Friday, October 2, 2020
TE Mike Gesicki
(I was thinking back to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick saying that every time you catch the ball, it’s like your first time catching a ball. What give you so much joy? Why does that happen every time you catch a football, particularly from him?) – “It’s just a whole lot of fun going out there and making plays. With this game, you don’t know how many opportunities you’re going to have. It depends on so many different things. It’s more than just the game plan or if you’re the read on that play or how the game is going and all of that stuff. I just like to have fun with it, so when I go out there and I make the most of my opportunities, I really enjoy myself out there.”
(Your numbers in the slot are the best of any NFL tight end since last November. What is it about lining up there that makes you excited, that gives you maybe an edge over the players who are covering you?) – “I think I just kind of go back to what I always tell you guys, just make the most of your opportunities. I think the coaches do a really good job of putting guys in position to be successful, whether it’s myself inside or DeVante (Parker) and Preston (Williams) outside or Isaiah (Ford) on the inside or our backs – whoever it is, the other tight ends. I think that’s what it comes down to is knowing your matchups, whether it’s man or zone, attacking them depending on that, and then just making the most of your opportunities. When the ball’s in the air, you’ve got to go up and get it.”
(We talked about some of the big plays last Thursday night. As a collective unit, what do you think it did for the offense to see that you guys can start the game with several scores? One of the funniest things that Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey said is ‘it’s not against to rules to go and score…”) – “Yeah, for sure. I think that’s a big thing for us, just being able to start fast. Last week, we were able to do that and you saw the outcome of that game and how it went. Just guys making plays, nobody trying to do anything too exceptional or outside of their role; but playing your role, doing your job and making the most of your opportunities. Then letting everything else take care of itself. It definitely does help when you get to come out, start fast and you’re not playing from behind or you’re not letting them dictate the game.”
(I know that fantasy football is not important at all. At least not to me, and not you; but I guess to other people it’s very important. You’re fifth in the NFL in tight ends in scoring. I’m just curious, are people showing you more love on social media?) – “Good question. I try to stay out of all of that kind of stuff because then one week it will be a bad week and everybody hates you and has this and that to say and all of that kind of stuff. Then you guys are hating me, the fantasy owners are hating me, everybody – so I try to stay away from the media side of it. I never want to get too high or two low, so for the most part, I kind of stay away from it. If I’m helping someone’s fantasy team out, great. If I’m not, great. I don’t really care. I’m just hoping that the Miami Dolphins go out and play our best football each and every week.”
(On the topic of player’s reputation and respect, in the NFL, especially if you’re a great receiving tight end, you can get recognition. You think of TE George Kittle, you think of TE Travis Kelce and so on. Now that your career has taken off, what do you hope to get out of this personally in terms of when people think of you, what would you like them to think of?) – “As a player, I’m a long way from where I need to be. I think I need to come out and continue to improve and get better each and every day. There are a lot of pieces to my game that I can continue to improve on. There are some good ones out there in the league like the two that you mentioned, and there is a couple others to add to that list as well. When they think of me, I just want them to think of a good guy, someone that is doing the right things on and off the field, and then making the most of their opportunities and being a good role model for younger people that are watching the game.”
(If you kept growing the beard for the rest of the season, what do you think it would look like? Would you beat QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and would your fiancé approve?) – “My fiancé is not happy about it currently; but it’s for the betterment of this football team, so I have to keep it. It is what it is. I think ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) pulls it off much, much better than I do. I could probably use a haircut here too. I’ve just got a little helmet hair, so that’s why I look like this. Definitely not my best look, but hopefully I have it for quite a while.”
(You said for the betterment of the football team. Is that a superstition or what’s going on with that?) – “So my razor died the night before the Bills game, so I kind of got stuck with this bad looking goatee. After the game, I was like, ‘we didn’t win so I can go home and shave.’ ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) said it was kind of an exception because it was a career day, so I had to keep it. Then we came out and won last week. ‘Fitz’ threw me the ball and I scored a touchdown. Things are – with the goatee, I have to keep it. Hopefully by the end of the season, it looks like ‘Fitz.’ We’ll see.”
(You scored the most touchdowns in the NFL going back to Week 12 of last season. I’m always curious how big moments in games bring different thoughts out of athletes. Like for a batter, when it’s 3-1 count or when a basketball player goes up for a dunk. When you get down in that red zone, do you feel like your eyes get bigger? Do you get a little more amped up? What’s it like when you get close to the goal line and you might have a chance for a touchdown?) – “For me, I know it sounds super cliché, but it’s the honest truth. I just try to, play by play, just try to keep the same mentality because I could make a big play at the minus-40 that sets someone else up to score, or I could have that opportunity in the end zone to score a touchdown. Obviously it is exciting when your number gets called, and you have the opportunity. When you play with ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick), it doesn’t even matter if your number gets called or not, because everybody’s number is called whenever he has the ball in his hands. You don’t know where it’s going to go or what’s going to happen. It is exciting. It’s something that everybody on our offense really looks forward to. I think we have a lot of guys on the offensive side of the football that are capable of making plays.”
(We’ve spoken many times about the positive impact that QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has had for you. We’ve spoke about the positive impact Tight Ends Coach George Godsey has had for you. Is there another player or coach, since your arrival into the NFL, who you can say I’d like to give this guy some credit for helping me improve also?) – “Absolutely. I think first and foremost, the guy I came in with, Durham (Smythe). I think we kind of feed off of each other. We were, some would say, drafted for different reasons; but I think he doesn’t get – I’ve said this before, that he doesn’t get enough credit for the talent he has outside of his run blocking or pass blocking and all of that kind of stuff. I think we’ve been able to complement each other well. Sometimes he’s in there pass protecting and I’m out running a route. He’s doing all of the dirty work and things like that. I think he deserves a lot of the credit for not only some of the success that I’ve had, but our team as well. He’s not one to really complain if he’s not getting the ball or if he’s not in it. He just loves playing football and helping this team win football games and be productive.”
Friday, October 2, 2020
CB Xavien Howard
(Earlier, Head Coach Brian Flores told us that CB Byron Jones is unfortunately doubtful for this game. I’m wondering, are you hoping to get to follow one of their receivers around the field or is that probably not something that we will see this week?) – “I don’t know what’s going on with Byron’s situation. We’ll just stick with the game plan and we’ll be good from there.”
(When you’ve got one of the most explosive offenses and the weapons that they have and QB Russell Wilson, do you get excited for this type of matchup, for the challenge and how do you feel going into Sunday?) – “I feel great. The next game is the most important game. I’m just focused on what we’ve got to do to stop everything and we’ll be good.”
(You knew last year, you told us in August that WR Preston Williams was going to be really good. Have you seen enough of WR Lynn Bowden Jr., a guy you got in August, to have any sense of what maybe could come eventually?) – “Lynn is a good guy. This is his second week here or something like that – I don’t know how long he’s been here. He just has to learn the offense and stuff like that, but he’s a very decent guy.”
(We saw you play less than half the snaps in the opener; but you played all but one snap in the past two games. How are you feeling with the increased workload and how is everything coming out for you after games?) – “I’m feeling good. This week, I’m playing, so I’ll be good.”
(You’ve been a guy that’s had strings of interceptions in the past. You’ve had a couple of two pick games in back-to-back games. Getting the first one under your belt this year, is that something that can kind of get you going and get your hands on more footballs going forward?) – “That would be great for the team. That’s what I’m looking forward to and we’ll see Sunday.”
(I wanted to ask you about No. 14 D.K. Metcalf. He’s obviously very muscular and tall, but he also seems to be very fast. What might be something you can try against a guy like that?) – “Just play my game. Just play my game, I’d say. Whatever comes with it, you’ll see Sunday.”
Friday, October 2, 2020
RB Myles Gaskin
(Are you a little more amped up this week? Obviously the season has gone well for you, but to be playing a team you grew up watching a little bit of ways from you?) – “Absolutely. I trained at a place – Ford Sports Performance – where Bobby (Wagner) and K.J. (Wright) have trained. A lot of Seahawks have trained (there). I went to school with LB Ben (Burr-Kirven), another guy on their team, so I know some people over there on their team. Obviously I’m playing against the hometown. I just can’t wait. I can’t wait to play them.”
(What are your connections to the Seahawks? Did you grow up dreaming of playing for them at any point?) – “Honestly, no. I’ve always thought it would be kind of cool; but I was always – this is probably not believable, but I was always a Dolphins fan when I was younger because I had an older cousin that was a Dolphins fan. It’s odd how this worked out.”
(I wanted to ask about T Austin Jackson. You played against USC back in college. Did you know anything about him back then? And then what’s it like having him as a teammate now on the left side?) – “When I was in college, I never thought about him. It never really crossed my mind because we both play offense, so I never go against him since he’s on another team. But just having that Pac-12 connection, we talk about – I think the last time we played them, we lost. I think my biggest game my freshman year was against them. There’s a little back and forth, but it’s all good now because we’re on the same team.”
(You piqued my interested there talking about being a Dolphins fan growing up. Who was your guy? Was it RB Ricky Williams or RB Ronnie Brown? Who was your guy?) – “Ricky Williams, for sure. He was hard. Honestly, like I said, it was my older cousin. I was like a young, young dude. It was when I was first getting into football. I remember he had a Ricky Williams jersey when I first just started loving football. You know how your oldest cousin is like the coolest person to you, so it just kind of went hand and hand ever since then.”
(One of the things Head Coach Brian Flores said in a phone call with the Seattle media earlier this week, he said that Myles is really everything we’re looking for in a Dolphin. What do you think when you hear that?) – “A great compliment. I appreciate that. I saw that on social media and stuff; but I need to get better. I need to get a lot better, just for my personal – I think that’s the way of being a Dolphin is I’m never satisfied, just always striving for more. I really don’t think I’ve made a splash or anything like that. I appreciate all of the compliments and stuff like that, but I need to do better.”
(Seattle is known for it’s coffee, so give me your best pitch for how great Seattle coffee is.) – “(laughter) I never drank coffee until I got in the NFL. I was in Miami when I started drinking coffee. But my mom loves Starbucks, so I guess shout out Starbucks. I know Seattle and Starbucks go hand and hand, but my mom loves Starbucks.”
Friday, October 2, 2020
Head Coach Brian Flores
(What’s the status of both CB Byron Jones and QB Tua Tagovailoa for Sunday’s game?) – “Tua will be listed as questionable. He was in today and practiced on a limited basis, so he’ll be questionable. Byron, we’re listing him as doubtful. He was out there on a limited basis as well. We’ve still got to – we’ll see on that one, but we’ll put him down as doubtful.”
(I was going to ask you if you might use that extra spot that you have with the 55-man rule this year to bring up CB Tae Hayes again this week?) – “We’ll see. (General Manager) Chris (Grier) along with myself and the coaching staff, we go through how we want to handle the roster on game day. Obviously we made a move last week. If it fits, we’ll do it. If not, then we won’t do it. We’ll see on Sunday.”
(Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll announced that S Jamal Adams is out of Sunday’s game. What kind of player does that remove from the Seahawks’ lineup?) – “Thanks for the information. I didn’t know that, just coming off the practice (field). Yeah, he’s a great player. I think we all know that, having played against him in the division. He’s fast, explosive, playmaker (in the) run game, pass game, pressures, sacks. This is one of the top players in the league. I don’t like to see guys miss games and go down. I hope he gets better quickly and that’s for he and anyone else that’s injured around the league, on our team or not. That’s just me. They’ve got a lot of good players. I think they’ll figure out a way to play offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. They’re well coached. It will still be a tough, tough battle with whoever they put in there.”
(Obviously the biggest story on the planet is President Trump testing positive for coronavirus. I wanted to get your reaction to that and have you addressed the team with another message to just stay diligent when it’s still out there?) – “I address the team pretty much every day in some form or fashion. I didn’t address that this morning. Honestly I didn’t know if it was confirmed. I honestly still don’t. Look, no one is exempt. If it is confirmed – I’ve been on the practice field here. Has that been confirmed? I’m asking you guys, honestly.”
(Yes.) – “Okay. Look, no one is exempt. No one is exempt from coronavirus. No one is exempt from cancer. No one is exempt. It doesn’t matter who you are. I think we just have to continue to wear the masks and (socially) distance and act responsibly and even then, people still get coronavirus. That’s the kind of disease it is, virus it is. We need to be responsible. That’s always been my message to the players. I think they understand that. I think everyone needs to understand that. But again, you can do everything right and still get it. We just all have to be careful.”
(We talked about after the Buffalo loss how you wanted to get back on the field as quick as possible on Thursday. After a win, you’ve got to be itching, 10 days out, to get back on the field after the win, right?) – “Yeah, I need to see some new film. That’s kind of how I feel right now. I’m competitive. The guys on this team are competitive. Everyone in this league is competitive. We want to play, we want to coach; so yeah, I need to see some new film. That’s kind of where I’m at. I think everyone is that way. I’m sure they’re itching to play too. Look, they’re a good team. It will be a tough test; but yes, it’s been awhile since we’ve played so I want to get back out there.”
(On the topic of the Seahawks, I wanted to ask you, you’ve been pretty aggressive in the past with going for it on fourth down and being willing to kind of do some trick plays on special teams. How much does Seattle’s 37 points per game, the second-most in the NFL, change your approach to the aggressive nature of how you call the game?) – “I think you always want to call the game aggressively, whether it’s offensively, defensively or in the kicking game. I guess that’s how we want to be by nature. We want our players to play physical and aggressively. I don’t think we want to – we want to be smart, also. Every situation is different. Every game is different. The timing of making a more aggressive call versus a different type of call, every one is a little bit different. It can’t be all one thing. It can’t be all aggressive. It can’t be all – I guess non-aggressive is the opposite of that. I think you’ve got to mix things up. But you want to try to put your team in the best situation to win the ballgame and I think that’s what we always try to do. If that means going for it on fourth down, if that means punting on fourth down, if that means a trick play, then again, I think we’re no different than any other team. Seattle has a bunch of trick plays too. We’ve got to be ready for that.”
(I noticed that S Clayton Fejedelem was a full practice yesterday and both Dolphins and Seattle’s special teams units have been good. What kind of impact do you think Fejedelem could potentially have when he’s able to play?) – “Well he was having a really good training camp prior to the injury, so we’re looking forward to getting him out there. Again, it’s going to be his first game. Obviously he’s played in this league. We’re excited to have him out there. He’s a captain. He’s been itching to go. I’m excited to get him out there and get him playing. I think he’s practiced and prepared well, so hopefully that translates to good play on the field on Sunday.”
