Adam Gase – September 4, 2017
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Monday, September 4, 2017
Head Coach Adam Gase
(Is the plan now for LB Rey Maualuga that he practices fully and starts on Sunday?) – “We’ll practice today and kind of see how it goes.”
(With the hurricane coming or possibly coming, have you guys discussed contingency plans in terms of possibly moving the game?) – “That’s kind of a little bit out of my department. I’m being updated when I need to be updated about certain things. But that’s kind of not in my hands right now and I’m just kind of going along with what I’m being advised with and when those types of things come up, we’ll be ready to go. We always kind of have an idea of what we can do at this point and what we can’t do. Really, things like that are really out of our control. We just kind of wait and see right now.”
(If they move the game up, how much of a heads up as a coach will you need?) – “They tell us whatever they tell us to do and we’re just going to do (it). I mean I just go with the flow.”
(Would you be a little more comfortable with that since it’s the first week since you’re not coming off a game yesterday?) – “I mean it’s … it doesn’t matter what week it is. If they tell us that they changed the game ever, we just go with it.”
(You guys share a bye week with Tampa Bay. Is the possibility …?) – “I have no idea. I don’t ask those questions. They tell us when to play and show up.”
(Had there been any talk over the last few weeks internally about looking for a kicker to challenge K Andrew Franks or replace him or was this merely a function of K Cody Parkey was a guy you all liked so much that’s why you made the move?) – “I mean it’s more of that … more of that general direction of there was a guy out there that we liked and we decided to make a change.”
(What does it say that five undrafted players made the initial 53 man roster?) – “I think it says that our scouting department did a really good job because when you get to that point where you’re recruiting guys and it wasn’t really a … I don’t remember it being a stressful situation when we went through the undrafted process. I feel like guys did a great job of … they build a lot of relationships over time with, whether it be coaching staffs or in the draft process of us, whether it be bringing guys in or going on to a campus and reaching out to certain guys. They did a good job of targeting guys and finding the guys that fit our culture and our program. We found guys that are competitors and it really worked out. All of the guys that made it have been impressive and I think you guys have seen it yourself where you’ve noticed some of the guys that weren’t drafted.”
(Which one of those undrafted guys surprised you and the staff the most from your arrival?) – “That’s hard to single out anybody that I can really think about. I mean Chase (Allen) was hurt like that first practice. I mean I think he was in like two snaps and then he got hurt in the spring and stuck with it and got healthy and knew what to do, and really once the pads came on, you saw a guy that was doing a good job of wrapping guys up, putting them to the ground and being consistent.”
(QB Jay Cutler joined the team four weeks ago from today. How do you feel about his readiness going into the regular season? – “I feel good. I feel like he’s really (done) the one thing that we talked about that he felt like he needed to do, and that was just the feel in the pocket, getting used to bodies being around him. It seems like (his) arm’s in good enough shape where the throws, as we’ve gone along, it’s been more and more throws, and he’s back in that condition. I think the spring and missing that first part of training camp probably helped him. When you get there at 34 years old, the more balls you throw, it kind of wears on you as the year goes on when you start in the spring. It seems like he’s fresh and excited, ready to go.”
(Have you made any decisions on the starting cornerback on the left side?) – “No, I mean we’re going to go through this week. We’ll figure that out by the end of the week.”
(How about guard, left guard?) – “Right now it looks like (Anthony) Steen will probably be our guy, unless something changes throughout the week. He’s done a really good job with the flexibility to move to multiple positions; for us, it’s always a positive. The more centers you can have on your roster, the better. He’s really come through for us in a lot of different spots and we like a lot of the things that he does.”
(So was the T Sam Young roster move just a temporary thing to keep C/G Ted Larsen on? What was the balancing?) – “You have to get to 53 and Ted had to be on the roster, so that was just where we had to go.”
(C/G Ted Larsen had to be on the roster?) – “Yes, (for) one day; or at the beginning of our 53 cut. Then we could put him on IR.”
(The starting position between DTs Jordan Phillips and Davon Godchaux, is that to be a decision at the end of the week?) – “Yes, we’ll figure it out at the end of the week. We’re going to go through practice and see how it goes.”
(Because of the possibility of the hurricane thing, how much Tampa related work have you been able to do in practice the last couple of weeks? Or has it all been Tampa?) – “We’ve done enough to where we’re just getting our guys ready without them really knowing about it. It was really a situation where you’re just repping plays that could possibly come up. Some of them make them, some of them don’t. I think a lot of teams do that in training camp, to get the quarterbacks the feel. It’s really a lot of the situational work of things that you think could come up. Our defenses aren’t exactly the same, but they’re similar. We have a lot of the same similar strengths that they do, so it feels like we’ve been training for this game for a while.”
(How much of a factor, if at all, was having a left-footed punter in your decision to keep P Matt Haack over P Matt Darr?) – “It wasn’t as easy as it seems like people make it sound. Matt competed, and he improved, and those two guys battled, and at the end of the day, that’s the decision we decided to make. We feel like we have something special there, and the fact that he’s left footed works out. It’s tough for returners. I know, in my time, every time that we would play a left-footed punter, it was always a nonstop conversation by special teams coaches.”
(With the kicking situation, the one game that K Cody Parkey struggled in last year was your game against Cleveland. How much comfort and familiarity do you think you need to get to a point where everybody’s comfortable?) – “I’m good. I just didn’t even count that game. He’s been around for a minute, so there’s a lot of trust there.”
(How much value do you place on gadget plays? What do you see as their place in the game?) – “It’s kind of (about) how you’re built and who can do what. It’s tough sometimes because you start doing some of those things, quarterbacks will get a little irritated. I’ve been around one where you better complete it, it better be good; but, when you’ve got guys that can do a lot of things and cause a lot of problems and defenses have to prepare for it, it’s a real weapon.”
(Is a gadget play a potential morale booster just because of the trickery?) – “A little bit. Guys get excited when you do something a little bit out of the ordinary. I guess I’ve been around a lot that haven’t worked, probably more that haven’t worked than have actually worked, so you want to be right.”
(Is it also a benefit of just one more thing for the opposition to have to prepare for?) – “Yes, with the amount of time you have to prepare. If a team is spending a lot of time on things you may never do again or different ways you’ve done them, that you’re going to do them, it’s time on task. That’s why you try to give variety. You try to make it hard for defensive coordinators to prepare for you.”
(Now that the regular season is here, does the C Mike Pouncey practice plan alter at all or is it very similar to what we’ve seen?) – “It’s similar to what you guys have seen and I feel good with what they’ve put together.”
Michael Thomas – August 31, 2017 (Postgame)
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Thursday, August 31, 2017
Postgame – Minnesota
Dolphins S Michael Thomas (transcribed by the Minnesota Vikings)
Q: What are the stories you’ve heard from the people you know and love about the devastation from Hurricane Harvey?
A: Some people who were just affected by the floods a couple years ago had to leave home, had to evacuate. Same thing. They lost everything, so they are going to have to start over again. My immediate family that was down there, they were able to get out together. Just glad my family was able to get out and everyone is safe. Everyone is starting to make their way back to Houston. There are a lot of people that are going to be starting over. They need as much help as they can get.
Q: What gives you optimism about the recovery of Houston?
A: Just the fact that so many people that are already in Houston have been pulling together. Class, race, money, it doesn’t matter. Everyone is coming together. To see everyone outside of Houston, outside of Texas, pitching in, the number of artists and athletes doing their thing. The people around the U.S., a person who can’t donate one million dollars, they are sending the diapers, the dry clothes, and the hand sanitizer. That’s the stuff that these people in the shelters need right now. It’s amazing to see that.
Q: Have you heard from your family?
A: Yeah, they tried to drive back from Dallas today. They are trying to find a gas station that’s not jacking up the prices, or even a gas station that is open. The water has gone down on the freeways, so people are trying to go back to Houston to assess the damages. It’s great to see a lot of people pitching in.
Q: Have you seen what J.J. Watt has done?
A: Amazing. That’s amazing for him. I don’t know what his original goal was. It’s great that he is using his platform to be able to raise that type of money and give back to the city that he plays for. That’s huge. I feel like if more people with his type of status did stuff like that, that’d be a huge thing and more people would be involved. Big shout-out to J.J. Watt and everybody else who’s tried to do something.
Mitch Matthews – August 31, 2017 (Postgame)
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Thursday, August 31, 2017
Postgame – Minnesota
Dolphins WR Mitch Matthews (transcribed by the Minnesota Vikings)
Q: It’s got to be nice to get in the end zone, no matter what?
A: It just feels good, it was my first one, in the NFL wearing any uniform. I’ve been on a few teams, it was my first touchdown.
Q: How tough is it, with cuts coming up?
A: You just have to keep your phone by you, you know if it’s not with this team, it’s with another. I hope everyone here makes it somewhere. I hope it’s here, this is a great team. A lot of really good receivers here to run from, and I’m honored to be here and play pre-season for these guys. Like I say, just stay by your phone and hope for the best.
MarQueis Gray – August 31, 2017 (Postgame)
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Thursday, August 31, 2017
Postgame – Minnesota
Dolphins TE MarQueis Gray (transcribed by the Minnesota Vikings)
Q: Is it always good to get into the end zone whether it is preseason or regular season?
A: Yeah, it feels really good. Hopefully I can carry it onto the regular season, but like I said, anytime you can get into the end zone it’s a great feeling.
Q: What do you think your team showed throughout in the preseason?
A: We showed that we can play four quarters and that we’re in shape. We have been down in south Florida in the heat and coach Garrison got us ready for the preseason. Now it is time to carry it into the regular season.
Q: Do you feel this team is ready?
A: We still got things to work on. I don’t feel any team is ready. At the end of the day, that is what practice is for and we have to get ready for next week.
Q: How nice is it to relax now that you’re almost guaranteed on the 53-man roster?
A: I don’t know what is going on. I may have signed a contract extension last year, but you never know in this league. I just have to wait by my phone like everyone else and hope for the best.
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.”
