Bobby McCain – July 30, 2018
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Monday, July 30, 2018
CB Bobby McCain
(That intensity, you pretty much put the pads on, it’s going to come out a little bit. It seems like you and WR Danny Amendola can’t stay out of each other’s grill.) – “One-hundred percent. Like I said, we’ve been going at it for a couple of years now. It’s good, competitive nature. He’s the same guy over there on the offensive side of the ball as I am on the defensive side of the ball – that energy, go get it, try to work hard, be competitive. I’m glad he’s on our side.”
(The best part about it is the fact that WR Danny Amendola dapped you up. After everything was said and done, he came over to you, gave you daps and said ‘Hey, let’s go again. Let’s do it.’) – “One-hundred percent. That’s what we’re about here. We’re not going to hold any grudges. We’re teammates. We’re brothers. We’re going to war each and every day. It’s competitive out here. Like you said, the pads came on. It’s going to get competitive. Like I said, that’s my brother and we’re going to get to it, try to win a championship.”
(The jokes are going to come though when you get into it for the second time.) – “One-hundred percent. I can’t wait to get into the locker room to see what they have to say. (laughter)”
(I think S Minkah Fitzpatrick also got into it. Do you like seeing a rookie not back down from anyone?) – “Yes. Minkah, he’s a good football player. He’s not going to back down either. He’s competitive. Like I said, he has played in some really big games. He knows what it’s about. He’s not scared of the challenge.”
(It’s no coincidence that when WR Danny Amendola goes to line up you’re the first one that jumps up to get out there with him, right?) – “Not at all. Every time.”
(Are there certain matchups where guys are like, ‘I want him?’) – “Yes. Like today, I like to go outside with Kenny (Stills) and get outside. I get my outside reps (with) DeVante (Parker), Kenny and ‘Dola (Danny Amendola). Of course, if ‘Dola is getting up there, I want to be up there.”
(Are you 2-0 against WR Danny Amendola or is it 1-1?) – “It’s 1-1. I’ll be honest with you, it’s 1-1. He got the best of me the first day of one-on-ones. That’s why I came out today and I had my head on right and like I said, my game was tight.”
(You said you and WR Danny Amendola, you told us in the offseason practices you guys are friends now and that you guys are cool. Has that held up through contact and heat and training camp? Still good?) – “One-hundred percent. The pads came on today. Like I said, we’re going to be competitive. We can be best friends, we can be brothers – blood brothers – but we’re still going to be competitive and we’re still going to come out and try to win. He’s going to try to win; I’m going to try to win every day.”
(Speaking of WR Jakeem Grant, he said you guys talk a lot of smack, especially himself and the other wide receivers. They try to get under your guys’ skin. Expound on that a little bit.) – “He’s having a good camp, a good offseason and a good spring. So we try to get in his head a little bit. We call him ‘Mighty Mite.’ He may get a little feisty at times, but he has got a lot of dog in him. That’s what we love about him. He’s got dog in him and I’ve got respect for him.”
(Can you find WR Jakeem Grant in a big scrum like that?) – “No way. There’s no way. He could probably run through your legs if he tried. (laughter)”
(Have you had little rivalries in training camp before like you’ve had with WR Danny Amendola or is this a new level of competition?) – “Yes, me and Jarvis (Landry) used to go at it every day. It’s good, friendly competition. It escalates from time to time. That’s just how it is. We got pads on. We’re all men. Like I said, we’re going to dap up after it’s done and call it what it is.”
(Does that stuff shut off the moment you walk off of the field or is there still maybe a little back and forth in the locker room?) – “No, it’s done. You may give somebody a little something, but it’s just competitive. It’s friendly. It’s nothing. It’s done. When it’s out here, leave it out here. Boom. It’s the next day.”
(Did I see correctly that you were breaking up a fight today?) – “I was. I was trying to, yes. For the first time I think in my life. No, I’m just kidding. (laughter) At the end of the day, we’ve got to finish the practice. Like I said, it’s going to happen. The coaches know it’s going to happen; we know it’s going to happen. We’re coming out and being competitive every day. That’s what we’re about. That’s what this team is about. That’s what this organization wants to bring is coming out and being competitive every day, because if you’ve got guys that are going to be dogs and go out and fight every day and we’ve got a chance.”
(Any chance you hug it out with WR Danny Amendola at the end of this?) – “One-hundred percent. We dapped it up right when we were done. It’s all over with. At the end of the day, we’ll probably come back out … What’s today, Monday? We’ll probably come back out on Wednesday and fight again. (laughter)”
(What’s the best trash talk that WR Danny Amendola has?) – “I’m not sure. I haven’t really felt it yet. I know in the game, we got a couple. But we’re going to keep that to (us). It’s confidential. (laughter)”
Adam Gase – July 30, 2018
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Monday, July 30, 2018
Head Coach Adam Gase
(You guys are in pads today – the first day. Is that symbolic of anything?) – “Not really because the way we practice is the same way we do when we go (with) the uppers. It’s really getting used to carrying all the equipment around and moving around. We have the possibility that we could go live. When we’re in the bubble, it’s really not ideal for us. We’d rather be on the grass when we do that.”
(Going into the bubble, was that a little bit of a downer?) – “There’s nothing we can do. The more we can stay outside, the better.”
(What is it about that bubble that seems to get the juices flowing?) – “Because it’s not 113 degrees in the heat index. (laughter) Guys are not going to get as tired in there as they would outside. The heat drains them and that’s when you usually don’t see too many tie ups and things like that. Everybody is conserving energy for the next play. When you get in there, guys get riled up and it’s festive.”
(When you guys signed WR Albert Wilson in the offseason, you came to the agreement with WR Danny Amendola the next day. What did you tell Albert about the situation he was coming into in regards to Danny also coming?) – “Well, I mean they play different positions. When you have four guys like that, usually it works out the right way to where everybody is getting on the field, getting touches. We’ve really been working on developing the right plan for Albert, because he does have a larger skillset that most receivers have. He did a lot in Kansas City. If you go back and watch his college stuff, he did everything. We’re going to keep working on finding the exact … what his role is going to be and I think that’ll develop over the duration of August. Once we figure that out – how this rotation is going to go – and when we’re going to get what group in there.”
(With WR Isaiah Ford, where is he in his development as a slot receiver?) – “I think he’s done really well from when we started that first spring. He made a huge jump in training camp and then he gets injured. I think he did a good job of staying on all the little details while he wasn’t playing. This spring, he came back. He had more knowledge than what he had before, so he was able to play faster. He had a better understating of really how to get open in that position, how to use the defense’s leverage against him and made a lot of plays in the spring. Now you see him and he’s making plays. We need to keep working on strengthening certain body parts and keeping him healthy. He’s had a little bit of bad luck. It seems like he gets fallen on the wrong way sometimes when those deeper routes, some of those linebackers kind of landing on him. But he’s tough. He keeps going back out there. He wants to be a part of it and he wants to do it right.”
(You see WR Albert Wilson as an outside receiver not a slot?) – “Yes. He’s not a slot. That’s the funny part. Nobody understands. That’s a little frustrating.”
(I don’t understand.) – “He’s an outside guy. When you play inside, it’s a different animal. You’ve got to have a special knack for it.”
(You’ve been through a lot of training camps. How do you know what’s real – the pass rush or the deep balls or a defensive end – how do you what to believe?) – “Sometimes you can tell on tape of there is a good chance he got this off or he wouldn’t. Really, when you got the receiver and DB going, you can tell. It’s pretty clear what’s going on. The o-line/d-line battle, that’s always the one you question. Really, it’s when you get into games, that’s when you really find out the answer.”
(That said, how would you describe what you saw from your defensive lineman today?) – “I feel like they’re doing the same thing every day that they’ve been out there. They’re attacking. There’s great penetration. They’re coming off the edge with … The get off is remarkable. I think (Defensive Line Coach) Kris (Kocurek) has done a really good job of getting those guys … For how hard they work in individual, you wouldn’t be able to tell what they do in individual and then they transfer to team drills, because those guys just bring it. How they pursue the ball, get back to the line of scrimmage, go to the next play, there’s a lot of energy exerted on one play and they just move on to the next one. He has developed those guys. That’s a tough group. They’re really trending in the right direction.”
(QB Ryan Tannehill was talking today about turning 30 and saying it feels like he’s 25. Do you see him as a late bloomer?) – “I don’t know. I mean he has had good seasons in the past. I don’t even know how many times he has thrown for 4,000 yards. It seems like before I got here there were a lot of positives that were going on. I thought he did a good job in 2016 and put us in position to win games. He figured out what was best for us and how to manage the offense and play complementary football with the defense. Last year, we thought we were heading in the right direction and then we lose him for the season. Now, he seems to keep getting better. I guess I look at 30 now and it doesn’t seem – for quarterbacks – it doesn’t … How many guys to we have that are 39, 40 and they’re MVPs of the league?”
(The last two days you’ve worked with the wide receivers. What’s that like for you and how does it help?) – “I don’t know. Every once in a while I just try to get involved somewhere. For the most part, I try to stay away and let guys do their job; but every once in a while, it’s fun for me to go over there. It’s kind of where I got my start in Denver and I always enjoyed that and can talk a little bit to those guys and try to get them going and gas them up a little bit. I don’t know. It’s fun to do it.”
(It looks like WR Albert Wilson may have popped you trying to break away one time.) – “No, he tried to. It didn’t work.”
(Do you need a backup slot behind WR Danny Amendola who is not named WR Albert Wilson?) – “Why are you so stuck on this? (laughter)”
(Didn’t WR Albert Wilson play slot for KC?) – “He played all over the place. He was everywhere. He played outside. He played inside. He played running back. He did a lot of stuff. It’s not that he can’t play slot. He’s really good outside.”
(But you don’t see WR Albert Wilson as a slot?) – “It’s a different spot for our offense.”
(What do you like about WR Albert Wilson out there?) – “I like his speed (and) the way he releases. He’s strong. When you give him locked routes and say, ‘This is what you’re going with,’ he’s good to go with it. He’s the one guy that’s trying to learn all the ins and outs of the offense.”
(What have you learned about CB Xavien Howard over the last week?) – “I think he’s coming along just really on pace with what he did first year to second year. Going to this year, you see his confidence is way up. He challenges everything. He’s aggressive when he’s pressing. I think him going against those receivers, it pays off, because those guys they can be tough and he’s not afraid to get physical with them. I think him and DeVante (Parker) have some really good battles, because it really gets physical between those two guys. It seems like his ability to track the ball, he keeps finding ways to get better in that area. He’s in on a lot of plays.”
(It’s well documented that you’re an offensive guy. We know you have no problem talking smack to the defense. Do you notice when guys emulate your style on the offense talking smack to the defense will all the altercations that happened today?) – “I don’t know. Does anybody talk…”
DE Cameron Wake:
“No. They know better than to do some stuff like that. (laughter)”
Head Coach Adam Gase:
“I think they pick their battles. I think some guys … Everybody has a different personality. For me, I don’t get a lot of interaction with the defensive guys until we get to practice. I don’t always start it. I’m just reacting sometimes. (laughter)”
(Do you like what you’ve seen, like the intensity of WR Danny Amendola going against CB Bobby McCain? Is that a good thing?) – “That’s fun to watch. They’re making each other better, because they compete every snap. Really, that’s what we’re looking for (with) those outside guys and the inside guys. We’re looking for those guys to compete and they’ll find … One guy might have a really good day one day. Bobby is going to come back the next day if Danny had a good day. We just keep seeing a back and forth there.”
Ryan Tannehill – July 30, 2018
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Monday, July 30, 2018
QB Ryan Tannehill
(What is your son, Steel Tannehill, looking like in terms of position?) – “Right now he’s the fun assistant. I don’t know what position he is. He’s the fun assistant, yes.”
(It was scrappy today. Do you like seeing that from some of your receivers like WR Jakeem Grant and WR Danny Amendola?) – “Yes, I mean there’s good and bad to it. You see the fire that some of our guys have and the passion we play with and you love seeing that aspect. You love seeing the competitiveness, the desire to win. You don’t really want to take away from practice and be a distraction and slow down, take away from the greater good. So there’s a fine line. There’s a fine line between going all out and then being a distraction and taking away from what we’re trying to accomplish. On one hand, I love to see it. I love to see the fire that our guys have. On the other hand, it takes away from us a little bit.”
(As a leader, do you kind of express that opinion a little bit when you get back to the locker room?) – “We’ve already addressed it. We addressed it after practice with our offensive guys. They’re on board. It’s a competitive sport. It’s an emotional sport. When you’re going against the same guys day in and day out, little things start to build up and become bigger than what they really are; but that’s just the nature of the business whenever you’re facing the same guy play in, play out, day in, day out. But I like what I see from our guys as far as the fire.”
(Can you give us a couple of examples of things that have pleasantly surprised you with your offensive weapons the last three months whether it’s the rookies or RB Frank Gore’s speed or one of the new receivers. What couple of things come to mind?) – “It’s tough to say. They’ve been good all around for us. Albert (Wilson) has picked up the offense really quickly, as well as Danny (Amendola). It really kind of surprised me how well they just kind of dropped in and got on board with exactly what we were trying to do. It’s not perfect, but no one is. And just the fact that they kind of jumped right in and haven’t really missed a beat has been huge for us. You see the kind of weapons we have in the first and second units right now. There’s really not too many loopholes in there. As far as other guys, Frank, it really surprised me how hard he hits the hole. When he runs downhill, he puts his foot in the ground and he goes. You see it on the tape, but to see it in person, you see a crease that’s a foot wide, barely able to get a helmet through there and somehow he fits his whole body through there and is off to the next level. That’s probably been the most fun thing for me as far as just seeing him put his foot on the ground and go downhill and find a way to get through a crease where it looks like a human being can’t fit.”
(Any early observations at tight end? How ready TE Mike Gesicki looks? What you’re getting from some of the other guys?) – “Gesicki is coming on for us. He’s young; he’s learning. He’s hungry to learn. He has incredible range, and that’s one thing that’s struck me from him so far is just his range. If you put a ball … (he has a) huge radius. He’s got a huge catch radius. If you put a ball anywhere near him, he has the ability to either jump and get it or reach out and get it. One way or the other, he’s going to get his hands on it. That’s been very impressive so far.”
(Obviously you’re not to be touched but when these things are going on, do you ever talk a little smack out as well because guys say they talk a lot of smack. Do you, as a quarterback in the league, do you talk a little bit?) – “Yes, I like to mix it up a little bit. You can’t say too … I don’t really go into the fisticuffs. I don’t go in there throwing hands or anything, but yes, especially with Bobby (McCain). I like to talk a lot of noise with Bobby just because Bobby never shuts up. I like to give it back to him as much as I can.”
(So you expect what’s going on with CB Bobby McCain and WR Danny Amendola?) – “Yes, those guys have a good competitive fire to them. Right after the little scuffle, they went up and dapped it up. That’s just kind of the competitive fire both of those guys have, as well as the professionalism of, ‘Hey, we’re competing. It’s over and we’re ready for the next play.’”
(As far as the back and forth, was it annoying to have to do those push-ups after the one-on-one drills?) – “Yes. I mean ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) made a great play on that one-on-one we had. We had DeVante (Parker) on a takeoff. I thought he did a good job of getting back to the red line. I thought I threw a good ball on the outside, and ‘X’ elevated and got his long arm on the ball. I have to give my hat off to ‘X’ right there for making a good play.”
(You said you talk a lot to CB Bobby McCain. What’s your go-to line to Bobby?) – “It’s never one line. It’s all mixing it up. Whatever the situation is.”
(S T.J. McDonald said that CB Xavien Howard is a lock-down cornerback. Going against him, what are your thoughts?) – “He’s had a good camp so far. He’s physical. He’s long. He’s tall. He has a good feel for when to get his head back to get a hand on the ball. He’s playing well for us so far.”
(Quick thoughts on TE Durham Smythe? We’ve seen him show some receiving ability. He didn’t get a lot of chances at Notre Dame. And RB Kalen Ballage, your impressions of him?) – “With Durham, he’s had a strong start to camp. (Offensive Coordinator) Dowell (Loggains) has pointed out a couple of times to me just his improvement in blocking – his soundness and his fundamentals and how he is improving in blocking. That’s going to be huge for us as we move forward. He just needs to keep improving on that. Yesterday he had a pass route where he got off the ball and was running and flashed. You don’t think of him as a burner or a speed guy, but he got off the ball and was moving. In the quarterback room, we kind of noticed like, ‘Wow, he’s moving on this rep.’ You kind of think of him maybe as more of a blocker, but he does have the speed and athleticism to help us in the passing game as well. Kalen, he’s been good. He’s coming on. He’s a big, strong, physical guy. He runs really hard. We’re moving him around a lot. It’s hard on him right now because we’re moving him out in the pass game. We have him in the backfield in protection and the run game. There’s a lot on his plate right now, but he’s doing a good job of learning and applying himself.”
(How do you feel physically overall five days into camp?) – “I feel great. I feel great. I was telling somebody the other day, I feel like I’m 25, but 30 just sounds old.”
(So you feel soreness, but good soreness? What’s it like for the quarterback?) – “I’m not even really sore. I came in pushing myself in the offseason, throwing a lot, getting ready to go. I was actually pleasantly surprised. Day 2, I came out here and I was kind of expecting a little arm soreness just with the increased load. It’s one of those where you expect to be sore or a little tight and it’s not, you’re like, ‘Oh, all right, good. It’s been good so far.’ Hopefully, I hope to keep it that way as we move forward and the load increases even more; but I feel great so far.”
(After turning 30, where do you think that places you in your career arc?) – “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m just trying to get better. I feel like I have a lot of good football left in front of me and just want to be the best I can this year and we’ll focus on what’s after that then.”
(Did you work with WR Isaiah Ford during when you were battling to come back? Did you guys work together during the rehab process at all?) – “Yes. It was nice to have Isaiah. Unfortunately, he was coming off an injury as well. He was the one guy I could kind of throw to during the rehab process and be within the rules. We had a lot of time together, a lot of good reps and I think it’s showing so far. He’s a talented guy, he’s able to make plays on the ball and he’s doing a good job so far in camp of showing that.”
Albert Wilson – July 30, 2018
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Monday, July 30, 2018
WR Albert Wilson
(On who called him before he signed with the Dolphins.) – “I believe it was (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase. He just expressed how much he can use me, how valuable I will be to the team. Yes, it was Coach.”
(Your yards per catch on balls thrown at or behind the line of scrimmage was insane last year. You would attribute that to what? What skills allow you to make something out of plays at or behind the line of scrimmage?) – “Just pretty much playing running back all of my life. Just being able to get the ball out there and get a couple of blockers in front of me and let me work in space.”
(You knew coming here you might not necessarily start, obviously with WR Kenny Stills, WR DeVante Parker and then WR Danny Amendola signed like a day after you. Did that enter your thinking at all or did that make no difference whatsoever to you?) – “Not at all. I’ve been working very hard on my craft. Coach (Gase) knows well what I can do. I have faith in him, as he has faith in me and I believe everybody is going to do well in this offense.”
(The way you look at it, do you expect all of you guys to play a lot?) – “Oh, definitely. I think we’re all going to get our part. I think it’s going to be an exciting offense to watch. I think everybody is going to have their week and that’s the great thing about Coach Gase. He did a great job getting players that he can use every weekend and we’ve just been working hard to do that.”
(Are you getting a wide range of different opportunities and different ways to be used? Is that stimulating to you?) – “Oh, yes; and it’s fun. You kind of sit there and think that you can do all these things and for them to give you an opportunity to do it, it’s a blessing.”
(Head Coach Adam Gase was lined up against the receivers yesterday and again today. It looked like you even got a pop on his face in there. What’s it like having a head coach out there being that active?) – “It’s awesome. A big thing he brings to the table is energy. He wants to show … not only just tell us to bring energy, but he’s bringing energy for us. So when he gets out there and in those drills and give us a chance to work and tell us exactly what he wants, it’s a great learning lesson.”
(Was it pretty much a given that the intensity would pick up today with it being the first day in full pads?) – “Definitely. Just playing football all your life, you never go out there Day 1 with pads on. You do everything you can to lead up to that day and once you get the pads on, it’s everything.”
(What’s been the breakdown for you so far as far as snaps in the slot compared to the outside?) – “I think it’s pretty even. I’ve been lining up pretty much everywhere. It’s been a balance thing. They’re not pushing me to do everything at once. They’re kind of easing me into things and it’s a great lesson.”
(You’re more effective where? I know you can do both but do you think you’re more effective in the slot or on the outside?) – “It depends on matchups. I can get them in the slot and work in a lot of space or I can get out there on those bigger corners and use my quickness and get open out there. (Coach Gase is) doing a great job of using me everywhere.”
Isaiah Ford – July 30, 2018
Monday, July 30, 2018
WR Isaiah Ford
(What about the pass where you fell on the football?) – “It felt okay. It’s football, so you’re going to be a little sore, especially since … I was just talking with the guys and tell them that it’s my first time being in pads in over a year and a half. Just looking at that and seeing how far I’ve come, it’s a blessing. I’m a little sore, but I’m okay.”
(What was it like to get back into these pads?) – “It was a long time coming. I worked extremely hard trying to get myself healthy, doing the things I need to do to be available and to be out there and just showcase what I can do. I give a lot of props to the training staff and the strength and conditioning staff for helping me get there.”
(As far as coming in as a draft pick and sitting out last year, how tough was it overall for you?) – “It was extremely tough. You always want to be out there. That’s why you play this sport: to compete and to help your team win. So when I wasn’t able to do that, it was a little tough; but I got to learn a lot through it. I got to sit in on meetings and watch film and things like that. It was kind of a redshirt year, so to speak, just to learn the system and to understand what the coaches are expecting.”
(So far, you’ve made a pretty good impact. We’ve seen you in the end zone a couple of times. How nice is it to step out here and have that success right away?) – “It’s good. It’s what you expect to do at this point. I work really hard on my craft and I pride myself on working hard and knowing what to do and making the plays when they present themselves. That’s all I’m trying to do.”
Cordrea Tankersley – July 29, 2018
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Sunday, July 29, 2018
CB Cordrea Tankersley
(What are your thoughts on training camp so far?) – “I think everything’s starting real good. (We’re) being very consistent and getting better each and every day.”
(How would you describe the battle at cornerback? We saw CB Torry McTyer getting reps with the first team yesterday and then you’ve got you and CB Tony Lippett.) – “They’re all well-deserved reps. Everybody is just going in there and competing, trying to get better. As far as Torry getting first-team reps, it’s well-deserved.”
(How much do you think that brings up everybody’s level, that kind of battle?) – “I mean, you shouldn’t need more competition for you to come out here and do your job; but it’s just extra motivation to know that they want competition and they want everybody to come out here and compete. So it just is what it is.”
(What have you or the coaches identified as the main area you need to get better at this offseason?) – “Just be consistent. Just to become an elite cornerback that they wanted me to be.”
(Have you had any hope or expectation of just getting the job back automatically this year since you did start, or this doesn’t surprise you at all that they’ve opened it wide open?) – “It doesn’t surprise me at all. I’ve been battling all my life. This is just another day in the office. It is what it is. Like I said, we’re just going to compete. We’re just going to duke it out.”
(Have they told you that you’ll basically alternate first-team snaps among the three of you essentially? Have they given you any direction as to what days you’ll be with the first group mostly?) – “We have a rep chart. We don’t call it a depth chart. We call it a rep chart. However he puts it up there, we just go as we see.”
(So it was you primarily today with the ones?) – “Yes. I mainly most of the time go with the ones.”
(And tomorrow it will be Tony Lippett? Has it been laid out?) – “I have no idea. We just play it by ear.”
(How good do you think the secondary can be?) – “I think we can be very special. I think we can be one of the top ones in the league. We just have to keep competing, like I said, and just go out there and battle each other and go up against these good receivers that we have out here.”
Bo Hardegree – July 29, 2018
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Sunday, July 29, 2018
Quarterbacks Coach Bo Hardegree
(How does the position look? Is QB Ryan Tannehill looking back the way you wanted at the start of camp?) – “Absolutely. Yes, he’s strong. The communication, he’s in and out of the huddle, he’s getting guys on the same page, he’s operating fast, he’s seeing things quicker. It’s been fun to watch and fun to coach.”
(Do you like QB Ryan Tannehill’s movement, what he’s been able to do within the pocket and getting outside as well?) – “I do. I don’t see any limitations at all. I feel perfectly fine with where he’s at.”
(It seems like the competition is heating up daily between QB David Fales and QB Brock Osweiler. What have you seen out of those guys, as well as QB Bryce Petty?) – “Yes, Bryce too. I think they did a really good job of taking this summer and hitting the books. They came in early as we reported (to camp). They came in and we were able to detail a lot of things. That way we could come out and really just play fast and begin where we took off right there at the end of spring. As far as those three, I think we’re getting them different reps with different groups, and they’ve had some really good stuff these first couple of days.”
(I noticed that a lot. Is that a big part of your practice plan, trying to get guys working with everybody so you can evaluate evenly?) – “Absolutely. That’s what we’ve been doing because there was a lot of different groups and they’ll play with a lot of different guys in games when we come out, when the ones come out. They’re going to get opportunities with all of these receivers, all of the tight ends and different running backs. Everybody can hear how they call a play in the huddle, how they sound at the line of scrimmage, how they throw the ball. That way they can get a little bit of timing before we get to that first preseason game.”
(Have you liked the tempo that you guys have been trying to install?) – “Absolutely. It gives the quarterback, when he gets to the line of scrimmage, to really survey the defense, do what he’s got to do with his checks, his protection calls, know where to go with the ball and the coverage. It gives him a lot of command at the line of scrimmage.”
Jerome Baker – July 29, 2018
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Sunday, July 29, 2018
LB Jerome Baker
(How are the first few days of camp going for you?) – “It’s going great. The weather is beautiful. It’s very hot; but we’re working hard, getting better and it’s definitely been a fun time.”
(What’s been the biggest adjustment out here?) – “The heat. That’s pretty much it. Football is football. It’s going to handle itself, but the heat is something you’ve really got to get used to.”
(What’s been a point of emphasis, a specific point of emphasis for you in the preseason practices as we get into the preseason?) – “Every day I just get one thing to work on. Today it was my eyes. Yesterday it was just getting to the ball no matter where it’s at on the field. The day before was my feet, keeping my feet clean. Every day I kind of focus on one thing to get better at and kind of improve every day.”
(Tell me a little bit about the eyes. Take me into the game a little bit. What does a linebacker that plays the position you do need to keep in mind?) – “Just focus on you keys. Sometimes it’s the tackle, sometimes it’s the end. You really just have to focus on the keys. If you focus on your keys, you play faster and I’m a little faster than most linebackers so my speed kind of catches up on it even faster. Just focusing on my keys allows me to play faster.”
(How do you work on your eyes while you’re out there?) – “You kind of just study. First, you’ve got to know what you’re looking at. After camp, you have to put in that work to work on things you really have to look at. Really, it’s a lot of little things and different formations, different coverages you look at. You’ve got to know what you’re looking at to actually do it.”
(Have you been able to pick up anything form the veteran guys before you hit he field that helps you with identification?) – “Yes. So Kiko (Alonso), I sit right next to him. In the middle of the meetings, I’m asking him questions and getting in his brain. ‘T.G.’ (Terence Garvin), he kind of helps me with the every day focus on one thing. Today it was my eyes. He kind of said it to work on my eyes today. They definitely give me different advice and different things to work on and I’m just taking it all in.”
(Do you think you’ve built up a little bit form OTAs for the first four days of training camp that’s helped you move along a little bit faster?) – “Yes, definitely. It’s a credit to all of the older guys. They’re definitely teaching me a lot. Even when I feel like I’m right, they tell me what I could’ve worked on. They definitely help me in a lot of ways.”
(We saw you make a couple of really nice plays on Thursday. What sort of feedback overall have you gotten from coaches?) – “Just keep going, just keep going. It’s Day 2, Day 3. That’s nothing. You’ve really got to focus when it’s Day 5, Day 6 and Day 7. The heat gets to you and you kind of get bored of the camp feel. That’s what you’ve really got to focus on. The first two days, it’s all fun and everybody has energy; but this is the time to grind and get better.”
