Speaker 1: Practice, Patrick throwing Parker touchdowner. What a win for this
Speaker 1: Miami Dolphin team. Wow right, ah right, Miami Indeed, and
Speaker 1: free agency is off to a rocking start as your
Speaker 1: Miami Dolphins have been busy bolstering the roster with quality signings,
Speaker 1: freak athletes, intelligent, instinctive scheme fits, and we've been doing
Speaker 1: it with clever cat management that keeps this roster in
Speaker 1: terrific financial shape going forward. What's up, Dolphins? Travis Wingfield
Speaker 1: with you here for a special series of the Drive
Speaker 1: Time Podcast, part of the official podcast network of your
Speaker 1: Miami Dolphins. We aren't making these shows with specific dates,
Speaker 1: but we are rolling out a new episode per player signing,
Speaker 1: and we'll start with the details of the player's career,
Speaker 1: taking a look at their counting stats, advanced metrics, film study,
Speaker 1: character testimonies, and a whole lot more. All of that
Speaker 1: before we hear from the newest Miami Dolphins and exclusive
Speaker 1: interviews with the Drivetime Podcast. So, without any further ado,
Speaker 1: let's get in to the free agency series here on
Speaker 1: the Drivetime Podcast, and we are going to cover Miami's
Speaker 1: cumulative approach to the free agency period the off season,
Speaker 1: all the impacts that will have on the cap ramifications,
Speaker 1: future cash commitments, and the draft coming up next month
Speaker 1: as well. But for today's podcast, we're talking about new
Speaker 1: linebacker Landon Roberts. Miami agreed to a contract with the
Speaker 1: former Patriot and he is a six ft two hundred
Speaker 1: and thirty eight pound former sixth round draft pick that
Speaker 1: has contributed in all three phases of the game during
Speaker 1: his four year career so far in the professional ranks.
Speaker 1: Going to Pro Football Focus, Roberts has one thousand, seven
Speaker 1: hundred and two snaps on defense, eight fifty four of
Speaker 1: those in run defense, one fifty two as a pass rusher,
Speaker 1: and six nine and coverage. He's played three hundred and
Speaker 1: twenty four special team snaps and rounded out his game
Speaker 1: in twenty nineteen with seventy snaps as a fullback and
Speaker 1: evident from his workload and his work as a fullback,
Speaker 1: his true prowess comes in the run game. That's where
Speaker 1: he shines the brightest. He has ninety two career run
Speaker 1: stops on those eight hundred and fifty four running plays.
Speaker 1: That's good for a ten point eight percent run stop percentage.
Speaker 1: He missed just two tackles all year last season. He's
Speaker 1: compiled two hundred and six total tackles in his career,
Speaker 1: fifteen of those for a loss. He has four sacks,
Speaker 1: a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and six passes defense.
Speaker 1: He's played in sixty games and started thirty three, all
Speaker 1: of those at middle linebacker. His former head coach Bill
Speaker 1: Belichick talked about how he came upon Landon Roberts during
Speaker 1: his time at Houston when he watched a Navy in
Speaker 1: Houston game. A difficult offense to defend because they run
Speaker 1: the traditional option attack on offense. This from Belichick quote,
Speaker 1: When I watched that game, I kept noticing the linebacker
Speaker 1: for Houston. I don't know how many tackles he had,
Speaker 1: but they weren't all on the option play because he blitzed.
Speaker 1: He just showed up on plays and I thought he
Speaker 1: ran well. End quote and a versatility is Robert's day job.
Speaker 1: Then he moonlights in leadership. This from NFL dot COM's
Speaker 1: Lanczer Line on his scouting report out of college out
Speaker 1: of Houston quote, a coach's dream, tremendous leader on and
Speaker 1: off the field, worked all off season to loosen his
Speaker 1: hips and improve his flexibility. Loves to hit and has
Speaker 1: a nose for the football instinctive with an uncanny ability
Speaker 1: to consistently sniff out the best path to the ball.
Speaker 1: Lives on a downhill track, and makes high percentage of
Speaker 1: tackles near the line of scrimmage. Chest up, wrap up, tackler.
Speaker 1: Has heart for days square and his scrapes and mirrors
Speaker 1: running backs effectively. His college coach called Roberts one of
Speaker 1: the best leaders he's ever been around, and raves about
Speaker 1: his work, ethic and passion for the game end quote.
Speaker 1: There and that heart and that knows for the ball,
Speaker 1: show up on defense, special teams, and on offense as
Speaker 1: a fullback. And again. Roberts was asked about the challenges
Speaker 1: last year of his multiple roles, and he claims the
Speaker 1: same mentality serves him well regardless of which position he's playing, saying, quote,
Speaker 1: I run through a blank's face offense, defense, special teams
Speaker 1: doesn't matter end quote. And he fits in perfectly with
Speaker 1: Miami's theme for versatile players, because well, the more you
Speaker 1: can do right. Few players in football can claim greater
Speaker 1: versatility than Roberts. In twenty nine team and Bill Belichick,
Speaker 1: his coach last year, spoke about how valuable. His eagerness
Speaker 1: was to help the team last year. Quote, He's a
Speaker 1: guy that's shown tremendous versatility this year and has helped
Speaker 1: our football team in all three areas. Certainly, the team
Speaker 1: has been able to benefit from his versatility, his toughness,
Speaker 1: his work ethic, and his desire to contribute to help
Speaker 1: our team perform better. So I think we all recognize that,
Speaker 1: we all appreciate it. So we're fortunate that he's been
Speaker 1: able to do that for us. And let's go ahead
Speaker 1: and get to my interview with new Dolphins linebacker he
Speaker 1: Landed Roberts and joining me now on the podcast is
Speaker 1: the newest linebacker of the Miami Dolphins. A land In Roberts,
Speaker 1: A Landing, how's it going man? I you're doing man,
Speaker 1: just just staying out the way, man in the house,
Speaker 1: man like that, celebrating with my family. Glad to be
Speaker 1: a part of the Miami Dolphins. I guess this time
Speaker 1: is a little bit of the best, a blessing in
Speaker 1: disguise for us to get more time with our loved ones.
Speaker 1: I'm doing the same thing out here, but I wanted
Speaker 1: to get your feeling here. New deal, new team. How
Speaker 1: is this all kind of hitting you right now. Man.
Speaker 1: You know, I'm just blessed for the new opportunity. Man.
Speaker 1: And uh it's you know, me and my family, Uh,
Speaker 1: we love a decision, you know, we can't wait to
Speaker 1: get out there and get started and whatnot like that,
Speaker 1: and uh, we're just excited about being Miami. Dulf absolutely,
Speaker 1: And you had your choice obviously on the free agent market.
Speaker 1: What was it about the Dolphins that really attracted you
Speaker 1: to coming here and signed that contract to play your
Speaker 1: ball in Miami? Man? You know, yeah, I can't put
Speaker 1: it enough on you know, coach Flora as he was
Speaker 1: my coach all my years and uh, New England and
Speaker 1: and even you know, that's the first thing women coach
Speaker 1: I had made at you know, for my pro day
Speaker 1: coming out of college. So the relationship was there. And
Speaker 1: then you know, just just watching you know, the organization.
Speaker 1: Of course we play them two times, and we played
Speaker 1: them two times a year, so watching that that that
Speaker 1: grow you know this past season, you know, and whatnot.
Speaker 1: It was just the best decision to go that way.
Speaker 1: And I'm I'm a uh glad to be a part
Speaker 1: of the organization and I can't wait to just get
Speaker 1: there and get started working. I'm curious to kind of
Speaker 1: follow up on that about your pro day because Flora's
Speaker 1: has such an extensive history in the NFL in terms
Speaker 1: of the jobs. He's worked a scouting assistant, he's working personnel,
Speaker 1: he's coached both sides of the football. He's done everything.
Speaker 1: So when he met you at the pro day? Was
Speaker 1: that what was that meeting like? At first? Um, honestly, man,
Speaker 1: he just uh, you know we met shook ends. But
Speaker 1: you know the pro day there's a lot that goes
Speaker 1: on and stuff like that. But you know, you could
Speaker 1: tell he was a very detailed person right then and there,
Speaker 1: you know, and then get drafted by New England and
Speaker 1: you know he's a lineback and coach, so you know,
Speaker 1: just the expectation and knowing how he how he is,
Speaker 1: how he operates. You know, he's a great leader, you know,
Speaker 1: running off the field. He cares about you as a
Speaker 1: person and your family. So uh, that's that's just great
Speaker 1: things to know about your head coach. And um, you
Speaker 1: know he's a great guy. So you know, well it
Speaker 1: was is just great to be back with him. We've
Speaker 1: done a few of these now a landing and that's
Speaker 1: pretty much what everyone says about Brian Flora. So it's
Speaker 1: really great for us to hear that. And you're not
Speaker 1: the only former Patriot joining the squad this year. What
Speaker 1: can you tell us about your position mate? And Kyle
Speaker 1: van Noy and a guy you went up against every
Speaker 1: day in practice, one of the tougher dudes I've talked to.
Speaker 1: And Ted Carriss Man, you know Kyle Man, that's that's
Speaker 1: my that's my guy. We did all I fort you
Speaker 1: this together in New England. Man, I'm ecstatic that I'm
Speaker 1: may able to still play with my brother, you know,
Speaker 1: uh and stuff like that, because a great person. You
Speaker 1: know our wives and know each other. You know, both
Speaker 1: of our childs. We just had to child. I mean,
Speaker 1: you know, his his son and my daughter was born
Speaker 1: a couple of weeks apart. So me and Kyle got
Speaker 1: a great relationship, so it's great to be playing with him.
Speaker 1: And then me and Ted were drafted together in that
Speaker 1: class with New England, so I was even more excited
Speaker 1: to hear that Ted was there. You know Ted that
Speaker 1: that that's my boy. Man, He's going to come with
Speaker 1: it every day. He's uh, you know, real physical person
Speaker 1: and great Persontiva be around, so you know, I'm excited
Speaker 1: about them guys, and um, yeah, man, just excited about
Speaker 1: the whole deal. Ted talked about how coming downhill and
Speaker 1: seeing you in the in the A gap or B
Speaker 1: gap or whatever. He said that wasn't very much fun
Speaker 1: because you're a physical dude. He likes to match that.
Speaker 1: So I'm sure there was some pretty good helmet clashings
Speaker 1: in those practices. Yeah, man, it was. It was pretty good.
Speaker 1: But uh, yeah, they're gonna co with uh a hundred
Speaker 1: percent of the time. Man. You know, and he's a
Speaker 1: physical guy itself. Man, I'm man, I'm really blessed that
Speaker 1: I I'm still being able to be his teammate, you know,
Speaker 1: and don't have to compete to get him in a
Speaker 1: real game because he's a very physical guy. Man. Uh,
Speaker 1: he's gonna come with him each day. Yeah, you'll get
Speaker 1: to see him every day in practice. And you mentioned
Speaker 1: just how a child was your first. Yes, yes, I
Speaker 1: had a little girl. Congratulations. I have a girl coming
Speaker 1: in May, so maybe they'll grow up together. Oh yeah, man,
Speaker 1: it'll be great. Man, the girls and son does man
Speaker 1: change believe I'm looking forward to me and a girl, dad. Man,
Speaker 1: it's like change my entire perspective. And she's not even
Speaker 1: here yet, so I can I definitely can see that.
Speaker 1: Congrats once again. Um let's go ahead and talk about
Speaker 1: some opponents scouting you might have done on the Dolphins
Speaker 1: offense last year. What's it like to prepare for a
Speaker 1: guy like Ryan Fitzpatrick. Um, Man, he's a you know,
Speaker 1: preparing for him, you can see like how much influencing
Speaker 1: and that he has an offense and man, uh you
Speaker 1: got a little swag a by itself, Like you know,
Speaker 1: he'll be in some situations and he get out this situation. Yeah,
Speaker 1: what in the world, you know, And I guess that's
Speaker 1: the point when they're talking about the magic come out,
Speaker 1: you know, and uh, but he's uh, he's a great
Speaker 1: you know what saying opponent to see on film. I'm
Speaker 1: glad to be able to call on my teammate now,
Speaker 1: you know, just just like the rest of my teammates. Man,
Speaker 1: when we're being able to get there and meet everybody
Speaker 1: that's on the roster, man and stuff like that, because
Speaker 1: it's just it's just great, you know, to be able
Speaker 1: to bond, you know, day in and day out with
Speaker 1: your teammates because at the end of the day, playing
Speaker 1: this game is a big blessing, and UH, don't take
Speaker 1: it for granted at all. Absolutely. We had a game
Speaker 1: last year in the preseason where Fitz dropped the shoulder
Speaker 1: and ran over a defensive back. But let's try to
Speaker 1: keep him from doing that in practice and keep that
Speaker 1: red shirt and keep that guy up, right. You agree
Speaker 1: with that, Yeah, yeah, yeah, you gotta keep your quarterbacks
Speaker 1: out of out the way. You know, you love to
Speaker 1: see it, but at the same time, I don't want
Speaker 1: to see that exactly as far as the rest of
Speaker 1: the offense goes. Who are some of the guys in
Speaker 1: the Dolphins offense, be a receiver's offensive line, someone that
Speaker 1: kind of gave you a challenge in your preparation and
Speaker 1: playing against the Dolphins last season, well, you know, uh,
Speaker 1: preparing each week, you know, for each team is a
Speaker 1: it's a different challenge. And preparing for the Dolphins, man,
Speaker 1: I really don't go in the game looking at just
Speaker 1: a pecific player, you know, I look at the whole
Speaker 1: aspect of the offense, you know, details on what makes
Speaker 1: them go, how they go, you know, and stuff like that.
Speaker 1: And with uh, with the Dolphins offense last year of course,
Speaker 1: they had a whole different offensive coordinating than what they
Speaker 1: have this year. So last year, which is you know
Speaker 1: that team, you know this year be this year and
Speaker 1: stuff like that. But each week, man, every team is different.
Speaker 1: You got prepared different and stuff like that. So it's
Speaker 1: all good. And every time I go and look for
Speaker 1: your name on Google or try to find quotes about
Speaker 1: you from past football coaches, the same thing comes up
Speaker 1: every time. In landon your leadership and your heart and
Speaker 1: desire for the game. And Tom Herman, your coach at Houston.
Speaker 1: We spoke a little bit off air about your time
Speaker 1: at Houston, and he talked about it, and Belichick talked
Speaker 1: about it. Where are those integral traits for the possession
Speaker 1: come from? The leadership, the heart, the will to just
Speaker 1: go out there and play your hardest every single snap.
Speaker 1: I just try each day to be, you know what
Speaker 1: I'm saying, the best guy I can be, you know,
Speaker 1: the best teammate I can be, and stuff like that.
Speaker 1: I think you can't teach the leadership. I think it's
Speaker 1: just something that's just you know, and stuff like that.
Speaker 1: And uh, that's why I just try to be every
Speaker 1: every day the best person that I can be. You know,
Speaker 1: best husman, I can be the best far as I
Speaker 1: can be, you know, and of course the best teammate
Speaker 1: I can be in the best Miami Dolphin I can be,
Speaker 1: you know. So uh I think you know that that's
Speaker 1: what that comes from and stuff like that, and uh man,
Speaker 1: you know I respect them coaches that you know, especially
Speaker 1: coach Tom Herman, my college coach, and you know what
Speaker 1: I'm saying, Bill Belichick for saying the great things about me,
Speaker 1: you know, and whatnot. But every day, you know, I'm
Speaker 1: gonna always be the best person that I can be,
Speaker 1: you know, all times. And whether or out you're looking
Speaker 1: at advanced metrics on whatever website you want to look at,
Speaker 1: or watching your tape, it's pretty evident you love to
Speaker 1: come down and smack guys in the mouth. And that
Speaker 1: broad type of mentality on the football field is so infectious.
Speaker 1: I think that it really breeds, you know, good play
Speaker 1: around you. Where did you kind of develop the mindset
Speaker 1: that I'm gonna hit this dude harder than he hits me,
Speaker 1: and I'm going to be the one delivering the punishment. Man,
Speaker 1: I think it is you know that linebacker position. Man,
Speaker 1: growing up, I always love playing linebacker watching it, you know,
Speaker 1: so I just I think, I just you know, yeah,
Speaker 1: you just see me. Yeah, I love it. Here a
Speaker 1: little contact and stuff like that. But at the same time,
Speaker 1: you know, uh, a little being you know, it was,
Speaker 1: you know, a smart, smart football player on the field,
Speaker 1: physical guy and stuff like that. It just me, I guess,
Speaker 1: but I love doing it. You know, I'm gonna come
Speaker 1: down here a percent of the time and stuff like that,
Speaker 1: and um, you know, be most physical player on the field,
Speaker 1: but at the same time be smarter. Also. I can't
Speaker 1: wait to watch it and practicing on game days of Land.
Speaker 1: It's gonna be a lot of fun to watch. And
Speaker 1: whether you are, you know, doing the B gap to
Speaker 1: B gap work or even going back to college and
Speaker 1: dealing with the spread offense like we talked about off
Speaker 1: fair against that Navy spread option offense. What allows you
Speaker 1: to play so fast against so many different looks and
Speaker 1: the process the oppositions running game as quickly as you do.
Speaker 1: I think it's just preparation, Just preparation throughout the week, uh,
Speaker 1: knowing what the team is doing, knowing what they want
Speaker 1: to do, normal type of offense that you're knowing it
Speaker 1: certain situations you know what they like to do and
Speaker 1: stuff like that. And that's one thing my first three
Speaker 1: years and New England helped me, you know, being under
Speaker 1: coach Florida as he he helped me developed that part
Speaker 1: of my game even more to non situation you know. Uh,
Speaker 1: you know, he knowing knowing yourself, you know, he know
Speaker 1: the tools that I'm able to bring. But you know,
Speaker 1: like I said, you gotta be a small football tare too,
Speaker 1: so you gotta know you know in this, look at that,
Speaker 1: Look what can't you get? And he definitely helped me,
Speaker 1: you know, take my game to hold different lover in
Speaker 1: that aspect. And you do have a couple of championship
Speaker 1: rings there with Brian Flores back into England. What is
Speaker 1: bringing that championship pedigree into a new locker room mean?
Speaker 1: And what did you kind of take away from being
Speaker 1: on championship teams? Oh, you know, bringing your championships, you know,
Speaker 1: having that on your on your resumes is great, you know,
Speaker 1: but at the end of the day, you know, now
Speaker 1: it's it's about Miami Dolphins, you know, taking it one
Speaker 1: day at a time, you know, not looking ahead, you know,
Speaker 1: when we're able to get there after this, you know,
Speaker 1: virus and stuff, going away, meeting all your teammates, you know,
Speaker 1: taking that first step, you know, getting too from O
Speaker 1: T A S. Focusing on training camp, and then that's
Speaker 1: when you turn the page and start building you know,
Speaker 1: on the season and stuff like that. But it starts
Speaker 1: with just taking it one day at a time, you know,
Speaker 1: and stuff like that. So I think that's like the
Speaker 1: biggest theme, you know by the championship team, controlling what's
Speaker 1: in front of you day by day. That sounds perfect
Speaker 1: at falls right in line with Brian Flores's message. Absolutely,
Speaker 1: let's go ahead and change gears here and talk about
Speaker 1: some off the field stuff. A landon. You mentioned you're
Speaker 1: from Texas. I think a lot of people from Texas
Speaker 1: will tell you that's where the heartland of America's football
Speaker 1: products are produced. But South Florida might have something to
Speaker 1: say about that. What would you say to a South
Speaker 1: Florida native that says that we have the best high
Speaker 1: school football in the country. Um, I don't know, man,
Speaker 1: uh that that's a big debate, you know, with Texas
Speaker 1: and Florida. But hey, at least they're getting a dog
Speaker 1: from Texas to South Florida. So that's all I can say,
Speaker 1: that's the right that's the right answer of the right mentality.
Speaker 1: And here's a running theme we've had in the podcast.
Speaker 1: Here are some of your new teammates you're other free
Speaker 1: agent teammates. We talked a lot about basketball. Seems like
Speaker 1: a lot of football guys think they're elite Hooper's too.
Speaker 1: Do you fall in that category? Also? I can't who.
Speaker 1: I don't really like playing because I you know, I
Speaker 1: stayed at Trumble all the time. I grew up with
Speaker 1: some buddies who played football and basketball, and it was
Speaker 1: always the same thing. Like you said, after the first
Speaker 1: quarter they had three thousand, they're on the bench for
Speaker 1: the rest of the first half. So that yeah, yeah,
Speaker 1: so that's a good way to play though. That just
Speaker 1: means you're doing the right sports. So if you weren't
Speaker 1: playing football, is there a different sport besides basketball you
Speaker 1: might play? I don't know, man, I've never even looked
Speaker 1: at the different sports besides football. I never thought therefore, uh, yeah,
Speaker 1: I don't. I don't know. It'll just be football for
Speaker 1: me because all the other stuff just don't like. Well,
Speaker 1: I think you made the right choice. Now, that's where
Speaker 1: the mindset is so looking forward to that. When you
Speaker 1: when you get to South Florida, besides the football stuff,
Speaker 1: what are you most looking forward to about being about
Speaker 1: living in Miami? I should say, Oh, man, honestly, uh, honestly, man,
Speaker 1: I just want to get there and get to work.
Speaker 1: You know. I know there's a lot of things that
Speaker 1: do out there, but at the end of the day,
Speaker 1: got to do a job, you know, and this you know, first,
Speaker 1: get out there and meet all my teammates, say and
Speaker 1: and and build relationships with them. Guys, the tinue to
Speaker 1: be a good team and great Miami Dolphins. It's great
Speaker 1: to have you on that same page read to have
Speaker 1: you on the roster here, Landon, That's all I got
Speaker 1: for you. Congratulations on the new contract, best of luck
Speaker 1: this year, stay healthy, and welcome to Miami. As I
Speaker 1: appreciate you guys have me can't wait to meet you. Likewise, man,
Speaker 1: looking forward to it, and we'll see you down here.
Speaker 1: And there he goes a Landing Roberts, your new linebacker
Speaker 1: here with the Miami Dolphins, and he just wants to
Speaker 1: talk about football and get to work. And how can
Speaker 1: you not love that? In a new signing, a new addition,
Speaker 1: A new locker room presents a new leader on this
Speaker 1: football team, and I think he's gonna be a real
Speaker 1: good one going forward, both on the field and off
Speaker 1: the field. And so that's a landing Roberts. We're gonna
Speaker 1: have podcasts on all these new additions to the Miami
Speaker 1: Dolphins via free agency, and then sometime next week we'll
Speaker 1: recap the entirety of free agency and give you a
Speaker 1: snapshot of the roster and what to expect going forward
Speaker 1: on this team into the draft. Fun, fun times, exciting
Speaker 1: times in South Florida, getting a lot of talent, a
Speaker 1: lot of leadership, a lot of great characters in the building.
Speaker 1: Brian Flores and Chris Career executing that vision they laid
Speaker 1: out last year and making it happen this year as
Speaker 1: we look forward to a great season of Miami Dolphins football.
Speaker 1: If you want to catch all these episodes with all
Speaker 1: the new Dolphins free agents, make sure you subscribe to
Speaker 1: the podcast on Apple, podcast, Spotify, Google Play, wherever you
Speaker 1: get your podcast from. Go ahead, leave us a rating,
Speaker 1: leave us a review, Give me a follow On Twitter.
Speaker 1: It's at Wingfield, NFL. Follow the Dolphins at Miami Dolphins.
Speaker 1: Check out the Fish Tank and the Audible Podcast, both
Speaker 1: part of the official Miami Dolphins podcast network and of
Speaker 1: course Miami Dolphins dot com were the written portion of
Speaker 1: each of these podcasts, or each of these deep dives
Speaker 1: on these players is available to you. As for this show,
Speaker 1: that's gonna be my time. Until next time, fins Up.