WR Chase Claypool
(What was your reaction when you got traded?) – “I was excited for the new opportunity and excited to work with Coach (Mike) McDaniel and Tua (Tagovailoa) and play alongside (Jaylen) Waddle and Tyreek (Hill) and a bunch of good receivers.”
(Did you know any of the guys before you came here?) – “I knew Durham (Smythe) and Liam (Eichenberg). I went to school with them at Notre Dame. So I’m excited to have some familiar faces, especially on the offensive side of the ball.”
(What have they told you about the offense and the complexity of it and how long do you think it’ll take for you to kind of get up to speed?) – “There’s a lot of motion, shifts, two motions, before the ball is snapped. I’ve been doing a lot of studying, and I don’t think it’ll be too long. It is a complex playbook, but I feel pretty good, especially this first day of practice.”
(I know that this is a new journey for you, but there’s obviously a lot of talk about the way things ended in Chicago. What do you want people to know about that and just about the person that you are?) – “I think I just (will) be the same person I’ve been in terms of being a teammate. I know I’m a good teammate. I don’t have to do anything extra to like – don’t have to do too much to try and prove that. Just be myself, and I’m excited about being around a new group of guys and showing them what I can do.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel said it’s a clean slate when new players come in. Some of your former Notre Dame teammates were backing for you. What does that say to you when you hear that?) – “Yeah, that just shows they know the guy that I am. I always appreciate when former teammates have my back, like Justin (Fields) and the other guys in the locker room in Chicago and then Notre Dame guys. Because I think that’s like the true testament of the person you are, is when your former teammates talk about you in a good way.”
(You’re a bit bigger than some of the other receivers. Blocking is a key element in this offense. How would you describe your approach to blocking?) – “I love it. I mean, it’s really fun for me, and just trying to polish that every day and become a better blocker. Especially in the interior and going against bigger guys like D-ends or linebackers and stuff, trying to make the most of those opportunities as well.”
(What do you think of this offense? You’ve seen what they’ve been doing here in the first few weeks, how excited are you?) – “Just being a piece in the big puzzle to a lot of moving pieces and trying to make this offense better than it is. Anything I can do to that is an awesome opportunity for me, and I’m really excited about that and excited to be a part of it.”
(They have numbers and numbers they’ve been putting up in the record book.) – “Right, so just make sure that I do my job the right way, full speed. I know they’ll put me in positions to help the offense.”
(You were on the sideline Sunday, right?) – “Yeah.”
(What was it like watching all that speed up close and knowing I get to get in this?) – “It was a lot of fun, really exciting. Yeah, it got me excited to be a part of it. I was itching to go out there and see it firsthand, but just watching it from the sidelines was super fun.”
(What are your impressions of Head Coach Mike McDaniel? A very unique guy, unique head coach.) – “Yeah, very like – I want to say laidback, but he’s able to coach really hard in a good way where it doesn’t feel like he’s hounding you. He’s very informative, and he’s just super smart. You can tell by the way he talks. He knows exactly what he’s talking about and makes the game and practice a lot easier.”
(What do you think went wrong in Chicago? Why do you think it’s going to be better here?) – “I think that when you lose a lot of games in a row, there’s frustration naturally. That’s new for everybody, I’m sure, from the top down. I think just being excited about getting some wins and stuff like that, I think that just comes naturally. Once you start winning, things start getting less frustrating, obviously.”
WR Jaylen Waddle
(What was your reaction to hearing about RB De’Von Achane and being placed on IR?) – “He’s a strong person, strong kid. I know he’ll overcome it. He’s going to overcome it. There is not too much we can do. We’re not worried about it. He’ll come back stronger, bigger, faster. Still not faster than me, but he’s going to be back.”
(We saw you throwing footballs with WR Tyreek Hill and RB Raheem Mostert. Which one of the three of you will get the call to throw one day?) – “They can’t throw with me. I be telling them I played quarterback in high school. Tell them to watch my high school highlight tape. They are going to see accurate.”
(But you hit the net once.) – “I was warming up, for real. Warming up, that’s all. They can’t throw with me at all, or run with me.”
(What are your very, very, very early impressions of No. 83 WR Chase Claypool?) – “I told him, he looks like a freaking machine moving out there. He’s got a big frame, that’s one thing that stands out. For his size, he is picking them up and putting them down, so I’m excited to see him play. I’m excited to see him work, work with him and all that type of stuff. We’re excited about him.”
(How hard do you think it’s going to be for him to learn all the plays?) – “He seems like a pretty smart guy. What school did he go to again?”
(Notre Dame.) – “Yeah, he’s a smart guy for sure then. It comes with it. Reps are definitely going to be important for him to get them in, but I think he’s going to catch on pretty fast.”
(What’s your reaction of how the offense has played through five weeks?) – “Honestly, I really think like the best is yet to come honestly. I feel like we’re – I feel like our best is yet to come. You’ve seen the tape, as ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill) said.”
(How much emphasis is it this week to not take your foot off the pedal even though you’re taking on a 0-5 team? Just to be stronger than ever on offense this week?) – “I think when you see them on film, it’s easy not to. They are a real good group, a hungry group – hungry to make that statement game. You see it on film, they are a really good group. They really play good together.”
(I don’t want you to get fined, so don’t say anything fineable, but did you get an explanation on the end zone play where the guy was facing you? That was my only question. Did the refs give good explanations?) – “I’m just here so I won’t get fined. (laughter) So I don’t know.”
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(To hear that after five weeks, you have more passing yards than anyone, well, you’re projected at this rate to have the most passing yards of any quarterback in history, obviously one game longer than past seasons, your reaction to that would be what?) – “Oh, it’d be nothing.”
(Cool? Or no?) – “Sure, that would definitely be cool. If we don’t get to where we want to as a team, none of that would mean anything to me. But along the way, if we could get to where we want to get to as a team, and those statistics could follow in helping win games, I’d be very happy.”
(On wearing Ohio State gear at his press conference) – “The bet was lost to Jerome Baker and Eli Apple. Boooo.”
(But Alabama didn’t play this week?) – “Bama didn’t play, my brother played. He plays for Maryland.”
(I hope they gave you points.) – “No, they didn’t give me points. I think they thought highly of Maryland’s team.”
(So what was their punishment going to be?) – “They were going to wear Maryland gear.”
(It feels like they should do more than that.) – “(laughter) I mean yeah, I’m probably with you there.”
(You have more to lose, you have to stand up here. They’re just in the locker room.) – “Yeah, but sometimes that’s how you win your team over guys. Sometimes you got to do what you got to do, you know? (laughter)”
(Your thoughts on the unfortunate loss of RB De’Von Achane at least for a few weeks, and then the possibility of RB Jeff Wilson Jr. coming back?) – “Yeah, it’s tough seeing any of our guys go down. He’s done a tremendous job for us, De’Von (Achane), but I know he’s going to do all that he can to get better. And we’re extremely happy to have Jeff (Wilson Jr.) back as well. I know Jeff’s really excited to be out there. He’s excited to get things going. He looked really good out there at practice today, so we’re all excited.”
(When you look at this Panthers defense, what are a couple things you see on tape that they do well?) – “Yeah, I think there’s a lot of things that they do well within their personnels of how they use certain guys. I think they do really well playing together. Teams like this that are 0-5 are not necessarily a reflection of the offense, the defense, their special teams. Merely just being in the NFL, you get into some games that are very close, and then some can just get away just like that. I think they’re continuing to find who they are as a team. They play really, really hard, and that’s what we know we’re going to get, so we have to be prepared for them.”
(How are you feeling physically right now compared to years past? We’ve seen the quarterback hit numbers are way down, the sack numbers are way down. How are you feeling physically?) – “Yeah, I feel really good. I mean, the best that any quarterback could feel, or any football player could feel, at this point of the season.”
(And it’s a testament to the offensive line, but also maybe some things you’ve done as well in the offseason?) – “Yeah, that’s a testament to everyone. Every one of those guys on the offense. The offensive line allowing time, receivers knowing where they have to be in the timing of the play. And then really just having to distribute the ball, getting the ball out on time for those guys.”
(Is this a week that, although you still had a prolific performance, those two interceptions still give you plenty to harp on and correct?) – “Oh, any interception, any turnover, anything like that allows more than a correction for preparing for a team. That’s not something that as a leader of our offense should be happening, and that’s not something that I should be doing. I’ve been very aware of that, so doing my best, working as best as I can to hopefully eliminate those within these next upcoming games.”
(Apparently, Panthers QB Bryce Young said that you were a really, really big reason why he decided to commit to Alabama. I was curious if you were aware of the impact that you have on his college decision?) – “No, I wasn’t. I wouldn’t say I was as aware, but that means a lot. The things that he did over there at Alabama, I mean, I couldn’t even do. So for him to have won the Heisman, for him to have done the things that he’s done, breaking records over there at Alabama, it’s a testament of the family that he comes from. It’s a testament of his hard work. As he’s maneuvering his way throughout the league, and he’s finding out the type of person that he is, the type of player that he is, I know that he’ll continue to grow and continue to find ways to do good and things like that. So I got all the respect for Bryce (Young), and I wish him the best.”
(I know you’re the last guy to want to talk about yourself, but considering what you did over there, what you won, and you were the first in this string of first-round quarterbacks coming from Bama, do you feel like you might have had some sort of impact on the impression that Alabama can produce pro-style quarterbacks?) – “I think it was really the guys that I had surrounding me, my surrounding cast. As I think about it, before I would say I got there, Alabama was not necessarily known for throwing the ball down the field, more so ground and pound. It’s the defense that makes it Alabama. As Coach (Nick) Saban had continued to recruit other guys as we were there, I would say those guys have seen what we were able to do. It’s one of those things that, ‘Yeah, Alabama is not just a ground and pound team. They do throw the ball, and they throw it a lot.’ I would say with the supporting cast that I had, we definitely had some say in, I think, recruiting.”
(What have been the extent of your conversations with WR Chase Claypool and what do you think of the addition to the offense?) – “Yeah, he’s a great guy. I get to talk to him here and there. It’s not an everyday interaction, but it’s just a. ‘What’s up? How you doing?’ Then he’ll ask what he has on some things and whatnot, if he’s in on some plays for guys that’s subbing in for. But for the most part, he’s continuing to find ways to get to know the guys in his room, get to know the guys in the locker room, get to know his teammates. It’s just one of those things with him is just taking it one day at a time.”
(I’d like to ask you a little bit, I know it got a lot of attention postgame, but the touchdown to WR Tyreek Hill, how much of that was off script? Was it just you and WR Tyreek Hill getting together and adjusting his route? Or was it the whole play, kind of made up on the fly?) – “I don’t know what you’re talking about. (laughter) Yeah, we never got together and talked about it. It was just one of those things where as I was listening to the play call, one of the play calls was just one that was tough for me to envision us running. So I called one that I was very much comfortable with, and I thank the good Lord above that it worked and it worked the way it did. I think it would’ve been bad if it didn’t.”
(What’s it say, I wonder, about your comfort level and your ability to take command of the huddle in a moment like that? I’m thinking that maybe Tua, the rookie, wouldn’t have done such a thing. If you could describe your development along the way and what it means for you?) – “There’s been a lot of development. There’s no way that I would have done that my rookie year. I would have never been able to have done that the following year. I would say just because from my rookie year to the next year, like I was still continuing to learn offense, and I was still continuing to learn defenses, especially with the new offensive coordinators that we’ve had. With Mike (McDaniel), Mike just makes you feel very comfortable in being yourself, and really, he’s A-OK with many, many things that I do and he’s comfortable with things that I do. It’s really just talking to him about it, like, ‘Hey, I think I would want to do this. Are you OK?’ ‘I’m OK, thanks for telling me. Just continue to communicate to me, and then I’ll let you know when it’s just leave this because I know something, that’s why I’m calling it.’ Things like that. But for the most part, it’s really a testament to Mike and the guys that he’s brought in to help me, help our offense to continue to thrive and flourish.”
(One thing you mentioned Sunday was about shaking off interceptions, you feel like you’re better with that. How much of that is because Head Coach Mike McDaniel and Quarterbacks/Passing Game Coordinator Darrell Bevell are supportive after interceptions with you, upbeat? Is that a part of it?) – “Yeah, it definitely is a part of it. That’s been something that I’ve also been working on for myself, and it’s not just me that goes into one of those deals of, ‘Man, you knew you shouldn’t have done that.’ Well it’s one of those things where you can’t have that back, and the more you continue to ponder on it, you can’t go out there with a clear mind to do your own job to help the team. So that’s been something I’ve been working on. Plays like that, they’re going to happen, but it’s how you come back from them, and I think we’ve done a really good job coming back from those. Whether it was a fumble, an interception, as a group we rallied and we came back and put points on the board.”
(I know you mentioned the play call earlier and it made me think a little bit more wider, but the use of wristbands, some quarterbacks like it, some don’t. I’m curious your view of maybe the wristband usage versus just taking the play call in from the helmet?) – “I think with the wristbands, just like everything else, there’s pros and cons. The pros are you know you won’t miss a word that you say and that you’re telling to the guys, whereas if you’re hearing it in your helmet. The cons of it are when you’re reading, like sometimes it’s just words like that you’re saying. You’re not able to picture it sometimes as you’re reading it, like where do the guys belong? It’s just words that you’re saying, so then when everyone breaks out, you’re like, ‘Wait, what did I say again?’ It’s really things like that. So if you’re not on the game plan, that’s where you can get got, like, ‘Wait, where does everyone go? Who am I motioning? Like where do I open up? Wait, was it a can for this run?’ Things like that. So there’s a lot of things that go into that, but I mean, we do both in the game. Mike (McDaniel) tells me a play call when we’re on the fly or if we need to just get going, and then sometimes he’ll just tell me the number of the play.”
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(Is RB De’Von Achane going to require knee surgery, and do you expect him back within a short time after a four-game short-term IR type thing?) – “This is why I accumulate information before I speak. I think it goes to show what type of tough guy we’re dealing with, but confirmed, he will go on IR. It wasn’t like a black and white decision where it was obvious. It’s in lieu of that ‘ish’ timeline. It was something that we, (General Manager) Chris (Grier) and I, knew was the best thing for the team, which always coincides with being the best thing for that particular athlete. That has just commenced and confirmed.”
(Is it a sprain for RB De’Von Achane?) – “As far as – there’s not anything more grave. The level of severity, I’m not going to pretend to be an expert in terms of whatever you’d call it, I’m not going to call it. But yeah, the main thing on his mind was procedural, his ability to make sure that he’s going to the games. So it tells you where his mind is at. That’s why we have a large group of very good running backs, because that’s kind of the nature of the position at times.”
(So what will be next? RB De’Von Achane won’t have surgery? What will his rehab look like?) – “Well, it will be diligent, and I’ll get daily updates. That, to which, you know me, I’m worried about today. He’s in great hands. It’s going to be diligent, like I said. It was not black and white, whether or not to put him on IR, but just knowing all the factors, we thought it was best for the team, for sure.”
(When did RB De’Von Achane sustain the injury?) – “I know it to be in the game. It was in the late portion of the game, and he did take some snaps afterward. But exactly where it was, he was kind of feeling it out, I didn’t really comb it that way. I really don’t like to watch injuries on tape, so I don’t comb through it in that regard. He’ll be diligently moving forward.”
(You said it wasn’t a black and white decision, what were the pros and cons of putting RB De’Von Achane on IR?) – “There’s a finite timeline and the amount of players that you have to consider with the obligations of the whole roster, these are all things that we heavily scrutinize and make sure that we’re doing right by both the player and the team. In this case, it was pretty sound after we worked through it, that that was the best scenario for all parties involved.”
(Will RB Jeff Wilson Jr. practice today and is he on track to be able to be available if needed this weekend?) – “It just so happens that Jeff Wilson Jr.’s window has opened today. He will be practicing professional football with the Miami Dolphins today, preparing for the Carolina Panthers.”
(Just one more on RB De’Von Achane, is it fair to say you expect him back at some point this year?) – “That’s fair. That’s very fair. I’d take those tickets from the fair and go to the fair. And if I’m out in the sun too long, my skin will be no longer fair.”
(With RB Jeff Wilson Jr., is he already at a point where he could be close to being activated off of IR?) – “We shall see. That’s why – get your popcorn ready for today’s practice, again, most important day of our lives. A lot of those things, those answers, whether someone is ready to play, coming from injury or whatever, the great news is I see better than I hear, and my eyes will be wide open today. So he’ll get the opportunity to show his teammates and the coaching staff where he’s at. So I look forward to that, he’s been chomping at the bit.”
(How does RB De’Von Achane’s injury status affect your outlook for the running game in general? Or does it?) – “No, I think that the run game is 11 different players. I know he’s done an outstanding job and I’ve been very pleased with how far he’s come as a professional. I always knew the talent was there, but he just really, really progressed and is one of the guys, among veterans in the locker room, he – what did he have, two carries in the first two games? I never really look at the run game in general as one player. He’s been making a ton of plays and has been obviously doing an outstanding job with every single one of his opportunities. But yeah, this is something that fortunately, we took measures to have a group of running backs that, shoot, you guys can’t stop talking about him and he had to earn his opportunity. We knew just as well as you guys did, what that would look like. We didn’t know. You figure, you hope, you think, but he’s done really everything he can with his opportunities presented to him. There’ll be more opportunities. He’s been playing with Raheem (Mostert) very well. There’ll be more opportunities for the other guys as well. We’re in a fortunate situation in that regard, that I think we have multiple players at the running back position that can start in this league and can do very well within their job parameters here with the Dolphins.”
(On OL Isaiah Wynn, you had mentioned Monday that you weren’t too worried, but he would have more tests over 24 hours. Is he cleared to practice today?) – “Oh yeah, he’s ready to go. He nodded his head to me, in recognition of today and how important it would be. So he’s good to go.”
(How realistic is it to get WR Chase Claypool up to speed with enough of the offense to participate as soon as Sunday?) – “It’ll be interesting to see. You don’t have too many of these scenarios where you get a talented player that’s done a lot in this league, jumping on your team when you’re in a phase of football that’s been able to be productive, for sure. But I’m going to let him tell me. I really don’t know. I’m the wrong person to ask because I’ve been in the same offense for 17 years. I think we’ll see what that looks like because there’s not that – don’t have that many reps in a regular season game of this at the receiver position, specifically. But definitely open-minded and going to allow him to shape our vision and his teammates, because it’s one thing that you have to do on this team is you have to earn the privilege to play with a group of guys on the only place that matters, and that’s grass.”
(There’s been some speculation WR Chase Claypool might get some work at tight end. Is he a wide receiver here?) – “Yeah, he’s a wide receiver. I mean, Mike White might be working as punt returner today – you never know. (laughter) OK, so what you are alluding to is he’s a player with above-average size at his position, and if he’s able to execute certain things, I’m not going to limit a player to what he can or can’t do. Every game we have guys doing multiple roles and fitting within the offense tailored to their skill sets. So it’ll be cool to watch, and I can tell he is definitely attentive. He’s paying attention to everything I can tell you that much.”
(How fast is the fastest you’ve seen a guy kind of digest your offense?) – “Well, it’s the receiver position that’s kind of unique. I’ve been around running backs and quarterbacks in unique structures. Quarterback, you have to kind of minimize what the offense is so they can have a little package. You understand that. Then had running backs the week of – I think the last time was either 2020 or 2021. There was a running back from Cincinnati that we played that week that actually threw a pass. That’s a different job description here. I think the offense that he had been in is similarly structured from a concept background, which is always helpful, as opposed to a digit system. So there’s some West Coast lineage. I don’t know what it was before that, but I think it is a different experience than when you’re a veteran player who has worked with different offensive coordinators on different teams. You can kind of find ways to learn expeditiously, but again, I don’t want to pass judgment either way. The idea is that you’re listening to this foreign language and being able to execute your job responsibilities at a level that there’s no excuses for like, ‘Hey, I’m the new guy.’ So that’s tough. He knows the standard. Our coaches have spent extra time with him trying to do the very best they can, and we’ll see what that looks like out on the field. Either way, as long as it’s intense in the appropriate place, we have a lot of football players on this team that are very capable of making football plays. So we’ll get him out there when he’s ready and able and we’ll start seeing how fast it is today.”
(I’m not sure how much you watch QB Bryce Young in the pre-draft process, but what have you seen from him so far in his young career?) – “A baller with a bright future. He one of the few young quarterbacks that you see coming out that see defenders when operating as a quarterback. His vision is uncanny, and his timing and rhythm to the game, you can see that he’s going to be a very good player in this league, in my opinion. There’s nothing more difficult than being a rookie starting quarterback. In that process, you learn live speed. What I’ve seen is a guy that’s showing his talent through the rhythm of plays and learning certain things with regard to – he’s uncanny in the pocket, how he moves, and he’ll continue to get better at extending plays. He throws a very catchable ball that’s built for YAC. You can tell – there’s a reason for why the guys that he played with in college and how much respect they have for him. If you don’t believe me, just ask any ‘Bama player, and then you can tell why he’s earned the respect of not only other rookies, but veterans on that team.”
(Only Bo Jackson has averaged more yards per carry since 1966 than RB Raheem Mostert of the Miami Dolphins. How effective do you think RB Raheem Mostert would be as a Tecmo Bowl player?) – “Whoa. You know, Tecmo Bowl would do him a disservice, because Tecmo Bowl you can literally run backwards and go side to side. One of his greatest strengths is linear yard accumulation. He treats almost every play like a kick return is the way I look at it. He sees a hole, and you can always – there’s not that many runners in the league that you see finish a run where the tacklers are coming to compress and that are falling that way because they’re just a hair off on their angle, because of the way that he approaches the line of scrimmage. Like I’ve always said, you recognize a different breed when you come across. This is a guy that has – he just keeps getting stronger and he’s as hungry as ever. So Tecmo Bowl, I would elicit more like post-2010 technology, because his slashing ability with the ball in his hands wouldn’t have been done justice, which is a shame.”
(When you see a team 0-5, like the Panthers now, on paper, obviously, it looks like a mismatch. But what are some dangers of playing a team that’s in this deep of a hole?) – “Well you guys would have no idea about a franchise losing five in a row, would you? (laughter) Yeah, it’s the most dangerous opponent you can play, because losing – let alone just losing in general in the league, you have to sit on it for a week, and you put a lot of time into it. You can’t do anything about it for one week. Well you go to work every day, and then after five games, your point differential in the first half is one point and you haven’t won a game yet, that is not fun. So you will do anything, anything to change that. I think that is something that we have direct recall on, just very recent, and you know how powerful that is. You know that teams in that process, while they may feel a certain way, that ends up bonding people and making teams that much tighter. The bottom line is that this is the National Football League, so I know one thing, the Carolina Panthers have everything to gain. They’re going to come to Hard Rock (Stadium) and not care about any sort of stat that you guys want to throw out at them. They’re going to try to win together as a team to change that feeling. You have to be aware of that, and not to mention the fact that they’re littered with NFL playmakers. Maybe teams like to look at win-loss, or whatever. We just look at the bottom line – the tape shows a team that’s going to come, not only compete, but they’re going to do it in a physical fashion. They are sick of having that feeling, they’re going to want to change it. So that’s the force that we’re facing this week, which is why I’m just glad that you guys think today is so important, because I do too.”
(I don’t think anyone asked you about LB Jaelan Phillips or RB Salvon Ahmed?) – “Still working through Jaelan Phillips. It’s just making sure that, again, we’re looking at it for the long haul, so we’re daily investigating that. ‘SA’ (Salvon Ahmed) should be practicing today, for sure, in orange shoes probably.”
