Coach Mike McDaniel meets with the media | Miami Dolphins

Yeah. What you got, bro? I got Austin Jackson. Is he coming off IR? Do you know the answer to that? Barring a set back today, will we see him Sunday? Well, I mean, yeah, I mean, uh, barring we have the we have the day um that we have to evaluate. Uh I thanks for clarifying on the field. Um because yeah, you’ll definitely see him. Um but you know, we’ll we’ll let today play out and we have um you know, if if that occurs, we obviously have to do um some roster moves. So we’ll take um until tomorrow through the evaluation and uh um if if we have to do something, we we still have some time to do that. So optimistic. I mean, yeah, I guess I’d say I’m not optimistic, but um you know, uh we we’ll we’ll see. Is there any concern about Austin? I mean, you brought him back twice and the same injury regressed. I think it was back in 2022 and then this year. Coincidence? Fluke? Well, the thing with Austin Jackson is um you know, he’s he’s uh one of the toughest players I’ve ever been around and so he will uh put himself in in you know quote unquote um he he doesn’t mind testing the limits of of his body. So there’s to me um on one of the occasions I saw it as he didn’t it wasn’t a failure that he got hurt again. It was all the time that he spent on the field um other guys wouldn’t have been on the field because they wouldn’t have been able to try to come back. So pressing you know for me um Austin is is dependable of a teammate. Um, I think a lot of guys uh think they’re tough and re-evaluate when they when they see what he’s willing to go through to try to be on the field. So, um, I’m I’m not concerned uh just because we wouldn’t be having this conversation um with most players I’ve coached, he would be on IR, you know, so um that that’s uh uh it’s all positive and if he’s uh able to go, he will. Can you give us an idea of what you’ve seen from him in practice as I’m sure there’s been some kind of a ramp up? Yeah, I think um you know the biggest thing that we’ve been talking to him about is he’s playing not to be perfect. We’re we’re not having him play um whenever he gets on the field to be uh absolutely perfect. There are some um things that you uh some a little rust you have to knock off. Um but his uh where he’s at with his game and what we’ve seen this week is the tonality um and the physicality that it brings to our our our already physical group. So that I think is the the biggest thing is going into it having a reason reasonable expectation of performance for him um relative to his very very high standard of himself and then to let uh the the Austin Jackson style of play show out on the field. Um, and that means he’s convicted. That means he’s intentional. Um, that means he’s trying to displace defenders. And, uh, and you know, uh, shoot your gun when, um, when you have your opportunity. So, that, uh, that’s what we’re trying to get. Um, if if he’s if he has a setback, um, to today, uh, then we would be trying to do the same, uh, formula next week. Mike, but there’s been a lot of opportunity, I guess, for distraction since the last time y’all played between the by-week and then even Thanksgiving week. What have you seen from your guys though when you have been in the same building as them that lets you know that they’re locked in for Sunday? Well, uh the you know from the onset of my first uh um you know weekly captain leadership meeting uh guys wanted to know where uh you know we all were at because you don’t know you have a by week and you you get in here and you want to make sure that where you’ve gained as a group you’re you’re right there. And so what what I told the the guys and the way that I’ve approached it is you just leave no gray. You um set forth expectations and then you observe and then if things are off, you jump on it on the front end. Um to the point that maybe even it doesn’t even get to me. Um but within the locker room, uh you know, making sure that they know that there are people on the team that don’t know. They don’t know. you know, you’re not um we have a lot of young guys, so with clarity and direct communication, um you hit that on the front end and then you’re looking for uh that another uptick in your practice execution, finding ways to get better at things. And that’s what I’ve felt twothirds of the way through the week. Um and and then you just don’t um ever take your foot off the gas because um I didn’t say it was a best practice week because that the week’s not done. We have a day today. Um and that you have to just continue uh to put forth the effort and energy towards the things that we’re emphasizing and everybody knows what we’re emphasizing. So you can uh it’s hard to hide on our field. So, I feel uh I feel like I know where our players are at based upon what they’ve told me through their actions and through their execution. Mike, is Waller is Waller in play for this weekend or are you more likely to give him another week of practice? Uh we’ll we’ll see with today, but he’s in play and um I I feel uh you know, I’m optimistic guy. Um we’ll see with uh uh how how he feels today. Um, but if uh there’s not a setback, I’m um you know, I’m feeling optimistic. You’ve generally had a kind of tradition of having guys practice for a week, not play them, and then play them the next week. Why would that sort of deviate from your So, you keep coming to the press conferences. You know what I mean? All right. I got to keep you on the edge of your seat. Um, every ca it’s case by case. Generally you are right. Um generally uh the guys that are coming back um aren’t uh you know players with uh with the either Darren Darren Waller um has a history um within the National Football League and now with us and uh you know there’s nobody that’s been firmer uh more firmly ingrained in what we do than Austin. So there the formula is um uh you know a little a little more aggressive in that way. Um but you’re you’re still not um getting ahead of yourself and allowing every day to make sure that you know we’re giving them that opportunity and if uh their body doesn’t let them it doesn’t let them. What did you like about Tyler Shook coming out of Louisville last year? uh arm talent um and uh ability to to make um a lot of throws. And I think uh he was uh you know the most intentional uh focused quarterback at um at the combine drill work. That was the first time I noticed him. was uh throwing individual routes. Um but getting through his drop, looking down the middle of the field to hold the post safety um like you would when you’re playing the game as opposed to just um going through your drop and staring at the receiver, which would take defenders to he he was approaching it making it difficult for him, but more real towards how we train quarterbacks. And you know, I think he’s he’s had uh a ton of adversity throughout his collegiate career with injuries and such and all and and you know the the the transfers and he has gotten better. That is the endall for the National Football League is can you go through stuff and continue to get better. So, you know, you feel good about players like that. Um he’s a uh he came his his first opportunity he definitely gave it gave them a spark and you know our job will be to uh um play play uh with our all our details um aggressive and sound with him and the rest of their offense. Yeah. Um I feel uh very optimistic. Um he’s uh he’s eager. Mike, I I meant to ask you this in Spain. I I don’t think I actually did, but what is your like daily or even weekly engagement interaction with with Champ Kelly like now that or Yeah, that I’ll just leave it there. You didn’t want to you didn’t No, you didn’t. Okay. Um got it. Uh yeah, I think it’s um it’s I would say it’s very very good. I I have I’m close with Champ and we work um very it’s very easy um and fluid and uh he he’s got a he kind of got to observe uh the cadence of u my week uh you know um the whole season. So, he he does a great job of uh understanding our our best times to really uh iron stuff out and communicate. But the the biggest thing is that we’re um able he’s he’s a great he does a great job of communicating with me. Um and uh and we do, you know, I feel great about um how things have gone. There were a couple AFC losses yesterday. CBS put the Miami Dolphins back on the in the hunt graphic. Um, are do have you mentioned to the team at all that the team is not mathematically eliminated from playoff consideration? I’ve mentioned to the team the New Orleans Saints. Um, I think the one thing that I I do know is they uh you can do do math and um you do it off the losses. Uh, and um the with this much season to go um I mean you you you could do a little research report um the the seedings six weeks before the season’s over um vastly different in those six weeks. So you the the most important thing is that we play um our style of football and continue to progress because if you’re trying to even be in that conversation and worry about that, uh you’re not just going there to um get the invite and you’re we’re going to absolutely want our ball ready. Um and none of it matters. All of it doesn’t matter um beyond the New Orleans Saints game here um on Sunday. So that’s what I focus on. Um, and you know, I think the veterans in the locker room, um, can do the math for the young guys. I know Abram Brewer and Bonito Jones have still been limited. What’s their status? Uh, uh, they will have no designation today um, for practice.

Coach Mike McDaniel meets with the media.

Presented by Baptist Health

Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/channel/MiamiDolphins

#MiamiDolphins #NFL

For more Dolphins content: http://www.MiamiDolphins.com
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MiamiDolphins
Follow us on TikTok: http://tiktok.com/MiamiDolphins
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MiamiDolphins
Follow us on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/MiamiDolphins
Follow us on Reddit: http://reddit.com/u/yourmiamidolphins
Get the app: http://apps.apple.com/us/app/miami-dolphins/id563617073

5 comments
Leave a Reply