Coach Mike McDaniel meets with the media | Miami Dolphins

Coach Mike McDaniel meets with the media | Miami Dolphins

your hands because he’s out here. Good morning. Morning, man. Nice not to have to ask you about injuries Friday, but that that changes today after last couple of days. I was going to ask you on DSbridge and Cam Smith. Is it looking like days or weeks or months for those two players? Whoa. Um Dridge had cramps. So the timetable for his return is now. Okay. Then who’s what? And uh that we saw him uh sidelined last couple days. Yeah, this is this is the story that um is uh we’re all awaiting his um ability to stay on the field. So, um you know, every time that there’s a setback, um we’re trying to assess, but we got to stay on the field to continue to develop. Um I like the stuff that he’s doing in in his development when he’s on the field. It’s Could he be back soon, do you think? are serious. Um, no, it’s it sooner than later. I’m I’m hoping. Um, the sooner the better, but yeah, it’s it’s days, not weeks. Can we get uh an update on Austin Jackson and how how did he suffer the injury? Is it something that was pre-existing or I’m assuming not is it related or not related to the knee? It was uh uh it was he he got the injury playing football, got stepped on. Um uh has nothing to do with anything but that. And with um Austin, the the bottom line for for me where he’s at, um out of all the guys, I would say uh you know, he had a time off. He knocked some rust off. he got back and you know in my opinion exceeded where he was playing um before. So we’re fortunate that you know um that timetable doesn’t seem to be into the regular season. So um in those situations um th this uh the ideal for the individual um you know is it uh it’s it’s okay with uh at this point in camp opportunities like all you’re doing is finding more about um the next guy up. I thought Larry um had a great day uh yesterday so I found out something um about Larry. Now, maybe did he take take the ones on by surprise? We get to see um after prep um the counter punch by uh by the edge players and that’s with with the ones that’s very um monumental really. So, uh it was a good day of growth for Larry. Um and Austin uh is is projected to be um starting week one. So, um good day for the Dolphins. How was Jaylen Phillips receive him today? Um yeah, he’s uh it was a bruise. Um he uh you know I think uh might cost him one day um but uh just because of the swelling um uh a day to tops but um he’ll be back I don’t think today though. Tyreek said that replacing Achan with Jay Wright would kind of help solve some of the Dolphins short yardage walls. Just wanted to get your thoughts on that. That was uh I thought it was genius reporting by Tyreek seeing how we had a short yardage period that very day that you guys you guys were in attendance for and um his suggestion was I guess uh congruent with coach Studsville. That’s exactly how we uh we repped the backs in that short yard period that very day. But um we thought it was funny that uh uh he reported the uh news that wasn’t news on that practice day in that short yardage period that you guys were all there too for. What uh player group or position group do you feel would have the most to gain heading into this uh this first preseason? the uh play group or or players that you feel will have the most to gain heading into this uh first preseason matchup? Well, you know, I think uh it’s there’s a lot of young players on our team trying to find um their footing within the team. And you know, part of the part of the great thing about uh this 2025 team in particular with the young guys is they have the the drive, the will, um and the mindset uh to find a place on the team. First opportunity to to introduce yourself. um establish yourself uh as a dolphin and then you know in in the vein of the what you have to do um at an expert level continually is assess and reapply and get better at things you didn’t do and um be dependable and all those things. So um in that there’s a lot of young players uh you know on both lines that I’m excited about. Um there is a plethora of um you know really we have them uh distributed throughout the whole whole team. I’m excited for um first and second year players um pretty much across the board on this team uh for week week one of the preseason because in particular the the there needs to be and will be guys that grow from game one to game three. And um this team is depending on um that growth. So you get that starting point of that game like experience and you find out so much more about people based on you have extensive practice relationship with them. And this is the first time it’s the game. So my eyes are on the first and second year players uh across the board at every position really. I want to ask you what do you think you learned about your team in the first week in pass? Um, you know, I uh there there was some residual winds based upon um the blessing of of uh then the environment. I feel like um the humidity was uh a a great extra challenge beyond the the opposing side of the football. um for in all three phases really. Uh and you get to push guys um as you progress and get more and more reps. Um and you want to see them respond. So basically we went through the process of no pads and developed an energy about our football. you put pads on, it’s physical. That takes a cost. And and and maybe you’re not as vibrant or your energy isn’t as good when you first get them on. And you you want to see um them respond to that energy lost with en extra energy the next day. Well, we’ve gotten through that. Yesterday was our longest, hardest, and most energetic practice. that um is that’s what I want to see is that growth of um energy, how we play football. Um adjusting to pad level and physicality and still bringing um our our our strain um to finish blocks not two yards down the field but four. And um to uh for us collectively um to not see, you know, great example is a long run. Okay, if the offense breaks a long run defensively, I want to see the strain from the collective that makes it like a 40 yard run could be a highlight on the defense’s worst play. I want to see guys strain with pads and um make people earn everything. um in in both phases. So we have started that development now key uh so yesterday I thought the tone of practice was right we finally we finally captured it. What does that mean? Right? Like to the tone was right yesterday in a hard practice and they have to match it today so you can create something that’s, you know, that’s real and and a style of play that’s unique to your own team. What are the things you have seen come to fruition for Willie Gay this camp? He’s uh well, first of all, his he’s magnetic. He he um you can feel his presence inside the building and he was a fast friend for a lot of the guys in the locker room. Uh but what has jumped off is that is his energy isn’t um you know a one-off thing. He brings that every day. It’s a pillar of who he is as a person um as we get to uh really get to know him. So what does that mean? Uh there’s anytime there’s a tip or an overthrow, he’s a potential uh um takeaway um uh guy. He is around the ball and he is um challenging uh both the people in his position group and and the and the offense. So that, you know, I think he’s he’s a guy that has shown up every day. Um, and uh, I think that’s who he is and uh, we’re happy to have him on team. I don’t know. What is the What does the weather say? Is there is there a storm? Oh, clear. May maybe it can be clear skes. Excuse me. Maybe it can be a clear skies and a storm at the same time. It’s very good. Are you guys any of the uh offensive linemen who worked out yesterday? And number two, are you comfortable with your current group of backup offensive linemen or is that a work in progress? So, so there’s we brought in some depth competition. I do I I’m happy to a point with um realistically all of our depth. However, you can see on the horizon there’s a couple guys that have the opportunity to step up. Um generally when you bring somebody in, you’re challenging um the the group. They know that. Um, but overall there’s um I I really I really would prefer to not speak on my feelings towards the whole offensive group. I like the way they’re working in the shadows. There’s some there’s some stuff that uh they’re focused on the right stuff and and the group. Um there’s there’s been tremendous development. I think you guys have seen some of it. Um, but I’d rather uh I’ I’d rather speak with our play and not um uh roses and dandel. And of the five who came in yesterday, are any signing at this point with you guys? Yeah, there’s a there you might have a a signing here um shortly uh um as we’ve uh negotiated through all the information um pretty soon probably. 10 days into the camp or so, but what has been the benefit for coach Weave in his second year calling this defense for both him and for that side of the football? Well, we were just uh we talk about it um almost every day, but he’s really finding um you know, in year two, your the trust of your um assistants to uh to carry messages so that you can carry u more global messages. Um we’ve had some meetings uh the last couple afternoons that have been uh really really good um establishing understanding for for what we’re doing while we compete and progress every day. So, um it’s it’s been, you know, we’ve did a phenomenal job last year, but you know, the the advantages of year two, he’s fully taken advantage of for sure. Uh because he’s he’s a um uh and really it’s just the collective uh group uh the defensive coaching staff is doing a great job connecting the players, developing guys, investing in them daily, and challenging them. Is there any update on if Fatu Milano? Yeah. Um, breaking news. You see him at practice today? All right. So, that was a very um on or on point question there. Um, you set a standard. Now, I will hold you to that standard. In some of the Dolphins media that was released yesterday, we saw Tyreek kind of bigging up Storm Duck after, you know, Tyreek made a play on him. What sort of confidence does that instill in Storm when you have like one of the receives in the league telling him don’t worry about you know me beating you like it happens. Well Wadd and Reek recognize um uh from an authentic perspective um some real game in Storm and you know I think it’s easy to project if I’m you know if I’m Storm Duck that um don’t be a fool that should give you some confidence. Um, you know, we were talking about it yesterday specifically, um, with some nuances of his game. He’s s super consistent, um, super, uh, uh, really physical for, um, an athletic corner and, uh, doesn’t shy away from any sort of reroute contact, um, is actually forced that way and, uh, and is competitive each and every day. So, the it it tells me a lot. You gather a lot of information. um sometimes just listening and and these they’re they invest time into Storm um because they believe in Storm and uh and know he can help us win. Uh you have to learn first to to follow before you leave. And I’m curious, during your time at uh Atlanta and San Francisco, what were some things that you learned during that preseason, those preseason years leading up to uh those Super Bowl appearances that you emphasized uh during this this year? No, that’s a great question. Um it kind of sets your vision of how things are supposed to be in this time. Um particularly you it it’s impossible for me not to reflect on you know the the most successful the longest journey teams and and identify what’s what happens in camp. It’s pretty consistent. Um the the teams that go the furthest are able to really block out noise at all levels both external and ex internal and worry about their game. and collectively sacrifice and play for each other. And as simple as that sounds, um, and it’s all good in theory, the noise is the the um opponent um be every week. Um, so like in the off season, you can’t be focused on two things at once. um the team hasn’t uh but then you go to training camp and it’s a new obstacle because you’re against the season. Um you know it’s a it’s the the nature of the NFL. Um but I think trying to capture that each and every day without relent. Um you know the what we’re uh what we’re doing here is with there’s there’s absolute connectivity to those teams in my mind. Um as I see how how you approach this time. This is where your foundation is built uh for your game and your technique and fundamentals if approached right um can be a can be an a tool an advantage a competitive advantage against every opponent the rest of the season. So what if you could play every opponent um at once by full commitment to your technique and fundamentals? That’s what happens in those teams. That’s what um you know each and every day uh we’re not guaranteed to get. Guys have to motivate. Guys have to motivate themselves. Um do it’s all about the days dudes rising to the occasion on the days you don’t feel like it. You know those those are the key. So um uh each and every day and how we stack um our work and build our game um you know first to be uh joint practice ready then um preseason ready then regular season ready um you don’t waste a moment um or you’ll have an experience that will be regrettable man.

Coach Mike McDaniel meets with the media on Sunday, August 3.

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