Kris Kocurek – August 2, 2018
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Thursday, August 2, 2018
Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek
(Can you offer some thoughts on DT Vincent Taylor? And we saw DT Davon Godchaux with the first-team defense today. Was that to reward him for good work or simply a matter of giving different players a chance?) – “Well, as you all know, we’re going to roll guys through. So we’re just looking at different combinations on a daily basis. He was rolling with the ones today. We wanted to give him a look in there. He’s been working hard, he’s been doing well. So we got him in there with the ones a little bit more. He’s been rotating with the ones, so it isn’t something new. He’s been getting some reps with the ones and he took a little bit more today. It was good work for him.”
(And DT Vincent Taylor, his work this camp?) – “Since the day I got in this building, Vince has done nothing but work. He comes in, puts his head on and just comes to work with a good attitude, and it’s showing with his play right now. He takes his craft very serious, takes his work ethic very serious, takes being a teammate very serious, and he’s making strides. (We’re) not where we want to be yet, but he’s heading in the right direction.”
(We saw DE William Hayes suffer an injury today but what do you envision for his role with this team?) – “In Will’s history, he has a history of playing left defensive end and then moving inside on passing downs and rushing the passer from in there. That’s where we’ve been primarily working with him. On first and second down, he’s a great edge setter. (He’s a) physical presence on the edge and then once you move inside, he can create some mismatches on guards. Let him use his speed, let him use his hands and get him in there rushing.”
(Does DE William Hayes need to practice that defensive tackle spot?) – “Oh, yes. You’ve got to sharpen your blade every day, sharpen your ax every day. He’s gotten a lot of reps in there since we’ve been back – individual work, team work. It’s something he’s done in his past. We’re not going to put a player in a position that he’s never practiced, so, yes, he’s going to get some work in there. One-on-one pass rush against the O-line, he’s going to get work in there. Will has done a really good job. (He’s a) tough guy, team guy. Everything we ask him to do, he does. He’s a lunch pail-type guy and I know he’s reiterated to you all that whatever the team needs, he’ll do, and that’s the kind of the attitude he brings every day.”
(When you watch DE Charles Harris, what did you identify as things you wanted him to work on, and how has he done with those things?) – “I wanted to try to simplify things for Charles and get him playing to his skill set as fast as he can go. As a rookie, you come in and you get all of this stuff thrown on you – scheme, technique, repetition. It’s the first time in a new environment, and sometimes it can just overflow your mind and all of a sudden you’re playing hesitant. I just want Charles to play as fast as he can because if he does, good things are going to happen for him. When you watched him on film last year, when he just pinned his ears back and went as fast as he could, that’s when good things happened for him. When things got in his head and he played a little hesitant, that’s when he wasn’t so good. So we just want Charles to play fast, as fast as he can possibly go. When he does that, good things happen for him.”
(Have any of the rookies caught your eye so far?) – “We’re just rolling them all in there at this point in time. We’ve got two defensive tackles and two young ends and it’s (about) showing up and grinding every day. You’ll get a better feeling for those guys once you see them in preseason action and get them in a game situation, see how they react under pressure. (We’ll know more) once we put them in some situations in a game and see how they progress.”
(DE Cameron Wake said he didn’t think your voice could make it through training camp. What are your thoughts on that?) – “Usually once I make it through the third day and get some hot tea and some coffee down my throat, get to the players’ day off and rest it for a day, then I’m usually good for a stretch.”
(The way you coach, you’ve got to love it, right?) – “I’ll just say this, I have a passion for d-line play. I was a d-lineman. I’ve always put my hand in the ground and I’ve got a passion for coaching those guys and getting the most out of those guys, from a physicality standpoint, from an effort standpoint, from a mentality standpoint. In my mind, there’s nothing more beautiful to see than a d-line all come together and working as one. Everybody has seen across the NFL, you can have parts to a d-line, one guy playing really good; but our goal here is to have a unit that plays well. From top to bottom, we feel good about sticking anybody in the game, any given point in time, and they’re going to go in there and get the job done.”
(What has this transition been like for you?) – “Different because I was settled in in a spot for nine years and had the same office for nine years, the same meeting room for nine years, the same layout for nine years, the same track to work for nine years, then all of a sudden you get thrown into a little bit different environment; but it’s been great. The building is great. I’ve loved it every day I’ve come in here. I look forward to cranking my truck in the morning and getting to work as fast as I can.”
(You played in the NFL. You know how tough this game is. Does that help you as a coach?) – “Oh, yes. Coaching d-line, I think you need to have some type of put-your-hand-in-the-ground background in your history or be known as a guy that brings it at some other position. This is a physical game, played with physical men. We’ve got to get in good work versus our offensive line, iron sharpens iron, working each other every single day, just trying to get a little bit better. There’s no winning and losing right now. We’ll keep score once they put the ball down and we get a team in another color jersey. Then we’ll start keeping score.”
(In addition to DE William Hayes, is there another defensive end or two who have a body type and style of play conducive to lining up at defensive tackle?) – “There’s a couple of guys on the roster. You look at a guy like (Cameron) Malveaux. He’s a bigger, taller, linear guy that can move down in there. In my past, in Detroit, we had a guy named Jason Jones, who had a very similar body type as Malveaux. Another guy is (Jonathan) Woodard. He’s a big, tall, linear guy, heavier defensive end who can go inside there and rush.”
(What has impressed you three months in about DE Robert Quinn?) – “Just everything that’s impressed me throughout his career. He’s a pass rusher. He butters his bread rushing the passer and he’s really good at it. (We’re) trying to get him back in his comfort zone just playing that right d-end position, playing as fast as he can go. Hopefully, when it comes down to it, I just don’t mess him up.”
(How is DT Jordan Phillips doing?) – “Doing well. He’s showing up with a great attitude and practicing hard. (The) consistency is starting to come. He’s done well. He had a really good day today. He was disruptive in the backfield, especially in some of our short-yardage situations. You really saw him show up. I’m pleased with Jordan.”
(What have you discovered is the best way to connect with DT Jordan Phillips on coach-player relationship?) – “Just be consistent. Me show up, be consistent with him. Him show up and be consistent with himself and let’s just stack one day on top of the other. Just stack one block each day and we’ll see what the end result is going to be.”
(You talked about DT Vincent Taylor earlier. We see him shed blocks and makes tackles for loss every now and then. What does he do well? Why is he able to make such plays?) – “He is extremely strong. His upper-body strength … he can grab guys and sometimes he might not even be in the best situation and he can just pry a guy and get off a guy with upper-body strength. Now you’re starting to see some of our attack coming on with his strength. That’s some of the steps you’re seeing Vince take right now. He’s really taking to the attack scheme. We want to unlock our hips and get into blockers and try to knock blockers back and not just try to use it all with your upper body, and Vince has taken to that. Now, when you knock a guy back there with his pads, it’s easier to get off of him and shed him, and that’s what you’re starting to see with him.”
Darren Rizzi – August 2, 2018
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Thursday, August 2, 2018
Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren Rizzi
(How would you assess the kicking situation right now between K Greg Joseph and K Jason Sanders?) – “(It’s a) work in progress, as always. You’re in this early part of camp still and we’ve got a long way to go – over a month to go. So especially with two rookies – it’s not like you have a rookie and a veteran guy with two rookies – it’s a process. I think they’re both progressing. We’re obviously working on some things. I think you’ve seen – if you’ve been out here every day – you’ve seen those guys flash and show their ability. Like I said, it’s a work in progress and I think they’re both progressing pretty well.”
(When you say a work in progress, does it mean they’ve got a lot of work to do?) – “No. Not at all. I think with any rookie at any position, whether it’s quarterback, o-line, kicker, defensive back, it doesn’t matter. All of those guys are a work in progress. There’s not one guy in here that comes in ready-made to play in the NFL. That’s kickers included. It’s a different game, obviously. I think those guys have both … their progression since the spring I think has been pretty good. Some days are better than others, as rookie kickers are going to do; but I really like where they are. Obviously we have four preseason games to play. We’ve got a lot of camp to go. That’s not what I meant by that. I think that I’m happy with where they both are right now. Again, you guys have been out here every day. You’ve seen the ability of those guys. You’ve seen them both make kicks. Now we’ve just got to do it on a consistent basis and bring it to the games.”
(Have you narrowed it down at punt returner at all?) – “That’s always a pool that we’re trying to expand, really. I’m never trying to narrow that pool down. It’s a guy … We’re always trying to look at a bunch of guys there. Obviously we have Jakeem (Grant) and Danny Amendola who both have a lot of experience in games. Then after that you’ve got some guys like Albert Wilson that have done it. You have some guys like Drew Morgan. We’re trying to break in a couple of new guys. (Kenyan) Drake is a guy that we’ve worked there. Really, we’re trying to expand it; not narrow it down. You can never have enough guys, in my opinion, that can do that job.”
(Is WR Danny Amendola a guy that you could feel really good about in those tighter situations where it’s a little bit more crowded?) – “Yes, I feel good about Danny in all situations. He’s got a lot of experience. Obviously not only (have I) coached against him but just watching him out here, he’s always a guy that I respected before he got here. I probably have more respect for him now that I’ve seen him. Just watching his work ethic. His football IQ is really high. He makes really good decisions back there and that’s kind of what he’s shown when we played against him, so it’s not a surprise. I’m a comfortable with him in any part of the field.”
(In the past you’ve been situational and put people in certain situations. Could you possibly do that again?) – “Oh, yes. It’s always on the table, no doubt. Obviously Jakeem (Grant) has also been a guy that year by year by year has gotten better and better and better, so I’m much comfortable with him than we were two years ago in the situational; but again, that’s all going to be determined by roster and game day. That’s always on the table and we’re going to try to get as many guys work as we can. Danny Amendola is a guy that doesn’t even take a whole lot of preseason punt return reps. We kind of know where he’s at. But everybody else that’s out there, we’re going to try to get as many reps as we can. That’s always on the table for sure, the situational thing.”
(Have you had a new eye-catching guy on special teams? We know what CB/S Walt Aikens does but is there a guy that you’d tell us “Keep an eye on him. You’re really going to notice this guy on special teams.”) – “I mean all of the guys that have been here, I kind of have a pretty good idea of what they’re bringing to the table. I’m obviously trying to evaluate all of the new players; not only the rookies but the guys that haven’t been here. Just learning our system and doing what we do. A couple of the rookies have flashed. Again, they can flash out here but once we get into those preseason games … For the rookies more than anybody, on special teams those preseason games are really big. We’re going to really evaluate that stuff and see who can bring it to the table. You see we’re out here every day doing some live work. I know a guy like (Jerome) Baker flashed today. (Kalen) Ballage has flashed. A bunch of those guys have looked good at times. Now it’s a matter of bringing it (consistently). We try to put those guys up in some matchups and practice against some of our better players, some of the guys who have been here – Walt, Bobby (McCain), Mike Hull – some of the veterans like Senorise (Perry) and some of the guys that have been around. Those guys, so far, have held their own; but let’s see it on Thursday (against Tampa Bay). Let’s see it a week from today.”
(What percentage or how much of the field goal competition comes into what goes on out here when you guys are kicking field goals?) – “Well certainly every rep is important. There’s also things we’re working on with both kickers. (There are) very small things that we’re kind of trying to work on. They also have different operations at times. Sometimes it’s John Denney snapping. Sometimes it’s Lucas Gravelle snapping. Sometimes the operation falls into it so every miss is not necessarily the kicker’s fault at times. Am I living and dying by every kick out here? No. I’m looking for progress, as we were talking about before. I’m looking for those guys getting out here and getting better every day. I like where both of them are. I want to see them translate what they’ve done in practice and show the leg, show the consistency and show the ability. I want to see them translate that onto game day and onto the field in live action in the stadium. I really, really like where both guys are. I really like their approach. They both have a really good demeanor. Their work ethic is really good. I think you’ve seen the ability. So I’m really happy with both guys. It’s really odd to have two rookies. A lot of times you have a rookie and maybe a veteran, so this is a little bit of a unique situation to have two rookies here at camp. But both guys have really impressed me so far with some things. They haven’t been perfect, as you guys know, but I think right now that they’re doing very well and I kind of like where they’re at.”
(Having two rookies out there, does it kind of change your perspective? Do you have to be more patient with them because they’re newbies?) – “Yes, and that’s really the case with everybody. You guys know that my patience sometimes is not the best in the world. (laughter) But that’s with all positions. Not only the kickers but the rookies that are learning the special teams spots and all of that. We have a game in a week so the patience is starting to wear. Time is not on our side so the patience is starting to wear thin. But specifically with the kickers, you want to be patient. I think both guys are probably ahead of where I thought they’d be at this point, so I’m pleased.”
(Do you have a breakdown in your mind, even if you don’t want to share it understandably with us yet, about how punt returns will break between WR Danny Amendola and WR Jakeem Grant, if those are the two guys. Do you want roughly equal? One getting more than the other?) – “I think in these preseason games we’re maybe going to look at some of the guys that haven’t done it as much. Jakeem will definitely get some work. I don’t know how much Amendola will get in the preseason, if any. Albert Wilson is a guy that can do it and we want to get him in some game reps because he hasn’t done it in Kansas City in games as much because they had some other guys there; but he’s a guy that can do it. We’re going to get some other guys – Drew Morgan – maybe some other guys that are fighting for roster spots some work and kind of determine the regular season games when we get closer to it. I said earlier, having Jakeem and Danny – and I think we talked about this in the spring – it’s kind of like what we had in the past with Jarvis (Landry). He’s a guy that had done it before. Danny is a guy that has a lot of experience. I’m really happy with where those two are. I want to make sure we have some other guys that can do it.”
(Has there been a time in the last year where WR Jakeem Grant – he obviously had the fumble problems in November and December of 2016 and overcame them last year – has he come to you and said please trust me on punt returns within the 10-yard line or within the 15-yard line? Is that something he’s conveyed to you and your trust level with him close to his goal line is what?) – “I think Jakeem knows that I trust him, so that’s not something. Him and I have ongoing communication daily. That’s not something he’s going to come and tell me. It’s more of you’re out here, you’re working on things you need to get better at, you’re trying to improve at things you’re getting better at and I trust Jakeem Grant because I know the work and time he’s put in. I know where he’s come and how far he’s come in terms of the football IQ and the decision-making, so I don’t have any issues with Jakeem at all in those situations. That’s definitely some work that he’ll get in the preseason, in those 10-yard going in punts that we call them; but we haven’t had a specific conversation like that because there’s really no need to. I know how much time he’s put in and we’ve worked at it and I know where he’s at mentally, so I’m good with it.”
Adam Gase – August 1, 2018
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Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Head Coach Adam Gase
(How well has T Laremy Tunsil taken to G Josh Sitton’s mentoring and how hard was Laremy on himself last year? Obviously he’s a prideful guy. How hard was he after last season on himself?) – “I think he was … Really, he adjusted during the season. As we went through that first part, he wasn’t happy with his performance. He made some adjustments and some of his routine whether it was meetings, on the field, what he did off the field, post-practice, his recovery, his film study – I think he made some adjustments there which really helped him. Then when he went back, I think he almost looks at it as two different seasons. He knew he made the right adjustments and it made sense to him. I think adding Josh to the mix is a good mentor for him to where the communication has been really good between those two. Really, that chemistry when we watch them practice and some of the things that occur with what our defense does, they do a good job of talking about it before practice, during practice and after a play. I just think that relationship is really going well and those guys are working well together.”
(Was that the first time that QB Ryan Tannehill has gone to the ground since 2016?) – “I can’t say for sure but I think there’s been a couple of other times whether it was not this spring but I think last spring and in training camp a couple of times before he got hurt. He kind of got hit a little bit and knocked into the ground.”
(Did you hold your breath at all when that happened?) – “I wasn’t sure what happened. I just saw a couple of bodies there and it turned out he got some cleats to the shin.”
(Was DE Cameron Wake apologetic?) – “I don’t know. I didn’t ask him. (laughter)”
(A couple of housekeeping things … I think G Josh Sitton didn’t do all of the individuals or team stuff on Monday and then T Ja’Wuan James didn’t do all of the team stuff today. Veterans rest days for them?) – “Josh, really we were trying to not practice Josh. We’re trying to be careful about how many times we go in pads with him. He’s played quite a bit of football over his career. We’re just trying to be smart when we get the pads on with him and just kind of make sure that we’re not going two, three or four days in a row with him in pads. He wanted to do individual, so that’s why he dressed. With Ja’Wuan, we’re being a little precautionary. He kind of had a muscle strain, so we’re trying to get more information on that right now. I don’t think anything was alarming. We were just being a little cautious.”
(How is CB Tony Lippett looking to you coming off the injury in terms of mobility and not keeping the injury in the back of his mind?) – “I think he’s had some days where he’s looking more like he was in 2016. I think he’s had some days where he has a tough matchup a lot of the times because it seems like he’s on Jakeem (Grant) quite a bit and that will test you right out of the gate as far as being able to transition and trying to stay with a guy with really good speed. I think he just has to focus on what he’s doing right now. He has to put that injury behind him. I think eventually that’ll move away from him. I think it’s going to happen more when we start playing games and we can get tackling and it gets a little more physical and real for him. I think once he gets into a preseason game, all of that will just go behind him and he’ll be able to go play.”
(Is the TE A.J. Derby absence looking like more of a short-term or a long-term thing?) – “I don’t know if it’s long-term, whatever you consider long-term. I know right now it’s day-to-day. That’s the best answer I can give you right now.”
(How is DE Charles Harris looking?) – “I mean he’s doing what they’re asking him to do. For me, it’s hard sometimes because we’re asking these guys to stay away from the quarterback but at the same time, work their craft. Those guys … Those eight guys that are rotating in there with that first group, they’re applying a lot of pressure. He’s one of the guys doing that. He seems like he’s wired in. He’s doing every little detail that (Defensive Line Coach) Kris (Kocurek) is looking for him to do. Once we hit real games, then that’s going to be easier for us to say, ‘Okay, here’s where we’re at with his development and where do we need to go next?’”
(What would you like to see WR Leonte Carroo do throughout the preseason?) – “Really, for him, it’s just playing games. Sometimes in practice you get so many reps and we’re trying to be balanced as far as what we’re calling in practice, so we can work on certain things. When you play receiver in practice, with the limited amount of reps you get, you probably catch more balls in routes versus air or individual than a lot of guys do in practice. You never really see anybody with like 10 catches in a practice. It’s spread out pretty good to where guys are getting three or four balls. It can get frustrating but guys that we’re looking at, ‘How are we running routes? How are we coming out of brakes? How are our releases? How is our blocking?’ Really, when we get to those preseason games, that’s where guys need to separate themselves at that position.”
(Whether it was correct or incorrect, we blamed LB Kiko Alonso for a lot of tight end coverage stuff last year. Social media did. Do you think he paid attention to any of that stuff? Do you think he hears it?) – “(laughter) No. I don’t.”
(How would you describe LB Kiko Alonso in that sense?) – “I think he’s focused on what we’re doing in this building. I don’t think he worries about anything that’s going on outside of here. He’s a very good professional. He focuses on what he’s asked to do and he tries to get better every day. Whatever he has that day, he gives it to you. When he makes plays like he did today, that’s good to see, because he’s been a guy that’s just been steady since he’s been here. He’s played through a couple of injuries that I’m sure it wasn’t the most comfortable situation a few times to where he just doesn’t say a word, goes out and tries to make plays and help us win.”
(DE William Hayes is a guy that nobody seems to be talking a whole lot about. Is he one of those veterans that you just know come the regular season you can count on him?) – “Well, we notice him in practice. I know our players notice him. He does a great job. Every day is a game to him. He doesn’t take any plays off. He takes everything he does as serious as anybody I’ve ever been around. When we traded for him and when he got injured last year, that was a big swing for us because he was really our attitude guy on defense. He set the tempo a lot of times. He played through a lot of injuries, it seemed like. I think he was a little more hurt than what he led us on to believe. That guy is tough, he’s physical and he cares. He wants to win and he wants to do right.”
(What do you want to see from the team practice-wise this week heading into the scrimmage?) – “I think it’s just the competition. We just want to stay competitive. Today I thought it was good. It kind of started leaning one way. I thought it was great to see Cam (Wake) call the defense up and put an emphasis on, ‘This is not how we’re going to play.’ You saw a change in tempo there. When we have turnovers on offense, it’s easy for me to sit there and go, ‘We’ve got to hold onto the ball.’ But the defense is causing those. There’s some really good clean hitting going on to where a guy is popping some of these running backs or wide receivers and they’re applying pressure to the quarterback. They turned it up and that was good to see. The offense, we’ve got to do the same thing. When it starts getting to be one of those types of practices where the intensity is going up, both sides have to match each other. When one side gets higher than the other one, that’s when you see that side of the ball probably dominate the rest of practice.”
(Is the offense overall – from the six days I think it’s been – has it been what you want it to be or do you feel like there’s a lot of work to do there?) – “I mean there’s always going to be a lot of work, no matter what phase you’re talking about. You’re always going to be pushing to get better. I like a lot of the things that we’re doing. We’re making such an emphasis on the pre-snap penalties and turnovers. We just have to stay clean on those types of things. There can’t be any lackadaisical moments for either side of the ball. Us being in the back half, really the worst team in the league the last two years, that’s embarrassing. That has to be not part of our storyline anymore. I think that’s the biggest thing we’re always looking for is let’s have a clean practice to where we don’t have those kinds of issues.”
(And how have you done with that?) – “There’s been good days and then there’s been a couple of days where it’s beyond frustrating and guys feel it, whether it’s from me or (Offensive Coordinator) Dowell (Loggains) or from (Defensive Coordinator) Matt (Burke). You want to put that kind of pressure on those guys and you want them to feel that because when we get into a real game, that’s what it is. If you’re feeling it and you start to make those mistakes and it’s too big for you, then we’ve got to get somebody else in there.”
(What kind of improvement have you seen from DT Vincent Taylor from last training camp?) – “A lot of these guys that are in their second year, they take that step up. They know what they’re doing already. To me, it looks like he’s able to play faster, he’s able to attack more. Seeing him pursue the ball, he is really taking in how Kris (Kocurek) coaches. He’s one of those guys that just loves what he does. He loves being out there and you love the effort that he gives day in and day out. He’s making plays, he’s getting in the backfield, he’s disrupting the run game. He’s just trying to find a way to get a little bit better every day. That’s all you’re really asking from your guys. Are you a guy that’s getting better every day or are you trying to stay the same? Are you in it? We want the guys that are always trying to work to improve a little bit each day because by the end of the season, it pays off for you.”
(What do you need to see out of LB Raekwon McMillan in the scrimmage and the rest of the preseason to prove and ensure that he is ready to be the play caller?) – “I think we’re in a good place for us with what he does. We’re trying to just make sure we keep it tight to where his mind doesn’t go out. Being a smart player, he’s not thinking about too much. We don’t want to slow him down. We want him to play fast. I think he’s doing a good job of making sure that group is good with the calls, there’s communication going on. It’s just the more looks he sees right now, the better. It’ll get easier for him in that capacity, to where it’s just instincts instead of ‘Alright, if they do this, I’ve got to think of this adjustment.’ So, there’s some work to do still; but overall, we like where he’s at. We’re just going to keep working on improving.”
(What have you liked about LB Stephone Anthony going into his second year here and what he brings to your linebacker core?) – “It’s very similar to some of the younger guys that were here last year and it’s their second year, to where he’s more comfortable, he understands the defense, he’s able to play faster. Really, I see his value as when we can actually go into a game and there’s live tackling. I think that’s where he has that experience of making a lot of tackles throughout his rookie season. He had a phenomenal season and made a ton of tackles. He does it well. When we played him a little bit this past season, he was involved in a lot of plays. He’s around the ball. We just want to keep growing him in that capacity. The more spots he knows, the better. I think it’s just, he can give us a lot of flexibility because there is a lot he can do. He’s a good-sized guy that can run really well. When you have a guy like that, we just have to keep getting him better.”
(How much do you learn in terms of K Jason Sanders during training camp? Is that just more of an in-game situation?) – “I can’t believe you’re asking me about kickers. (laughter) You can try to apply pressure in practice. We try to make it feel like a game. That’s why we do field goals when we do them and just kind of the transition of what’s going on with the offense and defense. Then, we will do situations to where it’s a two-minute drill and it’s on him really to win the game, whether it be a field goal or extra point or however we set it up. But really, it’s going to be preseason games – how is his reaction there, how is his consistency? That’s really how we’re going to evaluate it. Plus, my trust in (Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren) Rizzi and (Assistant Special Teams Coach Marwan) Maalouf is off the charts. I’m always going to lean on those guys.”
(How would you describe what WR Leonte Carroo’s situation is right now. He seems like he’s on the very outside.) – “He has to just keep battling. He can’t look at what anybody is saying, depth chart or however you want to look at it, how many reps – just keep playing football. He knows that preseason games are where his best opportunities are going to come.”
(Why do you say that, as opposed to practice?) – “I mean, some of the times, practice is scripted. There’s just not a ton of plays. You’re working on the run and pass game, and then when you get into a preseason game, his snaps go up. It almost feels like it triples, especially in the beginning of the preseason. Guys get a lot of opportunities between preseason (games) one, two and four. That’s where you can get great evaluations on the wide receivers.”
Kiko Alonso – August 1, 2018
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Wednesday, August 1, 2018
LB Kiko Alonso
(Your thoughts on this linebacker corps now that LB Raekwon McMillan is back in the mix here?) – “It’s good to have Raekwon back. (He’s) out here just working.”
(The defensive line – now that DT Ndamukong Suh is gone – it’s a different look for you back there. What are your thoughts on what they’ve been able to do to get pressure so far?) – “The d-line has done a great job. Between (Davon) Godchaux, ‘Vinny’ (Vincent Taylor), Jordan (Phillips), Akeem (Spence) and obviously you’ve got all the guys on the outside, they’re doing a great job. We’re playing together well, playing good complementary football, the linebackers and the d-line.”
(What is the key for this defense this year? You guys lost DT Ndamukong Suh, you’ve got a rookie middle linebacker, you seem unsettled at one corner. What’s going to be the key to keeping this defense together?) – “I think the key is to go out there every day and give it everything you’ve got and keep working together and playing hard and going out there on the attack.”
(Is communication something you think you’ve improved on back there?) – “That’s definitely something that needs to be at a higher level to get to where we want to be.”
(Is LB Raekwon McMillan making the signals this year? Does he have the headset again?) – “It’s really between everybody just to communicate.”
(I know statistically you guys struggled covering tight ends last year. How do you improve on that?) – “We have to cover them. (laughter)”
(Is that scheme or person-to-person? Is that a coaching thing, a player thing? How do you do that?) – “It’s on everybody.”
(Do you succeed on keeping yourself cool out here given what you wear?) – “Yes, that’s why you see me out here with the least (amount of) stuff as possible. We got kind of lucky today. Those first three days were pretty brutal; but that’s how it is how here, so we just have to embrace it and hydrate.”
(What do the other guys on the team say about the way you dress? Do you get any flack?) – “No. I think everyone understands that it’s hot. It’s more so that I look at the guys out here and tights and they’re wearing long sleeves and I just can’t. That’s impressive. When I see a guy like that, it just makes me even hotter.”
(I think this is now obviously year three for you here. This is the longest you’ve spent with a team in the NFL. Why do you feel like this is home to you?) – “I don’t know. I’ve been fortunate enough to stay here. I’m just going to give everything I’ve got, and everywhere I’ve been, that’s been what I’ve tried to do.”
Andre Branch – August 1, 2018
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Wednesday, August 1, 2018
DE Andre Branch
(You’re a total team pro, so I wouldn’t think coming off the bench would bother you. But was that a conversation you had with Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke or Defensive Coordinator Kris Kocurek after DE Robert Quinn was acquired?) – “I don’t focus on that. I just focus on getting better each and every day.”
(With the things that you’ve worked through, how does it feel to now be out here and be able to go full speed and do all of the things that you want your body to be able to do?) – “It feels good to be healthy for once again. I played half the season hurt and it just feels good to be back to 100 (percent).”
(What was the dark point for you when you’re having to deal with that and you’re not able to perform like you wanted to? How bad did it get?) – “Watching film and knowing that wasn’t you on the film. I watched film and just bending and being able to push up on my knee, it wasn’t there. But I did everything I could for my team. I don’t regret anything, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to be smart about it.”
(Does it heighten the excitement for you this year knowing you’re back and you get a chance?) – “For sure, for sure. I love this game. The Dolphins want me here. I want to be here. My teammates love me. That’s all I can ask for.”
(How much of an advantage does it give you guys to have five quality defensive ends? That doesn’t even include DE Cameron Malveaux and some of the young guys.) – “It’s great. Those are the types of … the reps, like last year when I had to push through things, I probably would have just been like, I’ll sit this one out. We’ve got five dogs and we’ve got some young boys that are coming along. We’re happy about it, very excited about it and we should be fresher at the end of the season.”
(What can this defense look like?) – “It could be very special. We’ve got to work together. We’ve got a long ways to go, but at the same time, we’re getting better each and every day.”
(How would you describe Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek’s coaching style?) – “Awesome. To be completely honest, I’ve always had those type of coaches. Even going back to Pop Warner. I’ve never had a lackadaisical coach. It’s good. He’s high energy, so you have no choice but to be high energy when you come to practice.”
(When were you first able to really get going physically out on the practice field during this recent offseason? How long did it take until you were able to go full speed again?) – “OTAs. I would say OTAs.”
(OTAs you felt back to your normal self?) – “Yes.”
(Last year, when you were hurting, what’s the point where you say, “I need to take a couple of days off of practice?”) – “It depends on the guy. Some guys play through it. Some guys would have just sat down and just ended their season, but I’ve never been that guy. I never want to let my brothers down and that’s why I pushed through it the way I did.”
(Even like taking a Wednesday off to manage things so you’ll be better on Sunday?) – “I think it’s all about communication with the training staff. You communicate with them, they communicate with the coaches, and the rest will handle itself.”
(DE Cameron Wake said the other day he thinks DE Charles Harris is the most improved player on the team. Are you seeing that?) – “He’s a monster. He’s a monster.”
(So DE Charles Harris is a different guy this year?) – “He’s always had talent. It takes time. He was a rookie coming into a program where he’s expected (to do) a lot. He’s a high draft pick. I’ve been there. There’s a lot of things on your shoulders and you’re young, you have no clue what to do and who to go to; but he’s coming into his own.”
(The heat has been nice, but what’s the trick to staying cool? I see guys with water on their head) – “The heat has been nice for who? (laughter) I just hydrate throughout the whole day and at night, and then in the morning. That’s all you can do. If you don’t hydrate, you’ll see guys backing out. And if you ask them, what did they do? They’ll be like, ‘Well, I didn’t drink enough water, I didn’t eat dinner,’ or something like that. You have to eat, you have to drink. That’s the most important thing.”
Tony Lippett – August 1, 2018
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
CB Tony Lippett
(How are you feeling so far this camp?) – “I’m feeling good. I’m just trying to get better every day and compete.”
(What’s the competition like when you have so many guys back there? It seems like everyone is looking pretty good as a defensive backfield right now.) – “It’s a good competition. We’re all learning from each other. We’re all coming out here and competing every day just trying to get better. That’s it.”
(How close to the level that you were in 2016 do you feel like you are?) – “I’m pretty close. I’m feeling pretty good, feeling back to myself, just trying to every day take it one day at a time and just keep going.”
(I talked to LB Raekwon McMillan. He was telling me that you, QB Ryan Tannehill and him were working out and have even been testing each other on 40 times. You had him a couple of times. Is that the first indication that you’re starting to feel like yourself?) – “Yes. We were grinding for a long time. We were always seeing each other every day, just competing against each other. We were out here conditioning and things like that, so we always just keep the competition, keep competing. That just keeps us going hard and going with each other.”
(How nice is it to keep that competitive edge in the room during the rehab process?) – “It’s always good. You always want to be out here on the field. When you’re not on the field, you can still compete and still get better. That’s what we were just trying to do when we weren’t out here. I feel like we got each other better every day.”
(Do you feel any rust coming back or did you shake it off quick considering…) – “I’m just grinding every day. It is what it is. Just grinding, just getting it in.”
(Does it matter whether it’s first or second team? You’re getting a lot of looks from a lot of guys on the outside too.) – “Yes, I mean right now it really doesn’t matter. I’m just trying to continue to get right every day, just come out here with a positive mindset no matter where I’m at and just play and just keep getting better. It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be trying or whatever it is. Just come out here and get better every day.”
(Sometimes when guys come back from an injury, the injury is in the back of their mind for a little while. Are you still at that point, or is it completely out of your mind when you play?) – “I feel like it’s out of my mind. I don’t think about it. I don’t ever question myself out here because I know the hard work I’ve put in through this whole last year, so I don’t second guess myself out here, not when I’m cutting or running or anything like that – jumping. I don’t second guess myself. I just go.”
Albert Wilson – August 1, 2018
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Wednesday, August 1, 2018
WR Albert Wilson
(What’s it like to see your old high school here?) – “It’s awesome, man. I didn’t have the opportunity when I was in high school to come out here and just see how professional athletes prepare for the game, and with the (first) game being so far away and seeing how concentrated they are. I feel like it’s a great job that they get the high schools out here and just get the opportunity to see it.”
(Does it take you back a little bit to your time at Port St. Lucie High School and thinking of your dreams of being in the NFL one day?) – “Yes, definitely. There are still coaches there that were there when I was there, so to see them out here and see (those coaches) still leading them in the right direction, it’s definitely a good feeling.”
(What do you hope they learn out here or see from you out here?) – “Just how to prepare. Just that their dream is possible; coming from the same high school that I did to come here and play professional football. I hope it gives them a little pep in their step of what they want to accomplish.”
(What’s your best memory of the time you spent at Port St. Lucie High School?) – “I had a lot of good memories, man. Growing up and playing football with your high school friends and childhood friends is great. Just scoring a lot of touchdowns. It was all good going back to Port St. Lucie High School.”
(If you could go back and tell the 14-year-old WR Albert Wilson something, what would you tell him?) – “I feel like at 14, I was pretty straightforward and had my mind made up of playing football. Just don’t doubt yourself. There are a lot of times I doubted myself and (wondered) if this was for me or not. I stayed with it and I found out it was for me. (If I were to) go back then, (I’d) just tell myself don’t doubt myself.”
(You’ve been used in a lot of different spots out here. How much do you enjoy moving from one spot to another?) – “It’s great, just being able to get out there, lined up and grind with my brothers. It’s great.”
(Does it matter where you line up?) – “No, it doesn’t. Whatever they need me to do, I’m down for it. (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase does a great job of getting guys lined up everywhere. He’s a great guy. I fully trust him and have faith in him so I pretty much just listen and get lined up where he needs me to be.”
Cameron Wake – July 30, 2018
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Monday, July 30, 2018
DE Cameron Wake
(I know eating right and healthy is a big part of the way you prepare. This offseason, can you tell us if you had a cheat meal, if any? Pizza?) – “At this point, that stuff that you guys call cheat meals probably would make me sick. I don’t even think of it as a cheat meal. I just have changed my life and this is how I live. I didn’t bring it in here but my food is sitting outside right now and there’s a salad in there, some chicken breasts. What else do I have in there? Some zucchini. It’s just, at this point, it’s a lifestyle. I don’t even look for it anymore.”
(What’s the worst thing you ate? Just like one thing, the worst thing. It might be that you ate lettuce or something, but what is the worst thing? A thing you are ashamed to admit to us.) – “I’m not ashamed. I had some wildebeest. I mean, I don’t know if that’s … I would assume that they’re probably fatty.”
(Did you have a Snickers bar?) – “I’m not a chocolate guy.”
(Turning to football, it seemed as though your pass rush, certainly since the pads have come on, has been maybe what was expected last year. Do you feel like you guys are headed this year to where you wanted to be last?) – “I’d like to hope so. Obviously this game is played with pads and as a defensive guy, when you’re allowed to kind of do everything that you are supposed to do when you play football, it changes the dynamic versus when you have on a t-shirt and shorts. You can’t do a lot of things because it’s kind of frowned upon. But now, you can power guys, you can shake and bull, you can do a lot of different things. So, they’re at a little bit more – they have to do what they’re supposed to do. Like I said, when they’re in t-shirts and shorts, it takes away from some of the things that we can do and it changes the game; but it’s probably a little bit of a learning curve, getting back into it. We’ve been in shorts since April 20-whatever, and the offensive side of the ball, I’m expecting them to pick it up as well. We have some work to do on our side as far as communication and making sure everybody is on the same page, but obviously (Defensive Line Coach Kris) Kocurek is very adamant about getting to the quarterback, and I think we can go out there every day trying to make sure we live up to his standard.”
(Do you have a sense of – speaking of Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek because we’ve heard all along that he likes rotation and waves of defensive linemen – do you get a sense of how much that means for you, how much different this year might be than last year?) – “It’s hard to tell now. I think, again, he’s a guy obviously who takes care of veteran players. He, I would hope, knows more or less what I can do; but at the same time, you have to get ready for games. So, is practice going to be a direct reflection of how it’s going to be on Sunday? Maybe not. When you go out there, you have to go out there and make plays. You expect it to be in the game when situations call for it. But at the same time, you don’t want to unnecessarily beat yourself down if it’s not necessary, especially in days like this. I’m a guy who likes to go out there and get after it. We’ve had many talks and I think we’re on the same page as far as how much is too much and when to tone it down and when to turn it up. But again, it’s always a lot of fun when you have to dial it down versus dial it up.”
(Do you think you need a certain amount of snaps in a game to set up the offensive tackle to find a rhythm and a pulse to the game or do you think that you can do it on any play?) – “You have to be ready when your number is called; but again, I like to be in there to get in the flow. Maybe it’s a play where you do set up a play for later. I don’t think that’s going to be a problem with me and coach. If I want to be in there, I can’t see them saying no. (laughter)”
(When you look at the pass rush, do you ever know coming out of camp if it’s in a good place, or does it take the regular season to know that it’s in a good place?) – “You have a sense. I mean, this is always, especially when you put the pads on, this is football. You play in pads and you can’t hide. I don’t care if it’s running backs, linebackers, DBs. At some point, you’re going to be exposed if you’re that kind of guy. I look in our room and I see guys who, they’re that kind of guy who has the mentality to go in there and throw their nose in the fire. So I don’t think that’s an issue, but at the same time, pass rush is not necessarily an individual effort kind of thing. You need the entire group to work together, and that’s the things that you work on every day, building communication, timing, all of those certain things, because we all have to work together to create one single pass rush. One guy can’t win and say ‘alright, I’m going to take care of it for everybody.’ It doesn’t really work that way. As far as knowing where we are, I know the kind of guys we have, and I know there are no sheep in that room. But at the same time, we have to hunt together as a pack, and that’s what we’re working on today and tomorrow and the day after that.”
(To follow up on your thought, how would you describe how well the defensive line group worked together last season?) – “It’s probably water under the bridge at this point. We didn’t reach the goals we wanted to as a team, so to me, as a d-line, it didn’t matter what we did or didn’t do. There’s probably some teams that had great seasons at d-line and didn’t go where they wanted to, and there’s probably vice versa. I’d rather win together and I don’t focus on that anymore.”
(You’ve spent a little time in the training room. Were you around QB Ryan Tannehill enough to get a sense of his rehab?) – “Are you talking about when I was injured?”
(No, just in this last year.) – “I don’t go in the training room. I stay out of there.”
(Did you have any conversation with QB Ryan Tannehill about it?) – “I’ve spoken with him since he’s been around. I think … If you look at him today and you see the way he’s approached the game, the way he’s been playing and all of the things … I’m out there chasing him every chance I get. Obviously he did what he’s supposed to do. It’s always tough when you’ve got to step away from the game for whatever reason. I know it was probably just as difficult for him as it was for any of us; but I know even speaking to him that he wanted nothing more than to get back on the field and do everything he could to get back on the field. I think now is the time to go and … Like they say, ‘(you) reap what you sow.’ The reaping has begun for him and I’m happy for him.”
(You’ve played with a bunch of different defensive ends lining up on the opposite spot. As you think back, how has … Who has been opposite of you impacted how you are blocked as far as one lineman possibly two? For example, was there much of a difference the year you play opposite of ‘J.T.’ (DE/LB Jason Taylor) then maybe some other years and could that work to your advantage this year if DE Robert Quinn gets back to what he was?) – “I think it’s… In essence, it’s true; but I think the way offenses can kind of scheme up ends is a little different than if it was a three technique or some other variations of pass rushers. I’ve seen all kinds of different looks as far as blocking schemes and chips and guards clearing pockets and things like that; but I think when you have multiple guys – it doesn’t matter if it’s an end or not – if there’s a three technique on the backside whose doing a great job, you have to account for that. However they do it, that’s again, an offensive coordinator’s question. There is probably multiple different ways; but I think to give you a general answer, yes it would be greatly beneficial to everybody involved – me included – to have multiple guys who can cause problems for the offense as far as pass rush goes. There’s only so many guys you can put back there. If they’re double-teaming two guys and the other two guys have to win – whoever that may be – if they’re not, still you’ve got to win.”
(Your first reaction when you heard the DE Robert Quinn pickup? Obviously in his prime, he was a defensive end who had 19 sacks in one year. Your reaction was what?) – (Clapping) “Round of applause. The more help, the more the merrier. I’ve never been one to … I want to win and whatever, however many people we can get that’s going to help that happen, bring them on.”
(Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek is a pretty intense guy on the field. His personality, what’s that like for you guys to deal with in the room? Does he have funny times, or do you enjoy being with him?) – “I personally … I love it. I think it’s a man’s game and there is no room for softness, especially the d-line. This is not quarterbacks, this is not receivers. You’ve got to go in there and put your hands on somebody play in and play out. You’ve got to impose your will play in and play out. If there is any chink in the armor, you’re probably going to get weeded out of that room. He’s a guy that’s old school, hard-nosed. He’s demanding. He doesn’t bite he tongue. He tells you how it is. As a man, you’ve got to be able to take it. I’d rather hear the truth. Sometimes coaches will pat you on the back and go upstairs and tell the upper level guys that ‘He’s terrible.’ Tell me to my face I’m terrible and let me figure out how to fix it. If you can’t take that to your face, then I probably don’t want you in my room anyway.”
(Is Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek’s voice going to make it through camp?) – “No. It’s already taken a hit. He’s going to have to get some tea or some honey or whatever you guys drink. (laughter)”
(Do any of the young d-linemen stand out to you so far?) – “I actually think Charles Harris has probably had the best offseason, not just any d-lineman but probably anybody on our team. He came back in tremendous shape. He’s obviously been working on his strength. He’s been working on his football and it’s showing up on tape. I think that’s definitely going to pay off when it becomes time to put these live bullets in and get after these quarterbacks. He’s made great strides and obviously the more the merrier, I’m happy for it.”
