Clyde Christensen – December 14, 2016
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Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Offensive Coordinator Clyde Christensen
(Before we get to QB Matt Moore, I’d like to ask you a running back question. League wide, you have got guys who were picked in the fifth round, Bears RB Jordan Howard, RB Jay Ajayi, you have RB Robert Kelley in Washington, and you have what’s happening in Green Bay. It just seems like a lot of places in the league, these guys are coming out of nowhere. What do you see happening? What does it say about the position?) – “It’s just … It’s a little bit hard to judge, especially coming out of these colleges now that it’s not like the olden days where everyone was in the I-formation. You could evaluate a tailback. Now they’re coming out of spread offenses. Jay comes out of Boise. So I think it’s a little bit harder evaluation. You’re going to have more guys who just kind of hit from some of those different rounds. Maybe you don’t get as much information on them evaluating them. So I think it says there are a lot of good running backs out there who maybe play for teams that don’t run the ball as much. There’s not enough evidence to go quite as high drafting them and stuff. So that would be my guess at it. It’s inexact like every other position. But it is one of those positions (where) sometimes they mature later. Sometimes some of the ones who you think are going to be so good have carried it so many times in college that their bodies are beat up a little bit. I think all of those things play into it a little bit. I think the biggest thing is just the spread and everyone being in the (shot)gun. It’s not like it used to. When I first came in the league, you’d watch a tailback and they all ran Power O and they all had a fullback in front of them and they all got their 25 carries a game, and you compared them to each other. It’s a lot different comparing them now. It’s a lot harder.”
(Do you tailor a game plan specifically to QB Matt Moore or do you keep things the same as they were under QB Ryan Tannehill?) – “I think probably both. You’re going to tweak it, but for the most part, it’s going to be what it is. There are some things these quarterbacks like. Friday, when he sits down with (Head Coach) Adam Gase, he’ll probably talk about likes and dislikes on the game plan. But, I think the game plan was kind of done the same and we haven’t changed a whole bunch there. Just by the end of the week, we’ll kind of fall into, “Hey, here’s what he’s really comfortable with and here’s what he’s not.” But you kind of know that. We’ve had him. We went through this whole install. This whole year has been about figuring out what guys do well, what guys don’t do well, what things guys are comfortable with, what things guys aren’t comfortable with. So it really is probably a benefit that we are new, that we did evaluate the whole thing in that lens of, “Hey, what can these guys do? What are they comfortable with?” I don’t think you’ll see any massive changes.”
(What do you like most about QB Matt Moore?) – “I’ve always, since the day I walked in here, just loved how he played the game. I think he wears it on his sleeve. He loves football, he loves flinging it around, he loves the position. I think he was one of the guys who I really liked the first time I came in the building and just started watching the tape. I think, remember there was kind of talk whether we were going to re-sign him, whether we could re-sign him. I thought he was really an important guy. I just like him. I like the way he plays the game. I like that he goes out and tries to win football games. He doesn’t play scared. He doesn’t play hesitant. I like the way guys respond to him. He’s one of those guys that’s kind of a Pied Piper in the locker room that guys are attracted to and that guys enjoy being around, and he’s a live wire. He’s not unlike our head coach. He’s a cut-it-loose and let’s go try and win a football game guy. I don’t see any chance that he’s not ready to play this football game and go throw himself around a little bit and try to win a game up in New York.”
(Head Coach Adam Gase said that Matt Moore likes everything as far as sitting down with him and getting to know the types of things he likes. Has that been your experience with him?) – “That has. That’s what you kind of like. Just, ‘Hey, you dial it up and I’ll make it work.’ That’s a great characteristic to have, that you’re not scared. Some guys have demons from their junior year in high school. They threw an interception on this concept and, ‘Don’t call that.’ (laughter) I actually accuse Gase of that a little bit. He’s got a few back there in the past that he’s got to still exorcise. We’ve all got our demons, I guess. But (Matt Moore) doesn’t. This guy is just, ‘Hey, you dial it up and I’ll make it work.’ So he’s really, he’s great that way.”
(Did he show up a little bleary-eyed today? He’s had a big week.) – “You know what’s amazing? In fact, I was teasing a couple of the other guys who have pregnant wives. He was no drama. All of a sudden, I saw him at 11 and he had the baby. It’s kind of like everything … There was no drama to it. He just went in, had the baby, back in the office, had his notebook at 11 o’clock. So we were actually challenging a couple, we have a couple coaches with wives who are pregnant. I said, ’Hey, learn from him. Let’s go no drama. Do it on the right day. We don’t need to miss any meetings. Don’t do it during the red zone meeting or something like that. Everyone’s got to be on the same page on this, including the wives and doctors.’ (laughter) He actually was no drama. He really did. He showed up at 11 with his notebook. He goes, ‘We had it already. We’re done.’ And on with the game plan.”
(11 o’clock yesterday morning?) – “Yes, (we met at) 11 o’clock yesterday morning. Don’t hold me … Approximately, yes. But I remember … That’s beautiful. Off day, has his baby quick and easy (on Monday) and back in the routine. So that’s great stuff.”
(A lot of the players after the game Sunday, the receivers specifically, mentioned if QB Matt Moore was going to be the guy, the term they kept using was, ‘gunslinger.’ Does that make you nervous? He’s a guy that is known as a gunslinger. He’s not going to run. He’s just going to fling it.) – “It’s the best term you can use with (Head Coach Adam) Gase. I probably get a little bit more nervous than Coach Gase does, but no. By ‘gunslinger,’ I just think that there isn’t fear. He doesn’t play scared. I would say this too, from my standpoint, what (Ryan) Tannehill did, I would say I admire the guy. It’s amazing what he did. It’s amazing. It’s a hard position to play, especially when you come into a program that’s maybe not going to the playoffs. There is some transition and different coaches and stuff. I’d go on record saying that one of the things that was attractive to me in this job was Tannehill. His resiliency and stuff like that. I know you didn’t ask about him, but I just want to take the opportunity there because I wanted to make sure I said about what he does physically. It’s hard. It’s a hard job. It’s a hard job in all cities, but it’s a tough job. The guy’s a tough guy. I admire him. I admire how he’ll handle this injury the same way and go from there. But back to the question, the ‘gunslinger,’ no, I think that’s a compliment. I think it’s kind of a compliment that you’re not tip-toeing around scared. You don’t have to take a guy … There are some guys you have to go, right now you’d be clammed up and going, ‘Hey, we can’t do this. We can’t do that.’ And you’d have to be overly cautious, and this guy is not that. We said from the very beginning, I thought he was one of the top backups in the league – one of the backups that literally could start for a team, that he could go to a lot of places and start. He’s better than a lot starters in this league. That’s what you’re kind of looking for – the guy who has won games. He’s been on stretches where he’s won streaks of games. That’s an important guy. He’s a little bit like your insurance, right? You send that insurance premium in all the time, and you’re thinking, ‘Gosh, it’s a waste of money.’ Then all of a sudden you need it. Then it looks awful darn smart. I do think that’s why you do exactly … This is a situation where you want a quality backup who can go in and win games and lead the charge and lead the troops into New York City and try and win a football game. I think we’re really fortunate to have him and ‘gunslinger,’ I think he is. We’ve laughed. He’s not afraid to let one fly down the field. He’ll take some changes and he’ll do a great job.”
(When you played the Jets the first time, they were the No. 1 rush defense. They’ve had a precipitous drop. They’re 17th now. What do you see the difference? What are they struggling with now that they didn’t back then?) – “Yes, good question. They’ve had some injuries. They’ve played some teams that rush the ball well. The funny thing, they were 16th in the league on third down and now they’re eighth. They’ve improved third down. Sometimes it’s what people are trying to do to you. So I don’t know the answer on that. They gave us all we wanted in that first game. I think we were no turnovers and still hanging on with an onside kick at the end. So they’re formidable. They’re big guys. Sometimes it’s just circumstances. Sometimes it’s who you’re playing. Nothing jumps off the tape that, ‘Boy, they’ve changed this. Now they’re giving up runs.’ It’s kind of funny how that thing goes. We couldn’t run it at all and all of a sudden we’re rushing for 200. Nothing really changed. But, it’s just kind of this league and then all of sudden something gets going or someone gets going on you, and it just kind of snowballs. I don’t have a good clean answer for you on that.”
(What’s been your experience with quarterbacks with sprained knees? How long does it take?) – “I’ve got no idea. The one thing I do know is that there are some guys who are just great rehabbers. I think (Ryan Tannehill) will be that. Peyton (Manning) was that, (Andrew) Luck was. Reggie (Wayne) was that. They’re fast healers. I’ve seen … I always used the example that I’ve seen … You ought to be a pain in the trainer’s neck. I’ve seen quarterbacks who had to have a trainer spend a night at their house, and they’re kind of on the ding-a-ling-a-ling and you’re down treating the thing. The guys who are professional at everything, are professional rehabbers. That’s what this guy will be, and I’ve seen it. And some guys aren’t. Some guys are slow healers, and you can’t find them in the training (room). The ones that are great healers are the ones that are all over it. They spare no expense. I’ve got some great stories for you along those lines but it’s just amazing how they rehab and how they attack it. That’s what those guys who you’ll see are just consistently playing. They just kind of refuse to be hurt, if you will. I’ll be shocked if Ryan’s (Tannehill) not exactly out of that vein, and just attack the rehab, like they attack everything else.”
(How about QB T.J. Yates as opposed to QB Brandon Doughty?) – “It wasn’t as opposed to. It’s both. We did want to get an experienced guy in here. There hasn’t been a depth chart that’s come out for the ballgame yet. We’ll get them all prepared. We’ll get a look at them and we’ll see how they all pick it up. We were hoping that we could redshirt Brandon. We think he needs some … But we may or may not have that luxury. We’ll just see how this thing goes. I don’t think anything is kind of written in stone. There is still a long ways to go, as was my experience last year right. We went into Game 16 with an Uber driver and a guy from some semi-pro team in Coney Island, was selling Coney Island hot dogs. (laughter) There is a long, long ways to go, and a lot of curveballs still. After last year, a lot of things can happen. You just keep rolling. As I’ve said to you guys all the time, that’s what makes this job kind of fun. It’s never the same each week, and you still find a way to win a football game.”
(What have you seen from QB Brandon Doughty during practice, that hints that there’s development and he’s ready to play in an NFL football game?) – “(I’ve seen) him picking up the system, him progressing, him being in it for 16-18 weeks now. (There is) just a comfort level with things, him working with those players, throwing to those receivers and stuff. I think we’re not discouraged with Brandon. That would be a misinterpretation. The point was we need to get another guy in here so we … Again, that we have two healthy guys and how we end up doing it by the end of the week, we’ll have to wait and see. But again, the short week makes it a little more complicated, and Ryan’s (Tannehill) injury makes it a little more complicated. How long it is, and all of those things none of us have answers to those questions yet. Brandon’s developing, Brandon’s coming along. It’s hard to say he can do this. Until you get in a game, you don’t know what he’ll do. Some guys come in, and the lights come on and they come alive, and they’re way better. And you’re shocked. You’re like ‘Man, I didn’t see this at practice.’ And some guys are great at practice, and you stick them in a game, and they lay an egg and you’re surprised that way. We won’t know until we stick him in a game. I think that’s part of the reason you do take a little insurance and get a veteran guy who’s been in football games. That’s not a negative reflection on Brandon in any way – not in any way. If you would get that impression, you’d be incorrect.”
(What’s your level of concern starting a guy who hasn’t prepared to start in five years?) – “You know what? Very minimal, because we went and got a veteran guy, because it’s Matt Moore. Almost none. I’m more worried probably about the backup position than I am the starting position. I just feel really, really comfortable with this guy. This guy has worked hard. The pros … I’d be really worried if it was a guy who … It’s hard to concentrate when you’re not sure, you don’t think you’re going to play. You go 13 weeks and you haven’t played at all, it’s hard to keep practicing. It’s hard to keep studying. It’s hard to keep doing … And this guy’s been excellent at that stuff. You’ve seen him out there after practice, getting his throws. You see him working through the scripts every day. You see him taking receivers out there on Tuesdays and throwing some. So I’m really, really … I’m more concerned, we’re more concerned, probably with the backup than we are him. He’s going to come in and do a great job. I don’t have any doubt about that.”
(How would you assess C/G Anthony Steen’s last game and is he first-team center this week?) – “We’ll continue on the way we’re going. We felt like we have to smooth out some of the operation things. We’ve had some trouble with the operation thing. It was not an easy day to be a center in there, both because of what they do defensively, the weather, all those things. What we do at the end of this week, I don’t know. We’ll keep working (Kraig) Urbik in there some. We’ll keep giving some guys the reps. Then, like every week, by the end of the week, by Thursday or Friday, we’ll make the decision. ‘Hey, here’s the direction we’re going on this thing.’ And we’ll go with it, and again, you’re still one snap from either of them playing, so you still prepare two and have a third ready for an emergency. So I don’t think anything’s really changed that way; but we do have to get better with our operation. We have to get better with our timing. We have to get better with our calls. We have to get cleaner with that stuff. It’s a little bit of a concern. Now you have a new quarterback in there, and all of that communication, and then going on the road complicates it all, because you are going to have a little bit of noise issues.”
(WR Kenny Stills has been pretty good at making adjustments on the deep ball. What has been your experience with him and can you talk about how good he is making those adjustments?) – “I think the hard thing to find in this league is big-play guys. I think, whatever he’s in, the top five or six in yards per catch, so I think he’s been … He’s made some big, big plays. He gets behind people. He’s made his plays and so that’s a hard guy to find, and we’re much better when we get those big plays out of him and DeVante (Parker) and then Jarvis (Landry) makes his in the way only Jarvis can make them. If we can get all three of those guys – as I’ve said before – if we can get all three of those guys hitting on all cylinders every single Sunday at the same time, we have something pretty darn special. But he continues to run by people. He’s made some awful big plays. The one thing I think about him is you’re happy for him because of all the people since I’ve been here, you just saw him every single day in the offseason. The guy put everything he had into this year and worked as hard as anyone on this team. I probably saw more than anyone and then he had a mishap, had a hiccup in the opening game, and you’re sick to your stomach, because the guy had worked and worked and worked and just had such a great offseason. So it is fun to see him kind of get the dividends from that hard work, because as a coach, you’re always about, you sell, ‘Hey, you prepare, you work hard and things will go well for you.’ That’s what coaching is kind of about. That’s what we sell. So it’s really kind of fun and good to see him, because he worked his tail off. I mean, I can’t tell you how hard that guy worked this offseason to give himself a chance to have a great year.”
(In the big picture, does anything change for the offensive line now that C Mike Pouncey has been put on injured reserve and there’s no longer that specter of uncertainty? Is he coming back? Is he not coming back?) – “I don’t think so. I really don’t. I really don’t because we started off the season in the same boat. No one knows how long he’s out for. No one knew if it was a couple weeks, half the season or the whole season. So I really don’t think so. I really think this team’s been really good at just being resilient and whoever goes in there has to get the job done – whoever that is. We preach it from … I think I told you guys the first time I met with you, that it’ll probably take the 53 (players) plus another 15 or 20. That’s the case. That’s the case in the NFL. If you’re practice squad today, you may be starting Game 16 trying to get the last playoff spot. You may be starting a playoff game. That’s the nature of this league and that’s why you have to do a great job personnel-wise and have the right guys on the practice squad. And that’s why you have to have the right system as far as practicing them, that when they come up, they can just … You don’t miss a beat. That’s why it’s really, really important, which we’re learning this year. It feels like everyone in the league is kind of in the same boat. That between the injuries and all the different things, you’ve got some odd lineups and it’s just ever changing and stays fluid. The ones that can manage that, keep winning, and the ones that can’t, implode, and it falls apart. So knock on wood, so far our guys have just stepped in and gone. I don’t have any reason to think we won’t just do that again for these next three weeks.”
Branden Albert – December 12, 2016
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Monday, December 12, 2016
Tackle Branden Albert
(Any injury to anybody is obviously going to hurt any team. But to lose your star, starting quarterback, what are the emotions right now for you guys?) – “Yes, it’s tough, especially him being the quarterback. I personally know what he’s going to have to go through to come back. It’s tough, but playing football things happen sometimes. You’ve just got to make sure that you support him as a teammate, and make sure that you’re there the best you can.”
(It seems like even now you guys are emotional. Just talking to us right now, it’s hitting you guys pretty hard.) – “Yes, because you know that Ryan (Tannehill), I don’t think he’s missed any games. He’s always there for us, and he’s always available and he always put it on the line. I feel bad for him.”
(Do you all appreciate what a leader he is for the offense? Is he underappreciated by a lot of people outside of the locker room?) – “Yes, because of his toughness, and all of the stuff that he’s been through in his career, outside of football. He’s still out here fighting with us every Sunday. You just got to give him his credit.”
(Did you say anything specifically to QB Ryan Tannehill after the hit?) – “No, I just was like … I just felt bad for him. I just know I’ve been there before, especially when something that unexpected happens. Then when you get the news that it is what it is, especially the competitor that he is. I know how it feels.”
(Have you lost a starting quarterback in your NFL career?) – “No, I don’t think I have. I don’t think I have.”
(Is QB Ryan Tannehill as resilient as anybody you’ve seen? He takes a hit.) – “Yes, I think so. He just keeps on ticking. For that to happen, you realize that there was something really wrong with him. Like I said, you just feel bad for him.”
(When it happened to you, you said that you would be back right away. Is there any doubt that QB Ryan Tannehill…) – “Yes, yes, yes, there is no question that he will be back and will be back in form, because he’s that type of guy, he’s that type of competitor, and he has that type of drive.”
(How big was the pass to WR Kenny Stills and getting the win yesterday with QB Matt Moore once he took over?) – “It was big. I think it was a confidence boost for Matt that he could get the job done and I think for our team. Kenny came up with a big play yesterday, and allowed us to win the game.”
(From training camp or the preseason action you’ve had with QB Matt Moore, with him going with the ones on the o-line, what makes him different? He’s certainly not as mobile as QB Ryan Tannehill, but what other changes may be tough for you guys?) – “There’s not a lot of difference, but it’s just two styles of quarterbacks. That’s all. There’s not a big … Ryan is probably more athletic, but Matt can get the job done too.”
(Are you going to advise QB Ryan Tannehill on ‘This is what you’re going to go through? I’ve been there, done that.’) – “Of course, because I think it’s only right, especially being there, and just letting him know that there’s going to be trying times. There are going to be days where it seems like things aren’t going right for him, but he’ll come out of that.”
(Is the rehab that he’s going to face as tough mentally as it is physically?) – “I think it’s more mentally tough than physically, because of the little things that you go through on an everyday basis you take granted, they are taken away from you. But he’ll be fine.”
(You came out for a couple plays, was it just because of the footing or what?) – “No, no, no. I just had a little knock on my hand a little, but I was fine.”
(Because, you weren’t going to stay out?) – “No, I’m never going to stay out.”
(How would you describe QB Matt Moore’s personality?) – “Real professional. He’s a guy that he’s going to be somebody that’s ready to step up. A guy that has … You can tell that he’s a quarterback. He’s real comfortable doing what he’s doing, even though he’s a backup.”
(I haven’t watched QB Matt Moore play a lot. Is it true that his arm strength and downfield throwing is part of what he does well?) – “You have to understand that I don’t … Honestly, I really don’t pay attention to stuff like that. I really don’t, I don’t. Because, all the guys that are skill players, to me, are fast. A lot of people say that Jarvis (Landry) isn’t fast. I feel like Jarvis is fast. So, I honestly don’t know. I just block. I try to do my best. I can’t criticize somebody on how they pass the ball or how far they throw the ball.”
(What would it say about this team with all of the body blows you’ve taken to get to those 10 wins, 11 wins to make the playoffs?) – “It will be big for us. I think it will be big for us because we do have a lot of key injuries, but I think this team is pretty resilient. We’ve got a real good coaching staff. I think we’re just going to show what type of guys, the next-man-up mentality we have.”
(How much does the team have to re-orient itself without QB Ryan Tannehill?) – “We’re going to have to re-gather, re-focus and probably regain the fact that our starting quarterback is gone. Things happen in football. You’ve just got to have that next-man-up mentality.”
(But it is a different team though?) – “I don’t know. We only can see. I can’t say. We only can see on Sundays, or Saturday when we play.”
(It’s going to be a short week this week.) – “It is a short week. It is a short week.”
(Time to start running the ball again?) – “I don’t know, it’s not my call. I always want to run the ball. I don’t want to pass block all the time.”
(When was the last time you practiced with QB Matt Moore in a practice?) – “To be honest with you, it’s been a long time. Like I said, Matt is a pro. He can get the job done.”
(When you say a long time, meaning training camp, preseason?) – “Probably training camp, probably. Like I said, I believe he can get the job done.”
Adam Gase – December 12, 2016
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Monday, December 12, 2016
Head Coach Adam Gase
(Do you have a final diagnosis or an official diagnosis on QB Ryan Tannehill’s knee?) – “Yes. Right now it’s a … The information we have is an ACL/MCL sprain. We’re still going through that process, but we’ll know more as the week goes on.”
(Do you have any idea how long he would be sidelined?) – “Not yet.”
(You said sprain with a p, right?) – “Yes.”
(So this qualifies as good news?) – “Better than what we thought yesterday.”
(Are you definitive that it’s not a tear, though?) – “Yes.”
(What was your reaction when you got that news?) – “Mine was I called him (Ryan Tannehill) first just to see how he was doing, if he was feeling better, because that was a tough one for him to swallow yesterday. He handled yesterday about as well as you could. He got in about four fights in the locker room trying to get out to the field to watch the end of the game. He was better than what he was earlier and then now he’s already back in here and trying to figure out what the next part of the process is for himself.”
(Just to be clear, is there any chance he plays again this year?) – “I don’t know. I don’t know. I have to find the timetable. We just have to go through all the details of everything. We’re just making sure we’re taking all the right steps.”
(There won’t be any roster moves?) – “I haven’t even thought about it yet.”
(So he’s back in the building? QB Ryan Tannehill is?) – “Yes.”
(And what about QB Matt Moore? There was a report that his wife’s having the baby today?) – “Yes.”
(So what is QB Matt Moore’s status?) – “He’s not in the building, I know that. I might be a little behind on what’s going on. I don’t want to make any reports or say I don’t know anything.”
(Is there a sense of relief when you got that MRI back from QB Ryan Tannehill? – “I was happy for him. That’s a hard injury to come back from and rehab. It’s just a long, long process, and whatever we find out going forward with what his injury is, I don’t know the timetable right now. Any time you get hurt it’s never easy and there’s always a tough rehab, mentally, especially at this part of the season. Every guy wants to be out there trying to contribute as much as possible. It’s hard to sit on the sidelines and watch. There are a lot of guys that are in that position right now. I think we had five, maybe four or five of the seven guys that were inactive yesterday. They’re hurt. It’s tough for anybody to not be out there contributing.”
(Surgery? It’s your understanding is not going to be necessary for QB Ryan Tannehill?) – “Unless something changes, it doesn’t look like that’s what is going to be happening.”
(It’s kind of miraculous. We were expecting the worst today.) – “I don’t know what to tell you. That surprised me you guys were thinking something bad would happen (laughter).”
(Your obligatory weekly C Mike Pouncey question. Do you anticipate him being able to practice this week?) – “He won’t practice this week. He’ll be out. I’ll give you an early one on that one.”
(LB Kiko Alonso. Are you optimistic about him?) – “We’re going to have to go through all of the right steps, especially on a short week. We really pulled back last week and tried to let that hamstring calm down. But I do think we have a better chance this week than we did last week.”
(Although nothing bad ever happens around here, who would your next quarterback have been yesterday?) – “I still got that one I can keep a secret (laughter). I’ve got some options though.”
(Is it TE MarQueis Gray? Is he throwing a pass this year?) – “I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not. The good thing is we do have a couple of options because you get in a situation where your two quarterbacks … This has only happened to me one other time, where I’m down to one guy. Just having those other options available, we have two guys that can obviously … MarQueis, he’s played quarterback before. Jarvis obviously, he knows our offense well enough to where he can go in there and do some stuff. We have options with those two guys as far as finishing a game. (It’s) not ideal for sure. We’d have to be really smart with what we have for those guys to be ready to go.”
(Is it a same assumption that QB Brandon Doughty gets moved up from the practice squad this week?) – “I’m not sure what we’re going to do quite yet. We’re going to get together probably after this and finalize what we want to do.”
(Can you compare this situation to the last time you had an in-season starting quarterback injury?) – “It wasn’t as late. It wasn’t a situation like we’re in right now. Last year, against Arizona, Jay (Cutler) pulled his hamstring and Jimmy (Clausen) came up and we had David Fales already on the roster, so he bumped up. That was just kind of the natural progression of everything. Jay (Cutler) missed one game. This is a different situation. It’s not going to be one game. It will be longer than that. I don’t know the exact timetable, but it is going to be longer than that.”
(How big yesterday was QB Matt Moore getting a big pass to WR Kenny Stills late and being able to pull out a win after it was a little conservative when he first checked in?) – “One, we had a lead. I was trying to be smart with what we did. The rain started coming down. It was like right when he went in, it starting coming down pretty good. I just was making sure the quarterback-center thing was good. We were good with cadence. Sometimes when you haven’t played a ton with a quarterback, you’re trying to make sure the line is good with the cadence. All of those type of things. There was a lot going through my head to make sure everybody was good. I wish it would have happened for me a little quicker than what it did. I had a couple of chances to make some plays there. It wasn’t quite exactly what we wanted, but when we need that last drive there was no hesitation from me as far as, ‘Alright, here we go.’ We knew how we wanted to attack it. We talked about that situation on Friday. It’s funny that it came up. It seems like that seems to happen quite a bit around here, where we keep talking about these end of game situations and we seem to get in them. Matt knew exactly what I was doing as far as the play calling goes, and he was on it.”
(Can you break down the differences in QB Ryan Tannehill’s game and QB Matt Moore’s game and what the means for you?) – “It’s hard for me. I don’t have a lot of experience with Matt (Moore). I’ve called, what 20 plays for him? Not including yesterday. I’ve watched him in the past. I think he was a free agent at some point and I watched him when I was in Denver. I know Matt (Moore) will do whatever we need him to do to win a game. He has a lot of ability, as far as being a down-the-field passer. I don’t think he ever gives himself credit for the fact that he sees coverage well. He can throw the ball underneath. He can throw the intermediate ball. I like the fact that he’s not afraid to scramble outside the pocket and kind of play a little looser than a lot of coaches like. I like it. I like calling plays for him because you never know what you’re going to experience in that play and I kind of like that. I like that about him. He’s aggressive. It was fun when we were going through preseason to kind of see how he would develop in this offense.”
(Do you feel limited at all with what you can do going forward with QB Matt Moore as opposed to QB Ryan Tannehill?) – “No. Nope.”
(QB Matt Moore is right next to you [on the sidelines] the whole time. You’ve gotten comfortable with him?) – “Absolutely. Like I said yesterday, I’m glad he’s here, because I think he’s the only backup quarterback with a winning record. It’s nice to always know going into that; you just have no questions about him going in there. He knows what to do on the game plan. You know the other guys respect him. Guys know that he knows what he’s doing. When he walks in there, there’s no nervousness by him. It’s more ‘Give me the call and let’s roll.’”
(QB Matt Moore has a gunslinger reputation. Have you seen that in practice?) – “Yes. That doesn’t bother me one bit. I want a guy that wants to go out there and be aggressive and try to win the game.”
(Has a final determination been made on the roster status of DE Dion Jordan?) – “No. You guys can wait for that one. (laughter)”
(How much practice has QB Matt Moore seriously had since…?) – “Well, he does all the scout team stuff and the way we practice is very competitive, so he’s actually out there trying to beat our first-team defense. The problem was we’re trying to get Ryan (Tannehill) ready to go all the time, and he doesn’t get a lot of reps with the ones. He does kind of his own thing on Fridays. He goes through the game plan with our quarterbacks coach Bo (Hardegree). When we do routes versus air, he does throw to Kenny (Stills) and Jarvis (Landry). He gets in there with those guys sometimes. But when you’re a guy of his experience, that’s the least of my worries.”
(What did it say to you that QB Ryan Tannehill really wanted to back there on the sideline at the end of the game after he got injured?) – “When I turned around and saw him. I don’t know. I didn’t get to talk to him. I turned around, I saw him behind me and I was surprised.”
(No, I meant what did that say to you? What does that tell you of Ryan’s…?) – “That’s what he is. He’s a team guy. He just cares about his teammates and wants to do whatever he can to help win. He probably wanted to be there to make sure Matt (Moore) was good. That’s who he is.”
(A sprain as opposed to a tear, I don’t know if that’s an element of luck in there or not. But did you shake your head at QB Ryan Tannehill’s resiliency? He seems to be as tough as any.) – “I don’t know if I’ve been around anybody tougher than him. The guy has taken a lot shots since I’ve been here, unfortunately. He just keeps bouncing back. I think the mental part of it is really what’s been impressive. He takes … It’ll mess you up every once in a while when you start taking some of those shots. It can kind of get it in your head. It doesn’t seem to bother him. Of course you think a little bit more maybe, ‘Get out of the way.’”
(Does the game on Saturday – it’s not a Thursday night so you don’t have as much of a crunch – but especially getting QB Matt Moore up to speed?) – “It’s not. Once again, it’s not like we’re pulling a guy off the street here and starting him. He’s been here since the spring. He knows everything we’re doing. It’s really not that big of a deal for us, as far as the game plan. I’m not going to change anything. I feel comfortable with him going out there and executing our offense.”
(Do you think it factors at all that he actually will be playing against the coach that he played for last time in N.Y. Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles?) – “I don’t think so. I don’t see that being an issue.”
(Does the fact that QB Ryan Tannehill most likely will not need surgery, obviously, the next few weeks are a question mark, but the offseason … He’ll be available the whole offseason? Is that your understanding?) – “I hope so. I’d be shocked if he couldn’t do anything in the offseason.”
(The advantage that you’ll have him…) – “It’s going to be … It’s just another year in the system. The more he does this offense, the better he’s going to be. It’s telling throughout the season that he’s made improvements. Everybody has. Guys really worked hard to make sure they stayed on what we were doing and each week we get a little better. There are a couple of things we need to do a little bit better, but we’re improving.”
(The hit on QB Ryan Tannehill, not that a flag would bring back his health, but did you think that it should’ve been penalized?) – “That’s not for me to say but, playing Calais (Campbell) as many times, he’s never been a guy that I would say is a dirty player. I’d be shocked to say that he did that intentionally. I think the direction we were heading on the protection and kind of how he had to slant, I think he was kind of leaning in when he was getting blocked. I think it was just kind of one of those football things. I don’t think he meant anything intentional by it.”
(Just even from a low hit, not a dirty hit, but a low hit standpoint, it’s…) – “I don’t know if he could’ve caught himself. As a big man going fast, the direction he was heading, that would’ve been very tough.”
(What do you do to get to know QB Matt Moore’s game? I can’t remember how you phrased it earlier, can you only call so many plays for him? What do you do? Can you do anything to…?) – “Not really. Just practice and talk. If you don’t like something, tell me. The only problem with Matt is he’ll always say he likes everything. I’ll be like, ‘You alright with this?’ ‘Yeah, call it.’ (laughter) That makes it easy.”
(When he’s next to you on the sidelines, does the game permit, maybe during timeouts or stoppages, to say what he’s looking at from the sideline to get an idea of what he’ll see when he’s under center?) – “He does a great job. He’s always talking to me about what he thinks for Ryan. It’s not really for him. So he does a really … He’s very helpful for me. To where, if we get kind of in a jam and I’m stuck between two things, he’ll be really quick to be like, ‘No, go with this one, because he likes this a lot.’ So he’s on it on the sidelines as far as really to help Ryan out, being kind of the guy on the sideline that could speak for him at the time.”
(Have you been around a quarterback as agreeable as QB Matt Moore?) – “That’s a bad question. (laughter) Can I pass on that?”
(So it might be a little different when he’s in there as opposed to when QB Ryan Tannehill is? What he likes for Ryan and what he likes for himself?) – “Yes. Absolutely. But that’ll come through the conversation throughout the week. The one thing that I have, in my experience with quarterbacks have been is, they won’t be afraid at least to tell you going into preparation into a game of, ‘Maybe this and this, I didn’t get a good rep of that week.’ You’ll get it out before you even hit Sunday, or Saturday in this case.”
(RB Damien Williams running around back there at the end of the game with 1 second left, what’s going through your mind at that time?) – “That I should’ve never ran that play to begin with. But I didn’t anticipate what happened happening. I was trying to get to the other hash, which looking back on it, (it was) probably not worth it.”
(Why didn’t you guys run the ball as well yesterday as you have in many weeks?) – “Number two defense in the NFL. They’re pretty good”
(You played the No. 1 defense the week before and you ran average.) – “’93,’ (Calais Campbell) is a tough guy to go against. He’s very disruptive.”
(Personality-wise, between QB Matt Moore and QB Ryan Tannehill, for us when Matt is up there, the presser is very kind of entertaining – the California cool personality. Ryan is a little more serious. He jokes around. But what do you see in their personalities and how might it translate to the players?) – “I mean everybody is different as far as the way that they are in front of you guys, how they are in the classroom, meetings, around other players. It’s hard for me to get into detail in all of this. They’re a little bit different, but at the end of the day they’re the same as far as they’re competitive, they’re hard workers (and) they do everything they can to help the team. Those are the kind of guys we like being around.”
(How confident are you on CB Xavien Howard’s availability for this week?) – “Better than last week. That’s the best I can give you. Until we start practicing, it’s hard for me to say he’s going or he’s not. We want him to feel good. We want him to say, ‘I’m ready to go.’ So last week wasn’t the week.’
(Did you get the QB Ryan Tannehill news this morning?) – “No, last night.”
(So was there a period last night where you figured he was going to be out? Or what was your mind through yesterday afternoon…) – “It’s like I told you guys yesterday, when we left the stadium, it didn’t look good. I didn’t … I waited ‘til (the) doc called me, whatever … I was watching the Sunday night game. He called me and told me. I talked to (Executive Vice President of Football Operations Mike) Tannenbaum and (General Manager Chris) Grier. That’s kind of where I was, and I talked to Ryan.”
(What were the first words out of your mouth?) – “I was just trying to get the details. I don’t remember every little thing of the conversation. I was just kind of, ‘What does that mean? Where do we go from there?’”
(You were obviously happy.) – “Yes, I was happy for him that you don’t have to … That’s a tough injury to go through. You see a lot of guys go through those ACL injuries where they … They come back fast, but they always say you’re not the same, and you have to go through another year and it’s a lot of work.”
(You have said from early in the season that QB Ryan Tannehill was the clear cut No. 1 coming out of camp and everything. If he were able to come back in the late regular season or mid-playoffs, does he go right back to No. 1? Does it depend on how QB Matt Moore plays the next couple of games?) – “Ryan, he’s the starting quarterback. So whenever he’s healthy, he’s the starting quarterback.”
(With RB Kenyan Dranke and the punt return with Jarvis Landry, what happened there? And is Drake okay?) – “Drake’s okay. It was freak, kind of what happened with him getting … really running into Jarvis. At the end of the day, we have to make sure we do a better job of understanding our situation of this is a field position game. We just have to make sure we have the ball. I know Jarvis is always going to look to make a play. And he understood the situation as far as what was going on. I think he got a little surprised. I don’t know if he didn’t see him or was a little surprised it was one of our own guys that jarred him there. So, at the end of the day, we just want to make sure we have the ball at the end of that possession.”
(What have you seen from QB Brandon Doughty?) – “Improvement. He’s done a … It takes a second sometimes when you’re a young player to really get a grip on the playbook. He’s done a good job of making sure he’s ready to go every week. He’s been preparing like he’s going to play. You can tell because the amount of time. When you see these guys still hanging around after our meetings are done at night, and they’re working as a group and going through their steps to get ready for the game, when you’re on the practice squad, what are you really getting ready for? You don’t think you’re going to be up. And he always took it serious to, ‘Maybe I’m going to get called up.’ He constantly was being the guy ready to go. So we’ll kind of see what we do going forward and what’s the best move for us.”
Bryon Maxwell – December 12, 2016
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Monday, December 12, 2016
Cornerback Byron Maxwell
(How did you feel you guys yesterday on the sideline when you guys saw QB Ryan Tannehill go down? With this being a day after now, how is it affecting the team?) – “I’m not sure, really, to be honest with you. (We’re) still feeling it out. Obviously, losing the starting quarterback is key – very important. We’re just trying to figure it out right now. We’re trying to get the right emotions and go forward from here.”
(As you mentioned, an injury sucks to anybody but losing your starting quarterback…) – “Yes, you need your quarterback. In this league, you need a quarterback to win. So that’s a big … He has the ball in his hands on every play. So, we’ll go from there. The reaction is crazy. I’m just like (you guys), I’m waiting to see what happens.”
(Maybe you didn’t much about QB Matt Moore but what did you learn about him yesterday?) – “Matt, he’s going to go hard. He’s going to go down fighting. I do know that. He’s not afraid of the moment and I just know that from being around him. He’s not afraid of the moment. He’s confident. He’s ready for it, at least. He’s experienced.”
(You guys go against him in practice?) – “Yes.”
(Is that fun going against QB Matt Moore?) – “Yes, definitely.”
Andrew Franks – December 11, 2016 (Postgame)
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Sunday, December 11, 2016
Postgame – Arizona
Miami Dolphins K Andrew Franks (transcribed by Jason D. Silver)
(This is your first game-winning field goal in the NFL, correct?) – “That is correct.”
(Obviously, it wasn’t very long, but still a little bit nervous with all that’s on the line?) – “For us, this was a big game coming in. Arizona is a great team. One second left on the clock. No matter what length the field goal is, you really want to make it. The kind of field conditions we had – and the crappy weather – it was sort of a hit or miss all day, I think, with the field goals and PATs and everything. But getting that one in the books I think was huge for us.”
(Did you have to block out the field conditions, or did you do anything specific in terms of testing it out before you kicked?) – “For me, (after) halftime, I really tested it out to make sure the field was not too soggy. I think for the most part, it’s (about) checking it out on the sideline. We’ve kicked in this plenty of times during practice and throughout the season, so for me, it’s nothing that special. Where I am on the sideline, I’m just checking out the field, making sure that … Because we’ve got our one little patch where our kicking net is, (we are) using that basically as the field. If that has been pretty beat up – pretty soggy – then I know the field is going to be like that, too. It’s really something that we’ve dealt with before during practice and during other games, so for me, it’s just something you’ve just got to deal with.”
(How tough were the conditions for kickers?) – “It wasn’t as bad, I don’t think. The rain definitely made the operation I think a lot more hectic. The footing was slippery, to say, is an understatement. I think (with) the operation (when) you’re getting a water logged ball, you never know what you’re going to get when you get it from the refs. I think that was the biggest thing was the operation. Great credit goes to Matt (Darr) and John (Denney) for having an awesome operation all day.”
(How would you describe the craziness of the day on special teams with the blocked extra point for a touchdown and then on top of that, their kicker misses an extra point, kicks a 56-yard field goal?) – “I think it sums up the situation that it was. The weather was, I think, a huge determinant of how things went. I think the weather was part of the reason why (Chandler) Catanzaro missed that PAT and had that one hit the post, and the whole block for that matter. I think it really shows that we’re going to keep on fighting and every little point matters. I think that two points that Walt (Aikens) ended up getting, that was a huge swing that put us up eight, I believe. At that point in the game, that was a huge determinant.”
Cameron Wake – December 11, 2016 (Postgame)
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Sunday, December 11, 2016
Postgame – Arizona
Miami Dolphins DE Cameron Wake (transcribed by Ted Leshinski)
(With the way that the game ended, how much of a challenge did you guys feel from a defensive standpoint to hold and force that punt?) – “Well, that was a big series for us, obviously. We wanted to get off the field and get the offense the ball back. We knew what the situation was. We knew how much time was left and what the opportunity was. It was a big series. We had to get on the field and get off the field. We spoke about it while the offense was on the field, before we went on there, that ‘Hey, we have to go back out there and get the ball back to them quick so we can get this game wrapped up.’”
(You guys struggled defensively last week in Baltimore. What were you able to come back and do this week that allowed you to play the type of defense you played out there today?) – “Well, the whole goal this week was to focus on yourself. It wasn’t necessarily about what they were going to do. It was about making sure you had your job lined up, keyed in, and you nailed the plays that you knew that you had to nail. All week that was the focus. We had some plays last week – that was a long time ago – where things that we don’t typically do, guys playing out of character. So (we wanted to) get back to playing assignment football, do your job, trust your brother or teammate to do his and I think when that happens, we have a good outcome. Again, today was another one of those days when it took everybody. Everybody had to do their job. As I said, it turned out good for us.”
(Did you go into this game feeling it was a big game after going into December and having a tough one last week, coming back and feeling like you needed to come away with a win here?) – “For me, big games are every week. The next game is the biggest game. For us, obviously, being 1-0 after this week … We came off of an uncharacteristic performance last week and we wanted to get back to playing our style of defense and playing our style of team ball on both sides. It was a situation, like I said, where it came down to the offense doing their job, the defense doing their job playing complementary football and doing it when it counted. And obviously, special teams sealing the deal. Again, across the board – offense, defense and special teams – everybody had to be on par and do exactly what they needed to do to get this W.”
(As a defensive player, when you see your quarterback go down – we don’t know exactly what the injury is but it doesn’t look good so far – how does that affect you? How do you feel about that?) – “It’s unfortunate to say injuries are part of the game. It’s sad to think that there are very few other people that play sports that have to say that. But when he did go down – and I don’t know what the diagnosis is, I’m sure they’re on their way to get that figured out now – whether it’s him, quarterback, or any other player, you want to make sure that the next guys up step up, the rest of the team as a whole. (Ryan Tannehill) is a big part of this team, obviously. (He’s) a big part of the wins that we’ve had, the success we’ve had. Not just the next guy up, but every man on the team has to step up and try their best to fill that void. Matt Moore obviously came in and he did his job. Again, (Moore is) a guy who I have tremendous confidence in from obviously playing with him for such a long time. (He) came in and did his job and allowed us to put us in a position to win the game.”
(If QB Ryan Tannehill can’t go next week will you guys defensively feel the need to elevate your level of play to help backup QB Matt Moore?) – “I hope we don’t have to elevate. If you’re elevating next week, then what was the issue with this week or last week or the week before that? So I think we have to go out there and continue to play assignment football. Play aggressive style the way we’ve been playing, things that have gotten us success in the past. But to take it another notch up, that notch should have already been done way back when training camp ended.”
(You’re on the few players who has played with Matt Moore when he was a starting quarterback. Describe his game. What do you remember from 2011?) – “Great football player. And not just playing with him as a starting quarterback. I’ve had the opportunity to chase him around even last week with practice reps and other drills that we do. I know he’s a great leader. He has a tremendous mind for the game. (He) throws the ball well. He manages the game. He does all the things you would expect a quarterback (to do). Obviously he’s a starter, so he has all the tools that he needs to be a productive player. No surprise that he went in there and did what he did, like I said, put us in position to win the game.”
(The weather conditions made for offensively a sloppy game. How do you guys like it on defense?) – “Ah, 85 (degrees) and sunny would have been nice. But, hey, that’s football. It is what it is. You can’t really predict that part of the game. It could be 85 and sunny. Next week it might be 20 and snowing. That’s just the nature of the business. But you have to go out there and put those conditions out of your mind and focus on your job. So whatever it is on offense, I’ve never been on that side, but I know we still play attack-style defense, whether it’s raining or snowing, or the sun is shining, 100 degrees. That’s just background noise for us. We’ve just got to do our job.”
(When the conditions are poor, you have awareness that the ball could be slipping out. There were fumbles left and right. Does that change how you play a little bit, with just awareness that the ball could be popping out?) – “Again, that’s something that we do, hopefully we do, whether it’s raining or not; but obviously today the ball popped out a few more times than probably normal. You definitely have to make sure that if it’s out, you want to get it, so the good guys will win. I like to think that guys are playing situational football. If it’s going to be out on the ground, let’s get it.”
(You guys were able to pretty much contain them for three quarters. What happened there in the fourth quarter where they were able to put some more points on the board?) – “I’m definitely looking forward to looking at the tape. I know we had a couple of penalties that kept the drives alive. I think that (those are) some of the little things that we have to clean up going forward. Every week we’re focusing on getting better. But the reality is, at the end of the day, you want to do whatever it takes to win. That was a drive that I’m sure some guys wish they could have changed some things; but when it mattered, guys went out there and did their job, three and out, and gave the offense the ball. They went down and they scored and we win.”
(Not to harp on it too much, but it seemed like that turnaround for them happened right after QB Ryan Tannehill’s injury. Did the team as a whole, did they need to refocus? Was it a shock that Tannehill was out?) – “Not to harp on it too much, I don’t know. That wasn’t the issue. Again, whether it was a shoelace, a knee, hamstring, guys go down all the time. We rotate guys and I think for the most part, like I spoke about earlier, Matt Moore is a guy who everybody on the team has played against, played with, whether it’s practice or otherwise. So, I don’t think that’s something that guys were focusing on too much.”
Jermon Bushrod – December 11, 2016 (Postgame)
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Sunday, December 11, 2016
Postgame – Arizona
Miami Dolphins G/T Jermon Bushrod (transcribed by Frank Brill)
(What are your thoughts on the hit on QB Ryan Tannehill?) – “I mean that’s what happens when you go low. That’s just what happens and we’ve got to continue to … I don’t know man. We fight to protect quarterbacks. That’s just a tough situation.”
(Should it have been a penalty? Should there have been a flag thrown?) – “I don’t know, I don’t know. I’m not going to comment on that. I just wish it didn’t happen.”
(If QB Ryan Tannehill is out for the final three games, do you rally around QB Matt Moore?) – “(We’ve) got to. Whatever we’ve got to do to win. I mean that’s the situation, if it has to go there, then that’s the situation that we have to deal with. Matt’s been in this league for nine or 10 years, I believe. He’s played in a lot of games. He’s started a lot of games so if things go that way, go in that direction, then we have to rally behind our guy. That’s all we can do.”
(What does it say for QB Matt Moore to be able to come in and perform and get you guys in scoring position?) – “He put the ball where it needed to be. He made the correct checks and that’s all you can ask your quarterback to do is put us in a position to be successful.”
Walt Aikens – December 11, 2016 (Postgame)
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Sunday, December 11, 2016
Postgame – Arizona
Miami Dolphins Safety Walt Aikens (transcribed by Ken Mendonca)
(Was that your first return for a 2 pointer? How did that feel?) – “Yes, that is. It feels good man, I was tired. It’s a long run for two points. I mean, the scoreboard, it was definitely worth it.”
(What was the mood on the sideline after Ryan (Tannehill) got hurt?) – “We know it’s the next man up mentality. And that’s every position on this football team, we knew Matt Moore would come in and do what he needed to do. That’s just the way it goes in the NFL, anybody goes down, you got to have the next man ready to step up.”
(Playing on special teams, how good does it feel when it shows up on the scoreboard like that?) – “Oh it feels great, especially if you pride yourself on the special teams like we do, and you know how serious coach Rizz (special teams coach Darren Rizzi) takes it, and we went out there and executed today. It wasn’t perfect, but we did enough to pull out a win.”
