Darren Rizzi – August 5, 2016
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Friday, August 5, 2016
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren Rizzi
(On putting a lot of time into special teams during practice) – “Yes, (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase has been great with that in terms of giving us a lot of time to prepare. He certainly realizes the importance of it. We’ve got a lot of young players, so that obviously factors in as well. We’ve got a good mix though with the vets, as well, some guys that have been around. It’s been good. We’ve probably gone about three periods per day along with our field goal stuff, so the guys have put in a lot of hard work in this first week, for sure, in those periods.”
(On what K Marshall Koehn needs to do to catch up to K Andrew Franks) – “He’s got to be consistent. That’s really the thing. It’s kind of like where Andrew (Franks) was last year at this time – just trying to get that rhythm. (Koehn) had a good day yesterday. He went 6-for-6 yesterday. I know he struggled the first couple times out a little bit, but (it is about) that consistency. He has plenty of talent; he’s got great leg strength. It’s just kind of finding that rhythm. We’ve got a couple of new snappers that he’s working with. Obviously for him, it’s the first time, first year with them, (and) a new holder. Getting into a rhythm and being consistent, that’s going to be the big thing for him.”
(On his thinking about kickoff and punt returns) – “(It is) wide open right now. Obviously, we have these four preseason games coming up. Jarvis (Landry) we know can do it. Obviously, he’s done a fantastic job (and) has played at a high level – a Pro Bowl level – In the return game the last couple years. We’re really trying to work with the guys that haven’t been here, namely the rookies and the guys like Griff Whalen, who has done it before in games, but hasn’t been here necessarily in our system. Again, we’re going to see how those guys perform in the preseason games. Obviously, everybody talks about Jakeem (Grant) and what his history is. We’re, obviously, out here and you see us working every day with him in the punt return game to get him comfortable. He hasn’t done it in games before. I think these preseason games are going to be important for that aspect of the game. We know we have a proven guy (Landry) on the roster that’s going to be here. We’re trying to work with some of these other guys that haven’t.”
(On how eager he is to see WR Jakeem Grant in live action at full speed) – “I am eager. I’m not going to be surprised by anything, because I know what he can do with the ball in his hands. He’s proven that here in practice; he’s proven it in college. To me, it’s more of (getting) to the game part of it and (getting) the game experience. He’s caught 10,000 punts – (and) he’s got to catch 10,000 more here in practice – but getting him in those game and live situations is really going to be what it’s all about. That’s going to be where he gets the most learning experience, and that’s where we can really get a better evaluation of him, for sure.”
(On if RB Kenyan Drake will have a role returning kicks during the preseason) – “Right now, we’re working a bunch of guys back there. You guys saw us today on that aspect. We’re working four or five guys back there. I mentioned Jarvis (Landry who) we know can do it. He’s really not in the mix right now in practice, because we know he’s a proven guy. Whether it’s Jakeem (Grant), Kenyan (Drake), AJ Cruz, Griff Whalen – all those guys are working back there so all of those guys at some point in the preseason are going to get a look.”
(On where WR Jakeem Grant stands in terms of ball security) – “It’s a great question. Until the live action… We stress that all the time. It’s funny. I’m going on my eighth year here with the Dolphins coaching special teams in the NFL, and I’m going to tell you that’s probably the No. 1 thing we coach is ball security in the return game. Those guys that are elusive, fast guys, sometimes tend – I’m not just talking about Jakeem (Grant), I’m talking about a blanket statement – sometimes tend to get careless with the ball. So, we’re going to make that a major emphasis, and we’re going to make that the most important thing. Decision-making in the return game is also another huge factor. All of those things we want to see in the preseason game. We want to see guys making good decisions, Jakeem included.”
(On if WR Jakeem Grant has had a large number of drops on returns in training camp) – “He’s had a couple. Matt Darr has done a good job of making him work too in practice, kicking him some knuckle balls and some balls that are hard to catch. He’s had days where he hasn’t dropped any, and he’s had some days where he’s dropped one or two. Again, (it is) the consistency thing. It’s not for lack of work. If you get out here early, he’s out here catching punts. He catches punts during practice, before practice (and) after practice. The guy is really putting the work in. He’s definitely ahead of where I thought he would be at this point for a guy that didn’t return punts in college – or at least in game action. It’s certainly not for a lack of effort on his part. He’s really working on it. He’s his own worst critic. (With) all of those things, you love to work with a guy like that. Again, we’re kind of anxious to get to next Friday and get him live action and see what he can do.”
(On if he plans to have any game management functions on the sideline during games) – “The thing I love about this coaching staff is it’s really a collaborative effort. You saw us today going through a 2-minute drill and right away, after the drill, myself, (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase, (Defensive Coordinator) Vance Joseph, (Linebackers Coach) Matt Burke, all of us kind of get together and say ‘Hey listen, this is what we’re thinking.’ Adam (Gase) has been great with that. I’m definitely going to have a hand in it. My job is to kind of stay in my lane, let them know the situations and go from there. But it’s definitely going to be a part of what I’m doing. That’ll be a great experience for us here in these preseason games, too. (It is) our first time working together (and) getting the timeouts and replays and the game management (down.) It’s good. (We’re) just getting comfortable out here. I think the great thing that Adam does in practice is he puts us in a lot of situations that make us think, and (we are) not just out here running plays. We’re doing a lot of situational football out here. You look out here today, (and) we were in 2-minute, we were in ‘backed up’, we were in goal line, we were in a ‘call-it’ period. It’s not just out here learning the offense, learning the defense; it’s about learning situations for the players and coaches, so it’s been real good.”
(On the difference in dynamics on this staff compared to past years) – “Every staff I’ve been on has different chemistry. I think Adam (Gase) has put together a great group of people. I think we’ve got a really energetic group. I think we’ve got a great mix of young and old (with) great experience across the board. Guys have come from a bunch of different places. To me, that’s great. When you get a bunch of guys that are thinkers and motivators in a room, I think the players feed off of that. I think there’s a great energy right now around the building. There’s a lot of positive vibes going on. Adam’s really created a great environment here. I think the guys love our preseason schedule right now, our camp schedule. There’s really a positive vibe going on, and I think that’s what we’re trying to build on. We have a lot of positives going on, (we are) creating a great atmosphere, and I think that’s what Adam has really brought to this building (and) what the staff has brought to the building, as well. Every year is different. Every head coach that I’ve been here (and) worked with – Adam is my fifth head coach when you count the interim guys – everybody has their own unique style and way of doing things. To just talk about what Adam does, all of those things I just mentioned, everybody else had their different ways of motivating. Adam is a great motivator. He’s very clear and concise with his message. The guys know what to expect when they come out here. It’s, ‘Hey, we’re going to work hard.’ You guys see these practices are great. The guys come out here and work hard. The rest of the day now we’re going to evaluate what we’ve done in meetings and everything else – in our walkthroughs. It’s his style. Not that it was better, it’s just different. Everybody else has their own flavor, if you will, and I think the guys are really catching on and really enjoying what he has brought to the table.”
(On how DE Dion Jordan can help on special teams) – “When you look at what Dion (Jordan) did when he was here in the past – obviously, I’m one of the guys who was here with him – just speaking about special teams, he excelled in that area. He made some really big plays for us in that area, both in the return game (and) the coverage game. Once we get him back, and we know when he’s ready to go, he’ll definitely fall right back in. He’s allowed to sit in meetings now, so he’s kind of catching back up mentally. Now he has to take care of the physical part and get back in. There’s no doubt about the fact that when Dion was out here and played special teams for us a couple years ago, he was a force. He made plays, and he was consistent – a consistent guy. We brought up about 20 plays up the other day and went back and watched the positions he played, and he did some impressive things on film. There’s no doubt about it.”
(On what he wants to see out of WR Rashawn Scott on special teams) – “When you’re an undrafted rookie at any position – receiver, running back, doesn’t matter, defensive back – that’s really where you have to make your first mark. I think he knows that. Rashawn (Scott) is out here working hard. Just like every other rookie, he’s out there swimming a little bit right now at the beginning of camp, but to his credit, he works really hard. He’s got great effort. He’s paying attention (and) taking notes in meetings. A guy like that, these four preseason games are going to be really, really important for him to prove what he can do both on the offensive side of the ball and the special teams side. As I met with the younger guys – and really the whole team at the beginning of camp – we stressed how important it was for these young guys to make their mark in this area. You can go through and name countless guys over the eight years I’ve been here that have made the team just in my area, and Rashawn Scott has got to do that. He’s got to prove to the offensive guys that he can be consistent, (and) he’s got to prove to us that he can be a four-core type of player.”
(On if he has been surprised with any player’s work ethic) – “I’ve been surprised by the overall work ethic of the collaborative group. I’ve been really, really impressed. Like I said before, (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase has been a guy that says ‘Hey, we’re not going to have a lot of rules. Be on time. Get out here and work your butt off.’ And that’s what our guys have done. I look around the field – I have a different seat than the rest of the coaches, because I can see everybody working at the same time a lot of times – and you look around and watch our position groups, and there’s really nobody that’s not working hard right now. Everybody out here is busting their tail. Now it’s a matter of getting ready for next Friday, get ready for that first preseason game and put it all together. I think that’s probably one of the biggest positives I’ll take away from the first week of camp is our work ethic and how hard our guys are working across the board at every position. Kudos to our position coaches. They work their tails off in their position groups and their individual groups and then it carries over into our team periods, for sure.”
(On what he expects out of P Matt Darr this year) – “Matt (Darr)’s got things he’s working on. I know there are a couple of things that he was really trying to hone in on in this offseason. The consistency thing with him was really important last year. He did a great job with that, and (he’s) building off that. Matt’s the kind of guy, even in the offseason between OTAs and training camp, he was out working. He was out at different camps across the country. In fact, he was actually at that camp where those two poor guys passed away in the car accident. Matt actually was at that camp that weekend with those guys. He was out working this summer. It wasn’t like he just took the time off. He’s a guy that works at his craft. He’s consistent (and) really mature for his age. He’s really a pro’s pro in that way. We just want to see him continue that. ‘Stay in your lane. Stay on the same path you’ve been going and really just keep working on the things that you need to work on.’ And those things were mentioned before. He had a great gross average last year. He had a lot of punts inside the 20. (He can improve upon) field position – our net punts have to get a little better – ball location, things like that. Those are all little things that he’s been working on, but there’s no reason to believe he can’t improve upon what he did last year.”
Vance Joseph – August 5, 2016
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Friday, August 5, 2016
Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph
(On the defensive front) – “So far so good. It’s an experienced front, so I’m not surprised what they’re doing between Mario (Williams) and (Ndamukong) Suh. Jason Jones has been a nice surprise as an edge-setter, as an inside rusher. I’m pleased with those guys.”
(On the cornerback group) – “(Byron) Maxwell is playing really well. He came back in great shape (at) about 200 pounds, which he played at two or three years ago. He’s playing well. The right corner, it’s a competition position. We’ve got three or four guys who are working there, and the best guy is going to play. Right now, it’s more about experience and how to play to the system. It’s not about talent right now. So, we got three or four guys working, and we’ll find someone to play.”
(On whether CB Xavien Howard can be a Week 1 starter) – “Absolutely. He’s a second-round pick for a reason. He’s talented. What we saw in the spring, that gave us hope that he could be a starter. But again, he hasn’t practiced yet. He hasn’t worked. Until he comes back, I won’t know that answer.”
(On what Senior Defensive Assistant/Pass Rush Specialist Jim Washburn brings to the team) – “Coach (Jim) Washburn brings a lot of experience in coaching defensive line play. He’s a veteran coach that veteran players respect. In that room, that’s critical when you have alpha personalities who’ve been to multiple Pro Bowls. It’s critical to have a guy that can push those guys. (Reporter: “People like Cam Wake?”) Absolutely. He’s going to make Cam five percent better, so I’m looking forward to that.”
(On how many sacks DE Cam Wake will have this season) – “I’m not sure. Ask him. He’ll tell you.”
(On whether DT Earl Mitchell has surpassed DT Jordan Phillips for a starting role) – “I’ll tell you this, Earl (Mitchell) and Jordan (Phillips) have both worked hard. It was a pact that we came into camp (that) whoever practices best goes out up with the starters. But obviously we’re going to need at least four inside guys to play. Whoever starts – in my mind – does not matter. I want those four inside guys we keep on the roster to be all dominant players. I’m not down on Jordan, but I want Jordan to grow and become the player we think he can be. That’s why he has been pushing the way he has been pushed.”
(On whether DT Jordan Phillip’s past comments about taking plays off in college is haunting him) “I don’t think it’s haunting him. I think it comes back from time to time, but it’s our job to coach players. You get a player with that size and ability, we got to make him do it. That’s why you pay coaches. I’m not down on Jordan (Phillips). We’re going to keep working with Jordan, and we’re going to make Jordan the player he should be.”
(On the communication between S Isa Abdul-Quddus and S Reshad Jones) “When Reshad (Jones) got back in the spring, you could see his impact with the DBs from the corners to the safeties. He has played a bunch of ball. Formations, down-and-distance, little keys and checks that he gives those guys as far as disguise – he’s been amazing with those guys. Actually, (Byron) Maxwell playing better – in my opinion – is because of Reshad, because of the conversations they’ve had. He has been a major part of why we got better in the back end from the spring.”
(On the new terminology of the defense) – “Every NFL team plays certain coverages, certain styles. You just call it differently and you play it differently. (Reshad Jones) has played a bunch of ball. Any veteran DB that comes here, he’s going to have some experience with what we’re doing.”
(On LB Kiko Alonso playing middle linebacker) – “I think middle for him is his natural position. I think Kiko is a modern-day Mike ‘backer. Back in the day, you got those Mike ‘backers who are really A-gap run stoppers and big guys who can cover. It’s a passing league along with a little bit of one-back run. So, I think it fits him. He’s a modern day Mike ‘backer – a guy with size and length, but also the speed to run to the flat and run the seam.”
(On how LB Kiko Alonso has looked) – “He has looked great. I’ve been really impressed with him from the spring to now. (I am) more impressed with his football IQ and his ability to move. He has got great instincts in the pass game.”
(On whether he will coach from the booth or sidelines) – “I’m going to be on the sideline. That’s my comfort. That’s where I’ve been my entire career. I’ll be on the sideline.”
(On the pros and cons to coaching from the sideline) – “I don’t think there are any cons at all. I think as far as calling a game, it’s more about down-and-distance. I’ll have guys in the box who’ll be my eyes for me, but I want to be in the midst of it, so I can feel the tempo of the guys.”
Adam Gase – August 5, 2016
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Friday, August 5, 2016
Head Coach Adam Gase
(On CB Xavien Howard and his rehab) – “Every day’s going to be a new day for him as far as the progression. It’s hard for me to say like ‘Hey, we know this is going to be the exact date,’ but he’s been working really hard. I know the trainers feel great about where he’s at right now. It’s hard for me to say, ‘Hey he’s ahead of schedule.’ We’re still a little ways away but he’s done a great job. He’s around here all the time. He just keeps looking, what else can I do? What else can I do? He’s working hard. He knows ‘I need to get out there. I need as much experience as I can before this thing kicks, like the season kicks off.’”
(On how significant it was to get RB Jay Ajayi back) – “It was good. I was really happy that he came back as far as, I know he’s not 100 percent right now; but he did not want to miss anymore practice. He wants to get out there. He wants to make sure he’s getting the reps that he needs. A guy like that, fighting to get back, especially in training camp – as a coach, you appreciate the fact that he wants to be out there.”
(On injury updates for CB Chimdi Chekwa) – “I haven’t talked to those guys (the trainers) yet. They came over to me (and) talked to me a little bit, just to give me a heads up that certain guys are out of practice. It’s hard for me to sit there and ask a whole bunch of questions because we’re rolling in practice. I’ll have a better idea when we get back tomorrow.”
(On if WR DeVante Parker is close to returning from his injury) – “It’s hard for me to … When you have these hamstrings, some days these guys come in and they feel good and they want to get out there and start going. The hard part for our medical staff, sports science and trainers is you can’t have that setback. I know like yesterday (Isaiah) Pead was like ‘I’m ready to go.’ But if we put him out there too early and then all of a sudden he re-pulls it, now it sets us back. So we just got to make sure when we get these guys back they stay back.”
(On how the heat gets ready for the season and what tactics he uses to keep players motivated during this hot weather) – “I think we’ve been trying to be as efficient as possible with how we do practice. It might not seem like a long, long time frame but when we’re out there, we’re always running. We’re always moving around and we feel like the heat helps us. So that’s why we’re always … Receivers know we got to keep just conditioning. Even after practice, every once in a while you see guys start running gassers and stuff. It’s because they know this helps us as far as the long run. We go in different climates. Really, it’s a beneficial thing for us. It’s kind of like being in altitude. It’s the same thing. You feel when you get in a different environment, it is cool and you just feel fresh the whole game.”
(On his early camp impressions on DE Terrence Fede and WR Matt Hazel) – “I think as far as scheme-wise, it’s seems like, at least from our personnel meetings, that they’ve done a great job from understanding what to do. You know we’re not having, really as a whole team, we haven’t had a whole bunch of mental busts – which is good. We got a long ways to go. For us, with those two guys in particular, we want to get to the preseason games and we want to give these guys reps. We want to give them snaps and see what it looks like versus other teams. That’s the best indication of how guys are going to be in the regular season. It’s good to be in full pads and going through these periods; but, when you get in a game and the situations start presenting themselves, that’s when you can get the best evaluation.”
(On if he uses the preseason games and film to evaluate the punt and kickoff returners since they are not doing full speed collisions at practice) – “Yes. That’s the biggest part. It’s a very small sample size but those guys have to do so many little things right. You see a lot of times (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren) Rizzi does these compete drills. Really, a lot of times, specials teams is all about effort and usually the guys that have the highest level of effort, those guys are usually the successful guys on special teams. When we get in the preseason, the guys that usually do good out there in those competition drills usually do well in the preseason games.”
(On if WR Jakeem Grant is holding on to as many passes as he wants) – “Yes. He’s been great as far as consistently catching the ball. I know he keeps working on that. I love the fact that he can catch every ball in practice (and) I always see him trying to catch balls (after practice). He’ll try to hit the jugs machine. He’s constantly working which, when you get a rookie player in there, you hope every guy is like that. That they don’t feel like they’ve arrived. They’re thinking ‘Okay, how can I make sure that I’m on this roster when we hit Seattle.’ So I feel like he’s really pushing himself and he’s trying to do extra all the time.”
(On how he would assess the overall state of the offense) – “We haven’t even played a preseason game. The guys are doing a good job as far as knowing what to do. Our biggest test is going to be when we go to New York and whatever reps we get and making every one count. That’s going to be critical for us. A lot of times our defensive players, it’s a different deal. Some of these guys have played in this defense before so they jump right in. Especially our front, right? They know how to rush. I don’t know how much more I need to see from those guys. But our offense has to get used to how I call plays, how we’re going to do personnel, how it’s going to feel on the ball during the game, the tempo of what we’re doing. So the preseason games, that’s going to be critical for us.”
(On if his offense might take a few weeks to really start clicking) – “I don’t know. Every year has been different. Some years, 2013 we come out and score 49 (points) the first game. In Chicago, I think we had like 21 (points). We were playing a different style of ball. We got to figure out who we’re going to be, how we’re going to play and we got a lot of time as far as figuring out ‘Who are we actually going to be?’”
(On if what he sees at practice reinforces the depth of the front four) – “Yes – at least it feels like it. When I watch, whether it be against the run, in the pass pro stuff, it feels like no matter what group is in there, they’re up the field challenging the offensive line. Yesterday I stood back there and we were doing a low red area period. I’m standing right behind the quarterback and I’m like ‘I don’t know how they see.’ Those guys are so long and tall and physical. You’re seeing like glimpses of color, as far as receivers, and to complete balls in that low red area is … This is so great. It’s great work for our quarterbacks because I don’t know if we’re going to see anybody as long as what our defensive line is right now.”
(On what role LB James-Michael Johnson will have this year and if LB Zach Vigil’s health play into it) – “You’re talking about a guy that’s actually played. He has game experience – actually playing on defense, not just special teams. His skill set, he’s one of those guys that just seems to be in the right place (at the) right time. He knows exactly what we’re doing on defense (and) does a great job of communicating and obviously today was able to jump in there, which was great for him. He had a chance to get out there and be with a different group and he had to be the guy making all those calls.”
(If LB James-Michael Johnson did a good job out there) – “I have to watch the film first.”
Chris Foerster – August 4, 2016
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Thursday, August 4, 2016
Offensive Line Coach Chris Foerster
(On how long he thinks it will take the offensive line unit to develop chemistry) – “It will be going on all season long. We are in our first year of the offense. A lot of these guys here… we are mixing and matching right now trying to give our guys a chance to compete and see what our best lineup is. It will be going on the whole season. It could gel early, it could gel mid-season and it could gel late. It’s a process. Guys are working really, really hard and we are hoping for sooner than later.”
(On if he is pleased with G/T Laremy Tunsil’s development) – “Every player on the team has something to work on. He (Tunsil) is not alone in that. He is really doing a great job – having him in two positons, he is studying, having him learn two spots technique-wise, all the things that go with it. He has done a really, really fine job to this point. (I) couldn’t be any happier with his progress.”
(On G Dallas Thomas taking the majority of the first-team snaps) – “The depth chart hasn’t been set yet, so guys that have been here, guys that are doing better in drill work and guys that understand the offense better (are getting more first-team snaps). Obviously there is a learning curve for everybody. Everybody’s doing well at this point. We are just letting Dallas (Thomas) roll (and) I think (Laremy) Tunsil’s taking some (first-team snaps). A lot of it has to do with how we are trying to get Laremy reps in other positons. It doesn’t always work out that he can go first (and) second (team). It’s just how we are trying to rep everybody, so if it’s a day that we are trying to get Billy Turner reps at right guard, that affects everybody else in the rotation. If it’s a day we are trying to get Tunsil more (reps) at left tackle, that affects everybody in the rotation. It’s really all about how the rotation is going during the day. A little bit is that Dallas has been here and understands it a little better, but it’s not that much different.
(On the transition from left tackle in college to left guard in the NFL) – “It’s just how quick (everything is). Everything happens a lot quicker at guard. The guys are lined up closer to you. You don’t have to deal with space as much. They’re a different type of player. You look at the difference between how Mario Williams looks as opposed to (Ndamukong) Suh. (Cam) Wake as opposed to No. 90 (Earl Mitchell). The body types inside are usually stockier, shorter, you have to bend, you have to get underneath. It’s just a whole different game inside. Things happen quicker inside than outside. As you take reps, you get better at it.”
(On G Billy Turner having an edge at the starting right guard position) – “As far as lining them up, that’s what I’m trying to say, there really, really is no edge. We are going to rep guys as we kind of see (how things go but) nothing is set in stone. Billy (Turner) is doing a great job. Jermon (Bushrod) is going through the same thing as (Laremy) Tunsil is, he is moving… he is even going from the left to the right side and moving inside. So (Bushrod didn’t have) all the OTA’s with us, except for at the end when he got some individual – he never got any team work. It’s a process for him. It’s all different. If you think about it, if any of you have ever broken your wrist or hand and you’re right handed, and now everything you have done with your right hand you have to do with your left, it’s somewhat the same with the offensive line. That’s why we mix and match so much. The sooner they do it, the more natural you get at it. You can almost become ambidextrous with it and that’s what ‘Bush’ (Bushrod) is having to do now. He’s having to go through a little bit of an awkward stage of what’s going on, on the right side. They all have their pluses and minuses and we all have things to work on.”
(On his expectations for the preseason games and knowing when the offensive line is heading in the right direction) – “It’s day-to-day in practice, day-to-day in the meeting room. Those are dress rehearsals of a sort. We will just see how the guys play. I don’t know what it’s going to take. As we go through the process of how much everyone is going to play, what positions, it usually clears itself up pretty well and sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes you have guys that are equal and sometimes you rotate people into the season. I’ve done that a lot where you’ve rotated guys in the lineup during the year. A guy takes two series and another guy takes one until somebody establishes themselves. Sometimes that means that neither guy is doing well and you’re trying to find a guy to rise above. Sometimes it means that both guys are doing well and they both deserve to play. We are a long way away from it. We are five to six practices into this camp and we will see how it goes.”
(On the areas he told G Dallas Thomas that he needed to improve) – “Dallas needs to work on … he’s got so much. It’s a different style of offense now. He needs to work on being strong and anchoring in the pocket. That’s a big part of his game because he is a very athletic guy. He has done a really nice job of that all offseason and has done a good job of that again. Just playing fast… Our offense is about tempo being on the line of scrimmage (and) being able to play fast with no hesitation. (He needs to) really be in the book and study it and knowing what he has to do; but that’s really universal, that’s every guy. Every guy has strengths and weaknesses. He had a couple little things that we’ve tweaked, but really at the end of the day I’ve just started coaching him from scratch and say ‘Hey, this is me, this is what we are doing and this is what I expect from you.’ Whatever that has happened in the past is the past.”
(On if he is running a zone blocking scheme) “We are doing a little bit of everything. We’ve got everything in the package. What we will end up leaning on, that is part of this process. Seeing what our guys do well. There (are) certain things in the game today that will lend itself to zone blocking, like practicing in shorts all the time. At the end of the day, we are going to do whatever it takes to beat the defense. If we’re a gap scheme… if we have to run 25 gap schemes to win the game, then we will do it. If it’s zone, it’s zone. Our identity will establish itself with time, with our runner and our linemen. I hope our identity is whatever we’re the best at. We will figure that out.”
(On his thoughts on G/T Laremy Tunsil’s adjustment to guard) “He has done a great job and the challenges are kind of what I stated already, it’s just the adjustment from the space that he has at tackle to guard.”
(On his thoughts on being back with the Miami Dolphins) – “It’s great to be back, I don’t want to talk about last time. It wasn’t a great stop; but it was a great experience for me from that standpoint. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to coordinate in a real catastrophic year. It was awful. All the hurricanes hit the state. I was in this building more when the power was off than when it was on during that year. It was crazy with the hurricanes and then the season with (Head Coach Dave) Wannstedt in the middle of the season being out. But coming back with (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase – he’s a very, very close friend of mine and a guy that I’ve always respected and admired. I’m really excited about the opportunity, I love this football team, love the field, the building – it’s all different. The team was under different ownership at the time. It was great back then but it’s just different now and I really like the way it feels and it’s really cool to be back.”
(On how he feels the athleticism at guard helps the team) – “It lends itself to – one of the guys asked earlier about zone blocking – and obviously (with) zone blocking, when you are trying to have guys that can run and be athletic, that helps. Pulling your linemen, you can pull them more. And you hope in pass protection being athletic gives you a chance to keep up with athletic defensive linemen. So that should be something we are good at.”
(On how the defense lining up in the Wide 9 helps unit get more seasoned) – “It’s just a different style. That’s the one thing about training camp, no matter what your defense does, you get challenged. You see the same thing every day, so you kind of get better at that. And over a period of time, you have kind of slowly pecked away at attacking this defense. The problem is, you go to New York (Giants) in the preseason or Tennessee (Titans), Dallas (Cowboys) – it’s a different style and you have to adjust to that. So it’s all good. It’s all a part of the process. This has been a great challenge.”
Shawn Jefferson – August 4, 2016
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Thursday, August 4, 2016
Wide Receivers Coach Shawn Jefferson
(On WR DeVante Parker not practicing) – “We’re just moving along. Right now, we’re just trying to make sure that he’s 100 percent healthy and give him another day. I would love him out here, but my main thing is to get him to where when we start up the season, he’s healthy and ready to go and all his issues are behind him.”
(On getting to know WR DeVante Parker) – “I know a lot. I knew about him (coming out of college). I studied him a lot. Part of my job during the draft process (is) to really get know these guys (and) watch a bunch of film on them. He’s a special talent. Trust me, he’s a special talent. All I want to do is really get him healthy and (do) everything I can to get him back on the field. He’s blessed athletically. He can do it all. I want to make sure when he’s out here, he’s absolutely, 100 percent healthy.”
(On his intense coaching style) – “These guys are going to go as I go. I’m a go-getter, so that’s how I want my group. I want my group to be go-getters. They have to be the first ones to storm the beach. When the ship is listing, they have to right the ship. I put a lot of pressure on those guys, so when (we) get to the game, there’s no pressure. What we want to do as a receiving group (is) we want to apply pressure. We never want to fill it. We want to apply it.”
(On his relationship with WR Jarvis Landry) – “I enjoy talking to him. This kid is a special kid. He’s unbelievable. (He has an) off the charts competitiveness about him and everything. What I want Jarvis to do now – which he’s doing an awesome job of – is stepping his leadership role up. I talk to my guys all the time (that), ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’ My job is not only to help Jarvis become a better player, but to become a better man first. I focus on the man first. Once the man is right, then the player inside the man is free to come out and do what God has blessed him to do.”
(On WR Jarvis Landry) – “He’s an awesome kid. And that’s what we want to do – we want guys that attack, attack, attack. And that’s what this kid does. It’s going to be fun for me to watch this kid play. He’s ultra-competitive, and I love everything about that kid. And he’s really stepping his leadership role up. But the main thing is he’s stepping it up in his manhood, and his man leadership with these guys. He understands (that) as he goes, the group goes.”
(On the wide receiver group as a whole at this point) – “We’re under construction, but they’re pretty sharp. I think that we’re ahead of where we should be right now. That’s the thing, (and) I love it. But the way that we teach is, ‘Hey, we have to storm the beach first,’ so I love it. Again, give it to us, because we can handle it. We want to be the group that the onus falls on. That’s where we go. That’s what receivers (are) supposed to do. There’s two ways that we can affect the game: by catching passes downfield and blocking our (butts) off in that run game. I’m more of a stickler on that than anything, because blocking is just want-to.”
(On who the game-breaker is within the wide receiving group) – “The whole group. The whole group (are) game-breakers. If somebody goes down, the next guy has to step up. We’re all game breakers. That’s just how I coach. We’re all great until you prove that you’re not great. That’s it.”
(On WR Kenny Stills) – “He has been off the chart. Ever since Day 1, he has been over here … (He is the) first one in the building, (and the) last one to leave. (His) leadership – taking the young guys up under his wings and everything – he has just been totally awesome. I think that the work he has put in during the offseason is really paying dividends out here.”
(On whether he is putting pressure on WR Jakeem Grant during individual drills) – “Yes, absolutely. That’s my job: to kill him, so when we get to the game, he does not feel that pressure. I can’t tell him to go out there and play hard if we don’t go hard in our individuals. I love all these guys. I want these guys to live their dream. If all of them are saying they want to make this team and be good – make (it in) the NFL – good, let’s work like it every day we come out here. When you step across these white lines, there has got to be a professionalism about how you attack stuff and how you detail stuff. My job is to get them so detailed that when they’re doing stuff, they don’t even know they’re doing it it’s so ingrained in them.”
(On whether he has taken WR Jakeem Grant under his wing) – “I got all of them up underneath my wing. Can’t you see? (laughter) I got all of them up underneath there. What we do in this group (is), ‘Each one, teach one.’ I got them up under my wings, Kenny (Stills) got them up under (his) wings, Jarvis (Landry). Each one, teach one. He’s getting it from me. He’s getting it from every guy in the group. What I want to do is create a group of accountability. Everybody holds each other accountable. I told them, ‘The only way we’re going to win in this group and be great is we got to care about that guy next to us more than we care about ourselves, and we’ll be good to go.’”
Clyde Christensen – August 4, 2016
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Thursday, August 4, 2016
Offensive Coordinator Clyde Christensen
(On if QB Brandon Doughty has surprised him so far) – “You know what, he has and he’s been what we saw on the film. He can do four things wrong and get a completion out of it. He has a nice knack for… that’s kind of what he’s been. He’s always moved the ball. We’ve thrown a lot at him and he’s made some mistakes but he ends up finding a completion. We’re really pleased with him. Hopefully we skip the mistakes and get the completions kind of the ‘Fins way,’ if you will. He just has a knack. You watch the thing and you go ‘Gosh, he missed this and he missed this and he went 4-for-5 in this period.’ He’s been a pleasant surprise. He works his tail off. He’s smart. He has a lot of football savvy and so he’s had a good camp.”
(On the importance of missing WR DeVante Parker in the red zone offense in today’s practice) – “Yes, you miss DeVante (Parker). DeVante’s got to be our bell cow in the red zone. But it (red zone work) is good work. We come off the off day and it’s a way to be sharper (and) quicker – not as much elongating the stride (when players run). So I think it’s really a smart way to do it. We do it for a couple things: One – for the red zone, just because of the emphasis on the red zone; Two – just to kind of ease back into it after you’ve had a night practice and a day off. But it’s good because if DeVante is down for a couple weeks, somebody has to step up in the red zone. We’ve got to find the plays that work and we’ve got to find ways to get it to the other guys and someone else has to take up the slack for him.”
(On if it is frustrating that WR DeVante Parker has a setback) – “Sure. Yes. I don’t think of it that way, you just keep moving and you go; but it’s never good to miss practice. You’d love for those 11 starters to stay (and) work together, work together, work together. But the silver lining is that odds are you’re going to need different combinations during the season and you may as well practice them (now). I think we’re trying to create a mentality where you’re not worried about who’s not playing. We’re worried about who is practicing and who is playing. Whoever that is, in Week 8, Week 16 or the third week of the playoffs, they go in and the next man up has to play.”
(On if G/T Laremy Tunsil will start at left guard in Week 1) – “We don’t know yet. Like I said, it’s still the teach mode. It’s still the teach mode. As much as I kind of want to jump ahead and get into a starting lineup, we haven’t even gotten to the first preseason game or game week (yet). Through the first preseason game, it’s just keep teaching. He’s really a talented guy. He’s going to be a really fine left tackle at whatever point, but there is a learning curve for him at guard. Things actually happen quicker at guard. You have all of the twists. You’ve got a lot more movement. You’re setting outside about 85 percent of the time. It probably is going to be good for him long-term wise to have played in there and understand how quickly things happen in this league. So I think there’s a silver lining for Tunsil that you’re playing a different position where things are happening really, really quickly, which will pay off for him at left tackle also. But we’re going to continue to training him at both positions and knowing full well that it’s not a natural position for him at guard and he’s just learning.”
(On if it is alarming that G/T Laremy Tunsil isn’t taking all of the first team reps since some considered him the best prospect in the draft) – “No, not alarming at all. It’s actually great. It’s actually great. We’re going to have more flexibility than ever, because you’ve got some talent in there. We’ll have to make some decisions, but those decisions will come more after Week 1 of the preseason and then we’ll still have two weeks of camp and a fourth preseason game and a game week to have the combination right that we want to go into the season with. But I don’t see that happening until after Week 1 of the preseason. I see us just continuing to cross-train a lot of different people and then make our decision from there.”
(On how sharp the wide receivers group has been) – “I think they’ve been better these last couple of days. We’ve been a little bit sharper. I’m going to blame (Head Coach Adam) Gase for some of it with the install – it’s been pretty darn ambitious – so I’ll blame him a little bit. But the receivers’ got to take their share (of blame) also. We threw a lot at them and the more you throw at them mentally, the slower you move, the less you react, the more balls you drop. As soon as it starts becoming natural, you run faster, you catch the ball better and that has shown. I’d be really nervous if we hadn’t improved in the second week of the training camp, in the second phase of the training camp. If we hadn’t improved, I’d really be nervous. But I do think it’s starting to sink in. We’re starting to do it faster. We’re starting to look like we kind of know what we’re doing. Now you can apply some of the fine-tuning to it, of beating man coverage, of making a big catch, or some of the things that we know we have to do.”
(On how exciting the offense has been for the players and the coaches who teach it) – “I think it’s been hard on the guys who are here, because we’re asking them to learn a lot of different positions and a high volume of install. So it’s a little bit hard. These guys want to do their deal. They want to show what they can do and it’s a little bit hard because we’ve got them thinking. It’s a chore. It’s some work to get lined up right now. As soon as it’s a chore to get lined up, then it’s a little bit harder to play fast. I think probably it’s been a little bit hard on them; but I do think again the deposits long-term are going to really help. There’s going to come a point where you’re playing somewhere out of position. Someone’s going to have play guard who’s been trained at tackle. Someone’s going to have to play tackle who’s been trained at guard. I think the cross-training will pay dividends. All these are good deposits that maybe (slow) us (down) a little bit early, but long-term wise should be a benefit.”
(On the communication at the line of scrimmage with QB Ryan Tannehill) – “I think it’s been okay. It’s got to get better. Again, some of it’s built into the thing. We knew we were throwing a ton at him. He’s having to tell a lot of people what to do and then play his position. That’s what you forget. It’s not just the quarterback, it’s not just getting everyone lined up, but then you’ve got to play quarterback. You’ve got to be an NFL quarterback and that’s really, really hard to do. And again, it still falls into, the more you think, the less well you’re going to have to play. It’s got to become natural and that’s going to take a while with a new system, new coaches and new people around you. And then all of a sudden you throw different combinations at him, wide receiver-wise, and I think it’s hard. But he is an unbelievably hard worker. We’ve been unbelievably impressed how much he’s picked up. It would have drowned an average man. He’s stayed up with it. He probably has gone down a couple of times there but he keeps coming up and studies it and is on it, so it’ll come. Again, it’s not going to be one of those things where we’re in postseason form in Week 2 of the preseason. That’s not going to happen. That’s not the object and that’s not going to be frustrating or disappointing. We know. We know. That’s the plan.”
(On having a running back by committee approach and if he could see a scenario where three different backs get 75-100 carries this year) – “I hope not. We don’t want that. We really need someone to emerge as the guy. I’ve talked to you about the no-huddle thing. We don’t want to substitute. When you huddle, you substitute those guys and you can keep them fresh. We really need one guy to be a three-down back, stay in there for that drive. Now, we can sub you on that next drive, etc. But we need some guys to play big chunks. It’s different from the rest of the league. I don’t see us being a specialist running back (team), that, ‘Hey, this guy’s our third-down guy, this guy’s our first-down guy. This guy’s our blitz guy. This is our empty guy. Our guy has to be able to do all of those things because one of the things we’re counting on is we can get you in a personnel group and make you stay in it. That’s got to be one of our advantages. If we can get you in a personnel group and make you stay in it and we can stay in it — we’ve got to be able to stay in it. If we’ve got two guys who can’t do what we’re asking them to do, then we’ve got a problem. Then we have to substitute and go from there. But I don’t think we see it as by-committee as you’re defining it. There may be some different guys (that) play, but we really need to have a guy who goes in there and plays every down.”
(On how he sees the running back group shaking out) – “I don’t know. We talked yesterday in our personnel meeting. There are some talented guys, but there’s not enough facts to base everything on. There’s not enough facts on any of our running backs to have exclamation points and facts. They all have this development process and getting to know Arian (Foster), easing him into this thing and being smart with his reps. Jay (Ajayi), the same thing – (he’s) a guy who (does) not have 100 carries yet (in his) career. What are these guys? I don’t know. We have to get the pads on, get in these preseason games. But we need that to unfold. We need to turn some question marks into exclamation points, which we’ll do.”
(On how a quarterback builds trust) – “I think just doing it over and over, and just getting a swagger to him, getting a confidence. We’ll be good when he knows exactly what (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase wants. When he knows that, when we’re humming, he will know what Gase is going to call. He will know that. He’ll know what Gase wants to get to on all of these combinations. He’ll know those things and now we’ve got something. That’ll take some time. Coach Gase will explain it, ‘No, this is what I was thinking with that. We want to do this or this, but I want this versus this coverage.’ The more that those guys get on the same page, the more that he doesn’t have to think, ‘I know why Coach Gase called this. He was calling that for this and we got it. Here it is. Bang!’ We’ve got to make them pay. ‘Hey, he called it for this, we didn’t get this, he’ll want me to check this ball down.’ The more we get to that point with the quarterbacks on the same page as Coach Gase, then we’ve got something. Now you’ve got some confidence and now they’re just rolling.”
(On if there is a different level of coaches have with QB Ryan Tannehill then quarterbacks they have previously coached like QB Peyton Manning) – “Yeah, sure. I think the 12th year with Peyton (Manning) there was a lot more trust than the first year with Peyton. You don’t want that much on your plate early. Sometimes you just want to play football. You see how much they can handle. Each year, and that’s what I always explain to Ryan, ‘You visit with Peyton, that’s 17 years in the same offense.’ We can’t just go and roll in doctorate level courses here. He didn’t start as a doctor of quarterbacking. He started as a rookie quarterback and he made his way up and ended up a decorated doctorate in quarterbacking. But there was a lot of years of elementary school, all the way through, before he got that doctorate-level title. That’s part of the discipline for (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase and for me too, to just understand. I always teach Coach Gase, ‘You got married with kids Peyton. You didn’t do any hard time when he was single. You didn’t do any of the hard time.’ Some of it is that, just realizing you can’t install like you could with Peyton in the 15th year. That’s not the way the whole thing worked. That’s a mistake if we do that. There’s still a progression to playing this position, there’s a progression in this offense. It’s the same thing with (New England Patriots QB Tom) Brady. It’s the same thing with any quarterback – the longer you have some continuity, then you’ve got something. Peyton in his 15th year, if I told you what we were in our first year, it was pretty darn elementary. And then all of a sudden he starts understanding, taking it over, (and) having some ownership of the thing. Coaches worked their way out of a job and he knew what we were trying to do. That’ll be the same thing here, hopefully over the next years. That’s not (to say) by the third preseason game, we’re going to be at the point where Peyton was in his 15th year.”
(On where QB Ryan Tannehill stacks up to other quarterbacks he has coached as far as football intelligence) – “I think he’s really, really sharp. He works unbelievably hard. He works as hard as anybody I’ve been around. I think I’ve been around elite workers at the quarterback position. Those guys are elite. Peyton Manning (and) Andrew Luck are elite workers, and this guy works his tail off. I’ve been unbelievably impressed. There are some things we install and I go, ‘This is going to take a while,’ and he comes in the next day and he knows what’s going on. He’s burning the midnight oil in here and you can’t ask for anything more than what he’s doing. We’ve just got to stay the course and keep learning.”
Adam Gase – August 4, 2016
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Thursday, August 4, 2016
Head Coach Adam Gase
(On what the process is like to build trust with a quarterback) – “I wouldn’t say it’s just with me. It’s with the whole offensive staff, because there’s a lot of interaction going on. We meet a lot together, especially the skill guys. So the dialogue, the communication – all of us are really trying to get on the same page – that’s the part of the offense that’s the hardest thing do. A lot of communication is going on and guys have to do a good job of talking in meetings. Me just being the only voice, talking in the front doesn’t really work with how we install. We prepare. Guys have to actually interact in practice and if something comes up that communicates – starting in OTAs – we had to build that trust amongst all of us to make sure everybody feels comfortable (and that) we’re all on the same page. We all know what we’re doing and there’s that constant communication.”
(On where he would say his trust level is right now with QB Ryan Tannehill) – “I feel great where he’s at right now. I know he’s really trying to expand what he can do at the line of scrimmage. It’s not as easy as the guy that I’ve had before (former Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning) made it look. It’s a lot of work. It takes a lot of time. It takes a lot of experience and we’re going to have growing pains and it starts out here. The better defenses you play, you start getting into that chess game. You got to react quick. You got to think quick and its 60 minutes. It’s a long time. It’s a mentally draining part of the game.”
(On RB Arian Foster doing more today) – “Every day’s a new day for him and we see how he’s feeling that morning. We kind of have a game plan going in every night when we meet with the trainers and the sports science guys and strength staff. He’s been great as far as whatever we’ve suggested, he’s been on board. He’s come out there and every rep that he takes, I mean he makes it worthwhile. I always feel like he just wants to stay in there but we’re just trying to make sure we do this thing right. We had a process in place as far as what we wanted to follow and he’s done a great job of just letting everybody do their job.”
(On if RB Arian Foster has looked how he hoped he would look) – “Absolutely. Just watching him anytime we run a lot of plays that he’s run in the past. His ability to kind of feel holes in the running game and then when he gets involved in the passing game, just how smooth he is and how effortlessly he catches the ball. It’s an impressive thing for me to see. I’ve been around one other guy, (New York Jets RB) Matt Forte, as far as a guy that can do that much.”
(On if he has a philosophy towards two or three quarterbacks on the roster) – “We’re going to just see how it plays out. We haven’t played a preseason game. I’m sure the special teams coach wants two, the defensive coach wants one. I probably want four. (laughter) We’ll see how it goes and how it plays out. In preseason – that’s the really fun part about preseason – when you get in the back half of those games and seeing those guys that don’t usually get the opportunity to play in the regular season. Just seeing how they develop through training camp – from OTAs to training camp and through the preseason games.”
(On what qualities he likes in LB Danny Lansanah and what kind of role he envisions for him) – “I’m obviously still learning. We’ll see how that plays out and obviously anytime you sign somebody and it’s new, you got to speed everything up for the coaching staff as well. You’re trying to figure out what can this guy do well and we’ve got to put it in fast forward for us.”
(On if RB Jay Ajayi is falling behind when he misses practice) – “He’s not falling behind mentally, for sure. For me, the sooner we can get him back the better. I know he’s working hard to get back. It’s one of those things where it’s so day to day. Every day we walk in and say, ‘Alright, where’s he at?’ And I know he’s itching to get back out there because he knows his biggest thing is getting that feel for what we’re doing in the running game, passing game, working at the line of scrimmage and understanding how (he) fits in with the o-line. That’s the one thing I think Arian’s (Foster) done a great is like, right away, it was a couple of days in and he got a good feel for where some of those holes were popping. And I know Jay’s (Ajayi) trying to do the same things. It’s just a couple of the run schemes that we’re doing are different than what he’s done in the past. We’re still developing what’s best for him, so right now it’s real generic. So as we head through the preseason and once we get in the regular season, we’ll have a better idea of when Jay’s (Ajayi) in there, here’s what we’re going to lean on. We’re going to do what he does best and we’re still trying to figure that out.”
(On where QB Ryan Tannehill has come along in his pre-snap communication and at the line of scrimmage) – “We have a system in place to where he knows how to go about when it’s the right time to do it (change plays). He has a set of rules that are put in to where he knows when to do it. The communication part, he’s been great – the hand signals and just the terminology. There’s a lot of words, a lot of different concepts; but as far as him picking that up, there hasn’t been any issues there.”
(On how he would describe Wide Receivers Coach Shawn Jefferson’s coaching style) – “Psychotic (laughter). The energy level he brings is… There’s not many guys that do it like he does it. I always worry about (him) because I look over and he’s wearing a gray shirt and then all of a sudden it’s not gray anymore and we’re five minutes into practice. So the fact that he’s out there, he runs with them and he’s chasing everybody around and he’s constantly running down the field just trying to push his guys not to take one second off. When you get a guy like that on your staff, you just can’t measure it. And what he does in that room and how he coaches his guys and the respect level people have for him in our building is very high. I was fortunate enough to be on a staff when he was a player in his last year. And then two years later we were sharing an office. So I’ve been around him a long time. He’s never changed. It’s the same intensity all the time.”
(On if the intensity has been up to his expectations in practice) – “I mean after the other day (Tuesday night), I felt really good. When we got out of the bubble, that was pretty intense. You felt like we just got done with a game. I think a lot of guys were still hyped up. A lot of guys were still sticking around. I think it was like 9:30 p.m. almost 10 p.m. and guys were still hanging out in the cafeteria. You could tell they were still wired up.”
(On what impresses him about Quarterbacks Coach Bo Hardegree) – “Well, the first thing, when I first was introduced to Bo (Hardegree) from Jim Bob Cooter and (Hardegree) went to college together – played together. And when Jim Bob (Cooter) left for Detroit he’s like, ‘I got your guy for you.’ He introduced me to Bo and he was like ‘He’s smarter than I am.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, whatever.’ I just thought he was trying to get his buddy a job. The longer I’ve been around Bo and what he does, his work ethic and the efficiency that he was working at when I first had him as a quality control guy and then for him to follow me to Chicago, I appreciated that a lot because he didn’t have to do that. He was up on his contract. He could have stayed in Denver and came with me there (Chicago). He makes, for me personally, he makes my life really easy because he knows exactly how I want to do everything. He’s always one step ahead of me. He knows how to control that quarterback room. I don’t feel like I have to be in there all the time. He runs the show in there.”
(On if he sees a lot of himself in Quarterbacks Coach Bo Hardegree) – “We’re different personalities. I’m probably a little more hotheaded than he is. He’s one of those guys that his reaction is the same all the time. He’s very calm no matter what the situation is. He thinks about things more with his brain then emotionally. He thinks through things (whereas) sometimes I don’t think through everything I say before I say it.”
(On if he has a sense now of what S Reshad Jones’ role will be) – “Yes. We’re going to keep expanding it but every day I walk out there, he does something where it’s very impressive. I’m just glad that he’s on our roster. I know that for sure.”
(On if he is closer to wishing he could take the field in two days or does he need more practices before the first preseason game) – “I think every day we get is great for us. When this thing is said and done, when we head to Seattle, we’re going to play a team at their place that’s been together since 2010 and they’ve established their culture and we’re playing catchup. I mean really our first two games. So we want every day. Every day we can get and it’s a chance for us to get better, we need that day.”
(On how he knows that safety time tandem of S Reshad Jones and S Isa Abdul-Quddus is developing chemistry) – “That’s a good question. We’re still working through that. I think those guys are doing a great job as far as how they’re playing off each other. It’s just once again, it goes back to Reshad’s (Jones) really the key to everything. How far are we going to take him, as far as what are we going to do with him? How many different ways can we use him? So we’re still in that developmental phase. I trust VJ (Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph) so much because he’s done such a good job in the past of how he uses his secondary. So there’s a lot of faith there for me.”
(On TE Thomas Duarte missing OTAs and if he’s playing catchup or if he’s already caught up) — “He’s pretty caught up. The hardest thing for him is you go out there and it’s a different speed of the game. He had three days of it and maybe like six reps (before training camp began). So trying to get that and then all of a sudden something changes – a play changes – and now he’s thinking fast and then all of a sudden you got somebody that’s pretty talented trying to cover you. Mentally he’s not (there yet). It’s just really trying to get the mental and physicality part working together.”
(On if he’s expecting any of his injured players back tomorrow) – “We haven’t had that discussion yet. We didn’t have meetings this morning. Obviously we just came right out to practice. I knew who was going today. We’ll have a meeting tonight and kind of re-assess everything and get an update on how everybody did on the day off – as far as coming in for treatment – and then today as well.”
(On what he has seen out of QB Brandon Doughty) – “He figures out a way to get completions. I always tell him, it happened today like three times, ‘I have no idea what your progression is but somehow, somebody caught the ball.’ A guy like that, he’s so calm. Nothing rattles him. I love his demeanor, just in the huddle, on the line of scrimmage, in the meeting room. I just think every day he comes out there, something seems to click for him a little different every day. The biggest thing for us is, when we get into preseason, I can’t wait to see how he performs in preseason.”
(On what he sees out of RB Kenyan Drake) – “I see a guy that he’s what we thought he was as far as the guy that can obviously… the speed is impressive and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and run routes and split them out and do some things like that. Really, it’s just how much can he handle in his first year? Where does he kind of fit in with that group? What does he do on special teams? I mean there’s a lot of things going on for a rookie. It’s going to be about how he handles all this.”
(On DT Jordan Phillips at practice against DT Earl Mitchell) – “I think ‘T’ (Defensive Line Coach Terrell Williams) and ‘Wash’ (Senior Defensive Assistant/Pass Rush Specialist) put out who they think deserved that day. Whoever they feel like deserves that spot to start, that’s who they put out there. They’re not taking any guff from anybody. They go off performance so if a guy’s not in that first group, then they felt differently about it. Obviously the difference for us is with Cam (Cameron Wake), we’re trying to be smart with him. That whole thing will play out with our ends but as far as the inside guys go, I think every day they go in and they re-assess who had the best practice and they throw whoever had the practice out there.”
Chimdi Chekwa – August 2, 2016
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Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Cornerback Chimdi Chekwa
(On practicing with the first team today and if that was planned or if he found out just before practice) – “Yes, it was planned. They told me before practice I’d take some reps with the ones.”
(On if that was his first work with the ones in camp) – “No. I think I’ve gotten some reps here and there, but it was the most I’ve had since this camp here.”
(On if Defensive Backs Coach Lou Anarumo gave him any indication of why he got more first team work and if the coaches have been pleased with how he’s doing) – “I hope he’s (Lou Anarumo) pleased with how I’m doing but he just came up to me and said I’ll get some one reps. And an opportunity to compete and an opportunity to go with the ones is a great opportunity for me.”
(On what he thinks he does well as a cornerback) — “Really, breaking on the ball. I get out of my breaks fast. I can go up there and jam (and) play man. I’m really just out here trying to get better and trying to make this team.”
(On if he feels he’s being given a real shot to win the starting job) – “I think I’m given a shot to compete, and if I’m out there competing, I’m out there trying to be the best corner I can be and be one of the best corners in the league. That’s what I’m working towards. I feel like if you set your goals high, you get the most out of yourself, so that’s my focus.”
(On what has held him back so far in his career) – “It is football so in the NFL, (there) is a lot of ups and downs. There’s injuries, which I battled the last couple of years; but that’s just part of it. You continue to work, continue to grind and I’m just blessed to have this opportunity with the Dolphins, so I’m going to try to make the most of it.”
(On what he has had to deal with health-wise over the past couple years) – “I’ve had a lot stuff. I had a knee, hamstring and knee again. I mean that’s part of football. That’s just stuff you can’t control so my focus is on the stuff that I can control, which is coming out here and getting better, competing and having fun out here.”
(On if he’s pleased how he did today with the first team work) – “Yes. I’m happy with most of it. Obviously there’s some stuff that I got to work on. There’s always going to be something that you have to improve on. So I’m going to look at the film and just try to get better.”
(On getting a day off tomorrow after five straight days of practice) – “Yes. After five days of good work, a day off feels great. But (you have to) take that day to kind of recover, get your body right and be right back at it on Thursday.”
(On his first experience practicing inside the bubble) – “I don’t like it as much as practicing outside. I like practicing on the grass. Obviously you have more room outside. We have more than one field, so I don’t like it as much as practicing outside.”
(On practicing at night) – “I do like practicing at night. I like night games so I like night practices. It gives us an opportunity to make it feel like a night game, and that’s something you need because during the season we don’t get that many opportunities to practice at night. We got to take advantage of it.”
