Zach Sieler – October 15, 2020
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Thursday, October 15, 2020
DT Zach Sieler
(How has year one and a half with the Dolphins been? How has your progress as a player been? I think we talked to you a few weeks back. You keep making these splash plays. How has your season been coming along and what has impressed you most about what you’ve done?) – “For me, it was just learning the new ways and a new team. That was the end of last year. Then going into this year, just kind of progressing and learning how to use the scheme to my advantage each week.”
(I wanted to get into a little bit about your backstory. I know you talked about it when you wre in Baltimore some but it’s a pretty remarkable story. You were 175 pounds at Ferris State? Did you have any scholarship offers at all?) – “No. I walked on at Ferris State I was 220 (pounds) my freshman year and 217 (pounds) going into my second year. By the time I left, I think I was 295 (pounds).”
(This is your first time getting a chance to see the New York Jets with the Dolphins. I’m just curious has there been any extra hype around the game since It’s such a big rival for the Miami Dolphins?) – “It’s a division game, so we’ve got to play just like any other week; but we’re ready to go. We’re preparing just like we do every week. We’re excited.”
(Was there someone in your past that kept you motivated, focused and believing that this one day would be a possibility? I’m not a mathematician but the odds were like a billion to one.) – “Yeah, I was the first one drafted form my college actually. I think the fall of my freshman year of college, true freshman year. I wasn’t playing or whatever. Two more walk-ons came on for spring ball. We became really close. We said let’s get after it in the weight room. We didn’t have a strength coach. We didn’t have a nutritionist. We just got in the weight room and watched YouTube videos and learned how to lift, and get bigger and go from there. I think between my one year, I put on like 30-40 pounds. I was up to 240-250 by spring of my second year. There was a handful of guys. We called the misfits, just a bunch random dudes. We would just go down there and our gym had no windows, no A/C or anything. We called it the dungeon. We’d just go there and we took pride in it.”
(I’ve seen you play inside and out, especially with DT Davon Godchaux out. Tell me about the approach you take to the assignment when you’re inside versus out?) – “Obviously things happen faster when you get down low, the closer you get to the center. But for me, it’s just wherever I’m at preparing wise – end, 3-tech, nose guard, zero shade, outside – it’s just making sure I look at the player across from me as in the offensive lineman I’m going against, and learning their keys. So not just focusing on one guy, but focusing on all five of them, so I’m ready for whatever happens and whatever the game plan may call for.”
(We just talked to C Ted Karras a minute ago and he talked about the players on the team genuinely being excited for other guys when they make a play. I noticed that watching the broadcast copy, guys just losing their minds every time you make a big play. I’m curious where that comes from and how that starts for a team, where they get so excited for one another and really care about each other like that?) – “I guess it kind of comes from the top down. The coaches preach family and they preach be excited for anybody, because if somebody makes a great play, that may give you an opportunity later on in the game for you to make a big play. For us, it’s just an excitement. We’re going through this together, we’re a team, we’re a family. Just keep grinding and keep celebrating those big plays.”
(Since your arrival down here in South Florida, have you learned at all if there was a connection or a reason or a person who decided to bring you here?) – “No. I couldn’t tell you that. I just know my agent called me at 4:20 or 4-whatever that one day and said ‘hey, you’re going to Miami.’ So I showed up down here and do what I do.”
(Have you put down roots here? It seems like you’re living the transient life. I think you were a seventh-round pick, a waiver wire guy, I believe. Do you have an apartment? How does it work? You’re certainly a part of the team’s plans now, but you couldn’t have known that going into the season?) – “Y’all are going to laugh; but I actually stay in an RV during the season. I’ve done this for two years now. I have a fifth wheel I stay in during the season. (laughter) I actually had roots, and I do have roots in Sebring, which is about two hours from here. I know I’ve been asked about the ranch. That’s kind of my home base, I guess you could say. I have family in Michigan and I love going back to see them; but in season, I stay in an RV. For me, that works, I love it. It’s simple, it’s easy, I can get up and go postseason and just do whatever I need to do, wherever I’m training, I can park it and train there.”
(We need more clarity. Where does the RV park? Have you hosted your teammates in the RV, and have you gone on a road trip in it?) – “I’ve had players over to hang out, for sure. Yes, campgrounds or RV parks are nice spots. I’ll find a little spot and setup there for a few months. Florida is great because everyone comes down here in the winter to live, so there are plenty of spots, especially right now.”
(What’s it like in the RV community? Does anyone know you’re a professional athlete?) – “I love it. No. I usually try to keep that a little lower. Some people learn or whatever, and usually everyone is great. When you think about it, guys that are in our campground, usually they are vacationing. So everyone is happy, everyone always waves, it’s not the typical people living their daily lives. Usually they’re on vacation. It is kind of weird getting a new neighbor three or four times a week. (laughter)”
(Do you think at some point you might actually get a front door and a roof?) – “Yeah, I might. The girl is trying to get on me to do that. (laughter) She’s sick of taking care of the dogs back home by herself.”
