Coach Mike McDaniel meets with the media | Miami Dolphins

Coach Mike McDaniel meets with the media | Miami Dolphins

as much or if it’s not equal to, it’s probably the most um blitzes that we’ve seen in in a preseason game, particularly uh preseason three. and for us not to uh uh turn the ball over or um you know having minimal procedural penalties which you know I typically with the twos and threes I don’t motion as much as I was I was motioning um this game and that was intentional. I was trying to make it difficult and um see how how guys could handle um varsity type pre- snap stuff. So very happy with that. Very important. You know, I think you can see that uh you know, we haven’t missed a day um talking about finishing um whether it’s each meeting or each practice. Um it’s been a very important part of the things that we’ve been doing and that in conjunction with um you know I think guys have really uh taken the opportunity to be leaders uh uh uh on the team um and and really that leadership. you see the team um is not only invested in each other, but um they’re very focused down the stretch and having some young guys make some plays is gigantic. I think it speaks to um both those young uh both those young guys but as uh the collective as well because um guys are uh are not missing an opportunity to try to finish something because that’s basically um what our what our jobs come down to is uh how you finish the game and and try to get a victory. So, I I like the the competitive spirit and the attention to detail um and the the the leaders staying involved um even when they’re not playing and making their presence felt um which I think was on display tonight. What do you like about Malik Washington? Um uh his personality and his play. Um he’s he’s a uh competitor that um really is is super fearless and the moment is not too big for him. You know, we as a rookie um in the middle of the season last year um in a game that you’re you’re I think we’re two and six at the time on on national television. He he made the third down um big uh big uh was it third down or he made the big um corner route comp uh completion and I think that everybody saw that on top of how he started the game with the touchdown that he was a gamer. Um so his uh competitive greatness is kind of defined by John Wooden as uh being your best when your best is required and that’s that’s um Malik Washington to a te. Coach, what stood out to you about Augie Gordon’s preparation this week and gave you the confidence to to give him that starting role uh this this evening? Well, I think he um he you can tell that he’s um doing a a very intentional job at bridging the gap from the college position of running back to um NFL running back. there’s a lot more responsibilities both protection and routes specifically with what we like to do here and um it it takes an adjustment that uh it you you can tell if it’s too big for a guy or not and it’s definitely not too big for him. Um, however, you know, there’s uh the biggest thing with with rookies, and you you hear it every year about rookie walls at some point in time, and um it it’s a it’s a journey that has to be relentless. So, it’ll um you know, that’s that’s the next stage for him in in terms of uh the next couple weeks before we play a game. He’s he’s uh you can’t take your foot off the gas um or you’re quickly humbled. Um so it’ll be important for him to um continue his diligence um and uh not or get comfortable in being uncomfortable with his uh his studies and his assignments um because he has to keep pressing forward um to continue to uh have growth in his game like he is having. having Jerry Waller go through warm-ups but not play. Was that just to get him to go through a pregame routine even though he hasn’t had significant practice work? Yeah, that was um very that was very intentional. There’s um um him uh you know there’s a couple other guys uh that I kind of had to go through warm-ups but I planned on not playing. Um and he had no setbacks. It was um he had a good pre uh pre um game workout and uh so he he looked good and excited to see him next week. I believe I saw Jason Marshall Jr. take some first team nickel corner reps. How do you think he fared and just where is he on the depth chart at that position? Um considering Mike Hilton, I think um I’ll have to uh see the tape for the nuanced uh things. I know um you know for each play and how how he gradeed out but you know I it definitely didn’t look too big for him and it’s impressive because um you know it’s a it’s a more challenging position uh that you have to you get really exposed if you’re um off your leverage or um out of your run fits. You know you’re you’re essentially a DB linebacker when you’re playing that position. And that was um you know something that I think probably having having Mike here has has helped uh um has helped him in that process. He’s I wasn’t I’ve been very impressed with how he’s kind of um uh felt or looked comfortable um and his and he’s kind of showed off some of shown off some of his physicality in that position. So, uh, I’m excited to look at the tape and, uh, yeah, he he’s been progressing nicely in in a way we needed him to. You talked about Devon’s ownership of the playbook. Um, how has he coming along and also how has he helped Oie since he’s been out here a little bit? Well, Devon’s um, he he’s there’s been no setbacks with him. Um, I look forward to getting him um, out there in in a helmet and shoulder pads again. Um, and he’s been instrumental because he’s not too far removed from uh being in the shoes of um a rookie or uh you know and learning the offense. Um but he’s super prideful uh with his ownership and we you know we’ve um o over the last couple years have moved him around everywhere. So he and he’s uh he’s he understands I think the offense um very clearly. So um that’s always beneficial especially when um he’s looking to help um uh he’s he’s kind of a expanded in his own little leadership role which has been um really cool to watch him mature in that way and um take ownership and pride in leading that room. What are the at the risk of sounding like Barry Jackson here, what are the next 72 hours like for you? Like do y’all keep essentially a running list of your 53 initial 53 man rosters, the evaluation process like ongoing over the next couple days? How does that work? Yeah. No. Um you try to keep a clear mind. Um uh even though you have your your certain inferences, you try to keep a clear mind when you uh when you watch the tape to let the tape um tell the story and then um it’s yeah the what I do know is this this team and the collection of 90 have made um our jobs very difficult. So, uh, the way that looks is you, um, go in, uh, tomorrow morning, you watch the tape with the coaches, um, then I’ll I’ll get together with all of them, and then, um, get together with the coordinators and and with Chris, and, um, we’ll start, uh, chopping away at some of these difficult decisions. But it’s not, um, it’s not easy by any stretch. I I really um uh keep myself from uh uh making any rush to judgement and allow guys to really um play it out and you know try to settle things on the field. So, um that that uh involves both game tape and practice tape um a lot of tape um of you know what what they’ve their resume essentially and then um fitting that puzzle piece together uh which is your your 53 plus 16. Um and uh we’ll we’ll be um we’re hours away from that. Can we get an update on on Liam Iikenberg? Is it possible that he might begin the season remaining on the PUP or is he going to be healthy enough to be on the 53? Yeah, I know the um uh you know th those things uh we’re kind of ironing out in the next um 48 hours. I don’t um foresee him being immediate return. I don’t foresee it being season long. Um but these are all the things that we have to um take very uh very due diligence um you know when you’re talking about the the the amount of um players that you h you can list in one way shape or form or the other and when their availability um will be um or will when their availability will allow for their return. So um that’s that’s uh an exact um topic that will be um substantially addressed uh in the next coming few hours. You guys appreciate it. Thank you.

Coach Mike McDaniel meets with the media

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