Monday, August 26, 2019
QB Josh Rosen
(I know last week when QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was asked about how important starting is to him, he said it’s the goal. And I know when you were asked, you said you were just focusing on the task at hand, you couldn’t care less. But I don’t think in the spirit of what you meant, you probably mean, ‘I couldn’t care at all whether I start or not,’ so I just wanted to ask you just to clarify that. Is that something that’s important to you beyond your goal of getting better every day?) – “Yes, absolutely. I think there are always the goals on a degree, however high they may be, whether it be like top-down Hall of Fame, Super Bowl, this, that, whatever and you obviously go down and (you’re asked) ‘how lofty are your goals or whatever?’ Over the course of your lifetime and career, it’s not going to change your day-to-day. In terms of the focus, I was just saying that the focus is not on the goals, and everything I want to accomplish throughout my life and career. It’s on the day-to-day, so that’s more of what I was referring to.”
(And are you eagerly waiting a decision? I’m sure everyone’s anticipating it. What’s your level of antsy-ness, eagerness to know if you’ll be starting?) – “Maybe a little. Not really. It’s not going to change my day-to-day.”
(And there’s no clarity in your mind? You haven’t been told by Head Coach Brian Flores?) – “No.”
(Are you pleased with how you’ve improved over the course of preseason? Obviously, we saw some very encouraging things last week, the week before. Are you pleased?) – “Yeah, absolutely. I think you can always do better, but you’ve always got to – I guess it always could be worse. I’m pleased, but definitely have goals to keep pushing more.”
(I know ultimately the offensive line has to block, but are there things that a quarterback can do to help his offensive line as far as quick release or three-step drops or things along those lines?) – “Absolutely. I think everyone can help each other with regards to the plays that are called, how they’re run, how they’re Mike’d. There are multiple ways of blocking the same front. I think defenses have tactics to try and build one-on-ones in the front seven. Sometimes you can – there are just different strategies and tactics of how you can do things, and based off of the play and when a quarterback has full command, they can tie the routes into the protection a little more fluidly, so if something’s coming out quicker, they can sort of shore up protection and maybe lose a blocker or two, or if we’ve got to push something downfield and we need all of our guys out, we can trust the offensive line with their one-on-ones. So having sort of that control and dominance over the offense allows a quarterback to very fluid with regards to marrying not just the protection and pass rush, but the type of protection you want (on a) play-by-play basis. It’s hard to describe without actually, like, drawing it up, but…”
(Head Coach Brian Flores has done – rightfully nitpicked on some things in your game that he’d like to see you improve on. We’ve seen you work with the first team in Tampa, we’ve seen you work with the second team against the Jaguars, and your engagement level has been really on point the last couple weeks. Do you think Flores is trying to keep you engaged? Where is your engagement level, and how do you think you’ve performed with…?) – “What do you mean by ‘engagement?’”
(I feel like he’s kind of putting obstacles in your way to see how you perform and how you respond? How do you think you’re responding to them, and where is your engagement level?) – “He’s my head coach, and he was a really good defensive coordinator in New England, and he knows a lot about football. I don’t know like on an ‘engagement’ day-by-day basis, but any advice he has is from the perspective of a defensive coordinator that’s won Super Bowls and played against some of the – played against the best quarterbacks in football and actually the best quarterback in football (Tom Brady) on a day-to-day basis, so anything that he sees, I’m all ears, and I’d love to try and help my game the best that I can.”
(You’ve said in the past that you wish you could see things as clear as QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Are you getting that control level where you think you’re ready to start this season as a No. 1 quarterback for the Dolphins?) – “It was quite a jump from the beginning of the question to the end… (laughter)”
(You have to be able to see those things, right? If you want to feel comfortable starting…) – “Yeah, I think I’m getting more and more comfortable every day. It’s not up to me to decide when it’s time to pull the trigger and really get after it on the field; but I’m feeling, yes, better and better each day.”
(Do you feel you’re a better game player than a practice player?) – “I don’t know. It’s not really up for me to say that. I’d like to think that I play better in games than I do in practice, but that’s not really up to me.”
(I want to get your thoughts on Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck’s retirement.) – “I don’t know. That was a tough one. Personally, I loved Andrew Luck. Growing up, that was my guy. Going to Stanford, and I looked up to him as an architectural engineer – a really smart guy, did everything right, and I was a Peyton (Manning) fan coming out as well, so to see sort of Andrew follow in his shoes was pretty cool. I don’t want to comment on the specific situation just because it’s sort of still going on. Maybe once it all officially settles down, I’d like to give some more thoughtful comments; but he’s probably one of my favorite players, and I was really bummed that he felt so tortured inside as to where that he needed to leave the game in order for those demons to go away. I hope he’s okay. I hope he’s with some good people, some good family. It’s tough for the game of football and him.”
(Since Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Jim Caldwell took his leave for health reasons, have you gotten input from him via text or from phone calls you guys have had together?) – “(Assistant Quarterbacks Coach) Jerry (Schuplinski) stays in touch with him a good amount, and we’ll get updates every now and then, but not too much.”
(What would be one thing that you would say, one area where you’d feel the most improvement from the start of training camp to today?) – “My understanding of the front seven. I sort of came in with not really a great understanding of the structure of the defensive line and linebackers and the difference between base and nickel and dime defenses, not just in the sense that there’s another player on the field; it’s more in the sense of the package that you’re going to get and how the front ties into coverage. So I think that’s probably – just from a learning perspective – the biggest thing that I’ve learned since coming here.”
Monday, August 26, 2019
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
(You’ve been through a lot and seen a lot, so I guess nothing really phases you, but is there any level of antsy-ness or eagerness awaiting a decision on starting quarterback?) – “No, not really. I think this time of year, everybody’s is amped up and ready to get the ball rolling, ready to get the season started. I think more so than anything, just being this time of year and ready to go, I think everybody is excited about that.”
(Do you have any sense when a decision will be made and you’ll be informed?) – “No.”
(How much work are you doing on Baltimore?) – “We’ve got a little bit here and there. I think a lot of the focus right now is on us and cleaning some stuff up, whether it be timing on routes with the quarterback and the receivers or the quarterbacks and the tight ends, communication with the guys up front, the running backs. A lot of that stuff that will apply to Baltimore, but really apply the whole season to all our opponents, just getting ourselves better right now.”
(How do you feel you’ve played in the totality from training camp through the first three preseason games? How would you assess your own play?) – “I think every time you come into a new situation, new building, new staff, new people and you’re starting from the bottom up and installing a system and this is one of the more difficult ones, and the volume that you’re doing and trying to get everybody on the same page. I’ve had a lot of fun going through it this offseason and trying to get everybody on the same page and getting to know guys and work with them. I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s always something where I know I can continue to get better. I’ve had a good time this offseason and improving my game, but as a whole, getting everybody on the same page.”
(Not that sports talk radio should ever be used as a gauge, but Channing Crowder, who’s a local talk show host, former linebacker, was making a sound point…) – “2005 draft class, yeah. (laughter)”
(Bingo. He said he’s a big fan of yours. He said if he saw – he was making a point of this for a while on his radio show last week – if he saw you he said he would tell you to be the Ryan Fitzpatrick we’ve come to see in terms of being daring, throwing the ball downfield, making plays. He thought you’d been very cautious in preseason. Do you agree with that and if you have been cautious is it merely trying to avoid turnovers in preseason?) – “I mean, it’s preseason. I think every year, that’s the only thing we have to talk about right now, right? So, I would just say it’s preseason. I think historically, if you watch me and the way that I play in real games and the things that I do, I think my history speaks for itself in a lot of that regard.”
(You’ve played behind a lot of left tackles – 20, 25, 30 maybe.) – “Probably upwards of 30 or more, yeah. (laughter)”
(How good do you think T Laremy Tunsil can be?) – “’L.T.’ obviously is a very talented guy. I think everybody in that huddle feels safe around him, feels better when he’s out there. He’s done a really nice job this offseason of trying to get integrated into this system and feeling good. He’s a leader for us. He’s a guy that we all take a lot of pride in and gain a lot of confidence in him being out there.”
(T Laremy Tunsil has talked more than once in camp about becoming more vocal as a leader. Is that something you can help him with?) – “Every guy is different and does it in different ways.”
(You’re not really vocal.) – “I think the biggest thing is you have to be yourself. If that is him and who he is, then that’s fine. But it’s got to come from the right place. Sometimes guys, if they’re not real vocal or don’t really lead all the time with their voice, sometimes it is once or twice during a game or during the year when they will say something and you really listen up. I’m excited to be out there with him and to see how he does, because I enjoy having him in there.”
(From your experience, how important is it for this team to know who the quarterback is in terms of being able to lead the group and moving forward?) – “It’s obviously something you want to know. You want to be able to – continuity I guess is a good thing in this league and having the right guys – the same guys, but really having the right guys in the huddle – I think that’s really important. Continuity certainly helps out.”
(With Andrew Luck, could you imagine retiring at 29?) – “Everybody I think is different and it’s hard – I can’t compare my career to his, because being the first pick overall and all that stuff; but I know I’ve been through a lot of up and downs and different things. I watched all 26 minutes and 43 seconds or whatever it was of his press conference and it hurt, man. It hurt my heart to watch, because I love watching him play football. He absolutely – You could just tell – I don’t know him real well, but you could just tell that he loves the game of football and he’s the ultimate competitor. His long list of injuries, I’m sure there’s a million more that weren’t out there. But he played the position the right way. He was tough, he never complained. That one, it really affected me and hurt my heart to see him up there like that and knowing how much he loved the game. Without having much of a relationship with him, he exuded all those great qualities that you want to see in a quarterback. That one was tough to watch.”
Monday, August 26, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(With the quarterback choice, does General Manager Chris Grier have any input? Or is this your decision after talking to Offensive Coordinator Chad O’Shea and Assistant Quarterbacks Coach Jerry Schuplinski?) – “Chris has a lot of input. He and I talk about the quarterback every day. Chris, myself, (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore) and obviously the coaches, we all are putting our heads together as far as the best choice for this team. We’ll make the appropriate choice at the appropriate time.”
(How active do you and General Manager Chris Grier anticipate being in the trade market before cut-down day?) – “This time of year, there’s a lot of movement. Obviously teams will be cutting down here at the end of the week, so there are a lot of conversations, really on a daily basis. Chris and Brandon (Shore) handle a lot of that and I’m obviously involved. There are a lot of discussions but all of those conversations are obviously private and internal and we’re going to keep it that way.”
(We know that roster moves are designed to make you a better team. How is this team without S T.J. McDonald?) – “Any time you make a decision, you try to do it in the best interest of the team. We just felt like in this situation, that was the case with T.J. He’s done a good job with this organization for the last few years. Again, all of those decisions are tough but a lot goes into them. Again, those discussions that we have about personnel – and we have a lot of them internally – I’m not going to talk about those particulars and the specifics of those with you guys. But obviously, we have those (conversations) internally and again, those are private conversations that we have as an organization.”
(Is there anything sudden that happened with S T.J. McDonald that kind of changed his direction?) – “No. Nothing sudden. T.J. has been a good player for this organization. He’s been a great teammate. It was just a decision that we made as an organization.”
(Philosophically, how do the middle-aged guys, if you will – the six-, seven-, eight-year veterans – how do they fit into this team? It seems like you’re going more youthful.) – “Good players and productive players and guys that we feel fit what we’re trying to do offensively, defensively and in the kicking game, we’re going to try to keep around. That’s going to be the case as long as I’m here. So sixth, seventh, eighth (year veterans), rookies, a 12th (year veteran), it doesn’t (matter). If you’re a good player who works hard and embodies a lot of the qualities we’re looking for out of the guys on our team, then that’s what we’re looking for.”
(About the S Bobby McCain/S Reshad Jones safety combo – if that’s the way it ends up – do you think those two complement each other? Do you like the upside of that combo if you go in that direction?) – “Again, Bobby and Reshad – it was good to get Reshad back out there. He’d been out for a couple of weeks there, so it was good to see him out there. Again, he’s going to have to get himself back into playing shape. He’s going to have to get back into the defense with the communication and the things of that nature. But yeah, he and Bobby – Bobby has had a good camp so far. I think the communication between those two, they have a great rapport. Then really, the communication amongst the entire secondary and the rest of the defense, that’s something that we spend a lot of time on. It’s very important for this team. I’m looking forward to working with both guys.”
(Players are very aware obviously when a veteran gets cut that they might be next. Can you give assurances to guys like WR Kenny Stills and LB Kiko Alonso that they’ll be here this time next week?) – “I think at this time of year, I think each individual player has to focus on today and focus on getting better today, their technique, their fundamentals, their communication. That’s really where their focus should be. We’ve talked about that as a team. That’s something I’ve talked about and harped on really since we – you guys have seen me up here. ‘Let’s focus on today. Let’s lock in on today. Let’s just get better.’”
(Did S T.J. McDonald’s strengths and weaknesses as a player – he’s a big safety and he’s not particularly fast. We all know this. He’s played some linebacker. Is it accurate to say they did not mesh very well with the scheme and what you’re asking your players to do?) – “I would say that’s inaccurate. I think he’s a guy who has a good skillset, one that’s been productive in this league. There’s a lot that goes into putting a team together – skillset obviously, production obviously, communication obviously and things of that nature. I think with T.J., at the end of the day, it just wasn’t the right fit and we, as an organization, decided to move on.”
(It’s a salary cap league as you well know. You guys are soon to have plenty of salary cap room. How much of the decisions that you’ve made roster-wise and are about to make have to do with finances?) – “I think that’s always a part of any move we make. When you look at the team today, the team this year and the team moving forward, that’s always part of it. Putting the roster together, there’s many variables – the salary cap being one of them. That’s just one part of the equation that goes into making these decisions. Myself, Chris (Grier), Brandon (Shore) and the coaching staff, we take all of these things into account. Like I said – I keep saying this over and over again and I feel like a broken record – we’re going to do what we feel is best for the team from a salary cap standpoint, from a performance standpoint on the field (and) from an overall team standpoint. That’s just kind of going to be what we’re going to do.”
(On looking at moves beyond this year.) – “I think every team is always looking – this year obviously is at the forefront; but every team in this league is looking into the future – future years – and we’re no different. I think we keep that in mind as well as today and this year’s team. We’ve got all of that and you have to balance all of those things as an organization. How you do that is through communication – open, honest communication. This is what I think, this is what you think, let’s talk it through. Like any decisions you make, I think that’s the process. I think we have a good process. It’s something that we’ve worked on really since I’ve got here. Any decision we make, it goes through a certain process. It’s well thought out. A lot of time goes into it. A lot of thought goes into it. All of those variables that we’re talking about – production on the field, age, salary cap – they all play into it. There’s no – I know we want to have one reason why this happened or that happened, but that’s not just how this works. Again, we’ll always do what we think is best.”
(How smooth has that process been for you personally balancing the now, which you are focused on, and what’s best for the team two years from now?) – “I think we have a good process. I think it starts with communication. I think it starts with transparency and being open and honest about how we feel about Player X, Player Z, Player Y. We go through that process with open and honest communication. I think this, I see this, you see this, you see that. If we do that and we’re transparent, then at least everyone’s opinion is out there and we can come to a collective decision as a group. That part I think has been good. At least that way there’s no, ‘I should’ve done this; we should’ve done that.’ It’s all out there. Between Chris (Grier), Brandon (Shore), myself, and our coaching staff, that’s something we harp on. If you have a thought or opinion, let’s get it out there. Let’s talk about it. We’re going to have differing opinions. That’s football. That’s the world, really. You just work through it.”
(What’s your general philosophy on the fourth preseason game?) – “Get better. I think it’s a great opportunity for young players, really all players. Any time you can step out on a football field and play the game and tackle at full speed, tackle a quarterback, cut block and play the game like you will in the regular season, I think that’s a great opportunity. The players who – the young players, let’s call them – the young players, the guys who are trying to make this team – well everybody is trying to make it – but who are, let’s call them, on the fringe – it’s a great opportunity for them to make plays in the kicking game, make plays offensively, make plays defensively and try to put some good tape on film and make our decision hard. That’s the goal of each player: to make our decisions hard. I think that’s what you get out of the fourth preseason (game).”
(The other night you had mentioned that you were trying to challenge WR Kenny Stills to raise his game. In the four days since then, what have you seen? How has he responded?) – “I think he’s responded well. I think he’s practiced well. I think he’s a guy who’s got mental toughness and he works hard. The game is important to him. I think he’s responded well.”
(T Laremy Tunsil has been talking about how he feels the need to be more vocal in his fourth year. Is that something that you think needs to happen and should happen?) – “I’m always looking for leadership from players. At the end of the day, those are the guys that are on the field. I’m not going to go out there and make a tackle, I’m not going to go out there and make a call, nor do I have the ability to do that anymore. At all. (laughter) Yeah, we’re looking for leadership from Laremy. I think he’s a guy who has that capability. Obviously, he’s a very good player, well respected on the team. I think he’s trending in that direction. I like seeing it. I do.”
(Is it fair to say that T Laremy Tunsil’s accomplishment and imposing physique, his voice, the whole package, that when he talks to teammates, you’re going to be inclined to listen to him?) – “I don’t know about the imposing physique. He’s a big guy, but I don’t think you got a lot of guys in that room who are just going to bow down to anyone. (laughter) I hope not. I hope that’s not the case with anybody on my team. I really hope that’s not the case. (laughter)”
(But T Laremy Tunsil’s voice is deeper than anybody else’s.) – “Yeah, but I hope that doesn’t do it for our … (laughter) I really hope that’s not the case. But yeah, from a leadership standpoint…”
(T Laremy Tunsil’s accomplishment?) – “His accomplishment and the way he works, I think – Yeah, this is a good player who’s done a good job over the last few years and really worked hard. I think he’s got respect in the locker room as a player, not as an imposing figure. (laughter)”
(We saw LB Kiko Alonso doing a little bit out there on the field yesterday.) – “Yeah. It was good to see him back. Yeah, like we talked about yesterday.”
(I guess another linebacker in LB Raekwon McMillan we haven’t seen a ton of. Where is he in his…?) – “He’s working his way back. Honestly, I’ve never seen a guy work so hard to get back as hard as he’s working. He’ll be back as soon as he can. We’re getting close. I can say that. We’re getting close. But it’s not for lack of work, I’ll tell you that right now. This guy, he’s in there as long as a lot of our coaches training, lifting and trying to get himself back out on the field.”
