Jerome Baker – August 12, 2018
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Sunday, August 12, 2018
LB Jerome Baker
(How exciting was it to work with the first group today?) – “It was very exciting. Today was just a day to switch it up and go with the ones, but I’m really just focused on getting better every day. It’s a blessing just to be out here.”
(Were you strong side or weak side today?) – “They pretty much had me a little bit of everywhere, strong side, weak side. I pretty much tried everything today.”
(What pleased you about what you did Thursday, and what did Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Frank Bush tell you that you did well Thursday?) – “I did my job. That was the only thing I did, but that’s nothing to really brag about. That’s what you’re supposed to do. You definitely want to make plays and fine-tune the little things – hand placement, getting lined up right. That’s what I’m focusing on going on in Game 2.”
(Would starting be important in the sense – it doesn’t necessarily have to be now – but some draftniks said you would be very good in coverage and on third downs. I know you want prove you’re an every-down linebacker. Would starting sort of prove that? Is that important to you in that regard?) – “No. That’s little. It’s really about just helping the team. Wherever they need me, I want to be able … They can call me and do whatever they ask me to do. That’s the main thing I’m focusing on. As you can see, it doesn’t matter what it is, you just call my name and I’m going to get out there and try to do it the best I can.”
(What was your communication out there like with LB Raekwon McMillan and LB Kiko Alonso?) –“It’s a lot of talking, a lot of talking. They definitely helped me. Today, it was a little extra, just talking and communicating. I’m a young guy. They definitely helped me. It’s definitely a learning experience.”
(How did it feel do go through practice with the logo on your helmet as opposed to a generic white helmet) – “Honestly, I didn’t even notice it. (laughter) I just go out there and just do what I do. Having a logo … we’ve got Dolphins on our shirt. I go out there and do what I do.”
(It’s known what you do well, obviously. You’re fast and you’re good in coverage. If you had to say things you think you do well, you would prefer what?) – “I’m smart and very aware. Speed is just one thing that I’m blessed with, but knowing where I go and getting myself out of trouble when I’m in trouble is pretty much what I’m good at. I really don’t allow myself to get into bad positions. That’s one thing I do very well.”
(How did you grade out on running plays the other night?) – “I did good on paper, but there are a lot of things on film that I think I can clean up to my standard. There’s definitely a lot of work to do.”
(How interchangeable are the Sam and Will positions?) – “You could just change it in and out. There’s little things, little coverages you have a little different, but honestly you could take a Will and put him at Sam, and put a Sam and put him on Will. It’s pretty much the same thing.”
Mike Gesicki – August 12, 2018
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Sunday, August 12, 2018
TE Mike Gesicki
(I didn’t talk to you after your first game. What was your first NFL game like?) – “It was cool. It was awesome. The best part about it was I kind of forgot I was playing in the NFL out there. I just was not thinking as much and just going out and playing, and doing what I’m supposed to do and just letting all of the preparation that I did beforehand take care of itself out on the field.”
(You almost had a ridiculously high one-handed catch. What were you thinking as that was happening?) – “Almost. I have to go back to work and get more touches in and do whatever I have to do to make that catch, because to me, that’s a play that I have to be able to make.”
(You had several very good blocking plays, including against Tampa Bay DE Jason Pierre-Paul who obviously is one of the best. What was the key to having a successful blocking night?) – “Just to trust my coaching and do everything that (Tight Ends) Coach (Shane) Day has been out here teaching us to do in terms of technique and everything, and just trust in myself and believe in myself. Nobody believes in me being able to block outside of the guys in this locker room, and that’s all I need, is the guys in this locker room and these coaches to believe in me. They do each and every day, so I appreciate them. Coach Day is helping me out each and every day, and my teammates, the tight ends, everybody. It’s going to be a daily process each and every day, but just continue to get better.”
(Will you go back and watch every play from Thursday that you blocked on? Will you do it yourself, will you do it with Tight Ends Coach Shane Day?) – “We already went back and watched the whole tape. We go back as a tight end unit, we go back and watch the whole film. Whether you’re in or not, you’re kind of grading it as if it’s your own play.”
(I know you just addressed it somewhat, but are you encouraged by how you blocked the other night?) – “Yes. That’s the expectation. It’s not like ‘Oh my god, Mike blocked somebody!’ I know that that’s what everybody thinks, but that’s not what it is. (laughter) When I’m out there, that’s the expectation. I’m not going to turn around and let somebody run free. That’s my job, and whether I’m catching a fade or blocking a defensive end, that’s my job and I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.”
(Does it add some fuel to your fire?) – “I think in the past when I was younger, I used to use all of the outside stuff as motivation, but it doesn’t mean anything. All that matters is what’s in the Dolphins locker room, the coaches and the players in there. Everything else, if people want to write stuff or talk about stuff, it’s pointless.”
(It seems like every time there is a good receiving tight end, that’s what they talk about – blocking. Is it physical, is it mental, is it technique?) – “A lot of it is technique. If you have the right mindset and you have the right mentality, a lot of it is technique and just getting the reps in. It’s getting your hands inside, punch, getting off of the ball. It’s not as much as people want to look into it and think it’s more than it is. It’s just technique and the want-to.”
Minkah Fitzpatrick – August 9, 2018 (Postgame)
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Postgame – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Miami Dolphins S Minkah Fitzpatrick (transcribed by Ken Mendonça)
(How would you assess your first NFL game action, even if it was preseason?) – “It was good. I went out there, tried to do my job as best as I could. Play fast, get to the ball, and that was it.”
(Do you feel like you were able to play as fast as you wanted to?) – “Not 100 percent, but pretty close. The final process is just learning the defense, mastering the defense, so I can start to just play fast and play instinctively. I think right now, I’m at a good place. I’m at a good spot and I still have three more games before the actual season, so hopefully by that point I’ll be at 110 percent, maybe fly around, make calls, see the offense, and all that stuff.”
(Compared to camp, was the speed any different?) – “No sir. It felt like we were just out there at camp, just a different opponent in front of us, because we go fast in camp. I’m really appreciative that we do that, a lot of teams don’t do that in the league, so like I said, it’s like practice.”
Raekwon McMillan – August 9, 2018 (Postgame)
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Postgame – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Miami Dolphins LB Raekwon McMillan (transcribed by Daniel Chavez)
(How were you feeling before kickoff tonight?) – “I was feeling thankful that I have the chance to play this sport again because in rehab, you just don’t when it’s going to come and it seemed like a long time but it’s here and back fast again.”
(How did it feel to share the field again with LB Jerome Baker out there?) – “My man went out there and made a couple plays. He was out there balling out. It’s just good to see him out here doing what we love together again so hopefully we can get a lot more where that’s from.”
(How would you assess your performance out there, just getting back on the field?) – “It was just a run through for the starters. I only got a couple of series, a couple of reps in there but, other than that, we did what we had to do and got out of there.”
Jerome Baker – August 9, 2018 (Postgame)
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Postgame – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Miami Dolphins LB Jerome Baker (transcribed by Daniel Chavez)
(It seemed like you were flying around the ball, demonstrating your speed a little bit on defense.) – “That’s just one part of my game. There’s a lot of things I try to work on. I try be more than just a speed linebacker. Overall, I think I did pretty well, but I have a lot to improve on.”
(How was the pace of the game for you playing against a different opponent?) – “The pace of the game … It’s still football at the end of the day. If you know what you’re doing, the game will slow down a little bit. It’s just a constant learning and getting better every day so that’s pretty much been my main focus.”
(Now the defense was having a little bit of issues, kind of stopping for yards and keeping them from getting big yards and stuff like that. How do you find a way to limit those big plays in the future?) – “You just have to read your keys and just really know what you’re doing. Going to go back tomorrow, watch film. The main thing is getting better every day. It’sthe pre-season, it’s the time to get better, so respect the game.”
Ryan Tannehill – August 9, 2018 (Postgame)
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Postgame – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
QB Ryan Tannehill
How do you think you did and how do you think the first-team offense did tonight?
RYAN TANNEHILL: I think we got off to a good start. It obviously wasn’t perfect. We definitely have a lot of room for improvement but to get on the field and move the ball down the field – obviously we didn’t end up with points, which is what you want to do – but I thought for our first time hitting the field, my first time hitting the field in a long time, it felt good to be back out there. I think we started off on a good foot and now we just have to be able to finish that drive and execute in order to get the ball in the end zone.
What personally did this night mean to you to get back out here and play?
RYAN TANNEHILL: It was huge. I think (it was) probably more appreciation than I normally have for a preseason game. I didn’t make it to this point last year and of course the long rehab process and everything it took to get back to this point. I think more appreciation for just every second that I was out there and I just enjoyed it a little bit more.
Was there a moment that you talked to one of your teammates and thought it was pretty cool?
RYAN TANNEHILL: It was kind of constant. I was just soaking it all up, soaking up every moment I could and enjoying it, because I knew what it was like not to be able to be out there and have to struggle through missing a whole year. So I definitely didn’t take any moment for granted.
On that first play, was that your call or was that…?
RYAN TANNEHILL: No. That was (Head Coach Adam) Gase all the way. He dialed up a good one and got us off on the right foot there. Kenny (Stills) did a good job coming across. He wasn’t open early but kept fighting his way across and was able to make a nice grab on the sideline.
Your protection tonight seemed strong.
RYAN TANNEHILL: Protection was awesome. The guys up front did an awesome job, not only in the passing game but in the running game, as well. It was that third down, third-and-11 I believe, and we ran a draw and they did a great job of getting up on the linebackers and giving us a chance for Kenyan (Drake) to get to the second level and got us to fourth-and-1. So the offensive line did a great job for us. I’m happy how we started.
Were you touched?
RYAN TANNEHILL: I don’t think I was touched. So it was a good night.
Want to get that first hit out of the way?
RYAN TANNEHILL: I’m not too worried about it. It will come. It will come in due time. Hopefully we can keep this streak going as long as we can.
Did you feel like you could go one more series?
RYAN TANNEHILL: Yes, I always feel like I want to play more. I was excited to be back out there and got the juices flowing and when you’re in that competing mode, it’s always that you want to go more, you want to go more. So Coach had to take a stop.
Adam Gase – August 9, 2018 (Postgame)
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Postgame – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Head Coach Adam Gase (Postgame)
What did you think of the first team offense out there tonight?
HEAD COACH ADAM GASE: I thought it was good. Seemed like they were operating in good tempo. We robably have a couple things to clean up when we watch it but it felt right.
The idea of first play out of the gates was to put QB Ryan Tannehill on the move?
HEAD COACH ADAM GASE: I mean, it’s just — I wouldn’t look too much into that. It’s just what everybody liked to start the game.
Your first team defense was in there for two possessions. Was that a plan or did that evolve?
HEAD COACH ADAM GASE: We didn’t go in with — we had kind of a play number but we just wanted to really feel it out. So those guys wanted to keep some of those guys in. I think a few guys came out, a few guys stayed in. We have kind of a mixed group of guys. We felt like that was what we wanted to do after that first series.
The backup quarterback, QB David Fales and QB Brock Osweiler both did things. Did either of them…?
HEAD COACH ADAM GASE: I don’t know. This is going to take all of training camp. It’s going to take all preseason.
What’s one thing you liked tonight and one thing you didn’t?
HEAD COACH ADAM GASE: I liked the energy. I liked the focus that we had. Leading up to the game, I thought before we even got out there, guys were wired in and they were ready to go. Then when we got out there, there was a lot of good execution. There was some things that we have to work on. We were really shooting to get — you know, have zero pre-snap penalties. We fell short of that. Just putting the ball on the ground, that’s something that we just have to make sure that we don’t. I mean, first glance, you see (Kalen) Ballage go over the top of the guy but we lose the ball. So that’s just a young kid trying to make a big play and making a mistake and he’ll learn from that and he’ll get better from it.
The first-team defense, how did you feel they played?
HEAD COACH ADAM GASE: It’s hard for me to tell from just watching. When we watch the tape, it will be easier.
Any immediate thoughts on S Minkah Fitzpatrick and TE Mike Gesicki?
HEAD COACH ADAM GASE: I’ve got to watch it in detail to really evaluate anybody.
Any word on LB Mike Hull?
HEAD COACH ADAM GASE: Yeah, right now, I mean, I just know it’s a knee. I don’t know the exact details of what’s the timeframe and things like that.
Adam Gase – August 9, 2018 (Halftime)
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Halftime – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Head Coach Adam Gase (Halftime)
(You get a good drive going, put some points on the board. That had to feel good for you.) – “Yes, it was good. The first group, it was fun calling plays. They were moving well. I felt like we had a shot there on that third down. We had good protection, we just didn’t convert, and then we miss the field goal. Overall, the protection was awesome. He was back there peeling an orange. The rest was good, just a little inconsistent. We’ll get something going here in the second half.”
(Defensively, you faced three short fields. They put two touchdowns and a field goal up. Would you like to have seen a stop somewhere along the way there?) – “Yes. The fumble, that hurt us. I thought our defense did a good job clawing it up, trying to make sure that we got a stop there. I think Mike (Hull) getting hurt, that kind of stung. I think that took the wind out of us a little bit, but we’re bouncing back here and we’ll get a good second half.”
(RB Kalen Ballage was looking good. He left the ball on the ground but came back and covered up and he’s done some good things for you.) – “That’s supposed to happen with rookies sometimes. They have to go through the hard times in the preseason, but that’s what it’s for.”
(Do you like what you have seen out of QB David Fales?) – “Yes, he’s done a good job. He’s moved the ball, he put the ball in the end zone. I have to get Brock (Osweiler) in better rhythm. I haven’t really gotten him going quite yet.”
