Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(update on CB Keion Crossen, if that will be a long-term thing? And with CB Byron Jones, do you think he’ll practice this week? And do we know that he’ll definitely play this season? Is that in question?) – “Keion (Crossen), he’s a tough one to kind of nail down with the timeline for a good reason (because) he’s one of the fastest healers that I’ve ever been around. He’s shown that in the couple opportunities he’s had since he’s been here when he’s had something. So we’ll reassess midweek, only because it’s hard to kind of nail that down. Then with Byron (Jones), it is a big deal to put someone out there on the field, a cornerback that’s trying to perform at a high level, with a lower body extremity injury. So we’ve been judicious with it. I don’t think we’re going to see him practice this week, but we’re really just trying to do it the right way. It’s hard to know fully when that’s going to happen because if I gave a timeline – I’ve had a couple timelines in my head and held back from giving you those timelines, and I’ve been correct in doing so. We’ll just be taking that week by week and watching him work in the process.”
(With QB Tua Tagovailoa cleared, are you going through the week and anticipating that he’ll practice as the starter and ultimately start on Sunday?) – “The plan is for him to approach the game as the starter. So he’ll be able to get those reps in on Wednesday. I felt really good about how he was able to get back on the field. What’s unique about his whole process was that his last really full week of practice was the week of the Buffalo Bills game, because when you have a Thursday night game, you’re walking-through. So you’re talking about your last full-speed practice. So last week was a big week to get through the protocol, see all the specialists, get all the information and then get him back moving around. So, he responded really well and was his exuberant self. We’ll be excited to see him practice on Wednesday, and I know the team will be as well.”
(I know you haven’t wanted to make excuses for being without him, but what does having QB Tua Tagovailoa back do for this offense and this team?) – “He’s a captain. He’s a captain for a reason, and as I’ve told you guys from the onset, I think he’s a very, very good player at that position. So very good players, they definitely give people a boost – not because of what other people aren’t but more just because he is who he is. So he’s a strong fabric of this team, and that’s exciting when you get to go play with one of your brothers, which is why the team will be excited, and it will be exciting.”
(Did you see from just him tossing the ball around last week, at the end of last week, could you see that he’s not going to have any problem with the rust? Do you want to wait and see if rust is going to be an issue for QB Tua Tagovailoa?) – “No, I don’t anticipate necessarily rust from a mechanics standpoint. He is pretty gifted in that in that realm, and he was really the same the same guy. Luckily, he hadn’t forgotten. He didn’t start throwing right-handed, so that was a good thing. (laughter) But there’s always – you’re a product of your process in the NFL season. So there’ll be some things that for him getting used to the whole process will probably – there’s a little rust in that. But typically when that happens, nobody even really knows. You’re just getting used to, ‘Oh, it’s Wednesday, and we’re walking through, getting the huddle correct and proceeding from play to play and calling the plays to the guys and emphasizing the information to each player in the huddle that you need to.’ There’s always a little rust when you take time away in that regard, but physiologically and how he plays the position, he’s been so mentally locked in to everything we’ve been doing. I expect him to be pretty comfortable executing that.”
(When QB Tua Tagovailoa does go back into the game, do you want him to be more cautious about how he protects himself? Do you not want him thinking about that? Or what’s the line there when he goes back?) – “I talked to him a lot sooner than this week. When we were – when he’d come by the office and we just kind of talk about how things have kind of gone, there’s risks in this game and you’ve got to be able to control the controllables. One thing for him is you love his competitive nature, but there is a time in a play where you have to kind of concede, and that’s where he’s kind of been focusing on because it’s something that’s not natural to him. He wants to break every tackle, and he doesn’t like when plays don’t work. Well, sometimes they won’t. So that’s something that he’s mindful of, and I think that that’s a consistency of all the really great quarterbacks that you think of, the guys that you look up to, the guys that kind of set forth the example of how to play the position, they do find ways to be available. And part of that is that concession, but that is – all things considered, that’s probably a good problem to have in terms of a competitor. You just need to be able to understand your importance to the team and how sometimes the best play you can make is a throwaway.”
(After WR Jaylen Waddle’s fumble in the game, he appeared visibly distraught and just really upset about the play after the fact. I’m curious what it means to you when you get that tangible visual evidence of a guy that it just means so much to him?) – “Well, it’s definitely case by case. For him in particular, I recognize it as a good thing in nature. Like, it’s good that you’re mad. But he’s a young player that is going to have a wonderful career and we rely on him to make plays for us. So to me, I think one of the things that he can take a step forward in is being able to translate that frustration towards the next play rather than his helmet in the sideline bench, because people understand where he’s coming from, but also, what he aspires to be as a player and what I want to see him get to, when you’re a big time leader; you end up translating that energy for things between whistles. So it was definitely not a negative thing, but something that I could use the opportunity to try to give him a picture and a vision of growth moving forward because things will happen that you don’t want to happen. Regardless, he was trying to catch the first turnover that bounced off of him and was an interception. Then he was trying to score when he let the ball be a little loose and 22 (Harrison Smith) made a terrific play. That is coming from the right place. He’s trying to help the team win and then you can just learn from those examples because they’re very powerful and emotional because that’s the type of competitor he is.”
(The unique circumstance of Stephen Ross being suspended and now coming back. What, if any, impact does an owner’s return have on the team and what have your interactions been with him? – “I’m excited to talk to him. I haven’t talked to him in a long time. Since daybreak on Mondays, my day, even up until this point, I’m literally meeting to meeting to meeting to meeting to hanging out with you guys. So I’ll be excited to talk to him. I think every team is different. I know this particular team, with regard to everyone in the organization, the players really appreciate him because he allows myself, Chris (Grier) and everyone else in the organization, to do whatever it takes necessary to try to produce a winner, and he gives us all the all the resources possible. So I know the players will be excited to see him just because of that and their respect and regard for him and what we’re trying to do here. So it’ll be fun and I’ll be glad to see him because it’s been a while and we all very much appreciate him.”
(Speaking of some of your leaders, yesterday CB Xavien Howard kind of said, just spoke on the need for guys to make plays, specifically putting more points up on the offensive side of the ball. What can you say about his leadership? And what have some of the other captains stressed after yesterday and what has kind of the response been from the team?) – “I believe with the context that ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) was speaking on, I 100 percent agree with him, and I think every player does, too. You have to score more points than the opponent to win and we’re in the business of winning, so that is without a doubt, like I totally agree with him. I also know where ‘X,’ where his footing is, with regard to the team and he is stating what everyone is saying, which is that we need to put together a complete football game to get the results we want. So I appreciate that really all the guys really want to win. And speaking to the captains today, there’s without a shadow of a doubt, complete confidence in our ability to do what it takes to win on both sides of the ball. And I think when guys are more demanding of themselves than other people, which really all seven of our captains are, their sentiments do not go unnoticed and are supported because they lead by the best example you can give which is personal accountability over everything.”
(I know you said with the T Terron Armstead and OL Austin Jackson, the decision was made to hold them out. Were they on pace? Do they appear to be on pace, barring setback, which are always of course unpredictable, do they appear on pace to play Sunday?) – “With both guys for individual reasons – I feel good about where (Terron) Armstead got without playing in the game. I thought that helped him and he’s a guy that as he works through this stuff, he’ll be day to day. But I know he really, really wants to be out there and I’m fully confident that if he’s capable, he’ll be out there. So I would say it was a step in the right direction for him not to play because he had been gritting through a lot of stuff. So I feel good about that. With Austin (Jackson), we’re really, when you think about a high-ankle sprain or a low-ankle sprain or really anything with an ankle; that for an offensive lineman, is a tough injury. You can feel better, but then now you have to go lean on a 300-pound individual and try to displace them. And that force from ground up is challenging. He didn’t have any setbacks, so I feel good about that. It’s more about being judicious with that process so we don’t put himself in a position where he has any setbacks moving forward, or he doesn’t all of a sudden, we put him in a position where he’s super vulnerable in a game and isn’t able to complete it, which is tough with the active roster selection. So we’ll be monitoring that and a lot of guys have gotten good reps and are getting better in their place so hopefully we’ll get one or two of them back this week. If not, we’ll just keep getting better with the players on the field.”
(I wanted to ask you about a couple of other injuries. CB Nik Needham – has he had surgery yet or is that coming tomorrow or something? And also QB Skylar Thompson, obviously with the thumb, what update do you have?) – “So I’m not sure he had surgery, but Nik (Needham) will be put on IR for the Achilles. And then as far as Skylar (Thompson), he’s such a tough competitor. He’s in that whole little bucket of what our whole team seems to be, which is day to day. So especially Wednesday, we’re going to reassess where he’s at. But right now, it’s super unknown with that fresh injury to his throwing hand.”
OL Robert Hunt
(What do you think about the possibility of maybe T Terron Armstead or OL Austin Jackson reincorporating themselves into this offense?) – “It would be exciting to get those guys back but like we’ve been saying, it’s always the next man up mentality. Unfortunately injuries happen in this league and some guys can’t go, and that’s been the case for those two guys and guys have stepped up. I think guys have done a good job stepping up, playing well. So you know that is what it is. If they come back, man we’ll be fired up and if they can’t go because of something that’s going on with their body, we got to understand that and the next one is up.”
(What has kind of been the message from captains on both sides of the ball to you guys, entering the losing streak three in a row. What have they kind of been telling you guys and emphasizing?) – “We don’t really look at it like it’s a losing streak. Of course, we have lost three in a row. But the message is the same. It’s never really been – with this game, you win and you lose. It’s hard to win in this league. We know the margin of error is very slim. So that’s the thing. We know what we’re capable of. We know we have a good team. I think the captains have done a great job reiterating that and I think it’s been good. I think they’ve been going about it the right way.”
(How do you guys kind of get back into – you guys played such good complementary football those first three weeks and then kind of – injuries have played a part obviously. But what have you guys strayed away from and how do you get back to playing complementary football?) – “We just got to come in like we do every week and look at the gameplan, do what we do, get our routine. Just the little things and just be on our little things and our details and we’ll be right back where we want to be. Like I said, I think we got a really good team. I think we all think we got a really good team. It’s just the small things, the little details we got to clean up.”
(What do you think about Steelers Senior Defensive Assistant/Linebackers Coach Brian Flores being on the other side this Sunday?) – “I don’t really know. I mean I’ll say what’s up to him after the game. That’s all I really got for that.”
(You guys have talked about having the next man up mentality and not worrying about who is at quarterback and just going out there and playing, but with QB Tua Tagovailoa possibly being back this weekend, what’s unique about what he brings to the team and how helpful is that going to be?) – “Tua is Tua. Tua is our leader. He’s the guy who has been running the show and we’ll be excited to get him back. But exactly what you said – if not and it’s somebody else back there, we still got to do our job and try to play a game and win a game.”
(Who have been some of the guys that have kind of really been – you mentioned how the captains have kind of been giving you guys a great message. Who have been the guys that have really been talking to you guys the most and emphasizing getting back to your style of football?) – “I can’t point out one specific guy. I think there are a bunch of guys that are on the team that are in leadership roles and not even just leadership roles, but guys that are probably not in leadership roles that still speak up and are vocal. It’s just the same message that I’ve been saying. We know what we got to do is the little details, and we know what we want to do, so we’ve got to go. It’s a bunch of guys. I can’t just name one.”
DT Christian Wilkins
(You guys are sitting here at 3-3. Do you believe in a sense of momentum? Like coming off three losses, would it feel different if you guys were coming off of three wins, if it was reversed?) – “I feel like the biggest thing is we definitely – obviously it’s different – but I feel like the best thing is we’ve got the right mindset and the right energy around the building. Guys aren’t growing weary. Guys aren’t putting their heads down, none of that. We’re just trying to figure it out. The best way to move forward is to come in the building every day with the right energy with the right mindset. It just gives us the best opportunity to win on Sundays.”
(Has that mindset come naturally for guys in the locker room or have the veteran guys had to sort of step up in front of the team?) – “The good thing for us is we got the right kind of guys in the locker room. So however that’s being handled within the locker room, that’s how it’s been handled and guys are doing all they can to make sure we can put the best result out there on Sunday.”
(Have you had a chance to talk to CB Nik Needham after the injury?) – “Yeah, I did. I actually called Nik (Needham) after the game and it’s obviously a tough situation because that’s a guy who comes in – you know, he was part of my draft class, and that’s my dawg – and he works his butt off every day to be the best he can be. Football means a lot to him. Personally, he’s my favorite guy on the defense. No disrespect to anybody. (laughter) But he’s one of my favorite players to watch and be around. So obviously, that’s a tough situation, but I got his back through it all and if he needs anything from me, he already knows I’m there for him.”
(What did you think of DT Raekwon Davis getting his first full sack?) – “I was happy for him. Raekwon (Davis) has working really hard and just to see his growth in Year 3 and becoming – well, not his physical growth, you can’t get much bigger (laughter) – but just his growth as a player and as a pro is definitely good to see and I’m glad he’s able to enjoy some success out there and get his first full sack.”
(Yesterday looked like the Dolphins defense we’ve all been accustomed to seeing in November and December last year. Was there anything said last week by any of the captains like LB Elandon Roberts or Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer or something that you think made a difference?) – “Yeah, again, I’m not going to get into specifically who said what or did this, but like I alluded to earlier, just the right mindset by guys and just trying to figure things out and guys coming in every day preparing and doing all the little things right, and trying to really focus and do everything we can to be the best we can be.”
(What’s it going to be like with Steelers Senior Defensive Assistant/Linebackers Coach Brian Flores on the other side this Sunday?) – “Yeah, I mean, well, it’s just business as usual. We’re preparing to play the Steelers and obviously there’s history there with ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) and everything, but we’re just preparing business as usual getting ready for the Steelers.”
(How difficult is it when you guys seem so locked in for the first three quarters of yesterday’s game – it was really just two or three plays that kind of broke it open for them, but for the most part, you guys were very much the defense…) – “No, that’s just how football goes and that’s just how it is in the NFL. You’ve got to really bring it and be on it every play. Because you never know when that play is going to come and if that one play, you’re not on it, things happen. It’s just good to see that but we can be and what we can accomplish and what we can do as a defense, but we’re always striving for perfection and to be the best we can be, even if we fall short.”
(Yesterday, CB Xavien Howard kind of talked about challenging everybody on the team to step up and make plays regardless of injury, quarterback situation. Kind of what has just the captains’ message kind of been after yesterday?) – “He’s right on with that, but really just be yourself, play within the schemes and make the plays when your number’s called and when it’s your opportunity. No one needs to be a hero. Just do what we’re asked, do your job and do it well.”
(You were one of the first guys to greet TE Mike Gesicki after his touchdown and Griddy. What were your thoughts on his Griddy?) – “It’s somewhat improved from the last time he did it. I feel like he’s been working on it some more, but still has a long way to go. (laughter)”
(With the team honoring the 1972 team this weekend, what do you know or what have you learned about that team?) – “That’s obviously a special team and they stand alone on their own. To go undefeated, win at all, I definitely got a lot of respect for those guys and our predecessors and the things they were able to accomplish because that’s not an easy task. I’ve got a lot of respect for that team. They deserve all the honor, praise and recognition that they’ll be getting this Sunday and hopefully we can represent them well and hold it down for those guys because I got a lot of respect for the history of the game and especially within the organization. I think that’s awesome they’ll be recognized and we’ll do some things for them.”
S Brandon Jones
(I guess one concern now obviously is at corner where you lost CB Nik Needham and unfortunately DB Keion Crossen, I know, is dealing with a knee (injury). Have any ideas come up with regard to you, S Jevon Holland and S Eric Rowe? Obviously, S Eric Rowe has played some corner, S Jevon Holland played in the slot at Oregon a lot.) – “I hate that it happened in the way it did happen. Injuries are obviously a part of it, and Nik (Needham) and Keion (Crossen) have done a tremendous job thus far already. So it’s always tough to see, especially with guys that work their butts off every single day. I’m not sure. I don’t know what’s gone into it with the whole corner situation. Jevon (Holland) obviously made a joke about being able to lock people up and be on an island. So we’ll kind of see gameplan-wise and whatever we decide to do. But we still have some guys that are able to do a lot of different things and we just kind of take it from there.”
(What’s the advantage of the three-safety lineup? I know you had obviously S Eric Rowe out with you and S Jevon Holland on I think seven or eight plays. What’s the advantage of that lineup?) – “I think just being able to be multiple and do a lot of different things kind of plays a huge dividend, and also just being – if we have these packages where we have three safeties, people are playing in other positions and it kind of just helps with your familiarness of playing, being able to know and understand that he’s a strong safety in this, being able to give tips and just help guys out and make sure everybody’s on the same page.”
(Were you able to talk to CB Nik Needham yesterday or today? How did it go?) – “Yeah, I texted him. We all texted him in our group message. He’s in good spirits. Obviously, it’s tough. Like I said, he was so, so locked in going into the game. I knew that obviously, without the injury, he was going to have a huge game. So seeing that hurts, obviously, with it being another DB and just a guy that we’ve all loved. It was tough to see that. And I know that it’s – obviously, it sucks to be in that position, but for me, everything happens for a reason, even though it’s hard to kind of see right now. But he’s definitely in good spirits and I hope the best for him and a speedy recovery.”
(Have you seen the other B. Jones around the building – CB Byron Jones? Has he given you any sense of optimism that he’ll be back this season?) – “Yes, Byron (Jones) has been around. He’s like a teacher these days. He’s in there when we’re watching film, when we meet as a defense and as DBs, putting his input in and asking questions and just being very involved here and dealing with what he can. Obviously, his injury is – it is what it is with that. But yeah, he’s definitely making strides to potentially come back whenever he’s ready and however the injury stuff has gone.”
(This defense has been one to force a lot of turnovers, not so much since then the Patriots game, especially interceptions. What do you guys need to do to get back on that track?) – “Man, me and Jevon (Holland) were literally talking about this yesterday. I don’t know, because even with a game like yesterday, how well we played – I think we’ve been doing a good job of attacking the ball. I just think that the opportunities, there’s only so many. Whether there’s one, three opportunities, whatever it is, we just have to make those. We can’t think like, ‘Oh, we got a good pass breakup, but when the next one comes, we’ll get an interception.’ We have to – any time the ball is in the air and we have that opportunity, we have to you know go for the ball and make it. Nothing – as a defense, we could for sure stress more of just getting the ball out. Obviously, tackles are good and something that we’ve worked on all week on being able to make good physical tackles, but if you’re in the position, if you’re the other guy that’s chasing from behind, just get the ball and give the ball to our offense.”
(Yesterday, CB Xavien Howard talked about after the game how he challenges everybody to make plays moving forward. What has his message kind of been to you guys in the DB room since yesterday’s game?) – “Be aggressive. Trust your technique. And every – our coaches put us in the best positions possible. Even when we go from certain stuff that we do, how we treat bunches in man coverage, simple stuff like that and the way that it shows up in the game, literally the exact same way we practice it, we just have to – ‘X’s’ (Xavien Howard) biggest point was just being able to execute and make plays. Like I said, it’s hard and the plays come, and when they do come, we just have to be able to execute and make them.”
(How encouraged were you by the play of CB Noah Igbinoghene and CB Justin Bethel, who haven’t been called upon too many times this season but held up pretty well for the most part yesterday with all the injuries?) – “Yes, they played well. I wasn’t surprised. I see the way they prepare. With circumstances, it’s easy to check out, especially if you’re not getting the reps (and) getting opportunities that you want, but I didn’t see any drop off. They got in the game, they executed, they played well. Noah (Igbinoghene) had some good pass breakups. Justin (Bethel) came in and had some really good plays. Yes, they did a really good job of handling their business.”
(You had mentioned a few minutes ago about how CB Nik Needham was locked in and how you were so confident he was going to have a big game. Was there any particular reason for that? Or is that a feeling you’ve had many times before?) – “I don’t know. It was just something about going into this game, I don’t know if it was just an energy thing or just how well prepared we were. It felt like we were. It was weird. I don’t know. Just the energy, just the way that we were all flying around, not just Nik (Needham) in general, but I think the defense, we all were like, ‘Yeah, today is going to be a big day for us.’ And I think we kind of went into the week last week starting from practice on Wednesday with that same mindset. Nik was making plays on the ball, having picks, pass breakups during the week. So seeing that, usually if it happens in practice, it’s going to happen in the game. So my mindset was, ‘He’s doing all of this in practice, I can’t wait to see what he does in the game.’”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel mentioned that he doesn’t want the team to sort of point to injuries as the reason for the string of losses. What do you guys see as the reason outside of injuries?) – “I think just complementary football is the biggest thing. Injuries are a part of it. They’re going to happen. They happen to every team all over the league. But being able to hit on all cylinders, offense, defense and special teams, even when somebody’s not playing well, or being able to pick each other up. I think if you can have those three phases all on the same page, regardless of who’s out there, you can win the game.”
(On offense, you guys have obviously had to adjust to different quarterbacks in a lot of different games. But this week, you guys are playing the Steelers who have also been kind of shuffling in and out of quarterbacks. What’s it like preparing for that from a defensive perspective?) – “It’s the National Football League, so it doesn’t matter who’s playing where, they’re going to execute and do what they do. We haven’t really gotten into Pittsburgh yet, in terms of the personnel, their favorite plays and stuff like that. But whoever they line up there, obviously they have enough faith and trust in to do so. And like I said, they’re in the NFL, so they can execute just like any other quarterback can.”
(You’re going to be going against a familiar face on the other sideline, what’s that going to be like seeing Steelers Senior Defensive Assistant/Linebackers Coach Brian Flores out there?) – “It’s exciting, just to be able to see him in person. I haven’t talked to him in a while, obviously, but I’m excited. I know that with the route that he’s taken and being able to – I know he’s been helping out their defense a lot from what I’ve seen. I like to watch film on a lot of other teams and stuff like that. But yeah, he’s been helping them out a lot, and it’ll be really cool to see him.”
DT Raekwon Davis
(You did your normal good work against the run yesterday but how pleasing was it to get a sack for you?) – “It was all right. A little something. Something new. Just trying to get some in.”
(Is pass rushing something – I know you and Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark have spent time on it. Are you happy with where you are with that? Or do you look at that as anything I get is a bonus because nose tackles in this league primarily have to stop the run?) – “I mean if you get them, you get them. I’m just doing my job. Whatever it takes to help the team out in that situation. It was a good play though. They’re not going to take that from me. (laughter) I’ll take it.”
(Just overall your thoughts on the run defense aside from the touchdown?) – “Some of the things we were doing – I can only speak for myself, some of the things I did were ok. Some things I have to continue to work on and get better with.”
(What is your assessment of where you are at this point in the season?) – “I’m pleased. I can do better.”
(You guys are 3-3 but coming off three losses. Would it feel different if it was coming off of three wins and it was reversed?) – “That’s not really our focus. We’re just trying to get everybody better and just continue doing a good job and try to push everybody to be their best version of themselves.”
