Drive Time: Jonah Savaiinaea, Kader Kohou, AFC East Preview

We wrap the summer school series with the Dolphins division as the Jets, Bills, Patriots and Fins go under the microscope in the AFC East preview. Plus, rookie OL Jonah Savaiinaea and veteran CB Kader Kohou join Travis.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Drivetime with Travis Wingfield. What is up, Dolphins
and welcome to the Draft Time Podcast. I am your host,
Travis Wingfield. And on today's show, our final of the

(00:21):
off season divisional Previews brings us home to the AFC
East Dolphins, Bills, Jets, and Patriots go under the microscope today.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Plus I have two interviews.

Speaker 1 (00:30):
The soft spoken, humble yet physically imposing Jonah Savit Naya
joins me. Cater Kohu joins me. I'm pumped for this one.
Let's go ahead and get right to it. From the
Baptist Hell Studios inside of my house. This is the
Draft Time Podcast.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Maybe Jaffe Sir really.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
Enjoying doing these kind of sporadically throughout the month of
June and July because it's kind of like a time
capsule of where I am tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (00:53):
As I record this podcast.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
In the first week of July, I head out to
the Pacific Northwest to pick up my who spent ten
days at her grandma's house. And it's the longest time
I've been away from her and I miss her very
very deeply, and like, let's just put the cards on
table here. My in laws are all rednecks for lack
of a better term, and my daughter had pictures of

(01:17):
her holding up like dead mice and salamanders and snakes,
and I just ain't about that life, so she could
I come back home here and get used to some
city cooking because I ain't trying to have all that
stuff around my proximity. So looking forward to going and
seeing her. My last recording here. The next time I
talk to you guys will be the camp preview episodes
Offense on Monday, Defense on Tuesday, before we get into

(01:39):
camp practices on Wednesday.

Speaker 2 (01:41):
So Football's back, baby, and I'm pumped.

Speaker 1 (01:44):
I keep telling my wife like it kind of feels
like twenty twenty four didn't have a lot of fun,
and so therefore I am ready for twenty five to
get here and to really dive into having a fun
football season again, hopefully where twenty three was so much
fun that I enjoyed the summer maybe a little bit more,
But this year, I just want to get back to
the Baptist Hell Trading Complex and watch some Dolphins practices
before that, Let's go ahead and kick this thing off

(02:06):
with my chat with Dolphins rookie offensive lineman Jonaht Naya
joining us day on the Draft Time podcast is Dolphins
rookie offensive lineman Jonah.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
Now Jonah.

Speaker 1 (02:16):
This is my fans on the show laugh me all
the time because I have to double take your name
a lot. I'm working on it. Should I try it
first and then go correct me? Sovite Naya?

Speaker 3 (02:26):
Hey, you got it first, first try.

Speaker 1 (02:28):
That was a lot of pressure because you're the podcast
every time you can hear the cuts, the edits because
I'm always I'm always.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
Tripping up on thank you. You gave us like.

Speaker 1 (02:38):
A tutorial media and that was super helpful because I
had like the phonetic spelling of it, and even that
I couldn't get it.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
But here we are, man.

Speaker 4 (02:46):
Yeah, I think that's the easiest way to put it
how I explained it in the media, So.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
You can you repeat that again so that the fans
can hear it.

Speaker 4 (02:53):
He of course, so usually how I put it, you know,
so saying Hawaii just take away to h and put
the S replaced the S.

Speaker 3 (03:05):
At the end and a nine.

Speaker 2 (03:07):
I love it.

Speaker 1 (03:07):
I'm so proud of myself again to the first tribe.
But we're not here talking about me and my stupid pronunciation.
I want to talk to you here about your game
a little bit, because you were a guy that full transparency.
I fancy myself an amateur football scout, and you were
a guy that I was. I was very, very excited
about before you even got here. Just tell me about
coming to the Dolphins, the fit you think you have

(03:28):
here with Miami, and how excited you were to hear
your name called on Draft night for the Dolphins.

Speaker 4 (03:32):
Yeah, I mean it was, you know, the biggest blessing
I've ever got, you know, this year, you know, just
being able to hear my name being called on that
TV and getting that phone call from Chris Greer and
coach McDaniels and and mister Ross. You know, it meant
the world to me because, uh, you know, I told
my parents first day, you know, we might not get
called today, but whoever gets whoever you know, calls me.

(03:55):
You know, that's that's God right there, who wants me.
So ever since then, man, you know, it's been a
blessed being here. I'm so grateful for every opportunity that
I've been given, you know, just being out there and
being with the guys, the veterans, you know, they've been
taking me under their wing and just making me feel
welcome here. You know, all the coaching staff. You know,
it feels family oriented around here. You know, everything's so welcoming.

(04:17):
You know, every time I go in their office, which
was this past weekend, you know, everybody's so welcoming, and
you know, we love to have that around here. So
it's been an amazing experience here so far.

Speaker 1 (04:27):
That's been a theme from the guys that have sat
in that chair so far as talking about just the
people in the building and the coaching staff and how
they make you feel that family and you know, I
know in Polynesian culture, family's a very very big deal.
And you talked a little bit about your your family
and your parents when the draft call came. But there
was an article I read about you. I think it
was a game against like USC. You were playing tackle

(04:47):
and then you moved inside the guard because like there
was a guy that you were having issues blocking.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
Or some something to that effect.

Speaker 1 (04:52):
And that's such a selfless thing to do for an
offensive lineman, especially going from from tackle to guard like that.
I'm curious, like where does that mindset come into play.
I have to imagine it comes from you, from your
upbringing a little bit.

Speaker 4 (05:02):
Yeah, I mean you mentioned that. You know, it's my upbringing,
you know, my my parents, Mom and dad, you know,
always telling me to just be humble, you know, and
just be great for every opportunity that you have. So
just bringing that into the you know, into college, and
I feel like coach Fish and coach Brendan Carroll have
done a great job, you know, just instilling that in
our mindset.

Speaker 5 (05:20):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (05:20):
You know, just when you wake up every day, you know,
you just tell yourself, how can I be a better
teammate today? So I've I've approached the facility having that mentality,
you know, ever since I got there. So when when
that happened, see game, you know, coach wanted me to
move back inside. You know, it wasn't you know, no
second guessing. And I didn't tell them no, you know,
I just wanted to do it just for the team.

(05:41):
So yeah, that's where it kind of comes from.

Speaker 1 (05:43):
Play multiple positions there at Arizona, both tame and spots
either either side of guard. That's got to kind of
give you a better feel for the entire offensive operation, right, Like,
how does how does playing so many spots help you?
You know, I guess accelerate your learning curve as a pro.

Speaker 4 (05:56):
Yeah, it improves it kind of boosts IQ as far
as you know, being on the right side on the
left side, I'm doing a good job at that now.
So but it helps me, you know, as far as
you know, just being versatile, playing both sides and just
seeing the whole field, you know, making sure that if
I'm on the left side, I know what the right

(06:17):
side is doing, and vice versa side and on the
right side, I know what the left side is doing.
So it's been it's been amazing for me to play
both sides.

Speaker 1 (06:25):
And with James Daniels, you know, we got a chance
to see him towards the end of OTA is a
great sign going forward. But he talked to me back
when we signed him on the podcast about how he
sends like clips and film and stuff to guys. Have
you gotten that experience yet from James Daniels. Has he
been sending you film and things to work on?

Speaker 4 (06:40):
No, not yet, but I have been asking him about
like advice as far as you know, just taking notes
because you know, I know, I'm aware that James has
been in the league for a while and you know,
just me being that rookie coming in. You know, I
make sure you got to take every take advantage of
every opportunity I can get. So I texted James one
night and how do you get the plays down quick?

(07:01):
Or like how do you take notes and stuff like that.
So just that type of conversation that I have between them,
just I just want to be able to better my
game in every aspect.

Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, that's why.

Speaker 1 (07:10):
That's why I was so excited about getting you here,
because I was excited that you guy drafted here. I
was excited we signed James because I think you guys
have a lot of similarities in your games. And you know,
and it's the idea of because this offense run off
the football, right, you got to play with speed and
get out in space.

Speaker 2 (07:23):
But also you can have a lot of power in
your game. Same as James.

Speaker 1 (07:26):
H you must be thrilled to be joining an offense
that to me, really accentuates your skill set.

Speaker 4 (07:31):
Yes, and you know, just ever since I got here,
you know, they they said this type of offense is the
fast type of offense. You know, we run off the ball,
attacked the line of scrimmage, and it's it's amazing for
me because you know, I love running off the ball.
I love running fast, I love moving quick. So that's
just you know, it tells me that, you know, this
is the type of offense that you know, I kind

(07:52):
of fit in for. And I'm grateful for the opportunity
to be here, you know, just being under a Butch
and shout out of coach Butch man.

Speaker 2 (07:59):
I love.

Speaker 4 (08:00):
He's always out there pushing me to become the best
version of myself. And you know, I'm just out there
and just just working my tail off.

Speaker 1 (08:06):
This is why I wish we had a video on
you right now because the smile across your face and
you mentioned Butch's name, that's we get that from the
offensive line, the people in the building. We love Butch
because he's such a just down to earth personal.

Speaker 4 (08:17):
Gay right now, the energy he brings in the online room,
on the field, you know, it's you can't match that man.
You know, he's excited to be out there and coach football.
That's why we love but.

Speaker 1 (08:27):
I have this idea for like, remember that this is
sports and our commercials, like the little like ads for
sports CBRE, like the anchors would like act and do
these little funny things like there was one with like
Arnold Palmer, like filming up iced tea and lemonade, like
making Arnold Palmer. I have this idea for Butch to
like in the building, like he's like he's coaching you guys,
but he's like getting his salad at the at the cafeteria.

Speaker 2 (08:46):
Like God, cucommerce good. I don't know.

Speaker 1 (08:49):
I think it's a great idea, but he's He's just
so much fun to watch coach and be very animated.
So Chris Greer mentioned a good couple more things here
for you, Jonah.

Speaker 2 (08:57):
Chris Breer mentioned.

Speaker 1 (08:58):
Your ability as a pocket setter at that guard position.
And you know what the fans here are, this is
a smart audience. But I want to just have if
you don't mind, can you explain what that means, like
as far as pockets heading from the guard position.

Speaker 4 (09:09):
Yeah, I guess it means, you know, just anchoring down
the pocket. You know, the easiest way the quarterback can
get touched is through the interior. So just being able
to anchor that middle and then just let the let
the tackles, you know, set the width of the pocket
and then we just anchored between there. You know, we
want to make sure to give the quarterback much time
as far as you know, uh in the past came

(09:30):
and play passes. So just being able to be firm
inside and letting the quarterback, you know, give him any
stress at all. Days you gonna get touched in the interior.
So I think that's that's what it means, just seeing
firm inside.

Speaker 1 (09:42):
Speaking of protecting the quarterback, you mentioned at one point
in your various you know, post draft media obligations you
had to fulfill there the concept of blocking for polities
and quarterbacks.

Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yes, and I believe you you blocked for Jayden delor right.

Speaker 1 (09:54):
I went to Washington State, so Goku because he was
a former Washington State Crew quarterback there. But you talked
about how important it was to you know, protect your people,
and so I'm curious just to kind of hear you
talk about that with Tua and what you've seen from Tua,
because like you know, we had Quinn here earlier. Quinn
you were, he was talking about how Tua's footwork mastery
is like something he's triving to get to when you
see to a play, Like what do you think about

(10:14):
his game? What have you met, what have you seen
about him as a person, and how excited you to
like block for him obviously.

Speaker 4 (10:20):
Yeah, as a person, man, he's a great human being.
You know, where when I got here, I get to
I got to meet him first day of team meetings,
just seeing a smile on his face, you know, just
introducing himself. You know, I know of him, but I
never really got to meet him in person. So just
being able to have that opportunity to meet him in person,
you know, it was great. We connected right away. But
him as a player, you know, he's super sharp as

(10:42):
far as you know, him being a player and being
a leader as well, I think he's he's done a
really really fantastic job just leading offense, not on the offense,
but the whole team as well. Just seeing him out
there being you know, being that kind of an older
brother to me, you know, it means a lot to
me because I want to come in here, I want
to and put, you know, as much as I can

(11:03):
to to this offense. And him being a leader in
my game, you know, it really stands out for me. So,
like again, I'm super grateful every opportunity I get to
be out there on the field with him.

Speaker 1 (11:14):
I asked him this five years ago. I lost the
same question to you. How similar do you find Hawaii
climate to South Florida?

Speaker 2 (11:21):
Is it similar? Different?

Speaker 3 (11:22):
What do you think?

Speaker 4 (11:23):
No, this is not the same way different as far
as you know. Humidity is what makes makes a difference.
I was I was home before I flew here, so
I did conditioning outside thinking that, oh, this is something
like this, and I came here first recomedic camp.

Speaker 3 (11:40):
It was nothing.

Speaker 4 (11:41):
So I mean, it's great for us being been talking
to the guys, but man, y'all running this was like yeah, man,
I was like, I guess it's you know, a good
opportunity for us to take advantage of it, you know
when teams come out here.

Speaker 1 (11:54):
So yeah, it's great you do. I don't want to
get used to it, but you kind of get used
to dealing with that. I think it's the best way
to put it.

Speaker 2 (12:01):
So there you go.

Speaker 1 (12:01):
I think you're ready for it. Jonah Jonah Sevigi Naya
new Dolphins offensive line. I appreciate time today, man, thank you.
Jonah has big, big, like ten year stalwart fan, favorite
type of guy for your organization, and I can't wait
to watch him do it. I think he's gonna fulfill
that and become a this is like not fair to
put this on Jonah, but just based upon his tape
and his temperament and his humble approach, I have such

(12:24):
such high expectations.

Speaker 2 (12:25):
For what he can be for this Dolphins interior offensive line.

Speaker 1 (12:28):
Okay, first break right there, come back and get through
the AFC East Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots will close up
with cater coo who all of that ahead. Draft Time
podcast brought to you by Autnation. Gosh, bring back the

(12:55):
old NFL Prime time man. I know they do it
still on ESPN, but it just is not the same.
These songs, I mean, the music to set this stuff
up just reminds me so much of the golden years
childhood NFL football back. Then, let's go ahead and finish
our final divisional preview here on the Summer School Content series,
taking a look at the dolphins own division, the AFC East.

(13:16):
We're going to get to the Dolphins here in a
second and probably breeze through the team a little bit,
because if you don't know by now, then you're not
listening to this podcast, obviously, But the Buffalo Bills come
up first here, and they have put a stranglehold on
the division ever since Tom Brady left.

Speaker 2 (13:29):
Brady leaves in twenty nineteen.

Speaker 1 (13:31):
The Bills take the division in twenty twenty and have
not let go of but since, despite a near miss
in twenty twenty three, kind of thanks to your boys
here that didn't finish the job.

Speaker 2 (13:40):
To close out the division. The changes for the Buffalo Bills.

Speaker 1 (13:42):
They went defensive line heavy, adding Joey Bosa, Larry Ogen Joby,
and Michael Hoyt. But Ogin, Joby, and Hoyt were suspended
shortly after signing, so they're going to miss the first
six games of the season, and that's a pretty big deal,
especially for Miami on a short week playing the Bills
up there in Buffalo. And also, Joey Bosa has an
injury already, so all three of their marquee signings on
defense are dealing with potentially missing time off the bat.

(14:06):
That was a clear point of emphasis for them this
offseason though, and two of those hole pluggers you banked
on now set to miss one third of the season.
Who knows with Joey Bosa, and if you take on
further attrition there that would be less than ideal, right,
especially again in a game against Miami where I think
the Dolphins entire offseason, and let's go ahead and address
this right off the top here because I heard this

(14:26):
is a little more closer to when the move happened,
that Darren Waller trade, and the concept that I saw
from not just like run of the mill content creators,
but Mina comes and ESPN saying that Darren Waller signifies
the Dolphins desire to play like finesse football, And I'm
just like, what about the fourteen other moves that don't
say that? Jonas Avit, Naya, James Daniels, Farah Brown, Alex Madison,

(14:51):
Ollie Gordon, Nick Westbrook, Akine. I just don't know where
that comes from.

Speaker 2 (14:56):
I digress.

Speaker 1 (14:57):
So I think that plays big for the Dolphins approach
the Buffalo Bills and watching Darren Waller's tape against the Bills,
his best assignment was blocking Taron Johnson, which is how
you get this Bills team on their back foot and
run the ball down their throat. We're gonna do that
throughout the course of this podcast, talk about how it
affects the Dolphins. They did address the wide receiver spot,
and teams will tell you where they have to get
better right defensive line, wide receiver Josh Palmer the biggest get.

(15:20):
They also go get Elijah Moore, which is kind of
the guy that Bill's fans are saying, like, Oh, this
is gonna be the gem we find who was a
former second round draft pick of the New York Jets
and hasn't quite worked out. He's had some spurts here
and there, but hasn't quite been the player you would
hope he would have been out of Old miss and
then Lavisko Chanault there as well. They bring back Dane
Jackson and Tredavius White after a couple of years gone,
and that's the Rasull Douglas replacement, alongside Christian Benford and

(15:43):
Tarn Johnson. Russell Douglas might be signed by the time
we get to this podcast, but he is currently as
of this taping free agent. They did lose Douglas, Amari Cooper,
mac Hollins, Von Miller, Dwayne Smoot, Casey two Hill, Quentin
Jefferson up front. Jordan Phillips might come back, but he's retired,
going to retire right now as it stands. Micah Hyde
also gone. They turn this thing over pretty much every

(16:05):
year with the role guys. It's a kin to the
Philadelphia Eagles, and they have some mainstays there, but they
keep their core together. Of Josh Allen, they're gonna pay
James Cook and it's whether he misses some time into camp.
I don't think it's going to be a problem for them,
Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown. Really the entire offensive line
is awesome at Oliver, Greg Russeau, Matt Mlano, Terren Johnson,
and then they go to work something in the key

(16:25):
cogs around those guys. Their draft was dubious to me
off the top, especially with Maxwell Harrison dealing with off
the field issues that I don't care to discuss any further,
but that could be a thorn in their side time
for a long time coming. It sounds like a pretty
pretty rough story. He's involved with TJ. Sanders. I liked
his tape a lot, and then Land and Jackson and
Daon Walker. I just didn't see it for those two

(16:46):
guys on tape. I know there were some fans of
Land and Jackson like C. K. Perrett was a big
fan of his, but I didn't see much explosiveness, especially
from Walker, who they're going to have to have play
snaps right away. Both these guys with those suspensions and
injuries up front, the front office and coach continuity is
copy pace from really the last decade, not that they've
had they've had some coordinator changes, but no one does
a bad job in the league of replacing from within

(17:08):
and maintain that familiarity in continuity within the scheme and
the language of the scheme, which is so paramount in
today's league. They really underwent a philosophical shift offensively when
they were six and six and twenty twenty three, and
my friend Tyler Dunn wrote that great forty person testimonial
piece about how the Bills were coming up short in

(17:30):
certain areas, and all Buffalo did was when their next
six games all the way to the AFC Championship game,
and I was just like, dude, we had them on
the ropes and then you got them all fired up
with that hit piece. And since that move from Ken
Dorsey to Joe Brady, they're eighteen and four in the
regular season and three and two in the postseason. So
thanks a lot, Tyler. I'm just kidding, but kind of
not the film the calling card. I feel like this

(17:50):
stat continuation of what we just talked about is the
most instructive piece of information currently in the NFL. To me,
Josh Allen is the best player, most important player in
the league. And I would not offer a single rebuttal
if you told me it was Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson.
To me, it's those three and then everybody else, with
Joe Burrow right in reach and then a massive line
of demarcation. Quit trying to put Justin Herbert in that group.

(18:12):
I think Herbert's a very good quarterback, but he is
nowhere near the caliber of these four players. But that
shift coincided with a massive, massive reduction to his drop
back percentage. And this is a tangent that breaches far
beyond the Bills and pertains to the Dolphins as well,
which again we'll get to in our capsule. But it's
this idea that's no longer theory. It's reality. Defenses have

(18:33):
caught up, perhaps past the offensive boom we saw in
the NFL over the course of two decades, and more
specifically down the back half of the twenty tens. And
it's more complex than this, right, but it relates to coverage.
Shells impact second level players that can defend the run
just as well as they cover a big body defensive
line who can two gap and play the run against
light boxes. And if you can't, well, then the offense

(18:56):
better be willing to take what's there, both in the
quick game and in the running game. And that's where
Miami came up short in twenty twenty four. The quick
game was great, the running game was completely non existent,
and you had to replace the running game with screens.
And that's why the passing offense had the numbers it
did because instead of running the football, they would throw
screens and those plays would go for negative one or
two yards or three yards, like not a lot to

(19:17):
gain there. We talked about it with Steelers and Rogers
and Rogers' willingness to lean into the running game back
in Green Bay under Matt Lafleur, which produced back to
back MVP years and the Packers were awesome those years.
It didn't happen that way with the Jets. They got
away from it a little bit in his last year
in twenty twenty two in Green Bay. And if you
look at his last three seasons, one loss to injury,
his metrics, like QBR and EPA, they all fall in

(19:39):
the bottom third of the league. So yeah, quarterbacks are important,
but it's also important the way you support them and
build things around them. And to bring it back to
the Bills, Josh Allen is even more effective when the
offense leans into that run game with James Cook. It
gives a defense two thoughts at all times. He gets
to play out of favorable down distances. And then the
part that I think is vastly, vastly misunderstood by a

(19:59):
casual football fan, and that's not calling names and just
trying to educate, is the reduction of complex processing. And
don't get me wrong, a rundown is not an off
down for a quarterback, but it is a reduction of
high stress processing of going through a pre and post
snap checklist that can cognitively wear you down. Like it's
not just about physical fatigue. You can get mentally fatigued.

(20:20):
We talk about it in baseball like it's the same
as a pitcher working through runners and scoring position every
single inning. Eighty pitches of high stress you know pitching
is a kin to one hundred and five pitches of
like stress free Felix Ernani type of pitching, where you
know each pitch is a meticulous thought opposed to being
more aggressive with maybe like two outs to nobody on
base like or like a golfer, and you hackers out

(20:42):
there will get this. The hardest part of playing eighteen
holes is staying locked in for each and every shot.

Speaker 2 (20:47):
Because we're human. The mind wanders. You can lose your focus.

Speaker 1 (20:50):
And for a quarterback, if we can supplement his skill
set with that running game, then we can maximize his
talents and keep him sharp for the big third and
seven we have to have in the fourth quarter. And
I feel like this is just advanced Josh Allen strengths.
He's playing better in the quick game than he ever has.
He's still an e f and load to deal with
as a runner, and when he goes off script, he
can burn you with his arm as well as anybody

(21:11):
in the league. He does it to us every single
year with one of those red zone scrambles, like on
fourth down, up against the clock at the end of
the half and you're like, oh.

Speaker 2 (21:18):
We got him pinned in.

Speaker 1 (21:19):
He's gonna lose the field goal opportunity, and then he
throws a touchdown and you're like, damn it, that's a
four point swing in the wrong direction for us. The
Bills leaned into this, so they are further along in
the run game of RPO quick game stuff and still
have the intermediate deep game through Allen's playmaking. Separately, we
have this conversation every year about the Bills amazing injury

(21:39):
offensive line or injury luck on the offensive line. I
don't think it's full proof, but they do a good
job of coaching guys to protect each other with regards
to finishing reps and not causing roll ups like they
finish their blocks. Don't get me wrong, but they might
not like put a guy to the ground because you
could get rolled up if you do that. And these
kind of things, you know, I think come with continuity.
It's like a rich getting richer analogy of sorts. As

(22:01):
for the personnel, remember when everybody wrote the Bills off
as contenders last year because they lost digs and not
having name power at the eligibles. I still subscribe to
the fact that you need that to be where you
want to be, and the Bills prove that every year
by not, you know, making those deep playoff pushes for
them they want to go. But I don't think the
receiver and tight end group for this Bills team necessarily
moved the needle, but they prove that they had a

(22:22):
winning formula without digs and going to more of a
ball distribution attack. This elevated the role of Khalil Shakur,
who's target number one. And then I think Josh Palmer
and the tight ends Knox and King Kid King Kaide
has been a massive, massive disappointment for them. And the
key on Coleman that you guys know, that's Kelvin Benjamin
two point zero. I think Curtis Samuel and Elijah Moore
are ancillary fits, but you know more role players that

(22:44):
are subpackaged types of guys. And the biggest thing for
them is the James Cook situation right which he's already
said he won't skip games or even training camp, but
there's a negotiation happening there and he's the best player
in the skill group. Their hallmark is two stud Bookends
and Dawkins and Brown, and they'll be term the same
three guys inside with David Edwards, Connor McGovern McGovern and
Osirius Torrance. Defensively, we're not gonna belabor this, but it's

(23:08):
the same it's been since twenty seventeen. They don't leave Nickel,
they coach up the dB to play above board in
terms of the personnel. They even lost Tarn Johnson last
year for a stretch of games and still pretty much
put it to us, and they really flood their resources
into that front. Their entire safety room was a development
step into a starter process for them last year when
they eventually lost hide employer who they had for the

(23:28):
better part of a decade. Taylor Rapp has come a
long way, so has Damar Hamlin, and he'll try to
hold off last year's second round pick Cole Bishop, who
I would actually pick to win that job over Hamlin.
Rookie Maxwell Harriston's gonna compete with Dane Jackson, who's back
after a year in Carolina, and then Johnson Christian Benford
to the hallmarks of that secondary their beasts, But that
Harriston and Jackson role, that's one to keep an eye

(23:49):
on where you might attack if you're the Dolphins in
the passing game. Matt Mlano and Terrell Bernard are excellent
linebackers and they are deep with waves upfront. We talked
about at Oliver greg Rousseau, de Quon Jones, aj Epanessa.
They draft TJ standers, they're gonna get Michael Hoyt and
Larry Ogan, Jobie Back and Joey Bosa, who's going to
miss most of camp with an injury. I really didn't
get to the Jackson and Walker moves, you know, beyond

(24:11):
the first part, but they just weren't my favorite tapes.
But they are buried on that depth chot right now.
They're gonna have to play early on because of those
suspensions and injuries, but I think they missed the boat
on that one. The question can teams get hip to
their run scheme and emphasize stopping that forcing Alan back
into hero ball, it's the best time to kind of,
you know, force him into turn over worthy plays. Then

(24:31):
you have to convert those. Don't get me wrong, He'll
make you pay for that from now and then more
than anybody else in the league. And when they limited
his mistakes, he was pretty much unstoppable last year. And
I think if the run game slows, with their resources
going elsewhere and then the rest of the eligibles, you
might see Josh do a little more hero stuff with
less separation of downfield threats. Defensively, it's the secondary, but

(24:52):
they play so well to their rules that I've learned
not to worry about personnel maybe not looking great in July.

Speaker 2 (24:57):
For the Buffalo Bills, the miscellaneous factors.

Speaker 1 (24:59):
They the number one easiest schedule based upon twenty twenty
four records, which is never a great tell, right every year,
every team is new and strength of schedule is essentially
the same within the divisions. This supplies to the Jets, Patriots,
and Dolphins too their trapped door scenario. There is no
shade on the operation. But I think if they lost Josh,
we'd see like the biggest swing and win loss record
in the NFL. Like, I think it's a four or

(25:20):
five win team without Josh Allen. Outside of that, I mean,
everything that could go wrong did go wrong in twenty
twenty three, and they still pulled in eleven six record
out of their butts and out of the records that
was six and six, it's seventeen.

Speaker 2 (25:32):
Nothing else matters.

Speaker 1 (25:33):
Conclusion, favorite in the division, favorite to make it to
the final eight or four. Same questions for them. Will
they ever get over the Kansas City Chiefs hump or
the Ravens hump? We saw find out the New York Jets.
The changes in personnel, A big change at quarterback going
from Rogers to justin fields. Tyrod Taylor remains the backup
that's the biggest free agent on offense, and then Josh
Reynolds and Josh Myers, who I imagine are in line

(25:55):
as the top reserves at both receivers and interior offensive
line spots.

Speaker 2 (25:58):
The old line is low v though.

Speaker 1 (26:00):
They signed Derek Noddy up front and Andre Cisco on
the back end, along with Brandon Stevens at corner, so
some kind of you know, bargain type of free agents there.
Those are basically one for one swaps. With their losses.
They lost DJ Reid, who I think was the best
player of the group we just talked about, and Brandon
Eckles you guys now as a big fan of his.
In the freegency process running up to the Dolphins, you
know signings Ashton Davis, the safety. They also released c J. Mosley,

(26:24):
but re signed Jamie and Sherwood, who filled in great
for Mosley last year when he was hurt.

Speaker 2 (26:27):
Naught.

Speaker 1 (26:28):
He replaces Kim Law, Reynolds replaces DeVante Adams. To me,
it's downgrades across the board there. They weren't super active
in free agency, but they had another nice draft. I
think that Armand Membo and Mason Taylor are instant starters,
and the third round pick, Azia I can never get
his name right. Aziah Thomas has a chance to earn
a starting cornerback job. Steven's probably the top competition, but

(26:49):
Stevens is a guy that really struggled last year. It's
a whole new staff in front office. Aaron Glenn takes over.
He brings in Steve Wilkes as his DC and Tanner
Egstrand as his offensive cord. He came from the lines
with Glenn. Darren Mogi takes over for Joe Douglas's GM.
The Jets are interesting. I guess I wouldn't say it
was an all in type of shot the last couple

(27:10):
of years because they weren't able to get out from
or they were able to get out from Rogers. I
should say Adams, Mike Williams, Tyron Smith. It's not like
those are suddenly big holes. I think there's questions about
the number two receiver who that will be, and obviously
Rodgers is a more accomplished quarterback. But I don't think
any of those outside of the quarterback were these major shifts.
I think the other losses were actually probably more impactful
the film besides DeVante Adams.

Speaker 2 (27:31):
Let's go ahead and make that perfectly clear.

Speaker 1 (27:33):
The calling card a little bit of a projection here,
because we've got a first time play caller who spent
the last few years under Ben Johnson in Detroit, So
I imagine there's some semblance of crossover. Wait wait, wait,
going back, he coached under Jim Harbot multiple spots, So
I don't know, but I know right, power, run game,
extra offensive line, multiple tight ends, big backs, wide receivers

(27:54):
who block. And perhaps that's the thought with bringing in
Justin Fields, be more Ohio State Justin Fields than shoul
Cut Bears Justin Fields. I think it's a good fit
if they can make that happen. The knock on Justin
and as someone that thought he was comfortably number two
behind Trevor Lawrence in that draft class, a class that
was billed as the next one and hasn't seen anybody
hit outside of the last pick on the draft and
brought pretty the knock on Justin Fields is the way

(28:17):
he sees the field. He doesn't do it, He's not
gonna do it, And I felt that was true of
his Pittsburgh tape. But go back to twenty twenty two
and remember how many issues he gave us in the
Bears game with his leg. So if you can take
that out of his equation, you will have a very
limited offense here for the New York Jets. So I
have to imagine it'll be a lot of core concepts,
you know, mesh mesh, rail, smash dagger, where it's half

(28:37):
field read. If you don't like it, just get out
and create, and we'll support that with a strong running game.
And for years it was the Jets offensive line that
was a big problem for them, right, I think it's
got a chance to be one of the best in
football now. I love Fashanu and Membu. They killed it there.
I think Vera Tucker is nice when he's healthy, Joel
Tipman's a really good player, and John Simpson is probably
their best free agent signing of all of last year.

(28:59):
They also added Josh Meyer, so there's depth on the interior.
I think there's a massive drop off though, from what
Instrand had in running back in Detroit to what brys
Hall and Brilin Allen are at replacement level running backs.
For my money, Garrett Wilson bona fide number one receiver,
But the question is who's next. Alan Lazzard had a
bounce back a year last year, but Rogers is gone
and he's followed him around like a golden retriever for

(29:20):
his entire career. His calling card was his familiarity with
a very cerebral quarterback. Honestly, i'd pencil and Mason Taylor
for the second leading receiver on this team. I still
freaking low that he went there in JT chanting Jets
on Draft night, but hey, I get it, I get it,
but I don't have to like it. Defensively, we talked
so much on this show about the aggressiveness of Robert Sala,

(29:41):
Well they might have found the only defensive minded coach
in the league who believes in aggression more in Aaron Glenn.
The Lions played the most man coverage in football, even
as they were losing a pass rusher or cover guy
every damn week. And with the Jets, well, Glenn's got
the secondary he's always dreamed of, at least a corner
by Sauce and Michael Carter will help dictate the terms

(30:02):
there and that I'd expect Isaiah Thomas to beat out
Brandon Stevens for the other starting job. Quite frankly, I
think it's a big hole that will doom their entire style.
When you're short on personnel, you just can't call it
that way. You have to play soft zone, and we
saw that with the Lions last year. Cisco and Adams
is pretty much one for one trade off in the
safety group. I was out on Cisco and the Free
Agent film reviews back in February for our vacancy there.

(30:25):
I like the starting lineup in the front seven. Quinn
Williams is a straw that stirs that drink and allows
them to play flexible fronts. The backers behind him Quincy
Williams and Jamie and Sherwood this is a Sherwood stand
account can make some plays Behind Quinn and the newcomer
Derek Noddy. They need their first two picks off the
edge to take to take a big step. The Reddick
thing was a disaster last year, and Will Campbell and

(30:46):
Jermaine Johnson need an extra gear this year to make
this thing go. The question I make this comment all
the time. It is so much harder to maintain elite
defense than it is to maintain elite offense. In this
league because you can keep a quarterback around and that
kind of doesn't for you offensively, And the Jets are
a team that could learn that firsthand. They built up
this personnel for a particular scheme for a half decade

(31:07):
now to pivot to a pretty different approach with different
levels of aggressiveness. I wonder if they don't get the
desire pass rush, if they'll back off how they play
on the back end, and that's a change of who
they want to be from identity standpoints. Now you get
this crisis of who the hell are we because if
you're asking brand Stevens to cover a Jalen Waddle and
press Man for forty snaps a game, you're going to
give up a long touchdown maybe two. And I don't

(31:28):
think Johnson or McDonald are good enough to give Jackson
and Paul problems off the edge, especially with how Miami
can run the ball against this Jets front that still
wants to play one gap aggressive upfield, and you can
just pin them in and get the ball out on
the edge and run the ball for one hundred and
forty yards against this team. Then offensively, it's the third
team for in three years for Justin Fields a new
play caller, and I went on that big Die I

(31:50):
trib in the Bills portion about changes in football landscape
now more than ever. You need quarterbacks that can excel
in the quick and short game, and I think that's
where Fields has struggled the most. Onest factors, the schedule
starts off harder and gets quote easier down the stretch.
I think when you have so many new elements and factors,
you kind of prefer the opposite of that. But hosting
Rogers and the Steelers that feels like a class classic

(32:12):
knife twist for a downtrodden Jets fan type of game,
then the Bills, then the Bucks than us. I think
they're going to start zero to four. The trapdoor scenario,
I don't think it applies to teams that are this
level of in their cycle. The conclusion, this is an
information accumulation year for the Jets. They have to find
out what they're going to be on defense, if Field
is going to be the next Geno Mayfield or Darnold
reclamation project. I think they'll probably win around the same

(32:35):
number of games, maybe one or two less, but be
better set up for the future than they were. If
they get enough things right, let's go ahead and go
to Foxborough and talk about the Patriots. The changes in
personnel reminds me a bit of twenty twenty when the
Patriots just went absolutely ham and free agency and everybody's like, hey,
that's not a Patriots type of move. I think this haul, though,
was far more impressive. With Milton Williams. I love his game.

(32:57):
In Carlton Davis, I love his game. I like Marcus
Harold Landry was the confusing one to me because he
has not been productive but been injured. He got a
big contract from them. But Robert Splane's been a nice
middle linebacker for the Raiders for a couple of years.
That's a total defensive facelift that had sort of regressed
the last couple of seasons. On offense, they adds Toe
Von Diggs and matc Collins, Morgan Moses, and Garrett brad Berry.

(33:19):
They also lose Jacoby Brissett, Jonathan Jones, Dietrich Wise and
Daniel Yuki Leiley did get that right, There was the
most notable losses on that for the Patriots.

Speaker 2 (33:28):
This year.

Speaker 1 (33:29):
The Jets went full overhaul. The Patriots kept the front
office and changed the staff. The Mike Rabel is the
man in charge now. Josh McDaniel's back for his third
stint for the Patriots. Zach Kerr is the acting d C,
which is a funny title. He's got Mike Smith, Ben McAdoo,
Doug Rowan, Thomas Brown, Todd Downing on the staff as
names you've probably heard before. That's three ex head coaches

(33:50):
in there. It's year two of Elliott Wolf and the
post draft grades love the job he did this year
now as high to see what the product looks like
on the field. Those draft picks were Will Campbell from LSU,
Traveon Henderson, Kyle Williams, Gokoogs and I think all three
of those guys are going to start for them week one,
and they got some good value on guys like Craig Woodson,
who's going to be a special team's ace for years
for them, Josh Farmer and Braden Swinson. The film they're

(34:13):
calling card now. This is one of the more curious
operations in the league to meet because Josh McDaniels is
back for what feels like the twelfth freaking time in
New England. He ran an offense along with Brady that
was predicated on side adjustments, indicators of leverage to predetermine
where the football is going to go. But most of all,
McDaniels knew he had an extension of a football mind
that was probably even better than his own running the

(34:34):
show at quarterback. And that includes getting into good looks
against whatever defense you'd see, and that includes the running games.
So the big challenge for the Patriots this year is
to pair all these freaking physical traits that Drake May has,
and they are a plenty, we saw it in the
game down here, but reduce some of the mistakes that
plagued him both at NC and as a rookie last year.
I suspect he'll grow and get better, but the question

(34:56):
is how quickly he's still relatively green and for a
good like you know, check, you know, touch, touch, some
grass type of content here, Like we obsessed over what
happens in OTAs in camp, right Drake, Go look at
Drake May's reports and OTAs. He was throwing picks every
single day, multiple day, But you don't care because it
doesn't matter to you what other teams do in those

(35:16):
time that time of year. I just think it's important
to maintain that perspective and a big part of all
that is a total remaking of the offensive weapons, which
was necessary for them. And when you run an offense
with those checks and adjustments, I mean, there was a
reason why it was so tough for the Patriots to
find receivers and the Brady years outside of their I
use the term earlier, the golden retrievers. They would go
out and found like a Chris Hogan or Wes Welker

(35:37):
or Julian Edelman to link up with Brady. Kyle Williams
is that dude wickuld release great route runner? Has the
vertical speed going to be a problem. Go Koog's on
pause for now, though Stefan Diggs needs to be the
table center for the young room. They also brought in
Matt Hollins, who's been a nice situational receiver and always
a great special teamer. We'll see what happens by the
time this comes out, but there was some rumors about

(35:59):
a possible Terry Glorin trade. I'll just say, as a
Dolphins fan, please don't do that. I love Terry and
I don't want to hate him. I love scary Terry.
Don't keep my out of New England. They made big
changes to the offensive line, and they needed it there too,
like probably more than the skilled group Will Campbell and
Morgan Moses. The tackles a juxtaposition of young, ready to
go guy versus old vet who's been there forever. It
seems like they're been in league forever. I should say.

(36:19):
Garrett Bradbury was cut in Minnesota, and he allows them
to get Cole Strange back to exclusively the guard position,
and then the tackle additions also allow Michael and one
who to play guard where he's been best. It's a
good five starting offensive lineman, but we've also seen this
team have to go seven to eight to nine deep
in the past. Their ultimate calling card is a really
really good defensive coach, especially with how he's game planned

(36:39):
us over the years. With the Titans. They can shrink
the field, they can span the area as you like
to attack, and it's incumbent upon you to find those
vulnerabilities because he'll disguise them in a way that confuses
the quarterback into crossing those areas off their checklist pre snap,
and they can just then vacate that space like they
can take a week side zone corner and kick him
into the fit as a quasi will linebacker and you

(37:02):
have a route over there on air and your quarterback
doesn't see it because of how they've presented the well
the presentation, it's kind of fun to watch unless you're
playing against it. And they went to work restoring that
side of the football too. Milton Williams got the freaking bag,
and he's gonna have to go from a forty eight
percent player closer to seventy five percent because you can't
make that much money and be at every other snap player.

(37:23):
That has to be the plan when you pay someone
basically quarterback money. I love the Carlton Davis edition. Him
and Christian Gonzalez, who is an absolute beast, is a
really good combination there. You guys know how I feel
about Kyle Dugger. The dude makes a play every damn
time he sees us. They face the same dilemma teams
in this stage of their cycle, typically due it's not
incredibly deep. They've also got to find a pass rush

(37:43):
because a lot of that hinges on a player who
has struggled with this pass rush win rate and missed
time with injuries.

Speaker 2 (37:48):
And Harold Landry.

Speaker 1 (37:49):
They also added Splaine to be the quarterback of the
defense They'll have Christian Barmore from Jump this year after
missing some time last year with blood clots.

Speaker 2 (37:56):
A lot to like.

Speaker 1 (37:57):
There maybe still some room to grow the question, I
guess I covered it, but it's May's growth in a
complex scheme. I think it could start slow for them,
which good for us. We play on Week two, our
home opener, getting on the same page with his weapons,
defensive depth and expanded roles for guys that were role
players in previous stops, miscellaneous factors. Teams that have this
much change, I always look at the start of the schedule,

(38:17):
like with the Jets, and the Patriots have a much
softer landing. Three of the first four games are home
dates with Vegas, Pittsburgh, and Carolina. I think they could
win all three of those games. They could lose two
of them. It's going to be, you know, coin flip
games to me. And then they have the game down
here against US, which I think is pretty much a
scheduled loss with the Patriots. Hopefully want have to clip
that off in September when I'm wrong about that, But
I like Miami at home in September against pretty much anybody.

(38:40):
They have to feel like they have to get two
of those three, especially you know, coming down here to
play against TUA, who they haven't beaten ever. The trapdoor scenario,
I don't think it applies here. My conclusion, I think
they're a step ahead of the Jets and could contend
for a wild card spot, But I think there's a
little bit too much new for me to go that far.
I think this division is a lot like the others.
We've previewed some severe lines of marcation, and to me,

(39:01):
that line comes after our final team and our thirty
two team round up the Miami Dolphins. Let's go ahead
and breeze through this this exercise. Like, if you're listening
to this and you've listened to the entire show, you
should know this stuff in Zach Wilson, Quinn Yours, Alex Madison,
Nick Westbrook, Aakine Farroh Brown, James Daniels, Jonah Sevit Naya,
Larry Boram, Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips, Malcolm Butler, kJ Sorry,

(39:23):
Matthew Butler, kJ Britt, Willie Gay, Ashton, Davis, iffimlafon Wu
On the Way Out, Skyler Thompson, Tyler Huntley, Brahem Moster,
Jeff Wilson Odell Beckham junior at Durham smythe tbron Arms said.
The biggest one there probably Rob Jones, Kaleis Campbell not
to dunk on Kalais, but and you guys pulled the
tape up on Kalais the last month of the season.
It's a pretty big fall off there. Anthony Walker ad

(39:45):
Jalen Ramsey as well because he got traded as after
I wrote this out Javon Holland and Jordan Poyer also
in as Minka Fitzpatrick don't forget about him. Also out
John Smith got to add that in the film the
calling card outside zone running game with a lightning, quick
processing release quarterback that can fit tight windows, exaggerate the
overplay we get and incorporate vertical and horizontal stretch with

(40:07):
speed and smart players. I love the change of pace
we've built to the offseason. I think we have more
of an adaptable offense thanks to Daniels and Savit Naya
and the moves that tied end and wide receiver.

Speaker 2 (40:17):
We don't have to go into it too far. You
guys know how I feel about this.

Speaker 1 (40:19):
I think the Dolphins have given themselves a chance to
right the wrongs of the last three years. They didn't
run it back much in the way they did in
twenty twenty four. It's going to look different how they
incorporate all of that. It's going to tell you how
far this team goes. And I think they can. They
can do a lot. I think you can really really
get the best version of Tua. And it all comes
down if he stays healthy. Right, That's that's the that's

(40:39):
the question, right, Can Toua stay healthy. That's pretty much
on offense. If he does, I think he's in it
for a career year because of how they can support him.
And you know, I think Tyreek, as much as I
don't want to, you know, go down this road again,
I think that he'll be motivated again. He kind of got,
you know, his his personal pride was took a hit
last year in terms of his production and the way

(41:00):
people talked about him. I think the fact that he's
running freaking ten one hundred meter dashes at thirty one
years old and gaining a step is really impressive. So
I do think that Twua was set for a career year,
and if he has that, we're gonna be an eleven
to twelve win team. I think that year two of
the Weaver defense will be even better than what we
saw last year when things clicked about mid season, and

(41:21):
I think the piece is fit even better now, especially
upfront those pass rushers stay healthy. It's gonna set the
table for us to play to our rules on the
back end and play good defense. On defense, the question
can they coach up a secondary that's young and saw
plenty of change. I think Minka dropping in there is
going to make a huge difference, especially when you factor
in the fact that Ramsey was gone like you were
without him. To get Minca back in the fold, to

(41:42):
pair him with Ifi Mela Fon, that's a really good
safety group and can take some pressure off those corners.
Plus he can play on the slot and move cater
outside and give you some more of that flexible versatility. Really,
the top four snap takers are gone from that side
of the football. Right, Even if the two safeties were
two of the worst players in the league last year,
it has changed from a year ago. The miscellaneous factors.
It's Ramsey, fuller ployer in Holland right, the miscellaneous factors.

(42:06):
I think the ability to effectively shift the culture is
the biggest one here, and the early returns have been good.
But let's see how it goes after a loss or
after Tua has to miss a game and Tyler doesn't
get the targets he wants. Like, there's a lot of
questions that go into this that are kind of intangible,
and that's the biggest miscellaneous factor or the trapdoor scenario.
It's to if he plays, we win. If he doesn't,
we don't. It's that simple conclusion. I think we're very

(42:27):
much a playoff team. With our quarterback playing seventeen games.

Speaker 2 (42:30):
I kind of like.

Speaker 1 (42:30):
Us being more under the radar this year, and I
think that will fuel the guys. My divisions a perlatives.
The winners the Bills obviously, the quarterback is Josh Allen.
The best non offensive player is still Tyreek Hill. Well
if he can. If he doesn't do it this year,
I'll take him off there, but I'm gonna give him
a one year grace period. I think Zach Sealer is
the best defensive player. There's a couple guys in line
for that, but I'm going to go with the home guy.

(42:51):
The best coach is Shan McDermott. The best rookie is
Kenny Kenneth Grant and Kyle Williams to me, and the
best under the radar studs are Kyle Dugger and Jamian
sure Word.

Speaker 2 (43:00):
So there you go.

Speaker 1 (43:01):
Thirty two teams previewed on the Draft Time podcast Last
break right here, come back and finish up with my chat.

Speaker 2 (43:06):
With cater co Who.

Speaker 1 (43:07):
That's next Draft Time podcast, brought to you by automation.

Speaker 2 (43:13):
Joining us today is Dolphins cornerback cater Coo. Who cater
what's up?

Speaker 1 (43:16):
Man?

Speaker 2 (43:16):
How you been?

Speaker 5 (43:17):
No?

Speaker 3 (43:17):
Man, I'm chilling. How you doing?

Speaker 2 (43:19):
Not too bad? It's good to talk to you an
official capacity.

Speaker 1 (43:21):
I see you around the building all the time we talk,
but here we are on the podcast.

Speaker 2 (43:24):
I think for the first time.

Speaker 3 (43:25):
Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's the first time.

Speaker 1 (43:27):
I think it is, too man. So an your nerves coming,
I don't think. I didn't think so.

Speaker 5 (43:32):
So.

Speaker 1 (43:33):
You're a pretty unique story in terms of your pat
here and to this point of your NFL career. I
think the question I want to ask you, cater is,
if you know, going into your fourth year right now,
what would you tell rookie caterko who about all the
experience you've taken in the last three years, Like, what
would you tell him is the most important thing that
he asked to know going into his rookie season.

Speaker 3 (43:52):
Uh, just stay consistent.

Speaker 5 (43:54):
It's easy at the beginning to like kind of because
you're more hungry and stuff like that.

Speaker 3 (43:59):
Was just stay concission.

Speaker 5 (44:01):
Find you something that you can do every day to
kind of keep your mind like in a good space.
But yeah, I think consistency is like the most important thing.

Speaker 2 (44:10):
Is that your message to the other young guys we
have in the room now.

Speaker 3 (44:13):
Yeah, absolutely, consistency.

Speaker 5 (44:14):
Whatever you find something, you just got to stay consistent
because if you're doing the same thing every day, it's
gonna kind of keep you on the same path, so
you know what to expect and stuff like that.

Speaker 2 (44:24):
Kind of like a grower dive.

Speaker 3 (44:25):
Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 4 (44:26):
Deal.

Speaker 1 (44:26):
Yeah, so you're taking on a bigger leadership role this year,
is what you know You've you've talked about a little bit,
coaches have talked about it. What does that look like
for you kind of portraying that message and then some
more probably.

Speaker 3 (44:36):
I think more so just doing the right thing.

Speaker 5 (44:40):
I don't always think that the leader has to be
somebody that's overly vocal. You know, you're gonna have to
talk a little bit here and there, but I think
it's more about just showing them the right things to do,
how to practice, and the standard every want around a building.

Speaker 1 (44:51):
Because you've seen some leaders, Yeah, exactly, super vocal in
the past, especially in that cornerback room. So you probably
took from those guys and over your time with you know,
playing with X, playing with Jalen, playing with all these
really good cornerbacks, Like, what's the what have you noticed
about like the really good players and how they approach
their business? Like is there a common theme across those guys?

Speaker 3 (45:08):
Yeah, most definitely. Uh.

Speaker 5 (45:11):
I think first the first thing that probably sticks out
is like just the passion that they had for football.
It's not just something that come in. They really enjoyed
playing football. They love making plays and stuff like that.
And just the confidence. You I feel like, playing defensive back,
you have to be confidence because as soon as you
lose that, you kind of lose your edge and stuff

(45:31):
like that. So I feel like that's one thing they
all had in common.

Speaker 1 (45:34):
Do you know when you first fell in love with football? Like,
was there a time or like a certain period.

Speaker 3 (45:40):
Yeah, I started playing football and I was in eighth grade.

Speaker 5 (45:42):
But I think I really fell in love with it
when I moved from running back to corner my junior
year and high school.

Speaker 1 (45:48):
Yeah, what was the why the change? Because were you
just better at corner?

Speaker 3 (45:52):
Like, what was the Well, we had a running back.

Speaker 5 (45:55):
We had like two running backs in my grade that
were actually real good, So I don't think I was
ever going to play there, So I just to figure
out another position to play in the corner. It was
just from the size and stuff like that that you
moved me to the corner, and I'm glad they did.

Speaker 1 (46:07):
I listened to the Movelessticks podcast lot with Dante Jeremiah
NFL Network, and he always talks about how, like when
you're young, go play corner.

Speaker 2 (46:13):
Right now, there's too many receivers.

Speaker 3 (46:15):
Yeah, definitely, everybody wants to score touch.

Speaker 5 (46:17):
Yeah, I'm pretty sure like every draft class there's more
DBS draft than in receivers.

Speaker 2 (46:22):
That's something.

Speaker 1 (46:22):
It's crazy, but maybe it's maybe it's the fact that
there seems like receivers the position where rookies kind of
hit early.

Speaker 3 (46:29):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (46:29):
Way, I mean your first game you balled out here,
I'm talking to the wrong guy, but it seems like
it's easier to to kind of get a feel for
receiver early.

Speaker 3 (46:36):
Yeah, yeah, most definitely I feel like that too.

Speaker 1 (46:38):
What do you what was the biggest challenge you had
to kind of like learn because obviously you played right away,
he played as you know, a kind of some some
sub packages. Right. I'll never forget that first game against
the Patriots. I remember like, cooh, all right, all right,
we got we got something here. But what was like
something maybe like a hardship early on or something that
you struggle with where it was like, Okay, this is
something I'm gonna have to focus on, kind of have

(46:59):
to like, you know, really attacked to make sure I'm
the best version of myself.

Speaker 3 (47:03):
Really just having like a broader understanding of the game.

Speaker 5 (47:07):
Coming from college, especially Division two, I feel like the
football knowledge is not, like I thought, as hard as
like somebody that went to I want to say, like
Alabama and stuff like that. So it was more so
just learning like the little tricks and like in the
NASA the game to help me play faster and stuff
like that.

Speaker 1 (47:23):
Yeah, that makes perfect sense. And you wind up going
from you know, inside to outside. And I'll never forget
last year Coach we Ever mentioned several times how valuable
you were to the team because you helped you know,
Kendall and Jalen be able to be flexible. What are
doing all that over the course of three years teach
you about the game or maybe the position in general.

Speaker 5 (47:43):
That nickelin outside corner two different positions, completely different positions.
Like outside corner you're more on an island. There's more
like vertical routes and stuff like that. I feel like
a Nickel, you're kind of like a boy safety. You
have to play the run and when you're in man

(48:03):
that's not really like the sideline help is not right there,
Like they have equal space on whichever way. That is
hard to release. So you just got to understand that.
But like at the nigga position, you always gonna have
a safety over the top. So it's it's just like
learning just the low tricks.

Speaker 2 (48:18):
Yeah, but all two way goes.

Speaker 3 (48:20):
Yeah exactly.

Speaker 2 (48:20):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (48:22):
One thing I always love watching about your game, and
I think the numbers prove us out too, is like
the screen game. Yeah, whether you're making the tackle or
you know, taking the point man down. I just feel
like if twenty eight is out there, no four now,
so my bad, my bad. I was thinking of that
first game across, but there's four he's either taking the receiver,
the point man off, or he's making the tackle. Don't
don't tell everyone you're your secrets, but like, why are

(48:45):
you so damn good at stopping the screen?

Speaker 2 (48:48):
Uh, crack on yourself for a little bit off a
can man.

Speaker 5 (48:51):
I'm not gonna lie, you know. I think it's just
one of them things. You just kind of have a
feel for it. Uh, you know, going throughout the game,
you kind of have to, like I said, get a
feel for it. And then just certain situations just seem
like theres are screen down, so you might want to
tighten up a little bit, and then if you're telling
me at a certain depth, maybe cheated up a little
bit so you can react a little faster.

Speaker 3 (49:10):
But I think it's just like a field.

Speaker 2 (49:11):
Thing, like tendencies of the offense.

Speaker 3 (49:13):
You can exactly.

Speaker 5 (49:14):
Then certain receivers they do screens to certain receivers they
don't do it too so if they move a receiver
to a certain position, you kind of intended have to kind.

Speaker 3 (49:22):
Of go up.

Speaker 1 (49:23):
That's that's probably part of the maturation process you had
in terms of like how to watch film. Yeah, exactly,
what's what's been your favorite thing about playing for coach
Weaver here in this.

Speaker 5 (49:31):
Defense we've he gives you the opportunity to kind of
just be yourself. He doesn't put limitations on too much.
And he's like a great listener. If we have something
that we feel like is not working, or if you
feel like we have something that might work and we're
not doing it, He's always willing to listen. He's not
like stuck in his ways, and he's he's like a
great motivator.

Speaker 2 (49:52):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (49:53):
I really have enjoyed getting to know coach YEA. Yeah,
let's let's finish up with this. What do you got
going on the summer?

Speaker 4 (49:57):
Man?

Speaker 1 (49:57):
You know, we got a few weeks after this after
mandatory MIDI caamp raps up here and then we get
back to training camp. But what are you looking forward
to getting to this offseason?

Speaker 3 (50:05):
Uh, just getting ready for the season.

Speaker 5 (50:08):
I know usually have six weeks, but we have five
this year, so it's a week shorter.

Speaker 3 (50:13):
So just really just getting ready for the season.

Speaker 5 (50:14):
I don't have anything playing right now, just working out
and getting ready for training count.

Speaker 1 (50:18):
Just resting up, getting ready, good stuff. That's kind of
been the answer I've gotten from all the guys. So
it sounds like no one's a too interesting thing besides football. Yeah,
cater Coo, who appreciate your time today, man, Thank you
so much. Love that dude, cater Coo who the last
interview here, the last podcast before we get into five
days a week. It's been a nice vacation, a nice
little bit of time off. Family's doing great, by the way,
you guys keep asking me about that, so I appreciate

(50:38):
all the love and the messages you guys have sent.
Family of five now, Caroline Cameron Willow.

Speaker 2 (50:42):
We are a very very happy family.

Speaker 1 (50:44):
So appreciate you guys hanging with me here and kind
of you know, keeping up on the content in a
strange portion of the calendar. But that's the last kid
we're going to have. It's impossible to have anymore if
you get my drift. So we're going to be locked
in from here for and I can't wait to show
my kids Dolphins football and bring them out to hard
Rock Stadium and be the add that hopefully the kids
brag about to their friends because of my cool job.
So really fun summer. Let's go ahead and put a

(51:06):
pennant right there. Come back on Monday, we're gonna break
down the offense and preview every single player on this
roster defense on Tuesday, and then Wednesday we have practice.
So and speaking of training camp, and it is the
most wonderful time of year. That's right, Miami Dolphins training
camp right around the corner, and you can reserve your
tickets right now. The Dolphins are back on the field
for Back Together weekend on July twenty sixth, a Saturday

(51:29):
first Dolphins practice open to the fans in the public.
The Dolphins will take Sunday off and be back on
the field for a Monday practice on the twenty eighth,
as well as the twenty ninth and thirtieth, all open
to the fans. After a Thursday day off on the
thirty first, Miami's right back to work for the first
second and third of August, all those practices open to
fans as well. The next practice available to the fans

(51:52):
August the sixth, and then a pretty good gap there
with the joint practices up in Detroit and Chicago. Miami's
back for three more practice is in front of the
fans here at the Baptist Hill Training Complex. August eighteenth,
August twentieth, and August twenty first. That twenty first date
is a joint practice against the Jacksonville Jaguars. So July
twenty sixth, July twenty eighth, twenty ninth, thirtieth, August first,

(52:15):
second and third, August sixth, August nineteenth, August twentieth, and
August twenty first against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Book your tickets
now on Miami Dolphins dot com. There we go very
very long episode of the podcast. Here. You all please
be sure to subscribe, leave us a rating, leave us
a review. You can follow me on social at MENFL NFL.
You can follow the team at Miami Dolphins. Go ahead

(52:37):
and check out the YouTube channel for draft time content,
Dolphins HQ, media availabilities, and so much more. Last, but
not least, Miami Dolphins dot Com bins up until next.

Speaker 2 (52:46):
Time, Carolina, Cameron and Willow Daddy.

Speaker 1 (52:49):
He's already