Tyreek Hill – December 24, 2023 (Postgame)
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Sunday, December 24, 2023
Postgame – Dallas
Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill
Q. Same question for you. I know you were not thinking this in the moment, but looking back, how important was that drive to kind of maybe change the narrative?
TYREEK HILL: I feel like every guy on the team knew what was at stake, and plus it was a big moment for us. We can look back at the course of the game. We have Tennessee being the last game we could have won and we didn’t deliver. So this game right here was kind of like the mentality game for us. When everyone on the offensive side, during meetings, we said, look, whenever we have a chance to score or win the game, or end the game with the ball, we’re going to do that. And that’s something that’s been communicated throughout our meetings and stuff like that, because we just can’t be called the best offense, we can’t be called explosive, we have to be able to have good drives and the way Tua orchestrated the last drive, it was a thing of beauty.
Q. The third-and-2, the play where you went flat, picking up the first down there, what went through that call, the play to you on the last drive in the flat that you ended up picking up the first down, just take us through that a little bit. What was the call? What was the read?
TYREEK HILL: That was just one of them plays. Coach (McDaniel) was like, ‘look, I’m coming to you no matter what.’ And the rest of the guys were all right, ‘Reek,’ we’re going to block for you. Just make sure you get three yards right here. And it was a thing of beauty. Like those guys made my job real easy, and I did, like, a counter, came back out, called a quick screen. And it was a wide-open scene. I’ve got to give credit to the guys up front and also the receivers blocking downfield. It was a thing of beauty. Right after the play one of the DBs came up to me and said, ‘y’all really ran a screen, bro?’ I was, like, ‘yeah, anything is possible with this offense.’ We kind of caught them off guard.
Q. What did you have to go through this week just to play?
TYREEK HILL: I had to go through a lot of therapy with Kyle (Johnston). I don’t like spending time with Kyle, although he’s, like, my favorite guy in the building outside of football. So just that right there, just mentally preparing and taking a lot of vitamin Ts.
Q. Life will give you the same lessons until you pass the test. Next week you guys have a match-up with Baltimore and a lot is at stake. Given that opportunity again, are you guys thinking about not taking that for granted and approaching the week with focus?
TYREEK HILL: Each and every game is an opportunity for us to prove that we are one of the best teams in the AFC. So I believe going against the Ravens will be a good test. Looking forward to it. They’ve got a good defense, real good team at that. It’s going to be fun. We can’t take no match-up lightly. They’ve got some very good players over there, good schemes, great head coach. So it’s definitely a challenge for us on both sides of the ball. All three phases, because they really emphasis special teams, all three phases. It’s going to be a real good game, down in Baltimore. Is it a night game? All right. So it’s going to be dope. Hopefully it don’t rain.
Q. You mentioned special teams there. What about the game Jason Sanders had? You got some love for your kicker?
TYREEK HILL: Yeah, he had a phenomenal game. I told him maybe we’ll bring the ping-pong table back. (laughter)
Q. You clinched a playoff spot. It doesn’t happen often here, but it seems like you guys have the bigger goals. Why is the mindset like it is? Seems like it should be a big for celebration.
TYREEK HILL: Yeah, I feel the same way. Obviously nobody’s going to remember the Miami Dolphins making the playoffs when it’s time, when February comes around. It’s always about winning the big game. And that’s where our mind is at right now. And we know we’ve got to team to do it. A lot of people have been saying we can’t beat good teams and feel like today we kind of showed that. So we can scratch that off the box. Now we just are looking for Stephen A. and Shannon Sharpe and I wonder what Skip Bayless is going to say ‘First Take.’ So interesting.
Q. You guys put up a lot of yards and 22 points with I think half of your offense was missing, offensive line was Armstead and a bunch of backups today. Did the resilience of this offense, you’re still able to put points on the board with guys that weren’t supposed to be starters going into the season?
TYREEK HILL: Our offensive line coach, he is one of the coolest guys on our team. Like he does a great job of just coaching those guys. I sometimes, just during practice, I go over there and watch him coach because he’s one of my favorite coaches, like the way he coaches those guys and the way he challenges those guys over there. You know football is all about next man up. Whenever guys get their opportunity. It’s all about playing for one another and they do a good job of protecting Tua.
Q. How much more enjoyable will Christmas be tomorrow?
TYREEK HILL: It’s going to be fun, man. My grandma is in town. I haven’t seen my grandmother in a year. So I’m very excited about that. I’m just happy. I’ve been in the holiday spirit all week. My grandma is in town. She kind of surprised me. Sweet potato pie. You know grandma, she brought it all the way from South Georgia. So really looking forward to that now.
Q. Talk about Tua’s demeanor in the huddle on that last drive, in a drive like that, that is as important as the last one. And how has that changed from the first time you have been in a position with him like that?
TYREEK HILL: Tua was turned up towards the end of the game. Towards the end of the game he was getting guys going, he was getting guys rolling. I love to see it. I love to see that kind of intensity, especially out of Tua. Digging into guys a-holes and getting guys lined up and stuff like that, making sure we’re operating properly and getting in and out of the huddle. So it was a nice thing to see. I almost had words with him because I almost – ‘my bad bro, I’m jogging out the huddle’ so it’s a thing of beauty, man.
Mike McDaniel – December 24, 2023 (Postgame)
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Sunday, December 24, 2023
Postgame – Dallas
Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Q. What does this mean to you and the team?
COACH MCDANIEL: It means we won our 11th game. It means that the team isn’t crazy for feeling the way they feel. I think, specifically since I’ve been in the National Football League, I think the experience for players has changed with the advent and heavy push of social media. I think it’s really hard to ignore the noise, so to speak, or not hear it. I think you’re going to hear it. And so it’s impossible for people not to know all the things that we’re not capable of doing. But I’m proud for this team because regardless of what people say, you have to get to a mode where you’re solely worried about doing your job and being responsible for that with your teammates. And anything else, you get distracted and lose focus on what actually matters. So I thought this is a big win for this team because it’s always big when you do something that internally you know that you’re capable of. And when it comes to fruition, it’s pretty satisfying. I think a lot of their training – I think a lot of the season came out tonight. I think there are really cool results when people persevere through tough times and don’t let tough times wear you down too much. Nobody on this team thought we were going to lose that game. And that’s pretty cool when everyone tells you that you can’t do X, Y or Z. So that’s what that is. It’s a win against a really good team that is tough to beat, just in general, that has playoff experience for the last several years. But then it’s like, awesome, check that box, let’s get as healthy as we can, and let’s go play the Baltimore Ravens. So we’ll be fully on that tomorrow. Tonight, I think it’s just satisfying to have an earned victory that took everybody. And I thought there was, from the beginning of the game to the end, you know, from DeShon Elliott making that stop on the goal line that gave us another down and we got the turnover, all the way down to there’s just to the plays that were made on the final drive. And I thought it was very fitting that for a game that people – our locker room is filled with “they said you can’t” – filled with guys that have been told they can’t. One of which is Jason, can’t make 50-yard field goals. So that’s what it’s about is taking things into your own hands, working to be the best version of yourself, cutting no corners. And you get results like that in a high-stakes game with a lot of pressure. This team was fully confident and knew it would take all 60 minutes. So it’s a cool one to be a part of. I think a lot of the guys are happy because their Christmas isn’t ruined.
Q. 3:27 when you take over at the 25. What’s your mindset there aside from getting in field goal range?
COACH MCDANIEL: I was excited to see which phase was going to win the game. I wasn’t going to count our defense out for a second and I wasn’t going to count our offense out either. And the second that they scored the touchdown, went up by one, I was happy for the opportunity because I know you have to figure out a way to win in those moments to have the season that you want. I was very pumped. I was confident that our guys would execute. And I think we got – it was cool that we matriculated down the field. Their pass rush was real and we were able to get into scoring position. And then to be able to convert to get to first down, to get – it epitomizes what the Dolphins are. Jeff Wilson comes and fights for the yardage that allows us to kneel down and kick a field goal. That is happening all over the place in all three phases, which is why you’re seeing a team that is playing very hard for each other each and every week. So many guys are contributing. So many guys are stepping up with injuries, and that’s the most fun football to be a part of.
Q. Tell us about the decision to go screen to Tyreek on the third-and-3?
COACH MCDANIEL: I was trying to – getting Tyreek the ball isn’t that novel. I was picking the play that I thought you guys would second-guess the strongest if it didn’t work. (laughter) No, you’re going through – it was a nice discourse. I was pumped about our offensive coaching staff. We kind of went back and forth with a couple of different calls. And then as we thought about it, where we were on the field and kind of the look that Tyreek had in his eye, he’s got to a place where he knows when a defense is fully committing all of their resources to stopping him and it’s not frustrating him. He’s just trying to find his moments to do something great. That is something that is not easy to do, especially when he’s put as much pressure on yourself as he does. But you want to talk about something confident. As long as we had someone in between the first primary defender and him, he’s going to find a way to get those yards. So I thought it was well-executed, good ball placement. Braxton Berrios did a great job and Lester Cotton did a phenomenal job as well. That’s what it takes for those type of wins.
Q. The use of technology you know that because of social media and everything that sometimes it is hard for guys to drown it out. I’m just curious, what’s your message throughout the season and maybe this week? Was it, if you hear it, internalize it, use it to push you further or drown it out?
COACH MCDANIEL: No, as I’ve been a head coach, I’ve kind of recognized that it’s impossible to be in a vacuum. So, I didn’t really explain it that well. I can’t remember what day it was. But I’m assuming I was tired in my press conference, but when I was talking about telling people, F off, it wasn’t you shouldn’t have that question. People are entitled to any question they want. It’s understand that this is going to come. People are going to say this, this, or that. And respectfully take that information and that’s the F off part, is you’re not allowing other people’s information pushed on you to occupy rent in your brain, that you know that that’s going to come. So I think for me, when there’s going to be narratives that the team is going to hear, I try to talk about them because I know that it’s going to be talked about. But you do that so hopefully they trust you enough that it doesn’t now occupy their brain because you said it, but you’re trying to really position them in the direction where, hey, this is going to happen. Don’t even bat an eye. People are going to talk about not – everyone’s going to talk about stuff we haven’t done until we do it. And you shouldn’t get mad at that. It’s like, yeah, we haven’t beaten a team with a winning record so we’re vulnerable to that. All the things that you haven’t done, should we really be entitled to blind faith before we do it? That’s kind of where they were at. I feel like the team did a good job of it not really owning their minds and souls in the process of the week because that’s what happens if you get distracted and start thinking about, ‘I’m so pissed that someone said we couldn’t beat a team.’ You’re now not thinking about your job, and that’s the challenge for all teams. And just with this massive amount of information that’s always thrown at you, with millions and millions upon millions of people having an opinion of you and how your performance was, you just have to come to grips with the fact that – I talked to them from my perspective. I know exactly what’s going to happen if a play doesn’t work or if a decision doesn’t work out, as it should. So I think that was that strength. That’s what I was proud about, is the team came together and found a way to focus on what matters. Because all the other stuff, it’s not ‘woe is me’ because that’s part of the reason why we get compensated the way we do. It’s part of the reason that people care. So being able to focus on what your job is, is monumental and in games like this if you’re not that way, you will lose them somehow, some way.
Q. You talked about the Tennessee game, about the lessons that you learned by the team and also by yourself. What did you think you learned in that game that came to play late in this one?
COACH MCDANIEL: From the team’s perspective or mine?=
Q. Yours.
COACH MCDANIEL: Mine? Really from that game, there’s some times as a coach that you can try to will things into existence and you can kind of – like one of my starting points of how I just view this whole game, is I have a job to do to put people in position to succeed. But like, I never am responsible for the results that are good. Like, I could call a terrible play and it works or I could call the perfect play and it doesn’t work. It’s the players and putting them in position for success. And sometimes I can fall into the trap of, like, I need to make the perfect call. It’s not that. It’s giving people opportunities in a smart fashion relative to what the defense is doing and what you’re successful at. So more listening to what’s going on right in front of me and less trying to take the game into a schematic place because I don’t see it that way. I think you prepare a certain way. If your players are prepared, they know exactly what to do in certain scenarios. And then in moments like those you get the ball to whom the quarterback is confident in, who will be open, and who’s really got the hot hand and live from there.
Q. There will be a lot more in Tua’s career going forward, but in this point do you think that final 3:27 was career-defining at this point with what he was able to do and with the stakes that were part of that?
COACH MCDANIEL: I think it was a big moment for other people, probably something – there’s always validation when you’re able to come through in a big moment. But really the way I look at everything and the way I try to talk to the team is we define ourselves each and every day. So, like, what does that mean for him? It’s validation, but it also means nothing because it’s not like what would have changed if we didn’t win that game. That’s the way you have to look at things. You’re constantly chopping wood to be the best version of yourself while holding on to your belief in yourself and everybody else. I’m sure deep down it gives some sort of validation, not that I would see. And to me I don’t think you’re going to like the results if you’re living in the past, off your past accomplishments. You have to be satisfied with how you go after that day and what’s set in front of you that day. For him, that’s the only way he’s going to be satisfied, is that relentless pursuit of improving his game. I think – I’m happy for him – but there’s not one player on our team that was surprised. You know what I mean? I don’t really know where that leaves us, but, man, I need a drink of water.
Q. I saw Steve Ross walking off the field and he shook his fist. This has to be a very satisfying win for him. Have you had a chance to share a moment with him and has he expressed his joy to you?
COACH MCDANIEL: Yeah, it really brings me a lot of joy because the way I look at it, and from my experience, he was the one owner that decided that I was worthwhile to interview and took a shot on me where a lot of people in the first hiring cycle don’t. And in the process of getting to know him, there’s a ton of things that I could find from a relatable standpoint from both myself and just – he has earned everything to his name on his own and been extremely successful to do that. And I know that he hadn’t felt that same success with the Dolphins, by his own admission. But you want to talk about a guy that positions an NFL franchise to succeed where he doesn’t use his power of being the owner, like, literally, he could tell me to stand on one leg for the rest of the week. (laughter) But he doesn’t. He hires people and lets them do their jobs and supports us; reaches out to me after a tough loss, is worried about me. So for me, it’s hard for me not to look like I – part of the million reasons that I have to do my job to the best of my ability is to bring to him what I think he deserves because he’s, I mean, I can’t imagine an owner I’d rather work for and he deserves that satisfaction. And I know a lot of guys are happy that they can do that because he deserves it. He gives us everything that we could possibly want to try to have a winner.
Bradley Chubb – December 24, 2023 (Postgame)
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Sunday, December 24, 2023
Postgame – Dallas
Miami Dolphins LB Bradley Chubb
(Last week was the defense holding down the fort, but this week special teams was very special, especially K Jason Sanders. Five field goals, three from 50+ yards. Just how special is your man?) – “It’s dope. It’s dope when one side is lacking or whatever the word or term is I’m looking for, it’s dope to see that the special teams group is going to step up. If the defense is down, the offense is going to step up and vice versa. It’s just dope to see this team be a complete team and we’re going into these weeks with the preparation and the mindset that we are a complete team and to go out there and continue to prove it is dope.”
(You’ve been chanting ever since you came into the hallway, “who can’t?” How great is it to shut the naysayers and haters up that you guys can’t beat a team with a winning record?) – “It’s cool, man, it’s cool, but we’re not done. We’re not even close to being where we want to be. There’s a lot of plays we left out there and championship teams don’t leave those plays out there and it’s just finally good to get over that hump of the narrative and changing the narrative to be what we want it to be and how we want to approach everything and it’s just been dope to see this team come together, not worry about the outsiders, the naysayers and just do what we do and prepare like we’re a championship team each and every week. I got emotional with the ‘who can’t’ because at the end of the day we put our heart and put our soul into this and for somebody to tell us we can’t do it, we’re going to want to go out there and prove them wrong every time.”
(What was the atmosphere like?) – “Electric, electric. It’s kind of cool that their fans traveled so well, too, because it was just nonstop energy the whole game. Just seeing them tears and people going crazy over touchdowns and field goals, whatever the case may be. It was just an electric atmosphere and one of those that we want to continue to play in.”
Tua Tagovailoa – December 24, 2023 (Postgame)
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Sunday, December 24, 2023
Postgame – Dallas
Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
Q. What are your emotions right now?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: A win. We got a win. That’s all you can ask for in this league any which way you can get it. That’s all you can ask for. Very proud of our guys. They played their hearts out against a really good team. The opposing team played really well. I got a lot of respect for those guys on both sides of the ball. I got a lot of respect for their coaches as well. They’re well-coached. They played a hard game. And these kind of games, in December, that’s how they go. Whoever has the ball last normally, that’s what you can do with that.
Q. After you took two knees (inaudible) and second when the kick was being made, what were you doing? Did you watch?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I don’t think I watched when Jason kicked it. I think I just walked onto the field with my hands up. I didn’t even look at it. But when we took that final knee, that was really cool. I just think of the amount of work that it takes to play a game week in and week out, to prepare for a really good team on Sunday. Every team is good. So to do that and then come out with a victory, a hard-fought victory, that makes it all worth it.
Q. On that last drive, just what do you see? Obviously you kind of got a next drive started with the facemask penalty. What were you seeing on that drive even down to that big third, that completion to Tyreek?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think they played what they wanted to play early on. Then we started to see them make some adjustments, not with the second, not necessarily the second or third series, but as they found their rhythm with what they like to call defensively, with how they wanted to cover our guys and stop the run, they sort of mixed some other things in, but they were very sound. They play hard. So got to take these wins as they come.
Q. Want to ask about that final stretch. When you got the ball with 3:27 left, it looked like you gathered everybody to maybe get everyone focused in the huddle? That’s what it sort of looked like anyway and also on that pass to Tyreek, that third-down pass, it looked like you turned to him and maybe said something, maybe changed something right before the snap?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: No, I’m just telling them what they probably already know. But the entirety of the game or for most of the game, third downs, as we got closer into the red zone, they were trying to double Tyreek. So I basically just told them it was man. So when Tyreek motioned over and they both ran over, Tyreek already assumed that, okay, it’s man but now I’m being doubled on this play. So when Tyreek came back out, the guy watching him was trailing him. And nobody wants to be behind Tyreek so they’re going to try to overplay it. When that happened, there was a screen and Tyreek was able to do what Tyreek does.
Q. What can this win do for the confidence of this team going forward? You’re four wins from the Super Bowl now. If you win four games, you win the Super Bowl.
TUA TAGOVAILOA: You know, I’m so proud of this team for continuing to come in day in, day out and just work on their craft. I don’t think anyone is necessarily worried about what anyone else is saying outside of the guys in the building. The confidence, I mean, everyone has confidence in each other and themselves. I don’t think winning these games do anything more or anything less. But it sort of reiterates the work that we put in and gives us the satisfaction that the work that we do put in pays off and we’ve seen it today.
Q. When you come in on a drive like that and you need a field goal to win, or at least try to get a field goal, maybe use as much of the clock as possible, how do you manage being aggressive versus not making a mistake in that situation? How as a quarterback do you manage those two things?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think around the league everyone knows that three minutes and 20-something seconds is normal play for any quarterback. That’s how we looked at it. We didn’t have to do anything more than what was required for us during that play. We didn’t have to take a shot if it wasn’t necessary. As long as we got completions and we got the ball moving forward and they were positive plays, that’s all we could have asked for.
Q. The win clinches a playoff spot. How important is it to cement now that you’re in the postseason?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: It’s awesome. That’s what we work hard for throughout the entirety of OTAs, training camp and that’s why you try to win as many games as you can early on in the season. But I don’t think that changes our mindset as a team. I don’t think we look at our next opponent or our schedule any different than how we have, where we’re going to continue to play our opponents the way we should play them and that’s hard. And we know we’ll get their best. They know they’ll get ours.
Q. Because the narrative of not having beat a team with a winning record going into a game in 15 months, was that drive, when you look back at it, kind of a must-score, defining drive for this team?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: The way I look at it, man, I just continued to go back to the work that our guys put in day in, day out. Obviously our defense didn’t want to allow them to score, but that’s how football works. As we were on the sideline we were going through the scenarios of if they score this is what we look to do. If they don’t score or if they do kick a field goal, here’s the scenarios that would need to happen. I mean, I’m just very proud of our guys. I’m just very happy that collectively we were all able to do something like that and show everyone that we’re fast but our team is also very physical and we can play with anyone.
Q. How much better does a win make your family’s Christmas?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think it makes the Miami’s Dolphins’ families, everyone that’s under the Miami Dolphins, I think it makes their Christmas a lot better. Everything is good when you’re winning.
Q. When you passed to Waddle, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark. You have him and Tyreek over that mark. Can you touch on that as far as did you ever think that was possible coming into the year?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Would I have thought that was possible? Yeah. But with the season that Tyreek’s having, would I have been able to tell you that the catches that Waddle was getting that he would eclipse it? No. But I think that should tell you a lot about those two guys. Competitive greatness. When Tyreek was out, Jaylen Waddle stepped up and did what he needed to do to help our team win that game. And you could see how happy Tyreek was for him. This game, Waddle’s out, Tyreek’s up. Every time Tyreek catches the ball, you can look on the sideline and you can see how happy Waddle is. It’s not just with ‘Reek,’ (Tyreek Hill) it’s with everyone and with what they’re doing with that success. And you can’t leave someone like Raheem out, for things that he’s battled throughout his career, things that he’s had to go through. And so I’m very proud of those guys. I’m very proud of this team. I think that tells you a lot about the character that we have on this team and the men that we have. But we’ll enjoy this. Merry Christmas to everyone and we’ll be back next week.
Terron Armstead – December 22, 2023
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Friday, December 22, 2023
T Terron Armstead
(A player like Dallas LB Micah Parsons, why is he so hard to defend?) – “He’s a freak, a monster. He plays really hard too. He’s not just a guy who relies on his talent and ability. His effort is second to none. Somebody you always have to keep an eye on. You have to know where he is pre-snap and know where he is post-snap.”
(Is this a team, from what you saw on film, that when they get ahead on the scoreboard, their defense plays even better then what they’ve been playing? Do they play differently when they have the lead?) – “Not necessarily differently, but their d-line and pass rushers get more opportunities to pass rush. They got some pass rush specialists over there that are very good at what they do, and have really perfected their craft in pass rush. With a lead, you get more opportunities to do so. I would say that’s the same for most defenses. Get a lead, you’re going to get the chance to be more relentless.”
(With RB Raheem Mostert being at the doorstep of 1,000 yards, I know for linemen that’s a major goal for you guys. How proud are you guys of what he’s accomplished this season?) – “Yeah, that’s a milestone. We’re all going to wear it. We can’t wait for him to clip that 1k and more. We see the work he puts in everyday and his journey. That’s my brother. He’s inspiring, motivational through his whole career and just how he goes about his business. I can’t wait for him to break that 1,000.”
(You guys, from an offensive line standpoint, are battling a lot of things but are there for the team. What’s that process and mindset like fighting through these injuries in this final stretch of the year?) – “Yeah, I mean it don’t matter. It don’t matter. Everybody is dealing with something. It’s just the game. We train in the sense that everybody is available and ready. When you get later in the year, you have to see what that depth is like. Man, we got guys that come in and we don’t miss a beat because it don’t matter. The scoreboard is not going to say that we’re out three o-linemen or four o-linemen. It don’t matter. We got to line up and play, regardless of what you’re dealing with and who’s in the game. You got to go play.”
(What was it like seeing OL Liam Eichenberg specifically help you out battling through what he’s going through?) – “Liam is tough. He’s as tough as they come. We definitely needed him to be in there and do everything that he did and we’ll continue to lean on him. He’s stepping into more of a leadership role. It’s been great to watch his progression and move positions and honing in at center. Being a very smart guy, putting guys in the right position, ID’ing correctly. He’s been monumental for us.”
(You mentioned it doesn’t matter when guys get hurt, you still have to keep rolling. From the outside looking in, you’re leading the league in fewest quarterback hits and you’re probably close to leading the league in most different offensive line combinations. I’m kind of wondering how have you been able to keep it rolling? Does it ever surprise you on a unit where cohesion and continuity is so important, you’ve been able to overcome it all?) – “Yeah, I mean it goes to the work that’s been put in. That’s not to be dismissed at all. (Offensive Line Coach) Butch Barry and individually, everybody coming in and working on their craft and development – off days, we get a whole group in here on off days. We go out there and we work our technique and go through calls and we simulate games and all those things. So it’s not for nothing. Then we got the full operation too. We try yo give Tua (Tagovailoa) enough time to let him do what he does. He’s incredible. He’s laser quick, reads really well pre-snap. We just try to do our best.”
(RB Raheem Mostert was talking yesterday about being a 30-plus year old back with injuries and people doubt you for that. Have you all connected at all about that?) – “About being over 30?” (laughter)
(They’re narratives that once you hit 30, it’s downhill, so being at the top of your game still at that age.) – “No, I think it’s a blessing man. It’s a blessing to be doing this game for an extended period of time. Being over 30, because we know that’s the mark that people look for the decline or whatever. But guys like Raheem and myself too, we’ve always been – the narrative’s been written for us. It’s been a cap on what I’d be able to do, what Raheem would be able to do. We write our own stories. I got my own pen and paper. I write my own story. Regardless of what this play was or what this game was, I know who I am. I know the work I put in. And same thing for Raheem. He’s had injuries. He’s been cut. He never wavered from what he believed in and himself writing his own story. Record holder. Franchise record holder. Who would have thought? Him. He thought the whole time.”
(I know guys really appreciate the value you provide on Tuesday in terms of the structure to coming in and improve. Is there someone in particular you feel proud of? Like a big brother. A guy who has really taken advantage of Tuesday sessions and you’ve seen significant growth from them?) – “Yeah, I mean we’ve had everybody come in. But Rob Jones, Kion Smith. Yeah Kion Smith, that’s my son. (laughter) That’s my oldest. He’s one that I would say the most. He’s not going to miss a day or opportunity to work. But it’s really just that’s how the group is, how our room is. If the guys are feeling well enough to get out there, we go put the work in.”
(What’s your sense on how unique those Tuesday sessions are among other teams?) – “I’m not sure. I’ve been like this my whole career. It’s a day to improve, to get better. Off days and offseason. It’s hard to really make technique jumps in season. You want to do what you’re being coached to do. In practice, you only get so many reps to take that step. So off days and offseason is when you see the most growth.”
(Did you get a look at OL Austin Jackson in practice, and if so, how did he look?) – “Oh no, I’m on the other side, so I didn’t get a chance to check him out. I knew he came out there today and moved around in indy. I’m not sure how much team he did. But he’s somebody that’s been putting in overtime to be available. But I don’t know his status at all.”
(I know a lot of the time wide receiver and cornerback battles get hyped. Do you get hyped when there is a star pass rusher on the other side? Not sure how much he ends up being on you but obviously LB Micah Parsons is a name that’s mentioned a lot.) – “Nah, I just try to go out and do my job no matter who’s over there. All them guys get paid to rush the passer, so I just try to do my best to keep my quarterback clean and create lanes for the running backs. I don’t really go off who’s lined up. I just try to execute and keep the quarterback clean. I’m going to have a plan for each individual rusher for sure, but I don’t get into the names.”
Mike McDaniel – December 22, 2023
Friday, December 22, 2023
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(Are you able or willing at this point to rule out either OL Robert Hunt or OL Austin Jackson for Sunday?) – “I can rule out Robert Hunt. I cannot rule out Austin Jackson. I would not like to rule him out and he shouldn’t be ruled out. We’ll get some work with him today and see how that goes.”
(OL Austin Jackson is practicing today?) – “Yeah, he’ll be participating in a limited fashion.”
(And WR Tyreek Hill, what’s his status and was it a high-ankle sprain for him?) – “I mean, it was his ankle. There is a lot of science behind it that I just was like (motions over his head). He’s had a good week. No setbacks, so we’ll see how he does today. Feel good about him. We have the present day to go through, but he’ll be out there working, so excited about that. And no setbacks from yesterday.”
(I know it was just a workout, but we have a history with DT Ndamukong Suh, and when I say ‘we,’ I mean people in the media and people in the organization. Obviously, you guys wouldn’t be looking at him if you felt that there wasn’t a need or that you didn’t see it as a viable option. But have you considered adding somebody like that could change or alter the dynamics of your locker room?) – “Absolutely. I think the main thing is that Chris Grier does not stay bored, ever. There’s a list that he doesn’t need to dust off because it doesn’t accumulate dust. I think it’s important that we explore all scenarios. Sometimes if you just close your mind off to something and say ‘no, I’m assuming this would be like this, or this person, his mind is at this spot,’ you kind of just have to really go in with open – basically, you don’t want to assume that things wouldn’t work out because you’re assuming things. So removing assumptions, I think we had a nice discussion. I don’t see anything imminent happening, but I think it’s important to not ever close your mind off to whatever and just keep open discourse to see where guys are at. And that’s all that was.”
(The decisions with S Jevon Holland and CB Xavien Howard. Is there a certain point in the season where even as conscientious and diligent as you guys have been about protecting a player from themselves and having a trainer have a major part in these decisions, is there a point during the season whether it’s a season finale, a playoff game, where you defer entirely to the players and say it’s your call no matter what the trainer is advising you about risk of potential re-injury?) – “I think there’s a point in your relationship with people where over time, you learn to trust their word. Everybody’s different, so they might mean I’m good to go and that means they can play a quarter and a half or two and a half quarters. Well, you’re also protecting the team as well because when you have someone that goes into a game that maybe is short-sighted and then has to come out early, that tangibly affects the rest of the team and the depth and how stretched thin because of the league-wide mandate on how many actives you can have. There are a bunch of things at work, but kind of in the vein and the spirit of what you’re asking, I do think that adjusts as the season progresses and as you develop your relationships with people and know, by consistency, what they mean and how that’s going to play out.”
(And with those two guys in particular, S Jevon Holland and CB Xavien Howard, any sense on Sunday?) – “We’ll see how today progresses. I mean, there’s just a lot of guys in those categories that you don’t want to get ahead of yourself. I think Xavien specifically yesterday had some encouraging practice and didn’t take a step back. Both of them, I’m not feeling at liberty to say I know what they’re going to feel like tomorrow, let alone after they get some work today. So we’ll progress through that and then make a decision collectively with all parties, including them, involved.”
(S DeShon Elliott went through a full practice yesterday. Is he through concussion protocol yet? Is he in the final stages?) – “He’s in the final stages. He’s now cleared for contact for today and so we’re hoping that he gets fully cleared after practice. But things have gone well.”
(RB Raheem Mostert was a DNP twice. Is there any reason for concern there or is that extra vet rest?) – “Extra vet rest with a guy that doesn’t like taking it. But at this point in our relationship, I’m like, I don’t care Raheem, you’re not practicing. And then he says, okay. That’s how that works. (laughter)”
(What about RB De’Von Achane? It seems like he’s gone through a few different things lately. How is he doing now?) – “You find out new things about your younger players each and every day and he is garnering the regard and respect of the locker room because he’s had some things and he’s learning how the NFL goes and how you play with some of that stuff. We’ve had to take some extra precautions with his workload the last two weeks. No setbacks and he’s doing well, so I’m expecting to see him. I can tell you that. I’m expecting to see him on Sunday … He’s doing well, and hopefully he’ll be able to get even more reps as the coming weeks come. Happy about him.”
(How much does what you do on offense transform itself from say, September to December, as you find out about your team?) – “Interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever answered that question, but it’s like ever-present, every single season, where you’re very aware of what you’re practicing and the concepts that your players are comfortable with. And then you’re very aware of what defenses see and what your tendencies are, so then you’re evolving things constantly, new problem solving’s occur. And by the end of the season, you’re orchestrating – our offense knows more plays and knows the offense so much better than they do Week 1. And some of the stuff that you do because you’re accumulating reps and as long as you’re building upon things and building upon each other, we couldn’t come to the players Week 1 with the game plan that we have Week 16, because it would be like, whoa.”
(So you’re adding a lot but not…?) – “Yeah, you’re adjusting and like you’re alluding to, you’re adjusting to what works for your players. You’re doubling down on new things. And then you’re evolving to how defense are really going against you. So it’s a multiplicity of evolution every single year. I’ve always found that at the end of the season, typically, especially last year, this year for our guys, is our offense is more complex because they have spent more time and have been more diligent and know more things. And we have new motions and different snap points and new combination blocks and all sorts of things that are building. It’s one of the best parts about everything that we are doing here. It’s truly a players’ scheme because it’s highlighting what they do well and having them evolve live speed during the course of a season. So it’s very much a different scope than when we first started in September.”
(Kind of expanding that timeline, you mentioned Cowboys DC Dan Quinn earlier this week. You’ve worked with him. You’ve gone against him. Do you draw on that past experience against him in terms of game planning for it? Or is it just 2023 Cowboys for the gameplan?) – “No, you do to a certain degree, where you understand when you watch tape, I know firmly – I can actually hear him conduct the team meeting. There’s a couple plays I was watching, I was like, ‘Oh, he loved this clip’. He said, ‘This is us, for sure.’ And then you kind of know where he’s going to emphasize, but for me it’s like once you see it, you can’t unsee it. I can see all his relationships with is players, how connected he is, and how willing they are to strain on every play that I watch. So I can see his coaching just littered within the actual scheme. Then you also know that I knew the second the game had happened last week, that the version of the Dallas Cowboys we were about to see, was going into the game expecting to have their best tackling day and to force some turnovers, because the second a defense that has really been as good as anyone in the league at both of those things, everybody has down games, but you’re going to return to your priorities, to your mantra, to the backbone of what makes you you after a game where guys are a little irritated. Much like us two weeks ago, this Dallas Cowboys team has a bone to pick with football in general and we’re going to get their best shot, which is what we want because we’re not just trying to accumulate wins, we’re trying to get better and be our best in this time of the year. We built up all year to have a challenge like this, so we’re excited to take it.”
(In the last Hard Knocks episode, you showed a lot of accountability for your play calls. What do you hope that brings the team?) – “How else would I be? I think you have to set the tone of what you want things to be like. And if you want accountable players, you better be accountable at every turn for yourself. So I think that’s my obligation as a head coach is to, in any moment that I know that I can be better, I shouldn’t keep it to myself because there’s no point in that. I mean, that is the least that these players deserve. The least. You want to talk about they come to work every day and are listening to people who are instructing them things and their dreams hang in the balance. That’s a tough life to live, and they have to hear so often, ‘Hey, do this way, do this that way.’ I mean that’s a big deal. And for you to better as a football team, we are depending on them to be accountable. If I’m depending on people to be accountable for me to even have a job, the very least I can do is the exact thing that I’m asking of people. Yeah, it just seems like it’s not that big of deal. Yeah, it was a bad play call. I think people, out of insecurity, I think people try to run away from ever being wrong and I don’t think that’s the game of life. I think everyone messes up. Everyone’s fallible inherently. So, it’s about learning from things. I’ll always be accountable. Like this answer is probably too long.” (laughter)
(On the play calling, how much do you like having Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith in your ear on game days to remind you of things? Is that something you encourage from him as far as certain things you want to get to?) – “I think on game day, the coaches all do an outstanding job, but namely Frank does an outstanding job of kind of adapting to the communication timing and being able to know the things to say and the timing to say them, and kind of keep me from deviating from a certain course or get me on to the right track. It’s collaborative in that we all are just trying to have the best play called that we have available to us. So however we get there, that communication starts with Frank, but goes to every position coach and assistant. People will chime in with the only standard being the idea of talking just to talk, that’s not. So we aren’t too heavy verbally on game day because people know to speak when adding a piece of information that’s helpful for the next decision.”
(How far in advance, there’s so little time in between plays and so much going on on the sidelines I’m sure, so how far in advance do you plan the plays? Are you one-two-three plays ahead and do you script plays at the beginning of the game for that matter?) – “So you script the first 24 to start the game off but typically on any down, I’m thinking one of three things. The next call, so the play is called and I have about three plays on my mind; one for an earned first down, one for zero to negative gain, and one for half the gain. So for instance, if it’s first-and-10, I’m thinking for the next play call while we’re lining up for first-and-10, second-and-5 or second-and-10. So you have those three so you can keep the tempo of the game and then you get to second down and then it goes to two scenarios, or I guess it’s three still. It’s your first-and-10 call, if you get no yardage what that third down and distance, and then if you’re somewhere in between. So you’re doing that on every play, at least that’s how I do it, every play for three hours, which is why you shouldn’t judge me so much in my postgame press conferences.” (laughter)
(Do you follow the 24?) – “Yeah, typically yeah. I mean, you just adjust usually the first couple plays. Usually the first 24 plays we really like. If you get off of them for a situational reason, usually I’ll go back to them. But at the same time, that’s not 100 percent because so often defenses are doing things that they’ve never put on tape before, so then you’re adjusting with that. There is a lot of adjustment.”
Liam Eichenberg – December 21, 2023
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Thursday, December 21, 2023
OL Liam Eichenberg
(What’s the challenge of playing through your injury?) – “It’s all mental. I would say it’s all mental. That’s kind of what it is. I think game day, I feel fine every game day. It doesn’t matter what I’m dealing with, I’m going to be out there trying to help the team win.”
(I know you may not line up necessarily against him, but when Cowboys LB Micah Parsons is brought up in the offensive line rooms in those meetings, what really gets said about him and the way he plays?) – “He’s a great player, plays hard, very physical, has great speed. He’s somebody that we’re focused on. It’s kind of one of those situations that when he lines up over you, you’ve got to understand what’s coming and be on top of your technique and your fundamentals. That’s the biggest thing.”
(Being around DT Christian Wilkins and DT Zach Sieler for a couple of years, obviously you practiced against them a lot in August. Have you seen their pass rush moves improve? What do you think has been key to them putting up sack numbers that are unprecedented for Zach and for Christian?) – “I would say they’re guys who – definitely their pass rush has improved, but I think at the end of the day, they play hard and they play throughout the whole entire play and they play every play. I think a lot of guys kind of to take some plays off occasionally. But I know with those two, whenever they’re lined up over me, they’re going the whole play and some. They have a crazy good work ethic and it’s displayed on the field every Sunday.”
(Does that friendship kind of breed like a friendly competition between the two, almost like who can get there in the backfield first?) – “Yeah, I mean, I think that’s probably the case. I couldn’t really tell you. It seems like the d-line in general kind of competes with each other every single game, every single practice. Those guys are in here on off days working out. Even Raekwon (Davis) is in there working out too so you got the big boy in there. But I think it’s more about how they do everything. It’s just not about Sunday’s. It’s all the little things.”
Raheem Mostert – December 21, 2023
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Thursday, December 21, 2023
RB Raheem Mostert
(FB Alec Ingold thought one of the ball was going to Canton. Is that true? Or is it simply going in your living room?) – “I think one of them went to Canton. I don’t know yet. I know it’s probably in the archives. That’s what I was told. I have the second ball. So that one is probably more important because I actually set the standard for more touchdowns.”
(So you want to keep rotating the balls until the final one?) – “Yeah, until I can’t anymore this year.” (laughter)
(Was there a moment maybe on your couch or with your wife on Sunday night just thinking about all the great players that have played for the Dolphins and you have scored more touchdowns in a single year then all of them?) – “I was sitting there thinking about Ricky Williams. I grew up a big Ricky Williams fan. Just this past Tuesday, I drove back to my hometown and me and my brother got to hang out at the park and we started reminiscing about life. There was a time we both wore Ricky Williams’ jersey at one point when we were younger. So to be able to break that record, it’s so surreal for both him and I. We looked up to Ricky when we were younger.”
(Have you met Ricky Williams and did he reach out to you?) – “Yeah, I’ve met Ricky. He reached out to me. He congratulated me on social media. It was pretty cool.”
(You’re about to get 1,000 yards for the first time in your career. What will that mean to you?) – “It’ll mean a lot. Being a running back, that’s always the goal is to try to get 1,000 and break that 1k. But I try not to think about it and just go out there play the game. I know I got 34 yards left I got to accomplish, but all in all, I’m just ready to play this game.”
(Is there something you’ve added to your game this season?) – “No, nothing too crazy. I just try to work on my body as much as I possibly can and try to create a routine for myself.”
(How are you doing this at 31?) – “Staying up to date with everything. Staying in tune with everybody and the whole organization and even the training staff. I got a great regimen from them.”
(When you watch film of Dallas from last week, were you kind of picturing how can we get some of these 266 yards?) – “Of course. You’re always trying to picture that. But at the end of the day, sometimes it doesn’t play out like that. I try not to hype myself up too much. But it’s always appealing when you see the team before we play them get that many rushing yards like that. You get anxious and excited, but you do have to calm your nerves to because at the end of the day, every Sunday is a different Sunday.”
(How do you balance that watching that last game and the body of work this season?) – “I mean, the film doesn’t lie. You got to watch the film and see what they bring. Last week was probably one of their off weeks. Who knows? Maybe they didn’t get the right call in at times. Maybe Buffalo drew up some good schemes against them on the offensive side of the ball. There’s a lot of different variables that go into it. But at the end of the day, we got to do what we have to do and bring our A game.”
(At the start of the week, as far as total rushing yards, it was Christian McCaffrey then James Cook after a big game Sunday, then you. Would leading the AFC in rushing or the league be meaningful? I know winning takes priority over everything, but does that have much meaning to you?) – “Not so much right now at the moment. I just want to help this team as best as I can and try to get into the postseason. Once that happens, I feel like I’m a little fireball and start rolling in the postseason. Once you get in that postseason talk, that’s when things ramp up. But right now, it’s Dallas and we’re trying to win against them.”
(Mike McDaniel talked a lot this week after you set the record about seeing you grow from your days with the 49ers. Do you remember the first conversation when he brought you over to Miami and reconnecting here?) – “Yeah, I remember the first conversation I had with Mike. I was just a curious cat, just trying to figure out how I can elevate my game, especially in the run game, especially with outside zone. I’ve always been a running back that can fit in pretty much any system, in the pass game or whether it be in the run game, and flourish. But I was more shotgun. Especially in college, we didn’t necessarily run outside zone like we do now. Just seeing the different variables of the offense and trying to understand what it takes to achieve the highest level within this offense, it’s something I started having conversations with Mike back in San Fran. And then him coming here made it easier for me to make my decision to come here as well and try to grow as a player and as an individual. I’m somebody that wants to take it to new heights. I keep hearing these chatters about age and everything. Obviously, my age isn’t stopping anything. I’m just trying to set the standard for a group of guys who want to come in and feel like if you want to be a 31-, 32-year-old running back, it’s ok. You can go out here and still produce at a high level because obviously I’m doing that at an exceptional rate. It’s just a lot of fun and I’m having fun doing it.”
(Sorry if this was already covered, but what would it mean to be a 1,000-yard back?) – “Yeah, it was already covered. But it’ll mean a lot. As a running back, it’s what you want. Touching that 1k is special. As a running back, like I said, it’s what you want. For me to be able to be right there, only need 34 yards, is very exciting. That’s literally one run – one run away. But I’m not trying to worry about that. I’m trying to worry about Dallas right now. I’m trying to worry about winning against them and dominating against them and trying to get to the postseason.”
