WEBVTT - Drive Time: Week 6 Variety Show with Daniel Oyefusi 0:00:01.680 --> 0:00:04.760 You are listening to the Miami Dolphins Podcast Network. 0:00:05.160 --> 0:00:08.280 This is Drive Time with Travis Wingfield. Back to throw 0:00:08.400 --> 0:00:10.760 to a looking whips about. 0:00:10.320 --> 0:00:16.400 The wide Dolphin touchdown, Tyrequel, uncolievable, just. 0:00:16.560 --> 0:00:18.280 Blue fire for a second time. 0:00:18.560 --> 0:00:19.279 Don't know where he. 0:00:19.360 --> 0:00:21.919 Was going right away? Want to hit that though, Man, 0:00:22.360 --> 0:00:23.079 I'm gonna help you. 0:00:23.160 --> 0:00:24.560 Someone will step on your bandwagon. 0:00:24.840 --> 0:00:28.360 Wattle, Wattle to a shot gut back to throw, looking 0:00:28.360 --> 0:00:29.080 at them's. 0:00:28.880 --> 0:00:30.160 Up fires touchdown. 0:00:31.040 --> 0:00:33.559 It's Wattle his sixth touchdown. 0:00:33.680 --> 0:00:39.080 Pat this day, Drive Time with Travis Wingfield begins. 0:00:39.600 --> 0:00:41.559 Now we check your pulse if enough for. 0:00:43.920 --> 0:00:45.680 What is up? Dolphins? 0:00:45.760 --> 0:00:48.760 And welcome to the Drive Time podcast, part of the 0:00:48.800 --> 0:00:53.920 Miami Dolphins podcast Network, covering your team, your Miami Dolphins. 0:00:53.960 --> 0:00:56.920 How's it going everybody? I am your host, Travis Wingfield. 0:00:57.120 --> 0:01:00.480 And on today's variety show for week number six, we 0:01:00.560 --> 0:01:03.840 welcome in Daniel Oyafusi of the Miami Herald. We're gonna 0:01:03.840 --> 0:01:07.399 talk some schematics Dolphins at the five game mark. I 0:01:07.440 --> 0:01:08.800 guess the new quarter poll? 0:01:09.080 --> 0:01:09.560 Ish? 0:01:09.800 --> 0:01:13.880 I guess the quarter polls after four games and a quarter, right, 0:01:13.920 --> 0:01:15.440 We're gonna go ahead and do it. After this game, 0:01:15.520 --> 0:01:18.560 talk some defense and offensive schematics and where things could 0:01:18.640 --> 0:01:22.000 get even better for your Miami Dolphins. Plus Kyle Krabs 0:01:22.240 --> 0:01:25.240 for five on Finch Draft, We're gonna hear from Deshaun Elliott, 0:01:25.240 --> 0:01:27.960 Emmanuel Agba, as well as Cedric Wilson and a whole 0:01:27.959 --> 0:01:30.640 bunch more. Our Friday detour takes us into an in 0:01:30.720 --> 0:01:33.839 depth look at Deshaun Elliott's presence in that defensive backfield 0:01:34.000 --> 0:01:37.399 from the Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. 0:01:37.440 --> 0:01:43.680 This is the Draft Time podcast. Heye Gaffe, as we 0:01:43.720 --> 0:01:47.040 do every Friday, Let's welcome in my guest Daniel Oyafusi 0:01:47.120 --> 0:01:50.120 of the Miami Herald. Joining me now on this Friday 0:01:50.200 --> 0:01:52.640 variety show ahead of the Week six matchup against the 0:01:52.640 --> 0:01:55.760 Carolina Panthers here at hard Rock Stadium is the great 0:01:55.840 --> 0:01:57.720 Daniel Oyuafussi from the Miami Herald. 0:01:57.960 --> 0:01:59.360 Daniel, welcome back in, my friend. 0:02:00.000 --> 0:02:01.040 Thanks for having Travis. 0:02:01.280 --> 0:02:03.640 Always happy to do that, and you know we I 0:02:03.680 --> 0:02:05.400 think the last time you came on the podcast was 0:02:05.400 --> 0:02:08.040 back in training camp. We discussed some of the you know, 0:02:08.600 --> 0:02:11.960 new schematics you might expect from Vic Fangio's defense and 0:02:12.040 --> 0:02:15.440 just general expectations of the Dolphins team in general. Before 0:02:15.440 --> 0:02:17.640 we get to the defensive chatter here, because no, you're 0:02:17.680 --> 0:02:20.200 a big defense guy, a big offense guy. I'm just 0:02:20.240 --> 0:02:23.480 curious to get your overall bird's eye view what you've 0:02:23.480 --> 0:02:26.160 seen through five weeks this year from the Miami Dolphins. 0:02:27.080 --> 0:02:30.440 Yeah. Well, it's definitely been a fun start to the season. 0:02:31.480 --> 0:02:33.960 I know, you know, from the last time I was 0:02:34.000 --> 0:02:35.800 on the pod, I said that I was very bullish 0:02:35.919 --> 0:02:38.120 on this team on both sides of the ball. But 0:02:38.200 --> 0:02:40.400 starting with defense studient, starting with the offense, I'm not 0:02:40.400 --> 0:02:42.640 sure anyone could have foreseen, you know, this type of 0:02:42.720 --> 0:02:45.680 historic start to the season. I thought that with the 0:02:45.720 --> 0:02:49.720 continuity of you know, Tua and another same seat schemes 0:02:49.720 --> 0:02:52.320 from year one to year two, Mike m Dane was 0:02:52.360 --> 0:02:54.079 play caller and a lot of the core guys being back, 0:02:54.120 --> 0:02:57.560 I thought that we could expect very big things. But again, 0:02:57.960 --> 0:03:00.760 most yards through the first five games NFL season, I 0:03:00.800 --> 0:03:03.680 don't know if anyone predicted this type of historic start, 0:03:03.720 --> 0:03:06.400 but we do have that history and that trend of 0:03:06.480 --> 0:03:10.120 year two Shanahan style of offenses, where whether you look 0:03:10.160 --> 0:03:12.240 at year two of the Rams going to the Super Bowl, 0:03:12.480 --> 0:03:14.600 year two of the Atlanta Falcons, when Kyle Shanahan was 0:03:14.600 --> 0:03:17.040 the OC going to the Super Bowl. I think even 0:03:17.040 --> 0:03:18.880 the first full year of Jimmy Garoppolo with the San 0:03:18.880 --> 0:03:21.800 Francisco forty nine ers going to the Super Bowl, even 0:03:21.800 --> 0:03:24.160 that before with the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers winning 0:03:24.760 --> 0:03:26.960 MVP in a second season, you have this trend of 0:03:27.000 --> 0:03:28.520 those offenses really taken off. 0:03:28.960 --> 0:03:30.960 But to say that they were going to be top 0:03:31.600 --> 0:03:32.000 one and. 0:03:32.120 --> 0:03:35.320 All these major statistical categories, I think even you know, 0:03:35.360 --> 0:03:37.200 the most bullish fan with I said, maybe that's. 0:03:37.040 --> 0:03:38.080 A little bit over zealous. 0:03:38.360 --> 0:03:41.240 So yeah, definitely definitely been exciting to see the way 0:03:41.320 --> 0:03:44.400 this offense has grown in terms of scheme of personnelities, 0:03:44.640 --> 0:03:47.760 the little nuances and rinkles that they're instituting every single week. 0:03:47.920 --> 0:03:50.040 It's really fun to break that down. On the defensive 0:03:50.040 --> 0:03:51.440 side of the ball, yeah, I think we've seen a 0:03:51.440 --> 0:03:53.520 little bit of growing pains. We've seen some really strong 0:03:53.760 --> 0:03:58.160 performances mixed in with some unexpected and maybe disappointing performances 0:03:58.320 --> 0:04:02.280 against some of the better offenses, better quarterbacks in the league. 0:04:02.720 --> 0:04:05.200 I again was very bullish on this defense. I thought 0:04:05.200 --> 0:04:08.400 that this was a unit that has had and still 0:04:08.440 --> 0:04:10.200 had the potential to be a top ten unit. 0:04:10.480 --> 0:04:12.040 I thought they were going to hit the ground running. 0:04:12.240 --> 0:04:16.279 Obviously, the injury to Jalen Ramsey kind of was tough, 0:04:16.600 --> 0:04:19.520 tough below for that unit, but you know, you have 0:04:19.560 --> 0:04:22.440 seen some encouraging signs. It's just a matter of all 0:04:22.520 --> 0:04:24.840 that coming together, guys kind of sailing into those new 0:04:24.920 --> 0:04:27.360 roles in it's a completely different scheme from what they're 0:04:27.560 --> 0:04:28.320 being expressed them to. 0:04:29.200 --> 0:04:32.760 I couldn't speak enough this offseason about an expectation of 0:04:32.800 --> 0:04:35.440 growth in the second year of the offense. And you 0:04:35.520 --> 0:04:37.920 mentioned all the stops they had previously, like even that 0:04:37.960 --> 0:04:41.320 second year of the Browns, like they were substantially better, 0:04:41.360 --> 0:04:43.000 And I go back to the Niners. I'm glad you 0:04:43.040 --> 0:04:45.560 mentioned that with Garoppolo because he came in I think 0:04:45.560 --> 0:04:48.040 it was the second year right of Shanahan being there 0:04:48.040 --> 0:04:50.040 in twenty eighteen, and they got off to a really 0:04:50.120 --> 0:04:52.440 rocky start, but he won the final five games there 0:04:52.720 --> 0:04:55.320 as the starting quarterback. But I remember in twenty seventeen, 0:04:55.680 --> 0:04:59.320 I was operating a quarterback evaluation website and I was 0:04:59.440 --> 0:05:01.560 one of the art I wrote was how Brian Hoyer 0:05:01.640 --> 0:05:03.760 was going to shock the football world and take a 0:05:03.800 --> 0:05:06.159 twenty seventeen nine Ers team to New Heights, and I 0:05:06.240 --> 0:05:08.720 was a little bit premature on that with my Niners 0:05:08.760 --> 0:05:10.200 hype that year. I think that once I got their 0:05:10.279 --> 0:05:13.320 quarterback in place, that kind of changed the landscape for them. 0:05:13.520 --> 0:05:15.799 But you also make an interesting point about the offense, 0:05:15.920 --> 0:05:18.240 you know, hitting the ground running with the continuity they 0:05:18.279 --> 0:05:20.360 have this year. Obviously, the first game of the season two, 0:05:20.360 --> 0:05:22.240 it goes for four to sixty six. The offense goes 0:05:22.240 --> 0:05:24.440 for over five hundred, and that's been their average so 0:05:24.520 --> 0:05:27.120 far this season. But I thought you you kind of 0:05:27.200 --> 0:05:30.240 saw that last year in terms of, you know, the 0:05:30.240 --> 0:05:33.560 first game of the year not their best performance offensively 0:05:33.560 --> 0:05:36.479 against the Patriots. Then it was a slow start against 0:05:36.520 --> 0:05:39.279 the Ravens before you had that explosion, and then you 0:05:39.400 --> 0:05:42.000 kind of, you know, Tua gets injured, comes back, The 0:05:42.040 --> 0:05:45.359 first game against the Steelers is not ultra explosive, but 0:05:45.400 --> 0:05:47.279 then you hit that stretch of games where it was 0:05:47.360 --> 0:05:50.839 just fireworks, fireworks, fireworks, And now from week one you 0:05:50.880 --> 0:05:53.360 see that kind of take hold already. So I think 0:05:53.440 --> 0:05:56.359 that speaks to the continuity offensively, And the reason for 0:05:56.400 --> 0:05:59.600 this long winded rebuttal to you, Daniel is to kind 0:05:59.640 --> 0:06:01.640 of take us into the defensive side of the football. 0:06:01.839 --> 0:06:04.640 You mentioned being bullish on that side, and you know, 0:06:05.120 --> 0:06:09.239 Jalen Ramsey, everyone knows who he is his career accomplishments, 0:06:09.880 --> 0:06:13.080 but I almost feel like because of his versatility and 0:06:13.120 --> 0:06:15.320 the defense and just the skills that he offers and 0:06:15.320 --> 0:06:18.520 the way he can expand your scheme, I would almost 0:06:18.560 --> 0:06:20.839 compare it to like losing your quarterback on offense in 0:06:20.839 --> 0:06:23.120 a lot of ways. And so the reason I want 0:06:23.160 --> 0:06:25.280 to get into that is because I'm curious to hear 0:06:25.360 --> 0:06:28.640 about how you think this defense and the team in general, 0:06:28.680 --> 0:06:32.080 but specifically the defense can kind of have an offensive 0:06:33.480 --> 0:06:36.640 like surge if that makes sense, Like can they put together, 0:06:37.040 --> 0:06:39.480 you know, the continuity within the same season, get this 0:06:39.600 --> 0:06:42.320 scheme down and expand and become the defense like you 0:06:42.360 --> 0:06:44.160 mentioned that a lot of folks were bullish. 0:06:43.880 --> 0:06:45.560 On Yeah, well that's the hope. 0:06:45.600 --> 0:06:47.160 I mean, the one thing that you want to kind 0:06:47.160 --> 0:06:49.159 of put things in perspective, you would hope that Again, 0:06:49.600 --> 0:06:53.120 I think Dick Dangel is definitely still experimenting. We've seen 0:06:53.160 --> 0:06:56.600 some changes in the secondary, not only in terms of injury, 0:06:56.680 --> 0:06:58.640 not only Jalen Ramsey not playing at all this season, 0:06:58.680 --> 0:07:00.680 but you know, they haven't played a lot Jalen Phillips, 0:07:00.680 --> 0:07:02.920 who's kind of dealt with some nagging injuries that's forced 0:07:02.960 --> 0:07:05.080 Adrey Van Ginko to step up into some different spots 0:07:05.120 --> 0:07:07.960 and he's been great a revelation so far this year. 0:07:08.360 --> 0:07:11.240 But yeah, I think the addition of Ramsey honestly could 0:07:11.280 --> 0:07:13.800 probably or possibly change the kind of the complexion of 0:07:14.280 --> 0:07:16.680 this unit, especially what you do in the back end. 0:07:17.000 --> 0:07:17.320 You know his. 0:07:17.440 --> 0:07:20.160 Obviously, you know that he's a shutdown corner in previous 0:07:20.200 --> 0:07:22.560 stops in this similar to a style of defense. He's 0:07:22.560 --> 0:07:26.400 played that star role in the nickel spot. So again, 0:07:26.440 --> 0:07:28.480 it just adds to the to the flexibility that you 0:07:28.560 --> 0:07:31.120 have in there. And again, I think that when we 0:07:31.280 --> 0:07:34.040 entered this season, we started open training camp, the expectation 0:07:34.280 --> 0:07:37.240 was that in most cases you're exaving Howard On, who 0:07:37.240 --> 0:07:39.800 I think has had a pretty solid strong start to 0:07:39.920 --> 0:07:42.400 the year. I saw some next Gen stats the sampley 0:07:42.400 --> 0:07:44.120 has given up like tenth viewist. 0:07:43.880 --> 0:07:47.680 Yards and zone coverage. So he's actually had a pretty. 0:07:47.480 --> 0:07:50.520 Nice adjustment and a man had these games to more 0:07:50.560 --> 0:07:53.120 of his own scheme. And then you expectations that you're 0:07:53.120 --> 0:07:55.400 going to have Jaylen Ramsey, you know, to top ten 0:07:55.760 --> 0:07:58.800 cornerbacks on the outside kind of on their own islands, 0:07:58.800 --> 0:07:59.520 and then your clear. 0:07:59.400 --> 0:08:00.960 Kohu and the nickel. 0:08:01.480 --> 0:08:03.239 And the fact of the matter is, you know, nobody's 0:08:03.280 --> 0:08:04.760 making excuses, but when you lose a guy like. 0:08:04.800 --> 0:08:06.440 Jamal Ramsey, you have to make some adjustments. 0:08:06.440 --> 0:08:08.640 So we saw Eli Apple on the outside to start 0:08:08.640 --> 0:08:10.960 the season, and then they moved Cater out there. Tough 0:08:10.960 --> 0:08:13.200 game against Stefan Daks, a really tough matchup, and then 0:08:13.200 --> 0:08:16.040 they move him back inside when you see some better results. 0:08:16.280 --> 0:08:18.920 So they're still figuring things out on the back end. 0:08:19.160 --> 0:08:21.400 Up front, you know, they're doing some different runs. I 0:08:21.400 --> 0:08:23.000 think that that is a bit of adjustment for guys 0:08:23.000 --> 0:08:25.920 like Christian Wilkins and Zach Seeler, and then even at 0:08:25.960 --> 0:08:28.840 the linebacker position with Jeron Baker in new addition David Long. 0:08:28.920 --> 0:08:31.240 So again there is an adjustment period. Like nobody wants 0:08:31.240 --> 0:08:33.760 to use excuses, it's the NFL and whatnot, But yeah, 0:08:33.840 --> 0:08:35.040 I mean when you have a lot of guys, a 0:08:35.080 --> 0:08:37.560 core group of guys that have done something so completely 0:08:37.600 --> 0:08:40.679 different from what they you know, what they've done from 0:08:40.679 --> 0:08:42.320 the first four years of the first couple of years 0:08:42.320 --> 0:08:44.560 of their career, there is a bit of an adjustment period, 0:08:44.840 --> 0:08:47.160 So I think that over time Banjo will figure out 0:08:47.960 --> 0:08:50.719 what you know, fits his player's best he'll put them 0:08:50.720 --> 0:08:53.200 in those roles consistently, and then we should see better 0:08:53.240 --> 0:08:55.080 play and better improvement from that unit. 0:08:55.600 --> 0:08:57.720 I think that the adjustments in the lineup we saw 0:08:57.800 --> 0:09:00.400 after the Buffalo game against the Giants was was really 0:09:00.400 --> 0:09:02.120 impressive and just kind of tells you that there is 0:09:02.200 --> 0:09:04.840 a finger on the pulse of what's working in terms 0:09:04.840 --> 0:09:06.839 of the coaching staff and decisions, because I thought those 0:09:06.840 --> 0:09:09.640 adjustments really had a big impact in that Giants game. 0:09:09.640 --> 0:09:11.800 And you allude to the entire group there front, back 0:09:11.920 --> 0:09:13.560 and second level of the defense, but I want to 0:09:13.559 --> 0:09:15.559 go back to the front part because you mentioned a 0:09:15.600 --> 0:09:17.280 couple of guys there that I thought had their best 0:09:17.280 --> 0:09:20.240 games of the year on Sunday against the Giants. And 0:09:20.280 --> 0:09:22.439 you know, albeit a banged up offensive line and a 0:09:22.480 --> 0:09:24.199 group that has surrounders so many sacks this year, and 0:09:24.240 --> 0:09:29.040 they're struggling offensively, but like Christian Wilkins's first step quickness, 0:09:29.080 --> 0:09:31.160 it doesn't matter who he was facing, it was impressive. 0:09:31.559 --> 0:09:34.800 Zach Seeler's strength and the arsenal of moves he has 0:09:34.840 --> 0:09:38.000 where he can kind of you know, chop rip and 0:09:38.040 --> 0:09:39.680 do all the swim moves and stuff that he does 0:09:39.720 --> 0:09:42.520 and really utilize the length and leverage that he plays with. 0:09:42.800 --> 0:09:44.760 And then David Long, I thought, also had his best 0:09:44.800 --> 0:09:47.599 game of the season. And I think that Daniel, I 0:09:47.600 --> 0:09:49.680 want to hear your opinion. I think those three guys 0:09:49.679 --> 0:09:52.680 could be really big keys to get in the defense 0:09:52.880 --> 0:09:54.840 to play at the level we saw against the Giants, 0:09:54.840 --> 0:09:58.360 against the Broncos, against the Patriots, because with this defense 0:09:58.400 --> 0:10:00.720 that we talked about this summer so much, the light 0:10:00.800 --> 0:10:03.080 boxes you want to operate from to give you more 0:10:03.080 --> 0:10:06.280 help on the back end. Those guys' ability to you know, 0:10:06.400 --> 0:10:09.200 four double teams anticipate plays and win they're one on 0:10:09.200 --> 0:10:11.319 one matchups, I think could go a long way. So 0:10:11.320 --> 0:10:13.280 I just want to kind of get your feeling on 0:10:13.320 --> 0:10:15.120 do you agree with that and how do you think 0:10:15.240 --> 0:10:19.319 those three guys alone could really help create a positive 0:10:19.360 --> 0:10:21.079 ripple effect across the rest of the defense. 0:10:21.600 --> 0:10:21.800 Yeah. 0:10:21.800 --> 0:10:24.840 I think the hallmark of like the vic Bangel defensive though, 0:10:24.720 --> 0:10:26.640 the two high structures and what they do on the 0:10:26.679 --> 0:10:29.640 back end in terms of post snap rotations and whatnot. 0:10:29.679 --> 0:10:32.560 But the bedrock of the unit is having a solid 0:10:32.679 --> 0:10:35.280 front and really a solid front seven, so to speak, 0:10:35.800 --> 0:10:37.800 that can really maintain that line of scrimmage. 0:10:37.800 --> 0:10:39.079 You know, you know, you know. 0:10:39.080 --> 0:10:41.640 Vic said, you know, they're just looking for consistency in 0:10:41.720 --> 0:10:43.520 those guys. You know, it's tough on guys like Christian, 0:10:43.559 --> 0:10:45.439 Wilkins and Zach. So those guys are taking on double 0:10:45.480 --> 0:10:48.160 teams I think at a higher rate than maybe they 0:10:48.240 --> 0:10:52.000 have in years past of having these lighter boxes and whatnot. 0:10:52.400 --> 0:10:54.200 And then you know, I think that there is a 0:10:54.240 --> 0:10:57.360 lot more responsibility on the linebackers inside guys to kind 0:10:57.360 --> 0:10:59.240 of diagnose their gaps and to make sure that they're 0:10:59.280 --> 0:11:00.240 in the right spots as well. 0:11:00.280 --> 0:11:02.079 So yeah, I think that it definitely starts upfront. 0:11:02.360 --> 0:11:05.160 It was a very good signed to see Christian, especially 0:11:05.200 --> 0:11:06.520 you know, he had a hit a great rep. 0:11:06.520 --> 0:11:08.040 I think he was kind of on like a shade 0:11:08.400 --> 0:11:09.040 technique game. 0:11:09.280 --> 0:11:11.400 He just had a great like swin move and I 0:11:11.480 --> 0:11:13.520 think he got to the to the quarterback and like 0:11:13.520 --> 0:11:15.520 like less than precent, like listen, two point five seconds. 0:11:15.520 --> 0:11:16.280 It was just incredible. 0:11:16.600 --> 0:11:19.319 So seeing stuff like that, especially with you know, moving 0:11:19.320 --> 0:11:21.760 guys around and maybe planning some uh some techniques that 0:11:21.760 --> 0:11:23.760 they maybe they're not used to or customs to That 0:11:23.840 --> 0:11:25.199 was a good sign as well. But it really does 0:11:25.280 --> 0:11:28.679 start with those guys having that consistency upfront because Vic 0:11:28.800 --> 0:11:31.040 like he wants, he wants to stay in those two 0:11:31.080 --> 0:11:34.720 hot structures he wants, especially pre snap, so it is 0:11:34.760 --> 0:11:37.800 important to maintain that line of scrimmage. And again a'lbeit 0:11:37.880 --> 0:11:40.960 against an under man and banged up offensive line, it 0:11:41.000 --> 0:11:42.559 was good to see him do what they were expected 0:11:42.600 --> 0:11:42.760 to do. 0:11:43.400 --> 0:11:46.000 Yeah, I think that we've seen the results against the 0:11:46.040 --> 0:11:49.200 teams they faced have essentially kind of reflected the performance 0:11:49.200 --> 0:11:52.040 of the opposing quarterbacks this season. You know, Justin Herbert 0:11:52.040 --> 0:11:54.120 and Josh Allen have both been so good this year 0:11:54.360 --> 0:11:56.280 and it's been a struggle for you know, the Patriots, 0:11:56.280 --> 0:11:58.600 Broncos and Giants, and the Dolphins defense has made sure 0:11:58.679 --> 0:12:01.760 those offenses didn't get against them. You have another offense 0:12:01.800 --> 0:12:03.360 coming in here this week and the Panthers who have 0:12:03.360 --> 0:12:05.640 been struggling mightily, and so we'll see how the results 0:12:05.640 --> 0:12:07.040 go there. But I think folks will be kind of 0:12:07.040 --> 0:12:09.520 waiting for the Philly and Case games to really gauge 0:12:09.800 --> 0:12:11.600 how far this defense has come. And then even then 0:12:11.640 --> 0:12:13.280 you have a bye week and kind of splits the 0:12:13.320 --> 0:12:14.760 season and a half right there, and you have eight 0:12:14.800 --> 0:12:17.040 more games after that, so a lot of time to 0:12:17.160 --> 0:12:20.160 get you know, the I guess your identity down as 0:12:20.200 --> 0:12:22.600 a defense and figure out exactly who you are and 0:12:22.640 --> 0:12:24.960 what you want to be going forward. The offense obviously 0:12:25.000 --> 0:12:28.520 already has that stuff. Lockstock and Barrel are ready to go. 0:12:28.760 --> 0:12:31.360 Highest scoring offense in the National Football League. And so 0:12:31.480 --> 0:12:34.360 as we have this entire conversation, Daniel just curious because 0:12:34.760 --> 0:12:37.360 you know, the fans hear my excitement about this team 0:12:37.400 --> 0:12:39.960 every day going back to February, whenever the off season 0:12:40.040 --> 0:12:43.120 really begins. But from someone that you know can be 0:12:43.120 --> 0:12:45.440 maybe a little more levelheaded than than I am, I 0:12:45.480 --> 0:12:47.719 just wanted to gauge how you think this team has 0:12:47.800 --> 0:12:52.160 performed based upon your expectations back in September, and how 0:12:52.200 --> 0:12:54.760 you think you maybe have changed those expectations from here 0:12:54.800 --> 0:12:55.400 going forward. 0:12:56.000 --> 0:12:58.960 Yeah, I would say definitely overall, they've they've exceeded my expectations. 0:12:59.000 --> 0:13:01.240 And I got to say, if you if you had 0:13:01.240 --> 0:13:03.440 seen some of the text messes I've gotten from friends, 0:13:03.559 --> 0:13:07.319 especially after that Denver game, man, then yeah, OUs, there's 0:13:07.320 --> 0:13:09.240 a lot of excitement after seventy point outing, but you 0:13:09.280 --> 0:13:12.520 know it's a marathon not a sprint, but yeah, I 0:13:12.559 --> 0:13:15.080 mean entering the season, I saw this team as a 0:13:15.080 --> 0:13:17.280 as a playoff team. I saw them as a team 0:13:17.320 --> 0:13:20.559 that could contend for the division talent wise, I saw 0:13:20.600 --> 0:13:22.640 them as a team that could stack up against any 0:13:22.640 --> 0:13:23.520 team of the AFC. 0:13:23.800 --> 0:13:25.920 And I think that five games is the season. I'm 0:13:25.920 --> 0:13:27.760 not wavering off of that obviously. 0:13:28.559 --> 0:13:29.720 I think I'd like to see a little bit more 0:13:29.760 --> 0:13:31.240 from the defense as a whole, but I think that 0:13:31.280 --> 0:13:34.079 they can get there, especially as they get Jalen Ramsey back, 0:13:34.120 --> 0:13:36.480 they get Jalen Phillips back, and they just kind of 0:13:36.480 --> 0:13:39.120 overall figure out what they want to do. Like you 0:13:39.240 --> 0:13:43.520 mentioned identity as a unit, they hone in on that 0:13:43.640 --> 0:13:45.120 over the second half of the season. I think that 0:13:45.160 --> 0:13:48.560 we'll see more improvement offense wise. I mean, this is 0:13:49.440 --> 0:13:52.920 clearly the best offense in the NFL. And I say like, 0:13:53.120 --> 0:13:55.840 I think that there's certain matchups that could test them 0:13:56.240 --> 0:13:59.440 a bit. Like you mentioned matchups against Kansas City Philly 0:13:59.480 --> 0:14:02.480 with strong defensive fronts and strong defenses. I'm really curious 0:14:02.520 --> 0:14:04.680 to see how they match up and what changes and 0:14:04.720 --> 0:14:06.760 improvements they make from the Buffalo game where they kind 0:14:06.760 --> 0:14:10.079 of stumbled a bit. But I mean, it's tough to 0:14:10.559 --> 0:14:12.880 match up with the you know, the electricity and the 0:14:12.880 --> 0:14:16.120 explosiveness of this offense. So yeah, I mean I still 0:14:16.160 --> 0:14:19.200 see them. I think that the overall expectations have changed 0:14:19.240 --> 0:14:21.160 a bit. You know, I think that I kind of 0:14:21.240 --> 0:14:23.440 view them in higher regard than I did entering the season. 0:14:23.440 --> 0:14:25.000 I think that they're a legit super Bowl team. 0:14:25.640 --> 0:14:28.000 So again, every game counts the most, but you do 0:14:28.120 --> 0:14:30.160 kind of look at some of those matchups with more 0:14:30.200 --> 0:14:32.200 of the heavyweights and kind of put a little more 0:14:32.200 --> 0:14:34.440 stock to that to see how they how they measure up. 0:14:34.920 --> 0:14:37.120 When you talk like that, it makes me look ahead 0:14:37.160 --> 0:14:38.440 to like, man, I can't wait for this game and 0:14:38.480 --> 0:14:39.960 this matchup and this potential maybe. 0:14:39.840 --> 0:14:41.280 Even play week a time. 0:14:41.960 --> 0:14:43.600 But that's the thing, man, Like. 0:14:43.560 --> 0:14:45.640 I got to enjoy this and you know, really be 0:14:45.720 --> 0:14:48.120 present in each single week because like I think that 0:14:48.240 --> 0:14:50.440 you know, for a Dolphins fan, you haven't been spoiled 0:14:50.480 --> 0:14:52.520 like you have been through the first five games of 0:14:52.600 --> 0:14:54.680 this season in a long time. So to be present 0:14:54.800 --> 0:14:57.520 to really enjoy these games and not lose sight of 0:14:57.520 --> 0:15:00.400 a three score victory that you know you expect maybe 0:15:00.400 --> 0:15:02.920 but you got it, Like, still enjoy it every minute 0:15:02.920 --> 0:15:05.000 of those games, Daniel. The reason we have you on 0:15:05.160 --> 0:15:07.280 is to make us smarter as football fans. The secondary 0:15:07.280 --> 0:15:09.200 reason is to promote your work here. What do you 0:15:09.200 --> 0:15:11.720 got coming on the pipeline here for the Miami Herald 0:15:11.720 --> 0:15:12.200 and otherwise. 0:15:12.720 --> 0:15:14.760 Yeah, So, first off, and then thanks for having me. 0:15:14.800 --> 0:15:17.400 You can check out all my work at Miami hero 0:15:17.440 --> 0:15:19.840 at Miami herol dot com for one subscription to Miami 0:15:19.880 --> 0:15:22.440 Herald as well. Yeah, I mean, we've had a bunch 0:15:22.480 --> 0:15:25.560 of stories this week on the new edition of Chase 0:15:25.600 --> 0:15:28.000 Claypool Vic Dangel's commence on the Defense as well. I 0:15:28.040 --> 0:15:30.800 got a fun story coming out about the speed debate 0:15:31.080 --> 0:15:33.200 in the locker room. That's always a fun topic of 0:15:33.280 --> 0:15:36.600 in Tyree Jalen Wadoor. He mosted Devanie Chan as well 0:15:36.720 --> 0:15:39.120 some other guys who are kind of contending for that. 0:15:39.040 --> 0:15:40.000 Top spot as well. 0:15:40.360 --> 0:15:41.800 So yeah, and then as well as the Dolphins of 0:15:41.840 --> 0:15:45.239 Death podcast comes out every week everywhere you get podcasts 0:15:45.520 --> 0:15:46.760 as well as on YouTube. 0:15:47.240 --> 0:15:49.520 Daniel O Yafusi, Miami Herold, keep doing your thing, man, 0:15:49.600 --> 0:15:53.320 love your coverage. Likewise, thank you man, and away he goes, 0:15:53.400 --> 0:15:55.600 Let's go ahead and take our first break right there 0:15:55.640 --> 0:15:57.760 and come back on the other side and get you 0:15:57.880 --> 0:16:01.800 soundbites from coach McDaniel's Friday media availability and also welcome 0:16:01.800 --> 0:16:04.280 in my guest, the great Kyle Krabs. That's Next Draft 0:16:04.280 --> 0:16:07.080 Time podcast your host Travis Wingfield, brought to you. 0:16:06.960 --> 0:16:07.880 By I don't know. 0:16:10.920 --> 0:16:13.680 As of this taping, I do not yet have the 0:16:13.720 --> 0:16:16.400 Dolphins injury report. By the time you guys hear this, 0:16:16.520 --> 0:16:19.840 you probably do, so go on over to at Wingfield 0:16:19.960 --> 0:16:22.960 NFL to find who is up, who is down. I 0:16:22.960 --> 0:16:24.560 think we have a pretty good idea based upon who 0:16:24.560 --> 0:16:28.680 will be available. From coach McDaniel's Friday morning press conference, 0:16:28.760 --> 0:16:31.160 Rob Hunt good to go, Like he mentioned, sounds like 0:16:31.200 --> 0:16:34.720 Connor Williams could be questionable, and a lot more there. 0:16:34.800 --> 0:16:36.920 We'll come back and get some more audio here from 0:16:36.920 --> 0:16:40.360 coach McDaniel on Connor Williams, who spoke about that injury 0:16:40.360 --> 0:16:43.640 and how they're kind of getting through the process of 0:16:43.640 --> 0:16:46.960 determining what's best for Connor here in terms of playing arresting. 0:16:47.200 --> 0:16:49.920 But we do have a Panthers injury report, and man, 0:16:50.000 --> 0:16:53.040 it's not good for the Panthers. Running back Miles Sanders 0:16:53.080 --> 0:16:57.000 is down. Safety Von Bell and Xavier Woods are both down, 0:16:57.160 --> 0:17:00.640 So their top two safeties in addition to their top 0:17:00.680 --> 0:17:03.400 cornerback and the top linebacker all going to be out 0:17:03.520 --> 0:17:06.119 probably a problem when you're facing the best offense in 0:17:06.119 --> 0:17:07.359 the National Football League. 0:17:07.560 --> 0:17:08.119 So too is. 0:17:08.119 --> 0:17:12.240 Guard Chandler Zavalla, and then questionable are Derek Brown and 0:17:12.280 --> 0:17:16.200 Brian Burns. If they don't have those two guys, Gosh, 0:17:16.960 --> 0:17:19.240 could be a lot of points on Sunday for the 0:17:19.240 --> 0:17:21.840