot. I think we did a good job of taking what was there. Hopefully, if you’re playing a full game, you’re kind of wearing them down and wearing them down and then you eventually get your shot over the top.”
(How prioritized is it to get in the end zone on Saturday?) – “It’s huge. We need to get in the end zone. That’s the whole object of being out there is to get points and more importantly get the ball in the end zone. It’s going to be huge for us to be able to finish drives.”
(What do you see from the overall team speed on offense? You have a lot of speed burners. Is that difficult to adjust to when so many guys are that fast?) – “It’s a lot of fun. When you have speed all over the field, the defense has to cover the whole field. It really helps us out with matchups and stretching the field both horizontally and vertically. With so many playmakers, it’s just a matter of getting the ball in their hands and letting them go to work.”
(When you have two good pass-rushing defensive ends – the Chargers have it with DE Joey Bosa and DE Melvin Ingram, you guys have it with DE Robert Quinn and DE Cameron Wake – what does that do to a pass protection? Is everybody on edge or how does that work?) – “I think you’re just aware of where your issues are. We actually have some great tackles that are really athletic and long and can block those guys; but when you know you have a really good edge rusher, you have to make sure you set the pocket and then dip underneath. I think the quarterback can help out a lot with being in the right spot in the pocket. You’re obviously aware of those guys and you might add in a few chips in the game plan, have a tight end on one side, a back on the other side or those type of things to help out as much as you can.”
(How much do you trust those guys? I was talking to RB Kenyan Drake and he was ‘it’s physics with me and DE Robert Quinn. I’m 210 and he’s 2-whatever.’ As a quarterback, when you see that are you ‘it’s time to do something’ or do you trust that they can get in the way?) – “We shouldn’t have any situation where Drake is one-on-one blocking Quinn. (laughter) That should be the biggest priority, is not having him one-on-one. Usually he’s helping out, he’s doubling or giving him a chip. Obviously, if you have him in a one-on-one matchup, that’s not one you’re going to feel good about offensively. (laughter)”
(Is this the training camp Ryan or are we growing a beard?) – “No, I just haven’t shaved yet.”
(I thought we were going to get a bearded version.) – “No. Maybe in November, December, something like that.”
Kenyan Drake – August 21, 2018
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018
RB Kenyan Drake
(What are the thoughts of the offense for the third exhibition game, in terms of getting into that end zone?) – “Well you know, (for) anybody in the league, it’s a dress rehearsal for the third game. So we want to go out there and execute the plays that (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase calls and make sure in the situations that we need to be very productive, which is third downs and in the red zone, that we need to try to pick up a little bit of that slack. We (want to) kind of use this game as a dress rehearsal to go into the season and have that type of success that we need to, to get in the end zone. There’s nothing that we need to do out of the ordinary, we just need to execute more and not shoot ourselves in the foot.”
(You’ve obviously had a high yardage per carry average throughout your career. In the exhibition season, you’re at 7 yards now. Do you think that is something that can be sustained? Not seven yards, but…) – “With the success of our offense and how explosive we are in general, the sky is the limit for myself and a lot of other players that come out here and try to do their best in this offense. Big plays are something … Big explosive plays are something that we pride ourselves on. Obviously you got to take what the defense gives you, but in those situations where you make big plays, you have receivers blocking down the field, running backs blocking down the field, o-linemen chasing down the field helping get those big plays. Not one person can do it on their own. Collectively as a group, we strive to have that excellence. I’m not saying that we can sustain 7 or 8 yards per carry, but having those high expectations is something we always look forward to.”
(With this offensive line, how much has it benefitted you and the other running backs that they’ve stayed together and are able to build chemistry working with the same unit?) – “Just having those guys out there – whoever it is honestly – we have a lot of confidence running behind them. As the preseason goes on and the offseason continues, they continue to build that camaraderie. You have more knowledge of the offensive scheme, so when they’re double-teaming up to the linebacker or gap blocking, whatever the case may be. You know what to expect, so you can be on the same page with whoever’s in there. I feel as the season continues to develop, we will continue to build that chemistry.”
(Can you share a couple of things or at least one thing you’ve learned from RB Frank Gore since he’s been here?) – “Just how hard he works on and off the field. He comes in and he’s one of the first people to come in. Every time I come in, I think I’m here early and he’s always in here before me, early in the morning getting extra work in. He has a full slate going like he’s already did two or three practices. Just seeing how hard he works to take care of his body on and off the field, there’s no wonder why he’s still in the league performing at the level that he is. I feel like, if anything, that’s something can take from him with just how hard he trains his body, so when he’s playing in the game throughout the season it’s easy for him, because he’s always training like that.”
(I wanted to ask you something about DE Robert Quinn. How tough is it to block him? Have you had him chipping or one-on-one at all, and how tough is it?) – “I mean a guy like Robert Quinn, being a running back, he’s the type of person that schematically, I’m not going to be lined up on at all or very rarely, coming off the edge on like a K-4, K-5 type of block off the edge. It’s definitely a lot that I can chew. Coach (Adam) Gase would definitely say, die a slow death in that situation. (laughter) I’m glad that he’s on our team in that term. Having him come off the edge and being as explosive as he is, you can definitely see why he’s been good for a long time.”
(Die a slow death, explain that.) – “Just hold your own. I’m a little … Around 210 (pounds). HHe’s explosive, big and fast. It’s just simple physics. (laughter)”
(When you have a guy like that on defense, does it put pressure on the offense? Do you always have to be aware? You guys have him and DE Cameron Wake. How much pressure does that put on an offense when you have guys at both edges like that?) – “Yes, you always have to have accountability for a guy like that to come off the edge and be that disruptive. He can change the game in one simple sack and strip fumble, and the offense gets the ball back in a very pivotal area. Like I said, it’s definitely great having a guy like him, Cam and Charles (Harris) on our team – Andre (Branch) – on our team that can make those types of plays off the edge. I look forward to watching them make plays like that all season.”
(You have a nice group of running backs, obviously RB Jeremy Langford trying to make a name for himself. He had a couple of good seasons in Chicago. What have you seen out of this young man?) – “I watched him in college when he was at Michigan State. Unfortunately he had a couple of injuries in Chicago, but he was definitely a good back. He was someone that I tried to … Coming out of the combine he had very similar numbers to me. Numbers-wise, that was somebody that I tried to shoot for because I was definitely a similar stature, similar speed and things of that sort. Now having him on the team and seeing how he moves in person, he is definitely impressive. I look forward to seeing what else he can bring to this team.”
Kendall Langford – August 21, 2018
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018
DL Kendall Langford
(Were you frustrated during the last year?) – “Yes, I’m frustrated. (I had) everything life could possibly throw at me – injuries, I bounced (around to) a couple of teams, personal issues. It was … 2017 was by far the worst year of my life. I’m looking forward to getting my career back on track here in 2018 and continue to move forward.”
(How comfortable are you talking about what you went through with your son?) – “I’m pretty comfortable. It’s still…”
(Do you think that at all played a part in what happened to you last year?) – “I’m not going to use that as an excuse; but having it going on, it was tough.”
(Coach raved about you crushing the conditioning test. What is it like sitting out for a year? Did you ever contemplate retirement or you just knew you were going to come back?) – “I never contemplated that.”
(DE William Hayes went to Head Coach Adam Gase and said ‘you have to get my guy on this team.’) – “I credit Will a lot. He planted a hell of a seed for me. He constantly stayed engaged here and with the d-line coach (Kris Kocurek). I felt like without Will, this probably wouldn’t even be … He made it that much more possible for me.”
(What was it like when you broke in? You came up here with DE Phillip Merling and DT Lionel Dotson and they’re long gone and you’re still here. You had a fun rookie year with the wildcat and Head Coach Tony Sparano.) – “It was fun. We had a great time. I stay dwelling back on the past and those days, reminiscing about the great teammates I had, coaches, and the fun we had. Our record didn’t go to where we wanted it to go, except the first year; but other than that, it was a great time. Other than that, it was a great time.”
(You had RB Ricky Williams and DE/LB Jason Taylor. They all played with you at one point, right?) – “Yes, they did. Ricky, ‘J.T.’ (Jason Taylor), Joey (Porter), ‘Ferg’ (Jason Ferguson), (Chad) Pennington. I played with some good vets.”
(Do you feel like you can get back to your form you had in St. Louis and I think it was Indianapolis where you had seven sacks a few years ago?) – “Yes. That’s what I’m looking forward to. I’m looking forward to this being my best year yet.”
(How much different are you as a player from the last time you were here?) – “I’ve grown tremendously over the years as a player. My knowledge of the game, my recognition. I see what’s coming at me. As a football player and as a professional, I’ve developed tremendously.”
(Did you think you would be a 10-year vet when you started?) – “Yes. This was one of those things, I said I’m going to play until they kick me out. (laughter)”
(But you know how hard a 10-year career is. That’s twice the length of a regular NFL career.) – “It is. That’s why I started early in my career doing the necessary things, taking care of my body, learning from the vets, get the massages, go to the chiropractor, cold tub – all of the extra things you do to keep your body fresh and prepared. That’s what I did my whole career and I’ve had a successful career, injury free up until Year 9, and not a hiccup.”
(Who were you leaning on for that advice?) – “I remember it was Jason Taylor, Joey Porter, Jason Ferguson, Randy Starks. Like I said, I played with some great vets. I learned a lot from those guys and I appreciate it.”
(Tell us the truth, are you still looking for that earring?) – “That’s old. (laughter)”
(Before you got the call from the Dolphins, were you getting concerned the call might not come to you?) – “I wasn’t concerned. I just was waiting for the opportunity. That’s why I trained the way I did and was prepared when I got the call.”
(How many times do you train a week?) – “Four. I actually did Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday with football stuff and I boxed every Wednesday.”
(Was it an ACL or an MCL?) – “I had a chondral defect.”
(You just had to clean it out?) – “Yes. Then I had a chondroplasty.”
(What the heck is that?) – “Some people say it’s a micro fracture; but technically it’s not. It’s basically almost the same procedure because they’re shaving it down, making it bleed.”
