Mike McDaniel – May 23, 2023
Download PDF version
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(On the Panthers and Heat) – “How cool is that for South Florida sports just in general, just riding the 2023 but specifically the Heat and the Panthers doing a lot of things that people said they couldn’t do, which I very much appreciate and we are definitely taking note.”
(I wanted to ask you kind of a three-for-oner. So S Brandon Jones and CB Nik Needham – any sense yet if they’ll be ready for training camp with those two and then the third, young DB Trill Williams – there was some Tweet form a family member suggesting he had moved to safety. Has he moved from cornerback to safety?) – “Wow, dude, inside family lines for reporting scoops? All right. (laughter)”
(That’s why I come to you.) – “I see Brandon and Nik every day. When I say diligent, that’s what their days are. I feel good about where they’re at right now. What does that mean? Down the road I try not to get consumed with like, ‘Alright, you’re going to be ready now.’ So that you’re wearing that anxiety – we just want to stay on schedule and or ahead and all reports have been just that because of the way that our medical staff goes about their business and the way they attack their whole rehab. So excited about them. And this is the offseason. There’s a lot of power for players, specifically when you’re learning a new system, like our defense is currently learning. To be able to have versatility is always powerful when you’re talking about being an NFL player and there’s no better way to understand your responsibility within that set structure of a defense than understand what other contributors and how their issues apply to your issues, and that cross-training stuff will always be a part and it’s certainly for a couple individuals on our defense something that we’re trying to attack with that versatility. So move – if you’re reporting it to our opponents, you can say we’re moving guys left and right. But for you know, in house, a safe place for you guys, that’s just versatility is a good thing.”
(What is the addition of T Isaiah Wynn mean to the right tackle situation and OL Austin Jackson? Is that an open competition?) – “Any time that you can add Wynns to a roster, right? See what I did there? (laughter) Yeah, still got it. I’ve been training all offseason. It’s like everything else. We’re a product of our environment and when guys are going about things the right way and have experienced playing at a high level in the NFL, that raises the urgency, raises the competitiveness, and overall, helps every player involved as long as people are working together, which all of our Georgia Bulldogs are good teammates. So he’s been awesome. He’s getting work at several spots and has the opportunity to win some playing time at several spots, but it’s also, there’s only five players that play each down and overall, I know the collection of the offensive line is best served in this current environment. Who those people are; I don’t do the magnet slotting. I let people in situations whether they’re performing their lifelong dream of a job, decide their own fate. So just throw a bunch of guys in that fit the bill and I think the Dolphins are best served waiting to see who tells us who’s going to be a starter or backup or whatever.”
(As it relates to building off the successes of Year 1 with the offense, I was curious what the offseason was like for you in terms of self-scouting and what you kind of carry away with saying, “All right in Year 2, I want to improve in this area of the offense?”) – “It was kind of a critical offseason for me. I didn’t look at our offense, and say, ‘Wow, we did all this stuff good.’ I saw all the stuff that we could improve upon. Now, the stuff that the players and coaches did last year, you shouldn’t minimize that because there was substantial growth, to the tune of improving – quick math – 25 spots. And in your league-wide ranking, that should never be minimized. But that’s not where we’re trying to go. So the coaching staff was ready for the players to get back and realistically, players love direction. They love – ‘we need to be better’ only goes so far. So, identifying critical things in our game. An easy one was pre-snap penalties. We were the worst at that. So got a lot of ways to improve there. I think it’s important in the offseason that you give the season – there’s a lot of things that go into it. There’s a lot of pressures and you’re just trying to win the next game. Taking a step back, I think affords people a little more open mindedness. And all I’ve seen is an offense, I’ve seen a team that isn’t satisfied with where they’re at. They see 2023 is an opportunity to really move past where we were last year. And that’s the way they’ve approached it. From route running to how we block people, to everything in between; the consistency of our fundamentals and detail has been huge and we’ve had as a result, I mean, the growth that we made in Phase 1 and Phase 2, relative to last year, is astronomical. Guys really had a comfort level of what – here with the Miami Dolphins, we come to work to get better. And we don’t spend any time or any focus on anything but that and we know that this game has a place for a lot of us individually, as long as we continue to get better. It’s pretty cut and dry and it should be that way. You know, the coaches, players, we all have jobs that are hard to get and you shouldn’t – the second that you’re not trying to get better, there’s an entitlement there that I don’t really think helps one succeed. So it’s been a lot of what we can get better at. If you guys are feeling up for it, maybe throw me a pat on the back, because I haven’t given myself many this year.”
(I believe this is the first time QB Tua Tagovailoa has been back on the field for team drills since that concussion. What have you seen from him this offseason as he starts to get back to football?) – “I’ve seen a guy that’s followed through with his words as well as any young man that I’ve come across in my career. Controlling the controllable is something that I would epitomize his offseason with. You want to talk about going above and beyond – training, martial arts. So much so that he knew the training before he knew what it was called. I think he was calling it judo. Jiujitsu is what he was doing, but that in terms of helping him progress in his career has been phenomenal. The work that he’s done this offseason, it was so obviously beneficial that we’ve incorporated it into some of our drill work that we’ll do with the quarterbacks to – I think it was Teddy Bridgewater made this point to me last year. As a quarterback you go, September starts, and then you get tackled. And then you get tackled for six months and then you don’t again until September. So how can we help train quarterbacks to stay healthy because it wasn’t just too early. How do you stay healthy in this game and stay available? And that’s something that that whole offseason training has really helped us try to take a good step in the right direction for how to best prepare players for an NFL season.”
(On that jiu-jitsu, obviously we’ve heard but we haven’t seen it. Have you seen any of it and if at all, what does that look like as far as his training and how it translates?) – “It kind of looks like bullying. Like it’s just a guy being attacked and going to the ground. And then how to transfer energy to disperse it and not have a central impact focus. It’s something that, it makes you think, hey, why haven’t we detailed this before? Because when you think about it, you have so much coaching that goes into where you stand in the huddle, how you deliver the play call, your pre-snap process and how you diagnose things into the play. You’re coaching all this stuff, and then you have a throw and an impending hit and then we just stop talking. That’s where my training was as a coach up until this point. So training, follow through and how to protect yourself while getting hit so that you can continue to play is something that’s applicable for everyone. They haven’t trained me how to do the tutorial. I think that’s when it will really start to take shape because I’ll just be knocking individuals over that are much bigger than me. But season one, let’s leave it to the experts and let somebody else beat him up a little bit, but it’s been very positive in terms of controlling what we can control and how to go along the process of injury prevention as best we can.”
(Whose idea was it for QB Tua Tagovailoa to enter into that training? Was it something you guys jointly came up with?) – “It’s really hard sometimes for me to even to remember the etymology for things like that. I know Coach (Darrell) Bevell was spit-balling some problem-solving things that we could do because he hadn’t been along this territory as well. Dave Puloka and Kyle Johnston were very involved in all this stuff. But really, it’s amazing what can happen when you’re not focused on who gets the credit. I think everyone, and because of that, no one. Does that make sense? It’s everyone’s idea so it’s no one’s idea. That’s deep, right, hashtag deep.”
(Can you be more specific and sort of paint me a picture of what this training looks like?) –“I mean, come up here. (laughter) Just picture this. It’s a lot of strategic falling that is patterned after things that happened to our quarterbacks during the season. So kind of recreating those things because the master of jujitsu had to study some game tape to understand how he was falling, where the impact points were and what we could do to help correct it. By and large, you find out that core strength is very much important when you’re talking about the transfer of energy of the human body going to the ground and different things that you can do to minimize that are strategic, but then strengthening of the core so that when you’re going to the ground, the top of your torso isn’t just a leverage whipping device. I think there’s a bunch of different movements. I’m sure they have names. I couldn’t describe them adequately. The best thing I have is, yeah, they’re getting taken to the ground in the fashion they got taken to the ground in as best replicated in the course of their playing experience.”
(Are you going to hand out white belts to everybody?) – “No, black belts. I mean, we’re not dabbling in this to be novices. You know, we’re trying to own it.”
(Speaking of that versatility defensively that you were talking about, is LB Andrew Van Ginkel at inside linebacker which was reported by the league-owned network?) – “Report away. I know from an offensive standpoint, when you have an edge player that will in packages or maybe a game or maybe no games have the ability to play off-the-ball backer; that in terms of identification for how you pick up protections and those things are very important. Not to mention the fact that you can – position flexibility allows you to have an extra human being at each position on game day. A little two-for-oner. So I think on top of just understanding all of the defense, it’s instrumental because every piece of the puzzle has to cover at some point and then understanding rush patterns and all those things; it’s beneficial to a guy that we thought – that led by Vic (Fangio) and really just our entire defense staff – thought that he was at the point of his career where he could handle and it’s advantageous for us, tough for the opponent. So sounds like a win. Full circle.”
(The NFL is going to allow a third quarterback now in emergency situations. What are your thoughts on that rule change?) – “I think there’s a shared sentiment among fans, coaches, players. When we watch a football game, we’d prefer to see a quarterback playing the position of quarterback. I think that rule lends that to be a capability of teams so makes sense to me and I’m all for it. I fit in that pool with everyone else.”
Isaiah Wynn – May 16, 2023
Download PDF version
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
T Isaiah Wynn
(Obviously you have a lot of familiarity with the Dolphins. The Dolphins have a lot of familiarity with you. The first couple years I know you spent a lot of time at left tackle, but this past season you were at right tackle. I was just kind of curious if you could kind of look back at that switch from left tackle to right tackle, how you think that went for you and would you feel comfortable playing either side in Miami?) – “Yeah, I’m good playing either way, either position. I’m just here to help the team to achieve one goal and that’s win, so that’s the reason why I’m here.”
(I wanted to ask you about being a first-round pick. Not even just the fifth-year option because even that’s become an honor when guys get the fifth-year option picked up, but when you’re a first round pick, is there pressure that comes with making sure that you have this monster of a career, in terms of like being able to ante up on the deals and the contracts and being a proven starter? I know you’ve got 40 starts under your belt.) – “Yeah, I think that comes with just playing ball. All that stuff is going to handle itself as long as you handle your job on the field. So I mean I don’t really got too much to say about that. As far as being first round, I think any position or any round that any player has went, there’s always pressure. This is a job so you’re always working to do your best.”
(And how’s the foot injury?) – “I’m all good now.”
(I was looking at your bio and it said you were born in Florida. Tell me about that. Do you still have any family in Florida?) – “Yeah, all my people are in St. Petersburg. I was born in Tampa, but I was raised in St. Pete. St. Pete’s where I live during the offseason, so Florida is home. I’m definitely happy to be home, no doubt.”
(Now obviously, all players want an opportunity to start. Have you been told you will have an opportunity to compete for a starting position?) – “That’s a conversation you’ll have to ask Coach (McDaniel), but I’m here day-in and day-out just to better the team and contribute in any ways I can.”
(What does Tampa call itself because isn’t USF in Tampa?) – “Yeah, USF is in Tampa, but I don’t really claim Tampa. I’m from St. Pete. I was only born in Tampa, but I was raised in St. Pete so St. Pete is where I’m from.”
(Not really anything about football here. Besides football, what type of things are you passionate about? Just trying to get to know you in that sense.) – “Man, my family, dawg. I love my family so anytime I get an opportunity to take a break, I’m normally with them. I love to laugh. I love to travel. I like reading. So that’s pretty much it. I like outdoors. I’m really cool. I’ll be chilling.”
(What kind of places have you traveled to recently?) – “Recently, I haven’t had a chance to travel. Last year was my most recent and I think that trip, I took the whole family to Turks. So we all went to Turks and Caicos, but more recently, just had a newborn so we’ve been locked in and kind of stationary. Not too much traveling you do with them.”
(I wanted to ask a couple of questions, but I’m kind of curious now because you mentioned you’re a reader, and as someone who loves to read myself, who are some of your favorite authors and some of your favorite books?) – “Oh, favorite authors. I can’t really say. I’m more of a – I just end up picking up books. The last book I read was about a guy – I forget the name of the book – but essentially, he drove off a cliff and he ended up surviving. He fell asleep on the way home from work. He fell asleep, drove off the cliff and his life wasn’t going too well. So he ended up surviving and climbed up the cliff and essentially he started a whole new life. So that was an interesting book. But I’m just big on picking up any type of book. So if you’ve got any recommendations, hit me with them.”
(What attracted you to the Miami Dolphins to come down here and join us here in South Florida?) – “Definitely the coaching staff and the players, man. They’re definitely building something special, so I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a part of it? And then get the opportunity to come home, that was a no-brainer for me. No doubt.”
(And then I have one last one for you here if you don’t mind because you have some unique perspective from the other side of what our pass rush does down here in Miami. You faced these guys twice a year. I’m curious what stands out when you went up against Miami’s defense and their pass rush?) – “Their speed. I mean, these guys move and they’re all strong. So it’s definitely something I look forward to, to be able to go against them in practice and hone-in on my skills and get better.”
(So, continuing on the theme about reading, I wanted to ask you where do you feel you are in your story, your career story? What chapter are we on?) – “Oh man, this is a whole new chapter. That thing just started getting written, so y’all have got to stay tuned. It’s a whole new chapter and I’m very excited about it. So stay tuned. Stay tuned to the ‘Win with Wynn’ book, the ‘Win with Wynn’ story. (laughter)”
(And the follow up question is obviously, you’re 27 years old, you’ve got four years of NFL experience under your belt. At this point in your career, what do you feel you do best?) – “What do I do best? I block. (laughter) I block, man, and I protect my quarterback and whoever has the ball. So that’s kind of the general scope and I look forward to continuing to get better because you’ve never got it all put together. So I’m looking forward to continue to get better.”
(Since rookies are going to be practicing with vets starting in OTAs next week, do you recall your first practice with veterans and if you felt more pressure on yourself being a first-round pick in that situation?) – “Yeah, I do recall my first practice as a rookie. It’s a little intimidating, but it’s also very exciting because just as you said, starting a new chapter and that’s what rookies are doing, they’re writing their own story. And then also to be out there with some of the vets who do this, who’s that deal in this game that we play; it’s an honor. It’s very surreal. It was good. Being a first-round pick, you add a little bit of pressure, but as I said earlier, being on that field regardless of where you went, it’s pressure either way.”
(I see you’re from St. Pete. Just out of curiosity are you a fan of Rod Wave?) – “Rod, yeah, yeah. Rod went to the same high school, dawg. Come on. (laughter) Lakewood (High School).”
(And you being from St. Pete, do you all carry that passion, just as far as just representing the city?) – “Yeah, of course. You’ve got to. It’s not just for St. Pete, but I think any city that you grew up in that kind of built you up and supported you, you shouldn’t have no problem repping them. So definitely St. Petersburg is home and like I said, that’s where I bought my crib and that’s where I’m at offseason, back at home. So yeah, I take pride in it.”
(Are you a fan of the Miami Heat since there’s no basketball team in St. Pete?) – “I don’t really keep up with basketball, man. I wasn’t too good at basketball. That was my brother, so I can’t really say if I keep up with it or not. But yeah, now that I’m down here, go Heat. Let’s ride. (laughter)”
(I had a question I wanted to get your perspective on since you do have a couple years in the league. You know, obviously, it’s kind of a unique situation with the Patriots last year with kind of the changing with the coaching staff and who was calling plays and whatnot. But specific to the offensive line, can you kind of speak on the importance of having that continuity with the offensive line coach and whatnot, and how important that is for offensive linemen and kind of the teaching methods and whatnot?) – “Yeah, I think it’s big. The five guys that you roll with, kind of with every other position, they rotate. They may rotate depending on the down. But those five that are up front, they stay consistent throughout the game. So that continuity that you speak about, it’s big. And then for the coaching aspect, you take whatever that coach is giving you. They give you a task, the job, you’ve just got to complete it. But having the same five and the same room is big, but all that starts in practice as well, too.”
(And then a quick follow-up. I know I asked about playing on both sides before, but was the switch to right tackle something that you anticipated or was it kind of something that more so you were kind of just doing to obviously benefit the team and whatnot?) – “Either way, it was kind of to help the team. I’m always wherever they need me at. So I’ve just got to continue to perform, continue to do my job to the best of my ability.”
(I’m wondering first off, how do you look at your time in New England, since they put a lot of faith in you, drafting you in the first round and all, but now you’re on the other side of the AFC East? So how do you look at your time in New England and what’s it going to be like when you line up against your old team?) – “Oh, it was good. They’re the team that drafted me, so I appreciate everybody in that organization from the staff to the players. I thank them. My time was good there and then it’s going to be fun playing against them because especially seeing them twice a year being on the opposite side; being there previously, you play against the guys that may have already been there and now I’m on the other side now, so it’s always a fun camaraderie. We’ll see how it all plays out for sure.”
(And just touching real quick on the whole right side, left side thing. Since the leader of the line – T Terron Armstead – is on the left side, are you going in with the idea that you’ll spend most of your time at right tackle in the offseason and then see how things develop from there?) – “Man, I’m wherever they put me at. That’s more of a coaching question, but yeah, I’m wherever they need me at. I look forward to working with the team, the o-line and Coach (Butch) Barry and everybody for sure.”
(I wanted to ask you about that the wide zone that Miami runs. Obviously a lot of linemen that I’ve come across, they like to be aggressive in the run game. Is the wide zone something that intrigues you and do you have a background with it from your time at Georgia?) – “Yeah, wide zone is dope, man. Just being able to essentially use your athleticism as well as your strength, it’s all good. So I’m going to enjoy it. I’ve been enjoying it thus far and yeah, I’ve got some background in that at Georgia. But I’m looking forward to continuing to hone-down on those plays and that skill set.”
Emmanuel Ogbah – May 16, 2023
Download PDF version
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
DE Emmanuel Ogbah
(Last we heard from you, you were trying to come back if the team made a deeper playoff run. How has the triceps injury recovered? Is it 100 percent now?) – “It’s going good. They’re taking it easy on me during camp but I’ve been fully cleared and I am ready to go.”
(Since the end of last season, the team hired Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator. What are your first impressions of him and have you thought of the ways that his scheme can benefit you?) – “Right now, I’m still trying to learn all of the plays, different spots and trying to learn the different schemes that he uses. I’m excited for him. He’s a great defensive mind and coach. I’m just excited to do my part to help this team win.”
(I know you mentioned it to some guys in locker room cleanout but were you trying to come back from the triceps injury like the following week? Obviously it would have been the divisional round. When were you trying to come back from the triceps injury?) – “Yeah, if we had made a deeper run, yeah that was my goal to come back and do my best to come back and help the team. I knew it was a longshot but I was excited and trying to do my best to come back.”
(I wanted to ask off the field, I saw there was an NFL Africa trip where you and some other players from Africa were out in Kenya. Can you talk about that experience, how long you were out there, what you were doing and what the experience was like?) – “We were out there for a week in Nairobi, Kenya. It was an amazing experience. We got a chance to coach up some football talent down there. We had different players from different parts of the continent trying out. We had to teach them how to play football in like two days, then they would go through Combine testing afterwards. It was an amazing experience and how quickly they wanted to learn about the game. They view it as a big opportunity for them and they’re excited just to learn from us players. There were only five of us that were there. It was cool.”
(I know the Dolphins play the Chiefs the day before your birthday. Do you have that date circled on your calendar due to your time in Kansas City?) – “Yeah, I mean I was hoping we were at Kansas City, but it’s exciting to go to Germany. I’ve never been there before. I’m excited about their culture over there. I’m excited to see the sights. I don’t know how long we’re going to be there before the game but I’m excited about Germany and to play my former team, too.”
(What did you learn from the Africa trip?) – “Like I said before, just being grateful for the whole experience. Those kids didn’t have much but they still want to listen and learn and take coaching from us. They don’t have football there. Just being able to inspire them, a kid like me – I was born in Nigeria and I came here when I was nine (years old), so they can kind of see similar parts. I was excited just to be there. They absorbed my knowledge and want to learn.”
(Listening to your episode of The Fish Tank, you talked about having your own football camp in I think it was July. I’m curious to hear more about that.) – “Yeah, I’m excited. I have it every year. I’m excited about it. I talk to the kids, encourage them, talk about my trip to Africa and try to inspire them. Just showing those kids, they don’t have much, but they have more than them. They have football here and those kids don’t have football. So kind of just inspiring them and see how they take it.”
(What can you tell us about the Dolphins new tackle in Isaiah Wynn?) – “Isaiah Wynn, I’ve had my battles with him. He’s a good player and a good pickup for us. I’m excited to have him part of the team. I’m looking forward to it.”
(I wanted to ask you about the talent in Africa. Obviously soccer and the NBA have picked up on that being such a wealth of talent. Do you think if college programs were more aggressive in maybe recruiting people from the African continent that it would thrive?) – “It definitely would. There’s definitely a lot of raw talent. Obviously they didn’t know what they were doing and we had two days to coach them up, which was tough. But they picked it up really quick. I would say this, if you give them just a couple of months just to teach them actual football basics, they would pick it up quick. You’d be surprised how quickly they learn the game of football.”
(Tell us about the lion.) – “I don’t know. There’s just something about a lion that draws me towards that animal. Being able to be a leader. Taking care of the family. I’ve always been drawn towards the lion. I don’t know. I feel like it’s my spirit animal and for some reason, I’m just drawn towards it. What’s funny is I know there’s a zoo here, but I’ve never been to the zoo here and apparently they have lions here that I didn’t know about. So I will be making a trip to the zoo just to check them out. I’ve never seen one at a zoo.”
(Changing gears slightly, the Heat and the Panthers are making some nice playoff runs and upsetting teams left and right, beating the odds. As a member of the Dolphins, where people are paying attention to what you guys are putting together, does that put any more heat on you guys to keep this momentum going?) – “Shoot, they’re in the driver’s seat right now. We’re supporting them just like they would support us. I’m looking forward to this season going far. Just taking it one day at a time right now. We’re in OTAs. I’ve got to focus on that, getting better, coming back from injury. I’ve got to focus on that as well. But yeah, we’re supporting the Heat and also the Florida Panthers as they keep going.”
(There was just one game last year – Week 9, the week before your injury, the win against the Bears – where you and LB Bradley Chubb and LB Jaelan Phillips and DT Christian Wilkins were all out there together. What do you think about the potential to have all of you guys together for more than just one game?) – “It’s big. We’re all obviously a talented bunch. I’m excited. I’m sure Vic (Fangio) is going to draw up some packages that will have us in there. I’m excited about this new defense that we’ve got going. Unfortunately, I know I got hurt last year, so we didn’t get to see all of what we can do on the field together. But it’s a new season and I’m excited about it.”
(So in terms of hand on the ground or standing, obviously all of you guys can do both. If LB Bradley Chubb and LB Jaelan Phillips are often standing and you’re at the defensive end position, do you have a sense on if you will still, probably the majority of the time, be pass-rushing from a standing position?) – “Like I said, I’m still learning this new defense, so I’m going to be pretty much across the whole d-line. So standing, inside, outside, it’s whatever. I’ll be doing whatever.”
(I know last year didn’t go the way you wanted even before the triceps tear. Do you come into this year with an extra level of motivation and something to prove?) – “Definitely. Like I said, they’ve taken care of me. I’ve got to go out there and put some good juice on tape. Obviously I battled some injuries last year but I’m ready to go this year. I’ve got to take care of my body better this year and just focus on the little things.”
(When rookies have their first practice with the vets, do you see more excitement from the rookies or more intimidation? What do you recall most from your first practice with vets?) – “I would say with these rookies, I think they’re just willing to listen, learn and observe. You will see a little intimidation because obviously they’ve never done this before and they’ve never been around a bunch of vets. But I would say they’re willing to listen. They’re asking questions. They’re staying after. We’re going through different drills with them. They just want to learn.”
(With the scheme, you talked about being all along the line. What are the challenges that it creates? You’ve played in a lot of schemes. What are the challenges that it creates for defensive linemen?) – “Just learning different schemes that you’re not entirely used to, it just creates a lot of challenges. For the offense, it also creates challenges because they don’t know where I’ll be at. But having to learn multiple positions, it’s a challenge but I’m well-equipped to do it. Like you said, I’m versatile and it’s a different scheme, so I can adapt quickly on any scheme you present to me.”
De’Von Achane – May 12, 2023
Download PDF version
Friday, May 12, 2023
RB De’Von Achane
(First I wanted to ask what the past week or two have been like? After you got the call, you were coming to Miami, when did you get down here, what have you been up to?) – “After the call, the first couple days after were pretty emotional. Just soaking everything in and me actually having the opportunity that I have. So it kind of hit me hard and I’m just thinking about all the hard work that I put in to be in this position. I got here May 11, so it’s my second day here.”
(Have you been able to meet some of the other teammates, some of the other players, stuff like that?) – “Yeah, if they came across in the locker room. It’s pretty much rookie minicamp so I just met everybody who’s here.”
(How’d you settle on No. 20? I know CB Cam Smith said it was really the only number available. He said he wanted to do No. 30, but how about you?) – “Yeah, pretty much the same, man. I’m cool with No. 28. I’m not the type of person (that says) ‘oh, I want that number.’ They asked me, ‘do you want this, this, this or this?’ And I just chose a number out of the group.”
(What are you most looking forward to? I know obviously we don’t get to talk to you after the camp, after practice, but what are you most looking forward to the next two days?) – “Just basically learning that offense. That’s something that I just pride myself on. I’m trying to learn so everything can be so smooth when I’m at practice. So that’s just something. I’m trying to learn the schemes, learn what the defense is doing, learn just the play calls and the terminology because it’s different in college. That’s basically it.”
(I know it’s just two days, but early thoughts on Miami, the city, the atmosphere?) – “Like you said, it’s Miami … It’s going to be hot, but I’d rather it be hot than cold. (laughter) So I feel good here and I’m glad that I am here.”
(How much did your size get brought up throughout your career even from college to now in the NFL?) – “It gets brought up a lot. Like you said, everybody’s got their opinion on me. I don’t be worrying about what everybody’s got to say because I know what I can do and I know what I’m capable of, so my size to me doesn’t matter but it does get brought up.”
(How much do you think it benefits you in terms of hiding behind the offensive line?) – “It benefits me a lot. I’m a much smaller back than usual. I’m shorter. O-line is big, so it’s kind of hard for them to see and like you said, it’s hard for them to tackle me as well because big guys, it’s kind of hard to tackle small guys.”
(Can I ask you a couple of really basic questions regarding your name? First your last name is pronounced “AY-chain,” correct?) – “Yes, sir.”
(Second, I saw on social media your first name with an apostrophe in the middle. Is that how you do it?) – “Yeah, it’s D-E-apostrophe, capital V-o-n.”
(What happened where it seems like everyone has been writing it without the apostrophe? What happened there?) – “I mean, they’re doing that, so they almost likely call me ‘Devin’ and then I tell them it’s ‘De’Von.’ And then they be like ‘oh…’ And then I tell them how you spell it. And then they be like, ‘okay, I get it now.’”
(Kind of bouncing off a previous question, one of the things I had seen was that maybe you would be able to put on more weight or maybe you kept your weight a little bit down because you were also running track at Texas A&M. Do you think that you plan on putting on more weight in the NFL or do you think you’re good with where you’re at right now?) – “I’m actually the heaviest I’ve been right now. I was like 192 when I weighed in this morning. I always knew that I could gain weight. I just didn’t have the full offseason to gain weight because obviously I was doing track. This is my first year not doing track so I actually had the whole offseason to work out and be in football shape. So it kind of helped me with that.”
(Have you been able to elude tacklers going way back to when you first picked up a football, would you say?) – “I mean, that was a long, long time ago. I probably don’t remember some of it, but it was kind of my – he probably kind of gave me the ‘okay, do you want to play football?’ When I first got on the football field, I kind of didn’t know what I was doing, but it was fun to me and it made me want to learn it. When I got to learn it, I found out I was good at it, so it’s something that I love and I enjoy doing.”
(Do you still love track, too? I know you’re not a track man now, but…?) – “Yeah, track will always be there. That’s something that I was good at that as well, so I love track as well, but I knew what my profession – I knew that football was my favorite sport. That’s something I’ve been playing since I was three years old. I only started running track since I got to high school. So football kind of outweighed that.”
(The adaptability from college to the pros, how has your schedule been adjusting to that?) – “Kind of like you said, you’ve got to make sacrifices. Like you said, these three days that we have rookie minicamp, it’s going to be hard. You’re getting up early. You’ve got to go to sleep. You’ve got to eat. So basically just getting my body right and my mind right. And just basically trying to just learn the scheme and learn the plays as fast as I can.”
(Are there restless nights where you’re trying to understand the playbook and just the different schematics that your coaches are informing you of?) – “I wouldn’t say it’s restless nights because like I said, we spend a long time in meetings so they make sure that we’ve got as much information as we can. If you want some add-ons that you spend like 10, 15 minutes at the hotel. But no, they give us enough time to get to sleep, eat.”
(I know a lot of people have mentioned speed and things like that, but what are some other things that you think set you apart coming into this group?) – “I feel like I can play – I’m great on special teams, I can catch the ball out of the backfield, I have very good hands, I can line up at receiver. So I can do more than just play running back. So I feel like that’s what makes me different.”
(And as a young guy, how do you balance coming in, trying to make a name for yourself, making a good impression and not letting the moment be too big and emotions overcome?) – “You’ve just got to be humble. Like you said, don’t let – you know what you came here to do. Always keep the main thing the main thing and I’m just trying to get here and focus and make sure that I learn the scheme so when I am at practice, I’m just trying to make it to where I make as little mistakes as possible.”
(Coach Jimbo Fisher mentioned when you coming back for the LSU game after the injury said a lot about your character. I’m curious why you decided to play that last game there at A&M?) – “So at that time, LSU was a top-five team. They were trying to win so they could get in the top four and make the playoffs. They were a great team. I knew it was going to be a very competitive game and I’m a very competitive person and so much of that – I told my teammates I was going to miss the two weeks before that because my foot was hurt, but I told them that I’m going to make sure I get it good enough so I can play with y’all because some of the seniors, it might’ve been their last time playing on Kyle Field. So I just wanted to be there to share that moment with them so I made sure I was on that field with them at that time.”
(Since you were drafted, I guess you’ve had a few more interactions with Head Coach Mike McDaniel. What’s your impression of him as you’ve gotten to know him?) – “He’s a very funny guy. He’s always got jokes, but at the end of the day, he’s serious and he’s a great coach and I plan on learning from him and I feel like I’m in a great position to do so.”
(You talked about learning the scheme, but what are some key things you have to know now going into this?) – “Basically just know the plays. Like you said, I could be used at different things like receiver and special teams, so I have to come in with my head on my shoulders and make sure that I’m grasping the most information as I can.”
(When people talk about you, we often hear of Darren Sproles and I’m wondering if you know who he is and if that’s a fair comparison?) – “Yeah, I know who he is. He was one of the shorter backs like I am. Great running back. Like you said, all great running backs don’t have to be big, 6’3”, 6’4”. I feel like he’s a great example of that. So I feel like, like I said, everybody talks about my size, but I know what I’m capable of and I’m good at the size that I am right now.”
(Have you had much contact with guys like RB Raheem Mostert and RB Jeff Wilson Jr.? Have they given you any advice yet?) – “I just talked to (Jeff) Wilson. I’d seen him in the locker room, so he was telling me it’s going to be a grind. I came prepared for that. Mostert, he’s not here. If I saw him in the locker room, I’m pretty sure he’d have great advice for me.”
Ryan Hayes – May 12, 2023
Download PDF version
Friday, May 12, 2023
T Ryan Hayes
(Have you gotten more sense from Offensive Line Coach Butch Barry or Head Coach Mike McDaniel if they want you to work at tackle? I know there was some talk about guard amongst draft evaluators. Do you think you’ll be a tackle here initially?) – “I’m not sure yet. I’m going to start learning the playbook, every position, and do what the coaches tell me day-to-day and keep working that way.”
(I know you originally told us that you don’t know too much about wide zone. Have you studied it? What have you learned?) – “I definitely know the concept. We ran it at Michigan at practice all the time. We didn’t run it much, but I do have a good concept of outside zone, and this last day I’ve learned a lot already.”
(What are the key differences that you’ll need to adjust to?) – “Just different aiming points, different foot work. Just little stuff.”
(What did you think of the team bringing in a Michigan State tackle undrafted?) – “I was talking to him, messing around with each other. He’s a good guy. We’re all the same here.”
(What has the past week been like since you got the call that you were going to be drafted? When did you get to Miami and what have you been up to?) – “I’ve been super excited. I just got the call and kept working out at home with family. Spent that time and got ready to come down. Got down here yesterday, and just got right into it. Did all my testing, got into meetings and it’s a good feeling. There is a lot going on, just getting my footing and figuring everything out.”
(I know a lot of the rookies are down here, but have you been able to run into any of the vets?) – “Not too many. A couple have been around but we haven’t really had time to talk to anyone. It’s mostly been the other rookies.”
(What are you most looking forward to the next two days of rookie minicamp?) – “Soaking everything up from the coaches, getting NFL coaching and learning the scheme and soaking it all in.”
(Have you gotten a playbook?) – “Yes, we got a little bit of the install, but obviously not the whole playbook. We’re working a little bit into it.”
(What’s your impressions of the offensive line coach, Butch Barry?) – “He seems awesome. He really says things that are well thought out. He has a lot of good information, a lot of techniques. Just soaking everything up. Obviously he’s coached a long time in this league, so everything he says is valuable.”
(We asked you when you first got drafted if you had any sense whether you might go from tackle to guard. Do you have any impression of the plan there?) – “Not really. I’ve been here a day. I’m just going to do what coaches tell me day-to-day, and we will figure it out from there.”
(If you do get asked to take some snaps, what do you think may be the biggest transition point, or the biggest thing for you making that transition or that switch?) – “Everything is a little different with the footwork. Everything is a little tighter, a little closer. Just little things to adjust to. A little footwork. Got great coaches here. I’ll be in great hands.”
(What are your impressions of Miami? Have you been to Miami before?) – “I’ve been a few times. We played a game here a couple of years ago in the playoffs. I vacationed here like once. But yeah, it’s beautiful down here. I definitely got to get used to the heat, but it’s really exciting.”
(The NFL schedule came out. Did you take a look at it? See a lot of primetime games? What was your thought?) – “Yes, absolutely it’s exciting. I saw the Germany game. That looks awesome. A lot of primetime games. I’m excited to get going.”
Cam Smith – May 12, 2023
Download PDF version
Friday, May 12, 2023
CB Cam Smith
(We don’t know your schedule, is that the first time you’ve worn a Dolphin’s jersey?) – “Definitely. It’s the first time I’ve put it on.”
(What was it like to put it on for the first time?) – “It felt kind of surreal. I had to send my mother a little first day at work picture. It was kind of surreal being in the moment, seeing myself for the first time with an NFL team logo on. It’s just kind of surreal.”
(How did you decide on No. 24?) – “It really was the only option left. I wasn’t going to be in 30 or nothing like that. I had to make sure I got me a little good number.”
(What have you been doing since you’ve gotten here?) – “The last week really has been hectic. I’ve been down here most of the time. I got a little Airbnb down here before camp started, so I’ve been staying there. I left like two days after I got drafted. I was ready to go so I came down here and started working out with Gold Feet (Global) to make sure I stayed in shape, making sure I stayed good with everything else.”
(Have you had a chance to meet some of the other cornerbacks on the team?) – “I met Xavien (Howard) when I was on a top 30 visit and then I saw him in the training room yesterday and chopped it up with him. I haven’t talked to (Jalen) Ramsey yet. But I probably will be in a little bit.”
(Did CB Xavien Howard give you any advice?) – “Not right now. He didn’t really say too much. We just wrapped it up about regular stuff.”
(I talked to Clayton White at South Carolina. He said that one of the first things you’re going to notice about Cam is his smile and how he loves to play football. Tell me about that, your personality, your love for the game, your competitiveness.) – “I feel like this is really the only time I really do smile a lot is when I’m talking about football or when I’m on the football field and stuff like that. Just being out there showing my personality, showing what I know, showing what I can do and just kind of being me.”
(He also said that you’re aggressive and sometimes you have to control that. Tell me about that. He said you’re going to make plays, you’re going to jump routes but sometimes you can be aggressive, it’s just got to be controlled. Tell me about that aspect of your game.) – “I try to stronghold people a lot and assert my dominance on people. Sometimes that gets me into trouble. But just playing controlled, playing within myself, and not really trying to do too much and just try to make a play.”
(How much of a luxury do you think it will be coming into a team with guys like CB Xavien Howard and CB Jalen Ramsey?) – “I’ve heard a lot of people say it. I know it. I’ve come into the right position. Being under two All-Pro corners, dudes that are the highest paid at their position, dudes that have done stuff the right way. Just being underneath them and picking their brains everyday is going to be big.”
(Do you know if you will get a spot on the beach or downtown? Are you a beach guy?) – “I’ll mess with the beach. I probably won’t mess with that price but the beach would be nice. Probably just a little pool or something in the back so I could look at the water and stuff like that.”
(Today is about as cool as it’s going to get. Have you been warned?) – “Like I said, I’ve been working with Gold Feet (Global), so I’ve been out in the sun the whole time trying to get acclimated to it. I’m blessed to have this day right here.”
(When you go into camp, how do you balance making a name for yourself, impressing coaches and not doing too much?) – “Just staying in the moment. Not really thinking about what’s next. Know what my assignment is, knowing what my technique is for that play, and doing that play, and staying on the same trail. Because if I start looking at too much, that’s when the emotions start flowing in.”
Elijah Higgins – May 12, 2023
Download PDF version
Friday, May 12, 2023
TE Elijah Higgins
(Has Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends Jon Embree given you any homework assignments?) – “Yeah, I got the playbook a couple of days ago, so I’ve been digging into that. Obviously learning a few different roles I’m not quite used to. But it has been fun so far and I’m excited for this first practice.”
(Are you studying tape of any particular tight ends that Jon Embree has recommended or that you’ve thought of on your own?) – “Yeah, we’ve been watching a lot of (George) Kittle tape. Obviously he was there with the 49ers. Then I’m going to watch the guys here, in the system that we run, seeing how they do it and emulating that.”
(Have you had to juggle Stanford exams or work while doing this the last two weeks?) – “No, I’m off from school right now. I’m off duty.”
(With this transition, when did it first get brought up to you as a possibility for your NFL career?) – “My senior year of high school.”
(So everybody wanted to convert you to tight end?) – “It was a talk for sure. A lot of teams were recruiting me, I guess, as a receiver. But obviously it became more real these past few months.”
(What were the talks like at Stanford regarding that?) – “I ended up playing a big slot role, so it was essentially very similar to a flexed-out F tight end minus all of the blocking assignments. That will carry over for sure but obviously we’re going to have to learn how to block on the interior.”
(What sticks out to you about the wide zone scheme, specifically the role of the tight end?) – “I’m excited, to be honest. I still don’t know too much. The practice plays that we are running right now are pretty minute and pretty straight-forward, so we’ll see how it feels today.”
(If you’ve had any questions the past two weeks, have you texted either Jon Embree or TE Durham Smythe or anyone? Or have you just been saving them?) – “A little bit of both. I’ve been in contact with Coach Embree and asking him questions here and there, just trying to earn my respect here on the field and do my best job.”
(The teams you visited, how many planned to move you to tight end?) – “I would say like 28 out of 32. A rough estimate.”
(So the first time you heard the words tight end from someone’s mouth, going back to high school, you thought what?) – “In high school, I wanted to play receiver. In college, I knew that was – seeing how my body transitioned through the years, I definitely got excited for it because I think it definitely fits my skill set pretty well.”
(So how close are you to being TE George Kittle right now?) – “(laughter) Far from it. I haven’t even had my first practice yet. So far from it.”
(Do you feel like you have to put on some pounds?) – “Not necessarily. I’m definitely going to try to get upwards of 240-245 going into training camp and try to maintain that. We’ll just see how my body feels. If I’m able to do things that I’m doing right now at 238, I’m cool with that. If not – obviously you’ve got professionals in here, so listening to them to see what they say about it as well.”
(There’s some overlap obviously playing in the slot and tight end, but is this the first time in your life you will officially be a tight end?) – “Yes, sir.”
(How close are you to getting your degree and what is your degree in?) – “My degree is in psychology and I’m about two-and-a-half classes away from getting it.”
(So when do you plan to finish?) – “Offseason.”
Chosen Anderson – May 9, 2023
Download PDF version
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
WR Chosen Anderson
(I know you’re from the area. I just wanted to ask you about your first Dolphins childhood memory, if you have a specific game that you went to or just how you remember the Dolphins as a fan growing up?) – “I remember back to the Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor, Ricky Williams days and then I remember when they won games, the Miami Dolphins’ song playing across the radio. Even back when it was like Joe Robbie Stadium, back in those days, I grew up in that era. I really remember too also when they came out with the Wildcat offense with Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown and struck everybody by surprise. I remember like back in those days and Chris Chambers and all that.”
(General Manager Chris Grier mentioned, I think it was last week or a couple weeks ago, that the process of bringing you down here, he mentioned that you spoke with Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker for quite a while. I was curious about how that conversation went and just your first impression of Coach Welker?) – “I’m thankful to be coached by somebody that played at such a high level. Just all ears and just listening to everything. I’m just very thankful for that.”
(I wanted to ask you about the name change, how it came about, why you did it and what it took to do?) – “I don’t really want to touch on that right now. I want to keep it intimate. But it was a positive, positive thing. I’ll touch on it at a different time. It was a little process, legal things from such of that aspect. But it’s a positive meaning behind it. It’s something I’m very grateful for and it’s something I feel strongly about.”
(Do you think that this is your name for the rest of your life, that this is what you’re going to roll with?) – “Yeah, this is my new era and direction and just kind of like a foundational thing for moving forward for my generation.”
(I wanted to touch on last season for you. How difficult was it and what did you learn and take from that experience?) – “The difficult part of last year was just honestly seeing things before it kind of happened in Carolina but trying to stay positive in the situation. The trade, I feel like it was difficult, but I feel like that’s what brings out the best in you is hard times and I grew a lot from the situation. I was surrounded with a great coach in Shawn Jefferson, an OG, who coached me in New York. So I was being coached by a good coach. But I feel like it brought out the best in me. Being in Arizona was a very peaceful time for me. I found a lot of peace being out there. I wouldn’t really say – more so the word difficult and maybe more so a little disappointed in a sense. But it is what it is and I grew from it, and that’s what’s molded me to be where I am today.”
(I had a few questions for you. First is more so about your philanthropic efforts within the community. Knowing that you are typically down here during the summer months and do a lot of community give-backs, what does it mean to you finally be on the Dolphins and being able to have a more intimate give-back with the community?) – “It’s definitely a dream come true to be a Dolphin. Growing up watching the Dolphins, even like always being here driving past the stadium, being fascinated by the stadium. So it’s truly like really a dream come true opportunity I truly cherish. That’s like the cherry on top of that. I feel like my purpose is giving back to the community and trying to pay it forward and things like that. I just feel like being a Dolphin and being able to come home and being able to stay intact with that year-round is just truly a blessing.”
(You join a highly talented wide receiver room. What is it like being with WR Tyreek Hill, WR Jaylen Waddle, WR Braxton Berrios and the other guys too as well?) – “I love it. I’m a firm believer in you are the company you keep. Last year they were the two best receivers in the NFL. So I’m only learning and you are a product of your environment.”
(Chris Grier, the general manager, when we asked him about bringing you in he said, ‘we told him what the role would be and he was excited and all in on it.’ So what is your understanding of the role?) – “I don’t want to disclose that or give out no scouting reports. But like I told Chris and Coach (McDaniel), I want to contribute to winning and that’s it. Just pour into the guys around me and what I’ve learned and the leader I’ve grown into and just contribute towards winning and what the ultimate goal is.”
(Obviously, you have a lot of speed. So tell me about the role that you feel speed still plays in your game, and your confidence level in the ability to get deep and track the deep ball and make deep ball plays?) – “That’s one of my gifts. All players have their strong point and strongest attribute, and speed is one of mine. It’s an advantage of mine and like me and Coach (McDaniel) discussed, he coaches, I’m the player. I do what they say, and we keep it simple like that.”
(So on the night you agreed to terms, we saw this scene on Instagram where you pulled out the QB Tua Tagovailoa jersey to reveal that you were agreeing to terms with the Dolphins. I wonder if you can set the scene for us. Was the party specifically for you to announce to your family and friends who you were joining? Was there another occasion that became part of that? I wonder if you can share some details there.) – “Me and my family we were already going to the movies and then going to go bowling after. We had plans set for the weekend. My agent let me know that they had came to terms with everything like that Friday. I wanted to announce it to my family before it was announced to the world because past times, I’ve let it come out publicly first instead of sharing that moment with them. So I just kind of reached out to some other friends and invited them, let them know I was making my announcement for my decision and that was it. I knew what time they were going to announce it or were planning on announcing it publicly, so I went ahead and did it a little bit prior too so we could share that before it came out to the world.”
(Can you tell us why it was a QB Tua Tagovailoa jersey that you pulled on and not say WR Tyreek Hill or CB Jalen Ramsey or CB Xavien Howard or somebody else like that?) – “I just figured because he’s the head in charge. “The only other one I considered was Dan Marino but when I went to the store, I didn’t see it in there.”
(You’ve followed QB Tua Tagovailoa for a while. What’s it like to finally be working with them? Also, can you talk about the caliber and quality of quarterbacks that you’ve had to work with over the years?) – “I have a lot of respect for Tua. He’s a very, very cool dude, very down-to-earth. I’m familiar with his culture and they’re very loving, caring family-oriented individuals. You feel that presence and you feel that being around him. I have a lot of respect for him and seeing what he’s gone through in his career, where he is now and where he’s working towards. I wish the best for him and I’m here to offer my best to make him be his best.”
(I’m sure you’ve heard about how much of a player’s coach he has but I’m just curious to hear about that first impression when you met Coach McDaniel?) – “Honestly, it was a conversation that was very, honestly, fulfilling for me because I felt that over the years, a lot of things that he’s noticed about my game, what I’ve gone through, what I’ve been working towards, he’s noticed that and made that very evident. It felt good to finally hear that from a coach, a great coach too, a coach that’s had a lot of success and knows what it takes to be successful. Our conversation, we really connected. We had instant chemistry and pretty much was on the same page about everything. I pretty much told them before I left that my decision was made. They told me to still assess things but my heart led me to being here. I took my time with making this decision and made sure it was aligned with my purpose in life and what truly matters and my ultimate goals of what I’m here to accomplish and playing football.”
