Coach Mike McDaniel meets with the media | Miami Dolphins

Coach Mike McDaniel meets with the media | Miami Dolphins

Good point. Sorry. It’s been a fun day football preparation. So, uh, if you can share with us what led to Tanner Connor’s release after practice yesterday and are you able to say anything about how his roster’s vibe will be filled? Yeah, there’s, uh, there it was the first there’s a couple roster stuffs, uh, roster things that will happen before the game. Um and uh he was one of them. Um and uh you know I think there’s some strong consideration. Um uh there there’s a you know good chance he he could come back. Um there’s a couple things at play that we’re working on, but um you know I think we’re fortunate to have a a good group of guys working in the shadows. So, um it was appropriate um and uh yeah, you’ll to be continued through the rest of the week. Disclosing what roster moves you’ll make tomorrow afternoon for competitive reasons obviously. Can you say if if injuries have created a need for you to find a body? Uh yeah, there’s a um uh specifically to um to fill his spot on the 53. Was there some injury at some position that you Yeah, there’s there’s several things. I mean, at this point in the season, particularly where you’re um you’re in that week and a half post uh uh Thursday night, there’s guys that are on the on the brink um and there’s potentials and you have to um eye on a lot of stuff um that’s crossal that affects um your your game day activives and um etc etc. So, uh, we’re working through those and and have contingencies and contingencies on those contingencies for everything. We haven’t seen Rousul this week. um is does he have any chance of playing or you know um he’s one of those or he’s uh one one of the few that um I’m preparing as though he won’t but not shutting the door because of how he’s um uh really attacked you. There’s there’s pro he’s left zero question as to how bad he wants to play in this game to his teammates. He’s done everything he he can. I know he he’ll continue to. So, I will leave open the possibility, but I’m preparing for him not to. Chop. Is he still at the stage of protocol where it would seem unlikely he would play Sunday? That’s um I I think he is is progressing through the protocol. Um, I think it’s important um for me to uh apply the same rasool where where I’m I’m prepared for him not to play but not ruling it out, letting the process um uh uh fully be completed. But, um, you know, I I think the timing and where we’re at, I’m just prepared for him not to. Go after reviewing the film from last week’s loss and um you the errors from Larry Broom and last time you all played the Bills with Zack Ser who had a few critical errors in those those games that seem to shift momentum. How would uh you say those mistakes have been addressed in practice this week and what steps are being taken to ensure that those players show improvement and better execution goes into this week’s matchup? I I think the the particular um examples you’re referring to um that that has been the cadence throughout as the season’s progressed. And I think right now the the team has um the clearest picture of how how much our season’s been shaped by critical execution errors and and how important it is to focus on um the things that maybe you take for granted. So that it’s very important instead of just um getting uh getting pissed and flipping a de desk over you um you make sure that each each of those moments um stand for something. So I think uh I think uh as an entirety our football team has a better understanding um of the things that we have taken for granted or maybe we didn’t nail down in execution um you know along the journey specifically uh of course the last time we played Buffalo but realistically uh every every loss um and self-inflicted uh failure that we’ve had. So, um th those those things are um lessons uh and I’m pushing these guys for them not to be scars because you uh uh they’re they are lessons learned based upon execution um you know in this game and and the games moving forward. So, I I there’s uh the Buffalo Bills have our focus and playing clean football. Um and understanding, yes, if we don’t play clean football, we know what that will look like. So, um why don’t we uh make sure we prioritize how do we play clean football in three phases for four quarters? Mike, why do you think the team has such a small margin for error in terms of when they do make mistakes, they’re so costly? You know, I think I think it’s uh you know, the the idea of perfectionism you’re chasing, but if you feel like you have to be perfect, that one mistake snowballs. I think we’ve experienced a lot of um you know, non-complimentary football snowballing where okay, uh this phase has a failure and the next phase does too. um and understanding and as as those stack up um you want to do perfect that much more. But the game is not about being perfect. It’s about establishing exactly your non-negotiables that you what you have to focus on and um relenting on the perfection. But the the way we play that being the the the main area of focus and if the way you’re playing is the main area of focus, you don’t get hammered down with um you know a a subtle nuance of maybe you’re too wide here, too short here, or you’re um you did too much penetration here and you should play read more. all of these things. The idea of how we play, prioritizing um over result, prioritizing over everything so that we can keep that consistent tonality of of physicality of uh you keep momentum when you um keep your style of play even through failure. And so to me, I I feel like guys have felt like they have to be perfect or else um because uh when the failure any failure has occurred, it’s kind of snowballed. Uh in our in our games that we’ve won, they’ve been standalone issues where guys haven’t let it alter uh our play style. this this week. Um the the main objective for me was to clearly paint the picture of the way we have to play and and uh regardless of what happens, sustaining that, sustaining that effort, that strain, and just being um a a disciplined football team with uh how we go after the ball and how we how we protect it. You know, that’s monumental. uh because this is a this is a team that praise on your failures. I also want to ask you about the um jumbo package. I don’t know if that’s what you call it where six offensive linemen. I know you’re getting Julian Hill back or I assume you’re getting Julian Hill back, but do you see a potential for that jumbo package considering the amount of success that you had with it? uh the the you know having Dan Brunskill play tight end was a solution based upon um you know uh injury issues for the position and the offense. Uh but sometimes solutions end up being um a new tool in your toolbox. I think so. I think what you’re what you’re um alluding to, I see uh an option for us um that is uh on top of uh what we were able to do before Julian got hurt. Um how that manifests itself. Um it’s kind of the the when you when you add a new tool to your toolbox, you just give gave more variance to the defense um more things that they have to prepare for. Um, and that’s uh one of the reasons it’s been invaluable to have um Dan do that, but not just do it or not just be out there, he’s executed um at a high level. So, um it’s a benefit and something that is on the table as an option uh moving forward, which is a credit to him. I wanted to sorry I wanted to ask you about what happened yesterday the tragedy with Nandan and how has that brought to you the importance you always talk about mental health and how you help players and how you deal with that also yourself. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. any any any any sport any I mean just human beings the struggle and the you figure you don’t get the scope of how people are struggling internally um until a drastic something drastic like that occurs it’s a it’s a tragedy that I don’t know know him but you know was very uh wellversed with him coming out and we uh uh somebody that we had multiple discussions about in the draft process and and to me I I think the the the thing that it brings to light is people are people and sometimes uh you know out of I don’t know um you know people looking from afar with uh at people on a stage you assume that every because you’re watching them that they don’t have normal people problems. Um, and that stuff is real. So, I think, uh, you know, beyond knowing, I don’t know much about the specifics of the situation, but I know that, uh, it’s a it’s a tragedy when people, especially a young, um, early 20s human being, thinks that’s the only answer. Um, you know, I think, uh, you know, from a team perspective, it’s a reminder to check on your teammates and not assume. Um, but, you know, my my heart goes out to everyone. I know it affected every almost every if not every team in the National Football League because uh, of the type of person he was. So, um, I I wish I had words to to do justice to the to the tragedy that it is. Mike, uh, I know you’re not in the locker room a whole lot, but players told us yesterday they took out a couple of games to pop a shot in the card table. I’m wondering how you interpret that. Is that a sign of more focus or what what do you think about that? No, I I I just keep it moving. I I I it was not something that was told to me like be before it happened and um that’s their space and they want it clean. Um, and however they do that I’m I’m cool with, but it wasn’t really on my radar at all. How’s it looking for the two veteran safeties, Iffy and and Ashton, and for DSR for Sunday? Okay, so I can rule D out. Um, and then you know uh it’s an important day for Ify and Ashton. So, it’s uh if you if you haven’t noticed, there’s a lot of things that are going to the clock this week. Um, a lot of guys that really want to play. Um, but uh you know that um Fortunately, our our our team for the most part understands how uh uh you have to go to the game and be able to uh uh put yourself in a situation to play four quarters and um if you if you can’t go four going into it, um you’re you’re costing the team. So, you have to um be very intentional, very communicative, and very honest up until kickoff. So, we’re working through that. Um, I’m uh hopeful for both and we’ll see. You’re playing the reigning MVP this week down your top corner, down your promising secondyear edge rusher. You know, obviously JP dealt to Philly. Just how have you seen the cornerback position and the edge rusher position attack practice this week? like they want to play in the game and um that they uh understand the challenge, but also, you know, you bring up a interesting uh it’s cool that you brought both those groups up because particularly I’ve seen both of those groups understand um you know the lessons of our season. the lessons of our season is that um it’s not one person’s job um to to handle a great player. It’s not one person’s job um to win or lose the game or uh players don’t have to be um above and beyond who they are individually. the the the key um each and every week um without fail is a team playing team football and and guys making the plays that um they they have the ability and are in position to make. So how do I see that? I literally see that by fearless uh conviction in technique fearless. So, they’re going after it, uh, understanding where their help is, and that there is no defense that’s, um, one-on-one. There’s always a leverage. There’s always, um, a a pass rush to help coverage. There’s a post player to help um, you know, man coverage. And if you’re in zero, you’ve just added a person um, in the pass rush. So, uh, you’re you’re not playing by yourself either. So to me that’s it’s vitally important. It is a lesson that um unfortunately we’ve been taught several times um in the in in several wrong ways and then in right ways when we are successful and that’s it it is not um the the sole person, the sole positions responsibility. It’s collective um uh attack and fearless uh relentless strain. Um and and that’s the great thing about playing uh this division opponent is because the Buffalo Bills um you it you know going into the game that it’s going to take a full commitment of strain, effort, and detail um that to earn a victory. And anything outside that um you’re you’re chasing uh you’re chasing your tail. So, I I think it’s important that our team understands that and I’ve been able to um see uh up until today, and we’ll see how today goes. I’ve seen a a team that understands what’s in store for them, and that’s a a a very good football team that it’s going to take a team effort to beat. And quick followup, just Weaver said yesterday when it comes to the quarterback position, it’s between Bonner and Marshall, and I’m curious just what What have you seen in those guys, but then also a guy like Juju Brent who actually has starting experience on the outside? Well, again, I I’ve seen the the important thing that I really focus on is you have a you’re you’re present and evaluating your guys every single day. And so, uh, taking that overlay of how they, uh, attack their technique and fundamentals and and putting it over. All right. Now that they have the potential to start, what are they doing? Um, different how they uh, does it, you know, you can tell so much about the where guys are at simply by their pattern of behavior and how that alters, you know. So, I’ve been very focused and that’s I’ve been very encouraged because they haven’t made more of it than it is. It’s an opportunity to play techniques and fundamentals and a scheme that they own. So that opportunity to play, they should they should really show out all of their uh technique growth and it shouldn’t be you shouldn’t be weighed down by um the the semantics of all right, you didn’t start last week and this week you’re starting. Um and that that’s what I’ve seen. So it’s given um you know it’s really given us uh several options going into the game and then you can play off those options within it. um you know depending on how it plays out. But I think the the main thing is that it is a football is a simple game um that can be very complicated if you let it and gets more complicated when um you’re you’re you’re uh not winning every game like you want to. So in those moments you have to uh refocus on what it takes to win, not make it more than it is and have a collective effort um for three plus hours um and and not expect to earn a result until um you know the the last minute of the game. That’s the expectation you have to have. That’s the way that we’re working. Um it takes no one player or one great play. It is a collection of about 150 plays and uh the the team with most points wins.

Coach Mike McDaniel meets with the media

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