Teair Tart – April 23, 2024
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Tuesday, April 23, 2024
DT Teair Tart
(Agent Drew Rosenhaus said on his television segment that you had higher money offers elsewhere. What made you want to come home to Miami? Also before you signed did you and Head Coach Mike McDaniel, or Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver, or Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark have conversations? Did any of those talks get you excited about the role they have in mind for you?) – “I think the biggest reason why I signed back here is it’s obviously a familiar area for me. I went to college here. It’s just really great to be back in a comfortable environment, a familiar environment, a family environment. Yeah, I had a couple of conversations, but it was really through Drew (Rosenhaus). It really gave off a really good family environment here, and it was something I thought I could definitely benefit from.”
(Did they bring you in for a workout or visit first? Or was it simply a contract offer you accepted?) – “It was just a contract offer.”
(When you had those conversations early on about joining the Dolphins, was a role discussed? What do you think you can bring? How many positions on the defensive line can you play, and do you think they are going to use you all over the place?) – “There was no role discussed. Everything is earned in this league, as we all know. There was no role discussed, but they said that I will have a fair opportunity to come in here and play if I worked hard, showed up and participated, and that’s what I plan on doing.”
(Is there a spot on the defensive line that you think you’re best at?) – “I think I’m a football player first. So wherever they feel comfortable is where I’m comfortable. I’m here to help the team win – whatever it takes.”
(I know you played all over the defensive line for the Titans, but a lot of 0-technique and 1-technique. At 300 pounds, it’s pretty impressive how you’re able to hold up against some of those bigger guys in the middle. I’m curious, what is the key at that size to be able to hold up as a 0- and 1-technique?) – “I think the technique – you always rely on your technique, even through adversity, fatigue and whatever. So technique is the key thing, having a good pad level, using your hands properly definitely can give you an advantage and just being strong in there. You need a lot of nasty to play some D-line, so that don’t hurt at all either.”
(Your ex-teammate, now current teammate OL Aaron Brewer talks about being nasty on the pivot as well. I’m curious what you learned from all those practices going against up him in Tennessee?) – “Competitive, that’s my boy. Me and ‘Brew’ (Aaron Brewer) go back since my rookie year, both undrafted. Just competitive, man. Even from our rookie year, I remember some hard-fought battles, definitely some fires, some bickering, but that’s my dog, man. When you get competitive in there, it just makes you want to go a lot harder. When you do that, you just keep finding ways to improve.”
(In the NFL, interior defensive linemen are recording a lot more sacks nowadays. That’s not your thing, you are a very effective run stopper. Statistically eight tackles for loss last year and I think one sack, which means you’re effective at what you do. Do you ever feel the pressure to get more sacks, either for financial reasons or that’s because a lot of other defensive linemen are doing that nowadays?) – “I think a lot of people get confused from sacks. Everybody just thinks if you don’t get sacks, you’re not a good pass rusher, which isn’t true at all. There’s a lot of ways to affect the quarterback – obviously pressures, disrupting timing, hits, pressing the pocket, making the quarterback feel uncomfortable. Those are ways that actually translates into getting other people sacks and actually makes you an effective rusher. Getting sacks just doesn’t tell the whole story. If you watch my stats, I had almost 30 pressures a couple of years ago. Obviously, the pass rushing ability is there, just closing out on the opportunities you can get as a pass rusher on those rush downs can definitely benefit, but sacks are hard to come by in this league. Like you said, the numbers have increased. I think that contributes to the coaching and the players, definitely the IQ and the scheming up.”
(Regarding guards that you’ve faced, it seems like guards are a lot taller now a days. You see guys at 6’4, 6’5. A lot of offensive tackles shift inside. I’m wondering do you have an advantage on leverage when you play against a taller guard? Is it hard for them to keep low? Does that give you at your height and your size an advantage?) – “I think that’s all just dependent on the player honestly. I can’t really speak on every player in the NFL that’s taller than me. I guess it depends on the player and the type of player you’re going up against. Some people aren’t really good at bending their hips, so I think it would be harder for them to get as low as me. I think that’s all (individual).”
(In Tennessee, things went left for you and you got your release. Can you tell us what happened in that scenario before you ended up in Houston where things just went south?) – “I think I just needed a culture change. I think it was just better to not be a part of that situation anymore. Me personally, I just felt like I needed a culture change, honestly.”
(So you requested your release?) – “Yes.”
(Having played at FIU, what do you remember about the heat and humidity during training camp workouts in Miami and what you’re in for coming back here?) – “I know one thing – you’re going to be in shape. (laughter) I think the biggest thing I remember from college is – we don’t have a dome. So we didn’t have a dome, and I remember the second week of camp, the turf got to like 148 degrees. Y’all probably already heard this plenty of times. So the glue started melting on the cleats and stuff, we’re just sliding across. We kept spraying ice-cold water on the cleats to keep the glue from melting. That was one thing I really remember. But it’s football camp, no matter where you’re at it’s going to be tough.”
(I wanted to expand on that high tackle-for-loss rate last season that you had. How does one get to the ball carrier in the backfield that often?) – “Playing within the scheme and sometimes just taking the opportunity when it presents itself. It can definitely benefit you.”
(Some of the things coming out of Tennessee really cut to the heart of things like work ethic, which I’m sure is a sensitive area for any football player. You never want to hear that questioned. What do you want Dolphins fans to know about your work ethic, about never taking plays off and things like that?) – “I was in Tennessee four years. I never had work ethic questions or work ethic issues until I asked for a release – but coming from a (Bill) Belichick situation, you’ve got to play hard, you’ve got to practice hard – which I found really weird. I think in a lot of things, you can expect me to be competitive, spirited. I’m not afraid to show emotion out there on the field and really get after it and compete. I’m really just excited for a new beginning honestly. Tennessee is the past. I was at Houston after that, that’s the past. I’m here in Miami now. I’m excited to get to know the fans. I’m excited to play hard for this organization. I’m in awe just to be here, man. It’s a blessing, honestly.”
(When you talk about showing emotions and being excited about big plays, DT Chrisitan Wilkins just left here and he was known for some of his wild celebrations. Can we expect something like that from you whenever there is a big play made by the defense or a touchdown by the offense?) – “I’m always going to celebrate with my teammates.”
(I have not met another Teair before. What is the background on the name?) – “There’s not really much of a background on the name, honestly. I think my aunt picked out the name and my mom just ran with it; I really don’t know. There’s really not much behind it, honestly.”
(Have you ever met another Teair?) – “No, I have not. (laughter) I have not.”
(The 76ers, they have some complaints about the officiating about the series with the Knicks. I happen to be a Knicks fan, and I know you’re from Philly. Are you a 76ers person? What do you think of the officiating?) – “Philly is getting robbed. (laughter) I think it’s terrible. (laughter).”
(I wanted to ask you about Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver. How much research did you do on him and the scheme before you decided to become the seventh defensive tackle added to the team this offseason?) – “Obviously when you’re looking into teams, you’re looking at who’s on the roster, what type of scheme they will be running. Really not to get too much into it, I just thought I would be a good fit here for what I believe they’re going to have on. I could play in multiple schemes as you’ve seen. I’ve played at Tennessee, obviously Houston was a different scheme. I felt really comfortable coming here and being a part of what they’ve got.”
(In Tennessee, you were teammates with LB David Long Jr. Wondering your thoughts on reuniting with him and what it was like being a teammate of him?) – “Dawg, he’s a dawg. David Long is all dawg, all gas all the time. I love playing with him. David gets those double teams off of you quick, man. He’s a hard worker. He’s passionate, very passionate about what he does. I missed him in Tennessee a lot, man. That was my boy, man, for sure. It’s a blessing to be here in Miami playing with him again. I know one of the first things I said, ’51!’ That’s just my boy, he plays hard.”
