Zach Sieler – October 21, 2021
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Thursday, October 21, 2021
DT Zach Sieler
(I remember last year the team was at the top or near the top in turnovers. Obviously you got a few big plays in the last game with the fumble and the LB Jerome Baker tackle. Specifically about turnovers, how do you feel the emphasis has been and the success rate this year compared to last year?) – “I think the emphasis is still there. It’s still a goal of the defense every week. We strive to get turnovers. We’ve just got to keep working it and keep getting better and when the opportunity presents itself, make the most of it.”
(What role do you feel turnovers played in the tremendous success you guys had overall last season?) – “It always helps. It helps the ebbs and flows of the game. You shut the offense down, you get a turnover, that is no score. That’s a huge play. We’ve just got to keep working to get those plays and get more of them.”
(At any point did you consider picking that ball up and trying to go the other way?) – “No. I didn’t know who was around. I just knew the ball was on the ground and I wanted to make sure I covered it up and get the ball back to the offense.”
(I wanted to ask you about leadership. You’ve been here now for three seasons. You’ve seen the ebbs and flows – actually you showed up late in 2019. I think they were winning when you showed up. You weren’t here for the 0-7 start. How much are leaders responsible for stepping up and speaking up to not have all of the burden on the coaching staff for what’s going on?) – “The coaches can only do so much and they are doing all they can to coach us and motivate us and do that. At the end of the day, it comes down to the peers in the locker room, the leaders in the locker room. We’ve just got to make sure we step up and really focus on what we need to focus on – the task at hand each week. We’ve got to keep just honing in on that.”
(I’m curious because Head Coach Brian Flores and the coaches say we practice well every week and then it doesn’t translate to the game. What is the missing thing?) – “I think we’ve just got to keep our heads together and keep working together as a team, and just focus on that. That’s where we need to come together and start turning this around.”
(If I can go back to the fumble recovery real quick. Did anybody give you a hard time on the sideline for not picking it up and running with it?) – “Not during the game. But as soon as I got into the locker room, my fiancé called me and asked me why I didn’t pick it up. (laughter) But other than that, no. She was getting after me. (laughter)”
(How would you describe the mood of the players this week?) – “I think we’ve had good energy. I think we came back from London and I think we bounced back from that good. The guys are getting sleep. We’re starting to come back and adapt to this time zone again. It’s been a good week of energy in practice.”
(How challenging is it to have a game right after the London game?) – “I think the biggest thing is getting back on your schedule. I know for me, my eating schedule was all messed up. I’m just forcing myself to wake up usually when I would’ve woken up beforehand, and not sleeping in or sleeping in and not staying up late. However that works.”
(Back to DT Christian Wilkins on that big play. It seems he’s progressing each year of his career. What have you seen from him this year that makes him more productive in his third season?) – “He’s worked on his technique a lot. I’m sure you guys see that and see how his progression is with his hands, his feet and his vision and reading the offensive players. That’s something I think has been a huge thing for him this year. He’s been doing really well at that.”
(Do you guys work on that together during practice?) – “Yeah, we do. We work on that all the time.”
(Was Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark a guy that worked with you individually some last year? Or was that not his focus to help some of the line play, the pass rushers and things? Who helped you when you got here?) – “When I first got here it was Marion Hobby. He was here. Then last year it was Hobby and Clark. It was really 50/50. They both gave their input and gave their technique and helped coach us. They did a great job together.”
(I’m curious about Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark. What about his approach is helpful to the guys?) – “He does a really good job of explaining techniques and what exactly he wants. There is not a lot of gray area. You see this, this is how he wants it point blank. He’s very good at that and he’s very good at getting to different players and teaching different players how different players play. Every guy plays different. I’m going to play different than Raekwon (Davis) and Raekwon is going to play different than Christian (Wilkins) and so forth.”
(I think the Dolphins were 2-1 in the three games you played at the end of the 2019 season. What do you remember about the team you joined at the end of the season?) – “I think just coming together as a team and really working together on the team camaraderie. I know we had that last year and I think we’re getting that this year.”
