Mike Gesicki – August 3, 2018
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Thursday, August 3, 2018
TE Mike Gesicki
(It was fun to watch you the last couple of days. How encouraging have the last couple of practices been? Obviously you and QB Ryan Tannehill seem to be achieving a lot of chemistry.) – “I think it’s been going really well, not only for myself but for everybody. I think the offense is doing a great job moving the ball. The defense is doing a great job. Everybody is doing a good job. It’s been an exciting first, I think it’s been 10 days now. It’s been fun.”
(What’s clicked for you this week? It’d be natural for a rookie there would have to be steps taken. What’s clicked for you?) – “I think just the more reps you get, the more comfortable that you’re going to get out there. You’re going to see one thing, make a mistake, and then you’re going to make sure that the next time you don’t make the same mistake. I’m getting that opportunity to get out there and just go out and play fast and learn from mistakes.”
(As far as what would make you a good red zone threat, height obviously is a big asset for tight ends in that area. What else is needed to be able to consistently catch the ball in the end zone as a tight end?) – “Obviously awareness, being able to attack the football, chemistry with the quarterback, knowing your assignment and your role and then at the end of the day, it’s just not making it a 50-50 ball – making it a 100 (percent) ball. If it’s up there, it’s yours. That’s the mentality that you have to have and I’m very appreciative that I’m getting the opportunity to go make plays.”
(Blocking – how pleased are you with it to this point?) – “I think I can continue to get better each and every day. I think that right now, it’s something that obviously I need to continue to work on, but I think I’m having some good ones out there. I’m having some good blocks here and there and I’m still learning from the other ones. It wasn’t going to happen overnight and it’s still not going to happen overnight, so I have to continue to come out and get better each and every day.”
(How have T Laremy Tunsil and T Ja’wuan James helped you with that. I see at times Ja’wuan talks to you. How helpful have they been?) – “They’re awesome. They’ve been tremendous in terms of communication, talking about who we’re working to and helping on some pass pro(tection) and that kind of stuff. They’ve done a phenomenal job and that’s why they’re considered leaders on this football team.”
(You had two more really good catches on contested balls in the end zone. How much do you relish those opportunities to win those one-on-one battles?) – “I think that that’s one of the reasons that I’m here. If I’m going to be out on the field, I have to be able to make those plays. Having the opportunity to go out and make those plays, it’s awesome. I just continue to stay after practice and do my normal routines. This way when I get out there and have those opportunities to make plays in practice and in games, I’m ready for it.”
(Do you fall back on your basketball background and look as those like rebounds or jump balls?) – “It’s just kind of natural, honestly. Here, they’re giving me an opportunity to go up and high point the football and that’s something that I’ve been able to do in years past. Now, obviously this is a whole different level; but at the end of the day, it’s still just football. When the ball is in the air, you have to go get it.”
(Going into tomorrow, your first time playing at Hard Rock Stadium, what’s your mindset heading into the scrimmage tomorrow?) – “The same exact mindset heading into all of these practices. It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be exciting to get out there on that field and kind of see that territory and all of that kind of stuff. At the end of the day, you just have to lock in and focus on your job, your assignment and go out and execute.”
(Is there any particular aspect of your game that you are looking to improve going into tomorrow’s scrimmage?) – “Yes. I’m looking to improve on my route running, I’m looking to improve on my blocking, I’m looking to improve on my pass pro, I’m looking to improve on my run blocking, I’m looking to improve on my conditioning, I’m looking to improve on everything. Each and every day, I’m trying to get better at everything.”
(Obviously you’re psyched to be out here and motivated, whatever team you’re on. But the fact that you’ve gotten a lot of first-team snaps this week, does that give you an extra oomph a little bit?) – “I don’t think that that’s the mindset that you should have going into it, whatever team you’re on. You have to know your role, know your assignment, know your job. Whoever is out there, whether you’re blocking the first-team d-end or whoever, you have to attack it 110 percent and that’s the mentality that you have to have.”
(I have a question about communication. A couple of times on drills, especially in the end zone, I’ve seen you and QB Ryan Tannehill talking. One time I saw Ryan hand-motioning and the next play he throws it to you. What goes on there, do you go to Ryan, does Ryan go to you? Is he telling you ‘hands up, this is where I’m going to throw it?’ What’s going on there?) – “I’m listening to everything and anything that he’s telling me to do. If he told me to go to his house and walk his damn dog, I’d be there. (laughter) So, whatever it is. If he’s coming up to me giving me any coaching points and tips and communicating with me on how he wants me to run a specific route, I’m going to do it. He’s done a phenomenal job being a mentor and kind of being patient with me and being somebody that I can lean on and talk to. You’ve probably seen it a bunch, just him coming over and talking to me, helping me out with some routes and that kind of stuff.”
(Is it usually QB Ryan Tannehill going to you or do you ever go to Ryan to say ‘this is usually how I run this route?’) – “Yes, I’ve gone to him a couple of times; but right now I’m kind of more learn and don’t speak as much. Right now I’m kind of listening, learning, and just letting everything else around me happen.”
(What is the best tip QB Ryan Tannehill has given you? In the red zone is he…?) – “He’s just very detail-oriented, so he’s telling me exactly how to place my foot and how to stack the defender and go and get the ball and all of that kind of stuff. He’s done a great job.”
(Has QB Ryan Tannehill ever had a thought late at night that he’s texted you or shared with you a thought at an unusual hour?) – “Nothing too crazy. He texted me one time at 5:15 in the morning, but I’m sure he’s up at that hour anyways and in the building. It was just on a specific release during OTAs way back. He’s an unbelievable competitor. He’s an unbelievable leader and I’m really happy to be able to play with him.”
(Is there an NFL tight end or two who’s red zone work you’ve studied or enjoy studying?) – “Honestly, I haven’t. Coming out of the draft, that’s kind of the question everybody asks and all that kind of stuff. I was kind of focused on my game and how I needed to improve. Obviously, there’s phenomenal tight ends in this league that make a living off of scoring touchdowns in the red zone, so it wouldn’t hurt to go check them out.”
Ja’Wuan James – August 3, 2018
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Friday, August 3, 2018
T Ja’Wuan James
(How good do you feel about this first group? You all are obviously getting a lot of work together unlike past years. You have one set group. How helpful has that been for all of you being together?) – “I feel like it’s been great. We had our struggles but that’s every camp. Just coming back in, I feel like we’re getting better everyday. That’s all we can ask for, just getting better at one thing a day.”
(When you look back at your season last year, anything you’ve identified or even coaches as big point to improve on?) – “No. They told us we’re not even talking about last year. We’re focusing on this year because that’s all we have in front of us. I’m just focusing on what I’ve got to do now.”
(What has been your priorities as far as areas of growth for you? Anything specific?) – “Just always technique because you can never get too good at it. You always have to keep working at it. That’s pretty much the biggest thing is just honing in on your technique.”
(What’s the biggest thing the offensive line can get out of something like tomorrow’s scrimmage?) – “Being out there in a live setting almost … The coaches are all gone (off the field). Just getting in the rhythm of a drive. We’re going to be in the stadium, so we’ll have that feel to it. Like I said, everybody is going to be off the field and it’s going to just be plays called in the helmet. Just a good opening drive really.”
(How much has the technique changed as far as what’s being coached now that Offensive Line Coach Jeremiah Washburn is back?) – “Honestly, not too much. Him and our last coach were similar. That’s going to help us a lot; but how he coaches it is different. That’s the biggest thing, just communication and we changed names of some things; but it’s pretty much close to the same.”
(What have you learned about the new linemen – C Daniel Kilgore and G Josh Sitton – as far as their personalities?) – “Man, great dudes; especially Sitton too. (He’s a) great leader. You can tell he’s been around the game a long time. He’s been around some elite players and his knowledge of the game is crazy. He’s come and helped me and ‘L.T.’ (Laremy Tunsil) a lot with a bunch of little things. ‘D.K.’ (Daniel Kilgore) as well. He’s another guy that’s been around a while and he knows what he’s talking about too. They bring another level of knowledge and leadership in that way to the offensive line.”
(I know one of the challenges you’ve talked about is having a lot of different offensive line coaches. You’ve had to learn new technique. How much of a relief was it to you when you learn that what Offensive Line Coach Jeremiah Washburn is doing is similar to what former Offensive Line Coach Chris Foerster and the coaches last year did?) – “That was huge for us this offseason, getting Coach Wash. That was a big part of everything going into this year. Like I said, he got to be here in 2016 when we were on a roll, so we’re trying to get back to that and focus on this year. With him I feel like we can do a lot.”
(We’ve seen a lot of tight ends packages and a lot of the new guys lined up next to you. I’ve seen you talking to TE Mike Gesicki. What’s it like working with so many new faces at tight end?) – ‘It’s great. I love the tight ends. They’re partly us and partly receivers. That guy Mike, he is doing a heck of a job. He’s coming in, he embraced his role, he’s ready to block. Not too many guys come in this early and want to block. He’s shown that and he’s making big plays in the red zone. I’m looking forward to seeing him out there on the field. The other tight ends too. We’ve got a lot of guys working in, like you said. I feel like the communication has been great and I feel like they’re on a roll.”
(TE Mike Gesicki has a lot of information coming at him. How’s he taking it from you? I’ve seen you talk with him and work up close with him?) – “He listens. Most of the time people ask questions, but when we’re up there on the line, we’ve got to go. He listens well and he goes out there and does his job.”
(How are you guys going to stop the pre-snap penalties? What’s the focus?) – “Repetition. That’s what we’re doing out here at the end of practice. We’re running gassers now for it. We’re doing these extra plays. Over time it’s going to come. It’s unacceptable but this year, we’ve got a clean slate until the season starts. Hopefully we cut those down.”
(What, if any, difference have you noticed in Offensive Line Coach Jeremiah Washburn now that he’s back? He was the assistant o-line coach in 2016 and now he’s the o-line coach.) – “He’s more vocal. This is his group. Before it was a different o-line coach. He was an assistant so he was in the back. He would help us here and there; but you can tell that he’s very vocal and he’s very passionate about the group. He’s got our back and that’s all we can ask for.”
(I think it was yesterday, was it yesterday you missed some time? Was it back soreness or something?) – “(Head) Coach (Adam) Gase, you’ve got to refer to Coach Gase. You’ve got to ask Coach Gase. He just gave me some time.”
(You’re not overly concerned?) – “No. I’m good.”
Stephone Anthony – August 3, 2018
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Thursday, August 3, 2018
LB Stephone Anthony
(You’ve been taking a lot of snaps with the first team defense. How do you feel things are going so far for you?) – “For me personally, I think my job is to come in and get better every day. As far as rotation-wise or anything, it’s camp. We move guys around just from day to day and you try to put your best foot forward. That’s all you can do.”
(Did it come as a surprise at all that you would line up with the first-team defense? Is that something that you were really hoping for?) – “I’m happy to be out there. Honestly, I’m happy just to be out there flying around, trying to make some plays, to be with the guys that are on the field.”
(Is there anything physically that feels better for you? Have you noticed yourself a little faster or anything like that?) – “I’m just trying to be consistent. I’m trying to work at it every day, get better, take my coaching and go from there.”
(I mean compared to the end of last season – how have you gotten better physically?) – “Just working hard in the offseason – believing in offseason training, getting myself to this point, and trusting in the guys here as well. The strength and conditioning staff here does a great job and we have to lean on them whenever we get a chance.”
(What’s the result – strength, speed, anything different for you?) – “I don’t think I can pinpoint one attribute as far as what I’ve gotten better at. I just try to overall get better.”
(Did it make a big difference, obviously the fact that you were here from the start of OTA’s where as last year you came in late September?) – “Of course. You get a chance to get the cement laid down, get a chance to flatten it out yourself, smooth it over and go from there.”
(Has it been a good camp for you? Have you played well?) – “I think so. Like I said, my job is to get better every day and keep putting my best foot forward.”
(How has it been with LB Raekwon McMillan in the middle, a guy you haven’t been around to play with last year? How has it been so far?) – “Raekwon is outstanding. He is what you see. He’s going to be the leader. He’s got all of the intangibles to do it and he’s a good kid, a young kid and he’s got some talent.”
(You had really good coverage on TE Mike Gisecki before Gisecki caught a touchdown. What does that say about his ability to make those catches?) – “The kid has got some special abilities, no doubt about it. He can jump and his ball skills are off the charts. That’s what makes him special. I have to fight through the pocket on that one, but that’s football. There’s good players, too. He’s a good player. ”
(What’s your mindset heading into the scrimmage tomorrow?) – “One play at a time, do my best and try to get the job done. That’s it.”
(Is there any particular area you’re focusing on improving on heading into the scrimmage?) – “All of them. As a defense, I think we need to come out and it needs to be a good day for us overall.”
(In your matchups with TE Mike Gesicki, have you noticed him getting better? Is he getting a little tougher every day? Is he starting to catch on?) – “The kid is a sponge, and everybody knows it. Once he catches on and he really gets it, he’s going to flourish. That’s easy to see.”
Vincent Taylor – August 3, 2018
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Friday, August 3, 2018
DT Vincent Taylor
(How happy are you with your start of camp so far?) – “It’s going pretty good. We are out here working. The offense is doing their thing; we’re doing our thing. We’re just out here trying to compete.”
(For you personally, what have you noticed is the big difference from last year?) – “I’m not thinking as much. Last year I was afraid to make a mistake. Now, when I make a mistake, I just forget about it. I’m not thinking as much as I did last year. Last year I was trying to work on my footwork. This year I think it’s where it needs to be but it can always get better. I think this year I’m not thinking as much as I was last year.”
(Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek was talking about your upper-body strength yesterday and how you’re able to control guys and shed them. Tell me how you use that. How does that turn itself into a tackle for a loss?) – “It helps me out a lot. I’m a d-tackle but I don’t have a bigger lower body like most d-tackles. So, I use my power in my upper body to my advantage and it helps me out a lot.”
(What does that entail? Do you have to get your hands on the offensive lineman first? Can you take me through some technical stuff?) – “I think Coach Kris (Kocurek), before each practice we work with the snatching drill and I think once we get in 11 vs. 11, you can see how it helps us out what we do in individual. I just take what I learn in individual to 11-on-11.”
(What does it take to shed a block? Is that strong hands, is that some knowledge of the play, is that all upper-body strength?) – “No, it’s technique. Like I said, we do it in individual and I just take it from individual to 11-on-11. Most of the older guys have been telling me, ‘football you’ve been playing it your whole life, go out there and make plays.’ Really, it’s 11 vs. 11, man on man.”
(What does DT Akeem Spence bring to the d-tackle room?) – “Spence, he’s an older guy so he’s been there. He knows what it takes to make plays. He knows how to lead and he was with Coach Kris (Kocurek) in Detroit. Everything he’s learned in Detroit he’s telling us young guys (what) Coach Kris expects.”
(When you watch yourself on tape, how much further along are you now this year compared to where you were last year?) – “I think this year I’m playing faster. Like I mentioned earlier, last year I was afraid to make mistakes; but now, if I make a mistake, I just keep going. I don’t worry about it anymore.”
(Is it because your focus is different on what you’re trying to improve on?) – “That’s one of them, but last year I was a rookie, so I was trying to do everything right to make sure the coaches don’t get on me. But now I understand it’s football and I’m going to make mistakes, so I just learn to get over it.”
(How much do you bring every day to practice because of Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek and the way he coaches you guys? It’s every rep.) – “It starts in individual, like I mentioned. Coach Kris (Kocurek), if we give him our all, he’s going to do the same with us. Playing for a guy like that, he just makes you want to come out here and get the job done.”
Matt Burke – August 2, 2018
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke
(What has been your impression so far of the defense the first couple days of camp so far?) – “Overall, I’m really just happy with the way they’re working. We’ve really stressed in terms of getting to the ball and everybody chasing and putting that high level of effort on tape. So, that’s really been the starting point for what we’re trying to do. That’s been good and we’ll go from there. We’ll clean up the mistakes as they keep coming, but I’ve been happy with the work ethic and the effort we’ve seen so far.”
(We saw the picks today from CB Xavien Howard.) – “You did?”
(Yes, we caught them. It seems like the entire week he has ‘got it.’) – “He’s got it?”
(Yes.) – “I don’t think anybody ‘has it’ quite yet. Obviously, he (Xavien Howard) has made some plays, which we’re happy for. Again, another sort of point of emphasis for us is taking the ball away. He has been getting his hands on balls. I think for us with ‘X,’ it’s continuing that high level of play and keeping the consistency. He can’t get lazy with his techniques or get bored, and he hasn’t been. We’ve really been pressing him to stay competitive play in and play out. A lot of times with ‘X,’ sometimes it’s when he’s on the backside of things and he’s not getting action and he kind of gets a little bored with what he’s doing. We’re trying to stress the consistency of play in and play out no matter whether the ball is coming to you or not, that you have to play your techniques right and he happens to. When the ball has been thrown his way, he has been in good position to make some plays, which will obviously be a good boost for our defense if that continues.”
(Is consistency the big thing you’ve seen CB Xavien Howard take a step forward with?) – “Yes, probably. Honestly, I would literally say probably his worst day of camp was the first day. He came to me actually and was like, ‘Man, that wasn’t good for me. I’ll be better.’ Since then he has tried to, like I said, come in day in, day out and keep that level of performance. That’s something with really everybody on defense. With everybody on defense, that’s something that we’re trying to stress is it’s not good enough to do it one play or one series or one game. It has got to be every day – day in and day out – that we’re performing at the level of expectation that we hold. The longer that he puts those type of days together, the better off we’ll be.”
(What are you looking for, for that cornerback opposite CB Xavien Howard?) – “The same. Honestly, I think all of that group of guys that are working on the other side across from ‘X’ have had their days and have had their not so good days. We’re rolling those groups and we’re trying to see what the best combination of guys are, too. Sometimes guys are working together and communicating together; but really it just hasn’t been … To me, there’s been a little bit of lack of consistency that one guy will make a good play one day and then doesn’t have a good day and then we put another guy in there and it’s sort of the same thing. Especially at that position, it’s hard to play with an up and down corner. You can’t count on what’s happening. We’re really, again, very similar to ‘X,’ stressing to whether it’s ‘Tank’ (Cordrea Tankersley) or Torry (McTyer) or ‘Lipp’ (Tony Lippett) or whoever, Bobby (McCain), all of those guys, that we have to get that level of consistency play in and play out because then, as a coaching staff, you can know what you’re working with. If you know what you’re getting every play then whatever our calls are going to be or techniques that we’re using, then we can work with. But if you’re not sure what you’re going to get every play, then it kind of puts us in a bind. If we get those guys, we want one of those guys to really step up and get to that level where it’s every play is the same thing we’re getting from them.”
(Do you play a different style with each of those corners – CB Cordrea Tankersley and CB Tony Lippett?) – “Again, I think it’s just that every player – not just at the corner position – they have their strengths and weaknesses. There may be a technique that’s better for ‘Tank’ than for ‘Lipp’. They’re different body types than Torry and those guys. I think there’s sometimes where we would play different techniques or teach a little something, a different way to get to the same spot with different guys. But within each of those sort of techniques, they’ve got to be consistent with what we’re asking them to do. Again, it’s at every positon; but obviously there we’re going to keep flipping groups until a guy really takes hold of that spot for us.”
(What has Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek brought to this project here?) – “You guys have seen him out there, right? (laughter)”
(We hear Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek, too.) – “You hear him? It’s hard not to. Kris is an energy bringer, an energy giver. I’ve worked with Kris for a long time. We worked together in Detroit and went through some tough seasons together. I know our little forged in the fire sort of thing – Kris and I were forged together. We had our offices right across the hall and there’s an innate level of trust for myself with him and what he brings. I think he’s a very demanding coach, but the players respond to it. They see that he cares. They see he’s passionate about what he does. He’s passionate about d-line play and about what his beliefs are and the level of play he expects from them. He’s demanding, but I think all the players respect the passion that he brings to the table. It’s been fun to have him out here. I have to watch where I stand on the field sometimes because I forget sometimes he’s right here and I get an earful. (laughter) But just the energy and the passion and the level of expectation.”
(Is that a particularly good match for the position?) – “Yes, I think so. People might get mad at me for saying this: I think the bigger you get, the more motivated you’ve got to get from somebody externally. Maybe that’s the best way to put it. I think he (Kris Kocurek) knows … And it’s hard on him. It’s hard for him to come in day in and day out and do that. And I always used to say with Kris, people would sometimes see him at Pro Days or at a local workout in the draft stuff and they think it’s an act; but it’s not. That’s how Kris is. That’s who he is as a person. That’s the way he is when he steps in the building at 6:30 every morning. I think it’s hard on a coach to be that way every day. But with that group, sometimes it takes a little bit of extra yelling and pushing and it’s a good group.”
(We’re patiently waiting to see the three safeties on the field together.) – “Are you patient?”
(I’m not really patient, but when do you have to practice that?) – “I don’t have to do anything. (laughter)”
(You don’t have to.) – “We’re mixing the groups. Really, what you’re probably not seeing is … We can … We’re repping guys at different spots, but maybe not all together, if that makes sense. There may be times where there’s only two safeties on the field, but one of them is playing a spot that they’d be playing when there are three safeties on the field if we’re going to do something like that, really. What we’re really trying to do right now – and it’s tough with splitting reps – we’re trying to cross-train really all three of those guys at multiple spots so when the time does come, they’ve gotten the work at whatever spot they’re going to end up. We’re just rolling groups. There have been a few snaps where we have them all out there together and there’s sometimes where we only have the two. But like I said, maybe Minkah (Fitzpatrick) is at playing a different spot than he would be in another situation. Again, this time for us is trying to find out how versatile all of those guys are and what the best alignment is for all three of them so when the time does come then we say, ‘Alright, let’s do this together.’ That they’ve gotten the rep at those techniques or those spots or whatever it is. I don’t feel pressure right now to (say) we have to get this package out of this group. We’re really trying to work it within the confines of our base defense. It’s only been one week, so we’re really trying to, within our defense, get those guys that work at those spots so when we start trying to get a little more exotic, a little but more tricked up, that they’ve actually gotten the reps at those skill sets that we’re going to ask them to do.”
(How have you seen in terms of the chemistry between S T.J. McDonald and S Reshad Jones?) – “It’s been great. I think T.J. has been probably one of the pleasant surprises. Reshad has been very good. Obviously, he has got his hands on a lot of balls, too. But I think T.J. has been a pleasant surprise at camp. He has shown some range in the back end. He has made some plays down the field. I think (Defensive Backs) Coach (Tony) Oden has done a really good job with the whole group in terms of communication. To me, if you start with the communication aspect, then the camaraderie builds and the rapport builds between those two guys, because now they’re always talking to each other. Whether it’s T.J. and Reshad or Minkah and T.J. or whoever – Walt (Aikens) has been back there – all of those guys, that you start with them having to communicate and forcing that communication, now It starts becoming second nature. I think there’s a level of respect from T.J. and Reshad in terms of what they’ve accomplished in this league so far. I think it has been a pretty natural rapport for those guys. So, it has been good. That whole group has been talking better and really fitting and gelling a little bit together.”
(Tackling technique, do players come in from college having that stone-cold down or is it something you’ve got to start over with?) – “No. We don’t have it stone-cold down. Everything we do is organic and it’s a work in progress. I think the good thing about where the country is going in terms of tackling, at every level, the emphasis is on in terms of keeping the head out of it and keeping the eyes up. They’re hearing similar things at every level of football nowadays. It’s not that we have to break them down and destroy bad habits or at least what they’re being coached to do. Again, it’s organic. It’s an ongoing process. Certainly every day that we have full pads on, we practice tackling and we talk about. I know there has been a lot of uproar about the new rules and stuff and we have the officials here this week for the next few days, so we haven’t had the presentation on that yet, but when we met with them in the spring, I really don’t think that it’s going to be a change in technique of what we’re telling our guys to do. We don’t want guys leading with their heads. We don’t want guys dropping their eyes down and leading that way. I think it’s going to be an extension of the technique we try to teach. I wouldn’t say that … I think college football is talking the same language we’re talking. Again, really probably like anything else in college football, those guys are limited in the hours they have with players and how much time they can spend and guys are coming out younger and younger, so there’s maybe less time on task with those sort of things that we have to keep working with. Again, with practice the way it is and how limited we are and what we can do in the time we have now a days, any time that we have plastic on, that we have shoulder pads on, we’re working that because we have to get those man hours in to get close to making sure we get what we want.”
(On going live tackling in practice.) – “When we have full pads on head coach Adam Gase will call some live periods. It will be period to period where he’ll say ‘this one is live’ or this one is thud, whatever it is. Every period he’ll dictate the tempo. Again, it’s a fine line for him. Obviously you want to protect your own team from injuries and those sort of things; but again, the issue of trying to tackle, live tackling without tackling is sort of that fine balance. Whenever we have full pads on, he’ll try to sneak in one or maybe two periods a day that are actually full go, and the rest are when we’re just thudding and trying to get a fit and let them run. You’re always walking that line, walking that balance, but in terms of the technique and what we’re trying to teach and keeping the head out of the game, I don’t think that’s going to change.”
(The preseason kicks off tonight. Will you watch?) – “Does it? No, I don’t even know which day it is.”
(It’s Thursday.) – “If I’m in my office doing something maybe I’ll put it on T.V., but I’ve got other things to worry about.”
Tony Oden – August 2, 2018
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Thursday, August 2, 2018
Defensive Backs Coach Tony Oden
(CB Xavien Howard had a nice day today with the three interceptions. What have you seen from him all of camp?) – “Well, I don’t know if the one was an interception. I’ve got to check the film.”
(CB Xavien Howard said it was.) – “If he said it was, I’ll trust him. No, he’s done a good job. We just ask that he and the other guys do your job for the day. Be the best person that you can be and be the best you. Make sure that we pick on one or two things each day to come out and work on. We’re working with him to just challenge himself when the ball is coming to his side or going to the other side. It’s not about that, it’s about where you are in the coverage. He’s done a good job, he’s embraced it and working hard every day.”
(What did you notice … I don’t know how much of his film you watched last year. But from our point of view, it looked like he started off a little bit slow during the season and then picked up at the end especially those two games with the four interceptions. What did you think?) – “That I can’t say. I didn’t look at it like that. I just looked at it jumbled together. I don’t know. I didn’t want to get a feel for that. I just wanted to get a feel for the guy. He did finish well, but that’s last season. Obviously, as you know, we can’t rest on last season. It’s all about this year. We are starting fresh. One thing that I can talk about is how hard he’s working right now. He’s doing everything we ask, he’s being accountable, he gets extra help. As you can see he was out here catching the ball after practice. We want him to improve every day. He’s a good player, we don’t try to be good we try to be great. Still a ways to go, but he’s working.”
(How would you evaluate the progress of S Minkah Fitzpatrick this far in camp?) – “The same thing. I think we drafted the right guy and he’s doing well. He is who we thought he was. He loves football. He asks for extra help. He does work. He’s smart. He’s a problem solver. He fits into our room and that’s the key thing. I’m pleased with his progress. At the end of the day, he’s still a rookie. There’s still a lot that he doesn’t know. There’s still a lot of situations he’s still going to have to go through. He’ll go through his growing pains; but, he’s trending. He’s right where he needs to be.”
(Has S Minkah’s Fitzpatrick’s presence elevated S T.J. McDonald’s play at all? Does he seem better, even more driven?) – “Not at all. T.J. is T.J. if no one is behind him, that’s the type of cloth he’s cut from. It doesn’t matter. He’s going to come out and compete hard every day. He helps our room, but I can’t say at all that it helps pushes T.J., because he’s grown.”
(Has S T.J. McDonald played well this camp?) – “He’s played very, very well. He’s done his job. This is his second year in this system, so he’s used to it. Last year he came in and kind of had to work through some things. This is his second year and he’s learning our techniques. They’re all learning new techniques and what I’m asking them to do at the same time. He’s working and I’m pleased with his progress. I’m happy. I’m happy.”
(How would you describe the depth at safety?) – “It’s solid, it’s solid. I’m pleased with it. We want to keep it there. We want to provide more depth. We’ve got some other guys that are working too and they’re doing a good job. I’m pleased. We still got a ways to go. We’re not content, not one bit at all. We’ve still got work to do.”
(If S Reshad Jones. S Minkah Fitzpatrick and S T.J. McDonald are three of the 10 best players on the defense, how can you get them all on the field?) – “That’s to be determined. We’ll find a way, we’ll find a way. It’s our job. We’ve got a lot of football left to play. We’ve got some practices, we’ve got some games left. We’ll work on that. If all three of those guys earn the right to be on the field, we’ll see what we do.”
(Can we expect at some point during the season to see some sort of package where they are all on the field at the same time?) – “I’m not sure. We’ll work through a couple of things. (Defensive Coordinator Matt) Burke has a great mind and knows his vision of the defense. My job is to get them all ready, so once all three on the field at the same time, all three are ready.”
(How would you assess the battle at the second cornerback spot?) – “It’s competitive, but that’s what you want. All of those guys are working hard. We’ve got a lot of guys that want it, that want to work hard. That pushes ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) because he sees those guys over there battling. All of those guys are doing a good job rotating through. Everyone is getting a chance to go with the ones, twos. It’s all being compared against the same.”
(Is CB Torry McTyer a serious candidate for the job and how has he played on the days he’s gotten first-team snaps?) – “Yes he is, and they all are serious candidates. I tell these guys, it doesn’t matter where you come from, how you got here, if you were drafted, if you were here already, if you are new to the program. If you ball, you play. (It’s as) simple as that.”
(How has CB Torry McTyer played the days he’s had first-team snaps?) – “He’s done well. He’s been competitive. Not perfect, but none of them are. He’s been competitive. He’s doing everything that I’ve asked him to do. They all are. I’m not singling him out. As a group, they are. He just happened to be the guy you asked about. I’m pleased with their progress.”
(What are some points of emphasis for CB Cordrea Tankersley?) – “Just keep improving. They all have a couple of things. He’s a long corner. He’s working on his transition and those kind of things. Getting used to the game as a second year corner, I think that’s when they make their biggest stride between their first year and second year. He’s not pushing the reset button. He’s picking up where he left off as far as the mental part of the game. He’s learning all of our techniques, but he’s right on par, right on course with everyone because it is new to all of them, for the most part technique-wise. He’s doing well.”
(Two young kids who have flashed seemingly are guys who have ball skills – CB Taveze Calhoun and CB Jalen Davis. What are your impressions on each of those?) – “They’re competing. One has played more outside, one has played more inside. They are right where they need to be. They’re trending. They’re light-years ahead of where they were when they first got here. That’s what you want. They haven’t regressed. They’re trying to earn the right every day to come out here and play and practice, and they are doing that.”
(What’s unique about S Reshad Jones?) – “How much time do you have? (laughter) I don’t know where to begin. He’s a competitor. He plays at an elite level. He wants to win. He can inspire others in one play. I think he can change the game and the tone of the game in one play. Just that one thing, that energy that he brings, is a lot. That’s one. I’m going to stop at that one because there are many more that I can go in depth on, but that is one that is huge. You can’t teach that. Mom and dad gave that to him. Mom and dad gave that to him, and grandma. (laughter)”
Frank Bush – August 2, 2018
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Thursday, August 2, 2018
Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Frank Bush
(We’ve seen LB Chase Allen out there a couple of times at outside linebacker and a couple of times with the starters. What are you liking about him and what enables him to play middle and outside linebacker?) – “Chase came in last year and proved to us that he’s worthy of giving a look. He played some spot duty for us last year outside as well as inside. He’s done a good job in the offseason of preparing himself. We just want to keep the competition going. We don’t want anybody to get comfortable, so we’re putting him back outside to make sure he and Steph (Anthony) have real competition out there; but meanwhile making sure that he’s getting enough reps inside.”
(As far as LB Stephone Anthony, he’s a guy that we haven’t talked about a whole lot. How is his training camp going?) – “It’s going well. He came in later in our system last year, and we weren’t able to use him fully like we expecting to. We used him in some third-down situations; but now, he’s in there with the first group on first and second down. He’s doing a good job for us and really kind of learning the system and owning the information. He’s coming along. We just want to always keep our options open and make sure that we have the competition going.”
(What are your impressions on LB Jerome Baker so far?) – “(He’s a) really, really good athlete. He runs around really well. His brain has been good. He just has to learn how to be a pro and just keep it going every single day. He flashes a lot of good stuff, a lot of stuff to work with. He just has to mature as a player and keep it going.”
(Have there been mental mistakes with LB Jerome Baker?) – “No, not so much mental. A lot of it’s physical. A lot of it’s not understanding kind of how we do things and what we do. It’s time on task. He needs more time on task and reps, and he’ll get it. ”
(I know we’re not going to know this until preseason games, at least a full picture of LB Jerome Baker’s ability against the run. Do you have a feel for it yet, how good he will be against the run?) – “I know he will trigger when we ask him to trigger. So far, so good. We just have to go live with bullets. A couple of these practices have done wonders for him, but we have to go live with it. He has to be consistent.”
(One thing we know on LB Raekwon McMillan, obviously: poised, polished, he prepares. As far as on-field skills, what have you seen in this camp after not seeing him after early August last year?) – “He is who we thought he was. He’s doing all of the things we suspected. His legs have come around, his brain has always been good. He’s just consistently getting better. Obviously he didn’t get a lot of reps last year. He transitioned to the first group later on in the preseason last year, and we were looking forward to seeing him in that first preseason game. It didn’t work out that way; but so far, so good. He has growing pains. He’s a redshirt rookie out here, so he has growing pains; but ultimately, we like what we see.”
(When that happens – like you said, it’s like taking a redshirt year in college – how much can that benefit? When you look at the silver lining, how much can that benefit a player?) – “It teaches you how to be a pro. You know how to go about your routine, you know what you have to do to get yourself better as far as physically and whatnot. He stayed around and learned the system. He really got into the playbook. He studied all of the games, all of the cutups, all of those things. That part of it allowed him to kind of learn the system from a relaxed standpoint, so that really helped him that way.”
(When that happens, can you really tell a difference in the second year on the field, how well it translates?) – “Absolutely. Some of the things he was doing last year and making mistakes on, this year he’s not making as many mistakes. So, yes, I think that helped him a lot.”
(LB Quentin Poling, you’ve seen him make some plays. What are your thoughts on him?) – “(He’s a) young kid, a very sharp kid. He does a lot of good things. He’s just like every other rookie, he’s operating at about 60 or 70 percent right now. That 30 or 40 percent is still new to him. He’s doing a good job for us. We like his energy. The kid’s got a great attitude. He’s proven so far that he does not mind the physical part of the game. Again, unfortunately he’s not going to get as many quality reps as some guys; but he will get his opportunity as camp goes on, and we expect him to keep getting better. ”
(We’ve seen some good plays in pass coverage from LB Quentin Poling. Is that something that you weren’t sure what you had or did you expect that?) – “We expected that because we thought the athlete was capable of doing those things. Now it’s about positioning. Can he put himself in the position to do it and understand the speed of the game? That’s part of when a kid comes from a school like that, a system like that, that sometimes the speed of the game is a little bit too much for him. But he’s proven that over time, he’s speeding his game up and it’s not too much for him.”
Xavien Howard – August 2, 2018
Thursday, August 2, 2018
CB Xavien Howard
(We were having a debate in the media booth, was it three picks today or two?) – “Three.”
(The one down here, it looked like the refs weren’t sure.) – “We’re going to watch it on the film and see, but I had it in my hands. It was three picks today.”
(What’s it like to have three picks in any day?) – “That’s a great day for a DB, three picks. I’m just trying to feed off of each practice and trying to get better each day.”
(Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke was just saying that the consistency for you is really the difference. He said the first day was your worst day of camp and ever since you’ve been consistently at a higher level. How have you made that happen?) – “That’s what I’ve been working on, just playing consistent. Just doing what I do best, knowing I can be the best and really just out there just keep going each day. That’s one of the biggest things is just being consistent.”
(Is it increased film study? What is it?) – “Yes, I’d say it’s a little bit of film study and really just having a comfort. Knowing that you’re out there on an island by yourself, knowing that you have to think you’re the best every day.”
(What’s it like after you have a three-interception day when you get inside the locker room?) – “I can’t wait to get in there and talk some trash.”
(You mentioned the island and Revis island is the most famous. Do you want to be that kind of ‘I got this side of the field, don’t worry?’) – “I have to make the safeties and my defensive coordinator depend on me more that I can shut my island down outside.”
(There were times last year when you followed the other team’s best receiver around. How much would you like to do that this year?) – “I would love to do that. When I first got here, I told coach that I’m going to be following the No. 1 receiver around. He was like ‘we’ll see about that.’ But just doing what I can do and just being confident and just working on my technique. I’m just trying to get better.”
(Who would you follow around on this team?) – “It doesn’t even matter. We have some good receivers on the outside, so I try to get my work with both of the guys that are outside.”
(When you were in the bubble, you made that play and the offense had to do pushups. Who were you defending, was it WR Kenny Stills or WR DeVante Parker?) – “I think it was DeVante. They got me today. I called out Kenny Stills at the end of one-on-one. He ended up catching the ball but I ended up making the play in team. I still had to do pushups. (Ryan) Tannehill told me to get down and do my pushups, so I told him I’ll make him pay.”
(Do you talk to QB Ryan Tannehill at the line?) – “A little bit. I try to talk trash to him a lot, but it doesn’t really phase him.”
(How did your summer football camp go?) – “It was great. It was my first camp. I was just out there really just trying to give back to my community to see what I could do out there. I’m going to keep it going each year.”
(Was it sold out?) – “Yes, it was sold out to what I expected. I had 100 people try to register, but it was more than that with the people that came. I was nervous but it ended up going well, so next year I know I’m going to have to have a lot more shirts, a lot more stuff, because it was a lot of people that came out.”
(Who went with you? CB Bobby McCain went with you?) – “Yes. Bobby McCain, Tony Lippett and a couple of guys from Baylor that I went to school with.
(What would be a reason or two that you think the defensive backs overall this year are going to get more picks?) – “We’re confident in ourselves. We’re just trusting the play calling and just taking care of our responsibility.”
