Jay Ajayi – December 21, 2016
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Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Running Back Jay Ajayi
(Both Offensive Coordinator Clyde Christensen and Head Coach Adam Gase have said all the last couple of weeks that the lower rushing totals are in no way a reflection of you. You’re running just as well and as hard as you did during the great streak. Does that make it less frustrating that maybe the yards haven’t been there as much?) – “You just have to go out there, no matter what the excuses are, and just get it done. We have to start producing more and just better on the ground.”
(After the game you had against the Bills in October, would you anticipate extra special attention from them?) – “I expect them respecting our rushing offense, putting a lot of guys in the box. It’ll be a tough day, but I think we still want to be able to get some stuff done on the ground, and we’re excited for the challenge.”
(What went so well for the running game that day?) – “I think we were just clicking. We were running hard. (We were) healthy. (We) just had a good day against them and we plan to have another good day this (Saturday).”
(Can you notice the opposing defenses really gearing up to stop the run? Is that obvious when you play a game?) – “You definitely can tell that they’re putting a premium on trying to stop our run game, which is opening up a lot of things for our passing game. We’ve seen a lot more plays down the field by our receivers, and it’s been good to see those guys make a lot of plays. We just want to keep having a good balance.”
(Offensive Coordinator Clyde Christensen said that he believed you’d been picked as a first alternate for the Pro Bowl. Have you been informed of that?) – “Yes, I have.”
(Does that do anything for you? I know you probably weren’t happy about it yesterday but…) – “It is what it is. You want to be in the Pro Bowl. First alternate, I guess, if someone doesn’t go, then you’ll get to go. So I’ll be grateful for that; but you just want to keep putting in work so that you end up being in, no matter what, automatically.”
(Did you have a lot of anticipation yesterday thinking that you would make it?) – “I was kind of seeing what would happen. I know they said that it was coming out. My agent called me and told me what it was, so it is what it is.”
(When you look across the field at defensive fronts, either live during a game or on tape, do you see a clear difference now in terms of crowding the line compared to maybe the first couple of games during the winning streak?) – “I feel like, again, teams are doing a good job of stacking the box. They want to make sure that they want to keep our run game at bay. That doesn’t matter to me. We still have to find ways to produce, still have to find ways to create yards, score touchdowns, and we haven’t been doing that so we have to get back to it.”
Jarvis Landry – December 21, 2016
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Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Wide Receiver Jarvis Landry
(Obviously there has been a lot of talk the past 12 hours about the Pro Bowl rosters and how it turned out. How disappointing is it for you?) – “We have a chance to make it to the playoffs this year and focus on one game at a time. That’s all really that matters.”
(Do you feel you’ve had as good a season as you’ve ever had in the NFL?) – “Nope. So far, I guess so; but the best is yet to come.”
(In what ways do you think you’re better now than you were when you first got into the league?) – “Just skill-set wise, being able to accept coaching from (Wide Receivers) Coach (Shawn) Jefferson and take heed to all the things that he’s been teaching me, the way that (Head Coach) Adam (Gase) continues to use me in this offense, the development of my leadership with these guys in here in the locker room and having the opportunity to do something special here. That’s more than a lot of people could say.”
(For a guy who – forgive me if the phrasing is wrong – has been known as maybe more like a possession-type receiver, how satisfying was it the last two weeks coming up with a 71-yard catch and then a 66-yard catch?) – “It was good to finally get in some space and have an opportunity to show my speed and make a play for this team. Hopefully we get a couple of more.”
(What’s one thing you’d like to add to your game moving forward?) – “Moving forward, to continue to build off making contact catches and yards after catch.”
(Knowing the way locker rooms work, I’m going to guess you probably got some good natured ribbing after the 71-yarder because you didn’t reach the end zone. That being the case, were you able to do a little payback after reaching it against the Jets?) – “A little bit. I think I kind of laid to rest all those slow jokes and things like that. So hopefully that’s dead now and people will respect that I have a little speed.”
(Who in here was giving you the hardest time?) – “Him right there. Kenny Stills. But we make it work.”
(How accurate was his impression? They showed it on the TV…) – “It wasn’t. I had to look back at it myself to make sure I didn’t put my head back. I didn’t put my head back. It was good form.”
(I saw you out there working in the summer with Pete [Bommarito], improving your speed the last couple of years. Do you know how much you’ve shaved off your 40 time since you got here from LSU?) – “I wish I knew, but all that matters is you don’t get caught. It doesn’t matter how fast you are.”
(You’re a big 40-man aren’t you?) – “No, I hate all that testing measurement stuff. I hate it.”
(Do you think you’re faster than when you got here?) – “Definitely. I’ve definitely improved my speed.”
(The mentality of this team going into Buffalo, obviously you guys kind of control your gate a little bit with the playoffs and it’s just a tough place on Christmas to play.) – “Yes, it is; but we’re excited. We’re excited for the challenge and this team, we’ve overcome a lot of adversity. We’ve been 1-4 and put together (six) straight. I think the attitude and the mentality has definitely shifted in a way that’s going to allow us to do some special things. Obviously we’re going to be tested in Buffalo, but it’s something we’re looking forward to.”
(How do measure the level of respect or lack thereof that this team has around the NFL? Is it where it ought to be for a 9-5 team, do you think?) – “No. But I’ll say it again, being around this group of guys in this locker room and just in this building period, there are a lot of blue-collar workers who, at the end of the day, are going to let the results and the record and the score and all that take care of itself.”
(You guys obviously spend a lot of time around QB Matt Moore. But with him not having started a game in five seasons, does a performance like he had Saturday, does that help boost confidence that he can get you guys to where you need to be for this playoff run?) – “There’s no doubt in our mind that he can. Obviously, he’s our starting quarterback now. Even stepping in the Arizona Cardinals game, we had no doubt that he can come in and do the things that he showed the world that he can do last Saturday. So for us, we just want to continue to put our best foot forward and make plays for him.”
(Did you hear that he’s the AFC Offensive Player of the Week?) – “No I didn’t. Well, congratulations to Matt. That’s how you do it.”
Clyde Christensen – December 21, 2016
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Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Offensive Coordinator Clyde Christensen
(With RB Jay Ajayi’s declining rushing numbers, have there been any cases where he’s just not hitting holes as well as he did during his great streak?) – “That has not been the case. It absolutely has not been the case. The funny thing is, a lot of times he’s doing a lot of things better than even the 200-yard games. Sometimes the 200-yard games, those things come gushing out. The hard ones are when there’s not much there. I said last week, those 2-yard runs could be minus-2-yard runs. I think he’s running the ball better at this time of year than at any time during the season. I think that’s where the stats can be misleading. Defensive fronts – we’re getting heavy, heavy fronts and heavy boxes. The young man is banging it up in there and (has) done a great job. He has stayed fresh. I thought he’d be beat up. It’s his first time, really, having that many carries in the NFL. Sometimes it’s hard to have your body prepared for that if you haven’t done it before. I think what he has done is unbelievably impressive. You can’t refer to him as a rookie, because he’s not a rookie, but as far as his first time, really, with this many carries and 1,000 yards, I think (it has been) really a great year. (He) has not declined. He’s actually playing better right now than at any point. He’s protecting better and doing a lot of things he didn’t do early (and) doing them really well. I think he’s really playing good football. A lot of things happen, but the biggest one … I think I told you that it seems like a good idea to have your name plastered all over that ESPN for 200-yard games except that it goes up in everyone’s locker rooms and defensive meeting rooms, too. (Laughter) You get a little more resistance, so that’s the downside of it. But (he has had a) really, really great year. He has got to do it this week. I really believe that the way he has protected the ball and the way he ran, he was a big key in jumpstarting this thing when we were sitting there at 1-4, and I think he’ll be a big reason if we have success in these last two games, especially in Buffalo. Speaking of this game, he’s going to have to bang up in there on hard turf, and they’re going to have a little hate on, and he’ll have to be big this week again. It’ll be hard sledding again.”
(Were you surprised that RB Jay Ajayi, WR Jarvis Landry and T Branden Albert were left off the Pro Bowl, and are any of those guys alternates do you know?) – “I think Jarvis and Jay are first alternates. I thought they had Pro Bowl years. I was surprised. I was disappointed for them. I do think that, again, I’m probably more disappointed than they are, just because this thing has been a team year. It has really been a good feeling, team feel to this whole thing. You haven’t felt anybody … Which is very unusual in this league, where it has been anything personal, and those two guys have kept plugging along. I think they’ve had Pro Bowl years. I think one of the things that (stands) out to me is we have to keep going and getting the respect for this franchise, this team, and get that back to where a lot of that, unfortunately, is how much you’re in the bag games on TV, what you do in December, playoff games – all those things. We have to get these guys … We have to keep going the way we’re going and get this thing back where it has a level of respect where those guys should be … They should be in the Pro Bowl in my opinion. Absolutely.”
(T Branden Albert, is he an alternate at all?) – “I don’t know that he is. I don’t know that.”
(WR Jarvis Landry’s hit on S Aaron Williams, after that you talked about technique issues. Did Jarvis address those? Has that been corrected?) – “Yes. He hasn’t had a penalty of that kind since. We said that we love the aggressiveness, we just have to lower our target on the thing. I think any coach would appreciate that. But, yes, he has. We certainly teach being within the rules, and we certainly don’t want to hurt anybody, but you certainly want aggressive guys. To find wide receivers who will go downfield and throw their body around is rare.”
(Are you happy with the balance WR Jarvis Landry strikes?) – “Yes, I am, especially between the whistles. I think we did get a post-play penalty since then, but we’re working to keep those down. We didn’t have any this week. We had two the week before. Those are important. Stuff is going to get critical, especially this game. They’re leading the league in rushing. Everything would point to a short game, and you can’t stop a drive with a 15-yard penalty. You can’t stop a drive with a holding call. You can’t give them an extra possession with the football. The way they’re playing right now is pretty darn obvious. I think (they are) 31st in passing and first in rushing. They’re playing short games (and have) a defensive head coach. I think that’ll be really, really a big factor in this football game. We’ve stressed that we can’t have any dumb penalties. We can’t be first-and-15. We can’t have third-and-3 and have it go to third-and-8. Those are big ones if it becomes an 8-10 possession game, which it could. It could up there.”
(In your coaching career, have you ever had a backup quarterback like QB Matt Moore? Does he remind you of anybody?) – “He does. He has always reminded me of Matt Hasselbeck. From the day I walked in this building, I’ve always said, ‘This guy is Matt Hasselbeck.’ He could start for a bunch of teams. He can play starting, good football. He’s accomplished. He has won some big games. He has got a magnetic personality, and he’s kind of a live wire. He’s a Pied Piper. The players like him. Scout teams like him. Hasselbeck had those same traits, which was really nice. I think they’re great, quality backups. They’re starters in many senses of the word, and then all of a sudden, you hit a hiccup. I think last week, the question was, ‘Are you worried?’ and I said, ‘I’m not worried a lick about Matt Moore.’ I was more worried about the backup – the backup at the No. 2 position going into the game – not having enough reps under his belt. But I have zero worries about him. I saw Hasselbeck do the same thing last year. (Matt Moore) really reminds me of (Matt Hasselbeck) – a veteran presence, but one of those personalities that people like. He loves football. He loves his job. There’s something extremely attractive about a guy who loves his job, and Matt Hasselbeck loved being a football (player). This guy loves football. This guy loves practice, meetings, games, scout team, routes versus air. He likes that stuff. I think if you were asking to compare him to someone, that would be my comparison. (They are) very, very similar that way. (They are) live wires and (they) have the ability to just keep going even when you may not play for, in this case, 12 games in a row. Not that many people can keep concentrating.”
(Five years for QB Matt Moore.) – “Yes, five years; and the guys who backed up those guys in Indy for a long, long time. You can go long chunks when you play behind a durable guy. That’s a unique characteristic to have to be able to do that and still keep yourself sharp, which I think we talked about last week at this same time, that he had kept himself sharp. I watched him out there Friday. He’s working, doing his due diligence. I watched him in meetings. I watched him there late at night at nine o’ clock in the evening. Not that many backups are (saying), ‘I’m not going to play anyway. Why am I going to miss dinner with the family and miss tucking the kids in.’ Even when he wasn’t playing, he was always around this building in the evening, doing extra work, making sure he was up on it. He probably did more than you do as a starter, because you have to. You’re not getting those reps; you have to manufacture them somewhere. I think that’s a great characteristic to have. It paid off for him, which was neat to see, last weekend. Sometimes hard work doesn’t necessarily pay off, but we all like to believe that in the end, it does. For him, it was quickly. I don’t think anybody inside there was surprised at what happened. (It was) great to see him get that (AFC Offensive) Player of the Week. That’s great stuff coming off the bench, on the road. That’s great stuff.”
(Regarding QB Matt Moore, the term gunslinger is associated with him, but it seems like in a way it does him a disservice, because he’s not a guy who takes chances throwing into tight windows and double coverage. At least that’s what I find. He likes to throw downfield, but it seems like he takes care of the ball. Can you talk about his decision-making? Does he throw any of those passes where you go, ‘Oh my goodness, where is he looking?’) – “He completed that one over there to Dion (Sims), and really, the read took him completely (somewhere else). We have teased him a little bit about street balling out there a little bit. (laughter) I questioned when Coach Gase started the read meeting this week. I said, ‘Do we really want to waste a meeting on reads? We throw them out the window.’ (laughter) But I did say that, ‘Why are we wasting time going through reads. This guy is going to throw it to the open guy.’ So, we teased a little bit about that. I think gunslinger is a complementary phrase – and to me – that he doesn’t have fear. A lot of guys who haven’t played in four years, five years – whatever it has been – would come in there tentative and start taking check downs and would come into the second half of the last home game and take check downs and be conservative and not want something bad to happen. When I use the term gunslinger, it’s a guy who comes in and goes. It’s not that he takes stupid chances. It’s not a derogatory (term). He walks down the main street of the Western (film), and he doesn’t have any fear. He walks down the main street, and the guy shows up and they have at it. (laughter) That’s the mentality, I think, of with gunslinger, not that you’re careless. It’s not a negative term, to me. It’s a positive term. There are a bunch of quarterbacks in this league that come into those situations that he has come into scared – not necessarily scared – but scared to make a mistake and checking the ball down and being over-conservative, not wanting to get hit. They don’t throw that ball up to Kenny Stills at the last home game and take the shot with the guy bearing down on him. That Cover Zero post that he threw – which was huge in the Jets game up there – they don’t do that. They want to start slow. If I gave any indication the term gunslinger was careless or derogatory, I wouldn’t mean that. That definition of gunslinger would be ‘unemployed,’ for me. (laughter) Those kinds of gunslingers are dead; they got shot. (laughter) Those guys are all extinct and three feet under now.” (laughter)
(With the sets where you had T Sam Young in as a sixth offensive lineman, have you gotten enough from that statistically where it offsets, obviously, the predictability element of teams thinking you’re going to run?) – “Yes, because we do … We throw the play-action. It’s not really as much … It’s really for personnel. At this time of year, those active spots are hard, and you have to manipulate them around, and (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase has to make some decisions, and he has got (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren) Rizzi in his ear, he has got the defensive guys, he has got us. Everyone wants their guys up, but you have to … It really was almost more because we couldn’t get the third tight end suited that it came up more than for the game plan. It’s pretty easy nowadays to balance it out, because you got the play-action on first and second down and you got the runs. Especially short term, I don’t think there’s a huge tip-off there. I’m sure defenses have a little something that they do, but there’s also a tradeoff that you do have a big ol’ body pass protecting. You have a big ol’ body in there at the point of attack on some stuff. Sam has done a good job. Sam has really done a nice job with it. I don’t know if I could back it up with statistics or not. I don’t think there have been enough snaps, really, of it, yet. At the end of the year, we’ll take a good, hard look at it. But a lot of it depends on if you have a guy you’re comfortable with and if he gives you a little better point of attack than maybe your third tight end. The biggest thing for us has been the roster spots, because of the injuries, because of some guys being down. Who are you going to activate and who are you not? That was really more the decision for us.”
(There are 1,000 sacrifices every week by players, coaches. What’s one to get you to this point that really stands out in your mind – one player, one coach – that sacrificed a lot to really get you to where you are?) – “Yes, good question. I think Matt (Moore), I’ll put Matt in that category as a guy who sacrificed a lot by doing the extra work that I talked to you about. He sacrificed time at home, being here in the offseason when he resides in California. He would certainly be one. (Laremy) Tunsil would be one. Tunsil and ‘Bush’ (Jermon Bushrod) would be guys that haven’t played that position. They could’ve been resistant, and they could’ve built in some excuses, and said ‘you know what, it’s not my position, it’s not this,’ but they just chug along, and they played hard. They started at those two guards for most of the season. Those two guys have been extremely unselfish and playing positions that they don’t usually play. Tunsil, and then all of a sudden we’re sliding him out to left tackle in the middle of the year. I think those two guys have been extremely unselfish. I love how Damien Williams plays the game. He’s a guy who makes a ton of big plays. This whole unit, we haven’t had any of the whining, ‘I’m not getting this, I’m not getting that.’ I’ve really been impressed with this football team, I think that’s been our strength as we’ve gone on this little mini run, if you will. The guys … You haven’t had that; you haven’t had that. That’s rare in this league. It’s rare in a big-market city. It’s rare on a team that hasn’t had a huge amount of success and some of those things. I think that’s really been a strength. That’s probably what I’ve been the most proud of being a part of is that these guys just keep coming, and keep going. Our theme this week was just keep your head down. They haven’t talked about this or that, that’s out in the future or somewhere. They’re just taking one game at a time, and nameless, faceless opponent, and just kept playing. Those would be a couple of individuals that I think have been really good. I’ve been impressed with Jay Ajayi. All of a sudden you have those 200-yard games and they could be a curse because you get frustrated, and then you’re mad and this, and that. Then all of a sudden you lose ‘Pounce,’ (Mike Pouncey) in the middle of the thing. He just keeps banging up in there. That’s rare that you don’t see a guy get too off-track trying to make too much happen, or get frustrated and lash out at somebody. All of those things would be … I think Ryan (Tannehill) this week. Ryan was exemplary. There he is in a cast; he’s on the sideline risking getting run over, over there. He didn’t have to do that. He could’ve sat in the box, in the comfort up there. He goes out there in the cold because he’s out there with his buddies. In every single meeting, I don’t think he missed a meeting. He’s contributing, he’s got his notebook out. A lot of these guys you see after they get hurt, they disappear. They’re not in the building. ‘Why would I come over here? Why am I here all night helping QB Matt get ready when I could be at home with my new baby, and my wife? I’m not going to play this week anyway.’ Ryan would be another great example of that. I’ve always been impressed with (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase’s humility – the sacrifices he makes. He works a ton of hours. It’s tough both calling the game and being the head football coach, and it’s his first year doing it. He’s made a tremendous amount of sacrifices family-wise. I think there are a lot of guys who have gone above and beyond. The whole unit – that I can speak for – has done that. You guys have covered a lot of NFL football. It’s not easy to keep things at peace. It’s a full-time job, right? You guys try to make sure that doesn’t happen too often. You don’t like those long periods of peace. (laughter) You guys are afraid you’ll get fired if it’s too peaceful in there or something. No, I was just kidding. (laughter) But the truth of the matter is that it is hard to keep it peaceful. The teams that do, you’ve got a chance to go past the ones that implode. That’s what we’ve sold to our team. If we just stay together … I’ve told you guys all along. Those first five games, our sideline wasn’t healthy. It wasn’t right. It didn’t feel like a winning sideline. Since then, we kind of just sold all along that, ‘Hey, if we just stay together.’ This league is kind of funny that way. Everyone has injuries, everyone … But if you just stay together, you’ve got a chance to just, at the end emerge and have done something pretty darn special. It’s hard. It’s not easy; it’s not easy. We say that to the players. ‘I understand it’s not easy being DeVante (Parker).’ You want to have a 1,500-yard (season), and maybe you’re behind the numbers you want. It’s not easy. It’s not easy to just keep working and keep improving. It’s hard. Their bodies feel bad. All those things go into it. So it’s a long answer to a short question, but I really do think that there have been a lot of individual sacrifices. There has been a great, great chemistry that way. I think we’ve all seen it, that the sideline feels different if we get behind, if things aren’t going well. We started off slow a couple of games, where the defense had to keep us in this thing. It’s not like everything has just gone smoothly. Guys just keep plugging, the sideline feels 100 … Like a winning sideline. ‘If we just hang tough, someone is going to make a play and we’ll get back into this thing and we’ll find a way to win it down the stretch.’ The blocked punt this week. That’s been really cool. It’s fun to be a part of. That’s the kick I get out of coaching. That’s great stuff. That’s why this is the best of the team sports, of them all. That’s why I love what I do. It is a team sport. It really does, as I tell you every week, change all the time. It’s a challenge to keep this thing rolling and keep everyone together. That doesn’t happen just by accident.”
(You mentioned QB T.J Yates, where are you guys at right now? How much does he know after being here only a week and a half?) – “Yes, he’s worked hard. He’s a sharp, sharp kid. He’s played football. He’s played a bunch of football. You don’t know, because we haven’t been able to give him a quiz. You don’t know until you throw him in there. But I was really thankful that we’ve got now a full week with him again. Every week is a good deposit in this thing. I think he’s … We obviously think he can function; but probably if he had to play three quarters of last week, we would’ve all been holding on … and nervous. Each week that goes by now, there will be more of a comfort level. The hard thing for us is with him is you can’t take Matt’s (Moore) reps, because Matt needs those reps to get him ready. It’s not like if it was Ryan (Tannehill) and he’s got five years and you’re in the system for five years and he doesn’t need all the reps. Matt needs all the reps, so it’s hard to slip (Yates) a rep or two, here or there. He’s just getting it mentally. I think he’s further ahead than he was last week. Hopefully we won’t need him for … Hopefully we won’t need him at all. He’ll keep preparing and each week we’ll have a little bigger menu. We had a small menu for him if he had to go in there. (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase had kind of a separate call sheet, or a highlighted call sheet, that had what he felt comfortable doing. You find a lot of concepts that they know, that they’ve done a bunch of times, even though it wasn’t here. If it’s flat-curl, he knows how to throw a flat-curl, he’s comfortable with it. You may call it Charlie where it used to be Clyde. It’s a different name, but it’s the same concept, so they know those kinds of things. You just kind of find those comfort levels, and I think we can function, but it wouldn’t be ideal. Especially at the line of scrimmage, and getting those calls – communicating with the center – those are the things you can’t simulate. Who’s the center going to be? We can’t get a bunch or reps with (Kraig) Urbik right now. It’s just impossible because Matt needs the reps with Urbik. We switched centers last week, so there are a lot of dynamics there. So we just keep getting him as far as we can and then we’ll all find out at the same time how far he’s come when … if and when he has to go into one of these football games. I actually thought at the end of last week about mentioning it to Coach Gase. ‘Hey, do you want to stick him in, and try to get him a few snaps and just see.’ It didn’t feel right between road (and) weather. We all know how quick these games can turn, and frankly Matt needed some reps. (He) needed every rep we could bank. We’ll see, we’ll see. He’s done a good job. He’s a sharp kid; he’s a veteran kid. They pick it up a lot faster than you think. That’s one thing that surprised me. I think a lot of the teams do a lot of the same concepts but everyone calls them by a different name. They pick it up faster. I’m always shocked how fast you can pick up a guard and he can just go in and start playing. They may call a combination block a tag, and the next one calls it a B, and the next one calls it a babe. Everyone calls them different, but they are still a combination. A guard knows how to combination with a tackle and with a center, and pass block his guy. They get further along quicker than what your perception would be, and what I’ve expected. I’m shocked how fast they pick it up, and they’re pros. They’ve done it for a living. They’re pros, and it’s amazing how fast they do pick it up.”
Darren Rizzi – December 21, 2016
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Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren Rizzi
(You obviously made the case for S Michael Thomas for Pro Bowl. Was he named as an alternate at all?) — “I don’t know that yet, actually. I haven’t seen the alternates. It’s unfortunate. Certainly, the guy that made it is a great player, but I certainly think Mike was deserving. Statistically, it would certainly tell you that, but I think more than the statistics, just what he does. I’ve said that multiple times. I’m disappointed for him more than anything, not me. (I am) disappointed for him, because I thought he was certainly worthy. I’ll see when the alternates come out if he’s even close, but I’m sure he’s somewhere in the mix, because he certainly has, I think, garnered the attention from the players and the coaches throughout the league. We’ll see what happens. It is what it is. I think Matt Slater is a guy that, again, is deserving; but I think it’s a little bit one of those situations where it’s like the baseball All-Star Game every year. Some of those guys that are name guys, recognition guys, are just going to get the votes. Again, not that Matt Slater is not deserving – don’t get me wrong – but sometimes, again, he’s the guy that has been the perennial guy, so I think sometimes when guys are looking at it, he’s going to get the vote.”
(How has S Walt Aikens grown in terms of the impact that he’s able make throughout his career?) – “Walt has really, in the last three years, made a marked improvement, I think, from his rookie season from a guy that was really just a raw talent to a guy that now really understands the ins and outs of special teams play. I think sometimes you come in and you think it is talent alone that’s going to get you where you need to get to. I think there are a lot of times those guys get humbled a little bit. I think Walt has been … He has kind of ridden the wave of the roller coaster a little bit. He has had some highs and lows, but I think right now – this last month of football that he has played – he has played his best football that he has played. He had a little bit of a lull there in the middle of the season where he wanted to play better than he was playing, but I think he gets kind of stuck with his plan – his weekly plan – in preparing himself. But you see what an impact he can make when he’s on top of his game and really in all phases. You mentioned last week about the punting down inside the 5, blocking a punt, kick coverage, kickoff return blocking, field goal block stuff. The thing about Walt is there are many different things he can do. He’s really a weapon out there. I think what you’re starting to see – and I’ve mentioned this before – is teams are starting to take note of where he lines up for us. So, we continue to keep him moving around, keep teams off balance. There’s only so much you can do. But I’m really, really proud of Walt. Again, here’s a guy that has come a long way. He’s a student of the game. I walk into the special teams meeting every day (and) where is Walt sitting? Right next to Mike Thomas. He knows where to sit. The good thing is watching those guys in the meetings. Those guys are always talking about things. They’re always communicating with each other, and they’re learning from each other. Listen, Mike will probably be the first guy to tell you he has learned from Walt as well. It’s a comforting feeling when I walk in and see those guys on the edge of their seats sitting next to each other ready to go. Hopefully, he continues to play at a high level, and like I said, I’m really happy for him, really proud of him.”
(S Walt Aikens got the block and the score. A special teams coach that I was around – Bill Stewart – he taught guys to fall on the ball, don’t try to scoop it up and score. What’s your train of thought on that when a guy is out in the open that way?) – “It’s a great question, because we actually teach our guys in different areas of the field. I think there are times when you want to scoop and score and times where you don’t. General rule of thumb: if we block a kick that’s behind the line of scrimmage, we’re rolling, we’re going, scoop and score. It’s fourth down anyway in most situations. There could be some end-of-the-game stuff where it’s not, but fourth down, behind the line of scrimmage, we want to go. If we block when it goes over the line, most of the time it’s going to be we’re in either a ‘poison’ or a ‘peter’ call, get away. Now, I will say this, there’s an added dimension of this extra point. It has added a new dimension to it because the play is going to be over. If we block it and it goes over the line on a PAT, now you’re seeing teams that are going to go scoop and score where on a field goal block, you’re going to let it go. It’s two totally different plays, because you run it back for 2 (points). That has been a new dimension that we’ve had to coach up these last couple of years. If we block a field goal (and) it goes over 10 yards over the line, we don’t want to return it. If you block a PAT (and it) goes 10 yards over the line, you’re going to find most coaches want to return. The risk-reward there is you get 2 points. There are some fine lines there. And then I’ve had many, many instances in my coaching career where you block one, and it’s hovering around. Is it over the line? Is it not over the line? In the heat of the battle it’s not really easy to tell, so what we tell our guys if there’s any indecision at all, we’re going to scoop and score. How many times have we all seen the ball on the ground, the guy goes in there to get it, and he misses it? I think Walt did a great job. We say, ‘Be quick, don’t hurry.’ It’s a John Wooden-ism, if you will. Be quick, don’t hurry. Surround the ball. Knuckles on the ground. He executed it exactly the way we work on. We do those things in OTAs and training camp where we actually have scoop drills and things like that. It’s a rarity to see a guy block it, scoop it and then score. It was a great play, great individual effort.”
(You’ve been here through four or five head coaches now and some lean times. Now that you’re here at 9-5, controlling your own destiny, do you look back at some of the sacrifices you and others have made to this point?) – “Every season is a new … As a football coach, every season is a new chapter. You turn the page. I’ve been fortunate to be here now eight seasons. I think the one thing about this particular season – and Coach Gase mentioned to the team yesterday – it was kind of a different vibe around the building I think. We really have a fantastic chemistry right now with the coaching staff and the players. I think there’s a really positive energy going around. I think even when we were 1-4, the thing that I was most impressed with – in my 24 years of coaching between college and the NFL – is that guys came in here every day with a great attitude. You wouldn’t have known in this building that we were 1-4. I think that goes back to (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase, and I think he has really developed a great attitude around here with the work ethic, the one-week-at-a-time philosophy. Our guys have really bought into that. At 1-4 where maybe the rest of the country thought the wheels were coming off the wagon here, he circled the wagons – if you will – and said, ‘We’re not going to go off of our mentality, because we’re 1-4. We’re going to stick with the same exact things we’ve doing every week,’ and it has paid off. I think the guys have really bought in. He’s an excellent communicator with the players. They feel like they can talk to him about absolutely anything. Again, I don’t want to really compare it to years in the past, but I think the sacrifices our guys have made this year is there was a complete buy in from the day that Adam walked in the door. I think there was a belief when he got the job with the coaching staff. I think there was a belief with the players. He’s a very energetic, positive person, and I think that has trickled its way through the locker room. It has been nice to see. It really has been.”
(Can you think of a player that has subjugated his role or took less money to get to this point, at least in special teams?) – “I’m kind of thinking through the whole roster, but even a guy like Cam (Wake) who just made the Pro Bowl, right? At the beginning of the season, Cam Wake took on a different role and has really done whatever we’ve asked him to do. If a guy like Cam Wake is doing it and the other guys see it … Here’s a guy that’s 34 years old, was injured last year, has been in Pro Bowls and all of a sudden, he’s back playing at a high level. If the rest of the building … If the rookies are coming in and they’re seeing a guy like that not afraid to maybe take a lesser role or do a different job, that really, to me, helps the entire football team. I think he’s a great example. It’s just the one that pops into my head right now; but really anything we’ve asked anybody to do here, there hasn’t been any kickback or anything like that. No one is really trying to buck the system. I think there has been a complete buy in and credit to (Head Coach) Adam (Gase) on that.”
(When S Walt Aikens talking about the block itself, he said one of the things that was in his head was you always teaching them, ‘Don’t expect that you’re going to get blocked. Don’t expect that everyone on the other team is going to actually do their job.’ Why do you stress that? Does it become kind of just a going-through-the-motions situation?) – “First of all, I’m proud of Walt for saying that. He’s right. In my years of experience, what I’ve seen is when you dial up a punt block or a rush, a lot of times you may game plan a particular person that you think might come free, and they protect it completely different. Listen, in the NFL, you have two seconds to get 10 yards. If you’re going to block a punt, the average snap to kick time is two seconds. No. 1: You can’t have any wasted steps. You have to have a great get off, off the ball. So, it’s very hard to block a punt. That’s why you don’t see a lot of them. My point on that is we don’t know how they’re going to protect it, so if you’re part of the rush, in your mind, you have to have the mentality that, ‘I’m the guy that’s going to come free every single time.’ If they don’t, what I’ve seen is a lot of times a guy comes off the ball a little bit slow and then he’s surprised that he’s not blocked and then he tries to accelerate, and it’s too late. That’s why a lot of times you see those just misses where the whole crowd goes, ‘Ohhh,’ and the guy just misses the block. How many times have we seen that? Hundreds of times. Usually in those situations, the guy comes off the ball, and he’s a little bit surprised that he didn’t get blocked but then he tries to accelerate, and you don’t have enough time. You have two seconds. From that snap to that … Your alignment to that block point, you have to be really exact in your technique, and I think that’s what Walt was saying. That’s something we try to drum home with the players: if you’re part of the rush you don’t have much time to get there. That’s really where he’s coming from with that.”
(What went into the LB Trevor Reilly for LB Zach Vigil swap?) – “Obviously, I’m not the personnel guy. I can talk about Trevor Reilly a little bit. Trevor Reilly played against (us). It’s funny, him and I were talking today that he has actually played now for every AFC East head coach. He’s an AFC East guy. He was with the Jets with Rex (Ryan) and Todd Bowles. He was, obviously, up in New England and now here. Playing against him, I can tell you this, we were pretty impressed with him. I was impressed with him as a special teams player last year. He played very well against us. I know he was cut at the end of training camp. I think he had an injury. We brought him in maybe a couple of months ago, tried to see where he was at workout-wise. (He) wasn’t 100 percent healthy, yet. I think it was a situation where we felt like he could help us (and) help the cause here down the stretch. Again, I’m not the decision-maker on who he comes in for, but Trevor Reilly, in particular, I think can help us on special teams, because he has played well, particularly in this division.”
(LB Trevor Reilly will probably play this week on special teams?) – “We’re trying to get him ready. Again, we’ll see what the decision is at the end of the day, but just like every guy – I’ve said that before – (we are) trying to get him ready to go. The good thing for us is he has played multiple spots, and he’s a very intelligent player. Meeting with him here the last couple of days, he has got a high football IQ, so that certainly will help him. (He is a) big, physical guy. (He) hasn’t played in any games since last year. Obviously, he was in training camp with the Jets and the practice squad with the Patriots, so I certainly know he has been well coached. Like I said, playing against him I’ve always been impressed by him being on the other side, so I’m glad he’s in our uniform.”
Vance Joseph – December 21, 2016
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Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph
(You guys held RB LeSean McCoy in check last time around. You would surely welcome the same effort this time around, right?) – “Absolutely. Obviously, last time he wasn’t 100 percent. He only played half the downs. It was an overall good effort. He had about what, 47 yards rushing? But he makes a difference. It’s different with him. He’s the best ‘make-you-miss’ back in the entire league. So 47 yards for him, that’s kind of wishful thinking that it’s going to be the same. He makes a difference.”
(What is the key this week? Obviously, we ask you every week about the run defense. The stats really haven’t changed.) – “Right. Well, the key is setting the edge. It’s an outside-running team. It’s an outside-running style that ‘Shady’ (LeSean McCoy) has. Setting the edge, gap integrity, swarm tackling is going to be key. He’s going to make guys miss. We have to hustle to the ball and get a bunch of hats to the ball.”
(When you say RB LeSean McCoy is the best ‘make-you-miss’ back in the league, what is it about his running style exactly that can kind of get defenders off balance?) – “Well, he’s got great feet. Great feet; great instincts. The first guy never gets him. That’s okay. Again, you need bodies around this guy, because he’s going to make guys miss. He’s fearless. He’s a great bounce runner. He kind of sucks you in and bounces outside and takes the edge. So it’s going to be a challenge.”
(Now when you say he’s a good bounce runner, does that also go into his ability to kind of set up his blockers as well?) – “Absolutely. He’s very, very patient. He has great vision. Again, it can be an inside running play, he kind of sells it, he can feel the edge being softened and he can kind of bounce it. Even though the play is designed to go inside, he can bounce it and bring it outside. I’m not sure his coaches know where he’s going to go. That’s dangerous for us.”
(A couple things on the linebacker corps. Obviously LB Kiko Alonso has had a very good year. How has he done against the run? And also, how tough has it been to have this makeshift group keep it together with LB Jelani Jenkins hurt, LB Koa Misi out for the year and now Kiko?) – “I think Kiko’s done well against the run. Again, the rushing stats or numbers, I think they’re important in some aspects; but the last month and a half, it’s been okay. I’m fine if we play 79 snaps and they rush for 120 yards, because rushing yards doesn’t always equal to points. It equals to burning the clock, and that’s fine with me. Passing yards is where the points are scored. So I’m fine with where we are in rushing defense. I wish we were top five, but I’m happy we’re winning. That’s more important than having great rushing stats. The linebacker group, it’s been a work in progress. Losing Koa, losing Jelani for half the season basically and having ‘Spence’ (Spencer Paysinger) and ‘Nev’ (Neville) Hewitt fill in. So it’s been a work in progress, but all of those kids have been good at filling in. It’s been a good group. It’s tough when you don’t have the same guys playing every week. That makes it tough. But who cares? No one cares. We have to go play.”
(Your Pro Bowl picks, I’d like to ask you about them separately. Your reaction seeing DE Cameron Wake selected, with the long road he’s taken to get back to this point.) – “Obviously, Cam had a horrific injury last year. He missed half the season, came back and worked hard in the offseason. He had a great camp and didn’t make his first start until Week 5. He’s had a great year. He’s had 4.5 sacks called back. He’s got 10 (sacks) with 4.5 called back, so he would be the leader in the NFL for sacks. Outside of that, Cam’s been a great leader. He’s been a great example for our young kids and that’s important. (Ndamukong) Suh has had a dominant year. Sometimes being an inside guy, his stats don’t reflect that; but for us, he’s been a dominant force. For coaches voting, for players voting, watching the tape, they know what he’s meant to our defense. Again, that being said, he’s been a great teammate. He’s been a great leader in the locker room. He’s been a great person. So that’s important also.”
(Is it as simple to say that if you guys control RB LeSean McCoy, you have a chance to win. If you don’t, you don’t. Is that too simple?) – “Absolutely not. They’re averaging 168 a game in rushing, 5.5 yards a carry, so it obviously goes through ‘Shady;’ but what makes it more difficult – if it was only ‘Shady’ it would be okay – it’s the quarterback. That’s an element that you can’t account for in the NFL because you see it twice a year. So if it was only ‘Shady,’ it would be an easier task; but when you bring the element of option football with Tyrod Taylor, that makes it tough. And ’35,’ (Mike Gillislee) the backup kid, is running the ball really well also. It’s obviously ‘Shady,’ but it’s the overall offense and who’s running the football makes it tough also.”
(I’m sure it wasn’t the plan to play CB Xavien Howard 68 snaps on Saturday. How did he handle that responsibility and also how was he after the game, coming off that injury?) – “He handled it well. Going into the game, we were hoping to play him 15 snaps and obviously, Byron Maxwell went down early, and he played 68 snaps and he played very well. That’s why he was drafted as a second-round player. He’s tall and long. He’s got great movement. He’s got a great demeanor about him. He’s kind of a relaxed, too laid back of a person; but that helps sometimes being a young corner. He just kind of plays. He was over Brandon Marshall for most of the night and it didn’t affect him at all. He did his job. He played leverage, he played technique and he did a fine job. He’s fine this week. He’s ready to go if ‘Max’ can’t go. He’s ready to go every snap.”
(You mentioned CB Xavien Howard’s relaxed demeanor. He was in trail technique a couple of times and as you said, he didn’t panic. One thing he did in particular, he kind of nudged the elbow of WR Brandon Marshall. A lot of times, that isn’t called. Is that kind of something that you guys teach a little bit?) – “Not really. His college tape, he was the best I’ve seen in years with playing the deep ball by not panicking. So what I saw Saturday night, that’s what we drafted him upon. So I wasn’t surprised he did that. Obviously, Brandon was grabbing him, pulling him through. So he was in trail most of the time on those deep balls; but he never panics. That’s a trait that young corners don’t have all the time. He has it naturally. So it was fun to see that trait come out Saturday night.”
(You guys obviously asked DE Cameron Wake to sacrifice at the beginning of the season and now, you’re reaping the benefits. Who else on your defense has made sacrifices to get you guys to where you are?) – “Well, I would think, obviously Cam. It was more of trying to preserve Cam for the majority of the season. So obviously Cam wanted to start; but we thought at the time, we thought he wasn’t ready to start and play 50 snaps a game. So Cam sacrificed a lot. Most of our veteran players – Cam, (Ndamukong) Suh, Mario (Williams), Andre (Branch), Jason Jones – all of those guys have given up a lot. We’ve got a young, young, young defense. So those guys have set an example for our guys. They’ve worked hard every day, even injured and hurt. Cam’s been sore and beat up. Obviously, Suh’s been sore and beat up. But they never complain and they show up every day. Obviously Cam – speaking of Cam – he’s sacrificed a lot. He’s probably sacrificed three more sacks because he would have been starting the first four games. He’d probably have 15 sacks right now with four called back. So he’s sacrificed the most, in my opinion. But our veteran players have all been great team guys this year. It helps.”
(Every week in the NFL, you see defensive ends and guys rushing up field on third-and-long, and then back sneaks out, screen pass. But you guys did a very good job of making sure that help is covered and making sure that you guys were aware of the backs. Is that something that you saw in film last week that you monitored and studied up?) – “Absolutely. Any time it is third-and-long, you have to have a mindset of screen game or check down. Our guys, again, they’re unselfish guys. Most guys want the sack on third-and-12, third-and-13; but our guys are very aware of the check downs, very aware of the screen game. Even last week, it was still tough last week with (Bilal) Powell because he’s such a good player. He caught it in space and made guys miss and got first downs early on in the ball game. But our guys are very aware of the screen, the check down game. That’s part of being not selfish as far as pass rushers. That’s tough to find in the league.”
(You spoke of DT Ndamukong Suh being a great person, a great leader this year. His teammates have said he’s been more of a leader this year in terms of speaking more. Was that a conversation you or Head Coach Adam Gase had with him in the offseason encouraging that?) – “Yes, because he asked what more can he do to help us win. We told him being a leader, because he does things right. Sometimes guys who are doing things right, sometimes they’re kind of on their own doing it right, and that helps us win also. But having a young football team, he had to be more vocal. He had to spread his wisdom to Jordan (Phillips) and those guys more often than he has in the past. So he’s been great at that. He’s a constant professional as far as taking care of his body, as far as how he studies. His football IQ is very high. So the more he shares with those young kids, the better they’re going to be in the future.”
(Have you seen DT Ndamukong Suh [sharing his wisdom] in action with some young players? Because him and DT Jordan Phillips ran out together on their player introduction the other day. It seems like it is rubbing off.) – “Absolutely. He’s been great with Jordan. He’s been great with Nick (Williams) and the room. It’s a veteran room for the most part, but Jordan is kind of the young guy in the room that needs guidance, and he’s been great with Jordan. Jordan is going to be a great player in the future. But he needs support from Suh. He needs a guy to kind of mentor him through this process.”
(The Dolphins are 0-4 in their last four trips to Buffalo. I know that doesn’t necessarily affect this game, but are players aware of things like that? And the team on the upper half, does it give them an edge and the team on the lower half, does it get in their minds?) – “I think our team right now wouldn’t be aware of that because we kind of preach that this team has never lost to Buffalo in Buffalo. This is a new team. They’re a new team. Every team we play, it’s a new opportunity for us. I would be surprised if guys knew that. Obviously, if they read it in your guys’ column, they’ll figure it out (laughter), but I would be shocked if they knew that. And I would be shocked if they cared. At this point, we’re playing with a great belief right now as far as the entire team. I think we’re confident. We’re going to work all week and give it our best shot on Saturday, so I would be shocked if they knew that and they wouldn’t care if they did.”
(Given the fact that this is your first year as a defensive coordinator, how much personally would it mean to you to make the playoffs?) – “It would mean a lot. I think for the entire team, the process, because when you’re a new staff, it’s tough to preach your process without success. Success allows the players to believe your process. You can have a great plan – a great process – and if they never win with it, why would a player believe it? So going forward for this entire football club, I think it’s important to win and have success because we’re going to be better in the future, obviously. But it’s important for players to know the process works. So going forward next year, we’re not selling the process. ‘Guys, you know it works. So let’s get better with the process.’ Adding pieces we need and adding more knowledge and more work. So the process helps you in the future, kind of sell the dream.”
(What was going through your mind on that play last week when DT Ndamukong Suh and DE Cameron Wake went unblocked?) – “I didn’t see it. I was watching the coverage and I kind of heard it a little bit. (laughter) That’s rare you turn both guys loose. It was a down where Suh was playing defensive end, so it kind of freaked the offensive line out because we were now split with our double-A (gap) look and Suh is usually our three-technique to the offense’s right, but he was the end to their left. So I think he freaked them out and they kind of squeezed it all. And they turned Cam and Suh loose. That’s too bad for the quarterback.” (laughter)
(We haven’t talked much this year about DT Earl Mitchell. He made a play in that game the other day that caused a 7-yard loss. He wasn’t credited for the tackle but he disrupted everything. What do you remember about that play and what does that say about Mitchell?) – “Earl is a guy that’s quiet but he plays so hard with so much effort. His best play of the night, to me, was the screen play. He kind of ran (Bilal) Powell down from the back after that. So he plays with great effort, and he’s a great example for Jordan (Phillips), because Jordan also plays hard. But Earl, his effort is off the charts. He’s probably the guy on our defense that plays the hardest all the time. It’s never a lack of effort with Earl. That’s a trait that most guys don’t have because if you play 30 snaps, all you get are 30 snaps, that’s rare. But he does it. He’s always been that way and that’s Earl’s positive for our defense.”
(LB Jelani Jenkins said that he had trouble slowing down and that he and (Linebackers Coach) Matt Burke talked at halftime and he would be used only as needed. Do you have any hope of having him again this season? What’s your feeling?) – “We’re hopeful. He’s been beat up an awful lot this year. He tried to go for us last week because he knew Kiko (Alonso) was kind of in between going. So he tried to go for us. He just couldn’t do it. But you commend him for trying and rehabbing all week and having his knee drained and all of those things. He tried to go but he just couldn’t finish for us. I’m not sure (if we will have him again this season) and hopefully we’re playing longer than two weeks and he can come back and help us win.”
(With WR Sammy Watkins back in the lineup, is there anything that you kind of take a note of in Buffalo’s offense since he’s been back in the fold?) – “Well, Sammy, he’s a great player. He’s a big, fast receiver. He’s the No. 1 guy. He’s no different than a Julio Jones, one of those guys. Obviously, on third downs and on critical pass downs, we have to make sure we take care of Sammy. It’s apparent on tape. He’s on the field; he’s the primary target.”
(Are you expecting CB Byron Maxwell this week? Is it 50/50? What would say it is?) – “It’s 50/50. Yesterday was more of a jog-through. Today is more of a real practice. So we’ll see. We’re hopeful for him to practice on (Thursday) and kind of give us an idea of where he’s at tomorrow.”
(Do you guys have a practice [Thursday] or is that just a walkthrough?) – “Well it’s a practice. There’s practice on (Thursday). So we’ll see where’s he’s at on (Thursday).”
(How often would you say you guys have lined up DT Ndamukong Suh at defensive end?) – “Probably, I think the entire season probably about 20 times. And again, it’s weekly. It’s weekly because he draws so much attention and it is tough when you have Cam and Suh on the same side. It makes it easy for the offense to turn everybody and block them. As we go forward, we have to do more of that stuff to kind of give him a chance to get one-on-ones and to avoid getting our two best rushers blocked with four guys. So going forward, we’re going to do more of that.”
Cameron Wake – December 20, 2016 (Pro Bowl)
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Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Defensive End Cameron Wake (Pro Bowl Quote Sheet)
(What does the honor of being selected to the Pro Bowl by fans, coaches and fellow players mean to you?) – “In my opinion, being selected to the Pro Bowl is the highest honor, specifically because it is selected by people you play against and people you play for. It shows they respect the way you play, how you play the game, and I’m truly honored to represent the Miami Dolphins in this year’s Pro Bowl.
(Is this Pro Bowl more meaningful based on what you had to overcome in returning from such a serious injury) – “Aside from the first one, this one is probably the most meaningful, especially because of the situation that happened last year being cut short and having to work tremendously hard all the way from last December until now. To be able to be back on the field and help my team win, it means a lot to me. It shows all the hard work, the late nights, all the pain and suffering makes it all worthwhile. I know my family and support system – the people who got me through all the hard times – really appreciate this honor.”
(What does it say about this team that two players on the defensive line were selected to the Pro Bowl?) – “From Day 1, we knew that this defense was going to rely heavily on the guys up front, the guys getting after it. The reality is we wouldn’t be able to do our job without the guys in the back end and the guys covering, the linebackers making plays. I think this truly is an honor that everybody takes part in, not just myself and (Ndamukong) Suh, but all the guys who make it possible to make plays on Sundays, from the coaching staff, to the guys on offense playing hard and practicing to make it difficult for us so that Sundays we all can succeed. This is not just on a couple guys; this is everybody putting in energy and effort. I just happen to be one of the guys that made the plays.”
Ndamukong Suh – December 20, 2016 (Pro Bowl)
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Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh (Pro Bowl Quote Sheet)
(What does the honor of being selected to the Pro Bowl by fans, coaches and fellow players mean to you?) – “It’s always an honor to be selected to the Pro Bowl. I will always take great pride of the respect and acknowledgement from the coaches and peers, but nothing beats knowing that you have the fan’s support.“
(What makes this Pro Bowl selection different or more special than the others in your career?) – “Again, it’s the fans. Knowing that they support your efforts day-in and day-out and showing up like they do on game day means everything. Having them vote to represent the team is something special.“
(How meaningful is it that DE Cameron Wake will be joining you, especially with the injury he had to overcome?) – “It’s always great to enjoy the Pro Bowl festivities with your teammates on offense or defense; but it’s even more special to have a fellow defensive lineman on the team that you play with, especially a guy of Cam’s caliber. He overcame what most consider to be a career-ending injury. That’s the biggest comeback I’ve ever seen.“
Ndamukong Suh – December 20, 2016
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Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh
(How has your team changed from the last time you played these guys? What’s the biggest difference?) – “I think we understand our focus and what we need to do to win games. That (game against Buffalo) was at the very beginning of it, when we were going against them. As you grow as teams and as weeks go by, if you’re doing well, you’re finding other ways to win. You’re figuring out your weaknesses and making sure that you are not allowing them to become weaknesses, or continue to be weaknesses, more or less.”
(RB LeSean McCoy is one of the most productive backs in the NFL this year. You guys have struggled against the run most of the season, how do you address that in this particular game?) – “It’s simple: tackle. He’s an elusive back, and he’s a guy that is very hard to get down; but we have to find ways to tackle, and really just go from there.”
(So you think that, that’s the issue? The tackling has been the issue this season?) – “It’s getting him down, which is a form of tackling.” (Laughter)
(Tonight the Pro Bowl selections are coming out. What would it mean to you to get selected, and would it be any different given that you didn’t make it last year? Would it be extra special?) – “It’s always an honor to be seen as a Pro Bowler from your peers, and the fans – as well as the coaches. So, if I’m lucky enough to be a part of it, I’ll take it, and go from there.”
(Is their offense, does it all revolve around RB LeSean McCoy, or do they switch it up?) – “I think it all revolves around their run game, which predominantly starts with him. But, also their quarterback is a part of that as well. I think overall, their running back corps, including the quarterback, is really the main focus to starting the engine of their offense. Then, obviously, they move into the passing game in certain situations, and going from there.”
(DE Mario Williams was talking about how together this team is. Even though he’s banged up, he’s like ‘I don’t care, I do my role.’ What is it about this staff and this team that these special games in December are able to happen?) – “I think we put our minds together to focus and understand what we need to do, especially after having a rough start. Everybody’s played their parts. That’s what it’s about. This is the ultimate team game, and every guy has got to be in their right positon and do their particular job, and things should move in the right direction. Some situations it doesn’t always work out that way, as we felt earlier in the year. As of late, we’ve been feeling everybody is doing their job, doing it the right way, and we’ve reaped the benefits of that.
(How tough is it for the staff to make the moves … I mean they made some difficult decisions … They’re genuine though, these guys understand it. Is that rare?) – “I don’t really focus on those things. At the end of the day, I have to focus on what I have to do for this team to be successful. Whoever’s out there with me, I feel comfortable with them, as I’ve played with them all the way through camp, and through OTAs and what not. As long as you’ve been on the team, we don’t have really many new guys, so I feel comfortable with whoever’s out there.”
(A lot of defensive linemen, they get fooled into rushing up field, especially on third-and-long, and things of that nature. But you guys were playing extremely smart, recognizing some of the screens, snuffed out some of those screens. How were you guys able to do that? Was it a matter of film preparation? Was it something that you saw prior to the game?) – “What game are you speaking of?’
(The Jets) – “The Jets? I think at the end of the day, you watch film and you understand what teams want to do in certain downs, and down-and-distance. When they have telling things that they want to do, you recognize that, and you anticipate it; but at the same time, you play what you see.”
(Is it possible, that the Jets game was the best game that yourself and DE Cameron Wake have played as a tandem on the defensive line? Obviously, you were both very obvious making plays, one after the other.) – “I think this is really the only true year we’ve had the opportunity to play all games together. We haven’t finished the season, but he was only available for (seven) games last year, with obviously having an unfortunate incident, which I believe was in (Game 7). At the end of the day, Cam is very productive. I pride myself on being very productive and the defensive line realizes that we are resources where we have to be at. We go out there and be productive no matter what.”
(In all candor, was there ever a time after 6-10 last year and 1-4 this year where you thought ‘Am I going to win here? I’m used to winning some in Detroit.’ Was that ever a thought that you even wondered about?” – “It just comes down to hard work and understanding (you’ve) got to get the right people, the right schemes, and the right understanding of how to win games. I think you create a culture of that, and we’ve done that at the beginning of this year. It took a little bit of time for it to kick in, but it’s obviously kicked in, and we just have to continue to build off of that.”
