Wednesday, August 21, 2024
QB Skylar Thompson
(This is the first time we’ve ever seen camp where you’ve taken the majority of the second team reps. What has that experience been like and what have you learned about yourself?) – “I’ve learned a lot about myself. It’s been probably one of my favorite camps because you truly have to just take every day as its own, and not look ahead, not get ahead of myself but just attack the day in front of me and making the most of the opportunities that I get whatever group that’s with. The twos, threes, whatever the case might be, just taking advantage of the opportunities and getting better. You strive for perfection at this position and everybody wants to be perfect, but I think what I really have enjoyed this camp is honestly making mistakes and then correcting them, whether if it’s in a live rep, later on a couple of practices later, or whatever the case may be. Just seeing the learning really apply to the actual practice or game, whatever the case may be, but seeing the time put into a mistake and being able to learn from it and apply it and not make that same mistake again has been huge for me. Just showing my leadership, I think that’s the thing that I really take pride in and hone in on in my role is just being a great leader and being a great teammate every time I step into the huddle. The guys believe in me and feel the confidence in the way that I speak, the way that I talk, the way that I call the play, all of those things, they make a dramatic difference in the huddle. Just being myself and having fun playing this game, it’s a great game. It’s a kids game, just reminding myself to have fun each day I’m out there.”
(How much different is this than during the season running the scout team, preparing the defense for not your offense?) – “It’s tremendously different, because you know when you’re running the scout team, we’re running the schemes of the teams that we’re playing. Sometimes where there is some carryover as far as we try to put it in our words, our terms so that we can get reps even though it’s not technically our offense. There are some times where it’s kind of hard to do that and you’re running some concepts that you haven’t really experienced or I haven’t experienced running before when you’re reading them out. But just trying to get the most out of it in those situations on the scout team and help the defense be prepared, whereas this, we’re in our offense every single day and we’re learning new stuff, taking it from the classroom, and applying it to the field. It’s all the stuff that we run each and every day and I’ve been doing for the three years, so it’s a little different in that way.”
(How has QB Tua Tagovailoa taken another step this year?) – “I would just say you hear his voice more. I’m not saying that in a way of like you didn’t hear it in the past. He’s done a great job of communicating with everybody and just telling receivers what he wants, whether it’s coming out of a route a certain way or running it a certain way or whatever. He makes it known how he wants it to be done and guys respond well to that. That’s been really cool to see from my perspective. But Tua is Tua. That guy – from the day that I came in here and met him, he’s the same person. I think it speaks volumes of who he is and his character and the values that he has. It’s been super cool to be a part of the room with him and Mike (White) and being able to be so close with those guys and grow with them through the journey. So it’s been really cool.”
(Can you express how big Friday is for a guy like you? How do you approach it?) – “Yeah, I’m approaching it just like I did the last two games. It’s no different, it’s just what’s next. That’s, like I said earlier, kind of the approach that I’ve been taking is just one day at a time. Whatever is at stake for the day, I’m going to attack the day and win the day, whatever that may consist of. I know it’s a great opportunity for me and a lot of guys. I think that’s what’s really cool about this time of year is you’ve got guys fighting for roster spots in their positions groups and all that type of stuff. It’s just making the most of your opportunities and being a great teammate on top of all that. I think that’s what’s been really special about this group of what we have this year and the culture that we’ve built here. It’s special, and there’s a lot of guys that are rooting for each other, pulling for each other, wanting their teammates to have success and see success. So I think that’s super cool to be a part of and very special what we’ve got going on here. Thankful to be a part of it, for sure.”
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
WR Jaylen Waddle
(This is usually the space where the bet on the wide receiver room, the draft, is paid. Is there a winner? Is it determined yet?) – “No. No, actually it’s a tied ball game, 10-10, and I think today we just tied it up. So it’s going to all come down to this preseason game. We’ve got a lot riding on this game, me and ‘Reek’ (Tyreek). We’re coaching our players up, and I’m confident that we’re going to come out victorious, man.”
(Can you take us what you’ve been going through the past couple weeks and now the process of working your way back?) – “Just getting back right. Just listening to (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle (Johnston) and the guys, listening to my body. Something minor but something that we had to respect, and I’m just happy to be back out here working with the guys.”
(Something that normally you would be able to work through if it was regular season?) – “Definitely, I’m always ready to go. Sometimes they just got to pull me back and keep me from myself and ultimately having me out there for regular season.”
(So the assumption is you won’t play on Friday?) – “I don’t know. They want to go out there, I’m always down to get out there and play so whatever they want me to do. I guess y’all got to ask (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel).”
(Last year I don’t believe you played in the preseason. Did it feel any different going into Week 1 not having any preseason reps?) – “Yeah, definitely. It definitely is, because that’s the first time being tackled in six, seven months. So it is a little different, but ultimately, it’s about health and the best thing for the team and for myself.”
(You were pretty snakebitten last year, right? It seemed like every week even if you didn’t miss time, you got knocked out of a game for a series or two getting checked out. What was that like going through all those bumps and bruises last year?) – “It’s definitely difficult, just getting the minor little nagging injuries. It’s just part of the game. Obviously something that you don’t want, but you’ve got to respect sometimes, but yeah, it’s football.”
(Going off of that, your past three years what has being sidelined – briefly or at length – what has being sidelined taught you about how to pay attention to the game, what to watch for when you’re not actually able to be on the field?) – “You see a lot more, especially when you’re not playing. You get to watch the offense work especially from the sideline view and when you get back in the game, you kind of can take some of the stuff you learn from the sideline. It’s just like a different point of view knowing that you don’t have to focus on listening to all these special teams and having players around. You really get the feedback of receivers, what they’re seeing and going to the quarterback and telling him. So you kind of get a different view and it definitely helps you when you get back out there.”
(Where would you assess where QB Tua Tagovailoa’s game is at right now?) – “Man, y’all see it, man. Day-in and day-out, he’s just making tremendous plays, playing with a lot of confidence, leading our guys and I’m excited for him. I’m excited for the year, excited for the team and what he’s going to contribute to the team.”
(Combo of practices – when you have two different NFL franchises practicing together and against each other in drills, take us into what that is and what that’s like – Dolphins and Bucs – and just give thoughts to that.) – “It gets real competitive out here playing against someone. We love it. I know receivers love it because you get to go against different DBs. You get to not go against the same DBs every day that know kind of how you play, what you’re going to do; so you get to try different moves and see how it works and you get to really try all the stuff you’ve been working on throughout the year so it’s great. I know it’s great work for the DBs and everybody here, but we love it.”
(What do you think the biggest growth will be in Year 3 of this offense for you guys?) – “I think the understanding. I think everybody understands where to be, the scheme, kind of understand what (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) is going to call. We’ve got a lot of chemistry and banked reps with Mike (McDaniel), so it’s just having that chemistry and knowing the offense, play-in and play-out, what we’re going to see.”
(What is the biggest thing you’ve seen from an improvement standpoint with QB Tua Tagovailoa because you’ve been with him since freshman year?) – “The biggest improvement? I’d say his communication, really leading us out there and in the huddle. He was kind of not as talkative when he first came in just due to culture, and I know just being at Bama with him, the standard was already set so I feel like it’s something that he learned. But he’s much more talkative, really does a good job of telling us what we want, what he wants and just leading the guys.”
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(Can you please fill us in on everything you can about WR Tyreek Hill’s apparent hand, wrist, thumb, something injury?) – “Yeah, I’m really good at thumb war – he lost. I kind of alluded to it with Jaylen Waddle back at home, but there’s certain situations where you’re in training camp and you’re practicing. Tyreek (Hill) could practice today, however, there’s also times that because of the timing of where their bodies are at, it kind of puts them at risk to get further injury. And so it’s really, from a medical standpoint you’re just trying to let something cool down so you don’t have something happen at the expense of regular season games. He’s been very active, but we’re trying to make sure there is nothing – that we keep him out of harm’s way.”
(So out today and Friday with the thumb?) – “He’ll be around but yeah; he won’t be participating in team.”
(Is the strategy, for the most part, to rest the starters for the third preseason game?) – “We will play some starters; we won’t play others. The strategy is just where guys are at. There’s jobs to be won and then to really evaluate all of the jobs at stake, you end up prioritizing certain aspects of your team and getting game reps for the guys that haven’t played in games as much. So for a majority of the starters, today is a very big practice because some of them won’t play – there will be some that do, but that is just kind of how I look at it overall. Case by case but trending that way.”
(With TE Jonnu Smith, we saw him play well into last week’s game. Is this just part of the exercise of working on that Jonnu Smith package and is there a name for that package?) – “Wouldn’t you like to know. I think it was important for us to – it’s one thing just getting some plays, it’s another thing in the offense being able to speak the language, hear it from an auditory fashion, then go play, then have different adjustments. So I think it was important for us to get him some burn that way so he could be comfortable like we know him to be and for him to be his best self. I think Jonnu (Smith) is an example of, I think there is multiple players offensively for us that can serve different roles at different times, which from a schematic standpoint, you’re able to present different problems in varied personnel groups and feature different skillsets that makes your offense more multiple. And on top of that, I think we got to see a little taste of what he can bring to the physical mentality of our unit and our team. I think one thing that I haven’t heard people talk about – no offense, but I’m not really reading much in training camp – I think his second touch during the last preseason game was cool for multiple reasons. If you look back on it, seeing some of his teammates on the sidelines and what energy he brings to the game, how connected the team is at this stage. I think we’ve been a very close team the last couple years and I think we’re much further along in those relationships and so that’s exciting for us. I think he is a galvanizer and I think the sidelines you can see how that is.”
(Did you ever really cross paths with Baker QB Mayfield during the pre-draft process? And then, in your sense, what are your thoughts on him as a quarterback?) – “I don’t think I crossed paths necessarily with him in the process, but evaluated him thoroughly and was very, very impressed, specifically with the way that he was able to kind of create and define his own timing within his offense collegiately. You could tell that that competitor with also that football rhythm to him, that translates to the National Football League. So I was high on him coming out, and I think he’s had a cool story where the really good quarterbacks in this league, quarterbacks that have success, you have to be able to handle the highs and the lows. I think he’s experienced both and came out a prime example of how to continue to progress your game, all the while people are talking that they love you or hate you, whatever you deal with, you just keep working on your craft. I think he is a galvanizer of teammates. I think he brings people together and there’s certainly a lot of energy when he makes a play from the whole team. So you can tell what he means to this team and why he is having success.”
(Yesterday, Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith talked about the benefits of the third year in the offense and how guys understand the bigger picture better. I’m curious from your perspective, have you felt a more streamlined communication, be it calling plays in the huddle in camp or games? Have you noticed a more streamlined version of that?) – “Absolutely. Reps are key, especially deliberate reps, and I think there is a lot of things that are benefits of being able to have a streamlined communication and expedited coaching process to the players. Because the one thing is not only do all your position coaches understand the expectations, but the players do as well. So you get a new guy on the team, a new guy in your position group, the fastest way for people to learn how to do something is to watch a teammate do it correctly. So the more elite technique that we are able to put on tape, the faster the process goes for all new players. I think that is what you’re looking for. Year 3, you kind of expect that, but players have to earn that or work towards that and I think they really have leaned into it, found new ways to get better, while sharpening their axe for the stuff that they’re good at.”
(Your starting five-man secondary hasn’t been together very long during training camp, what do you want to see from them today, if they’re out there? What do you need to see from them before the Jacksonville game?) – “I think while they all haven’t been together at the same time necessarily, as much as you kind of forecast at the beginning, the one thing that – why is that important? Well, it’s communication, both pre-snap and post-snap. And the good news is there has been a lot of variance on the back end and that’s been helpful in that people have had to communicate with all sorts of different complexions of the secondary and that helps us because that communication is more consistent as a result from each group because you have to – from a defensive perspective, if you’re not communicating well, it’s evident by the result of the play, particularly on a pass. It’s all connected, and I think really that’s why everything has been so encouraging this year because we’ve taken advantage of every single opportunity to get better. I think in the meeting room and in walk throughs because of the potential lack of group consistency, guys have really stepped up to the plate to get some of the best walkthroughs and get some of those communicative reps so that we can bridge the gap. That would be led by Jordan Poyer and (Kendall) Fuller and (Jalen) Ramsey has had some really good walkthroughs, and that seems like rabbit pellets to some, but everything adds up to what your product looks like on the field. So the circumstances, you want people to rise to the occasion and bridge the gap where there is some room for error, so to speak. And I think they really have, so I would expect – I’m very confident in what I’ll be seeing in the group and fortunately enough for us is we have the depth that if one or two guys aren’t in the group today, the expectations don’t change. That’s how competitive it is.”
(Are we likely to see QB Mike White and QB Skylar Thompson both today and Friday?) – “Yes, likely.”
(What’s the most important thing that one or both of those guys can do to show you who they are?) – “I think it’s so important in the process for coaches and players to be connected in the appropriate way which means transparency from me. So I’m very comfortable and confident with both those guys knowing individually what they can really work on and that has been an ongoing process. So for me, each individual I’m looking for that continued growth in circumstances that are ideal or maybe aren’t ideal. I think the whole complexion of this – we’ve kind of turned it on its head this offseason for how we’ve approached it because it was a unique circumstance where we felt there’s two guys that know the offense, have shown that they’re capable of executing and I don’t need to see them throw to wide open receivers. I need to see them handle things to earn the respect and regard of their teammates by the way they handle things and find ways to do positive things for their job in the midst of turmoil. What that is is very layered and convoluted, but at the same time, that’s only because the connectivity of the coaches and players during the process. I want to see growth for what we’re emphasizing, and I want to see them thrive where others would fail. I think we have a couple more supreme opportunities, I’m excited to see that.”
(This offseason, around the Pro Bowl, QB Tua Tagovailoa hinted that he’s got four areas this summer that he wanted to improve at. And he didn’t share them with us, I’m not sure if he shared them with you, but without divulging his secrets, how has he progressed on those areas that he said he wanted to improve on?) – “Let’s just say my confidence and my previous proclamation of him being as coachable as any player I’ve ever been around and a freakish learner, so absolutely we were connected from our exit interview right after the season, where we first began the conversations of what those things could look like, and him being the competitor that he is, he wasted no time to attack those. I won’t divulge exactly what they are, but I think visibly you could see one of them the first time you guys saw him. And it wasn’t like, OK, you started to notice that because he was getting to that point of emphasis – no. He wasted no time to do what you’d hope, which is, ‘Hey, bottom line, I want to get better. I’m not happy with the results, so I’m going to work to change them,’ and I think that’s been the whole mindset of the team. You’re led by the quarterback, so it’s very important that he is that way for himself, for his production, but along the same lines to lead by example for what players and coaches and the whole organization need to do for us to get what we want.”
(When OL Aaron Brewer was in there, we saw basically the same exact offensive line the entire time. Now that he’s been gone, we’ve seen different/same offensive line, are those your top five or six guys or are you still thinking maybe somebody could jump into that position?) – “No, the competition is very good at that position. I do think that the guys that have been working with the first unit, that has been about seven guys. I think they’re pretty solid in their areas. There are some pretty competitive battles going on from specifically in the interior where if I’m the fifth or sixth guy, my job isn’t necessarily as set in that role and that you could – there is just some real growth from some of our younger players. As well as lineups have changed a little bit since (Aaron) Brewer went out just because the complexion of how many players we have at the position and who’s overstrained and who’s not. I feel very good about the top portion of our offensive line, and I feel very strong about the competitors pushing those guys to the point that there’s some spots still to settle, but it’s not because the failure of one; it’s because the push from another.”
(Yesterday was S Jordan Poyer’s first day out there. What was it like for him to be out there again?) – “Yesterday was an example of the power that one player can have toward a unit. He’s a tone-setter. We talk a lot about communication on defense because you’re positioning yourself to be in front of the offensive play at the beginning of the snap. So how convicted you are in your calls and your responsibilities and your alignment and assignments, that is the tone-setter for the play. Even before the ball is snapped, Jordan Poyer impacts the team in a huge way by how he tone-sets before the snap. There was a couple of examples in practice specifically that after the period, Tua went up to Poyer directly and was like ‘Wow. That was tough, you played that with conviction. I was trying to look you off and it didn’t work.’ He has an impact in the way that we absolutely hoped, and it’s awesome to have him out there for a multitude of reasons before the snap and after.”
