General Manager Chris Grier and Head Coach Brian Flores
Chris Grier:
(Obviously you guys made the trade to get a pick for next year. What kind of went into that decision to send it off for a pick next year?) – “We were just going through the process, as always, with the board and the draft as it’s going. A team called and was willing to move up. So Pittsburgh called and they offered a fourth next year, and for us, with where we were at the point in the draft and our board, we thought the opportunity to acquire a fourth-round pick next year was too good to pass up. That was just really the genesis – looking at our board and where we were in terms of our picks thus far and the roster. That’s just kind of where we decided the fourth-round pick was really good value for us at that point.”
(I wanted to ask General Manager Chris Grier – and I do ask this question every year – how big was your draft board, if you can give me a number? And where did you feel comfortable in the third day in terms of depth with this draft class. Also, I wanted to know about the complications that possibly COVID and no medicals and no in-house visits created for this draft.) – “In terms of the numbers and where we were, we were very similar to where we always were in terms of numbers. We’re very cognizant of that when we go through it just to make sure we’re not doing anything out of the ordinary in terms of where the numbers of each draft round were. So we were very similar to where it was last year and the last couple years. In terms of COVID and the medicals and the lack of in-person interviews, it was a challenge but it was a challenge for everybody. I think (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle (Johnston) and his staff did a great job. I would say the coaches and scouts spent a lot of time on Zoom and phone calls getting to know a lot of these players. It was a lot of man hours. I really appreciate all the work the coaches and scouts have done. They’ve been a great help and resource for Brian (Flores) and I to make these decisions. It was a challenge, but we felt very comfortable, very good in our process and we feel we have really good people. At the end of the day, it was business as usual and it was a pretty smooth draft for us.”
(Several of us yesterday asked questions about the running back position. You were able to use your last pick on RB Gerrid Doaks. Could you speak on what you expect him to bring to the table and what you guys learned about him throughout the pre-draft process?) – “It was similar. Brian (Flores), myself and the scouts and coaches, as you watched him more and more as the year went on – because they had a good team, a good year. They’ve done a nice job there. Coach (Luke) Fickell and his staff have a done a good job with that program. He is a tough, physical runner but plays the game with energy, passion. He’s got toughness, he’s got power. So he was someone that we looked at and we started talking about him in the later parts of the draft and Brian, myself – we’re very excited about him. He plays on special teams as well, so he’s a team guy and just kind of working through that process and talking to the coaching staff there and stuff, this kid was a very high-character player that loves football. He’s smart. Again, we’re excited to get him. He’s a big back that plays hard, he’s tough, he’s team-oriented and he’s a smart player.”
(My question is how much better do you feel about the roster now than you did at the end of the season?) – “It’s hard to say. We feel good about the moves we’ve made; but at the end of the day, when you go through it, the players have to go and perform and we’re excited. We have a very good coaching staff, and we think these players are the right types of kids to come in and develop and again, we’re always working through the roster trying to churn it over and work to improve. So we feel we’re in a good place right now, but it’s just getting started. The offseason program is here and players will start coming in – the ones that are around – and so for us, we feel good where we are, but it’s a long ways to go before we kick off in September.”
(I wanted to ask you about T Larnel Coleman and kind of his background as a former basketball player and the wingspan, the good Pro Day and all that stuff that he had. I’m curious, both these guys you guys took in the seventh round have good athletic profiles. How important is that to you at this stage of the draft and is that kind of a long-term projection in terms of how they develop?) – “As we talk about it, that’s a big part of it. These guys we feel have very good upside and they’re good athletes, but they’re also smart kids. They’re very competitive kids; so yeah, as you look at all those traits that you like there, when you’re looking at players late in the draft, and if they meet – we’re talking about in terms of toughness, competitive, smart, team-oriented and then the athletic ability. And both of these guys were good players for the team. Larnel (Coleman) did a nice job through the postseason, too, his all-star game. So for us, we’re excited to get them. We do think they have a lot of potential. They’ll come in, they’re going to work and we’re very confident in our staff in terms of developing them as well.”
Brian Flores:
(I wanted to ask Head Coach Brian Flores a couple questions. With LB Benardrick McKinney, we never really got to follow up with you in terms of what your vision is for him when you guys traded for him and also I wanted to ask about RB Malcolm Brown. Obviously a lot of Dolphins fans and media members are kind of hung up on that help wasn’t brought into the running back room especially early, but you guys did sign Malcolm Brown. What’s the vision for him and what did you guys see in him to make him a pick up in free agency?) – “Malcolm (Brown) – we really like him. Played against him this year with the Rams, and did a lot of things for them – short yardage, third down; he’s somebody who was reliable, dependable and was productive for those guys. He’s been productive really throughout the course of his career. He played in a variety of roles, so short yardage, third down, goal line, things of that nature; so we thought he’d be a good addition to the room along with Myles (Gaskin), along with Salvon (Ahmed). And obviously we’re adding (Gerrid) Doaks to the mix now. B-Mac, I’ve watched him and scouted him for a long time. He’s big, fast, physical, really good in the run game. I think he’s a good pass rusher. Versatile on the ball, off the ball and smart. And my conversations with him already have been about how much do we think he can do, how much do we think – I think he can handle a lot, so I think we’ll see him in a lot of different roles on the line of scrimmage, off the line of scrimmage, on the edge, blitzing. And hopefully we get him in here and get him going with our terminology, our verbiage, get him in with his teammates. It’s one thing for one person to do it, but he’s obviously going to be working with several other teammates and we’ve just got to get him going along with the rest of the group.”
(If I can just follow up from there off the running back question with Head Coach Brian Flores. I know we saw RB Myles Gaskin over the last couple years – I guess with him coming back, it looks like he’s got a chance to be that lead back again. What have you seen from him over the last two years and where do you hope he can still make more growth so that he can take even more advantage of his opportunity?) – “I think I saw a lot of growth from Year 1 to Year 2. I think we all saw that. When he goes in the game, he’s productive. He missed a number of games last year due to injury, but when he was in there, he was productive in the run game and the pass game and the protection game. Same thing with (Salvon) Ahmed. He’s going to have to get his feet wet a little bit, but he got better over the course of the season. And then we add Malcolm Brown. But I think as far as specific to Myles, who you mentioned, he’s a hard-working kid. It’s important to him and he’s going to do everything possible to get every bit of production out of himself. Same thing with Salvon and I think we’ll get the same out of Malcolm Brown also.”
(If I could follow with that, it seemed like a common theme for you guys offensively this offseason was to add protection to playmakers. What does that do not only for the passing game with the speed you have, but also for the running game?) – “I think it does a lot. I think if you’ve got guys who can run on the perimeter, if you load the box, there’s more opportunity for one-on-one matchups and opportunities downfield. Defenses have to make that decision when you have those types of players on the field and again, if you don’t load the box and you play for those big plays, then there’s less people in the box and less people to block and I think it really becomes kind of a numbers math game. If you get those guys blocked, there’s more space to run. So there’s a lot to this and as you guys know – you guys watch and have seen a lot of football and understand the game – so when you have guys on the perimeter and guys who demand some attention – that kind of attention – then there could be more space and there may not be. And if that’s the case, then we’ve got to take advantage of those matchups on the perimeter. It’s a chess game, as you all know, and obviously the run game and how you attack the run game, that’s part of it.”
(My question for you is kind of similar to the question I asked General Manager Chris Grier about the roster. I wrote down here – how much closer is the roster composition after free agency and adding four players – and I know there’s more than four, but four players who some thought could go in the first round – how much closer is the roster composition in terms of talent and fit to what you need to have to win big?) – “I think we like the guys that we added this weekend, but I’ll say this – and hopefully the rookies get ahold of this and are listening – these guys have a long way to go. They’ve never played in an NFL game. They’ve never stepped foot in an NFL meeting or a walkthrough or anything. So to put – I wouldn’t call it ‘pressure,’ but to sit here and – they’ve got a long way to go. So it’s our jobs as coaches to help these guys get acclimated, learn the system, learn the terminology, learn how we practice, learn how we walkthrough, how to become a professional. It’s not like you just jump in and you can do it, so we’ll get them coached up, but we like the talent that we’ve added this year, last year and hopefully – Chris (Grier) and his staff, I think they do a great job – and hopefully – we just got done with the draft. I know he’s probably sitting there trying to figure out what the next thing we’re going to do is. I’m happy with it, but what really matters is the guys that we added and the guys that are already on the team, putting in the work here in this offseason and then when we get them in meetings and we take them to the walkthrough and really take it one day at a time and try to improve and get better.”
(I’d like to ask you a question kind of related to what was asked at the very start regarding this whole process in a pandemic. What was it like for you? I know you like to try to get to know these guys as much as you can. How challenging was it for you to do this given the restraints you had? In particular, I’m sure coaching the Senior Bowl, there is never a bad year to be coaching the Senior Bowl but how much of an advantage and help did you find it to be in particular this year?) – “I think we got a lot out of coaching the Senior Bowl. We met a lot of these players, got to spend some face-to-face time with them. I thought it was good, I thought it was advantageous for us. As far as this COVID/pandemic year, like everyone else we’ve had to adjust. You guys have had to adjust of not being able to do this in-person with us or with players. Everyone has had to adjust and we’ve done the same. I’ve gotten more Zoom time and FaceTime. I’ve gotten used to that. You adjust, be flexible. I feel like I’ve got a good feel of all the guys we’ve selected through Zoom. It’s always good to look them right in the eye; but we’re just not able to do that right now. It’s no different than you’re in a game and you’ve got to make adjustments and somebody’s out and you’ve got to put somebody else in or somebody loses a shoe and you’ve got to adjust. I think our staff, and Chris (Grier)’s staff, and you guys as well, everyone has made adjustments in this pandemic this year. That’s just what it is. We were still able to get to know the players and we selected the guys that we feel really good about.”
(I wanted to ask about the offensive line, particularly the decision to move G Ereck Flowers and his contract. When you make a decision like that to remove a starter, obviously you feel like there is somebody in-house that can fill that void. What are some of the things that you envision for G/T Robert Hunt and G Solomon Kindley and G/T Jesse Davis and G Michael Deiter in the second year of them being together? Also, can you explain why Offensive Line Coach Lemuel Jeanpierre was ready to be called up as the lead offensive line coach?) – “I’ll answer the first part of that first. I think any time you move on from a player, the process there is ‘how are you going to replace that player; who is behind that player?’ That is the first thing you think of. If you don’t have confidence in whatever that decision is going to be – whether there is a player there or there is a player you think you’re going to get – then you don’t make that decision. Chris (Grier) and I and our staff, we kind of go through that. You mentioned Ereck Flowers and those are hard decisions to make. We made them with the idea and intent to play some of those younger guys you mentioned –Solomon, Robert. Not to get into the weeds with this, but we felt pretty comfortable that we were going to be able to add a couple of offensive linemen in this draft, as well. Those are hard decisions; but that’s the job also. As far as ‘Lem’ (Lemuel Jeanpierre), I think the world of ‘Lem.’ He was here a year ago and his energy in practice and his acumen about the game – run game, protection, opponents. When you walk into his office and you ask a question, be ready for a dissertation and be ready to get educated on football. Oftentimes if I’ve got somewhere to go, I’ll just put my head down and keep walking or else ‘Lem’ will grab me in there and ask me about this defense or this front and what happens. ‘I’m going to do this, if you do this.’ It’s a back and forth and he’s that way with the players. He’s got a great rapport with the players. We saw that last year and I think he’s going to do a heck of a job.”
(Going back to the selection of S Jevon Holland yesterday, and you added CB Justin Coleman this offseason as well. You talked on the night one press conference about how you can never have enough pass rushers. Looking over this crop of defensive backs you guys have and you’ve brought in over the past few years, would you say that’s the same deal with defensive backs? You can never have enough of those players?) – “It’s a passing league. I think we all know that. You need to be able to defend the pass. You’ve got to defend the run also; but if you just look at the percentages and strictly the numbers, it’s a passing league. In my opinion – and Chris (Grier) and I have had many discussions about this – we want to be able to defend the deep part of the field, limit explosive plays. In order to do that, the guys who are back there are the defensive backs. I think Chris puts an emphasis on that with the scouts and we talk about the back end constantly. We feel like it’s important. We feel like all of it’s important. I hate to kind of talk about one thing because every position from the nose tackle to the three technique to the linebackers, it all plays as one. But at the end of the day, there is nothing a nose tackle can do about a 50-yard ball. We put an emphasis on that. The next thing we’ve got to do is get them coached up. It’s one thing to add players. It’s another thing to get them coached up and get them all on the same page so we can try to defend these offenses that are very good in this league.”
(I guess you guys are probably going to be going out to the field sometime this month with a lot of the guys earlier than you were last year. Where are you guys with co-offensive coordinators Eric Studesville and George Godsey in terms of implementing the offense and what advantage it is to put it in earlier this year in person than maybe last year?) – “We’re into it as far as install and scheduling and how we plan to play. We’re pretty far along. Getting the players in – you can Zoom all you want but you’ve got to Zoom the install and get on the field. That’s really how they learn. Once we’re able to get these guys in here, obviously we have a schedule and install plan that’s going to work incrementally so that they can get the information and be able to execute it. I think it’s going well, it really is. I meet with these guys every other day and we talk about what’s going in, what’s the process, about how they are learning it, here is the verbiage, the terminology, is there a better way to get it to them to simplify things. It’s been good. But in our conversations, that’s one thing – and I think it’s going to work as far as the install and how we implement it, but it’s another thing once you get them on the field. We’re looking forward to that, getting them out here, getting them in a walkthrough setting, getting them in a practice setting, and that’s the fun part.”
T Larnel Coleman
(How surprised were you that Miami selected you? Had they been showing interest in this process the whole time? And what’s this experience like for you?) – “This experience, I’m not going to lie, it’s really just magical. It’s been real stressful going throughout the day and just hearing my name called by this team, it means so much to me. I just can’t wait to work once I get down there and whatnot. It’s just really a blessing. I’m really happy that this team selected me.”
(Did you have conversations with the Dolphins throughout the process? I know you’re a UMass guy. I think a lot of people don’t know a ton about you, so can you tell us a little about what you’re going to bring to Miami?) – “Yeah, for sure. Being a UMass guy, (I’m) a really underrated guy; but I’m definitely going to come and give my all to this team. I’m going to make sure I get to know my teammates the best I possibly can and really try to get this season going on the best foot possible. I’m really trying to go in there and do whatever it is the team needs me to do. I’m really trying to make a difference there.”
(Were you wearing that Air Jordan aqua shirt already or did you just throw that on right now?) – “I ain’t going to lie, I threw this on after I took a shower. I was cooling with it the entire day. It just happens to be a real cool coincidence, I ain’t going to lie to you. It’s definitely cool.”
(We looked at your bio. We saw that you played some basketball and some different positions across the board. How do you think that versatility and moreso athleticism benefits being able to protect on the line both in the rush and pass game?) – “I think all of my athleticism from prior sports is going to really help me shine and whatnot and help this team as much as possible. I feel like I’ve got a lot to bring to this team and I can’t wait to get on the field and prove it.”
(How would you describe the approach that you plan to take in your first pro training camp?) – “My approach is to make sure I’m on top of everything. Everything that the coaching staff asks of me, I’m going to do it do it times 10. I’ve got to want – I’ve got to prove myself just like anybody else. I’m trying to help this team, like I said before. I’m going to do everything times 10, do whatever it takes.”
(I know you played a lot of left and right tackle. Where do you think you fit best going into the league?) – “I’m real versatile, so whatever it is the team needs me to play, I can play it. I’m real athletic, so I can do just about everything. Whatever the team needs me to do, I’m willing to do it.”
(What do you think is the strength of your game? What is the calling card? What does Larnel bring to the table as an offensive lineman?) – “As an offensive lineman – for one, I tell everybody straight positive energy. You’ll never see me have a bad day, for one. And two, just aggressiveness. I’m on the field, I’m a dog; so you’re going to see it every play. I’d say I bring that as an offensive lineman.”
(You played some tight end, some defensive line according to your bio. When you really came into the offensive line role, who were some guys that you studied or looked up to and modeled your game after in regards to offensive line?) – “I studied a lot of people. A lot of prior teammates and also a lot of offensive lineman like David Bakhtiari. I model my game after myself. I may pick up a couple of things; but at the end of the day, I’m trying to make sure I’m the best version of myself at all times.”
(We saw a tweet that you have almost an 85-inch wingspan. That’s TE Kyle Pitts like. How can you use that to your advantage?) – “You will definitely see it in my pass-blocking game. I’ve got to use my arms to keep defenders off my quarterback. You’re definitely going to see me use it in those situations.”
(Are you familiar with South Florida? Have you been here?) – “I’ve only been to Florida one time and that was when I was a kid going to Disney World. I’m definitely looking forward to getting down there and start working.”
(Do you have experience snapping or is that not something that you’ve ever done?) – “I actually stated practicing snapping actually. That’s something I’m getting more and more comfortable with each and every day.”
(I’m reading about your love of basketball and I’m curious, when did that go by the boards, and how do you think it helps you on the football field?) – “I’ve loved basketball since I was a kid. My father had me and my brother in camps since we were real young. For me, I think defensive basketball is the same thing as playing offensive line or at least playing tackle, I would say. I feel like a lot of that athleticism is definitely going to translate to the field, and it has been I think, as you can see on my film.”
RB Gerrid Doaks
(If you could just first explain what you’re feeling right now but also walk us through your journey? In 2017, it looked like you led the team in rushing and then 2018 you had to sit out. Then in 2019, you were at the back of the depth chart and then this past year it looked like you led the team in rushing. So you went from the top to back to the top. What does this all mean for you?) – “Right now, I’m beyond excited. I’m excited to be a Dolphin. Back when I was at Cincy in 2017, ever since then I’ve dealt with different things, dealt with adversity; but I overcame all those things and got back to where I was at first and now I’m able to be here and play in Miami as a Dolphin. I’m excited.”
(I was watching some of your clips and it looked like you bring the wood when you hit. Is that your favorite thing to do, to run somebody over and lay a hit on somebody?) – “I mean yeah, I’ve got the size. Why not wear down the defense? I’m just here to run hard and just give it my all.”
(What was it like for you going into the final picks in the draft? I know a lot of times you’re trying to negotiate maybe a UDFA deal if you don’t get drafted and then you get picked right at the end. What was that like the last hour and emotion like for you?) – “It was – I can’t really describe it but all I can say is I’m just happy to be here, be in Miami, be a Dolphin. I’m ready to give it my all.”
(If I could just kind of follow up from earlier about the adversity you overcame, I read that the coaches at Cincinnati, they were very impressed with your ability to overcome the adversity and your drive to do that, and you also described in another article I’m reading here that that was your biggest thing you overcame in your career – that hernia injury. Can you talk about that a little bit and what that meant to you and how you were able to kind of prove to the coaches that you had what it took to overcome that?) – “After that injury, I was in a pretty down place, but I’m pretty close with all my teammates at Cincy, so they kind of helped me realize how important I was on the team and just became really close with the teammates and they kind of helped motivate me to get back to where I was. And that’s the bond I plan on having with my teammates in Miami.”
(I wanted to ask you about your vision for yourself and what was this process like for you going through the draft not knowing if teams were going to select you? Obviously you get into the seventh round, other teams are calling – did you have a deal worked out before Miami actually drafted you or did you know they were going to draft you?) – “When it comes to this process, it’s all about patience. You’ve just got to take it step-by-step and I’m very grateful that Miami is the place I’m at now.”
(I think we’ve both seen your tape when you’re running with the ball, but we just got off Zoom with Head Coach Brian Flores and he also talked about your blocking ability and special teams as well. Can you kind of speak about all-around in regards to your skillset and why you’re so versatile in that regard?) – “In Cincy, we were just training to be ready in every aspect – run the ball, got to be able to protect the quarterback. Those are things that make big plays, so I’m just happy to transfer those over to the NFL and just make the Dolphins a better team.”
(I want to go back to the interview I’m reading here and you had a question posed to you about a dinner party with anyone dead or alive and you mentioned Dave Chappelle, Kobe Bryant and Marshawn Lynch. I’m wondering what are you cooking for that and what do you bring to the table at that party?) – “I think cooking – just probably some barbecue, just a good old barbecue. Ribs, burgers, all that. And just have a good old time. Those are all guys that I look up to. They’re all professional. They all just bring comedy, professionalism all to the table – things you can learn.”
(I know you were coming off that injury in the conference title game. What exactly happened and where are you with the rehab?) – “At the time I had a high-ankle sprain, but I’m 100 percent and ready to go.”
(You mentioned Marshawn Lynch in that answer with the dinner. I’m guessing he’s going to be on this list for this question, but who are some backs that you study or look up to growing up and even up to now?) – “I don’t really have like a single back or group of backs. I look up – every back that’s played in the league has been great. I’m looking to be the next great back that people can remember.”
(And just one last follow-up doing stories on where guys are when they’re drafted – are you with your family? What part of the country are you in and who was with you when you got the call?) – “I’m in Indianapolis, Indiana, right now. My family is downstairs. It was great. It was a great moment.”
