Ted Karras – March 26, 2020
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Thursday, March 26, 2020
C Ted Karras
(Why the Dolphins? How did this come together?) – “I got a couple offers and I really believe in what Coach Flores (Head Coach Brian Flores) is building and doing here, and I kind of wanted to get in and help him build it. So I’m really excited. Hopefully (I will) get down there soon. I hope everyone’s well, by the way, and I’m looking forward to meeting you all. I’m looking forward to getting down (there) and getting to work, meeting the guys and a brand new adventure.”
(What are your thoughts about this group of free agents that you are a part of? It’s a large group. The Dolphins obviously made a big investment. What kind of impact do you think you all collectively can make?) – “It’s been great. I know a lot of guys coming in. Kyle Van Noy, Elandon (Roberts) obviously from the Patriots. I played college football with Clayton Fejedelem, and then we were in rookie camp together with Kamu Grugier-Hill, so a lot of familiar faces. A lot of talent coming in. I know Shaq Lawson from Combine training. So I’m looking forward to getting to work with these guys. It’s going to be an exciting year. I’m pretty pumped up. Obviously I’m just going to focus on what I need to do to help the team win some games and that’s working hard however I can and getting to know these guys and mesh together as a team. It’s kind of like a whole other class coming in. It’s pretty exciting stuff.”
(What do you remember about Head Coach Brian Flores when he was down there with New England and do you have any good ‘Flo’ stories?) – “I don’t know if I have any good ‘Flo’ stories. I know I competed against him a lot my first couple years. I was with the sixth-man reserve scout team guys, so we competed against him a lot. We got after his defense, and he’s intense and prepares to win and knows what he’s doing and I really respect that a lot. He actually played with a couple guys from my high school at BC (Boston College), so that’s kind of how we started talking, but we developed a pretty decent relationship and I really liked what he did last year and really respect Coach Flores. I’m glad to be in his organization.”
(What has Head Coach Brian Flores told you about the culture that he’s building in Miami and do you feel like there are any similarities based on what you experienced in New England and maybe some differences?) – “I don’t know if he’s told me anything explicitly about what the culture he’s trying to build. I think just going off his personality and what I saw on film and what I’ve read and heard, it’s going to be fairly similar to what we were about in New England. I think the biggest things would just be preparing to win, being tough and trying to go out there and win as many games as we can. I think that inherently that’s what he’s about, and that’s one of the main reasons that I decided to come down and be a Miami Dolphin. I’m really looking forward to working with him again and getting some work done.”
(I’m wondering when you look at interior offensive line – in New England you guys didn’t seem to have highly drafted guys. Maybe Patriots G Joe Thuney might have been the highest pick right at the third round. What is the key to building that interior offensive line? Is it skill? Is it coaching? What is it?) – “I think a little bit has to do with skill and also hard work. I do have to give a lot of credit in my own career – I can only speak for myself – (Patriots Offensive Line Coach) Dante Scarnecchia really made me an exceptionally better football player than I was. Four years of working under him really, really benefitted me; but I think guys take it upon themselves to try and get better. We work hard every day. There’s obviously a toughness aspect and a lot of things go into it. I’m hoping that I can help bolster this interior offensive line and have some success down here as well.”
(How have you been impacted by coronavirus? Where are you right now? How much have you been able to leave the house and what do you think of what’s going on in the world?) – “It’s crazy. I hope you guys are all safe and your families are safe. I’m here in just a little town right outside of Foxborough. I’m just working out – my neighbor’s got a rack in his garage right across the street. I’m just running up and down the street. I’m doing band workouts. I’m doing anything I can to get it done. It’s pretty crazy. I hope it calms down soon so I can get down there and get to work. I’m really excited to meet the guys. That’s my favorite part about football is being on a team with 50, 60 guys so I’m really looking forward to meeting some new people and getting to work.”
(You were part of the Patriots’ long reign in this division. How much does the balance of power change with the Patriots quarterback going to Tampa Bay now? How much of an opening does it create for the other teams?) – “I think just about as much opening as any other time every year. It’s a new season. Everyone is coming in, working hard for – we’re coming together for six months and going to try to win as many games as we can out of 16, and we’ve got as good of a shot as anybody else in the division; but it’s going to take hard work and dedication. We’re going to have to come together and really buy in and work our hardest to get better every day. If we can do that, then we have just as much of a shot as the other three teams in this division.”
(I wanted to ask you – I know that there was a narrative about the Dolphins early on last season that they were tanking or whatnot, but you guys got to play them twice. What did you see in that team by the end of the season through improvement or otherwise?) – “The obvious improvement being they came up and we lost the last game; but even in both games, (they have) big tough guys on the d-line. Obviously a stout defense. (It’s a) very similar scheme to what we were doing, but it’s a tough – any time you play – I thought Coach Flores’ teams coming in, even when he was the d-coordinator here, it’s going to be a tough day for guys on the inside. A lot of hitting, a lot of guys covered up. They were a tough team and that was a tough loss for us, so I have a lot of respect for when they came up – New Year’s Eve in New England – and came up and beat us. That earned a lot of respect from me, so I’m looking forward to being a part of a team with those guys.”
(What was your reaction to QB Tom Brady leaving?) – “I’m very happy for him. Tom Brady is a personal favorite of mine. He always was amazing to me and obviously a great athlete, great person. I think he’s one of the best ever, and I learned a lot of football from him; but also about being a man, a father and a human being in this league and I’m very happy for him. He deserves everything he gets, and I wish him luck and success. I’m sure he’ll have some, so I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.”
(How many video conferences have you done, and what’s your reaction to doing it this way?) – “Well, I’m actually pretty well-versed in Zoom before this. I was actually watching a lecture on Zoom. I’m finishing up my degree from Indiana University – my Master’s of Business Administration – so I’m pretty well-versed in zoom. It’s not bad. It’s kind of like everyone’s on a football offseason now and everyone’s home. This is kind of – it wouldn’t be too much, that much different for me, except now we just can’t even leave anyway. I’m just finishing up school and I don’t mind doing it this way; but I am looking forward to meeting you guys and shaking your hands when that is socially acceptable again (laughter) and working with you guys. It’s always exciting to meet new people, and I’m looking forward to meeting you guys and working together.”
(This one comes from a fan, Gabriel Lopez. He wants to know, what’s your opinion of Brian Flores?) – “I think he’s a smart, tough coach. He prepares us to win, brings in guys he thinks share his vision and his toughness and his drive to compete and win. I’m very much looking forward to practicing and playing in his organization.”
