Speaker 1: I think I've grown in a lot of ways. UM.
Speaker 1: You know, I think of um, just in game, you know,
Speaker 1: I want to take a time, I went not to
Speaker 1: take a time, I wouldn't to throw the red flag. Uh,
Speaker 1: the adjustments that need to be made, um. But just
Speaker 1: as a leader, I think, UM. You know, Look, this
Speaker 1: is a one thing that's important to me is that
Speaker 1: my relationship with the players. UM. You know, I think
Speaker 1: respect is a big thing for me. UM. You know,
Speaker 1: I want our players to know that I'm I'm fair,
Speaker 1: that I'm respectful, UM, and I'm demanding UM. And I
Speaker 1: think that, you know, I think I think we all
Speaker 1: need that UM in in all areas. So I tried
Speaker 1: to grow in and you know, as a leader, um,
Speaker 1: you know, not only for the players, but for everyone
Speaker 1: in this organization. I think you do that, you know
Speaker 1: by example. UM. And at the end of the day,
Speaker 1: to me, leadership is about service. So I continue to
Speaker 1: try to serve you know, the players, the coach is
Speaker 1: a support staff and help them grow anywhere. I can't
Speaker 1: what you're all looking down? Miami? What is up? Dolph
Speaker 1: fans and welcome to the Drive Time Podcast, part of
Speaker 1: the Miami Dolphins podcast network. Covering your team, your Miami Dolphins.
Speaker 1: How's it going everybody? I am your host, Travis Winfield
Speaker 1: And if you couldn't tell off the top, we have
Speaker 1: a very very special edition of the Drivetime Podcast heading
Speaker 1: your way. I don't want to get into any more
Speaker 1: time wasters. We're gonna have head coach Brian Flores on
Speaker 1: the podcast talking about the draft, roster building, his favorite
Speaker 1: part of coaching the Miami Dolphins, and going through a draft,
Speaker 1: a season, offseason, through a pandemic. All of that and
Speaker 1: much much more on the special edition of the Drive
Speaker 1: Time Podcast. Let's go ahead and turn this thing over
Speaker 1: right away to my interview with Miami Dolphins head coach
Speaker 1: Brian Flores. I'm thrilled to welcome into Drive Time for
Speaker 1: the first time Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores. Coach,
Speaker 1: thank you so much for joining us today. Thank you
Speaker 1: for having me and coach as we sit here today.
Speaker 1: You know NFL Draft is just seven days away. I
Speaker 1: know there's nothing better about the job that you love
Speaker 1: than putting on the whistle and coaching football. But how
Speaker 1: exciting is it to know that we are only a
Speaker 1: week away from this recording from the draft and adding
Speaker 1: some new faces to this team. I mean, obviously it's
Speaker 1: a it's a very exciting time, um, an opportunity to
Speaker 1: to continue to build this team. As you mentioned, I
Speaker 1: do love putting the whistle on and coaching, coaching these
Speaker 1: guys up on the field. UM. But you know I did.
Speaker 1: I did start my career in the personnel department. So UM,
Speaker 1: there's an excitement as well, um finding players and building
Speaker 1: the roster that way through the draft. So UM, definitely
Speaker 1: an exciting time. We are, um, you know, kind of
Speaker 1: in the latter stages of of our process here, just
Speaker 1: as far as um, the draft process goes. But yeah,
Speaker 1: definitely exciting time. And you mentioned the draft. You know,
Speaker 1: this is one of the more unique drafts and one
Speaker 1: of the more unique years and really periods in league history.
Speaker 1: What's this pre draft process been like for you and
Speaker 1: your staff and Chris's staff this year with the limitations
Speaker 1: you've had as a result of COVID nineteen, well, I mean,
Speaker 1: Chris and his staff they've done an incredible job. Really,
Speaker 1: I would say the last two years with all that
Speaker 1: uh um lobs of COVID and the pandemic and um,
Speaker 1: and everyone's had to adjust and be flexible and they've
Speaker 1: done a great job. Um, you know we've had to
Speaker 1: you know, we've had restrictions from from our area, scott
Speaker 1: But they've done a really nice job, you know, finding
Speaker 1: ways you know, through Zoom, through conversations with with coaches,
Speaker 1: with trainers, gathering information on on you know, the prospects,
Speaker 1: and um, watching the film and going to protays. I
Speaker 1: think they've they've done a phenomenal job. And um, you know,
Speaker 1: we we we feel like we're ready to We have
Speaker 1: the information and the information to to to select the
Speaker 1: right players. And one of the main changes in this
Speaker 1: year's draft is going from having those top thirty visits
Speaker 1: to doing everything virtually. How does this process, you know,
Speaker 1: largely virtual, differ from in the past when you can
Speaker 1: have guys in the building and kind of get to
Speaker 1: know him face to face a little better like that. Yeah,
Speaker 1: I mean we've got to do everything through Zoom. Um,
Speaker 1: I'd love to look a guy, you know, right in
Speaker 1: the eyes and get to know them and uh, you know,
Speaker 1: I'm a big body language guy. So um, that part
Speaker 1: of it we haven't been able to you know, obviously
Speaker 1: because of Zoom, we haven't been able to do that,
Speaker 1: but UM, I think we we've adjusted. I mean, I
Speaker 1: think that's what these last you know, twelve months have
Speaker 1: been about, UM, making adjustments from our scouting process to
Speaker 1: our coaching process. UM. You know, thankfully we've got an
Speaker 1: opportunity to see these guys in person at the Senior Bowl. UH.
Speaker 1: And uh you know that was you know, I think
Speaker 1: advantage advantageous for US. UM again, just you know, credit
Speaker 1: to our scouting department. I mean, they've they've really kind
Speaker 1: of gone above and beyond UM given the circumstances. And UM,
Speaker 1: I think you know, no one has done more zooms
Speaker 1: and those guys and our coaching staff is uh, you know,
Speaker 1: it's days and days full of zoom calls. UM, but
Speaker 1: it's important and uh, you know, hopefully we'll make the Uh.
Speaker 1: We're bringing guys that that you know, fit our culture,
Speaker 1: fit our system, and we're excited about that. And coach
Speaker 1: you mentioned earlier coming up in the you know, in
Speaker 1: the league as a in person the personnel side of
Speaker 1: things here, and obviously you've had your hand in every
Speaker 1: pot with the football side of things here, but you
Speaker 1: also do a great ub coach in my opinion, of
Speaker 1: empowering your coaches, and I wanted to ask you what
Speaker 1: level of involvement do the coaches have in this pre
Speaker 1: draft process and why is it important to you that
Speaker 1: they are involved? UM? I mean I think that the
Speaker 1: more opinions that you have, UM, the better. Honestly, UM,
Speaker 1: I don't have all the answers. I'm looking. You know,
Speaker 1: we have a lot of very intelligent, smart people in
Speaker 1: this building. UM. I want to hear their thoughts. I
Speaker 1: want to hear uh their process and you know, maybe
Speaker 1: they've got a better idea or a better thought than
Speaker 1: than I do, and vice versus. So you know, I
Speaker 1: try to empower those, you know, the guys in every department,
Speaker 1: and I think everyone, um, from our strength staff to
Speaker 1: know Dave Blocan, our strengths that have to Kyle Johnson
Speaker 1: with our medical staff to joke me and now equipment.
Speaker 1: I think all these guys and they do a really
Speaker 1: nice job and their roles and I'm looking for their
Speaker 1: their their input um on these really in their roles,
Speaker 1: but specific to the coaches, I'm looking for their input,
Speaker 1: you know, on the players. I don't think you know,
Speaker 1: I was a position coach and I don't think anyone
Speaker 1: knows the player you know better than the position coach UM,
Speaker 1: so Um, you know, as we gather different information, I
Speaker 1: think their opinions along with the opinions of the scouts
Speaker 1: who are on the road and have seen more players. UM, myself, Chris,
Speaker 1: Marvin Allen, I think you know you put all those together,
Speaker 1: you have good dialogue and come up with a good decision.
Speaker 1: Head coach Brian Flores here on the Drivetime podcast and
Speaker 1: coach you know, from draft through draft as it's scheduled
Speaker 1: right now, the Dolphins have made or will make eight
Speaker 1: picks in the first round. Was that a goal upon
Speaker 1: your arrival here in Miami to accumulate early draft capital?
Speaker 1: And how has that helped you put together the team
Speaker 1: you guys have right now. I wouldn't say the goals
Speaker 1: necessarily to accumulate first round picks. I think it's to
Speaker 1: put the best team together. And I think there's a
Speaker 1: variety of ways you can do that. Trade, free agency,
Speaker 1: we have a wired transactions obviously, the draft, UM, and
Speaker 1: I think you know, Chris, Chris has done a christ
Speaker 1: and his staff have done a great job of kind
Speaker 1: of using all those different avenues to to bring in players.
Speaker 1: And I think we've we've we've we've brought players and
Speaker 1: you know, through those variety of ways, I think we've
Speaker 1: used them all. UM. But it's to put the best
Speaker 1: team together, not necessarily a team full of first round picks. UM.
Speaker 1: And we're look, we're looking for guys who are tough,
Speaker 1: we're smart, who a competitive, who love to play on
Speaker 1: our team first and UM, you know that's kind of
Speaker 1: the criteria we look for. And UM as we look
Speaker 1: through those different avenues to to acquire players. You know,
Speaker 1: that's really always at the forefront. And on the topic
Speaker 1: of rookie's coach, you guys made a lot and picks
Speaker 1: last year, scheduled for a handful more this year, and
Speaker 1: your rookies last season played more than four thousand snaps
Speaker 1: for you, How do you think that benefits the outlook
Speaker 1: for that class? You know I learned early on that, Um,
Speaker 1: every experience for a player is is a good experience,
Speaker 1: good or bad? Um. If you if you have a
Speaker 1: good play, hey, well what are the steps I took
Speaker 1: to have to make a good play. I'll continue those
Speaker 1: steps and try to improve on them. If you had
Speaker 1: a bad play, what didn't I do or what did
Speaker 1: I do to to not go my way. And so
Speaker 1: you know, our rookies playing that many snaps, there were
Speaker 1: some good players, there were some bad plays, and I
Speaker 1: think overall you saw improvement from them, you know, throughout
Speaker 1: the course of the season. But um, you know, like
Speaker 1: like like I've already said in our first meeting, you know,
Speaker 1: last year was last year, and we've we've got to
Speaker 1: kind of build on build on that, um, but really
Speaker 1: take the next steps to to improve moving forward. UM.
Speaker 1: But specific to you know, those players last year, UM,
Speaker 1: I think I think it only helps um uh, but honestly,
Speaker 1: it only helps if if they build on it and
Speaker 1: coach you alluded to the preference for tough, smart, physical
Speaker 1: discipline players here in South Florida. How would you say
Speaker 1: that you feel the roster reflects that message now heading
Speaker 1: into your third year, I think, I think, uh, we
Speaker 1: we have a group of guys who who fit a
Speaker 1: lot of that criteria. I mean, we've got a tough group,
Speaker 1: they're competitive, they'd love to play UM and their team first.
Speaker 1: So I think they fit that criteria. Christ and staff
Speaker 1: have done a nice job of bringing in those those
Speaker 1: types of players. UM, And I think you know, we
Speaker 1: we continue I think that that criterias, you know, part
Speaker 1: of a big part of you know, whether or not
Speaker 1: a player develops. Um and um, I think we've seen
Speaker 1: some growth in some of our guys and hopefully we'll
Speaker 1: continue to see more. And as you talk about development
Speaker 1: there with play or and the young roster you had
Speaker 1: last season coming into this year, how important is development
Speaker 1: in your process and just kind of how do how
Speaker 1: do you you know, approach the roster building process when
Speaker 1: it comes to how you develop your own players and
Speaker 1: your own your own team. I mean, you know, I
Speaker 1: think you've heard me say this before. I think you
Speaker 1: know my goal as a coach is to help these
Speaker 1: players become the best version of themselves on and off
Speaker 1: the field. Um. So development is obviously a big part
Speaker 1: of that. And um you know we we we right
Speaker 1: the second they get in the door. You know, it's
Speaker 1: not just me, it's not just our coaching staff. It's
Speaker 1: Staple logo with the strength and conditioning. It's Caleb Thornhill
Speaker 1: who plays obviously a huge role, especially with the rookies
Speaker 1: m getting acclimated to South Florida, you know, getting them
Speaker 1: all the There's a lot of little things that go on.
Speaker 1: No one hears about from iPad to housing to uh,
Speaker 1: you know, getting a car to you know, all these things.
Speaker 1: You know, Caleb and Josh Manner, they do a great
Speaker 1: job as far as uh helping these guys acclimate. UM.
Speaker 1: And that's part of the development UM obviously you know,
Speaker 1: from a from a playing and coaching side side our guys,
Speaker 1: you know, harping on the fundamentals, harping on the techniques,
Speaker 1: harpening on the communication. Uh, you know, educating them on
Speaker 1: you know, just our new terminology, which is which is
Speaker 1: so new really for any any any uh any rookie.
Speaker 1: So UM. There's a lot of areas where they you know,
Speaker 1: they're they're still young kids, I mean fresh out of college.
Speaker 1: I think you remember when you were fresh out of college.
Speaker 1: I do you know, I don't know we were. You
Speaker 1: think you got all the answers, but you really have none. UM.
Speaker 1: We just try to help him UM. And I think
Speaker 1: we bring in you know, the types of guys who UM,
Speaker 1: who are who are willing to learn, UM, who are
Speaker 1: open to receiving that information at the end of the day. UM.
Speaker 1: You know, as coaches, as you know, even support staff
Speaker 1: here we're all teachers. We're trying to educate these guys
Speaker 1: and and and help them, UM, you know, reach out potential.
Speaker 1: And as you embark here on your third season as
Speaker 1: head coach of the Miami Dolphins, how would you say
Speaker 1: you've grown as a coach and as a leader over
Speaker 1: the last couple of years. Uh, I mean I think
Speaker 1: I think I've grown in a lot of ways. UM.
Speaker 1: You know, I think of um, just in game, you know,
Speaker 1: I want to take a time I went not to
Speaker 1: take a time, I wouldn't throw the red flag. Uh.
Speaker 1: The adjustments that need to be made, um. But just
Speaker 1: as a leader, I think, UM. You know, Look, this
Speaker 1: is a one thing that's important to me, is that
Speaker 1: my relationship with the players. UM. You know, I think
Speaker 1: respect is a big thing for me. UM. You know,
Speaker 1: I want our players to know that I'm I'm fair,
Speaker 1: that I'm respectful, UM, and I'm demanding UM. And I
Speaker 1: think that you know, I think I think we all
Speaker 1: need that, UM in all areas. So I tried to grow.
Speaker 1: And you know, as a leader, UM, you know, not
Speaker 1: only for the players, but for everyone in this organization.
Speaker 1: I think you do that, you know by example. UM.
Speaker 1: And at the end of the day, to me, leadership
Speaker 1: is about service. So I continue to try to serve
Speaker 1: you know, the players, the coaches, to support staff and
Speaker 1: help them grow anyway I can so. And this is
Speaker 1: probably a little bit vague of a question for you, coach,
Speaker 1: but I do want to get you to expand it
Speaker 1: if I can. Has there been one part of the
Speaker 1: job that stands out above others as the most rewarding
Speaker 1: part of the job, Like, what has been the most
Speaker 1: fulfilling and satisfying and rewarding part of this job for you?
Speaker 1: I'm not really vague. I mean, I think that's that
Speaker 1: question that's always gonna be the same answer. The most
Speaker 1: rewarding part of this job for me is my relationship
Speaker 1: with the players, UM, helping them, um have success in
Speaker 1: a game that they love. UM, So it's helping them
Speaker 1: on the field. But obviously, honestly, more than that, it's it's, uh,
Speaker 1: you know, I love watching guys. Um we turned into
Speaker 1: good husbands and good fathers and good um, good friends,
Speaker 1: And I think that's you know, that is coaching at
Speaker 1: the end of the day. UM. So you know, being
Speaker 1: able to help these guys reach their potential on and
Speaker 1: off the field. Off the field is honestly, you know,
Speaker 1: probably the most rewarding. Um. But on the field, absolutely
Speaker 1: want to win and compete and get better, and that's
Speaker 1: rewarding as well. Just as Ward and coach. Last year,
Speaker 1: we saw the great intersection of football and family on
Speaker 1: Draft Day. I think for my money, your kids stole
Speaker 1: the show hanging out with Pops in the office on
Speaker 1: Draft Day. Have you had a chance to step back
Speaker 1: and enjoy some family time this offseason? Oh? Yes, Um,
Speaker 1: you know, I'm I'm very fortunate and lucky. I got
Speaker 1: a great wife, Jenny, and three beautiful kids, and we
Speaker 1: spent a lot of time together, you know, weekend trips
Speaker 1: to um, you know, a variety of places. Uh, my
Speaker 1: boys are in the flag football league, so I did
Speaker 1: a little flag football coaching this this offseason. Um. You know,
Speaker 1: my my son's first communion is on Saturday of the draft,
Speaker 1: so I'll be there too. You know, I won't miss
Speaker 1: the draft, but you know it's in the morning. So
Speaker 1: but it's been a great offseason spending time with them.
Speaker 1: You know, in season, Um, you know, things get so busy. Um.
Speaker 1: You know you miss a lot of time. But you know,
Speaker 1: I always try to have our Friday night dinners and
Speaker 1: I'm very fortunate, and it's been it's been a great
Speaker 1: off season, and they're supportive, and they're they're excited for
Speaker 1: for the draft coming up, and they're asking if they
Speaker 1: can they can they can pop in the draft room,
Speaker 1: and you know, hopefully we can we can make something happening.
Speaker 1: I think I speak for all of Dolphins Nation when
Speaker 1: I say we would love to see that. Now, Coach,
Speaker 1: you've mentioned the Friday night dinners in the past, and
Speaker 1: you alluded to it here. I'm curious, do you get
Speaker 1: in the kitchen, do any of the cooking yourself? And
Speaker 1: if so, what's your go to meal we go out
Speaker 1: to eat? You know, I order pizza in you so yes,
Speaker 1: I make that perfect enough cereal pizza, whatever it might be.
Speaker 1: And now my other question is you had mentioned being
Speaker 1: on the sidelines during your son's flag football games. Do
Speaker 1: the other coaches ever come up to you and ask you,
Speaker 1: maybe for some advice on a play call or a
Speaker 1: certain situation, like what's your involvement there? And I try
Speaker 1: to keep a little profile so you there have been
Speaker 1: a few times where there have been some time outs
Speaker 1: that I personally wouldn't have called in the flag game,
Speaker 1: But I'm not gonna I say nothing. I just I
Speaker 1: just I keep my cool and uh and enjoy the game.
Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's fun watching young guys, young kids
Speaker 1: play and have fun. And you see the competitiveness of
Speaker 1: the parents on the sideline, and I know I'm I
Speaker 1: enjoyed being part of that. I love to hear a coach,
Speaker 1: very good head coach of your Miami Dolphins, Brian Flores, Coach,
Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time today. I know you're a
Speaker 1: very very busy man, and here's hoping the draft board
Speaker 1: falls perfectly for us and a great season. Thank you
Speaker 1: so much, coach. Thank you trash and the way he
Speaker 1: goes head coach of your Miami Dolphins, Brian Flores Drivetime debut.
Speaker 1: How great was that talking about the relationship with his players,
Speaker 1: scouting through a pandemic, and the all the collaboration that
Speaker 1: goes on inside that building with Chris Greer and his staff,
Speaker 1: Brian Floors and his staff. And we're fortunate to have
Speaker 1: him here here in Miami and fortune to get him
Speaker 1: on the podcast. Asked for this edition of the Drive
Speaker 1: Time podcast. That is gonna be my time. You all
Speaker 1: please be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple
Speaker 1: Podcast or Spotify, wherever you get your podcast from. Go
Speaker 1: ahead and leave us a rating, leave us a review,
Speaker 1: give me a follow on Twitter. It's at Wingfield, NFL.
Speaker 1: You can follow the team at Miami Dolphins, check out
Speaker 1: the fish Tank and the Audible podcast, and of course
Speaker 1: Miami dolphins dot com. Until next time finds up