Adam Gase – September 6, 2018
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Thursday, September 6, 2018
Head Coach Adam Gase
(What happened to TE MarQueis Gray?) – “Non-contact injury. We were doing one-on-ones, he took a step and the Achilles went out on him.”
(How does this affect your team?) – “We’ll move some things around as far as what we’re going to do offensively. We felt like we had some pretty good depth. We’re lucky we got a couple of guys out there that have been in the system more recently than not. We’ll come up with a plan and be ready to go on Sunday.”
(What did TE Gavin Escobar show you in the preseason?) – “Consistency. I thought he did a really good job. That was one of those ones where we had four guys and he was five. There was probably argument that it was more like 4a, 4b.”
(Was it yesterday with TE MarQueis Gray?) – “Yes.”
(Was it a full tear?) – “Whatever he…”
(He’s out for the year though?) – “Yes.”
(Do you expect TE Mike Gesicki to work into that starting role with TE MarQueis Gray out?) – “We’ll see what personnel grouping we’re in. It could be any of those guys, whoever we have up.”
(What does this mean for TE A.J. Derby now that he’s in the mix for that in-line job?) – “We kind of had … We were going to play all those guys. We really weren’t going into the season thinking we were going to have one guy playing 70 plays. Every guy is involved in special teams in some capacity, so we know … We knew ‘Q’ (MarQueis Gray) was going to play a lot of plays on special teams. We were really trying to figure out how are we going to balance this out and really it could change from game to game, because it depends how many special teams reps those guys are getting. We’re going to play off each other between (Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren) Rizzi and myself as far as who’s in the game, how many plays and things like that.”
(How might this impact TE Durham Smythe’s role?) – “He’s obviously just got to be ready to go.”
(How comfortable are you with TE Durham Smythe’s blocking in particular?) – “I’m good with that. That’s one of the reasons why we drafted him. We thought he was a really good blocker. We felt like he brought a little but more to the pass game than what people realized, so we were excited that we got him and thought he got better as camp went on. He’s just got to be ready to go.”
(TE MarQueis Gray is a guy who is … It seems to be very beloved in your locker room. He seems to be one of your key people. How did that go over with your team?) – “There was a lot of us that went to see him when he got back, when we just made sure to confirm it. I think it was just tough to see him like that. It wasn’t a … It showed everybody how much he cared about being on this team and how much he wanted to be a part of it this season. It’s one of those things that he’s going to work hard to get back and it’ll be good when we do get him back.”
(What can you tell us today about WR DeVante Parker?) – “Same as yesterday. You can put ‘same as.’ (laughter)”
(How has DE William Hayes looked to you this week?) – “Good. He’s just ready to go. He’s not saying much right now. He was bugging me for the last month saying he’s ready. He’s just ready to get to the game.”
(Can RB Brandon Bolden sign – whenever he signed – and compete on the very following Sunday?) – “Mhm.”
(How much does DE William Hayes’ insertion into that defensive line sort of fortify you guys probably against the run?) – “He’s a difference maker. I don’t know if there’s many guys that set the edge as violent as he does. I think what makes him a little different than some of the guys that I’ve seen in the league over the last five years is he can transition to the pass game as well. Being able to move inside, outside, he just has a very large skillset for a defensive end. He has a different attitude.”
(Once you get to in-game preparation, how difficult is it to divvy what remaining snaps there are beyond QB Ryan Tannehill with three quarterbacks?) – “We have a certain way we do it. It’s nothing that’s keeping us up at night.”
(Is there one aspect of the game or one player that you’re looking most forward to seeing on Sunday, whether it’s QB Ryan Tannehill or no-huddle or covering tight ends or anything?) – “No. I’m just getting ready for the game and we’ll be ready to go.”
(How do you believe this defensive group is better equipped or prepared to cover opposing tight ends this season with some new guys? You’ve got S Minkah Fitzpatrick, LB Jerome Baker, LB Raekwon McMillan – three new players. How do you think that might help?) – “Our safeties are probably going to cover tight ends more than anybody. Half the time people thought the linebackers had it. They didn’t. We’ll be alright.”
(Do you feel like this unit is more equipped to … You guys led the league in tight end production last year. Do you feel like this unit is more equipped to do it better?) – “Yes. We’ve got enough safeties to handle it. We’ll be alright.”
(What do you think about S T.J. McDonald’s offseason?) – “(It went) really well. It’s good to go through a training camp and know that he’s going to be there for that first game. We lost him for eight weeks, which he was playing really well in training camp and preseason games. Then we lost him and he comes back and just tried to jump right back in there. We knew we were kind of in a spot where we lost a couple of games and he was trying to help flip it for us. That’s the kind of player he is. He’s unselfish and did everything he could to try to help us. I’m sure that wasn’t the easiest thing to do just coming from being at home. Him getting a full offseason, training camp and going into this first game, I think he feels like he’s in a good place.”
(There was always a lot of speculation on the outside about him, especially with you guys drafting S Minkah Fitzpatrick. Did you ever talk to T.J. and reassure him that he is part of your plans?) – “Yes. We signed him to a new contract last year. We like what he does for us, we like how he is in the locker room, meetings, practice field, games. We have a lot of confidence in him.”
(How do you feel in general about how Wednesday and Thursday practices went leading into the first game?) – “I thought it was good. Yesterday was one of those days where we had good weather. A little rain steamed it up. It’s a challenge. I thought guys did a good job, put their head down and worked hard. Today I thought was fast. Guys were ready to go. They did a good job of recovery yesterday and we had good meetings this morning. We came out and practiced hard.”
(How did WR Tanner McEvoy do today?) – “Good.”
(WR Tanner McEvoy, physically he was fine?) – “Yes.”
(Generally, I think I understand how it works with two quarterbacks in a practice in the regular season. How does it work with four?) – “You just rotate them in. We have plenty of plays. They do some work after practice as well. We do a lot of throwing with a lot of practice squad guys. (Offensive Coordinator) Dowell (Loggains) and (Quarterbacks Coach) Bo (Hardegree) do a good job of mixing it up and getting reps with guys, whether it be in practice or after. That’s really what we’re doing. There’s a lot of mental things that we do as far as it might be on air. It might be, one guy has this period and the other guy is working on the game plan. Those guys do a good job of making sure it’s organized and it’s nice and smooth. Those guys are engaged and they know what their plan is before they go out there.”
(How important was it to get WR Jakeem Grant cleared going into the season opener?) – “Once you get into the concussion protocol, the coaches are out of it. You just wait for somebody to tell you one way or the other. Once you do, you adjust accordingly. When they said that he’s out of the protocol, we can either continue on our plan or make adjustments to the game plan and move some things around. It’s not that difficult.”
(There are not a lot of real mobile quarterbacks in the NFL, but you’ve seen QB Tyrod Taylor twice a year for the first couple of years you were here. What did you learn from those experiences going against QB Colin Kaepernick and guys like that?) – “You have to do a good job of not creating running lanes and really hurting yourself; and you have to have a really good rush plan and make sure that you don’t accidentally open up a lane, to where they’re dropping back – especially on third down – they are dropping back to pass and something gets opened up because somebody is either undisciplined or you’re being a little bit too aggressive and they take that and not only does it become a first down, but it becomes an explosive play. QB Marcus (Mariota) can cover a lot of ground really fast. If you don’t do a good job of keeping him in that pocket, he’ll hurt you.”
(What are the challenges with two backs that are as different as the backs they have in RB Derrick Henry and RB Dion Lewis?) – “You need to be aware because those guys have certain things that they are really good at and you have to have an idea of who is in the game. It’s hard to simulate anything with really either one of those guys. We don’t have a guy as big as Derrick. Maybe we put a wide out back there on pass routes to try to make the linebackers and safeties realize what kind of speed they’re dealing with and what kind of shiftiness at the top of some of his routes that you’re dealing with. It makes it difficult because you have to make sure you understand who is in the game. You can’t get lost in the game and not pay attention to that.”
Kenny Stills – September 6, 2018
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Thursday, September 6, 2018
WR Kenny Stills
(With you, WR Jakeem Grant, and WR Albert Wilson, what challenges can your speed present to opposing defenses?) – “I’m not into predicting any type of damage that we can do. We’ll have to wait until Sunday, but we’re excited about the guys that we have. We know that we can go out there and make plays. We can’t wait to get out there on Sunday.”
(You had a pretty good season with QB Jay Cutler last year, how good could it be with a healthy QB Ryan Tannehill?) – “We’ve seen what we’re capable of doing when Ryan is back there at quarterback. Just like what I just said, we can’t wait to get out there on Sunday and play and have four quarters to have an opportunity to go out there and win a game.”
(Do you like the balance at running back with RB Kenyan Drake, RB Frank Gore and rookie RB Kalen Ballage?) – “Yes. I read something about Frank being close to being in the top three (all-time leading rushers), right?”
(Four, 75 yards.) – “It’s fun for us being the receiving corps and priding ourselves in our blocking, to get out there and be a part of that – to be a part of history. We know that whoever is in the game behind Ryan (Tannehill), he has an opportunity to make big plays and change the game for us. It will be a fun season for us.”
(You’ve been one of the individuals who’ve knelt since the whole QB Colin Kaepernick situation began in 2016. What does it mean to you to have a major corporation stand up and support him?) – “Yes. I’m like the last one standing from that group that started. It’s incredible to see what they are doing. I’m really taken back by that commercial and I’m excited to see … I heard that they’re going to be putting out some apparel. It means a bunch to see where all of this is and how it’s changed. I can remember the type of things people were saying to me and sending me initially when the protest started. Then you see this, Nike, a global corporation, a global organization, a global company putting this type of messaging out and really starting to understand what the protest was about. I don’t have any type of contract or anything with them. I don’t work with them, but growing up as a kid, I remember the ‘Just Do It’ slogan, campaign. A part of that made me a fan of Nike. This campaign coming back with what they are doing with Serena (Williams) and ‘Kap’ (Colin Kaepernick) has made me a fan of them again.”
(What do you think is the reason that most people who don’t support the protest, what is the misconception they have?) “A lot of … From my understanding, from what I’m reading and seeing, is now just personally attacking ‘Kap’ (Colin Kaepernick). Whether they didn’t like a shirt that he wore or socks that he wore or something about him as an individual, I think that’s a lot of what I’m seeing now. I think a lot of people are coming around and starting to understand the protest. If they don’t, there’s a ton of information out there to go out and read. I think these conversations are happening and people are a little bit more receptive to having these conversations, but it seems like now they’re looking to personally attack somebody and not understanding that people aren’t perfect. If you look into the mirror, you understand that you’ve made mistakes in some of the things you’ve done in your time in your life. Yes, I think they’re just kind of personally attacking Kaepernick now.”
(Do you understand why the issue has been so divisive in this country?) – “I understand how it can be divisive if you’re not willing to have a conversation and listen. A lot of times when you’re having a conversation, you’re listening to respond instead of to hear what they are saying, comprehend it and then have a response. To continue to say people are being disrespectful when we’re telling you that it’s a sign of respect, then what? At that point, it’s just an opinion and we’re just going back and forth. What you’re saying is it’s disrespectful and I’m saying I’m being respectful. At some point in time, we have to be able to come to a common ground and understand that at the end of the day, I feel like the protest is about making this country a better place, making the world a better place and you can either be for or against that.”
(Do you feel that Nike’s indorsement will help the player activism?) – “I don’t know. I don’t know. It seems the other side of celebrities, I guess – actors, actresses, musicians – they’ve all supported Colin (Kaepernick) and I’ve seen a lot more support from that side. I don’t really know how it will affect athletes and guys in the NFL. I’m really encouraged by it. It brought a smile to my face. It was probably just the fact that in the beginning when they even just put the first messaging out and then getting to the commercial, those are things that really brightens people day in a time when there aren’t many things to be happy about.”
(It seems like it’s been two years since this begin, since Colin Kaepernick began this. Where do you think we’ve come and where do you think we still have to go?) – “I think we’ve come a long ways; but I definitely feel like we have a way to go. I see this, like I’ve said before, about how I feel like the NFL could’ve done a better job of controlling the narrative from the beginning. You think if the NFL would have done something like Nike did – some type of campaign, explaining this whole situation, having his back, supporting us, supporting our first amendment right – then this thing would be going in a whole different direction. I think we’ve made progress but obviously we have a ways to go.”
(What would you like to see from the NFL now?) – “Did they release a statement recently? I haven’t read that. I haven’t kept up. What did the statement say?)
(It said these are issues that we care about and we’ll continue to make an effort to improve on it.) – “With work and getting prepared for the game, I haven’t really had an opportunity to really think about and process that. I can answer that for you another time.”
Jerome Baker – September 6, 2018
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Thursday, September 6, 2018
LB Jerome Baker
(You prepare yourself physically, but mentally do you prepare yourself also?) – “The game is mostly mental, so that’s how I prepare myself. The physical part is going to come. That’s natural, but the mental side of the game is what I’m really focusing on.”
(Has practice been different this week? I know in your third preseason game, you’re sort of preparing yourself for a game; but this week it’s for real. Is it different for you and what do you think is different out there?) – “Yes, in some ways it’s different. Right now, I’m just focusing on a routine and tuning up all of the things I have to read and my different checks. I’m pretty much just getting ready for the game. Now you know this is the real deal.”
(Do you seek advice from veterans who have been there and done this before?) – “Yes, every day. I sit next to Kiko (Alonso) in the room and every day I’m tapping him, ‘What does this mean? Why did you see this? Why did you do that?’ I try to learn from the vets more than anything.”
(How does LB Raekwon McMillan kind of help you out in that process?) – “He’s helped me on the field and off. From things I may not be seeing on the field, he’ll come in after practice and we’ll watch film. He’s not the only vet that’s helped me. Kiko (Alonso) is probably the main one because I sit next to him, so I’m always asking him questions. Overall, the vets definitely help me.”
(Head Coach Adam Gase was saying that he was thinking about putting a receiver to kind of replicate Titans RB Derrick Henry’s speed and size. How do you stop a guy like Derrick Henry, that’s so dynamic like that?) – “Those are special players. You can’t really stop guys like that. You can contain them, but you can’t really stop them. We just want to go out there and do our job and everything is going to work out. That’s all we have to do.”
(How much do you expect to play this weekend?) – “As much as I can. If it’s one rep or 10 reps, I’m going to give it all I’ve got. That’s all I can really control.”
(We mentioned LB Raekwon McMillan and you mentioned this during the preseason that having him out there at the same time with you, there was sort of a comfort level. Do you feel the same now going into a real game, because this is a guy who has known you since college?) – “Yes. It’s definitely comfortable, but there’s guys that I really lean on a lot. Kiko (Alonso) is one of them. It’s definitely very comfortable to know Raekwon is out there but I pretty much learn from all of the guys around me.”
(What’s been the number one thing you’ve learned from LB Kiko Alonso so far?) – “There’s so many things I’ve learned from Kiko, it’s crazy. We got to even … I started asking him to teach me Spanish a little bit. I stopped. (laughter)”
(Why, what happened?) – “He knows the slang of Spanish, not the proper way. (laughter) Kiko teaches me so many things, I can’t really pinpoint one thing. Every day I pretty much learn something new, so it’s a lot of credit to him.”
Kenyan Drake – September 6, 2018
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Thursday, September 6, 2018
RB Kenyan Drake
(I know we’ve talked and asked you about it but now here it is, the week of the game. How different does it feel for you going into this season?) – “It doesn’t really feel different at all. I’m ready to just go out there and play football. I’m not putting any added expectations on my shoulders. I’m just going out there and trying to help this team win games by running the ball, being efficient in the pass game and just being a playmaker.”
(How much momentum can you take from the way you finished personally last season, and going into this?) – “Just using it as a stepping stone. I don’t try to look back at it too much because it’s a ‘what have you done for me lately?’ type of league. So when I go out there, I just want to make sure I improve upon things that I do well, learn from the lessons and the mistakes that I make and just try to be a good player.”
(In this offseason and in this training camp and preseason, what kind of questions do you think you answered about this offense?) – “I don’t feel like we’ve answered really anything yet because at the end of the day, the season hasn’t started yet. I feel like we have a big task ahead of us with a good Tennessee team coming down here. We’re just ready to go out there and play ball.”
(When was the last time you started out a year being ‘the guy’ at running back?) – “Probably my senior year of high school.”
(How good does that feel, just knowing that you’re No. 1 there on the depth chart?) – “I’d say at the end of the year when we have a lot more wins, because last year I finished the season as ‘the guy,’ but we finished 6-10. I wasn’t happy. This year I look forward to having a lot more wins and being in the same position, so I’ll let you know then.”
(How curious are you to see what this offense can do with the new players and everything now that the regular season is here and you aren’t holding anything back anymore?) – “I feel like this team has a lot of potential. I feel like that’s every team though. When you step onto the field for the first game of the season, all 32 teams have aspirations of making the Super Bowl. That would be an understatement to say that we don’t have those aspirations, obviously; but we’re taking it one game at a time. We know we have a lot of weapons. Having ‘17’ (Ryan Tannehill) back is definitely a pivotal thing for this team. We’re just ready to go out there and make plays.”
Danny Amendola – September 6, 2018
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Thursday, September 6, 2018
WR Danny Amendola
(What makes you think this can be a successful NFL offense? What specific things have you seen?) – “We’re going to have to put in the work and we’re going to have to make the plays on Sunday. We’ve been practicing hard; we’ve been working hard and we’re going to get out there and we have a lot to prove. We’ll get out there and try our best to prove it.”
(How’s your chemistry with QB Ryan Tannehill so far?) – “We’re working hard. We’ll get out there on Sunday and let loose.”
(When you’re on a new team and you’re starting a new season, what is the anticipation like? How do you keep it just like a regular game?) – “It all comes down to just busting your tail out there in practice, mentally preparing in walkthroughs and throughout the week and then getting out there on Sunday and letting it go and seeing what happens. It’s a big game so we’re excited to get out there.”
(You’re lined up with a big tight end that can be sent outside. What kind of problems does a guy like TE Mike Gesicki provide when you line up next to a guy like that and you know there’s a 6-foor-6 guy next to you on the outside?) – “Certainly he can run, he can jump, he can catch and he’s a good football player. He has a lot to prove too. He’s a rookie. He’s never played in the league yet so he’s going to get out there and give it his best shot and go from there.”
(Have you added an intensity to the team, your personality?) – “I don’t know. You’d have to ask somebody else that, I guess. I’m just me. Whatever I can do to help this team win games is why I’m here.”
(You’ve obviously watched QB Ryan Tannehill some from a distance. Is there anything that you’ve learned about him about his skill set that is, I don’t want to say a pleasant surprise, but something good that you’ve learned working with him the last five months?) – “His communication skills are … that’s one thing that he’s really good at is communicating and getting guys lined up in the right spots, especially some new guys that are here this first year and trying to learn the offense. He’s got us right. His ability to communicate is huge.”
(When did you feel, whether it was in the offseason or camp or in preseason, that this offense would be pretty dynamic? When did you feel that?) – “We have a lot to prove. We don’t ever think that we’ve arrived or that this is easy because it’s never easy. Every game that we’re going to play is going to be a hard-fought, tough game. We’ve got to play well every game, every series and every snap. That’s my mentality.”
(This is the first time in a while that you’re entering a season as not the AFC frontrunner – on the team that’s considered that or certainly one of the top two – so is that a different feeling for you?) – “Good. Good. We’re going to come out fighting, for sure.”
Gavin Escobar – September 6, 2018
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Thursday, September 6, 2018
TE Gavin Escobar
(When did you get the call?) – “Noon, I guess, Pacific time. I hopped on a flight at 2 and got here around 3 a.m.”
(Did you pack anything?) – “You know what? My bag wasn’t even unpacked yet. It wasn’t even all the way unpacked from getting home. I kind of threw some stuff in there.”
(Were you in California?) – “Yes.”
(Obviously that’s a terrible way to come back to the team.) – “When they gave me the call, I had no idea what the situation was. It sucks to come back because of that; but obviously it’s the nature of the game. I tore my Achilles back in 2015 and it sucks. It’s a bad injury. But we know ‘Q’ (MarQueis Gray) will be back strong than ever.”
(What do you expect your role on this team being?) – “I’m just here to help the team. I haven’t been told anything specifically, so I’m just out here working like everyone else.”
(For you personally, do you think this is a great opportunity?) – “For sure, definitely. It’s great to go to a team that you spent the offseason with, too. I’ve been in situations where you go to a brand new team, you have to learn the offense in a week, so it’s nice … familiar faces, familiar offense. It’s good to be back.”
(Were you told before you left that if something happened, be on the look out?) – “Coach just told me, if something happens throughout the season, you’re one of the guys we’re going to call. I was definitely not expecting it so early. Football is a rough sport, so I got the call and here I am.”
(In what way do you feel you can help this team?) – “However they need me. I feel like I can catch the ball and I can block. I’ll just get the job done.”
(Did you have a hard time waking up this morning?) – “(laughter) I got about two hours of sleep. I’m running on fumes, but I’ll get some rest tonight.”
(Do you have an apartment or no?) – “(I’m) at the hotel.”
(They want to get the tight ends involved in this game plan; do you have a lot of catching up to do?) – “The good thing is, like I was saying earlier, I’ve been part of the whole offseason program. The plays aren’t necessarily new. There might be a couple new plays, but overall it’s not like I have to learn a whole new offense in a couple of days.”
Adam Gase – September 5, 2018
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Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Head Coach Adam Gase
(Can you talk about the challenges of preparing for Week 1 and the challenge of facing a team who has a new coach and coordinator?) – “Well, I think the opening week is always tough because there’s probably going to be a few things that you have no clue are coming and you have to adjust quickly. Everybody is trying to use their personnel the way they think they should use it, which every team is going to be a little different. What we did last year will be different this year. It’s the same, basically, with Tennessee, because they have a new staff. It’s one thing when you have history against coordinators and things like that. We’ve played (Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Dean) Pees multiple times, twice here and then in the past where I’ve been. And they’ve got a new offensive coordinator. We’ve got four (preseason) games we’re going off of. It can be tough. We know we’re going to have to make some adjustments during the game.”
(So QB Luke Falk was on the Titans for six months or whatever. Can he help you in regards to information?) – “I think it’s hard because when you’re a rookie, you’re trying to make sure that you get to the building on time. You’re so focused on just trying to do the things that they’re asking you to do. It’s just hard. When you’re a rookie … If we were talking about a fifth year or sixth year guy, then probably yes. But I think when you’re a rookie, it’s just so hard. You’re just trying to keep your head above water.”
(What do you like about QB Luke Falk as a quarterback prospect?) – “He was a guy that we brought in here. He was one of the three quarterbacks that we brought in (for a 30-visit). We really liked his football mind. I thought he was – from the system he came from, the knowledge he had of that and how he knew the ins and outs of that and kind of the way they call plays – it kind of fit with what we do a little bit, to where he could make some adjustments at the line of scrimmage. I really liked his anticipation. He throws on time. He’s accurate. It’s one of those things where he kind of reminds me of a lot of the guys that I’ve been around in the past. We were fired up to get him here.”
(In terms of preparing for the opener, do you guys get an advantage because they don’t have your video just like they don’t have yours?) – “I think we’re almost all on the same playing field. They have a little more film on at least what we’ve done in the past. There’s always going to be something different from both sides.”
(What appealed to you on WR Tanner McEvoy and on RB Brandon Bolden?) – “That was interesting with Tanner. (He’s been) a special teams guy in the past and we’re always looking to see what else we can get out of guys that have special teams background to see how much they can contribute on offense. He’s had explosive plays in the past. It hasn’t been a numerous amount of catches but his average per catch is somewhere in the 20s. He’s made some explosive plays. He’s done a really good job on special teams and that was one of the main reasons we liked him. The fact that Bolden was available, we did everything we could to get him here. Obviously with Danny (Amendola) being here and his knowledge and his background and kind of what he’s all about, we felt like adding him was going to be a big deal for us.”
(Do you expect to see a lot of RB Derrick Henry? And what’s unique about him?) – “I’m assuming, yes. I can’t say for sure but what’s unique is he’s fast and as big as you can get them. He’s a powerful man and it takes multiple guys to bring him down to the ground.”
(What does it mean to you to kick off a regular-season game week prep with QB Ryan Tannehill as your guy?) – “It’s so different than the last time because that was two years ago. We were still in the learning stage trying to figure out how it was going to go and who we were leaning on. There were so many little things that we were just trying to learn. Now he grabs hold of the reigns and takes over practice and he’s all riled up. Today, I figured out a way to upset him a couple of times, which is always great. (laughter) He was wired in today. It was fun going through today as a whole – the meetings, the practice, all of that stuff.”
(Why are you convinced that you know QB Ryan Tannehill’s going to be better than he was the last time he played in a regular season game?) – “Just the reps and the experience. I know he said he missed last year but we went through the whole spring. We had a good amount of training camp practices. He’s stayed so engaged throughout that whole year, which is hard to do when you know you’re not going to play. I know everybody will say quarterbacks … Yes, it’s not as easy as you think. He really took last year and used it to his advantage and taking a step back and being able to watch everything, listen to everything and kind of see how guys react to certain things. And then also just listening constantly about when we’re talking about plays, concepts, progressions and why we’re doing things, he was able to really take it all in. Now it’s processing faster for him.”
(You came here as a quarterback expert of sorts. Are you comfortable putting your name behind QB Ryan Tannehill?) – “Oh, yes. I love working with him. I love how he does everything from the time he gets in the building until the time he leaves. He really has shown me a lot, especially on the practice field, with how intense he is (and) how he treats every day like a game. He’s taken a hold of this offense and he’s made it his own. There are certain things that we’ve never done before that we do now because of what he likes to do. I really like the way that he’s working with the group of skill guys. I think they have good chemistry. I think it’s a good start for the season for us.”
(You know QB Ryan Tannehill on a personal level but he’s been on social media trying to get fans and trying to endear himself to fans with certain videos and things like that. Have you seen that? What do you think about him trying to get other people to get to know him?) – “I haven’t seen any … I don’t pay attention much. I think who he is when we’re at practice and in the building and things like that … I think a lot of people get a three-hour snippet of who he is and that’s just during a game. I know it’s a game but at the same time, it’s a business. Guys put a lot of time and effort into this thing and when they get locked in on Sunday, it becomes a different deal. It’s very competitive and they’re professionals.”
(With QB Luke Falk, you said if he was a fifth or sixth year guy, you might try to get some information. Can you think of a time where that’s paid off at any point in your NFL career, where you’ve gotten information from a player who was with a former team?) – “No.”
(Have you ever tried? Have you been around where you’ve tried and it just hasn’t worked?) – “Not that I remember.”
(Obviously a lot of this will depend on snap counts in a game, but is it realistic to ever go more than two deep in terms of carries to running back? Obviously RB Kenyan Drake and RB Frank Gore will have a lot. Is it really challenging to weave in RB Kalen Ballage or RB Senorise Perry?) – “It’s all about how many plays you have per game. We’ve had times where you have 75-plus and now, yes, you get multiple guys in there – two, three or four (of them). It just depends on how many you have up. When you have 50, now you’re struggling to split with two guys. It’s all about the amount of plays, how many drives you can get and how long your series are. The longer the drive and the more drives you have, the more chances you have to spread the ball out.”
(Do you have an update on WR DeVante Parker?) – “We’re still kind of waiting to see how he feels as far as catching balls and stuff like that. He’s doing a lot of cardio stuff. He’s doing a lot of individual drill type things with our training staff. Once we get the green light, we’ll go at it.”
(But he can’t catch anything yet?) – “Not yet. I mean we haven’t tried yet.”
(How different is this September 5th from a year ago, from all standpoints? It’s your third year, not your second year. There’s no hurricane baring down on you. You’ve got QB Ryan Tannehill here.) – “It’s still early. (laughter)”
(It’s got to be like a world of difference, huh?) – “It’s nice to be able to really … It looks like we’re going to open up at home, so that’s exciting. We’re not traveling to Seattle. We’re not in L.A. (Los Angeles). I really think … the coaching staff is excited. The players are excited. We want to get in there and we want to get everything really going in the right direction. It’s the first game of … moving the ball and get some three-and-outs. That’s really what we want to do. Get the crowd involved in it early to where now when we get to third downs on defense, the volume is getting up there. There’s been times where the game starts going our way and we’re getting to those third downs, it makes it really hard on the opposing quarterback.”
(How quickly would you expect DE William Hayes to get back to … I don’t want to say midseason form but…) – “He’ll be alright. He’s been playing so long. We held him out more because we just wanted to make sure we were as close to 100 percent as we could get. He’s ready to go.”
(It’s clear what guys obviously are going to play for the most part on Sunday. But at tight end, you have some interesting options. Is TE A.J. Derby in your mind beyond what you anticipate your use of TE Mike Gesicki and TE MarQueis Gray…) – “I mean we’ll just see how it goes. It’s hard to say. I don’t want to give the game plan away but at the same time, it’s the flow of the game. You have an idea but things change quickly.”
Mike Gesicki – September 5, 2018
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Wednesday, September 5, 2018
TE Mike Gesicki
(The chemistry with you and QB Ryan Tannehill, how do you feel it’s coming along?) – “Really well. Ryan obviously is a phenomenal quarterback. He does a great job leading our offense and leading our team. He’s extremely prepared for this opportunity. I think that seeing that and seeing how prepared he is, seeing how comfortable he is back there, it’s kind of contagious for the other guys.”
(When did your head stop swimming with all these things being thrown at you?) – “Sometimes it still is, honestly. (laughter) There’s a lot of new stuff going in still each and every week, new game plan stuff and all of that kind of stuff. You just have to take it, learn from it and continue to move forward and get better.”
(We saw you have some battles with S Minkah Fitzpatrick during camp. Did you go against S Reshad Jones a lot?) – “I’ve gone up against Reshad a couple of times, yes.”
(What is that experience like, because he’s obviously a four-time Pro Bowler?) – “Awesome. It’s unbelievable competition to go against him. If you’re going against him and guys like Cam Wake and the guys on our defense that we have that have played at an extremely high level, it’s only going to bring the best out of you.”
(Is there anything that S Reshad Jones has not directly taught you, but kind of made you figure out when you go against him?) – “You just kind of see some things in your game that aren’t going to work at this level. He’s pretty physical for his position, so being able to use your hands at the line and all of that kind of stuff. So, I’m definitely being able to take some things away from when I go against him.”
(How different was the vibe this week compared to the preseason game to getting ready for the regular season and live action?) – “We had a pretty good preparation week for this type of stuff against Baltimore. Obviously, that third preseason game, you kind of treat that more like a game week. That was kind of a dress rehearsal for this, so having that experience and being able to learn from that has been good.”
(Do you feel the excitement from when people see you out? They’re looking for a playmaker.) – “I think our entire offense … There’s a lot of guys on the offensive side of the football that are extremely talented and guys can play a bunch of different positions and make plays from all over the field. So, it’s not only myself, it’s not even only myself in the tight end room. We have a lot of talented guys in the tight end room that can make a lot of plays. It’s going to be really exciting to kind of watch how this offense grows and develops.”
(When people see you on the street, what do they tell you?) – “I’m not out much. (laughter) I go from here, back to my place, back to here, back to my place and do a lot of Uber Eats. (laughter) I don’t really go out to eat or anything like that.”
(What’s your go-to Uber Eats?) – “Honestly, anything Italian. I go in there and just type in ‘Italian food’ and get some pasta or whatever.”
(You said you’re still learning some things, you’re still picking up some things. That’s normal for a rookie. How do you deal with trying to pick up those things but also they’re snapping the ball and you’re playing full speed?) – “It’s not so much where I’m supposed to be lining up or who I’m working to and that kind of stuff. It’s just the new plays and the new assignments that are going in. It’s not so much that I’m lining up and I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s being able to take the new stuff from the meeting room and then on to the practice field.”
