Monday, August 17, 2020
LB Jerome Baker
(How was the first day of practice?) – “It was good. Everybody was excited. It was hot, like always; but I was definitely excited.”
(We’ve seen the Dolphins post some videos of you – your normal energetic self. Have you taken pride in being that role – the Energizer bunny, so to speak – for guys in this difficult time coming back to football?) – “Oh yeah, definitely. Before everything that happened – I like being that energy. I like being just my fun self. It’s still football. It’s still a game we all love and it’s definitely something we all just have fun doing, so I try to be that and show pretty much anybody that it’s still a fun game.”
(There’s another year for you to be a team leader and a team captain, especially on this defense. How do you take this role into the second season that you’re going to be in it?) – “For me, I kind of just take it day by day in the sense of I just try to be myself. I try to get better every day, help this team in every way, and that’s my approach every day – just doing anything and everything I can. It’s all to help us win, so that’s just how I take it.
(How did the virus make today different?) – “There’s a lot of safety protocols, but when you’re on the field, it’s still football. You go hard. You don’t really think about anything like that; so for me, once we touch the field it’s still football. It’s still just go hard in everything you do and off the field, our medical team, they do a great job of taking care of us. That is my approach. When you’re on the field, just play football.”
(What is your vision for this Dolphins defense in 2020 and how do you feel you guys have grown and improved from last year?) – “Honestly, we’ve just got to build off of what we did last year and that’s just kind of our approach to – today was our first day in pads, we’re going to watch this film and tomorrow we’re just going to get better every day. Honestly, if we really do that, we’ll definitely be a good defense. So that’s just going to be our approach for now, just take every day as the days come and honestly we’ll be all right.”
(I’m sure you want to do as much overall improvement in your game as possible; but if I could pin you down into one thing that you’re focusing on that you hope is a better version of Baker this year than last year, what is that main focus you have?) – “One thing I’m definitely working on is my pad level. This offseason, that’s what I’ve been working on every practice. I really am just conscious of my pad level. Yeah, that’s just like the one thing I’ve been focusing on; but every day I try to work on something new. I just try to ultimately get my game better as best as I can, so this offseason I would definitely say my pad level.”
(You spent some time on the COVID-19 list. How was that experience? Was it shocking when you were put on it? How did you manage it and how are you feeling now?) – “It is what it was, but (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle (Johnston) and those guys – our medical staff – they did a great job of just taking care of me, making sure I had everything I needed and honestly it was just, I really just wanted to make sure our team was safe, so I stayed home and pretty much just watched our Zoom meetings and did that. It was definitely unique, but I got through it.”
(I wanted to ask you about LB Kyle Van Noy’s experience doing some of the same things you do. He just told us he was a bit of a dying breed in terms of a guy that can do a little bit of everything and being one of those guys yourself, how much does his knowledge and experience in this defense help you in that regard?) – “It helps me every day. Kyle, since the day he walked in, he’s kind of just been in my ear about anything and everything – if it’s on the field, if it’s off the field, whatever it was – he’s definitely been a great mentor, just an older vet, so I definitely appreciate that. I always make fun of him because I think he’s like the second-oldest player on the team. He’s definitely unique, but he’s a great person and also a great player.”
(I’m wondering if there’s anything that you learned about this team today, the first time you’ve been in pads?) – “I don’t know yet. We still didn’t watch the film yet, but guys just went hard. I think that was the big thing. We just went hard. We did everything we did as hard as we possibly can and it might not be perfect, but we definitely got better today.”
(Just the value of having linebackers who are skilled in coverage – obviously you do that well. LB Kyle Van Noy, he can do a ton of things. He has good metrics in pass coverage. LB Kamu Grugier-Hill did in Philadelphia. What’s the value of that?) – “It’s a great thing. He can definitely mix it up as far as our defense; but also it just adds to our overall depth in our linebacker room and it definitely helps us. It’s kind of cool that we all just kind of pick each other’s game and help each other get better. It’s definitely a fun aspect.”
(I know a lot of times defenders have competitions when there’s a new quarterback, especially a rookie quarterback, on who gets the first interception off of him. Do you guys have anything of that sort?) – “(laughter) No, we don’t have anything like that, but I definitely – not just the rookie quarterbacks, but pretty much any quarterback – I talk a little stuff here and there. That’s just what I do. That’s just how I play the game. We don’t have anything yet, but if we do, hopefully I’m the first one. (laughter)”
Monday, August 17, 2020
LB Kyle Van Noy
(Last week you talked about how hot it is down here. How are you adjusting and do you have a full grab of just the conditions and surroundings?) – “It’s hot as (explicit). (laughter) But we’re working through it, I’m working through it, getting used to it. A lot of you guys that have been here are already used to it. It’s a learning curve for me, and I’m just taking it one day at a time right now.”
(How has it been, the first day out there, to hit somebody? I know you guys have been ramped up for a while and just doing OTA-type practices. What was it like to hit somebody for the first time?) – “It felt good, it felt good to get back at it. I haven’t been able to hit somebody until December, January or whatever it was. To be out there, competing with the guys, is always good. There’s a different type of feel in the building all day, the ramp up to get out there and hit. Guys were flying around, guys were enjoying it, having a good time. It was a good practice, I think. It’s something to build on. We want to be physical and fast and play at a high level. What a great way to start, to put on them pads and get it cracking.”
(Someone that rushes from so many gaps like you do, how helpful is it to have the size of guys like DE Emmanuel Ogbah and DE Shaq Lawson off the edge to help create better rush lanes for you?) – “I’d say as a whole – I wouldn’t just say those two guys because collectively it takes the whole 11 – guys covering, to have the secondary like we have, to have the linebackers that can cover like we have, it takes all 11 of us to be on the same page, covering and rushing. I think if we just get it going on the same page, at a consistently high standard, I think we’ll be alright. Those two guys are big dudes and I think they’re going to get after the passer pretty good this year.”
(I’m wondering if you’ve learned anything about this team today that you didn’t know before you put the pads on?) – “That’s such a hard question. (laughter) It’s only Day 1. I can’t answer that. It’s a secret. (laughter) I don’t know we’ll see. I learned that I’ve got to get better, how about that.”
(When we talked to Head Coach Brian Flores before practice, I asked him if he felt like you guys were ready to put on pads with the shortened offseason. Did you guys feel like it was time to start hitting before or did you feel that maybe there could’ve been more things to perfect before putting on pads today?) – “That’s a good question. I think we were ready. I think guys were scratching. I think some guys are obviously ready on day one, and some guys it might take them a little while. But I think collectively, we are ready as a group. We’re hungry. We want to get better. We want to get up to speed with all of the new guys, including myself. Older guys want to get back up to playing at a high level. It’s just coming together as a team. During this training camp, this grind period, you get to see who people are all about. You get to see what type of team you have. Obviously, that team is going to continue to grow during the season; but this is the time to lay that foundation. To do it with this young group of guys, it’s fun. I’m excited, rejuvenated, let’s go.”
(I wanted to ask you about the COVID angle. Did you at all think about it when you were out there on the field, hitting these guys…? Is that something that crossed your mind?) – “The first time I thought about it was you bringing it up right now. You don’t really think about it. Obviously when you get done off the field, you want to do the necessary things to stay healthy, sanitize, all of those good things.”
(How did the realities of the virus make today different, if it did in anyway?) – “You think about your job. You put that to rest until you have to deal with it again. Yeah, as simple as that is, you get to not think about it for a little bit and focus on your job and having fun. We had a lot of fun today. Guys were flying around, like I said earlier. It was a good time. I’m sure you guys can’t – you guys weren’t allowed to tweet about it or anything. I bet you guys are dying right now, right? (laughter)”
(What is it like for you to be reunited with Head Coach Brian Flores and how much do you think your understanding of this defense and this scheme – this hybrid scheme – will help this defense grow?) – “I want to be a leader on this team. I’m not a ‘rah, rah,’ type of guy. I just hope to lead by example with the way I work every day as a professional. I just want to be the best teammate I can be. Yes, I have familiarities with the defense. Yes it’s different; but at the same time, I know how ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) wants things done, and I know how (Defensive Coordinator Josh) Boyer wants things done and I’ll try to do my best to help out everybody, and they’re going to help me out, as well.”
(I always want to get it from a defensive player. How was it facing QB Tua Tagovailoa for the first time? Did you see anything from your perspective?) – “Oh, here we go. I knew it was coming. (laughter) I’m not going to answer that one.” (Laughter)
(You’re not going to answer it?) – “Nope. You only get to ask me Kyle Van Noy questions or defensive questions. (laughter)”
(How was it going against the offense as a defender?) – “(laughter) It was good.”
(I wanted to ask you about G Solomon Kindley, the rookie offensive lineman. He looked like he was getting some pretty good pressure against some of your defensive linemen. What did you see from him today applying pressure?) – “I was just trying to do my job. So if it was him, I couldn’t tell you.”
(I wanted to ask you about your versatility. What do you enjoy about it? Do you think at times, offenses when they line up at the line of scrimmage are having to look for you and wonder where you are?) – “Yeah, for sure. I feel like I’m the last of a dying breed. I don’t think you can find players that can do all three skillsets. Usually they’re either in coverage or run, one of those situations. Very rarely do you get all three. I’m just trying to bring that energy to the team, trying to be a problem, a mismatch, and take advantage of that mismatch wherever I line up.”
(I want to ask a little bit about the conversations that you have had with your rookie teammates. This is a different year for them. I don’t know if they have asked you something?) – “That’s a good question. I like that one. That’s a good ending right there. I’ll answer this one. I think the advice that I’ve passed onto them is it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. You want to inhale as much information as you can, you want to work on your craft each and every day, you want to get better each and every day, don’t make the same mistakes, and I think you’ll be alright. That’s the message I pass to them.”
Monday, August 17, 2020
C Ted Karras
(I know there are going to be moving parts on the offensive line but with G Solomon Kindley at guard, what’s it like when you are a center and you have to work with young players that haven’t really cut their teeth in the NFL yet?) – “I’ve been very impressed with all of the rookies that we’ve brought in this year and pretty much everyone on the o-line is really working hard and everyone is kind of finding their fit and earning their role. Those young guys have really been fun to work with so far. I’m really excited for not only this year but their careers moving forward.”
(What’s it going to take to get this offensive line in fighting shape in four weeks?) – “Days like today – go out there in pads in the South Florida heat and work at our craft. I think today was a good start. I’m going to watch the film right after I talk to you guys. Obviously there’s going to be some things to clean up. I thought we were competing out there and everyone is fighting hard to get ready to go.”
(I noticed at the beginning of practice, you kind of hovered over towards QB Tua Tagovailoa. I didn’t know if you had any advice for him today or going into practice being a young guy, and kind of how he handled himself emotionally in his first real practice?) – “I think he always handles himself well. He’s a very impressive young man. I don’t have too many nuggets for him but I’ll help him out when he needs it, which is not often. It’s fun to work with all of the guys so far in this offense. It’s coming together and obviously we have a long way to go, but we’re getting there one day at a time.”
(I’m wondering how the dynamics of the entire team – getting to know each other – have changed because of the virus and the fact that you haven’t spent near as much time together this year. Are you still putting faces with names or where are you in that process collectively?) – “I was a little frustrated with myself early on in camp that I didn’t know enough names. I kind of looked up the roster myself but now that we’re in the building more and coming together – everyone is at practice – I pretty much got everyone on the team’s names. Obviously any time in training camp, there’s transactions and you’re going to have to meet new people every day. It’s going along well. I’ve built many great relationships already on this team and I’m really excited about it.”
(I know that quarterback and center relationship is so important. How are you individually building relationships with each of the guys – QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB Tua Tagovailoa and QB Josh Rosen – as you kind of navigate this offseason?) – “Well, one of my favorite things is to go watch film with them after practice. I like to see what they’re seeing and it’s kind of a low pressure situation. Getting to know these guys, I’ve gotten to see some pictures of Fitz’s family. I’ve been hanging out with Tua just here at the (facility) and watching film and kind of seeing – I like to know what they’re seeing as well so that we can speak the same language and be really crisp communication-wise. Off the field stuff, there’s not much – we can’t really do anything. I’m not taking any chances with anything outside of the building. We’re pretty much here and that’s fun – a little training camp on the Nova campus.”
(Coming into your fifth year now, you’ve been a part of several training camps, obviously. Head Coach Brian Flores talked this morning a little bit about the physicality of practices and kind of letting you guys go. What’s your overall take on how the physicality of today’s practice was?) – “I think it was great. I think we have a really big team and big, physical players all along the line of scrimmage – even off the ball. It’s a pleasure to go in there and cut my teeth with them and get better. This will be a fun camp and a good opportunity to get better as we go into this long season, which we’re going to play a lot of physical teams early. It’s going to serve us well.”
(For a while it seemed half of the defensive and offensive lines were on the COVID-19 list. You were lucky enough to avoid that. What was that like when it seemed like six guys in one day went down and you were around a lot of them?) – “Well, I slept in the guest bed at home. I didn’t want to bring any of that home. Obviously this is a scary situation for everyone. We’re still working through it. I feel very confident and well taken care of. Our entire organizational staff is fantastic and I feel very comfortable coming to work every day. Being able to focus on football only, which is important with these next – 27 days? – until kickoff.”
(With the shortened offseason and kind of limited conditioning you guys had coming into today, did you feel like it was time to put the pads on or did you feel like there were maybe some more things to work on before you were able to get out there and be in pads?) – “It’s definitely time to get the pads on. Especially with just 27 days until we’re kicking off, we need the work. We need to get our timing right and our fits right. O-line is a repetition position and you really can’t get a true, true rep without having full gear on. It was a good start today. I’m excited that we did (put pads on). It really is camp now and that’s exciting. It was nice to see some people in the stands today, at least. It was getting a little lonely out there. We’re just going to keep working every day.”
(G Solomon Kindley looks like he’s a mauler out there, the way he can get into the backfield. There were also some times where he was getting some pressure applied on him as well. What are some things that you’re seeing from him so far, from the rookie draft pick?) – “Well, it’s been very fun to play next to him. He works really hard and he’s always trying to do the right thing. He’s a great guy to have in the room. He’s a cool dude. He really is working hard. We’re going to need him to work hard. He’s a very good football player and I’m excited every time I get to go into battle with him. Obviously this is Day 1 and this is learning how to play in the NFL. I have to work on my fundamentals just as hard, if not harder. Everyone is working hard and I think we’re on the right track.”
(From the outside looking in, it would seem that trying to put together an offensive line with so many young guys, no OTAs and no preseason games, it seems like a pretty daunting challenge. From your point of view, where does this challenge rank among other challenges you’ve had to face in football?) – “Just right there with any training camp is a challenge. This is a very unique year, like you said. We have a lot of talented young players that came in, as well as – everyone on our o-line is very talented and we’re pushing each other and working very hard. I think as these next four weeks go, the best five players are going to play and obviously that’s a coaching decision. I have nothing to do with that except working my hardest to make sure that I’m one of the five. But I think that we have really good guys. I think we have excellent coaches that are getting us in the right place and putting us in positions to succeed. Then the onus is on us to go out there and execute when the time comes.”
(This is your first new offensive system since you came into the league in 2016. What has been a more challenging dynamic of the install this summer – relearning of ways this staff might want certain blocks or techniques done versus how you’ve done it in the past or adjusting to new terminology in the playbook?) – “I love the new terminology. I think it’s fascinating to just learn another language in football. I’ve relished that opportunity and feel pretty comfortable with it now. As far as technique-wise and nuances, I’m going to do what our coach asks us to do. There are a couple of differences but they’re putting us in positions to succeed. There’s a couple of ways to work and I’m excited to get to work every day with (Offensive Line) Coach (Steve) Marshall and ‘Coach Lem’ (Assistant Offensive Line Coach Lemuel Jeanpierre), and these guys in the o-line room.”
(What do you hope to see from this team in 2020 in terms of what you guys look like on the field?) – “Well, I want to be tough, smart, competitive and play well under pressure. That would be the best combination. That puts us in a chance to win every week and I hope we can prepare well and come together. Today was a good building block for that.”
Monday, August 17, 2020
Head Coach Brian Flores
(What do you expect to see from your quarterbacks today?) – “Obviously it’s the first day in pads. We’ve seen a good amount from these guys, I would say, over the last two practices, which where more O vs. D and team oriented. I want to see them get guys in and out of the huddle, good communication, good execution, good fundamentals at their specific position – just from a footwork, ball placement, accuracy, those types of things. We’re still in the early stages. Obviously it’s a new offense. We’re trying to execute at a good clip early on.”
(Do you expect QB Tua Tagovailoa to be 100 percent full participant in padded practices, and outside of scheduled off days, do you see him resting during some practices? Is it the plan for him to go full-go every single practice?) – “We’ll take it one day at a time. He’ll be out there today along with the rest of the quarterbacks and the majority of the players on the team. He’s looked healthy in the OTAs and walkthrough type practices. This will be the first one in pads. Yeah, he’s looked healthy. We’re taking this one day at a time with Tua, as we are with every player, and hoping that he improves on a daily basis. Like any rookie, he needs the snaps and he needs the reps to improve and get better and give himself a chance.”
(I wanted to ask you about something you’ve talked about a few times with playing the hand you’ve been dealt, as well as mentioning your personal activity when it comes to scouting what’s available out there. My question is, does this new season with expanded rosters and practice squad provide you with any sort of advantage to get more guys in to take a look at?) – “I don’t know if it provides us an opportunity to look at more guys. I would say, if anything, it’s harder to look at – to get workouts in. I mean there’s protocols in place to do them but it’s not as seamless and easy as hopping on a plane and getting here. There’s a process that players have to go through to work out now. We have limited time. As far as – we have gotten some guys in and we’ll continue to do that; but quite honestly, (General Manager) Chris (Grier) and (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore) and (Assistant General Manager) Marvin (Allen) and those guys, they handle the lion’s share of those things. Obviously I play a role in that as well; but logistically, it’s not as easy to put together workouts as they were a year ago. From that standpoint, it’s a little bit more difficult. I think up to this point, we’ve made some roster moves and I think we’ll continue to do that. Like you said and like I’ve said, we’re going to play the hand that we’ve been dealt. We’re just trying to proceed on a day-to-day basis as best we can, given the circumstances.”
(Since the first couple of weeks of training camp and walkthroughs, how would you say the offensive line has progressed and what can we expect to see early on from that group?) – “Well, obviously we’ve got a young guys in that group with some veteran players sprinkled in like Ted Karras, like Ereck Flowers, who just got back, like Jesse Davis. (Michael) Deiter was here a year ago. We’ve got a few of the young guys as well. Look, there’s a lot of chemistry that has to be built there. I think that’s coming along. It could be better. We’re working on a few different combinations on the o-line; but you don’t really know what you have until you put the pads on. You’re literally fighting pressure with pressure and it’s another body, working a double-team, working the combinations in the run game, feeling the speed, the speed rush, power rush, bull rush, speed-to-power, converting to power and feeling those things. You don’t know what you have until you’re put into that setting, which starts today. From a walkthrough and a non-padded standpoint, I think they’re coming along. Obviously using those 14 padded practices will tell us a lot about that group and really the entire team.”
(With the shortened offseason, do you guys feel like you’re ready to put the pads on physically and mentally?) – “We have no choice but to be ready. We’re going out there today and if you’re not ready, then there’s going to be some problems; but I think we are (ready). I think the guys are raring to go. They’re excited. I think when you put the pads on, the one thing I try to stress to them is to focus on the technique and the fundamentals, because once you put pads on, the adrenaline gets going and in some instances, guys forget about those techniques and fundamentals that we’ve been trying to drill into them for the last – I don’t know how many days it’s been, let’s call it 20 days. That’s kind of the focus. That’s where I want them to put their focus. Let’s focus on the technique and the fundamentals. It’s the same techniques that we’ve been talking about except we’re in pads. They have more protection and we’re going to let them go a little bit more today.”
(I want to ask you about TE Mike Gesicki and some of the things he was able to do in the second half of last season, that you’re hoping he can build upon for this year?) – “My goal for Mike is to improve today. He’s looked good in this early part of training camp; but once we put the pads on, blocking, pass protection and obviously getting into his routes, route techniques, dealing with DBs who are trying to – we’re working his releases against DBs who are trying to get their hands on him. All of those things, when you haven’t done them for eight or nine months and you’re out of that practice, you need to get back into it. You don’t just jump back in the way you were a year ago. That doesn’t happen for any of us – coaches, players. We all need to get out there and practice. Like I’ve said to these guys, last year was last year and nobody is really worried about it. Let’s just focus on right now. To think you’re going to be right where you were at the end of last year, I think that’s just not the case, especially with this being the first day in pads. We’ve got work to get back to that point because it just happened overnight. We’ve got to work for it. That’s kind of been my message to him and all of the players, quite honestly.”
(I wanted to ask you, we’ve seen a little bit of the dynamic virtually between QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and QB Tua Tagovailoa. It seems like they’re being buddy-buddy a good bit. What do you think about that dynamic of your quarterback room and how it translates on the field when it comes to competition?) – “That dynamic, I’m seeing it across all positions. I think we’ve got a lot of good guys on this team and I can see some friendships and bonds building. That only helps on the field from a communication standpoint, even from an asking-for-help standpoint. There’s some instances where you can sit and the offense comes out in something and you’re uncertain about it and you can ask the guy next to you, ‘Hey, what do you think?’ And you help each other get lined up. It’s the same thing offensively, the same thing in the kicking game. I think Tua and ‘Fitz’ and (Josh) Rosen as well, I think those relationships that are building, it’s just one example of hopefully what we’re getting from the majority of the guys in the locker room.”
(I wanted to ask you about S Adrian Colbert. You guys gave him a half-million dollars guaranteed back in March. What’s changed since then that you decided to move on?) – “Those are tough decisions. Chris (Grier), myself, Marvin (Allen), Brandon (Shore), we’ve had long conversations about every player that we’ve released. They’re not easy; but at the end of the day, we always try to do what we feel is best for the team. Obviously those conversations are internal. I’m not going to go into specifics of this, that or the other thing; but at the end of the day, we just felt like it was the best move for us going forward.”
(I want to ask about LB Kyle Van Noy, in terms of your vision for him in this defense. I know he’s played for you and has extensive experience in this scheme, but how much does his knowledge of this scheme help in this process of you building this defense?) – “Kyle, obviously I coached him in New England. I think he’s very smart. He can play multiple positions. He’s got leadership ability. I think he’s going to help us in a variety of ways. To me, the one thing from a communication standpoint, from a leadership standpoint, I see him as similar to what (you guys) said about Tua and ‘Fitz.’ His relationship with Bobby (McCain) and (Davon) Godchaux and (Jerome) Baker, you can see that starting to grow. If we can get as much of that on the team as possible, that’s what we’re looking for. Obviously he and I have a good relationship – up and down at times, as he’ll tell you; but I think the world of Kyle. He’s got a great family. I’m looking forward to working with them this year.”
