RB Matt Breida
(Can you kind of fill us in on what we missed? How were the last couple of weeks for you? Did you have any symptoms or anything like that?) – “I was feeling fine the whole time, just going through the whole process of whatever I had to go through. I’m really just happy to back out here. I love football, so I’m happy to be back.”
(As an NFL player, you know that any snap can lead to an injury. There are obvious ways that you could miss time, but this seems like something that is kind of unforeseen. What was it like being out for something that wasn’t injury-related?) – “It sucks, especially knowing that … It sucks, but like I said, I’m happy to be back out here with the guys. They did a great job with everything. I’m just happy to be back and help the team.”
(Obviously this season probably hasn’t gone maybe the way you have wanted it to go. I wanted to ask you, what do you see for yourself in the final three games? What do you see for yourself in the final three games coming up here?) – “Do whatever I’ve got to do to help our team. I feel like we have a great shot this year accomplishing our goals and doing what we want to do. We’ve just got to handle business these last three weeks and like I said at the beginning – I’m going to keep saying it – whatever the team asks me to do, I’m going to do.”
(I wanted to ask you, obviously COVID is no joke; but you had a break because of the injury, but now you had a break because of COVID. Do you feel fresh?) – “I feel great. I feel 100 percent healthy. I’m ready to go.”
(The last time you played, I believe you had 10 touches against the Jets, including eight carries on November 29. What do you remember about how things were going that day? Did you feel like things were going quite well?) – “Yeah, I felt like we were executing well. You always want to do better, but I felt like things were going well. I thought we were running the ball decently and it just felt like another game to me. I was getting into a good rhythm, our team was playing well, the defense was playing great, coaches were coaching well, so everything was going good.”
(You were part of a team last year that made a run all the way to the Super Bowl and I’m curious the Dolphins may be one of the younger teams in the NFL, what kind of value do you think that experience and playing in so many big games last year brings to this year’s team?) – “It brings a lot because whenever guys ask questions or especially I would say the rookies – not so much the older guys because I feel like a lot of those guys have played in big games before – but every week, you just treat it the same way. You don’t treat anything differently. You don’t go out there and try to make a big play; just do your job at the end of the day. I feel like we’ve got a great team, talented guys and that’ll take care of business as long as you just focus on what you’ve got to do. Don’t treat any game different.”
(I was thinking about how you, RB Salvon Ahmed and RB Myles Gaskin have all faced various things whether it was injury or the COVID-19 list. One or the other, it’s constantly something. I’m wondering do you guys have a running back text message thread or something?) – “Nah, that’s just 2020 for you, man. It’s a crazy year with everything that’s been going on. Just a bunch of unfortunate things; but at the end of the day, we’ve got guys on the team (who are ready) no matter what happens and that’s why we’re at where we’re at now.”
(We know Head Coach Brian Flores very well up here from his time with the Patriots, but we don’t know him as a head coach – something that he is now in Miami. You’ve been around the league, played for a few different coaches. What have you learned about Coach Flores? What are some things that you’ve learned to appreciate about him?) – “Just that he treats every player the same, no matter how good you are or if you’re on the practice squad. He expects great things out of you. He’s a great coach. He’s going to be coaching for a very long time in this league. It’s rare that you’re around coaches like him who are fairly young, understand what it takes to win and just what goes into this game. Since I’ve been here, I’ve seen nothing but great things about him and I love that he’s my head coach. I think all the guys on the team feel the same way. We all want to play for him and go out there and players lay it on the line for him, and he does the same for us. He’s just a great head coach.”
LB Kyle Van Noy
(How would you say your decision to join the Dolphins has aligned with your expectations?) – “What do you mean by that? Are you saying just in general?”
(Yeah, just in general.) – “Yeah. I feel like everything has been pretty good. I can’t complain. We have a chance at the playoffs. I’m playing a lot. I’m playing with people that I like. So yeah, it’s going smooth.”
(How is the hip feeling and how disappointed were you that you missed the game last week?) – “I’m just focused on trying to get better each and every day. That’s all. I can’t control some stuff.”
(It’s kind of a role reversal between these two teams. Usually it’s the Dolphins who are trying to play the spoiler for the Patriots, and now the Patriots are pretty much a long shot to get in and they can spoil your plans. What was it like when you were in New England and you had teams like the Dolphins who this would be their Super Bowl because they were trying to knock off the champs?) – “I don’t remember what it was like. I only remember what’s going on right now and we play the Patriots on Sunday.”
(I know it was a long time ago back in Week 1, but I’m curious what are some things the defense can do to help limit the Patriots run game this time around. I think it was the season high allowed in rushing yards for your defense in that game. What can you guys do to get that fixed this time around?) – “I think it’s better communication. Just playing better. I think we are comfortable with where we’re at and we’ve got to make strides to get better each time we take the field. I think as an older guy, just playing better and having everybody play better helps as well. I think it’s a lot of different things and I hope we do our best to slow it down. They are really, really good. I think they are third in rushing in the league. Their o-line is amazing. (Offensive Line Coach) Cole Popovich does a really good job getting those guys ready to go. That rookie (Michael Onwenu) is playing really well and (Jermaine) Eluemunor is playing well. The backs – Damien Harris is playing really well. Sony (Michel)’s still got juice, obviously James White is just all-around amazing. Then you’ve got Cam Newton who still runs the ball really well. He’s doing a lot of things well. They do a good job. You can splash in the receivers too. They all run the ball pretty well too when they get the ball on sweeps and different things like that. (Head Coach) Bill (Belichick) has them playing hard and he’s a really good coach and they are doing a really good job running the ball.”
(How much trash talk is going on between you and the McCourtys this week?) – (Laughter) “I haven’t talked to them.”
(C’mon) – “Maybe I’ll talk to them after the game.”
(What’s your opinion on South Florida weather in December?) – “Look at this hair. This hair is looking good for the sun. (laughter) Honestly, it’s a blessing. I’m a sun person, so anytime you get to wake up and have the sun beaming on you, it’s a blessing. Just being in the sun feels better. You’re a happier person, so it’s good.”
S Brandon Jones
(I have a feeling because of so many other draft picks here that sometimes maybe you’re forgotten because there’s so many and maybe you don’t play such a prevalent role as everybody else does. How would you say your rookie season has gone and how would you say you’ve improved over the course of the year?) – “Yeah, I think it’s gone pretty well. Obviously a lot of stuff has been a learning experience for me, when it comes to just being able to fix corrections during the game, during practice. Just overall learning, I think. Just my role, just being able to do as much as I can and help out the team anyway I can. Just being able to multitask and being able to kind of attack it and approach it the best way I can possible.”
(The first game against New England was a long time ago. What’s something that you guys maybe learned that you can implement against QB Cam Newton?) – “Cam does a really good job of just controlling that offense and making plays in the passing game and obviously on his feet … A big pillar of our defense every week is to stop the run, so I think that’s kind of the mindset we go in with each and every week, trying to minimize the run and do what we can from that standpoint, and then from there, being able to play our ball.”
(You played a significant role in the previous game against New England. You actually started your first NFL game. Tell me how has the Brandon Jones now that’s going to play on Sunday, improved from that player in Week 1?) – “I would just say the comfortability level on the field. I watched the (Week 1) game, obviously preparing this week, and I feel like I’m a totally different player, just from knowing the next step, what’s going to happen and being comfortable at the end of the day. You could kind of tell I was pretty antsy and trying to be everywhere all at once, but I kind of just understood and realized my job, what I need to do and how I can help and always kind of being aware of the next step before it happens. I think that’s something that has progressively gotten better over the weeks.”
(We talk a lot about with you guys and coach and stuff about the week-to-week nature of this league and having different game plans for different teams. I’m curious going from one week where you’re playing this high-flying attack like the Chiefs, to this week and one of the teams that rushes the ball more than anybody else. What’s that change like as far as going from preparing for that type of offense to this one?) – “I think I’m in kind of a different position than a lot of other people, I guess just from being a rookie and what they ask me to do. My biggest thing is just kind of – I’ve got to do my job. I’ve got to get this done to play the run this week versus what we ran last week. Like I said, the biggest thing for every team – even the Chiefs – and the pillar of our defense is being able to stop the run. That’s something that doesn’t change throughout the weeks.”
(Obviously S Bobby McCain’s status for this weekend is up in the air. I’m curious, do you consider yourself a better free safety or box safety? And if they asked you to play centerfield for 60 or 65 snaps on Sunday, what would that experience be like?) – “I kind of do and play whatever the coaches need me to do. I have a lot of experience in college being able to play the box and play high. I don’t mind. Like I said, wherever they need me, I’ll do what I can do at the end of the day.”
Head Coach Brian Flores
(What is the hardest part of your job? One, this week; two, this year?) – “Media. (laughter)”
(Seriously.) – “I love my job. I get an opportunity to work with a lot of people within this organization. Obviously the players, our coaching staff and also our support staff. I think from operations and Scott Bullis to equipment with Joe Cimino to medical with Kyle Johnston and Troy (Maurer) to our doctors, obviously (General Manager) Chris (Grier) and (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore) and (Assistant General Manager) Marvin (Allen) in personnel and Adam Engroff and that group. I don’t think of any of it as – every day is a challenge in this league, but I kind of embrace it and enjoy it. I don’t really think of it as ‘the hardest things about…’ I would say the hardest part of my job is I don’t get to spend as much time with my wife and kids as I would like to, but I also try to get as much time with them as possible. That’s the honest answer there. The real honest answer is media is the hardest part. (laughter)”
(I wanted to ask you if you think TE Mike Gesicki has a chance to play again, but the media thing does interest me. Can you tell me a little bit more about what you think the role of the media is and all that?) – “I have a lot of respect for everything you guys do. I think you guys give voice from our team to our fans and I think that’s very important. I guess I’m busting chops a little bit, but I really have an appreciation for what you guys do. I know it’s not easy and I think you guys do a great job. What was the other part of your question? Mike Gesicki? He is working really hard. Obviously it was a tough injury last week, so he’s getting his treatment, he’s doing his rehab and we’ll see where it goes.”
(I wanted to ask you about your time in New England and I was curious, what was more beneficial for you there? Where did you learn more – on team-building and leadership or X’s and O’s? What part of that time you spent in New England was more formative for you?) – “I learned so much. I started in personnel. Scott Pioli hired me there as a scouting assistant. Those four years in personnel were very valuable. There are a lot of guys in that department who have gone on and done well for themselves – Jon Robinson, Thomas Dimitroff, Matt Russell, Marvin Allen was on the staff there when I was there. Lionel Vital. So I learned a lot from that group. Then going into coaching, working on special teams with Brad Seely who just recently retired and Scott O’Brien who retired a few years ago as well in the kicking game. Going over to offense, working with Bill O’Brien. When I went over to defense, obviously working with Bill (Belichick), Matt Patricia, obviously Josh Boyer, Pat Graham. A lot of really good coaches on both sides of the ball. I would say one of the guys who I learned as much about coaching as anyone is Dante Scarnecchia. I know he’s the o-line coach over there, but just the relationships he built with players and how demanding he was. I think I’ve tried to take a lot of what he did because he had a lot of success. Then just team building and being around a lot of very good players, very good coaches. I had some great experiences there.”
(I know you’re fond of going down memory lane – being sarcastic here – but I wanted to ask you, when you were on the scouting side of things – the time you spent with Scott Pioli – what made you want to go into coaching or was that always the intent? And what did you learn and take from the scouting side?) – “I started wanting to be in personnel and then I just felt I could have a little bit more impact on the game, so that was the reason behind trying to get into coaching. I felt like I could build relationships with players and it’s hard to do that on the personnel side. You just don’t have as much interaction with them, so I just wanted to make more of an impact; and I’m not saying there isn’t an impact on the personnel side, there’s just more interaction from the coaching side.”
(It’s getting towards the end of the year and you guys have had some success. I’m curious what your perspective is if you get questions from your assistants about wanting to interview for a different job for a different team as you get towards the offseason, whether it be coordinator or head coach or even in the personnel department? What’s your view on that and how you handle those situations?) – “I think if those opportunities present themselves, I think they should go for it if it’s something that they’re interested in. I’ll help them any way I can. I’ve been on a few interviews and can offer some advice. We’ve got a lot of qualified people on this staff, so that wouldn’t shock me at all and I would be encouraged. We all have goals and I’m not in the business of stopping people from getting the things they want – players, coaches. That’s part of the reason why they’re here; but another part of the reason why they’re here is because they’re team-first and I think people will see that – hopefully people see that – and I would say that’s part of the reason why if someone were to want to interview our guys, that’d be part of it. That’s part of this business. If somebody comes calling for one of you guys, it’s the same thing. You’d hope that your boss would be encouraging and be helpful in that instance. I would think. I don’t know. Maybe I’m different than you.”
(I wanted to ask you, what makes Patriots WR Julian Edelman so dangerous and how does the game change when he’s on the field?) – “Julian (Edelman) is smart, instinctive, tough, good hands, good run after catch, understands the game offensively and in the kicking game and he’s got a few defensive snaps under his belt, too. He’s a very good player and I think just his toughness, his competitiveness; you feel that on the field.”
(How encouraged were you yesterday that you were able to get WR DeVante Parker and WR Jakeem Grant and I think G Ereck Flowers and LB Kyle Van Noy and LB Elandon Roberts back? A lot of these guys who have been dealing with something were able to practice yesterday. How encouraged were you by they came through it?) – ”I was encouraged. It was good to see all those guys out there working to get back as soon as they can. Encouraged, but not surprised. I think we’ve got a lot of guys who want to be out there, who want to be with their teammates, who want to help this team as best they can. We’ll see how it goes. We’ve still got a few days before kickoff. Hopefully we’ll get all those guys.”
(I wanted to ask about your defense is obviously from the same family of defenses as the Patriots scheme. How does that help QB Tua Tagovailoa and what are some things that he needs to do to fine-tune his preparation for that defense on Sunday?) – “I think just go through his normal routine and preparation – watching the film, doing a good job in meetings, doing a good job in walkthrough, doing a good job in practice, learning over the course of the week, getting more familiar with the things that they do and just try to execute. At the end of the day, that’s what it boils down to, and it’s not just Tua; it’s the o-line, the backs, the receivers, the tight ends. We’ve got to execute defensively, we’ve got to execute in the kicking game and try to put a total team effort together.”
