WEBVTT - Drive Time - Flores Media, Chester Rogers Breakdown, Linebackers Preview 0:00:00.320 --> 0:00:07.480 Factors are factor throwing touchdown. What a win for this 0:00:07.560 --> 0:00:13.240 Miami Dolphin team. Wow? What is up? Dolphins? And welcome 0:00:13.280 --> 0:00:16.920 to the Drivetime Podcast, part of the Miami Dolphins official 0:00:17.000 --> 0:00:21.720 podcast network, covering your Miami Dolphins each and every day. 0:00:21.800 --> 0:00:25.160 How's it going? Everybody Happy Monday? I am your host, 0:00:25.160 --> 0:00:28.680 Travis Wingfield. And on today's show, we have three more 0:00:28.760 --> 0:00:32.080 parts remaining to the training camp roster preview series. We're 0:00:32.080 --> 0:00:35.080 going to continue that today with the off ball linebackers, 0:00:35.120 --> 0:00:38.400 taking a look at current and former Ohio State teammates 0:00:38.479 --> 0:00:41.640 Ray Kwadon McMillan and Jerome Baker, the newcomers and commu 0:00:41.720 --> 0:00:44.320 Gruge Hill and Landon Roberts and the rest of this 0:00:44.400 --> 0:00:47.440 linebacker group, plus coach Flora has met with the media 0:00:47.479 --> 0:00:50.440 on Monday, will cover the highlights, will detail the Chester 0:00:50.600 --> 0:00:53.320 Rogers signing, and as always, get you caught up on 0:00:53.360 --> 0:00:55.840 the latest from Davy. All of that and more on 0:00:55.880 --> 0:01:03.760 this Monday, August the tenth edition of the Drivetime Podcast. First, 0:01:03.840 --> 0:01:06.160 let's go ahead and get to coaches media for Monday, 0:01:06.200 --> 0:01:09.319 August the tenth, he spoke and answered several questions from 0:01:09.360 --> 0:01:11.800 the South Florida media. Let's go ahead, and play the hits. 0:01:12.160 --> 0:01:14.559 And we start with a question about momentum from last 0:01:14.560 --> 0:01:17.520 season heading into and you know by now that coach 0:01:17.560 --> 0:01:19.280 Flora's is going to talk about today and how this 0:01:19.319 --> 0:01:21.920 team can get better and taking that day by day approach, 0:01:21.920 --> 0:01:24.399 the day by day mindset. Well, he was pretty blunt 0:01:24.440 --> 0:01:26.840 and pretty transparent about how he feels about the idea 0:01:27.080 --> 0:01:30.640 of momentum from one season carrying over into the next. 0:01:31.200 --> 0:01:32.800 I don't think I don't think any to be honest, 0:01:32.800 --> 0:01:36.960 which I think is in the past, and um, every 0:01:37.000 --> 0:01:39.200 year is a little bit different. This year is no 0:01:39.319 --> 0:01:41.959 different from that standpoint. So you know, the things that 0:01:42.000 --> 0:01:45.000 happened a year ago, you know, good or bad, we 0:01:44.520 --> 0:01:46.839 we we were just kind of focused on getting better 0:01:46.959 --> 0:01:50.000 each and every day and uh, you know, putting last 0:01:50.040 --> 0:01:53.560 year's last year and just trying to just trying to improve, 0:01:53.640 --> 0:01:58.400 get better, Uh, you know, build some team chemistry, learn 0:01:58.440 --> 0:02:00.240 and grow as a as a team right now. So 0:02:00.360 --> 0:02:02.200 I'm not really worried about anything going to happen in a 0:02:02.160 --> 0:02:04.520 a year ago. And I actually do think that's one 0:02:04.560 --> 0:02:06.600 thing that maybe football fans can get a little bit 0:02:06.600 --> 0:02:09.639 distracted by, is the idea of momentum or carry over 0:02:09.919 --> 0:02:12.639 even within the course of a season itself. Like last year, 0:02:12.680 --> 0:02:14.919 for instance, we talked about the five and four finish. 0:02:15.000 --> 0:02:17.000 That team played much better than the stretch than it 0:02:17.080 --> 0:02:19.000 did in the first half of the season. You don't 0:02:19.000 --> 0:02:21.320 always go based upon the previous week or the previous 0:02:21.360 --> 0:02:24.040 month of the previous season. And that's coach floress mindset. 0:02:24.040 --> 0:02:26.280 What can we do today to make the football team 0:02:26.280 --> 0:02:29.000 better for tomorrow, And that's the approach you should be taking. 0:02:29.080 --> 0:02:31.480 Right up next, coach was asked about how he feels 0:02:31.480 --> 0:02:34.120 about the possibility of no fans or fans in the 0:02:34.160 --> 0:02:37.160 stands this season. Look, we love that fans in the stands. 0:02:38.040 --> 0:02:42.240 I'd love to have them, um home Way. Obviously, the 0:02:42.240 --> 0:02:47.560 fans are a big part of the game, and you look, 0:02:47.600 --> 0:02:49.920 we're we're not We're we're not out there without their support. 0:02:49.960 --> 0:02:53.360 So it's it's that from that standpoint, it is important 0:02:53.360 --> 0:02:56.720 to me. But um, look, there's a pandemic. I think 0:02:56.720 --> 0:03:00.760 we need to um, you know, obviously use caution, which 0:03:00.800 --> 0:03:03.800 we're doing here in our building, and um you know, 0:03:03.840 --> 0:03:06.760 as a as a and as a country, I think 0:03:06.760 --> 0:03:09.919 we're all trying to um, you know, use use proceed 0:03:10.040 --> 0:03:13.160 with caution in all our daily activities. So look, if 0:03:13.200 --> 0:03:14.919 we can have fans, I mean I think and and 0:03:15.280 --> 0:03:17.400 have them at the games in a safe way, and 0:03:17.440 --> 0:03:22.040 I'm mom all forward, Um, if you know the people 0:03:22.040 --> 0:03:25.079 will make those decisions, I don't think that's the the 0:03:25.200 --> 0:03:27.639 right thing to do. Then you know, then we'll play 0:03:27.680 --> 0:03:29.880 without fans, and of course it will be an adjustment 0:03:29.880 --> 0:03:32.400 period for everybody this season, coach Flora's and the Miami 0:03:32.440 --> 0:03:36.080 Dolphins included. And here he discusses the possibility of quarantining 0:03:36.120 --> 0:03:38.880 certain players or just looking into contingencies for how to 0:03:38.880 --> 0:03:42.640 approach this unique season this year in the NFL. Yeah, 0:03:42.720 --> 0:03:47.120 we've we've we've we've looked into really every possible scenario, 0:03:47.320 --> 0:03:50.120 so that being one of them. Look, a lot of 0:03:50.120 --> 0:03:53.240 our meetings are zoom right now, so everyone is you 0:03:53.280 --> 0:03:58.000 know from that standpoint is uh, you know, in the quarantine, 0:03:58.120 --> 0:03:59.760 so in a lot of ways that it takes care 0:03:59.800 --> 0:04:04.320 of it excuse me, takes care of itself. Uh. But yeah, 0:04:04.320 --> 0:04:06.520 we we've thought about that. We talked to me you know, 0:04:06.840 --> 0:04:10.440 that scenario as well as you know a plethora of 0:04:10.520 --> 0:04:14.800 other scenarios. So, uh, I think we've got to a 0:04:14.840 --> 0:04:17.359 plan in place that we feel good about and up next, 0:04:17.400 --> 0:04:19.520 I wanted to ask coach a question about his training 0:04:19.520 --> 0:04:22.520 camp schedule and how that changes and differs year to year. 0:04:23.000 --> 0:04:25.680 Good morning, coach. Um, this year is obviously unique, but 0:04:25.839 --> 0:04:29.920 just generally speaking, do your training camp scripts scripts differ 0:04:30.040 --> 0:04:34.039 year to year based on things like coaching and personnel changes. Yeah, 0:04:34.160 --> 0:04:37.919 I think every every years it's different. So you know, 0:04:38.120 --> 0:04:41.080 to set a script and you know one year and 0:04:41.160 --> 0:04:43.520 think that you're just gonna copy and paste it into 0:04:43.560 --> 0:04:46.440 the next year. I mean that's you know, because of 0:04:46.600 --> 0:04:49.760 different players, different coaches, different just different things that you're 0:04:49.800 --> 0:04:51.920 doing as a team. I think you know, on a 0:04:52.000 --> 0:04:54.320 daily basis, you know, you've gotta be able to change, adapted, 0:04:54.360 --> 0:04:56.920 to be flexible the way the same way you're gonna 0:04:56.920 --> 0:05:00.200 want you your your team to be able to ad apt, 0:05:00.240 --> 0:05:03.960 to be flexible within the game. So yeah, they changed script, 0:05:04.080 --> 0:05:07.800 change the practice, the daily practice schedules change, and obviously 0:05:07.839 --> 0:05:11.359 this year everything is a little bit different. So um, 0:05:11.400 --> 0:05:18.000 anyone who's setting with specifically you know, training camp schedule, practice, UM, 0:05:18.040 --> 0:05:21.360 this year is definitely different. So um, we're all gonna 0:05:21.360 --> 0:05:23.360 have to be able, We're gonna all gonna have to adapt. 0:05:23.839 --> 0:05:26.279 And one unique thing about not just this season on 0:05:26.320 --> 0:05:28.400 the football field, but for the media, is that questions 0:05:28.440 --> 0:05:30.159 tend to get a little bit back and forth because 0:05:30.160 --> 0:05:32.279 it's just on the same field and same approach of 0:05:32.320 --> 0:05:34.640 alive in person press conference. And we go back here 0:05:34.640 --> 0:05:37.359 to a question about COVID and about the approach and 0:05:37.400 --> 0:05:41.280 precautions to dolphins are taking to combat that. I mean, look, 0:05:41.320 --> 0:05:43.640 I think we we take things name by day by 0:05:43.720 --> 0:05:48.920 day and try to, um, you know, use caution and 0:05:49.000 --> 0:05:52.719 you know testing. You know that we're doing, um, you know, 0:05:52.760 --> 0:05:58.520 continue the testing distance, wear masks and we just kind 0:05:58.520 --> 0:06:01.479 of string those days together. UM. When we do that 0:06:01.560 --> 0:06:04.480 as a as an entire league, then we're gonna put 0:06:04.520 --> 0:06:07.240 ourselves in the best position to play, you know, as 0:06:07.240 --> 0:06:09.040 many games as we can play. And that's really all 0:06:09.080 --> 0:06:12.160 we can do. Um To make predictions on whether or 0:06:12.160 --> 0:06:14.080 not we can do this or that, I mean, I 0:06:14.080 --> 0:06:18.440 don't want to get into all that. All I'll say is, uh, 0:06:19.040 --> 0:06:20.560 you know, we're gonna try to wear our masks where 0:06:20.560 --> 0:06:27.000 our contact tracers uh no distance and do the best 0:06:27.040 --> 0:06:31.640 we can. And look, this is obviously we all know that. UM, 0:06:31.680 --> 0:06:36.800 you know, it's an an airborne virus and you know 0:06:37.200 --> 0:06:39.960 people can get infected quickly. So all we can do 0:06:40.000 --> 0:06:45.159 is is do our best to um prevent that from happening. 0:06:45.440 --> 0:06:47.400 And I think if we do that, you know, we'll 0:06:47.400 --> 0:06:49.240 give ourselves a chance to play a full season, which 0:06:49.279 --> 0:06:51.520 is all you know, that's all, that's all we can do. 0:06:51.920 --> 0:06:53.760 And I'm gonna go ahead and let this next question 0:06:53.760 --> 0:06:56.679 just play out in full because it's Armando cell Girl 0:06:56.720 --> 0:06:58.680 of the Miami Herald, and you hear a little bit 0:06:58.680 --> 0:07:01.240 of humor in Flora's as we sponsor sell girl's question, 0:07:01.240 --> 0:07:05.840 but also a good answer to a good question. Morning flow. UM, 0:07:05.960 --> 0:07:09.760 I'm wondering if you could share your thinking, um in 0:07:09.800 --> 0:07:15.080 the hiring of Steve Marshall, And UM, I know that 0:07:15.200 --> 0:07:19.040 putting together anensive line is difficult. What are the what 0:07:19.080 --> 0:07:21.880 are what are the challenges of doing it in fourteen 0:07:22.040 --> 0:07:26.640 padded practices. I'm gonna get all your questions this week, Armando, 0:07:26.800 --> 0:07:30.160 So Marshall four to I'll get him all, get him 0:07:30.200 --> 0:07:35.800 all yet. So Steve UM, obviously, UM, you know once 0:07:35.800 --> 0:07:41.440 we what would chan we wanted to you know, uh, well, 0:07:41.520 --> 0:07:43.080 I thought that was important to go with someone who 0:07:43.120 --> 0:07:45.480 was you know, familiar with that with that style of play, 0:07:45.560 --> 0:07:48.680 so that that UM, that played a role in hiring Steve. 0:07:48.800 --> 0:07:51.840 And Um, he's a good coach. He's a he's a teacher, 0:07:52.200 --> 0:07:56.440 a very good teacher of old line play. Um. And 0:07:56.480 --> 0:07:58.480 he and I just had a good you know, I 0:07:58.520 --> 0:08:01.080 had a good feeling and a good vibe. Right. Um, 0:08:01.200 --> 0:08:04.360 we had our let's go our interview process. So he 0:08:04.400 --> 0:08:07.680 worked well with chain, he worked one with the offensive staff. Um, 0:08:07.680 --> 0:08:10.000 he's a good coach. He's a tough coach. He asked 0:08:10.000 --> 0:08:13.520 a lot of his players. Um, and so far it's 0:08:13.560 --> 0:08:17.560 been it's been, it's been good. Obviously we haven't Um, 0:08:17.560 --> 0:08:19.440 it's been all walk through. But you know, we can 0:08:19.440 --> 0:08:22.000 only evaluate, you know what what what we're doing far. 0:08:22.200 --> 0:08:24.960 So UM, I've been pleased with that. As far as 0:08:24.960 --> 0:08:29.920 the padded practices, Uh, look, it's gonna be you know, 0:08:29.960 --> 0:08:33.320 this is gonna be the least amount of work you know, 0:08:33.760 --> 0:08:37.560 across the league at any for all teams, UM, leading 0:08:37.600 --> 0:08:40.880 police amount of practice no preseason games, you know, in 0:08:40.880 --> 0:08:43.120 the history of the NFL. I think everyone kind of 0:08:43.200 --> 0:08:47.240 knows and understands that. So, UM, is it enough? Uh, 0:08:47.640 --> 0:08:49.840 it's gonna have to be enough this year. So we're 0:08:49.880 --> 0:08:52.680 gonna do our best to try to build a caremaraderie 0:08:52.679 --> 0:08:54.520 on the offensive line, on the defensive line, in the 0:08:54.600 --> 0:08:58.320 quarterback room, in the dB room. Um as a coaching staff, 0:08:59.440 --> 0:09:03.680 and you know, not make excuses about only being this 0:09:03.840 --> 0:09:06.600 or only being that. Just do our best with the 0:09:06.720 --> 0:09:09.240 with the time we have. And again, every every rep 0:09:09.320 --> 0:09:11.280 is going to be is is that much more important? 0:09:11.360 --> 0:09:14.760 Every um, every meeting is that much more important. That's 0:09:14.760 --> 0:09:18.160 that's the message we've we've conveyed to the players. I 0:09:18.200 --> 0:09:20.280 get him all amando. So a little bit there of 0:09:20.280 --> 0:09:22.240 the lighter side of coach, but also the message that 0:09:22.280 --> 0:09:24.160 he puts out to the team, to the players this 0:09:24.240 --> 0:09:26.040 year that we are going to control we can control. 0:09:26.360 --> 0:09:29.000 So a good mix there of coach Flora's. Up next 0:09:29.000 --> 0:09:32.800 a question about cornerback Byron Jones, who assigned this offseason. Man, 0:09:32.880 --> 0:09:35.040 that feels like a long time ago, but Flora's broke 0:09:35.080 --> 0:09:37.520 down the trades they saw in Byron Jones that attracted 0:09:37.520 --> 0:09:41.000 the Dolphins to sign the quarterback, including some fancy shoes. 0:09:41.800 --> 0:09:45.960 Was a smart player. Um Uh, he's a tough player. 0:09:46.000 --> 0:09:49.240 I think he can tackle. Um, it's a good cover skills, 0:09:49.600 --> 0:09:54.440 he's got length, um, he's got some leadership qualities, and 0:09:54.440 --> 0:09:56.880 he's a he's a talented player. You know, we're happy 0:09:56.920 --> 0:09:59.760 to have him. Uh. Obviously there's some improvements you can 0:09:59.800 --> 0:10:02.839 make of his game, like uh, like all players and 0:10:02.960 --> 0:10:08.640 like all coaches, like everyone, you can all improve get better. Um. Well, yeah, 0:10:08.640 --> 0:10:11.960 we're pleased with him so far. You know where we 0:10:12.200 --> 0:10:14.080 I joke around with him a little bit. He wears 0:10:14.120 --> 0:10:16.440 some nice shoes, so I was, I was on him 0:10:16.440 --> 0:10:19.920 a little bit today. UM. But he's he's good. He's 0:10:19.920 --> 0:10:23.679 been fun to spend some time with. UM. And it's 0:10:23.720 --> 0:10:25.520 it's nice to see guys getting to know each other 0:10:26.040 --> 0:10:29.320 and uh, you know, guys from different teams and just 0:10:29.360 --> 0:10:32.719 trying to you know, pull this whole thing together. Um. 0:10:32.760 --> 0:10:36.440 But uh yeah, no, very pleased with with that addition. Look, 0:10:36.440 --> 0:10:38.000 it's we're still in the very early phase of on 0:10:38.080 --> 0:10:40.599 the pads on. We haven't put a helmet on. I 0:10:40.720 --> 0:10:43.679 got a long way to go. Um, and he's got 0:10:43.679 --> 0:10:47.120 to make some improvements. We all have to make improvements 0:10:47.240 --> 0:10:49.760 and if we hopefully will, I know he'll work towards that. 0:10:50.280 --> 0:10:52.559 And with college football and the news this week and 0:10:52.600 --> 0:10:55.240 the possibility of a season or no season, coach Florence 0:10:55.280 --> 0:10:58.280 addresses how the Dolphins will have contingencies in plays with 0:10:58.280 --> 0:11:01.319 their scouting staff and approach the evaluation for next year's 0:11:01.360 --> 0:11:04.080 class if there is no college football games this fall, 0:11:04.160 --> 0:11:06.240 talking about the scouts who would be on the road 0:11:06.360 --> 0:11:08.880 right now, all that stuff. Here's Flora's on the plans 0:11:08.880 --> 0:11:11.400 in place in case there is no college football. Yeah, 0:11:11.400 --> 0:11:15.079 we're monitoring that obviously from a scouting standpoint, this is 0:11:15.120 --> 0:11:16.680 the time where a lot of guys would be out 0:11:16.679 --> 0:11:18.840 on the road and looking at the prospects for for 0:11:18.960 --> 0:11:22.920 next season. Um. Yeah, if there's not a college season 0:11:22.960 --> 0:11:28.599 with it's something we've talked about, Chris, myself, Brandon, Marvin Allen. Um, 0:11:29.000 --> 0:11:31.400 if we have a plan in place for you know, 0:11:32.440 --> 0:11:36.400 how we're going to go about this scouting season if 0:11:36.440 --> 0:11:40.040 we if there is no season, And yeah, obviously those 0:11:40.040 --> 0:11:42.960 those conversations will be ongoing, and those conversations obviously gonna 0:11:42.960 --> 0:11:46.600 stay between us. But yeah, you know that would be 0:11:47.360 --> 0:11:49.720 I think everyone loves college football. I want to see 0:11:49.880 --> 0:11:52.199 to see it, but UM, we don't feel like it's 0:11:52.200 --> 0:11:55.120 going to be a safe environment, um for those young men, 0:11:55.160 --> 0:11:57.280 and you know, and that's the decision they make, and 0:11:58.040 --> 0:11:59.840 UM where we all have to live with that. UM. 0:12:00.320 --> 0:12:04.839 But from our standpoint looking down the road, which we're 0:12:04.840 --> 0:12:07.040 always doing that as well, and we have to make 0:12:07.040 --> 0:12:10.679 some adjustments and we will. Um. With all that said, 0:12:10.880 --> 0:12:13.240 you know, my focus is, you know, on on this 0:12:13.360 --> 0:12:16.760 team right now today, so I'm kind of monitoring that 0:12:16.840 --> 0:12:19.080 from afar and really Chris handles more and more of 0:12:19.080 --> 0:12:23.200 that than you know, really all of that, I should say. Um, 0:12:23.240 --> 0:12:26.240 So when he gets on you guys can ask him 0:12:26.280 --> 0:12:28.520 about it, and we'll go ahead and wrap up coaches 0:12:28.600 --> 0:12:31.560 media availability with his last answer here talking about new 0:12:31.600 --> 0:12:35.200 Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, their history together and what 0:12:35.280 --> 0:12:39.160 the coach brings to the defensive coordinator position. Obviously, I've 0:12:39.160 --> 0:12:42.000 worked with Josh for a long time. Uh, he is 0:12:42.080 --> 0:12:50.440 a very good teacher. Uh. Defensively, UM, he's uh, he's tough, 0:12:50.520 --> 0:12:55.679 he's smart, he works extremely hard. UM, and I think 0:12:55.679 --> 0:12:59.400 he's got a good report with the player. So UM, 0:12:59.440 --> 0:13:02.760 I'm you know, very excited too to see him lead 0:13:02.760 --> 0:13:05.120 the defense. UM. I think he's gonna do Uh. I 0:13:05.160 --> 0:13:07.960 think he's gonna do a good job. And at the 0:13:07.960 --> 0:13:10.480 same time, you know, there's we got a long way 0:13:10.480 --> 0:13:13.600 to go, a lot of work to do. M These 0:13:13.600 --> 0:13:15.880 guys not even you know, hit in the field yet 0:13:16.360 --> 0:13:20.240 in pads or even helmet. So um. But yeah, I'm 0:13:20.240 --> 0:13:24.199 excited for josh Um and I think he's I think 0:13:24.240 --> 0:13:26.920 he's going to do a good job with this opportunity, 0:13:27.400 --> 0:13:30.120 and there he goes. Dolphins head coach Brian Flora's addressing 0:13:30.200 --> 0:13:33.320 the media on this Monday, August the tenth edition of 0:13:33.360 --> 0:13:35.680 the Drivetime podcast. We have a couple more segments I 0:13:35.679 --> 0:13:37.280 want to touch on here before we get out of 0:13:37.280 --> 0:13:39.959 here for the day. The Dolphins made some roster moves 0:13:40.000 --> 0:13:42.040 over the weekend. We'll touch on more of those at 0:13:42.040 --> 0:13:44.120 the end of the show. Make sure we get everything 0:13:44.200 --> 0:13:46.640 up to date for you guys here on Drive Time. 0:13:46.840 --> 0:13:51.360 The Dolphins added receiver Chester Rogers, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, 0:13:51.400 --> 0:13:54.160 over the weekend. Signed the receiver, and the first two 0:13:54.200 --> 0:13:57.560 years he spent in Indy, he was primarily a perimeter receiver, 0:13:57.800 --> 0:14:00.520 took more snaps on the outside then on the inside 0:14:00.559 --> 0:14:05.800 there according to Pro Football Focus. But however, since nine 0:14:05.920 --> 0:14:09.400 hundred and forty six of his one thousand eighty eight 0:14:09.400 --> 0:14:13.880 snaps came from inside at that slot position, inen he 0:14:13.920 --> 0:14:17.440 caught seventy five point six percent of his slot targets. 0:14:17.559 --> 0:14:20.480 That was ninth among receivers with at least thirty two 0:14:20.520 --> 0:14:24.040 targets from the slot. Again Pro Football Focus my source there. 0:14:24.280 --> 0:14:27.400 In general, he finished tenth in the NFL and catch 0:14:27.480 --> 0:14:30.400 rate that season. Working back to team and some of 0:14:30.440 --> 0:14:33.120 the success he had there with Andrew Luck in Indie, 0:14:33.520 --> 0:14:35.800 and you pull up his work on game pass working 0:14:35.800 --> 0:14:38.520 in plenty of those tight, condensed splits in close to 0:14:38.520 --> 0:14:41.720 the formation, working off bunches and stacks. A lot of 0:14:41.720 --> 0:14:43.720 the stuff you'll see in close to the formation, like, 0:14:43.920 --> 0:14:46.560 for instance, go look at Sean mcveigh's offense with the rams. 0:14:46.640 --> 0:14:48.880 They make everything tight and condensed and run off of 0:14:48.920 --> 0:14:52.040 stacks where you have multiple options in the passing game 0:14:52.120 --> 0:14:54.480 kind of stacked on top of each other to create 0:14:54.520 --> 0:14:57.880 better opportunities for releases and maybe even some confusion there 0:14:58.040 --> 0:15:00.920 in the defensive secondary as well. So he played plenty 0:15:00.920 --> 0:15:03.440 of entight splits on the offense for the Colts in 0:15:03.480 --> 0:15:05.640 the last couple of seasons. And he would also help 0:15:05.680 --> 0:15:08.240 in protection a little bit with chips off the edge, 0:15:08.240 --> 0:15:10.280 one of the benefits you can have when you play 0:15:10.280 --> 0:15:12.480 inside like that. And he had a game against the 0:15:12.480 --> 0:15:15.560 Houston Texans and the playoffs back in where he would 0:15:15.600 --> 0:15:17.920 chip J J. Watt a few times in that game. 0:15:18.160 --> 0:15:20.400 He also has a nice little wiggle at the top 0:15:20.440 --> 0:15:22.960 of his route. He did run a four four nine 0:15:22.960 --> 0:15:26.280 at his Grambling Pro day back in of course, that's 0:15:26.280 --> 0:15:28.760 the last time he'll run a forty yard dash, And 0:15:28.880 --> 0:15:32.000 according to his player profile dot com profile, he has 0:15:32.040 --> 0:15:34.720 an agility score which is a combination of the twenty 0:15:34.800 --> 0:15:37.680 yard shuttle and three cone time of ten point nine 0:15:37.720 --> 0:15:41.160 two That ranks in the four percentile for wide receivers. 0:15:41.320 --> 0:15:43.240 And so you see some of that shake at the 0:15:43.280 --> 0:15:45.840 top of his route in that statistics there, but provides 0:15:45.880 --> 0:15:49.480 that background some context for that statistic there, as well 0:15:49.520 --> 0:15:51.280 as the punt return game, as he can kind of 0:15:51.360 --> 0:15:53.400 get off of his spot and make someployees in the 0:15:53.480 --> 0:15:55.400 kicking game. We'll touch more on that here in just 0:15:55.520 --> 0:15:57.720 one second. Like the way he choose up the soft 0:15:57.760 --> 0:16:00.280 spot when defensive backs are in off coverage just kind 0:16:00.280 --> 0:16:02.360 of creates a better target for the quarterback to throw. Two. 0:16:02.640 --> 0:16:06.000 Looked very comfortable working the hook in behind the linebackers. 0:16:06.160 --> 0:16:08.200 Again that inside slot possition. You're gonna to be a 0:16:08.200 --> 0:16:10.480 tough guy work in that middle part of the field, 0:16:10.760 --> 0:16:13.920 as he did the last couple of years there in Indianapolis, 0:16:14.040 --> 0:16:17.040 and he had a real natural feel and chemistry where 0:16:17.040 --> 0:16:19.280 the timing of the routes and the football were typically 0:16:19.280 --> 0:16:23.320 on point there with luck in Indianapolis. Completion rate will 0:16:23.360 --> 0:16:26.600 prove that he definitely has that possession receiver mentality when 0:16:26.680 --> 0:16:29.520 he embraces the contact on those catches over the middle. 0:16:29.680 --> 0:16:31.760 You know, the player drops in between that triangle of 0:16:31.840 --> 0:16:36.000 defenders behind the linebackers underneath the safety. He catches the football, 0:16:36.040 --> 0:16:39.360 tucks it away and lunges upfield. Smart player that way, 0:16:39.440 --> 0:16:41.240 And of course that's one of the tenants here of 0:16:41.240 --> 0:16:43.800 Brian Floora is getting smart players onto the football team. 0:16:44.000 --> 0:16:47.560 Watching all of his targets en you notice he has 0:16:47.560 --> 0:16:50.120 a real knack for coming back to the football, a 0:16:50.160 --> 0:16:52.400 good way to earn the quarterbacks trust where they break 0:16:52.440 --> 0:16:54.000 off the top of the route and work back to 0:16:54.000 --> 0:16:56.800 the quarterback rather than drifting on that route like the 0:16:56.840 --> 0:16:59.480 way he feels comfortable catching the football away from his body. 0:16:59.680 --> 0:17:01.880 Several examples of that on his tape and just two 0:17:02.000 --> 0:17:05.600 drops back in according to Pro Football Focus, leading of 0:17:05.640 --> 0:17:08.399 course to that high catch rate. And I mentioned the 0:17:08.480 --> 0:17:10.880 kicking game, and here's a little bit of info regarding 0:17:11.080 --> 0:17:14.560 the value of having multiple capable return men back there. 0:17:14.760 --> 0:17:16.880 It continues a theme from a tweet that I wrote 0:17:16.880 --> 0:17:19.160 back on May six that I pulled back up here 0:17:19.280 --> 0:17:22.320 about how many players the Dolphins added this offseason with 0:17:22.440 --> 0:17:25.199 return ability. Of course, Jachim Grant was lost for the 0:17:25.240 --> 0:17:27.760 year at one point last season, Preston Williams as well, 0:17:27.800 --> 0:17:29.960 So you start digging in to the punt return depth 0:17:30.040 --> 0:17:32.439 chart there, And at the time of that tweet it 0:17:32.560 --> 0:17:35.520 was six players added to the roster that had pretty 0:17:35.560 --> 0:17:40.199 considerable return resumes at the college level, and Chester Rogers 0:17:40.320 --> 0:17:43.280 would be number seven. So Brandon Jones, the kid from Texas, 0:17:43.320 --> 0:17:45.960 the third round draft pick. He returned fourteen punts and 0:17:45.960 --> 0:17:50.240 three kickoffs. Malcolm Perry returned twenty kickoffs in college. Noah Ignogeny, 0:17:50.320 --> 0:17:53.000 the first round draft pick out of Auburn, had forty 0:17:53.000 --> 0:17:56.040 four kickoff returns there at college, two of those for touchdowns. 0:17:56.160 --> 0:17:59.119 Matt Brita has five career kickoff returns. Both of the 0:17:59.160 --> 0:18:02.760 Dolphins under afted free agent receivers, Both Kirk Merritt and 0:18:03.080 --> 0:18:06.040 Matt Cole had some kick returning experience. Matt Cole had 0:18:06.040 --> 0:18:08.960 twenty three kickoff returns last year and eight punts. He 0:18:09.080 --> 0:18:11.719 scored one of each of those, and Kirk Merritt returned 0:18:11.720 --> 0:18:15.200 eleven kicks at Arkansas State. You obviously have Jachem Grant, 0:18:15.320 --> 0:18:18.199 Preston Williams, Isaiah four. They all return kicks last year 0:18:18.240 --> 0:18:20.480 for the Dolphins as well. And depth just is not 0:18:20.560 --> 0:18:23.600 exclusive to the offense or defense. It matters on special 0:18:23.640 --> 0:18:26.920 teams as well. And Rogers has sixty career punt returns 0:18:26.920 --> 0:18:30.000 in his football career, and he's pretty consistent with his 0:18:30.080 --> 0:18:32.720 average yards per return. He was at nine point two 0:18:32.800 --> 0:18:35.800 yards in his rookie season, had a bit of a 0:18:35.840 --> 0:18:38.359 dip in twenty seventeen down to eight yards per return, 0:18:38.520 --> 0:18:41.760 but then right back up to nine point three eighteen, 0:18:41.960 --> 0:18:45.040 and a career best last season at nine point eight 0:18:45.119 --> 0:18:47.280 yards per punt return. That's a really good looking number 0:18:47.280 --> 0:18:50.040 there from a punt returner. In total, he's played two 0:18:50.119 --> 0:18:53.159 hundred and six career snaps on special teams. It'll be 0:18:53.200 --> 0:18:55.480 interesting to see how he fits into that room, how 0:18:55.480 --> 0:18:58.280 he acclimates and gets involved with Josh Grizzard in that 0:18:58.320 --> 0:19:00.760 wide receiver room. All right, let's go ahead and continue 0:19:00.760 --> 0:19:03.119 on with the training camp preview series here on the 0:19:03.200 --> 0:19:06.360 Drivetime podcast. We left left you off with the edge 0:19:06.400 --> 0:19:09.160 rushers and edge defenders, and today we talk about the 0:19:09.200 --> 0:19:12.399 linebackers playing more so off the football, and again to 0:19:12.440 --> 0:19:14.439 kind of get back into this topic of how it 0:19:14.480 --> 0:19:18.000 can be difficult for me or for anybody to differentiate 0:19:18.119 --> 0:19:21.240 what roles players playing on this football team, because as 0:19:21.280 --> 0:19:23.919 Flora's talks about, as Josh Bowyer talks about, as the 0:19:23.960 --> 0:19:27.199 offensive coaching staff talks about, as everyone here involved on 0:19:27.200 --> 0:19:30.119 the Miami Dolphins operation talks about, we're gonna be flexible, 0:19:30.200 --> 0:19:32.040 We're gonna be week to week, we're gonna attack our 0:19:32.040 --> 0:19:34.800 opponent accordingly. And so with that, you kind of have 0:19:34.920 --> 0:19:38.600 some varying roles on the particular positions, especially in the 0:19:38.600 --> 0:19:40.800 front seven of the defense. But I did my best 0:19:40.800 --> 0:19:42.960 to separate those guys. And let's go ahead and get 0:19:43.040 --> 0:19:46.320 now in to the off ball linebackers and start in 0:19:46.520 --> 0:19:49.280 order of jersey number with a newcomer a land and 0:19:49.400 --> 0:19:52.240 Roberts played four years for the New England Patriots, entering 0:19:52.280 --> 0:19:54.560 his first here with Miami. He's gonna wear a number 0:19:54.600 --> 0:19:57.520 forty four, just a great linebacker number as far as 0:19:57.560 --> 0:20:00.119 I'm concerned. He went to Houston. He'll be twenties six 0:20:00.160 --> 0:20:02.320 years old on opening Day and he has another one 0:20:02.320 --> 0:20:05.000 of these Dolphins coming over to reunite with Brian Flores, 0:20:05.040 --> 0:20:08.320 with Josh Boyer, that defensive staff, and he really embodies 0:20:08.440 --> 0:20:10.879 much of the mental and physical makeup the coach wants 0:20:10.880 --> 0:20:14.320 and his players. A throwback, a physical downhill pursuit player 0:20:14.520 --> 0:20:18.240 that seeks and initiates contact and beats blocks by taking 0:20:18.280 --> 0:20:20.600 them head on. That's what football is all about. In 0:20:20.640 --> 0:20:23.040 my opinion, the most fun football to watch is those 0:20:23.080 --> 0:20:26.600 guys being aggressive and letting the pads pop, especially out 0:20:26.600 --> 0:20:28.800 here in practice when you can hear it all. According 0:20:28.840 --> 0:20:32.080 to Pro Football Focus, Roberts had one thousand, seven hundred 0:20:32.119 --> 0:20:35.040 two defensive snaps on his resume, eight hundred and fifty 0:20:35.040 --> 0:20:38.000 four of those and run defense, one is a pass rusher, 0:20:38.040 --> 0:20:42.439