Jakeem Grant – August 31, 2017 (Postgame)
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Thursday, August 31, 2017
Postgame – Minnesota
Dolphins WR Jakeem Grant (transcribed by the Minnesota Vikings)
Q: Is this what you had in mind in terms of what you can do?
A: I was just trying to go out there and make a play. I wanted to show everybody that I am a receiver before a returner. I was just making plays and doing whatever I can to have the coaches trust me. I feel like that is another step that I took tonight.
Q: It seems like you’re in a much better position to get that chance during the regular season than a year ago. Do you agree with that?
A: This year I am night and day from last year in terms of being a better player and better pro. I have learned the ins and outs as well as learning from the veteran guys like [Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills] and looking up to those guys. I watched what they did last year that made them excel to another level so that’s what I have taken in.
Q: Do you look to make this a weekly occurrence?
A: Definitely. I just want to make play after play so the coaches know whenever they put me in there it’s going to be a big play.
Q: What do you think you showed this preseason?
A: Like I said, I am a receiver before a returner. I just wanted to go out there and show everybody that I can go out there and make big plays like [Kenny Stills, Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker]. Whenever you put me in there you can trust me and there is not going to be a slack off.
David Fales – August 31, 2017 (Postgame)
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Thursday, August 31, 2017
Postgame – Minnesota
Dolphins QB David Fales (transcribed by the Minnesota Vikings)
Q: What kind of weapon is Jakeem Grant?
A: It is awesome throwing it up to him, it’s hard to stop a guy that fast. He did a good job making a play when the ball was thrown his way. He did a good job, he is hard to cover; he is fast.
Q: How do you feel about your overall preseason, training camp, everything?
A: I think I played well in the beginning, had a couple situations in games two and three that I wish I could’ve done better in. I thought I played decent this last game. Practice, it’s hard to tell. I thought I did okay with the reps that I was given.
Q: You’re still trying to establish yourself in the league, over the past few months, do you think you have made progress?
A: Yeah, I think this game helped and the first game helped. Yeah I think it has helped. I just have to keep playing that way. Last game I had a two-minute drive that I could’ve done a little bit better with but yeah, I thought this helped.
Q: What is this time like, with cuts looming?
A: I mean this is my fourth time doing it so, I’m just like, just tell me. I want to know. I am cool with Coach Adam Gase and Quarterback Coach Bo Hardegree. It is stressful though. The last couple weeks you’re just waiting, it’s a slow couple weeks.
Adam Gase – August 31, 2017 (Postgame)
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Thursday, August 31, 2017
Postgame – Minnesota
Dolphins Head Coach Adam Gase (transcribed by the Minnesota Vikings)
Q: Has the way Jakeem Grant played in the preseason changed your confidence in him?
A: We noticed a big difference – he’s hard to cover out there. He’s done a good job usually, when you put a smaller guy outside and usually – he’s just going to wrap out and get to the corners and when he does he’s so shifty, he’s hard to get hands on.
Q: What was the thinking behind playing [Jordan] Phillips and [Davon] Gauchaux tonight and how do you think they did?
A: We will have to look at the tape. You want to play good guys; you want to play guys who are probably going to be first shift so… you know rookies need as much time as they can get. Jordan [Phillips], we wanted him to play a few plays and just kind of get a sense of how he is day in and day out.
Q: Were any jobs won or lost out here?
A: We’ll figure it out. On the flight home we’ll be able to watch the entire tape so we’ll be able to figure everything out and kind of see how it shakes out. We had some decisions made moving into tonight so we’ll see how they played.
Q: Will [Rey] Maualuga be ready to go in week one?
A: We kind of changed our minds last week on that one. We felt he was very close to be being back and could work outside and push his conditioning and keep pushing him because he was making some strides last week. We wanted to ensure to use the time we have and now we have a few more days until we really start practicing. We want him to be in the best shape possible.
Q: Does it look like Neville Hewitt will not be ready for the start of the season?
A: Yeah. It’s hard for me to answer that right now. When I get back, we’ll kind of have some discussions on where he is at.
Q: Jarvis [Landry] was back in the news today. Are you frustrated that six months in this hasn’t been resolved?
A: Yeah I think it’s a League matter. There is nothing really that we can do about it. We are just waiting to hear what the League says to us and then we can move on from there.
Q: Are you feeling optimistic about [Jarvis] Landry?
A: I have no idea.
Q: How open is the Dolphins organization to making its 53-man roster and then looking at the over 1,000 available players who are out there to see about adding a few?
A: Well most of our [scouts] have been going for quite a while now. It’s a long process and it’s a lot of work. We will see how it goes down and maybe see if there’s anybody we are going to switch out, or if we are good with the guys we’ve got. We have a couple days here and our personnel department has a lot of guys to look at, to really comb through – who is out there – and then all of the work they have already done; they have got to kind of put the pieces together.
Adam Gase – August 31, 2017 (Halftime)
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Thursday, August 31, 2017
Head Coach Adam Gase (Halftime)
(WR Jakeem Grant continues to make big plays for you.) – “It was a great job. He’s had a lot of one-on-one matchups. He’s figuring out a way to win and we’re hooking up pretty good.”
(Got a good chance to get a little more out of RB Kenyan Drake. You happy with what you saw out of him early?) – “We’ve got a couple thing to clean up with him; but we know he’s a playmaker. We’ve just got to make sure that we’re doing good as far as our assignments.”
(You got both quarterbacks that led you on a touchdown drive, one of them two. How do you see that going there?) – “Brandon (Doughty) will start the third quarter and then we’ll go back to David (Fales) in the fourth. We’ll just keep mixing guys in. We’re trying to give everybody an opportunity.”
(What are you happy with what you saw?) – “I like the fact that we got some plays. We weren’t three-and-out. Guys were … They’re making plays. We’re getting one-on-one opportunities, and we’re winning.”
Jordan Phillips – August 29, 2017
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Tuesday, August 29, 2017
DT Jordan Phillips
(On if he’s gotten more playing time of late…) – “We’re still doing the same thing we’ve been doing.”
(Do you feel like you have a real chance to win the starting DT job at this point?) – “That was never a question in my mind, so yes.”
(Are you pleased with how it’s gone for you that last couple of weeks? obviously you had the interception in the game (against Philadelphia). Do you feel like you’re playing at a high level?) – “I feel like this is my best preseason, training camp, everything. I’ve been sticking to the grind.”
(Why specifically do you think this is your best preseason? What do you feel like you’ve improved over the last month?) – “I’m just playing harder, honestly. Everything’s just coming together. Everything’s a lot slower.”
(What do you think about this d-line? You guys have some new faces in there. You put some resources into it. What’s been your idea of the result so far?) – “I’d say the best thing about our room is that we’re keeping the same guys in there – the same core guys. We know how each other plays. We brought on some great rookies that should help us out, and we should continue from what we did last year, just a little bit better.”
(Weight-wise, where are you now compared to the end of last season?) – “Twenty-eight, 328. So I lost about 20 pounds, somewhere in (that range).”
(How has losing weight helped?) – “(It’s been) good. I’m moving well. I feel good. That’s all that matters.”
(What did you think of DT Ndamukong Suh’s kicking form?) – “Everybody knew he could kick. I think he’s our second-team kicker, I don’t know. (laughter) The man can kick.”
(How’s your leg as a kicker? You’re not going to get back there any time soon?) – “I can do it all, so whatever they need me to do. (laughter)”
(You were very introspective with us when you talked to us in the auditorium in May about changes you wanted to make. What do you think has been the biggest change in you from the player of a year ago to now?) – “I’d just say changing everybody’s view on me here, as in just being more consistent, somebody that everybody can count on.”
(What have you gotten from DE William Hayes?) – “He’s a different man, I’ll tell you that right now. (laughter) I haven’t been around somebody like Will. He plays hard every play. He sets that edge. He’s a dominant force out on that edge and he can also rush the passer.”
(What makes Head Coach Adam Gase such a player’s coach?) – “He talks to people. He gets to know his players. You want to play for him. You want to work hard for him. You don’t want to let him down and he shows us love. Nobody practices in this heat like we do and you see this week we’re here in the bubble. He’s not taking it easy on us. We’re getting our work done, but he’s giving us that little extra motivation. He’s giving us a bonus, so we’re going to work hard for him.”
(What’s you impression of Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke in his role?) – “He’s the same way. He’s a player’s coach. He listens to us. We listen to him. He’s open to ideas. He communicates well. He gets angry, but he understands where we all are coming from. I wouldn’t say the age thing is in there, but he’s a young guy too. I feel like we just relate to him really well.”
(Did I hear you correctly, you said you lost 20 pounds?) – “Yes.”
(You’re at 328? Last year you played at 348?) – “This offseason I came in heavy. At like 347, somewhere in there.”
(What did you do? How did you lose all of the weight?) – “It wasn’t bad. In training camp out here, you’re going to lose weight. It wasn’t hard.”
(Not a big diet change?) – “I’ve been eating better. I just knew it was going to come off. I wasn’t worried about it.”
(Do you notice a difference in the day to day work, that it’s easier for you or you feel lighter or any of those types of things?) – “No. My joints feel a little bit better, but that’s about it. These turf days don’t help, but I’ve been moving around well. (I) can play longer (and) faster.”
(Not that you need competition to motivate you, but do you think that having DT Davon Godchaux play well as a rookie has been a good thing in terms of it’s great at competition?) – “One-hundred percent. Competition in every room is a great thing. It brings the best out of everybody. You can’t have a letdown in practice. You can’t have a letdown in a game. Especially in our room, we have a high standard for everybody. Any spot can be taken at any point.”
(Your thoughts on T Jesse Davis. You’ve matched up on him some in practice a little bit or no?) – “Jesse works hard. He comes off the ball. He’s smart. He doesn’t say much but when he’s in, he does what he needs to do.”
William Hayes – August 29, 2017
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Tuesday, August 29, 2017
DE William Hayes
(Can you talk about this d-line and how you compare it to some of the ones you’ve played on previously?) – “It’s probably one of the most talented groups that I’ve been with. We’ve just got to continue to work and work and work so we can become one of the best to play this game. You’ve got all the pieces. It can be scary if we all start hitting on the same page.”
(What do you think of DT Ndamukong Suh’s kicking skills out there?) – “Pretty impressive. I think he told me he used to play soccer when he was younger. Nothing doesn’t surprise me (about) what you can do when you’re that big of a freak.”
(You play with one of the best DTs in the league in Aaron Donald with the Rams, and now you’re coming to another one with DT Ndamukong Suh. Obviously, their body type is different. What do they have in common?) – “Both of them (are) nasty. They both play with an edge. They’re both trying to prove themselves every year, year in and year out. That’s what makes them so special.”
(It was a pretty spirited practice. You can tell it’s getting close to regular season.) – “Oh, yes. The intensity continues to still pick up and there has been more attention to detail of late, so I’m excited (about) the direction we’re going in.”
(When you’ve been going against that offense for so long, it’s going to get like that. That’s what you want.) – “Both sides understand the better we’re going to get, the better our teammates are going to make us. Every day, we just continually try to push each other and strive to be better football players.”
(I want to ask you how good you are with your hands in the passing game. We saw you tip that pass. You tipped the one DT Jordan Phillips intercepted last week, right? I thought your hands were right there on LB Lawrence Timmons’ interception. Talk about that aspect of your game. How important is it? Do you pay much attention to it?) – “If you’re getting blocked and you can’t get off the line, you might as well go ahead and throw your hand up. I’m just real big on trying to do all I can. I figured I wasn’t going to get to the quarterback, so I try to be an extra pass defender and get my hands up and try to knock the ball down.”
(Has that worked well for you throughout your career?) – “I just think it helps on the back end taking away a throwing lane. That’s just something I’ve always been … That’s something I’ve always done. I figure if you’re not going to get to the quarterback and the ball comes out fast, get your hands up.”
(Do you have any idea how many passes you’ve tipped?) – “No.”
(How have you seen DT Jordan Phillips respond to being moved to second team?) – “I think it was good. It feel it made him compete a little harder and he had to earn his spot back. That’s what this league is about. Every day, it’s a ‘prove yourself’ business. Since then, he has been coming out, he’s a totally different football player. (He is) working a lot harder and just grinding, and I can appreciate that.”
(Defensive end is obviously, if not the deepest, one of the deepest positions you guys have here. Have they communicated to you how your role will be, how much they’ll be using you, when they’ll be using you – things like that?) – “No, not really. Whenever they tell me to go in the game, I’m just going to try and go in there and make a play. Just try to help with the run, pass – whatever they need me to do.”
(With the Rams last year, were you on the field half the snaps, two thirds of the snaps? How would you say that broke down?) – “I was a starter last year, so I played a series and the guy behind me came in and played a series.”
(You expect the same thing to happen here?) – “We’ve got Cam Wake here. (laughter) I can assure you I’ll be on the sideline (on) third down cheering, and I don’t have a problem doing it. (laughter)”
(What makes Head Coach Adam Gase such a cool coach or player’s coach?) – “He’s relatable. He wants the same thing we want. Everybody wants to win. He has a good spirit about him. He’s a player’s coach, but he’s also a discipline coach. He’s not taking that from nobody. That’s what separates him from really any other coach I’ve had where he has been really, really, really structured, like really structured. At the end of the day, he lets us do what we want to do. He lets us play the game we want to play. He doesn’t have but so many rules.”
(In the process though, Head Coach Adam Gase likes to talk a lot of smack, too.) – “Oh, yes. He’s a competitor. That’s what you’ve got to appreciate about him.”
(Do you feel like you’ve taken a mentorship role with the young guys on the line? Is that something you enjoy?) – “Yes. I’m not trying to hold back no secrets. Anything I know, I try to give it to them. When I first got to the league, I had Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch. They took me under their wing, so I plan on doing the same thing. (If I’m) holding back a secret (it) isn’t going to help us get better as a unit. If anything, I can tell a guy that can help him out. I’ll give him all the advice I possibly can.”
(Were you there in Tennessee when Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke was there?) – “Yes, I was there with Matt Burke. I think back then he was a quality control coach. He has come a long way since then, hasn’t he? (laughter) He’s a special coach, too.”
(How has Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke changed over the years if at all?) – “He has got more control now for one. (laughter) He’s calling the shots on the defense. He’s a smart coach. He’s really (paying) attention to detail. The little things to him matter. That’s what’s going to make him so special.”
(What do you think of Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke’s exotic offseason travels?) – “He’s a little bit on that extreme side for me. I wouldn’t do none of the stuff he’s doing. (laughter)”
(Extreme side for you?) – “Extreme, yes. Definitely on the extreme side.”
(You’re a little on the extreme side, too.) – “My thinking is but not like my actions. I’m not diving in the water looking for nothing.”
(Where does Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke’s extreme side come from do you think?) – “I don’t know. He’s just passionate about trying to push yourself to the limits. That’s what you can appreciate about him. You know every week he’s going to give you his best game plan. He’s going to give you his best foot forward. That’s what I appreciate about him.”
Adam Gase – August 29, 2017
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Head Coach Adam Gase
(On LB Rey Maualuga) – “Today, we didn’t do any reps in practice. We’re just trying to slowly get him going in individual. We’ve got a workout plan for him. He’s been doing a lot of work with (Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Dave) Puloka. We’ll see how he feels tonight and tomorrow and then if we can get him some reps (against Minnesota), that would be great.”
(How confident are you about depth at linebacker to make it through Thursday’s game against Minnesota?) – “We’ll be fine. We’ve got a good plan as far as if we lost anybody, what we’re going to do. We have some other options that we’re looking at with what we’re going to run scheme-wise, so I don’t see any problems.”
(Is CB Alterraun Verner or CB Byron Maxwell going to play on Thursday?) – “We’ll make those decisions tonight. We’ve got a good idea of what we want to do, but we’ll wait. We haven’t really told (the players) yet.”
(QB Jay Cutler obviously threw a lot of deep balls for you in 2015 with the Bears, but is this the best you’ve seen him or as good as you’ve seen him consistently connect on vertical throws?) – “That’s hard for me to say. We had some good practices (in Chicago); same thing here. In practice, when we can hook up like we did today, that’s always good. We’re just going to keep moving the ball around and get in some more situational work, so it kind of called for that; but I see all our guys being used at all different levels.”
(QB Jay Cutler’s got obviously a great arm for deep throws but his touch as a deep thrower, good from your perspective?) – “Yes. The more experience you get, the better you’re going to get at those types of things, where I think early in his career was more about that firmer ball down the field, more on a line, and now he knows what type of ball to throw. So he’s gotten really good at it and he’s had a lot of experiences with some bigger guys that he’s been able to make more of the touch throws down the field (with).”
(RB Senorise Perry looked like he was having a pretty good camp until the knee injury and now the cuts are coming. How big of a hindrance is that for you or how tough a decision for you?) – “We’re going to look at the whole body of work. He did do a lot of good things early (in camp) and I feel bad for him, because he wants to be out there. We’ll see how everything plays out. He’s done well and we’ll see how everything comes out numbers-wise.”
(What’s the number one thing you’ll be looking for Thursday?) – “Really, it’s going to be more about can we execute a little better than we have been, especially with those backup guys. We’ve had a lot of busts and not quite being in the right spot and not doing our job consistently. I know these guys will play fast. I know they’re going to play hard. We just need to execute a little better.”
(How many spots would you estimate are still to be determined, and are possibly going to be won on Thursday?) – “That’s hard for me to say. We’ll get together on this over the next few days and start talking the beginning stages of what our numbers are and where we have to make decisions. We wanted to make sure we gave a full four games to do our evaluation and we have plenty of time afterwards.”
(What is your approach on being a players’ coach? How much pride do you take in that?) – “I don’t really know what that means. Our guys know that I’ve got an open door policy. They know that if they’ve got something to bring to me that I’m never going to turn them away, so if that means you’re a players’ coach, that’s just how I was raised in this profession with a lot of the guys that I worked for and a lot of the mentors I had. I felt like it was a good way for me to go about business as a head coach because the guys that I learned under, that’s kind of how they were.”
(Your thinking on giving DT Ndamukong Suh three kicks today and is he your kicker if K Andrew Franks is injured in a game?) – “(laughter) I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
(Well I know that DT Jordan Phillips said today DT Ndamukong Suh’s likely our No. 2 kicker. Is that safe to go with?) – “Yes, I mean I don’t think we have another choice. (laughter)”
(What kind of camp is T Laremy Tunsil having?) – “It’s been good in practice. I know he was really frustrated last week. It’s rare for him to get beat in a game. He’s finally back at a position that he loves playing. When you have a guy that athletic and who has the ability to have … His awareness is really good. I felt like he had a good camp. I just want him to keep getting better and keep getting comfortable with Jay (Cutler) back there. It’s different. Guys move differently.”
Jarvis Landry – August 29, 2017
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Tuesday, August 29, 2017
WR Jarvis Landry
(Let’s start from the stop. Head Coach Adam Gase said he talked to you about the trade rumor or the trade story. Did you appreciate Adam talking to you and did you listen to that rumor or pay attention to it?) – “It came across and a few people sent it to me, but Coach Gase did an amazing job. He called me in and he just talked to me, explained to me the situation and everything that’s going on and that that’s false, and that’s all I really needed to hear from him. We’ve been working ever since.”
(Do you think that they ever put a test balloon out there and floated your name or does that even matter to you?) – “No, it doesn’t. I mean, if they did, I don’t know about it and that’s not something that I can control. All I can control is what I do out here on the field and I’ll leave the rest up to that.”
(Are you at peace with not getting a contract offer for beyond this year if that’s the way it plays out by September 10th? Are you at peace with that?) – “Yes. I mean I still speak on it like I said earlier in OTAs. One of the reasons why I showed up to OTAs was because I know that I’m the leader of this team and for me to get this team to where we need to be, I have to be here. That’s what it took and like I said again, I’m good.”
(Some would say you’re taking a big risk of not trying to push for a new contract and getting more money while you’re still healthy.) – “This is the game I love. Obviously that’s something that comes with it; but at the same time, I’m not going to rush guys’ timing. Whenever it happens, it happens for me, and that’s what I believe in, that’s what I have faith in and that’s what I have trust in. I’ll just leave it in God’s hands.”
(You set a September 10th deadline for talks. Does that deadline stand?) – “Yes, sir.”
(So once the season starts it’s nothing until the season is over?) – “Yes, sir.”
(Just as the rumors approached and Head Coach Adam Gase approached you about that. what makes Adam that players coach and that cool coach that all the guys respect?) – “Because he understands. He understands pretty much each and every situation and he’s had the opportunity to go through this with Julius (Thomas) in Denver, ‘Bay-Bay’ (Demaryius Thomas), Emmanuel Sanders – a lot of different guys. Obviously (they are) different situations, but he’s just taking it out of himself to come down and talk to me and really clear my head about the whole issue.”
(How much does Head Coach Adam Gase’s age factor into him being a player’s coach and that kind of guy for you guys?) – “It means everything. He can relate to us really well. We’ve got him in there dancing, doing a little bit of everything. That’s fun for us.”
(Can Head Coach Adam Gase dance?) – “Yes. (laughter)”
(What’s any pleasant surprise about QB Jay Cutler, just being around him now for a month?) – “Just his ability to come out here and pick up everything so fast. Again, he’s been in an offense. So for him to come out here and hit DeVante (Parker) on the long ball here in the 2-minute (drill). (He’s) still hooking up with me, myself, Kenny (Stills), Julius (Thomas), just forming that chemistry that we need going into the season. It’s a big shout out to him for that.”
(Do you feel you have a good chemistry with QB Jay Cutler?) – “Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. Me personally? Or the team?”
(You personally?) – “Absolutely. Absolutely.”
(Do you think QB Jay Cutler favors WR DeVante Parker?) – “What do you mean?”
(As far WR DeVante Parker as a target? Does QB Jay Cutler like going to DeVante deep more than the other receivers?) – “Honestly, for us, that’s what DeVante is here to do. That’s what Kenny Stills is here to do. And that’s what any guy put in a position with the matchup is here to do. It’s to make plays, regardless if it’s down the field, underneath, a screen. We all find our roles and we buy into it and that’s what’s going to make this team better. It’s not about the targets or who gets them and where they get them. It’s about making the plays when they come to you.”
