Transcripts

Search Transcripts
Xavien Howard – August 31, 2021 Download PDF version

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

CB Xavien Howard

(Last time we saw you, you talked about shaking rust. Do you feel like it’s all shook off??) – “Oh no. I’m still cleaning up some stuff, technique-wise. Just focusing on getting better each day.”

(What’s it like watching established veterans like LB Benardrick McKinney get cut as they are trying to put together a roster?) – “It’s the NFL. It’s the business side of it. You just have to focus on the guys that are in the locker room.”

(What can you say about what LB Elandon Roberts has done since he came back?) – “Oh man, Elandon is going through the right path right now coming off an ACL. I feel like he’s grinded his way up to this point right now. He’s just focused on just getting better.”

(Do you relate to LB Elandon Roberts a little bit? Obviously you’ve gone through stuff in your past with your stuff, going through rehab and trying to come back and have a great year.) – “Yeah man, it’s a whole grind, especially with no setbacks. Just focus on that and make sure you have the confidence and the right mindset going into it. Knee surgeries, that’s a big thing. You can’t play with the knees. I feel like he’s got the confidence just coming out there, making an impact. He does a lot of things with our defense. He does a lot of play calling and stuff like that. With a guy like that, we need him out there.”

(I was thinking back to cut day in 2019 when Head Coach Brian Flores had arrived and that was the rebuild year. How do you think that the 53 men plus the practice squad that are going to be around tomorrow compared to that group?) – “It’s a lot of talent. You’ve seen a lot of guys that can be on our team that can go elsewhere and play. Like I said, it’s a business aspect of it. I feel like these guys just can’t get down. Somebody will pick them up. I feel like they will be on a team.”

(Playing with guys, you probably know better maybe than some coaches who the dudes are. Do you guys get any input? ‘Hey man, I like playing with this guy. This guy gives me a little more chance.’ Do you know what I’m saying?) – “Right now, I’m just focused on myself being out there. Anything can happen any day, any player, no matter who you are. I just focus on just being out there and just the guys that I have there. I try to teach them and also try to learn from other veteran guys on the team also.”

(Earlier today the Patriots cut QB Cam Newton and are going with the rookie QB Mac Jones as their starter for the opener. What’s your reaction to not facing Cam and instead facing the rookie?) – “Just watching film from last year, I also thought Cam was going to be the starter coming into it. I was expecting him. I guess I’ve got to watch film on somebody else, on Mac. I’m just preparing for whoever the starting quarterback and the receivers also. Like I said, it’s the business of it.’

(No. 17 on the Top 100. What did that mean to you when you saw that?) – “Just getting respect from peers around the league. Coaches, players, that’s what it’s all about. Right now, I’m just focused on trying to climb up. Trying to be top five. Really just out here grinding and trying to make my team better, myself.”

(Can you talk a little bit about the culture within the Dolphins? It seems like since Head Coach Brian Flores got here, the team has been working to establish a culture. How would you describe the culture within the organization?) – “The culture, just being here six years, I’ve been through a lot of different coaches and seen a lot of different coaches where we haven’t really had just one culture that I feel can help us, provide us and win games. ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) brought that attitude in here. I feel like he’s the guy for the team. Everybody is just sticking to his plan and hopefully we get the job done.”

(I’m sure you’ve probably seen the rumblings in the media about QB Deshaun Watson and all those different questions. How do you all handle that in the locker room when you see that?) – “I’m on the defense side, I play cornerback and that’s all I’m worried about.”

Search Transcripts

Weekly Archives