WEBVTT - Dolphins Training Camp 2021 Day 18 Recap 0:00:03.400 --> 0:00:15.480 Fail touchdown, miamis a drown? What is up, Dolph Fans 0:00:15.600 --> 0:00:19.040 and welcome to the Drive Time Podcast, part of the 0:00:19.040 --> 0:00:24.560 Miami Dolphins podcast network, covering your team, your Miami Dolphins. 0:00:24.760 --> 0:00:28.200 How's it going everybody? I am your host, Travis Wingfield 0:00:28.360 --> 0:00:30.520 and as always I am here to bring you your 0:00:30.600 --> 0:00:34.440 daily dose each and every day of Miami Dolphins football. 0:00:34.440 --> 0:00:37.519 And on today's show, the final day of open practice 0:00:37.680 --> 0:00:40.720 to the fans is in the books, and as we 0:00:40.760 --> 0:00:44.160 do every day, we have a report for you top performers, 0:00:44.200 --> 0:00:48.360 individual notes, and plenty of commentary from coach Flores, Kirk Merritt, 0:00:48.440 --> 0:00:50.960 Jesse Davis. A big day for the rookies as we 0:00:51.040 --> 0:00:54.960 break down some of their performances today, some situational football 0:00:55.200 --> 0:00:58.320 plenty to come here from the Baptist Health Studios inside 0:00:58.320 --> 0:01:05.000 the Baptist Health Training Complex. This is the Drive Time Podcast. 0:01:06.319 --> 0:01:09.240 I want to start this podcast by talking about food 0:01:09.720 --> 0:01:12.720 and also a reason number three and seventy eight why 0:01:12.800 --> 0:01:15.920 I'm not cut out to be a football player. Today, personally, 0:01:16.040 --> 0:01:19.319 I put down pancakes with syrup, bacon, eggs, hash browns. 0:01:19.520 --> 0:01:22.160 Then for lunch, a wedge salad with entirely too much 0:01:22.160 --> 0:01:24.680 branch dressing. Like to me, salad is about how much 0:01:24.760 --> 0:01:27.759 dressing you have and it's not good. After that Lasagna 0:01:27.840 --> 0:01:30.520 with a role to diet pepsis and four chips of 0:01:30.560 --> 0:01:33.920 hoy cookies. Not great, Bob, not great. But the players 0:01:34.280 --> 0:01:37.240 they do it a lot differently. And one of the 0:01:37.240 --> 0:01:40.759 themes of a very jovial and fun press conference today 0:01:40.760 --> 0:01:44.119 with head coach Brian Flores was about nutrition and taking 0:01:44.120 --> 0:01:46.560 care of your body, specifically in reference to Rae Kwon 0:01:46.640 --> 0:01:49.120 Davis and Kirk Merritt, who the reporters asked coach about. 0:01:49.360 --> 0:01:51.520 And here's what coach had to say about nutrition, not 0:01:51.600 --> 0:01:54.920 just for those guys, but the focus on health and 0:01:54.920 --> 0:01:59.080 putting yourself in the best possible position for peak performance. 0:01:59.720 --> 0:02:02.760 Because is that's what it's all about, right, That's why 0:02:02.800 --> 0:02:06.520 we have this state of the art training complex of perfection, 0:02:06.800 --> 0:02:10.120 That's why you have a sports science, nutrition, strength coach program, 0:02:10.400 --> 0:02:14.120 all that fun stuff. So here's Brian Floores talking about nutrition, 0:02:14.240 --> 0:02:16.720 taking care of your body, but mostly about Kirk Merritt 0:02:16.760 --> 0:02:18.639 and Rake je Davis up first, Kirk and then we'll 0:02:18.639 --> 0:02:22.239 go to Rake one. He's grown from a work habits standpoint. 0:02:22.360 --> 0:02:26.440 I think he he knows how or is learning how 0:02:26.520 --> 0:02:30.359 to UM, get on a routine, stay on a routine, 0:02:32.400 --> 0:02:35.520 believe in the routine, and believing that you know, the 0:02:35.560 --> 0:02:38.760 extra work on the jugs and the extra film study 0:02:38.840 --> 0:02:42.480 and the extra um you know reps and sets in 0:02:42.480 --> 0:02:44.880 the weight room will help him and have helped him 0:02:45.560 --> 0:02:49.160 make improvements. UM. And I think we've seen those improvements 0:02:49.200 --> 0:02:53.560 on the field, both in practice ending games, and I 0:02:53.600 --> 0:02:56.320 think he he understands that and he'll if he continues 0:02:56.360 --> 0:03:00.120 to do those things off the field, um I in 0:03:00.120 --> 0:03:02.200 the classroom, off the field, in the classroom, in the 0:03:02.240 --> 0:03:05.480 weight room from a nutrition standpoint, and he will continue 0:03:05.520 --> 0:03:08.560 to make those improvements that he's already made. So he's 0:03:08.560 --> 0:03:14.680 done a nice job, and UM, I'm very pleased with 0:03:14.680 --> 0:03:16.799 where where the growth he's made. It's cool to see 0:03:16.840 --> 0:03:18.839 the development cod take place in front of your eyes. 0:03:18.960 --> 0:03:21.160 These guys work out here every day, and going from 0:03:21.200 --> 0:03:23.320 the rookie season to their second season, I think that's 0:03:23.320 --> 0:03:25.839 where you've seen some of the most tangible growth from 0:03:25.840 --> 0:03:29.200 this football team. That's a nod obviously to Brian Flores 0:03:29.240 --> 0:03:31.799 as well as his staff. The guys, whether it's from 0:03:31.840 --> 0:03:33.880 year one to year two, year two to year three, 0:03:34.200 --> 0:03:36.640 that's where the most growth is probably going to occur. 0:03:37.040 --> 0:03:39.160 But you see it across the entire roster. And we've 0:03:39.200 --> 0:03:42.200 covered this so many times on podcasts with Jerome Baker 0:03:42.280 --> 0:03:44.680 taking leaps at certain stages of his career, but also 0:03:44.960 --> 0:03:47.920 a guy like Eric Row have the best really two 0:03:48.000 --> 0:03:50.600 year run of his career in years five and six 0:03:50.640 --> 0:03:54.000 of his career. Davante Parker the same story. So development 0:03:54.240 --> 0:03:57.200 is not just for the young guys in this program. 0:03:57.240 --> 0:03:59.760 It's about everybody and everyone's trying to get better. So 0:03:59.800 --> 0:04:01.920 it's good to hear about Kirk Merritt, who We're gonna 0:04:01.920 --> 0:04:03.840 hear more from Kirk on his own development, which I 0:04:03.840 --> 0:04:06.040 thought he gave some great answers in that regard. But 0:04:06.080 --> 0:04:08.160 I want to go now as coach talks about Ray 0:04:08.200 --> 0:04:10.280 Kwon Davis, and that's where we get into also some 0:04:10.320 --> 0:04:12.360 more talk on the nutrition and all that fun stuff. 0:04:12.400 --> 0:04:15.560 So here's coach on Dolphin's second year defensive tackle, Rake 0:04:15.600 --> 0:04:19.800 Kwon Davis. I think kans you know, his spring, his 0:04:19.839 --> 0:04:22.640 summer has been good. UM. This is another young guy, 0:04:22.680 --> 0:04:26.159 young player who UM has become. You know, we've talked 0:04:26.160 --> 0:04:28.920 a lot about two and his his growth. I think 0:04:28.960 --> 0:04:31.880 Ray Kwan has grown a lot as well, much more 0:04:31.960 --> 0:04:35.840 comfortable UM with his surroundings, with his settings again, with 0:04:35.880 --> 0:04:39.160 his routine, with how he takes care of his body, UM, 0:04:39.160 --> 0:04:42.159 the things he eats, how much he sleeps UM. I 0:04:42.160 --> 0:04:46.040 think that's something that UM. Caleb Thornhill and our our 0:04:46.080 --> 0:04:48.320 player engagement group has done a nice job of helping 0:04:48.360 --> 0:04:54.039 these guys UM, you know, with their routines UM and 0:04:54.160 --> 0:04:56.840 helping them learn how to be professionals. And I think 0:04:56.880 --> 0:04:59.839 that's something that young players need, UM. They need some 0:05:00.000 --> 0:05:02.160 itidance on that. I think you know, as an organization, 0:05:02.200 --> 0:05:04.920 we try to help them with that as coaches, as 0:05:04.960 --> 0:05:07.760 you know Caleb and his staff, as a training staff, 0:05:07.800 --> 0:05:10.200 as a as a strength and conditioning staff. I think 0:05:10.240 --> 0:05:17.719 those um you know, different groups UM are kind of 0:05:17.760 --> 0:05:20.320 coaching these young guys in that area about you know, 0:05:20.320 --> 0:05:22.680 what are the best things for you to be the 0:05:22.680 --> 0:05:25.360 best version of yourself on and off the field. And 0:05:25.400 --> 0:05:27.040 I think our staff done a nice job of that. 0:05:27.440 --> 0:05:29.560 But you know, we can talk all we want, the 0:05:29.560 --> 0:05:31.800 players have to take the information and apply. I think 0:05:31.880 --> 0:05:33.840 Rake Want has done a nice job of that and 0:05:34.880 --> 0:05:37.000 I think he's making improvement and we need to continue 0:05:37.000 --> 0:05:40.039 to make make make more improvement. I just I'd continue 0:05:40.040 --> 0:05:41.839 to love the insight there from coaches. He kind of 0:05:41.839 --> 0:05:44.680 tells us the behind the scenes of how you make 0:05:44.720 --> 0:05:46.920 this development happen, how you get guys at their peak 0:05:47.200 --> 0:05:50.680 fundamentals and technique and execution when it comes to football, 0:05:50.720 --> 0:05:53.480 but also away from the field, because it requires a 0:05:53.520 --> 0:05:56.200 great deal of discipline to put in that effort, to 0:05:56.279 --> 0:05:58.960 put in that time and to not take part in 0:05:59.000 --> 0:06:02.839 the extracurriculars like snacks and doughnuts and cakes and all 0:06:02.880 --> 0:06:05.200 that fun stuff that is just so tempting every single 0:06:05.279 --> 0:06:07.720 night for for me personally. Let's go back to Rake 0:06:07.800 --> 0:06:10.520 Uan Davis now and talk to him about his diet, 0:06:10.560 --> 0:06:12.760 but also the routine of trying to get better sleep 0:06:13.000 --> 0:06:15.160 and just doing the things that coach Flores talked about 0:06:15.160 --> 0:06:17.480 to get the most out of his performance. Here's Rake one. 0:06:18.839 --> 0:06:20.640 Most definitely just trying to eat better. You know, it's 0:06:20.640 --> 0:06:23.960 trying to go to sleep at a certain time. Um, 0:06:24.000 --> 0:06:26.920 you know, just how to get to the eight hours 0:06:26.960 --> 0:06:29.320 of sleep. You know, it's how to get that get 0:06:29.360 --> 0:06:31.640 nutrition an your body. You know, saying something healthy your 0:06:31.640 --> 0:06:37.880 body gets you going fast. Uh. I mean I have 0:06:38.040 --> 0:06:39.920 my day some day that I really do go go 0:06:39.960 --> 0:06:43.120 to bed that early, but not eight? Yeah, that kind 0:06:43.160 --> 0:06:46.000 of we all gotta means it's like seven, I don't 0:06:46.000 --> 0:06:50.960 get home and sound thirty. So yeah, I love hearing 0:06:51.000 --> 0:06:52.919 Rake one talk with the schedule the day because I 0:06:52.960 --> 0:06:54.520 feel you on that man getting up in the morning 0:06:54.520 --> 0:06:56.599 with my daughter putting her to bed. It feels like 0:06:56.600 --> 0:06:58.279 it's about a sixteen hour day by the time it 0:06:58.320 --> 0:07:01.040 all comes to its conclude ship. And then we had 0:07:01.080 --> 0:07:03.440 Kirk Merritt, and I asked him a bunch of questions, 0:07:03.440 --> 0:07:05.159 but I started off by asking him about his favorite 0:07:05.200 --> 0:07:07.840 dessert because the reporter before I had asked the question 0:07:07.920 --> 0:07:09.760 said something about nutrition and that was kind of a 0:07:09.800 --> 0:07:11.480 theme of the day. And I said, what's your go 0:07:11.600 --> 0:07:14.440 to dessert? And he said donuts. I thought donuts are 0:07:14.440 --> 0:07:16.440 pretty elite. I don't know, what do you guys think. 0:07:16.520 --> 0:07:20.120 I started thinking about it after that more. Are they elite? 0:07:20.280 --> 0:07:23.320 An elite dessert? I think they might have been. I 0:07:23.360 --> 0:07:25.760 think that might have been too strong of a phrasing, actually, 0:07:25.800 --> 0:07:28.960 because they're not ice cream and they're not cookies, which 0:07:28.960 --> 0:07:32.080 are the two elite desserts of all desserts. And he 0:07:32.120 --> 0:07:34.640 did say one thing that I thought was interesting that 0:07:35.080 --> 0:07:37.040 it's a once a week type of deal with donuts. 0:07:37.040 --> 0:07:38.960 You can get him once a week. That's it. I 0:07:39.000 --> 0:07:41.120 thought to myself, if I could get Dairy Queen Chocolate 0:07:41.120 --> 0:07:43.840 Brownie extreme blizzards down to just one per week, that 0:07:43.880 --> 0:07:46.280 would be a pretty big win. Let's go back to 0:07:46.360 --> 0:07:49.160 Kirk Merritt here, who was asked, what's a change you 0:07:49.320 --> 0:07:51.680 made in your diet or in your eating habits that 0:07:51.720 --> 0:07:53.800 has made a big result for you, produced a good 0:07:53.800 --> 0:07:59.080 result for you. Here's Kirk. Probably not e pass um. 0:07:59.280 --> 0:08:03.040 I lost couple hounds, but I feel feel way better healthier, 0:08:03.400 --> 0:08:07.560 so probably not. You pass not thirty and stay away 0:08:07.560 --> 0:08:10.640 from the shop of it now. And that's the thing, man, 0:08:10.680 --> 0:08:13.480 that's the discipline right there. Not eating past nine. That's 0:08:13.480 --> 0:08:15.360 the best time to eat. So these guys continue to 0:08:15.360 --> 0:08:18.280 show that strong discipline, not just on the football field 0:08:18.320 --> 0:08:20.440 to be one of the fewest the least penalized teams 0:08:20.600 --> 0:08:22.960 in the National Football League, but taking care of those 0:08:22.960 --> 0:08:25.840 details elsewhere in the kitchen is certainly a big area 0:08:25.880 --> 0:08:28.080 for that. And we'll go ahead and go with my 0:08:28.240 --> 0:08:30.240 questioning here for Kirk Mayor and just kind of play 0:08:30.320 --> 0:08:32.240 all the way through. You probably can't hear my audio 0:08:32.280 --> 0:08:34.720 as well. But I first started off here asking Kirk, 0:08:35.559 --> 0:08:36.840 how did it feel to get out there for a 0:08:36.840 --> 0:08:39.439 preseason game since you didn't get that opportunity last year 0:08:39.440 --> 0:08:41.680 as a rookie. And he did play a couple of snaps, 0:08:41.720 --> 0:08:43.839 like a handful of snaps last year, I think, mostly 0:08:43.880 --> 0:08:45.760 on special teams when he got the call up to 0:08:45.840 --> 0:08:48.600 the regular season roster. But this was his first good 0:08:48.760 --> 0:08:51.079 chunk of action the last couple of weeks in the preseason, 0:08:51.280 --> 0:08:52.880 so I wanted to ask him how valuable that was. 0:08:53.280 --> 0:08:55.000 It was. It was a great, great opportunity for me 0:08:55.040 --> 0:08:58.199 because that's you know, obsolutely had that preseason. But um, 0:08:58.720 --> 0:09:03.160 I feel great. It's great to practice against other teams 0:09:03.440 --> 0:09:06.560 and not your own teammates, but um, I feel I feel, 0:09:06.640 --> 0:09:08.880 I feel great about the opportunity and obviously this Sunday, 0:09:08.960 --> 0:09:11.840 just take it every day by day, touchdowns that football. 0:09:12.160 --> 0:09:14.800 Oh yes, it felt great, But I mean I wouldn't 0:09:14.800 --> 0:09:16.680 be able to do it without read throwing the ball 0:09:16.760 --> 0:09:19.280 and obviously long protecting. So what do you say about 0:09:19.280 --> 0:09:21.360 that connection you and him kind of established really in camp, 0:09:21.360 --> 0:09:22.720 because I mean it seemed like every day it was 0:09:22.880 --> 0:09:26.840 sneta marriage Oh yeah, yeah, we have. We have a 0:09:26.840 --> 0:09:30.120 good relationship. He stays literally down the street from me, 0:09:30.200 --> 0:09:32.560 so we're always hanging out and stuff. So, I mean 0:09:33.280 --> 0:09:35.680 we always go to the movies. I mean just just 0:09:35.720 --> 0:09:37.679 hang out all the time. So when we always have 0:09:37.840 --> 0:09:40.400 had that relationship, so obviously it's great to bring to 0:09:40.440 --> 0:09:42.520 the field. What's your mindset like when you get you know, 0:09:42.559 --> 0:09:44.839 you have the production and practice with with reading and 0:09:44.920 --> 0:09:46.960 the third team and you get touch promotion to live 0:09:47.000 --> 0:09:48.839 with Jacobe in the second team eventually up with two 0:09:48.840 --> 0:09:50.880 on the ones. What's that mindset like for your the 0:09:50.920 --> 0:09:52.840 reaction you have when when you get those call ups, 0:09:53.120 --> 0:09:54.760 it's it's a it's a great feeling just to know 0:09:54.840 --> 0:09:57.200 that you know, your hot word is paying off. Um, 0:09:57.280 --> 0:10:00.400 but it's not over. You know, we comp and every 0:10:00.480 --> 0:10:03.640 day and it's the NFL. So I mean, you got 0:10:03.679 --> 0:10:05.640 a great guys. We've got great guys in the receiving 0:10:05.720 --> 0:10:08.400 room competing every day, and I just gotta take a 0:10:08.480 --> 0:10:12.719 day by day and just stay stay focused. Coach. Coach 0:10:12.760 --> 0:10:14.680 always talks about your development, whether you're a young player 0:10:14.679 --> 0:10:16.640 off act, you can never stop developing. What you say 0:10:16.679 --> 0:10:18.520 about coach bizarre and not receivers room and how he's 0:10:18.520 --> 0:10:20.920 couple to developing you so far on Oh yeah, every 0:10:21.000 --> 0:10:24.640 day we we go through film good or that, UM, 0:10:25.080 --> 0:10:28.000 go through coverages to the defense. That's that's something something 0:10:28.080 --> 0:10:32.239 I wasn't really used to. UM, but this the coverages 0:10:32.440 --> 0:10:35.599 and and knowing picking up on defense. You know, I 0:10:35.760 --> 0:10:38.120 was saying, NFL they tried to disguise everything, So I 0:10:38.160 --> 0:10:41.800 mean just picking up stuff on that and releases basically 0:10:41.840 --> 0:10:44.880 everything about receiver. That's where we really go over. So 0:10:44.920 --> 0:10:46.600 like when you're in college, isn't more just like I'm 0:10:46.640 --> 0:10:48.000 gonna beat my guy, I don't have to worry about 0:10:48.000 --> 0:10:49.560 the coverage stuff, and you can't here. It's like kind 0:10:49.559 --> 0:10:51.600 of a wake up caller. I wouldn't say a wake 0:10:51.679 --> 0:10:55.920 up call, but UM, when I was in college, coach Cefalo, 0:10:56.040 --> 0:10:58.120 he taught me coverages and stuff. But you know, it's 0:10:58.120 --> 0:11:01.240 the NFL is a whole different game, know, So I 0:11:01.240 --> 0:11:02.679 wanted to just put the audio for you guys who 0:11:02.760 --> 0:11:04.960 thought he was really good, and just talked about kind 0:11:04.960 --> 0:11:07.360 of the experience of being in his position and being 0:11:07.679 --> 0:11:09.840 part of this club and you know, going through a 0:11:09.880 --> 0:11:11.959 weird season in his first year. Now coming back here 0:11:11.960 --> 0:11:15.199 and having at least a little taste of normalcy. Why 0:11:15.240 --> 0:11:16.800 don't we go ahead and just stay on media here 0:11:16.840 --> 0:11:19.880 we're so far into it and finish up with Jesse Davis, 0:11:19.960 --> 0:11:23.480 and we talked with about this and the Falcons recap 0:11:23.480 --> 0:11:25.800 about how the Dolphins really turned up the heat on 0:11:25.840 --> 0:11:28.560 Felipe Frank's with some of the games they run up front, 0:11:28.600 --> 0:11:31.199 all the twists and stunts and and loopers and the 0:11:31.520 --> 0:11:34.120 and the slants. Forgot that word there for a second. 0:11:34.160 --> 0:11:36.840 They show up front and set edg Vaughan and all 0:11:36.880 --> 0:11:39.160 the rushers getting home with all those games. So I 0:11:39.200 --> 0:11:42.439 wanted to ask Jesse how seeing that in practice helps 0:11:42.440 --> 0:11:45.240 the offensive line and how seeing all that kind of 0:11:45.280 --> 0:11:48.480 helps keep them sharp. Here's Jesse on the mental side 0:11:48.480 --> 0:11:51.080 of playing offensive line and seeing all kinds of different 0:11:51.080 --> 0:11:53.319 games from the defensive line. Yeah, I think, you know, 0:11:53.320 --> 0:11:55.160 it makes us a lot more sharper, that's for sure. 0:11:55.200 --> 0:11:58.520 I Mean it's tough, you know, obviously, a good defense, 0:11:59.120 --> 0:12:00.680 you know, give us a different lot of different looks. 0:12:00.679 --> 0:12:03.160 So it makes us communicate more, um you know, rely 0:12:03.200 --> 0:12:05.600 on each other more than like in um that aspect. 0:12:06.040 --> 0:12:09.240 So going into like with that under our belt, hopefully 0:12:09.240 --> 0:12:12.080 it'll we'll show, and I asked Jesse about something I've 0:12:12.080 --> 0:12:14.400 noticed a practice quite a lot that you always love 0:12:14.440 --> 0:12:17.319 to see, as I so often see Liam Eichenberg come 0:12:17.360 --> 0:12:19.920 over to Jesse between reps and get a little bit 0:12:19.920 --> 0:12:22.400 of player coaching. And Jesse told us it's not just 0:12:22.640 --> 0:12:26.240 him helping the youngster, but also vice versac, like, yeah, 0:12:26.280 --> 0:12:27.960 you know right now we're playing the same spot. You know, 0:12:28.000 --> 0:12:29.480 he tells me what he sees. I tell him when 0:12:29.480 --> 0:12:31.640 I see, um, what we can improve on, you know, 0:12:31.720 --> 0:12:33.160 what we can do better. So I mean he's my 0:12:33.240 --> 0:12:36.640 eyes and and I'm his, so um, you know, just 0:12:36.720 --> 0:12:39.160 hand placement, footwork, kind of that stuff, you know what 0:12:39.200 --> 0:12:41.760 I see with alignments. Let's go ahead and finish where 0:12:41.800 --> 0:12:44.240 we started and go back to coach Flores. First, the 0:12:44.280 --> 0:12:47.760 non audios to a tongue by Loo will not play 0:12:47.840 --> 0:12:50.200 in the game on Sunday. You probably saw that already 0:12:50.520 --> 0:12:52.680 on Twitter or otherwise. And that's going to be the 0:12:52.679 --> 0:12:55.640 case for the majority of the starters. And I use 0:12:55.679 --> 0:12:57.960 air quotes there because we know that starters are not 0:12:58.080 --> 0:13:01.560 necessarily a thing in full ball anymore, or necessarily on 0:13:01.559 --> 0:13:03.640 this team. But I mean, obviously you have some guys, 0:13:03.679 --> 0:13:05.679 like the offensive line and your quarterback. But you get 0:13:05.679 --> 0:13:07.760 the point. There's lots of rotation, lots of players that 0:13:07.800 --> 0:13:10.559 play multiple roles per package, but we're not going to 0:13:10.600 --> 0:13:12.760 see a lot of the guys up in Cincinnati. And 0:13:12.760 --> 0:13:14.920 then coach said they're working through the decision to see 0:13:14.960 --> 0:13:17.840 who gets what amount of reps in that game. But 0:13:17.920 --> 0:13:20.720 he did also say when asked if the performance against 0:13:20.720 --> 0:13:25.040 the Falcons, that that strong performance did not influence the decision. 0:13:25.800 --> 0:13:28.480 The decision to not play too had already been made beforehand, 0:13:28.840 --> 0:13:30.800 but I love the part where he added in that 0:13:30.840 --> 0:13:34.080 it certainly didn't hurt. Coach also told us that vaccinated 0:13:34.160 --> 0:13:36.920 or unvaccinated as the big topic around the league right now, 0:13:37.080 --> 0:13:39.080 that they're going to keep the best players and play 0:13:39.120 --> 0:13:42.320 the best players regardless of that status. And finally, why 0:13:42.320 --> 0:13:44.520 don't we go to the podium here and here from 0:13:44.559 --> 0:13:47.439 head coach Brian flora Is on just how important special 0:13:47.480 --> 0:13:51.600 teams factors in to the final fifty three. UM. I 0:13:51.640 --> 0:13:56.480 think that's a that's a big part of the the 0:13:56.559 --> 0:14:00.920 final decisions that we make. UM. You know, the kicking 0:14:00.920 --> 0:14:06.640 games obviously a big part of of a football UM, 0:14:06.720 --> 0:14:08.079 and you know, we want to be good in a 0:14:08.160 --> 0:14:11.079 kicking game. So yeah, those those when we're making those 0:14:11.080 --> 0:14:14.360 final decisions. You know, what a guy can do and 0:14:14.559 --> 0:14:20.000 you know and on special teams is part of that decision. Um. 0:14:20.040 --> 0:14:21.920 You know, the more you can do gives you, you know, 0:14:22.000 --> 0:14:25.400 more opportunity to help this team win UM or try 0:14:25.400 --> 0:14:29.280 to win games. And you know that. Yeah, it definitely 0:14:29.320 --> 0:14:31.760 comes into play. UM. But I don't think that's just 0:14:32.360 --> 0:14:34.200 you know, for for the Miami Dolphins. I think that's 0:14:34.200 --> 0:14:41.800 for across the league. UM. A block field goal, a 0:14:41.840 --> 0:14:45.520 big kickoff return, a big punt return, a missfield goal. 0:14:45.920 --> 0:14:48.400 I mean, those are all plays in the game that 0:14:48.520 --> 0:14:50.360 you know, if you if you're take them for granted, 0:14:51.640 --> 0:14:55.400 I'll come back to bite you. So UM, I would say, 0:14:56.200 --> 0:14:59.320 you know, every team in the league is uh. It 0:14:59.560 --> 0:15:02.680 makes a games some somewhat of a priority, especially when 0:15:02.800 --> 0:15:05.000 when it comes out to these cuts. All right, that's 0:15:05.000 --> 0:15:06.920 the end of our media on this podcast. Let's go 0:15:06.960 --> 0:15:10.040 ahead and get to the practice notes here. First attendance. 0:15:10.080 --> 0:15:12.760 Will Fuller was out there again for the third straight 0:15:12.840 --> 0:15:15.320 day this week. So was Davante Parker, but this time 0:15:15.360 --> 0:15:18.440 and as well in the non contact red jersey. No 0:15:18.560 --> 0:15:22.280 Albert Wilson, no Javon Holland, no Adam Panky, no Vince Bagel, 0:15:22.560 --> 0:15:25.960 and no Seethan Carter. Brandon Jones was out there working again, 0:15:26.280 --> 0:15:27.960 and I know he was out there earlier this week, 0:15:28.000 --> 0:15:29.200 but I just wanted to go ahead and put it 0:15:29.200 --> 0:15:31.480 in the notes because it's good to see twenty nine 0:15:31.480 --> 0:15:34.040 back out there after missing some time with the ankle. 0:15:34.240 --> 0:15:35.680 And I want to start with a little segment here 0:15:35.720 --> 0:15:39.880 about the practice today and the growth of our rookie class, 0:15:39.920 --> 0:15:43.080 which I thought collectively had their best day of camp. 0:15:43.480 --> 0:15:46.880 Excuse me, Jalen Waddles aren't there, We'll go in order 0:15:46.880 --> 0:15:49.600 a draft pick. Here. The catches away from the frame 0:15:49.840 --> 0:15:53.000 where he twists and contorts and elevates and goes back 0:15:53.040 --> 0:15:56.680 against his body or diving to the ground, just continues 0:15:56.760 --> 0:15:59.000 to find the football and make catches. Like every once 0:15:59.000 --> 0:16:01.160 in a while there's a off there, but he's just 0:16:01.240 --> 0:16:03.800 been so solid catching the football, and I think that 0:16:03.840 --> 0:16:07.080 continues to show that he's more than just a speed guy. 0:16:07.120 --> 0:16:10.280 Not that I ever, ever ever thought he was just that, 0:16:10.360 --> 0:16:14.040 but sometimes the speedy guys can get unfairly tabbed with 0:16:14.080 --> 0:16:16.560 that one trick pony label, and that could not be 0:16:16.680 --> 0:16:19.080 further from the truth. With Jalen Waddle who continues to 0:16:19.200 --> 0:16:21.960 just show that alpha receiver mentality in terms of that's 0:16:22.000 --> 0:16:25.040 my football, I'm gonna go get it, whether it's short, intermediate, 0:16:25.120 --> 0:16:28.280 or deep or otherwise. Jalen Phillips was in the backfield 0:16:28.360 --> 0:16:31.000 a lot on Thursday's practice, and we'll get into the 0:16:31.000 --> 0:16:32.920 one on one portion of practice here in just a 0:16:32.960 --> 0:16:35.480 moment where I thought the offensive line got it done, 0:16:35.880 --> 0:16:38.760 and in that period, phillips pass rushes were being greeted 0:16:38.840 --> 0:16:41.200 by the nice pass blocking work of some of those tackles. 0:16:41.480 --> 0:16:43.560 But then Jalen and the team period, he turned it 0:16:43.600 --> 0:16:45.720 on and I had him with at least two sacks 0:16:45.760 --> 0:16:48.400 and some more pressure on other reps. I also had 0:16:48.480 --> 0:16:50.640 him for a very strong edge set in the early 0:16:50.720 --> 0:16:53.680 run game period early in practice, and it's not just 0:16:53.720 --> 0:16:56.760 about sacks for defensive ends and outside linebackers. Much more 0:16:56.800 --> 0:16:59.280 goes into it than just sacks. And on that note, 0:16:59.800 --> 0:17:01.840 the practices take on a little bit of a different 0:17:01.840 --> 0:17:03.920 field this time of year, where it's a bit of 0:17:03.920 --> 0:17:06.960 a transition into the more regular season type of practice 0:17:07.000 --> 0:17:09.639 opposed to what you get in training camp. So the 0:17:09.680 --> 0:17:12.680 final periods have been half speed, where it's more installed 0:17:12.920 --> 0:17:14.880 and the early part of practice has been run game 0:17:14.920 --> 0:17:17.600 with some r p O work, So evaluating as far 0:17:17.640 --> 0:17:20.560 as media or like the podcast goes, I'm just not 0:17:20.600 --> 0:17:22.320 sure it's the same during this week. So it's not 0:17:22.359 --> 0:17:24.919 the same like one on one competition. Go ahead and 0:17:24.920 --> 0:17:27.159 watch these guys and watch them do battle. It's more 0:17:27.200 --> 0:17:28.879 about the team and the game plan and put in 0:17:28.920 --> 0:17:30.879 the structure of how you're going to call games in 0:17:30.960 --> 0:17:34.200 place to continue though. Javon Holland not out there today, 0:17:34.240 --> 0:17:36.600 but obviously you know that I've been very impressed by 0:17:36.640 --> 0:17:40.000 his training camp so far. Liam Eichenberg, watching him work 0:17:40.080 --> 0:17:44.040 against Emmanuel Ogba is awesome because when he wins, you know, 0:17:44.119 --> 0:17:46.600 it takes all you've got to deal with Emmanual by 0:17:46.600 --> 0:17:48.639 the strength, the length, the bull rush, all of it, 0:17:48.840 --> 0:17:51.200 but also the fluidity that he brings to be able 0:17:51.240 --> 0:17:53.640 to bend around that edge and corner to the quarterback, 0:17:53.840 --> 0:17:56.560 and of course the past rush arsenal he features. But 0:17:56.640 --> 0:18:00.520 when Liam loses, anyone loses for that matter, it's an 0:18:00.640 --> 0:18:03.040 educational moment and you're going to get some of those 0:18:03.640 --> 0:18:05.840 moments as a rookie. I mean shoot, I tweeted that 0:18:05.880 --> 0:18:08.359 he had back to back nice raps against the manual 0:18:08.800 --> 0:18:11.359 and then on one of those reps. I loved the 0:18:11.359 --> 0:18:15.240 patients he showed because one gets that Nascar get off 0:18:15.240 --> 0:18:17.679 that he shows sometimes, and it looked like trouble, like 0:18:17.720 --> 0:18:20.399 a sack off the line. But Liam didn't panic. He 0:18:20.440 --> 0:18:22.680 stayed true to that kick slide, shuffled back there, got 0:18:22.720 --> 0:18:25.280 to his landmark and didn't throw the hands early, which 0:18:25.320 --> 0:18:27.200 is so key in that in that element of the game, 0:18:27.440 --> 0:18:29.800 and was able to get a manual ran right around 0:18:29.800 --> 0:18:32.680 the quarterback on that rep. After another win, of course, 0:18:32.720 --> 0:18:35.560 I tweeted about those two plays, and then Brendan Scarlett 0:18:35.560 --> 0:18:37.280 gets him for a pass rush on the third for 0:18:37.359 --> 0:18:39.520 a possible sack. But that's where you what you want 0:18:39.520 --> 0:18:41.560 to see in camp, right You want to see win 0:18:42.320 --> 0:18:46.399 or lose and learn from it. Hunter Long he had 0:18:46.480 --> 0:18:48.240 himself a big day the third round draft pick of 0:18:48.280 --> 0:18:51.200 your Miami Dolphins. The most notable play was a thirty 0:18:51.280 --> 0:18:53.800 or so yard pass reception from two a tongue by 0:18:53.840 --> 0:18:56.480 Lowa on a beautiful ball that got up over the 0:18:56.480 --> 0:18:59.679 top of tight endy Racer himself, Eric Rowe, and you 0:18:59.720 --> 0:19:01.439 guys know that this guy has been one of the 0:19:01.440 --> 0:19:03.199 best cover men against tight ends in the league the 0:19:03.240 --> 0:19:05.280 last couple of years, and we've seen that carry over 0:19:05.320 --> 0:19:08.080 this year into camp as well as the preseason with 0:19:08.200 --> 0:19:10.680 a p BU on third down in Chicago to get 0:19:10.720 --> 0:19:12.760 off the field and then a PBu on fourth down 0:19:12.800 --> 0:19:16.400 to prevent points against Atlanta. But Hunter Long caught one 0:19:16.800 --> 0:19:18.880