Coach Mike McDaniel meets with the media | Miami Dolphins

Coach Mike McDaniel meets with the media | Miami Dolphins

K. Oh, hello. Mike, since you have landed in Spain, share what you’ve seen, what you’ve observed of the country. Uh, anything you’ve experienced that would you wouldn’t normally experience back home? Well, I think the timing um of the question for the person you’re asking is a a little um unfortunate. I’ve seen uh the hotel office that I have. Um but on the ride over here um it it was absolutely gorgeous. So reminded me a lot of uh Northern California in terms of uh just kind of the layout and being a history major. Um, there’s a lot of things I’d like to see, but right now, um, I I know firmly, um, where the beverages are and where the pens are and and where my computer is to watch film. Uh, but we’ll get there by Friday. Hi, Mike Tales with Associated Press. Can you talk a little bit about the the facilities here at Atletico de Madrid and you get to to practice here and then play at Real Madrid Stadium, which is their big city rivals. if you could talk a little bit about that. And also Dan talked about the time that he helped you with your personal problems uh and he he was proud about it and saying that it was it was important for him as well. If you could talk about that as well again. Absolutely. Are you trying to throw me square in the middle of a rivalry? Um I I’ve yet to be to the uh uh to um the stadium that we’re playing the game at. Um, but so far here, uh, very very impressed. Um, just you you can tell, uh, it’s it’s first class for sure. And, you know, we feel very fortunate to be able to have access to a facility like this to prepare for an NFL game. It’s very helpful when you have um, you know, such a nice facility with all the things that you need for a football team. So, um, and and, uh, you know, Dan Quinn holds a special place in, uh, in my heart, in my career. Um, you know, I think he, uh, he was there at ground zero. um when uh I I became sober and supported me and um believed in me um and gave me the opportunity to continue uh what I love to do. So uh for uh for that I’ll be forever indebted to him. Um I think it speaks to the type of man he is and the type of leader he is that uh that I know really he he he touches. um every player he coaches um from a a true authentic um uh standpoint and uh you know I think the commanders are very fortunate to have them. Hi Mike. Uh you’re big on team bonding experiences of course whenever the team travels like uh the long preseason trip and such uh Germany a couple years ago. What do you hope the team the players get out of this experience? Well, I think uh you know any any sort of investment, personal investment into um people’s lives, you know, such as um you know, this is this is a place that a lot of people have um you know, never knew they’re going to be able to go to uh necessarily and um you know, just feel very fortunate to have a a first time experience. Um and so you do that with teammates and you know, little things are big things. So it the sport of football is 11 people playing together um each and every down and uh that cohesion. Was it psychologically a very important win this one and do you believe you’ll end up winning records still? Well, well, I think uh to answer your first question, um uh Foosball. Um yes, I’m a uh avid, you know, I there’s I don’t think I’ve missed the World Cup. Um that’s that’s uh as good as it gets in terms of uh you know, people from uh from all over the world really. Um I think it kind of flexes the popularity of the globally but in the World Cup people fighting for um their country only being able to do so every four years. Um that firmly ingrained my passion to the to to the sport. And um yeah, I’m a I’m a fan. I I uh was working um I was working with the Houston Texans back my second year in the National Football League and there was an exhibition um uh of uh Barcelona was playing um I can’t remember who but it was a uh it was a pretty cool event and since then I’ve I’ve I’ve kept a close eye on it. And then as far as our team um you know I think each and every game is its own individual challenge I think you know the more that you can uh almost simplify the formula for what you’re trying to do there you know we do have a history we are in division and it’s you know absolutely uh vital if you’re trying to do in the National Football League it goes through your division um but I think more than thing, you know, that the team needed to feel uh the complete execution of a three-phase football game. Um, and I think, you know, that more than anything, less less the opponent and more of, you know, who who we are and how we play football. Um, you know, I think that that was the biggest thing for for that, you know, our team. And you know, I think um right now the you don’t in the National Football League, you run yourself into trouble if you look one, you know, and if you um look at more than the next game, it’s uh usually a recipe for failure. So um you know our our our team uh on the heels of putting together uh what we think is a complete game. Um now our objective is to you know change circumstances go across an ocean and um uh create the same formula to you know have the same out um for this next game and that has to be earned. So, you know, I think uh the the belief in the team is is very high amongst um the entire locker room and you know, our job is to uh play football. Um but we get to choose if we’re impassioned uh collectively and I think um guys have have made that choice and need to continue to um progress so that we can uh uh have another win. Um, and then we’ll then we’ll move on to the next one. Um, and ultimately that’s the best way to shape your record uh in the way you want. Hey, Kaylin Kaylor with ESPN. Um, the Dolphins have an international growth strategy to be the team, the NFL team for the Spanish speaking world. So, I’m curious living in Miami where um 67% of residents speak Spanish at home. I’m curious how you interact with Spanish at home in Miami, if you do at all. Uh, I do a I I do my best when um interacting with bilingual people who speak English. Um, I’m a very good listener. Uh, and and I I can understand it. Um, but unfortunately uh uh the uh I I I do I do the language an injustice when I try to get reps at it. So uh you know fortunately um you know I we are uh uh fortun fortunately most people that try to speak with me um speak fluent English uh which is my wheelhouse. Uh coach McDaniel Galves from Mara and I wanted to ask you how has the atmosphere been since the departure of former general manager Chris Grier? Um well, I think you get used to um in professional sports um you know, things uh things occurring uh specifically when when your results aren’t there. And um you know, I think from my standpoint as the head coach of the football team, you know, I think I I’m very focused on how we play football and and keeping guys focused on that. I I think um collectively the the team did a great job of focusing on what was in what was most important um for the foreseeable future which was the next opponent. And you know sometimes um when there’s things that are outside of your control um realistically the the best thing to do is to focus on what you can control. I think that’s what the team did. Um and I think uh the the results were um a product of uh focus and um uh desire strain and and uh a collective effort that was very um focused on the opponent the Buffalo Bills and that’s what it will take this week um for the Commanders. Hey Mike Marcel Jaki ESPN. Uh I I know you’ve said Jaylen W is a number one receiver. you’ve seen him as a number one receiver since Tyreek’s injury. I think he’s cleared five catches and 80 yards in every game but one. What have you seen from him? How have you seen him, I guess, achieve another level since I mean becoming the deacto number one guy in this offense? Well, I think there’s uh you know um something to be said about the you know his high percentage of productivity from uh per target. And when you’re when you’re the the number one receiver um and the team is depending on you to be that generally your targets come in critical situations um whether it’s situational football or moments in the game and you know in those situations the the the team rises or falls based upon you know your execution of what people are depending on you to execute. So, it’s never, you know, Jaylen Wadd has um always had the talent to uh do um almost anything on the football field. And, you know, a lot of receivers um do have talent. He’s an extraordinary talent, but uh playing the playing the position of uh receiver in the National Football League has to do with more than just the talent. It’s a a high level of execution and understanding of timing. Um, understanding of uh areas of the field, understanding uh the what the responsibilities of are of the players around you so you can appropriately run your route. Highlevel detail that um you know the pass rush in half of a second. Um if you’re off your game, your quarterback could get sacked and you could not even have a target. So when you’re the leading lead leading receiver, you’re a true one. Um there’s a lot of weight and e expectation of execution. And that’s what I’ve seen him um deliver on is is the uh staying true to his technique and fundamentals, understanding um through all the prep when to when to do what, how to release, um when to when to use a a move on a route, and when the quarterback is needing him to um get out of his break fast and uh as a hot all things. um winning football. When you’re the number one receiver, you have to be playing winning football. And I think he’s uh demonstrated that he can he can do that for our team um in a very very effective way, which is uh it it it’s it’s great to see and very timely. Hi Mike for Front 7 podcast. In other international games, teams arrive on Thursday or even Friday. What’s the reason behind your early arrival? And do you think it make a difference in your preparation for the game? Thanks. Um, hey, no problem. Um, on the front end of the answer, uh, I think, you know, there’s many different ways to do it. I don’t I think there’s pros and cons um to any extensive time uh, difference. So, you know, the philosophy that you know what we we try to get out here early to adapt to the time, but more importantly to me, um I think it’s uh normally a day day. Um and use that to bond together. Um so, you know, it doesn’t, you know, it’s all, you know, you can win any way. Uh and it the schedule is not going to dictate that. It’s more um a a collective buyin to what you’re doing and how you’re doing it that matters the most. You know, I think um got our teams win coming a couple days early. Uh teams uh win coming a week early. Um it’s really all about the team and what they decide to put into the game. Um and uh you adjust for time zones um because the opponent has to as well. Uh to knock out some housekeeping, is any practice window opening for either Austin Jackson, James Daniels? I know you hinted at possibly someone uh and uh also any updates on Chop Robinson, Russell Douglas, Juju Brent from an injury standpoint. Four for one, I’m sorry. Um by my count, I feel like it was more than four, but uh uh Austin Jackson’s window will be opening today. Um, so it’ll be good uh to have him on the field. And then um as far as uh well I know you said Rul and uh Rul’s working his way back. Um you know he eagerly uh trying to get ready for this game. Um he won’t practice today but um you know we we feel positive about him. And then uh uh Chop uh should should be uh all things point towards um a clearance, a full clearance today. Um and he uh we feel positive about that. Um, so I mean, yeah, there’s a lot of um nicks, but no, there there’s no um worry of what you’re worried about. Um, just a quick question. Is uh Brewer, Aaron Brewer, okay, or is he hurt? Well, he’s uh he’s not going to practice today. he is working through um uh a game issue uh that you know from a a a captain’s standpoint. He’s um not going to be executing all the plays today, but you can tell where his mind’s at. Um I he’s uh working his way back. I feel very optimistic. um it is uh uh a real thing he’s dealing with. But um just knowing him and his mindset uh I I feel very optimistic for him. Hi Mike. From Spain, we see yourself as a very close, friendly person. So, in your management style, how do you do to keep the to keep the balance between being a cool, chill guy with the with the people, but also having to make tough decisions, remarking you’re the boss? Well, I think the the idea um of being a coach in general is you’re you’re trying to be able to reach people. So I think uh on the front end uh you have to earn uh their respect and regard uh by way of um being worthy of them listening to you. Um and and then you know as far as you know executing um you know uh standards and and and having um accountability you know that you just follow through with um you know the the rules you set forth that that you deem important. I think um you know the the main thing is that you’re you’re trying to develop and maximize players and uh from a from a psychological standpoint um how how do you do that? Uh there’s uh uh one way that I that I know and that’s to reach players and you do that with both meeting them on their on their level but also um holding them accountable and making sure that they uh they uh are maximizing all of their talent um in their profession. So, uh I I think for me I I’ve I’ve never seen um anyone respond to someone inauthentic. So, I think it’s of primary importance when you’re in a working relationship. Mike to recently had said that uh one way he can get back to his previous level of play is by just playing with conviction. It’s not necessarily a comfort thing. Conviction. uh as his coach, I don’t know if this is more of a to a question, but as his coach, how does he get back to playing with conviction? How do you get your players playing with conviction again? Well, I think um you it it starts with what are you telling them to do? What what are they being coached to do? Are they capable of doing it? And um and then you know just working together to um you know I think last game um he he played very convicted and how did he how did he do that? I think it’s um pretty simple. It’s it’s um uh going through um each and every play uh with the understanding of the foundational principles of how we teach and then um uh you know lean into playing the position as a point guard um rather than trying to um play the position as a shooting guard. as a quarterback, you don’t always know what’s going to be open. Um, you might not even know what’s going to be open um at the snap. So, the the key is that you have a clear mind um and rely on your your your gifts and your training um and and um play what you see and and do it with conviction. Um understanding that the idea is not to be perfect. The idea is to be fully prepared and lean into your skill sets and um play with the other 10 players. So I think you know um to a uh his uh his game is uh where the team needs it when he is playing convicted. I think he recognizes that and uh you know that one of the reasons we were able to score 30 points in the past game um was his uh his conviction on a lot of things. And just to clarify, just to follow up here, uh the I love a crossport analogy, but playing as a shoot a point guard instead of a shooting guard, his job to distribute and get his teammates involved rather than look to essentially get buckets himself or win the game himself. Well, I think you have to look at it like um you know, all passes have to be caught and as for other players to have an impact on the game, it it is the quarterback’s job to get them the ball. So, when you’re looking at through the lens of all right, I’m not going to predetermine that this ball is going to go through the hoop. I I might shoot it. I might um I if I have uh uh two defenders charging me, I might bounce past it to the the lane. You know, whatever it is, you have to know all of the what all the players are doing and you have to um attack a defense through uh conviction where they’re vulnerable. And um you have concepts that are better for certain coverages or certain defenses or um ideal for certain, but the the main objective is still to distribute um and uh deliver the football for uh other players to run with it. So I think that that point guard analogy is something that we’ve we we use a bunch because it’s a it’s a mindset thing. um and he’s trying to play um with conviction uh while distributing the football. All right, thank you guys.

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