Mike McDaniel – January 7, 2024 (Postgame)
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Sunday, January 7, 2024
Postgame – Buffalo
Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Q. Sometimes you have to do things the hard way. Saturday you all will have to face Kansas City. How quickly do you shift gears from division championship game to prepare for the tournament?
MIKE MCDANIEL: Yeah, it’s a new season. We have to – as hard as it is, that’s part of the reason why you have so much joy in the game, is when you come out the right side there is nothing like it. Then the polar opposite, when you let opportunities go by the wayside, it just completely absorbs you. We don’t have time to sulk. This is what happens in football against a very good team. Our team really, really wanted it bad, but wanting, you’ve still got to do the things in football to come out victorious; we didn’t. So I’m very confident that our players and coaches will turn their attention full bore to Kansas City, because that’s all we can do. This is a feeling that I can’t console or fix it with the team. It hurts; it should. We lost a game that we think we’re capable of winning. Hats off to the Buffalo Bills for coming in here and winning the game. But yeah, we’ll focus immediately on Kansas City because that’s the only way you can really get through something like this.
Q. The offense only totaled 57 yards, I think three first downs in the second half. What went wrong for that unit in the second half?
MIKE MCDANIEL: Yeah, they did much better than we did, across the board. It was very disappointing, starting with – I always look at myself. Then we had some things that possibly could have been there, that self-inflicted wounds or we didn’t play the same type of throwing-catching-blocking as we normally do. Yeah, very disappointing, and we got out-executed substantially.
Q. What happened on the last play, the interception that was intended for Claypool? Why was Tyreek not in the game at that point?
MIKE MCDANIEL: Well, the play before, he got hit. I mean he got hit pretty good. I was just pumped that he got up. So then we had a concept kind of for the coverage. Taylor Rapp was a little further outside of Chase Claypool than I think Tua recognized, and between Tua and Chase they didn’t connect. That’s a hard play to make that I could have put them in better position to do it. You win as a team. You have all these successes as an offense, as a group, and then when you fail, then you fail as a group. So they out-executed us for sure.
Q. How much carryover is there from the first Kansas City game or how much do you anticipate there will be from the first Kansas City game?
MIKE MCDANIEL: Yeah, I think the Kansas City Chiefs play their style of defense. I think there will be a fair amount, but things change during the season. Different players come in. There are injuries. There is evolution to what you’re doing. So it’s not like it’s ever the exact same thing when you play someone in the middle of the season and play them in the postseason. It’s the same starting point, but both teams are going to be competing to get a playoff win. There are usually some bells and whistles attached to the scheme and game plan so you got to be ready for a lot.
Q. I know it’s always next-man-up, but two more edge defenders go down in this game. That’s a lot of attrition for one position group.
MIKE MCDANIEL: Yeah, it is. I think the guys did a very good job during the game handling all that. Guys stepped up. I thought limiting that team to 14 points from a defensive perspective and the stuff that was done in the red zone and the turnovers, I think that speaks to how it’s a whole unit. There’s definitely nobody in the locker room or on the other side of the ball that’s blinking. That’s kind of been what we’ve hung our hat on the whole season. There are different sorts of injuries, but I don’t think people use that as an excuse towards their confidence. There are just different things you can feature. So it’ll be a challenge, but that is what the National Football League is. It’s a challenge.
Q. Are there early indications on Van Ginkel and Cameron Goode?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I have to find more out tomorrow with Van Ginkel. Cam Goode, it doesn’t appear promising.
Q. How close were Mostert and Waddle to playing, and would you anticipate you’ll have both on Saturday night?
MIKE MCDANIEL: Yeah, I’m optimistic for both those guys. They were pretty close, but both situations actually that would be very, very vulnerable to that being their last game if they would’ve played as vulnerable as they could have played for how long and what setbacks could incur. That’s kind of where we had to put our foot down. So optimistic for them next week, but they were gung-ho trying to this week. It just didn’t work out.
Q. Back-to-back weeks now Tua has thrown multiple interceptions. What do you need to see from him over the next week and then in Kansas City?
MIKE MCDANIEL: We need to not turn the ball over and still be able to be aggressive while doing that. I think that’s the name of the game of every quarterback, and that’s what Tua does. If there is a player that I’m very confident in how they handle things that maybe don’t go their exact way, you want to talk about a tough minded individual, that’s what Tua is. He’ll be harder on himself than he needs to be, but that’s what you want from your quarterback. He takes full accountability. I know he’s pretty frustrated, but I look forward to him being able to get back out there and righting some wrongs. It’s definitely not all on him at all. It’s not even close to that. Very fortunate for his play. He puts us in position to win, but there are times where he knows he can do better, and that’s what he’ll have to do moving forward.
Q. A month ago this team was the AFC No. 1 seed; you’ve had four of the last five games at home. From your perspective, why is this team now in a position where they have to go on the road instead of hosting?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I think that that is a very fair question. I think it’s very frustrating to all parties involved that care about the Dolphins, whether you’re a Dolphins player, support staff, coaches, fans. That’s something we can – I’ll have more of a concrete answer when the season ends, but the season hasn’t ended. Right now we’re 100 percent moving forward to the next game, which we did earn. Hindsight is 20/20 and there are a lot of different things we will evaluate because that is extremely disappointing. But I think that’s part of the National Football League, is if you give up an inch, you’ll be punished for it. We didn’t take care of the games we really needed to and that’s what happens. It’s a very competitive conference. You know, you needed 12 wins, not 11 and that’s what it is. But we have an opportunity to play football together. This team grew much closer in this last week. I was very proud of how they responded in terms of how they attacked this game and how they prepared and how they practiced. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough. We have to go on the road to get right so that’s what we’re 100 percent of our focus and effort will be doing.
Q. What did you see on the punt return? It seemed like a real turning point in the game.
MIKE MCDANIEL: Yeah, it was unfortunate. It looked like we had an opportunity to pin them back and I’ll to have look at the tape again, but we had an opportunity to pin them back and it turned at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Yeah, that was a huge momentum swing that hurt us, that the defense had done such a good job keeping them from scoring points. Points were at premium at that point in the game, so it was a gut punch for sure. I feel like we had – I don’t know the exact player that had a shot at the very beginning of the play but that was probably our best shot and then looked like they won the matchup game after that. So big point in the game that we’re going to look closely at.
Q. When you talk about narratives, you guys now are 1-5 against teams with winning records. Your players have social media. We are going to be asking them about it. How do you keep them out of that mindset, out of that funk, out of thinking about that?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I don’t think it’s a funk. I think it’s reality. I’ve said time and time again, I get out in front of narratives because you know they’re going to exist because it’s reactionary. If you lose to two good teams down the stretch you leave yourself vulnerable to say you can’t beat good teams, which will be the case until you do. My opinion on winning football games against records that aren’t above .500, it’s irrelevant. That narrative will occur until you do things to change it. I don’t get very mad at it or anything. I just let them know that’s coming, and so when they hear it they’re like, of course, because that’s what it will be until you do something about it.
Q. You had 218 yards in the first half; 13 first downs. A lot seemed to be going right offensively. Then three three-and-outs in the second half. Did they do anything differently?
MIKE MCDANIEL: No, it didn’t necessarily surprise me. They played some more single safety to stop the run, which we were kind of anticipating. Then it was just herky-jerky when you have some – we had two different penalties and then we just had misfires. There was an incompletion that was a throw issue. There was a drop. It seemed like take a turn each drive. We weren’t able to really get the momentum of the drive going, which is what happens when myself as a play caller decides to pass, anticipating that we have an advantageous look. I think at this point in the season you have to trust a lot of things and it didn’t work out. It goes really to the whole group because we were running the ball well. They changed their box count which wasn’t like they changed defenses. They just called more eight-man front and you have to be able to adjust with the defense and make plays in all phases, and we were unable to do that tonight.
Q. Thoughts on Josh Allen’s game? Took over toward the end but some turnovers early.
MIKE MCDANIEL: Yeah, he’s a great player and he did some big things down the stretch of the game in terms of third-down conversions specifically. I thought the defense did a great job containing him for – I think he made his money on keeping the offense out on the field and earning long drives with some third down plays that were – there are not many people that do some of the things he does. He played like he usually plays.
Q. 27 snaps tonight for Jevon. Did he suffer any setbacks in the game that made you dial back his snap, or was that – did that all tie into him being downgraded?
MIKE MCDANIEL: No. Like he’s been battling for a while. We’re trying to keep him involved without having him have more setbacks. I think he was battling through it tonight for sure. I think a lot of guys are at this stretch of the season. What he’s been working back from was not the easiest, and he’s been diligent about it. So hopefully tomorrow upon review when he sees our trainers, there hasn’t been any setbacks. If there were any tonight I’m not aware of them.
Terron Armstead – January 7, 2024 (Postgame)
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Sunday, January 7, 2024
Postgame – Buffalo
Miami Dolphins T Terron Armstead
Q. What were some of the things that led to the offensive inefficiencies in the second half?
TERRON ARMSTEAD: I think Buffalo did a good job possessing the ball, especially that third quarter. I think we had three plays that third quarter just off the top of my head. Just weren’t able to get first downs and sustain drives to get more plays, more reps, more opportunities. That’s pretty much it from just my initial thought.
Q. A month ago you guys were the AFC’s number one seed. After this loss, you guys are heading on the road to face Kansas City. Can you put into words what type of missed opportunity this was in the final month of the year to maybe get home field, win the division, instead you’re on the road?
TERRON ARMSTEAD: No, it’s tough, it’s tough. Definitely a missed opportunity. Nothing like playing at home in the playoffs, but here we go. Here we go. We can’t dwell on what has happened. We’re the six seed. We got to go play Kansas City, let’s go. Let’s go do it. Let’s make it happen. We go up there and get a big win against the defending champs, on to the next.
Q. I know you guys have internal confidence in yourself, but given some of the struggles you’ve had on the road, why should the maybe be outside confidence that you guys can go on road?
TERRON ARMSTEAD: Yeah, they don’t have to. They don’t have to. We going to ride with the men in this room and put our best foot forward. We’re going to go to work all week in preparation, go out there Saturday night and play our best brand of football.
Q. I think your longest drive time was 2:14 in the second half. Is it also demoralizing coming off the field and seeing the defense out there for five, six minutes at time? And then also the next one after that is how confident were you when you got the ball just under two minutes and now you had a chance, because you’ve done that before and did it against Dallas.
TERRON ARMSTEAD: Yeah, yeah, it’s not complementary. Short drive and they sustain a long drive. Our defense is out there fighting and scratching and clawing. That’s on us to sustain, convert on third downs, and keep drives going. Second part of the question?
Q. When you got on the field with just under two minutes to go…
TERRON ARMSTEAD: Oh, the confidence.
Q. Yeah, were you confident you could do it? You did it against Dallas.
TERRON ARMSTEAD: Yeah, that’s the thing. We never waver. We never felt like they stopped us. That’s the tough part about tonight. We never felt like they just stopped us. We had some missed opportunities. I, myself, had a terrible false start and I feel like I screwed the team. We lost momentum after that. It just kind of sucked the energy – not necessarily sucked the energy – but just a very bad penalty to take that five-yard loss. So man, I completely screwed the team right there, and it was hard for us to get back on track after that. I take full accountability for that.
Q. There will be a lot of people who go after Tua in the national media this week. He’s going to take some criticism. What would you say in his defense after this game?
TERRON ARMSTEAD: I don’t have to defend ‘1’ (Tua Tagovailoa). I got to protect ‘1’. He’s a confident guy. He’s locked in, on a mission, a goal. We have all the faith in the world in him. We believe in him. He’s incredible. He’s amazing. The criticism, the media are going to write their – you guys got a job to do – you’re going to write your reports, make your stories and narratives. We got a job to do, too. We got to come in, prepare, and go get a big win on the road. I know ‘1’. He’s going to be locked in. He’s hungry to win. He is the leader of this team. So we’ll be ready.
Q. It is supposed to be really cold in Kansas City, like single digits.
TERRON ARMSTEAD: Yeah.
Q. This team has only seen like 40 degree type weather this season. What do you think about going over there in that type of environment?
TERRON ARMSTEAD: Part of playoff football, you know. Part of playoff football. You go to outdoor stadiums everywhere in January, February, it’s going to be on the colder side. These NFL stadiums, heated benches, heaters on the sideline. The weather don’t really affect the guys as much as people think.
Tua Tagovailoa – January 7, 2024 (Postgame)
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Sunday, January 7, 2024
Postgame – Buffalo
Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
Q. Last drive, last interception, what did you see on the play?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: They played two-man. Tried to anticipate the throw and throw and that was the result.
Q. How long will you all reflect on this game? I know you all shift to face Kansas City on Saturday, but how long do you all reflect on this and just try to wipe it out and therefore just turn it?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Well, we’re going to have to come in tomorrow, we’re going to have to watch the film, see things we can get corrected and then move on. It’s a short week. We know that and it’s going to be a tough road game for us.
Q. What was it in the second half that was so different? You guys didn’t have the opportunities, the time of possession was in their favor, penalty? What was going on? The drives were slower…
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think when you say opportunities that we didn’t have, I think we did have opportunities. We just didn’t make the best out of those opportunities when we had them. Missed throw, miscommunication on some plays. You just can’t do that. Yeah, you can’t do that.
Q. How did the absence of the run game in the second half maybe throw you guys off in the second half? In the first half you guys ran for over 100 yards, but you didn’t have that same success in the second half.
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, I mean, it’s just the flow of the game. Sometimes that happens. We’ve got to adjust and we’ve got to find a way.
Q. I know the mandate is always next-man-up when somebody gets hurt, but you guys are so banged up and it got worse tonight. How much more can this team take?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think it takes a toll on the guys that had gotten reps in practice. It’s tough for a certain position to have a couple guys go down and then you got to find spot guys to come in and try to play that position the way that a couple of our guys have. So it’s tough, but no one is going to feel sorry for us. There are a lot of other teams that have injuries that are going through some tough deals, so we’re not making any excuses. No one is going to make any excuses for us. We’ve just got to come back next week and be ready.
Q. At one point you had a healthy lead in the division race and now you see Buffalo come in here and win the division. How would you describe the collective mindset in the locker room just now?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Any time we lose it’s never a good feeling. The stakes are high every time we play, so we understand what was at stake tonight and we just didn’t come through and it started with me.
Jeff Wilson Jr. – January 5, 2024
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Friday, January 5, 2024
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
(The vibes feel a little light this Friday knowing what’s at stake for you guys. How do you guys maintain the pressure calm, cool, and collected as you guys enter the last game of the regular season?) – “We know who we are, and better yet knowing who we are, we know how we try to approach this whole season every Sunday. This is another Sunday that we have to approach and attack. When it boils down to it, that’s all it is. It’s another Sunday against another good opponent. We’re ready to come out and play football like we do every week.”
(It’s easy to say it’s just another game, but it really isn’t. This is for the division. A win, the No. 2 seed. A loss, the No. 6 seed on the road. It’s really not just another game.) – “Not at all. But the way you have to approach it, you have to treat it as such. Everybody is not naïve. We’re all grown. We all understand. We all have been around football a long time. Everybody knows what’s at stake for this game. If we were to lose, it probably could take us a whole different route that we don’t want to see. Obviously we want to come out here and execute and win this game. But like I said, regardless of all of that, we got to keep on locking in and be ready to come out and prepare tomorrow during our walkthrough and make sure we’re crisp and on point to be ready for Sunday.”
Mike McDaniel – January 5, 2024
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Friday, January 5, 2024
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(We haven’t seen WR Jaylen Waddle or RB Raheem Mostert practice this week. Are they both out Sunday?) – “They’re going to get a little work in today and then we’ll make a determination that’s very tricky. But I wouldn’t close the door because they haven’t. We’ll see what today presents, but it’s one of those open-ended things that you guys are used to. So are we.”
(What was your reaction to finding out about the fire at WR Tyreek Hill’s home and how did that all go down in real time during a practice?) – “Yeah, it was wild. You’re on the field and then word traveled through, I think first through (our communications staff), then to Drew Brooks, who’s our head of our security, and communicated with him. At that point, you don’t know what that means. You just know that his house is in flames. So immediately, fearing the worst, he leaves practice. Then it’s hard to not think about, okay, what is he going through. What I don’t think people totally think through that hit me fast – in my 20s I was living in Houston and had my apartment robbed. When I went back in, there was a feeling of violation. Your home is burning and then you go back and see it and there’s a loss there. Yes, thankfully there’s insurance and things like that. But it’s not as easy as that. It’s a life adjustment immediately. That’s your safe place, your home, that he is now dealing with insurance and living in a different spot for the immediate future and all of that. It’s a major stressor for sure. Fortunately, ‘Reek has support of his family and his teammates. It’s not something that you wish upon anyone. It was definitely scary. Happy for the health but also very aware that it’s a burden that I recognize that I can’t empathize with it, but I can forecast how I’d feel. If I didn’t have my home that I’m used to as being my home to go home tonight, it’s a little disheveling. But he’s a powerful human being and spirit and he’ll lead his family through it. But he’s something that he’s definitely dealing with and we’re here to support him.”
(What’s been the communication since? Is WR Tyreek Hill back today?) – “Yeah. Yeah, he’s just had a bunch of teammates support him. I think one of the multitude of things that football does for you is it enables you to live with your responsibilities and your teammates and can kind of give you a brief, however fleeting, but a brief, I don’t know, removal of everyday life and problems. So I think it’s kind of therapeutic a little bit to be back here and I know he’s happy to be back. But he’s also very concerned about his family and their comfort level, which is why he has a team of people to assist him.”
(You had a couple of linebackers show up on the injury report this week, as far as limited with LB David Long Jr. and LB Duke Riley. Do you expect to have them on Sunday?) – “I do. Yeah.”
(Where is OL Robert Hunt in his comeback?) – “This has been a good, really good week. Very encouraging. Optimistic for the game barring any unforeseen setbacks today. But optimistic for it.”
(What about LB Jerome Baker and the progress he’s made? Is he closer? Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio said yesterday that Thursday’s practice would be key.) – “It went well for him. So now we need another day of no setbacks. I’m optimistic about him. The day was very important, but today how he came in and responded from yesterday’s activity and how he’s able to move around today will kind of dictate Sunday. So that’s still pending.”
(I want to ask you about each individual Pro Bowler, which you guys had six guys named to the Pro Bowl this year. A couple of first timers as well. I just wanted to get your take on the pride you take in having six players qualify for the all-star game?) – “That’s a big deal. As long as I’ve been in the NFL, when you start getting into a handful-plus of guys that are recognized for the all-star game, you’re getting the attention of the rest of the league and the fan base. I think it was really, really awesome for everyone to see. All of the acknowledgments were important. But to have three guys have their first Pro Bowl and then two of them be in the undrafted category, that have earned everything in their career. Then to have Tua (Tagovailoa) go ahead and be acknowledged as such when a year ago, people were questioning whether or not he could even be healthy for it. All those things. And then, what Jalen Ramsey has done for this team, what Terron Armstead has done for this team and what Tyreek (Hill) has done for this team are huge. I think that’s fair. I think there could have been a couple other guys for sure, but that’s kind of the way it goes. Very proud to have those guys acknowledged in that way because that’s the end vision. That’s part of the vision that you have when you’re trying to win football games and take a football team to another level. In that process, there’s guys that you’re hoping will be recognized as the best in class and I think really all six of them are super deserving of it and I was happy for all of them.”
(We were talking to Offensive Line Coach Butch Barry yesterday and when I informed him that the team had started 11 different offensive line combinations, he was surprised. But despite that, you guys have gotten really good play. WR Tyreek Hill even said he’s one of the coolest coaches on the team and sometimes will go over to watch him. What makes Butch Barry so distinct and unique as an offensive line coach and an offensive line coach for this team?) – “Well, I think his commitment to the ultimate ground zero for what a coach is. I think he is a prototype for wanting to get players better, and really caring about that and uplifting their vision for themselves, bringing absolute conviction and attention to detail every single day, and investing in those individual human beings, earning trust with the investment, and then being relentless. For guys to be that productive over that course of time with all those things, the only way that you can do that is you have to have a highly intensive, very focused individual every day, because you’ve got to gain reps somewhere to be good. And as a teacher, how he’s able to drill things and categorize them and be clear, earn all the players trust, it comes back to the starting point of what we’re supposed to be doing in our profession that I think he nails. There’s not a day that he takes lightly, and as a result, there’s not a day that any of his group does. They believe and trust in his feedback and he never relents with the expectation that everything he’s doing, he’s trying to maximize the individual players and they know that. So I think you can’t say enough about the job he’s done, because on top of all that, he’s done it with a group and continues to do it with a group that – individuals, there’s a plethora of guys that had some scars that maybe have had a lot of people tell them that they’re not good enough. And maybe there’s a lot of people that have been asking us to move on from them. As much as you try not to hear the noise, over time, that can kind of accumulate and I think those are of the days past now for them. The only way they’ve gotten to that point is because they’ve really – coach, player, that whole relationship, has been true, relentless and very consistent the entire season.”
(I want to follow up on RB Raheem Mostert. Is his injury something that could be lingering into the playoffs? How do you as a coach balance making those decisions about injuries this week, knowing that next week, you also have a game?) – “Well it’s just individual players, and it’s exactly what you just hit on. You have to make an educated guess, with all the information, on whether or not – how much at risk is his play this week going to linger and be a consistent theme for the rest of the season. Everybody knows, you don’t even have ask him, that Raheem is going to want to play, so you have to watch how he works, communicate with him honestly, get honest feedback and work collectively to kind of come to the best result, but it is very tricky. It’s not really – you’re not in the game of holding players out, you’re in the game of protecting players from further residual injury. So you’re trying to figure out what that is, because this is the only game that matters to this team. It’s very important to each and every person in the organization to accomplish a goal that was talked about April 17, 2023, the first day of Phase 1, and that’s winning the division. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to have one game that if you win, you win the division, which is the way, really, it should be. You should beat all the teams in your division if you want to win it. Raheem has been and is a reason we’re in this position. He’s been a huge part of everything we’ve done. He’s going to want to play and we just need to make sure that we do right by the team and him by not making him vulnerable as best we can with educated guesses.”
(Kind of feeding off of that, it’s not just – players are telling us that it’s just another game, but it’s not just another game. Is there any way to handle that kind of pressure knowing what’s on the line?) – “Yeah, it kind of speaks to what we’ve been doing since we got together as a group. The only way to handle that is – when they say, ‘It’s just another game,’ it’s because it is a normal football game. But if you take enough intentionality and create pressure and expectations for yourself from the beginning of training camp and approach each and every practice and each and every game with full ambition, focus and treating every game as though you treat a playoff game, then all games are the same. And you’re better versed at big game experiences because you’ve treated so many games as big games. So I think this team, based upon what they’ve done, what they’ve experienced and how much attention they’ve received, it’s been an attention-filled year for the entire team with the offense getting a ton of acclaim early on the season to having expectations that are brought forth when you win a game by 50, then to have heartbreaking losses throughout the season, but continually respond, I think all those things accumulated give you the best chance to put your best foot forward in Week 18. So I think it’s focusing on the fact that you’ve built yourself up to be able to play in this game, and then once the game starts, then it’s basic football playing with your teammates, adhering to fundamentals and technique and then playing inspired. That’s what it takes to accomplish the goal, and that’s what they’ve been focusing on this week. I’ve been reiterating it to them every time they open their eyes and look at me.”
(The scenario is actually a win or tie to clinch the AFC East. So does that, I know you play to win the game, but late game scenarios, if it’s close, do you change how you manage the game knowing that a tie accomplishes the same thing, getting the No. 2 seed?) – “Yeah, I mean that might come across the radar way down the line in decision making, but it’s not really on my radar (right now). There’s so few situations where you can even negotiate that. I think you have to play to win the game to even be in position to tie it, but I’ll cross that bridge much later. Right now, we’re just trying to win the game, and I think by trying to win the game, if the score is tied when it’s close to zeros on the clock, we can approach it with that knowledge. Maybe we’ll do something, maybe we won’t. Maybe we’ll just just throw a Hail Mary just because we want to. You never know.”
(Two-part question totally unrelated. Has LB Bradley Chubb had surgery, and if so, how did it go? And secondly, I don’t think we’ve touched on CB Xavien Howard. Any change in his status?) – “So Bradley (Chubb) did have surgery and it went very well. Happy that his (recovery) process has started. It’s a long road, but if there’s anybody built for it, it’s that guy. He’s been on the forefront of his teammates’ minds all week and they really care for that human being. Then ‘X,’ (Xavien Howard) there’s no change. He won’t be in this game. He’s just trying to get back in hopes of our next scheduled match, that he’ll be able to be a part of it.”
Jaylen Waddle – January 5, 2024
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Friday, January 5, 2024
WR Jaylen Waddle
(We know that high-ankle sprains are typically multi-week injuries but we also know you’ve played through a lot of injuries before and you’re a tough guy. Any realistic chance you can play on Sunday?) – “Yeah, there’s always a chance. I got out there and got to move around. (I have) moved around the last couple of days, so there’s always a chance of going out there and competing.”
(Good chance? Small chance?) – “There’s a chance.”
(How did you feel after practice?) – “I felt good. Yeah, I felt good. It’s always good to go back out there and catch back up with the guys, especially on the field. That’s when we have our deepest conversations ironically.”
(Can you cut on the leg, on the ankle?) – “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
(Is there much pain at the moment?) – “No, I’m good. I’m good.”
(Who did you lose a bet to?) – “Tom (Garfinkel). He got me sadly. But it was a good game.”
(Just you or QB Tua Tagovailoa and DT Raekwon Davis as well?) – “I don’t know if he got Tua or ‘Rae’ (Raekwon Davis). I don’t know.”
(Is it painful wearing that Michigan t-shirt and hat?) – “It is. Roll Tide. (laughter)”
(One last thing on the ankle. What’s the internal struggle for you, with the coaches and training staff, about you clinched a playoff spot so do you do another week just to make sure you’re even healthier or do you try to play Sunday knowing that it is a division rival and a higher seed?) – “One day at a time. Just go about it daily. Daily evaluations, honestly. That’s pretty much it.”
(Speaking of rivalries, you’ve faced Buffalo a couple times. The team hasn’t had as much success as you’d hope. Does that harbor extra feeling or added juice, knowing it is a team that you guys haven’t really gotten over the hump yet?) – “Yeah, it’s a division opponent. They’ve owned the division since at least I’ve been in the league. We haven’t really found success against them. It’s going to be a big game, a primetime game. All of that goes into consideration when you are game planning. We’re going out there to compete. They’re a good team. We’re a good team. Primetime for all the marbles.”
(What does it mean to you guys and the receivers room for QB Tua Tagovailoa to be named the starting quarterback for the AFC in the Pro Bowl?) – “It means a lot. Well deserved. He’s playing great. It’s just crazy, at least since I’ve been in the league, how far he’s come. I always knew what he was capable of but it is good to see your brother go out and shine and let the whole world know he’s one of the top tier quarterbacks in this league.”
(How did the work today feel and moving around?) – “It felt good. I haven’t been out there all week. I got to run a little bit yesterday. I was excited to go out there and run some routes and be with the guys. It was great.”
Jalen Ramsey – January 5, 2024
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Friday, January 5, 2024
CB Jalen Ramsey
(I know a lot of guys have said this just another game, but is it really another game with so much at stake? A win, you get the No. 2 seed. A loss, you get the No. 6 seed and are on the road.) – “Yeah, it is just another game. I mean it is an important game. I think every game is important though, personally. That’s my personal belief. But yeah, it’s just another game.”
(While not giving away the gameplan at all, as one of the best players in the league, have you and Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio talked about a way to maximize – not saying how – but to maximize your use so that you’re involved in more plays than might often be the case where teams try to avoid you?) – “That’s a question for Vic.”
(Is it your hope that you are involved a lot, however it is?) – “Yeah, that’s always been my (hope) but I’m going to do whatever the team needs me to do, regardless of that role, at this point in the season.”
(Was there anything you do specific with film study when you know that you’re facing off against a certain wide receiver like in the middle of the week?) – “No, I keep my routine the same every week. That’s just my way of respecting the game and respecting my opponents. I keep everything the same. I take a lot of pride in it every week whether I’m playing Tyreek Hill – the best receiver in the world – or an undrafted guy. That’s just the way I go about my process.”
(Do you like to watch the wide receivers and look at their releases?) – “Yeah, that’s part of the process. It’s part of the process.”
(What do you remember about the first game against Buffalo and are you guys carrying that into this game as motivation?) – “I would hope not and I didn’t play against Buffalo the first time this year, so that doesn’t matter to me personally.”
De’Von Achane – January 4, 2024
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Thursday, January 4, 2024
RB De’Von Achane
(Are the ribs at all an issue? Could they keep you sidelined on Sunday?) – “Nah. No”
(How does the boot, we saw on Hard Knocks that you sometimes wear a boot, how does that help you?) – “Well, I hurt my toe, so after the game it might be a little sore so I wear it early during the week then I take it off to practice at the end of the week.”
(You had good success against Buffalo the first time you played them. You had good success last week. Considering both of those, how do you feel going into this week’s game?) – “I feel great. I feel, like I said, the team, we took a loss last week. But like you said, we know what we can do as a team. When we’re firing on all cylinders, I don’t think anybody can stop us. I feel great about my performance. If I keep going, there’s no telling what could happen.”
(What went right for you that first time in Buffalo? You were running between the tackles very effective, two touchdowns. It seems like everything you did in that game went well. What was going right in that game?) – “Obviously I have to give the most credit to the offensive line. They made amazing blocks. It was also early in the season. People weren’t expecting two running backs on the field. There were different packages that everybody didn’t see. When it’s your first time seeing something, you kind of don’t know what to do or what it is. That’s why it was pretty effective doing it early in the season.”
(It’s no secret that this team has banged up on offense in particular. How much has that combination been where we maybe haven’t seen what this offense can be? And how much confidence do you have in this team that you’ll get to the point where we’ve seen this offense produce?) – “Like you said, people are banged up. But I feel like the guys that are next man up are as good. So I feel like this team knows we can be great. If somebody is down, we know somebody can replace them. Obviously you want to have everybody on the field, but if everybody is not on the field during the week, we’re still trusting that guy and we still expect them to make plays on Sunday.”
(Do you take an injection before the game to help with the pain?) – “No, I don’t do that.”
(No needles?) – “Nah.” (laughter)
(How does the constant changing of the offensive line challenge the running backs to be in constant communication with these guys to make sure everything is good?) – “It’s not that difficult. We’re at practice with everybody. In Week 18, we pretty much have a good feel for who is going to be there on Sunday. I wouldn’t say it’s too bad. I feel like everybody knows each other, everybody communicates with each other, so it’s pretty easy”
(I know Kyle Field has had some pretty big atmospheres. But Sunday night, primetime, division championship on the line. How excited are you for a big primetime atmosphere like that?) – “I’m pretty excited. The crowd really doesn’t get to me as much though. But playing in front of a lot of people and primetime game so everybody is going to be watching. I mean that’s kind of cool. That’s fun.”
(How has your first NFL season gone compared to what you thought it would be like?) – “It’s pretty good except the injuries. Other than that, I feel like I’ve had a pretty good season. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
(Do you feel like you’ve had a little bit of bad luck? Is it the bigger, faster, stronger guys hitting you than in the past? What do you think is the reason you’re getting nicked up a little bit?) – “I wouldn’t say bad luck. Just freak accidents. This game, you get injured any type of way. I wouldn’t say bad luck. Just freak accident.”
(Did RB Raheem Mostert have any encouragement or thoughts prior to the last game or during the last game?) – “He’s always going to say his few words pre-game. He always going to keep the energy as if he was on the field. Just him making sure that we all keep the same energy even though we were down early. Just making sure we still have our heads in the game and telling us what he sees from the sideline. He wasn’t just sitting back watching the game, he’s also in the game. He had the headset on and everything. He was a coach that day.”
(The Dolphins really haven’t had a back like you since I’ve been covering the team for more than a decade. Who do you kind of model your game after? Who is someone you looked up to as a younger player?) – “I like watching Christian McCaffrey a lot.”
(What about his game do you like?) – “Not just him running the ball, but him going off on routes and basically being an athlete basically. Not just a running back, but someone who can do routes and catch the football.”
(Are you too young to remember Warrick Dunn? When were you born?) – “2001. I heard the name before though.”
(Shiftiness, makes guy miss. Tougher than people think. How do you view that part? People say oh he can’t run inside.) – “Every offense I’ve been in for high school, college, it wasn’t just outside runs. Most of my big runs come from running in between the tackles.”
(You almost always make the right decision as far as cuts. Do you make a point to study all you carries after every game that following week to look back at decisions you made? Is that part of your routine?) – “I mean after the game we do come in and watch the game as a team. I pretty much go through it that day. But after that, it’s on to the next week.”
(What about Barry Sanders?) – “Yeah, I’ve seen some of his highlights.”
(What about him do you kind of want to aspire to be?) – “Just how quick he’s moving and making people miss. He’s different. Everything is fast paced. It ain’t no stopping. He does everything so quick and so fast. I can’t imagine playing against him back then. Going against him, how do you gameplan to stop him? Some people are just naturally talented, and he was one of the people.”
(Pretty good to aspire to I’d say?) – “Yeah.”
(It seems like from talking to you for a few months, it almost makes you happier when people point out how tough you are in runs between the tackles than your speed. Does that make you happier when someone acknowledge you can run between the tackles even though you aren’t the biggest game as opposed to he’s the fastest guy?) – “I’ve been fast for a very long time. People always question, can he take hits? Or can he run between the tackles? So the fact that I’m showing that and then when people realize that, I wouldn’t say I get happy but it’s something I know I can do. I’m just glad that other people see it as well.”
(How frustrating has this season been for you from an injury standpoint? You spent most of your career at Texas A&M relatively healthy. Then you got the knee, ribs, toe.) – “I mean, it’s frustrating at first. But like you said, it’s all a process. When it first happened, of course you’re mad that you’re not on the field and not playing. After that, it’s just getting to rehab and try to come back stronger. It’s frustrating at that time, but you just start thinking I’m a rookie, this is my first year. I’m planning on playing a lot of years. So I don’t think about it a lot like that.”
(In a way, have you hit the rookie wall as they call it? Have you felt that at all?) – “When I got injured, I missed four weeks. So I wouldn’t say I hit the injury wall since I had time off.”
(Right. I was going to ask that it kind of helped you in a weird way?) – “Yeah. I wouldn’t say I hit the rookie wall. Right now I haven’t played as many games as everybody else so I wouldn’t say I hit the rookie wall.”
