June 10, 2025 • 39 mins
Travis is back for a full practice report and a lengthy podcast. We’ll hear from Coach McDaniel, Tua, Alec Ingold and Ashtyn Davis. Travis weaves his practice notes through the duration of the episode that covers a few themes: what opens up the deep passing game, the run-gam balance, the concept of competition and development, and team defense through aggressive coverage players.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Drivetime with Travis Wingfield.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What is up, Dolphins, and welcome to the Draft Time Podcast.
I am your host, Travis Wingfield. And on today's show,
many campus here are breaking all the action down on
the field behind the microphone and much much more. I've
got practice notes, I've got audio from McDaniel, tua, alec Ingold,
and Ashton Davis. I've got storylines to attach it all
(00:32):
together as we give you the story from the day
that was here at Dolphins Camp from the Baptist Health
Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. This is the
Drive Time Podcast. Oftentimes I use the open of the
show to sort of explain how the sausage gets made
here on Drive Time, and in doing I don't know
(00:56):
one hundred episodes of either Camp or Ota Report podcasts.
I think the best ones happen when the story naturally
comes together in terms of what I saw on the
field and what the themes were of the day, and
what the players and coaches spoke about before and after
practice and Brother, today was just one of those days
where it all kind of came together. We're going to
tether it all together through soundbites from the aforementioned players
(01:20):
and the head coach and funnel through the lens of
culture team football. The concept of the sum of the
parts being greater than the whole, or however that's saying,
goes the contributing variables that add up to make the
final product spring football, and the developmental nature of it,
and so much more so. Let's go ahead and jump
right in. And the first rule of radio or in
(01:42):
this case, podcasting is to play the hits, lead the
show with the biggest story. What are you gonna get
the fans in with? And that's a tough choice for
me today. But if the late nineties taught me anything
at all, it's that chick dig the long ball, right
And if that campaign is too old for you, go
ahead and google it. It was a home run of
a marketing idea back in the late nineties when baseball's
(02:03):
were flying over fences with the greatest frequency the league
has ever seen. And of course the long ball does
apply on the football field as well, So I wanted
to start with this. There's been a ton of debate
recently about the quarterback his production, what those stats actually mean,
as the great Warren Sharp has kind of detailed to
his place among you know, some of the best quarterbacks
in the league in terms of the raw numbers and
(02:23):
the advanced metrics, and how he winds up there and
the debate that follows that, and you know what's next
and the extension of this offense and what is you know,
what is productive? How do you get that production and
the contributing factors to all of that.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Are you guys still with me? So you've heard me,
for lack of a.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Better term, well, let's try and keep it family friendly here. Complain,
you know, not the other word you could say there
about the narratives as to why the explosive plays reduced
pretty significantly from twenty twenty three to twenty twenty four.
The running game in the second half of the season,
and particularly on early downs, and the negative run that
came from that creating a certain down and distance, a
(03:03):
situation that generates a certain type of look from the defense.
They're going to play off, they're not going to respect
the run, They're not going to expect the run on
second to thirteen. And then when you're unsuccessful in creating
those advantageous down in distances, defenses don't have to respect it.
If you can't threaten them with it right, And there's
variables off that variable with the interior offensive line off
(03:24):
the edge, the running backs, the receivers, the quarterback, and
how he manages everything. Everybody has a say in all
of that. So coach was asked about this on Tuesday morning,
So was Tua. Let's go ahead and start with the
head coach of your Miami Dolphins. How do you get
back to more explosive plays on the offense in twenty
twenty five?
Speaker 4 (03:41):
How much is the defense off what's the pass rush?
Are we?
Speaker 5 (03:48):
Things will be more even when the whole entirety of
the offense is even when our ground game is where
we want it and our line of scrimmage plays where
we want it. The pre snap depth of defenders and
what they're defending at the very beginning of snap and
post snap, that changes as well.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
To me, the I'm just not trying to throw.
Speaker 5 (04:15):
Throw, I'm not trying to tell to or to throw
the ball to defensive players. Turnovers are are are a
huge part of the game, or get sacks. So you
have to earn those explosive opportunities. To answer your question,
the hope is that there will be more based upon
(04:38):
the defensive presentations that we earn. But the one thing
last year showed us is that we have to earn
everything based upon previous things we've done, and that if
you they will simply take away explosive pass game by
pre snap depth unless you can and make them pay
(05:01):
in the ground game and make them exposed for their overplay,
And that I think is a bigger reflection of where
those yards per attempt will be. Do we have people
defending closer to the line of scrimmage earlier and you
do that by threatening them by earning it?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
QB One was that's the exact same thing after practice.
Speaker 6 (05:21):
I think the key to that is continuing to stay
within the play of this offense, but you know, really
really honing in on when we get opportunities, not falling
asleep on all. Right, you know this is how we've
been doing it, and we're going to stay consistent with
taking what they give us. But it's you got to
also have that shift to mind that when we get
(05:43):
a play where you have an opportunity to take a
shot and it allows for you to take a shot,
you can't miss that opportunity.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
And I set it all up this way to tell
you the long balls kept on coming here on Tuesday,
and not even explosives through the deep passes in terms
of number of air yards, which is a fixation that
some folks have that I don't understand. But yay, I
guess more on that in just a moment, because practice
ended with a shot that Tua could not have handed
(06:11):
on a silver platter to Malik Washington any better than
he did from about thirty five yards away. I mean,
the corner was imperfectly tight coverage. Some of us saw
twenty three and they were there at practice. Some of
us saw it was thirty three. It's Jason Marshall already Burns.
I thought it was Burns, but it's not worth splitting
hairs in the podcast. But whoever it was was in
great shape and coverage. And these are the kind of
(06:31):
plays that you like when you're watching your own team
play against your own team, because coverage was good, but
the throat was just a little bit better, right, And
Malik makes this tough concentration catch in traffic on a
ball that was just hand delivered from FedEx from DHL
for going back that far from ups right in his hands,
and I'm guessing you'll see that on our social channels
(06:51):
at some point today or sometime this week, because I
think that was probably the play of the day and
the other explosive in team period. A lot of red
zone work today, but this wasn't a team period that
was not down in the red zone. It was a
forty yard touchdown to Waddle coming across the formation or
across the field rather. And this is the part where
I point back to the commentary from McDaniel last week
(07:12):
on TUA and the further expansion of his skills as
the commander of the ship here the franchise quarterback and
being on top of every single detail from that position.
I think this is where it's important to provide as
much possible context as I can for y'all because you're
going to read about it most likely. And this is
where one of my favorite lines from one of my
(07:33):
favorite movies comes into play.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
Flyball Card.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
It still gets me. That's the major league part where
Bob Buker goes.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Into the tank and he calls upon his other commentator
in the booth and he's never called a game before,
and they hit a screaming line drive into the outfield
and the outfilder makes a diving catch and that was
his call flyball count.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
So I think you might get a little bit of.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
That in terms of Wattle caught a forty yard touchdown
pass from Tua today. But here's what I saw. I
saw Waddle as a non primary read in the progression
and Tua working through the progression. And I'm not going
to pull up this audio, but McDaniel talked about the
importance of this in the quick game last season. I
forget what game, it was probably Buffalo when he found
(08:22):
you know, a chan for that quick hitter on the
game tying drive late in the fourth quarter. About how
the quick elimination of the downfield throws and the ability
to process that early and how it can you know,
based upon the coverage tails and processing through them and
getting eyes on all of those particular you know indicators
and you know players. You have to influence how that
(08:44):
can widen and manipulate those defenders to maximize the space
your target has in the short area to turn that
short throw and extend it into a big play. And here,
you know, perhaps Wattle was the first read. I could
be wrong about that. I don't know the play call.
I'm just guessing based upon my vantage point. But I
saw Tua work through these progressions and pull this zone
(09:04):
defender out of his coverage area because of the direction
or attention. Rather, he gave to a particular route on
the play and just does this little shoulder roll pump
Russell Wilson needs to do that all the time, where
you would kind of shoulder roll and it would convey
to the defender that you're thinking about throwing the ball
that way, much in the way a pump fake would.
And the ball then replaces that displaced defender and it
(09:26):
hits Wattle right and stride, and what looks like this
easy ten yard throw on the surface becomes a long
touchdown because you just gave a four to two athlete
all this space to operate with, and what does he
do but outrun everybody for six On the backside. He
and Wattle two of that is have just been again
again fins for the win again. Right to quote j
(09:47):
dub Here's what Tua said about their budding chemistry this
spring and into the summer.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
Yeah, we're continuing to grow our chemistry with one another.
You know, for the past year, for the past two years,
it's really been me and Rick kind of getting on
that same page. But you know, if we can get waddle,
me and Wattle can get together and continue to make
shrides throughout you know, these last few days of mini camp,
(10:15):
I think it's gonna lead into some.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Pretty good things preparing us for training camp.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
I just love hearing that and him saying, if we
can continue to get more on the same page or whatever.
It was like, y'all connected five or six, seven, eight
times every practice we watch here, and it's it's nice
to watch because the minute Wattle comes out of the break,
the football is just there and he expects it to
be there. To me, it looks like they're in mid
season form, which in June is obviously a great thing
(10:40):
to a great position to be in. So that's kind
of the entire Tua assessment.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Today.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
He was throwing strikes down the field. He did miss
a chan on a deep shot where Devon had a
step on the defender, and Tua reacted afterwards like you
could tell he felt he just missed it, and he did.
It was a little bit long out of the reach
of Devon and more on the Dolphins star running back
here in just a moment. But Tua fits tight windows
in the red zone, particularly that to Nick westbrook A
Kine who he found for a couple of touchdowns. I
(11:05):
had nw I with three on the day from various quarterbacks,
mostly going above the rim and pool and the football
down And after seeing Tua get to waddle to westbrook
A Kine to get to his backs and his tight
ends to a chen on deep balls, I thought this
comment was really good, a really good thing to hear
from Tua about kind of the focus of the offseason
and how this offense can become the best version of
(11:26):
itself through ball distribution.
Speaker 6 (11:28):
Yeah, I'd like to spend more time with a few
guys on the field, that's for sure, so that we
can get our game right to where we.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Need it to be.
Speaker 6 (11:37):
And it the distribution of the ball becomes more evident
in games, and you know, we get a lot more
guys involved, and I get a good feel in trusting
that if this guy's not open, that I trust this
guy and this guy and this guy.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
I saw a great quote from Chris Hogan today seven
to eleven, former Dolphins hard knock star talking about acting
with Tom Brady and how he would if you weren't
looking out of your break he would throw the ball
past your head to kind of get your attention and
be like, hey, next time, make sure you look too,
because I could come to you with the football. Like
that's the kind of ownership I see to tak taking
strides toward towards being right, Like get on my page
(12:16):
and get on my level so I can trust you
and we can go to you in games. I think
that's the kind of accountability that you need from your quarterback.
And we'll get back to more of that here in
just one second. And please don't get this messaging twisted
that I'm trying to convey this idea that I think
that star pass catchers are somehow a bad thing.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
They're not. You have to have them in this league
to win.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
And we saw Tua have his best years with star
pass catchers, right, But we've also seen him conduct successful
offenses with you know a complement of Miles Gaskin who
came up from a you know, running back two or
three after injuries to being the starting running back in
twenty twenty one, or Adam Shaheen or Isaiah Ford, guys
that were practice squad call ups or you know, late
summer acquisitions for late round draft picks and just play this,
(12:56):
hit the open guy type of offense, because that, to
me is what Tua's superpower has always been, the process
and manipulate defenders to take advantage of the space that
they create from that manipulation. And now instead of an
offense where you know that was in the early stages
of a rebuild back in twenty twenty one, you've got
a Chan You've got Reek, you've got Waddle, You've got
these big time playmakers at every position. If you can
(13:18):
distribute the football around enough, you'll eventually break the levy
and those guys can take those eight yard completions and
turn them into long touchdowns. I think it's a great
thing for this offense to have. Tua also talked about
his off season plans. It's gonna be one week off
for QB one, then back to working out and throwing
with the guys. So a really nice day from Tua
on the field and to hear from him. We're gonna
(13:38):
hear plenty of more from him and as well as
on some different daily themes and stories here and we'll
come back to this from coach and Tua on the
other side after a short break on the Draft Time
podcast brought to you by Auto Nation. On top of
the deep passes and long touchdowns and big explosive plays,
(13:59):
one of the themes of the day was the emphasis
on the culture and the locker room. And before we
go to TUA, we're gonna go ahead and bring coach
McDaniel back in, who was asked this morning about what's
more important from this time of year, breaking camp with
minimal injuries or growth from your roster. I thought this
answer was well worth getting in the podcast.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
And in the seven weeks I've seen guys come together
to I can see a vision of a team. Remember
the whole league's dealing with the same thing where you're
getting fifty five percent.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Or forty five percent turnover, right, So being able.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
To feel a team in seven weeks, I've gotten to
that point where I have an idea of a team,
not exactly what it's going to look like. They'll define
that by their daily work, but the elements of a
team that you can only really create through blood, sweat, tears,
(14:57):
hard work and mutual sacrifice.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
Right.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Well, this week, uh, you know, I think taking uh
you know, the semblance of the team that I think
that the entire team does feel Let's see how how
good we can get the ball, how how much we
can challenge each other, and the every play is a
(15:22):
productive play, it's a success. If it's a success on
one side, it should be earned. And in that process
in playing football, football is one hundred injury sport. You
play football, you will get injured. It is a cost
(15:43):
of doing business. I do feel good about how we
practice and how we protect each other. So most importantly
is we are trying to go after how good can
we get this team in the spring.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
I eventually want to ask a question about the value
of the continuity at the center position with Aaron Brewer,
who missed most of camp last year, and he's talked
a couple of times at media availabilities about coming back
and playing the same position for the second straight year
for the first time since he was in college. And
that's kind of the theme across the board, that and
the competition and just kind of trying to fuel guys
in a certain way.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
And I think there's value to all of that.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Let's go ahead, though, and pivot next back to Tua,
who talked a little bit here about the shift in
terms of the culture and the way things have gone
so far this offseason.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
We've heard about it all off season.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Now let's hear from the guy that's lived it and
experience it and get an update on where things stand
right now.
Speaker 6 (16:36):
There is a culture shift, and I know it. I
mean I feel it just as much as everyone that's
been here. Since I've gotten into the league. We always
hear about, man, yeah, oh, culture shift. You guys have
a change of this. You guys are doing this always optimistic,
but I really do feel in my heart that this
is a change of scenery for our guys in the
(16:58):
locker room, and then it also transitions to our coaches
as well, because we get opportunities to lead and it's
not as much the coaches as it is the players.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
I would say this year one more time from tow
on the topic of culture.
Speaker 6 (17:12):
Well, I think I think first you you got to
have the right guys to be able to do that
with right and uh, I think we I think we
have the right guys with within the room, within the
locker room, within the offense. And I know those guys
on the defense, you know, feel like they have their
guys as well. But for me, I think it what's
(17:35):
most important is like, you know, I've been here for
five years going on six, Like are you not tired
of what we've done these past five years? Like if
you are, then why aren't we doing anything about it?
Like you know, what do we have to change? What
do we have to do to correct the the navigation
of where we want to go?
Speaker 4 (17:54):
So I would say that's what it is.
Speaker 6 (17:57):
And you create that standard in the locker room, the
guys follow, and you got to uphold it. And so
you come into work knowing that they're looking to you
to uphold that standard. And if you don't, you got
to have brought enough guys to hoold you to that
standard as well.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Man, That's that's a really cool thing to hear from
a leader because like if you're not on your p's
and q's as a leader, you then have to fall
back on the leadership of the guys you brought along
with you as a leader. So it's like it all
kind of comes back to you, Right. I love that
idea and that thinking and to and a quarterback should
be the one that kind of you know, after the game,
(18:31):
he's the one that takes blame for the loss and
he's the one that gives credit when they lose or
when they win. Had that backwards there for a second.
And this concept of competition, I mean, we heard about
it really at every stage this offseason, but the one
that really sticks out in my mind is back at
the owners meetings when coach talked about building your culture
through the draft and the young hungry athlete who's ready
(18:52):
to kind of, you know, earn that second contract and
earn a job, and the hunger that comes from those
players reverberates throughout your entire roster. And I just love
this because it seems like there's a real intentionality about
what this time of year is and a trust not
just among the players, but from the player to the
coaching staff. And I apologize for going back to this
(19:12):
well again, but get used to it, because I'm going
to make it about golf. When you're making a swing change,
focusing on the fundamentals of the swing, you have to
be okay with crappy results. If I'm hitting a bad slice,
I need to hit a bad snap hook, draw the
other direction to kind of correct it, and find my
club path on the opposite side to even it out
(19:33):
back in the middle to get that result that I want.
But you have to do that through trust in the
process and hitting bad golf shots. So if I'm trying
to learn a t step as a cornerback, or I'm
trying to take a snap from under center and get
my footwork right from that from a quarterback position where
I want to press a gap as a running back,
I have to trust the process and not be obsessed
with the result of the first couple of reps of
(19:54):
doing that, as bad as it might look. And then
the idea is you come out the other side, you know,
Andy frame style, through five hundred feet of filth, and
you come out the other side clean. Like that's the
idea of kind of stripping down the fundamentals and building
them back up to be the best version of yourself.
And I love that there is this trust for the
guys to really trust the coaching staff to work on
(20:15):
the development and not be concerned about possibly putting bad
results on tape and making yourself into the best version
of yourself. So here's coach on two other topics that
I thought tied back into this. He was asked about
the cornerback room and the availability of those jobs. We'll
go ahead and play that sound here first.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
I think the biggest thing is what we've captured this
offseason that you know I prioritize over over everything is
really like a competitive get something out of the day
develop mindset, all right, So we are going to If
I'm asking players to develop their game, I can't right
(20:56):
in the middle of it expect them to really go
after it and say, hey, you're accountable for the result.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
There's a a day in, day out challenge that really
I start meetings challenging the line of scrimmage, particularly with
wide receiver versus dbs, and then you watch how they
own they they play with confidence, but more so defensive
(21:25):
back is about the next play after you get beat.
Speaker 5 (21:29):
It's not if, but when. So we are getting major
evaluation stuff That a guy might have a good day
for two days. To me, that's a setup at this stage,
and the evaluation for me, I'm waiting, okay, two good days.
This is fantastic. I can't wait until he gets beat
because now we got action. Now we're seeing who we're
(21:52):
dealing with. Because the one thing that I can't coach
is that that mental fortitude to bounce back an inherent
feature in the game, and that's what we're looking for
and that's that's how you're starting to hear you talk
to other players across the ball and you feel that
(22:14):
they're not trying to pick who the best corner is
because every day you have to come to work and
deliver your best stuff, or whoever's guarding you will be
the best corner for the day. Challenge accepted, competitive mindset
to develop, not to figure out the depth chart today.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
I just love that comment about high stakes reps in practice.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
I've talked about it on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I'm not gonna pull the old quote, but you can
go back and find me talking about how when you
put these high intensity reps on the practice field, you're
creating situations that prepare guys for that critical third down
on Sundays, right, And it's through earning a job, Like
you don't get to Sunday if you don't earn the
job out here on a Wednesday. So I think there's
(23:00):
tons and tons of value to that. And because of
that competition, I think you can expect to be a
better version of your football team from week one opposed
to a slow start where you know, last year I
talked in the summer about how this team starts fast
every year, and then it wasn't the same offensively, and
Tua gets hurt in week two, which kind of changed
the trajectory of that. But when he came back in
(23:21):
week eight against the Cardinals, they kind of picked it
up from there, right, and that's when the kind of
offense looked like we were used to in the past.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
So that fastart to a season.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
I think there's something to that with the idea of
competition and the working training camp. And then this answer
about Ashton Davis is kind of the same thing about,
you know, being committed to the process through the coaching
staff's message and points of emphasis. Here's why he's such
a fan so far of working with Ashton Davis.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
You know, both he and we agree that he is
of that caliber and he's going to get the opportunity
to earn that role that he covets.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
But how does he do that?
Speaker 5 (23:59):
Well, he's the exemplified out the gate being supremely coachable
in a and not just a surface level. Hey, this
guy listens, it's all right, let me find I'm going
to take the points of emphasis keyword emphasis, and I'm
going to apply that every rep for this practice. So
(24:21):
you're you're a guy that is talented has the desire,
but is also coupling, you know, the residuals of deliberate practice.
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Stacked on top of each other.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
So what I need is to see no regression from
that development, and A being a technician of sorts thus
farign camp to make sure that growth stays linear or
even exponential, particularly after more defense gets in and the
(25:00):
inevitable safeties had the same situation.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
Corners do same as every player. So much of this
is forcing it.
Speaker 5 (25:10):
Or creating a competitive environment, making the stakes high, and
then seeing how people respond. Failure is the key, because
too many people are avoiding failure in life and in football.
It's not about avoiding the failure. It's about taking those
lessons and utilizing it to build. Because you're either getting
(25:32):
better or getting worse. There's nowhere in between.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Speaking of that culture and guys leading by example, we
did a whole segment last week on how much Jalen
Phillips and Bradley Chubb help you not just in your
pass rush but also your run defense. But how about this,
It goes beyond just what happens in terms of their production.
Here's coach on the early returns of JP and Bechub
being back on that field together.
Speaker 5 (25:54):
You know one thing, you know, I really thought that
we could get a tremendous amount of gains in in
the off season as we attack it and develop who
we are is through competition and having.
Speaker 4 (26:06):
The having.
Speaker 5 (26:10):
The most talented players be the hardest working players, and
players that you can feel their love for football every
time they're on the grass gigantically beneficial.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
It's a tone setter in and of itself.
Speaker 5 (26:26):
I think having you know, both Bradley and Jalen back
is something.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
That I don't.
Speaker 5 (26:35):
They were on the team doing their absolute, above and
beyond best that they could do to impact the team
while while coming back from injury. But it's just it's
a different presence that I think I think has been
understated and has been you know, gigantic.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
I think.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
You talk about the work for the tackles, you talk
about the work for the quarterbacks. They every time they
bring their best to practice, that's who's getting better along
with them, influencing the defense. You have, the best way
to teach a quarterback how to play on time is
to have edge rusher production and practice. Because you're like,
(27:20):
see you're dead here, would you like not to be dead.
All right, let's let's play with timing. Those types of
things hugely impactful. And you know, anytime that you have
a you have some living testaments of uh like real reality,
(27:41):
which is the game. This this beautiful game that I
coach you guys cover they play. Your existence within it
is finite. So truly appreciating the little.
Speaker 4 (27:59):
Points.
Speaker 5 (28:02):
You're hard pressed to roll your eyes and be like, ah,
another practice when you go past Bradley Chubb, what I
worked a year and a half for this practice. So
the answer your question you kind of got me fired up.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
I just thought that was really great stuff there and
Chubb to get back to the practice notes had a
pressure that shut a play down today and just watching
him celebrate. I had a chance to chat with Bradley
for an interview you'll hear in a week or two
or three. Just his mindset, his focus, and his love
of the game. You're not going to find anybody besides
maybe his close family who's rooting harder for Bradley Chubb
(28:38):
this season than I am. What a gem of a
human and I have full faith that he's going to
bounce back in a big, big way. Speaking of pressure,
let's go ahead and sprinkle on some more practice notes here.
I had a great battle ensuing between Patrick, Paul and
Grace and Murphy. Murphy, as he has done basically every
day since last August, had a sack. But I also
had a couple of reps where Paul locked him out
and really kind of took it to him in terms
(28:58):
of keeping him off the quarterback and moving in the
running game. So some iron sharpening iron that way. And
Matthew Dickerson had a really nice day as well, some
line of scrimmage resetting. He had a really strong long
arm move on Austin Jackson. At one point, I had
Chop Robinson with a pure speed rush sack. Gosh, he
is so dang fast. I had kJ Britt springing a
leak up the middle with an immediate sack on Zach Wilson.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
And that's it for now.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Let's go ahead and get back to the storytelling aspect
of the podcast. And this was something that was attached
to the long ball stuff. To bring it back full circle,
was this idea of alec Ingold and his impact in
the running game. Let's go ahead and start with this
here from coach McDaniel.
Speaker 5 (29:35):
What people don't understand is so alec Ingold makes a
block well when he comes from the backfield and goes
into the line of scriptage and blocks whomever. Half the
team adjacent to him has better angles at their blocks.
So a fullback allows you to every play not only
(29:58):
is he executing his block, but he's he's made the
angle better for the center on his target, which helpes
helps him execute his box.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
So that's the trickle down.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
The the physicality at the point of attack, the known
matchups going into a game where hey, this dude is
a physical thumper that can presses force. All right, well,
hey Alec, we're gonna need a tone set at the
beginning of the game.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
Those things are in football. That's that's the end.
Speaker 5 (30:37):
All so accountable teammate that not only is he executing
and getting better and better at the point of attack,
but simply put a fullback in the run game for
offenses is the ultimate point guard for the offensive line,
(30:57):
helping their angles and their leverage and their to block
talented athletes.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
And man the red zone running game was rolling today.
I had Jalen Wright, Alex Madison, and Olie Gordon with
rushing touchdowns and that kind of six to eight yard
range mid red zone, and then they would call they
would all go on to catch touchdown passes in that
same area of the field. The quarterbacks during their individual
drills were really drilling on different drops from different platforms, shotgun,
(31:23):
under center, all that stuff and those throws to the
running backs carried over from that indie drill into the
team period, and I just thought it was fitting that
an hour or so after coach tells us about all
the variables that go into the long ball game, we
see the run game get some room and then the
play pass game open up and low red zone expanding
that for them, and then it would go on to
lead to the long ball. But I asked alec Ingold
(31:44):
about the relationship between the running game clicking, the running
backs catching passes, and how the play pass can open
up from all of that.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Here's the Dolphins fullback.
Speaker 7 (31:51):
The running backs are playmakers, and I think when the
pass game can be an extension of the run game
and vice versa, I think that's where you really get
the skill sets. So devine to really embrace that last
year and for Jalen.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
Right to watch that happen and unfold.
Speaker 7 (32:03):
I think both of those guys being able to see
the run in the pass playing off each other. That's
what I'm most excited for this year, as well as Alex.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
And you'll notice a omission there of Devon ah Chan
by myself that was intentional because he just made plays
in several ways. He kind of passed from Zach Wilson
where he got on top of Willie Gay and coverage
in the back of the end zone, but was out
of space. So he elevates and adjusts to it in
the air and makes a play on the football in
the air the way a wide receiver would. And later
I see him make a catch on our route twenty
(32:31):
yards down the field. I saw him with a little
shake on Tyrel Dodson to get you know, in the
aforementioned misconnection down the field with Tua Chan just looks
like a further evolution of the player we've seen the
last two years, and with the depth we have at
running back, I think there's opportunities to further explore all
the options that he affords.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
You.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Let's go back to Alec one more time for this
on Devon chen and it.
Speaker 7 (32:53):
Looks so smooth, yeah, right, Like I remember his rookie
year where all tell him to run like run, man, run,
because it never looks like he's hitting that twenty two
miles an hour that he actually is. So dude plays
football at a smooth level. Man, it's really cool to see.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Two segments down, we are about thirty four minutes into
the show. I have one more to go, including more
practice notes. We're gonna hear from Ashton Davis and talk
about the aggressive natures of these of these cornerbacks and
how that all ties together. That's next Draft Time podcast,
brought to you by AutoNation. So as I sit here
and tell you about all the plays the offense made,
(33:26):
it's worth noting that Elijah Campbell, Dante Trader Junior, and
Isaiah Johnson all had picks, and Jordan Colbert would have
had a fourth, which would have been the first of
Tua the spring that the media has been around to see.
And Ethan Bonner also had a drop pick. Bonners would
have been a ninety eight yard pick six had he
squeeze an off Zack Wilson. So it was three picks,
two drops, one of the drops off off Tua, one
(33:48):
of the drops off Zach, two of the picks off
Zach and one off Quinn. Viewers, and I want to
play the audio here because again result in these practices,
you want to see quarterbacks challenge windows and try stuff
can get away with like Quinn. Ewers's pick, for instance,
wasn't at all his fault. It hit the receiver in
the hands and bounced off. One of Zach's picks was
a fifty to fifty ball he took a chance on
(34:09):
and Isaiah Johnson just made the play. Let's go ahead
and hear from Tua on this concept of results evaluation
this time of year.
Speaker 6 (34:16):
I hate that, you know, for certain practices, you guys
aren't allowed to see the development that he's made and
the shrids that he's made as a player. I would
say the same for Quinn as well, that the results
out there is not an epitome of what they've done
this entire offseason within OTAs and in this first day
of mini camp. You know they've been working really hard
(34:39):
and they've been making really really big jumps.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
But that brings me back to this that these cornerbacks
are playing so aggressive, like they're not going to go
down looking, they're going to take their swings. They're getting
hands on guys and the safeties fly to the football.
It's a theme they preach in that back end. I
mentioned that Patrick mcmoor story last week, how he chased
that football down that was just rolling around harmlessly after incompletion,
(35:02):
run to the football.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
You can create things when you do that.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
And the way you capitalize on tip balls that can
be a product of that tight coverage that forces quarterbacks
and receivers to be on their p's and ques. You
run to the football, you get rewarded. So no surprise there.
But I asked Ashton Davis about this and here's what
he said about how much those aggressive cornerbacks can help
the safeties do their jobs on the back end.
Speaker 8 (35:23):
It makes it a lot easier, especially you know, whether
you're a man covered two whatever, they can get hands
on and I mean, shoot, you saw it today. We
had a few tips and yeah, we can get our
hands on all those and more and more physical. The
corners are the better for us. But the communication over
Osmond great.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
Speaking of those corners, I thought Cater and Duck were
excellent today. Isaiah Johnson plays this way too, Ardie Burns,
I thought I had some good reps. There was a
play where he had really good feel in the corner
of the end zone and left the man in the
back of the end zone and closed down on the
short throw and was there to arrive at the catchpoint
to make a big stick on the receiver. And I
saw a play where bj Adams pressed and re routed
the Owiese Junior, stayed in phase and then completely pinned
(36:01):
him to the sideline for an incomplete pass. And with
a good pass rush that style of play, with fast,
hungry safeties who fly around, you can generate more takeaways.
And that's something Weavers talked about. If we get six
more takeaways last year, and you give the offense six
more possessions, that can swing some games and swing your season,
and you can maximize your skills through the concept of
team football. He talked about that as well cohesiveness and
(36:24):
a total trust in the scheme. There are a lot
of teams that execute this every year, especially teams that
get banged up like the Buffalo Bills last year. You
don't have to look any further than your own division.
From a team that's playing cornerbacks threes, four and five
and goes and gets Russell Douglas midseason. Two years ago
and gets him playing to a high level in that defense.
Like it's all about playing connected coverage on that back end.
(36:45):
So I think that's the mindset and we'll see what
the finished product looks like come September. But I thought
you could really see the vision out there today. Let's
close with a mixed bag here two more soundbites from
Tua and some practice notes. Tua talked about what he
can do to help himself stay available for all seventeen
games this season.
Speaker 6 (37:01):
Yeah, for sure, doing everything I can to stay available
for the guys. Like I said before in the past,
nothing changes with that.
Speaker 4 (37:08):
It's knowing when when is.
Speaker 6 (37:10):
The time to give up on a play, and uh,
you know, I would say the longevity for me to
be on the field with with my guys is more
important than whatever that one play is. You know, you
have you have more quarters than than there there would
be with within just that one play that I'm trying to,
(37:31):
you know, show the guys that you know, I'm competitive
and whatnot. And I know they know that, but it's
just a you know, a nature It's it's a nature thing,
you know, it just comes natural to me, uh to
compete in that sense and that that's just the thing
I fight with every time.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
Last one.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
How he can practice that and put it into practice.
For lack of a bird term, Well.
Speaker 6 (37:52):
I think that's that's why you have practice, and it
starts in practice. I gotta sort of shift my mindset
of this isn't just practice where guys can't hit me.
You got to take it into a sense where like,
if this guy's here, get the ball out, and if
I'm scrambling and this guy's getting close, not to just
hold on to it, you know, knowing they they can
hit me. If it was real football, you know, just
(38:13):
throw it away or run and then just stop to
signify it to slide if you will. But I think
it's the transition and focus of bringing that game like
feel into practice.
Speaker 3 (38:24):
All right.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Final practice notes here. I had Jordan Brooks with a
couple of reaction instinct plays that just pop off the
field when you watch him. Storm Duck had a bunch
of good reps day, but a PBu on a coverage
snap against Tanner Connor really jumped out Connor and the
Orange Jersey today. By the way, I thought Larry Boram
and Braden Daniels had excellent days. I thought Ted Kushi,
the UDFAO lineman, had a block that sprung and all
(38:46):
a Gordon touchdown run that was impressive.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
And I guess that's it long podcast.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Today, But we heard from the head coach, from the quarterback,
and you've got, you know, one more week of football
practices before we go away for you know, six or
seven weeks here on the show. So I wanted to
bringing you guys plenty of content today. I hope you
enjoyed it. We'll be back again to do it all tomorrow.
In the meantime, you all please be sure to subscribe, rate,
review the show, follow me on social at linkfold NFL.
The team at Miami Dolphins check out the YouTube channel
(39:13):
for Dolphins HQ, drivetime content, media availabilities, and so much more,
and last but not least, Miami Dolphins dot com. Until
next time, Vinza, Caroline Cameron, Daddy, He's coming, hope,
This is Drivetime with Travis Wingfield.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What is up, Dolphins, and welcome to the Draft Time Podcast.
I am your host, Travis Wingfield. And on today's show,
many campus here are breaking all the action down on
the field behind the microphone and much much more. I've
got practice notes, I've got audio from McDaniel, tua, alec Ingold,
and Ashton Davis. I've got storylines to attach it all
(00:32):
together as we give you the story from the day
that was here at Dolphins Camp from the Baptist Health
Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. This is the
Drive Time Podcast. Oftentimes I use the open of the
show to sort of explain how the sausage gets made
here on Drive Time, and in doing I don't know
(00:56):
one hundred episodes of either Camp or Ota Report podcasts.
I think the best ones happen when the story naturally
comes together in terms of what I saw on the
field and what the themes were of the day, and
what the players and coaches spoke about before and after
practice and Brother, today was just one of those days
where it all kind of came together. We're going to
tether it all together through soundbites from the aforementioned players
(01:20):
and the head coach and funnel through the lens of
culture team football. The concept of the sum of the
parts being greater than the whole, or however that's saying,
goes the contributing variables that add up to make the
final product spring football, and the developmental nature of it,
and so much more so. Let's go ahead and jump
right in. And the first rule of radio or in
(01:42):
this case, podcasting is to play the hits, lead the
show with the biggest story. What are you gonna get
the fans in with? And that's a tough choice for
me today. But if the late nineties taught me anything
at all, it's that chick dig the long ball, right
And if that campaign is too old for you, go
ahead and google it. It was a home run of
a marketing idea back in the late nineties when baseball's
(02:03):
were flying over fences with the greatest frequency the league
has ever seen. And of course the long ball does
apply on the football field as well, So I wanted
to start with this. There's been a ton of debate
recently about the quarterback his production, what those stats actually mean,
as the great Warren Sharp has kind of detailed to
his place among you know, some of the best quarterbacks
in the league in terms of the raw numbers and
(02:23):
the advanced metrics, and how he winds up there and
the debate that follows that, and you know what's next
and the extension of this offense and what is you know,
what is productive? How do you get that production and
the contributing factors to all of that.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Are you guys still with me? So you've heard me,
for lack of a.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Better term, well, let's try and keep it family friendly here. Complain,
you know, not the other word you could say there
about the narratives as to why the explosive plays reduced
pretty significantly from twenty twenty three to twenty twenty four.
The running game in the second half of the season,
and particularly on early downs, and the negative run that
came from that creating a certain down and distance, a
(03:03):
situation that generates a certain type of look from the defense.
They're going to play off, they're not going to respect
the run, They're not going to expect the run on
second to thirteen. And then when you're unsuccessful in creating
those advantageous down in distances, defenses don't have to respect it.
If you can't threaten them with it right, And there's
variables off that variable with the interior offensive line off
(03:24):
the edge, the running backs, the receivers, the quarterback, and
how he manages everything. Everybody has a say in all
of that. So coach was asked about this on Tuesday morning,
So was Tua. Let's go ahead and start with the
head coach of your Miami Dolphins. How do you get
back to more explosive plays on the offense in twenty
twenty five?
Speaker 4 (03:41):
How much is the defense off what's the pass rush?
Are we?
Speaker 5 (03:48):
Things will be more even when the whole entirety of
the offense is even when our ground game is where
we want it and our line of scrimmage plays where
we want it. The pre snap depth of defenders and
what they're defending at the very beginning of snap and
post snap, that changes as well.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
To me, the I'm just not trying to throw.
Speaker 5 (04:15):
Throw, I'm not trying to tell to or to throw
the ball to defensive players. Turnovers are are are a
huge part of the game, or get sacks. So you
have to earn those explosive opportunities. To answer your question,
the hope is that there will be more based upon
(04:38):
the defensive presentations that we earn. But the one thing
last year showed us is that we have to earn
everything based upon previous things we've done, and that if
you they will simply take away explosive pass game by
pre snap depth unless you can and make them pay
(05:01):
in the ground game and make them exposed for their overplay,
And that I think is a bigger reflection of where
those yards per attempt will be. Do we have people
defending closer to the line of scrimmage earlier and you
do that by threatening them by earning it?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
QB One was that's the exact same thing after practice.
Speaker 6 (05:21):
I think the key to that is continuing to stay
within the play of this offense, but you know, really
really honing in on when we get opportunities, not falling
asleep on all. Right, you know this is how we've
been doing it, and we're going to stay consistent with
taking what they give us. But it's you got to
also have that shift to mind that when we get
(05:43):
a play where you have an opportunity to take a
shot and it allows for you to take a shot,
you can't miss that opportunity.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
And I set it all up this way to tell
you the long balls kept on coming here on Tuesday,
and not even explosives through the deep passes in terms
of number of air yards, which is a fixation that
some folks have that I don't understand. But yay, I
guess more on that in just a moment, because practice
ended with a shot that Tua could not have handed
(06:11):
on a silver platter to Malik Washington any better than
he did from about thirty five yards away. I mean,
the corner was imperfectly tight coverage. Some of us saw
twenty three and they were there at practice. Some of
us saw it was thirty three. It's Jason Marshall already Burns.
I thought it was Burns, but it's not worth splitting
hairs in the podcast. But whoever it was was in
great shape and coverage. And these are the kind of
(06:31):
plays that you like when you're watching your own team
play against your own team, because coverage was good, but
the throat was just a little bit better, right, And
Malik makes this tough concentration catch in traffic on a
ball that was just hand delivered from FedEx from DHL
for going back that far from ups right in his hands,
and I'm guessing you'll see that on our social channels
(06:51):
at some point today or sometime this week, because I
think that was probably the play of the day and
the other explosive in team period. A lot of red
zone work today, but this wasn't a team period that
was not down in the red zone. It was a
forty yard touchdown to Waddle coming across the formation or
across the field rather. And this is the part where
I point back to the commentary from McDaniel last week
(07:12):
on TUA and the further expansion of his skills as
the commander of the ship here the franchise quarterback and
being on top of every single detail from that position.
I think this is where it's important to provide as
much possible context as I can for y'all because you're
going to read about it most likely. And this is
where one of my favorite lines from one of my
(07:33):
favorite movies comes into play.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
Flyball Card.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
It still gets me. That's the major league part where
Bob Buker goes.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Into the tank and he calls upon his other commentator
in the booth and he's never called a game before,
and they hit a screaming line drive into the outfield
and the outfilder makes a diving catch and that was
his call flyball count.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
So I think you might get a little bit of.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
That in terms of Wattle caught a forty yard touchdown
pass from Tua today. But here's what I saw. I
saw Waddle as a non primary read in the progression
and Tua working through the progression. And I'm not going
to pull up this audio, but McDaniel talked about the
importance of this in the quick game last season. I
forget what game, it was probably Buffalo when he found
(08:22):
you know, a chan for that quick hitter on the
game tying drive late in the fourth quarter. About how
the quick elimination of the downfield throws and the ability
to process that early and how it can you know,
based upon the coverage tails and processing through them and
getting eyes on all of those particular you know indicators
and you know players. You have to influence how that
(08:44):
can widen and manipulate those defenders to maximize the space
your target has in the short area to turn that
short throw and extend it into a big play. And here,
you know, perhaps Wattle was the first read. I could
be wrong about that. I don't know the play call.
I'm just guessing based upon my vantage point. But I
saw Tua work through these progressions and pull this zone
(09:04):
defender out of his coverage area because of the direction
or attention. Rather, he gave to a particular route on
the play and just does this little shoulder roll pump
Russell Wilson needs to do that all the time, where
you would kind of shoulder roll and it would convey
to the defender that you're thinking about throwing the ball
that way, much in the way a pump fake would.
And the ball then replaces that displaced defender and it
(09:26):
hits Wattle right and stride, and what looks like this
easy ten yard throw on the surface becomes a long
touchdown because you just gave a four to two athlete
all this space to operate with, and what does he
do but outrun everybody for six On the backside. He
and Wattle two of that is have just been again
again fins for the win again. Right to quote j
(09:47):
dub Here's what Tua said about their budding chemistry this
spring and into the summer.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
Yeah, we're continuing to grow our chemistry with one another.
You know, for the past year, for the past two years,
it's really been me and Rick kind of getting on
that same page. But you know, if we can get waddle,
me and Wattle can get together and continue to make
shrides throughout you know, these last few days of mini camp,
(10:15):
I think it's gonna lead into some.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Pretty good things preparing us for training camp.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
I just love hearing that and him saying, if we
can continue to get more on the same page or whatever.
It was like, y'all connected five or six, seven, eight
times every practice we watch here, and it's it's nice
to watch because the minute Wattle comes out of the break,
the football is just there and he expects it to
be there. To me, it looks like they're in mid
season form, which in June is obviously a great thing
(10:40):
to a great position to be in. So that's kind
of the entire Tua assessment.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Today.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
He was throwing strikes down the field. He did miss
a chan on a deep shot where Devon had a
step on the defender, and Tua reacted afterwards like you
could tell he felt he just missed it, and he did.
It was a little bit long out of the reach
of Devon and more on the Dolphins star running back
here in just a moment. But Tua fits tight windows
in the red zone, particularly that to Nick westbrook A
Kine who he found for a couple of touchdowns. I
(11:05):
had nw I with three on the day from various quarterbacks,
mostly going above the rim and pool and the football
down And after seeing Tua get to waddle to westbrook
A Kine to get to his backs and his tight
ends to a chen on deep balls, I thought this
comment was really good, a really good thing to hear
from Tua about kind of the focus of the offseason
and how this offense can become the best version of
(11:26):
itself through ball distribution.
Speaker 6 (11:28):
Yeah, I'd like to spend more time with a few
guys on the field, that's for sure, so that we
can get our game right to where we.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Need it to be.
Speaker 6 (11:37):
And it the distribution of the ball becomes more evident
in games, and you know, we get a lot more
guys involved, and I get a good feel in trusting
that if this guy's not open, that I trust this
guy and this guy and this guy.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
I saw a great quote from Chris Hogan today seven
to eleven, former Dolphins hard knock star talking about acting
with Tom Brady and how he would if you weren't
looking out of your break he would throw the ball
past your head to kind of get your attention and
be like, hey, next time, make sure you look too,
because I could come to you with the football. Like
that's the kind of ownership I see to tak taking
strides toward towards being right, Like get on my page
(12:16):
and get on my level so I can trust you
and we can go to you in games. I think
that's the kind of accountability that you need from your quarterback.
And we'll get back to more of that here in
just one second. And please don't get this messaging twisted
that I'm trying to convey this idea that I think
that star pass catchers are somehow a bad thing.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
They're not. You have to have them in this league
to win.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
And we saw Tua have his best years with star
pass catchers, right, But we've also seen him conduct successful
offenses with you know a complement of Miles Gaskin who
came up from a you know, running back two or
three after injuries to being the starting running back in
twenty twenty one, or Adam Shaheen or Isaiah Ford, guys
that were practice squad call ups or you know, late
summer acquisitions for late round draft picks and just play this,
(12:56):
hit the open guy type of offense, because that, to
me is what Tua's superpower has always been, the process
and manipulate defenders to take advantage of the space that
they create from that manipulation. And now instead of an
offense where you know that was in the early stages
of a rebuild back in twenty twenty one, you've got
a Chan You've got Reek, you've got Waddle, You've got
these big time playmakers at every position. If you can
(13:18):
distribute the football around enough, you'll eventually break the levy
and those guys can take those eight yard completions and
turn them into long touchdowns. I think it's a great
thing for this offense to have. Tua also talked about
his off season plans. It's gonna be one week off
for QB one, then back to working out and throwing
with the guys. So a really nice day from Tua
on the field and to hear from him. We're gonna
(13:38):
hear plenty of more from him and as well as
on some different daily themes and stories here and we'll
come back to this from coach and Tua on the
other side after a short break on the Draft Time
podcast brought to you by Auto Nation. On top of
the deep passes and long touchdowns and big explosive plays,
(13:59):
one of the themes of the day was the emphasis
on the culture and the locker room. And before we
go to TUA, we're gonna go ahead and bring coach
McDaniel back in, who was asked this morning about what's
more important from this time of year, breaking camp with
minimal injuries or growth from your roster. I thought this
answer was well worth getting in the podcast.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
And in the seven weeks I've seen guys come together
to I can see a vision of a team. Remember
the whole league's dealing with the same thing where you're
getting fifty five percent.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Or forty five percent turnover, right, So being able.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
To feel a team in seven weeks, I've gotten to
that point where I have an idea of a team,
not exactly what it's going to look like. They'll define
that by their daily work, but the elements of a
team that you can only really create through blood, sweat, tears,
(14:57):
hard work and mutual sacrifice.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
Right.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Well, this week, uh, you know, I think taking uh
you know, the semblance of the team that I think
that the entire team does feel Let's see how how
good we can get the ball, how how much we
can challenge each other, and the every play is a
(15:22):
productive play, it's a success. If it's a success on
one side, it should be earned. And in that process
in playing football, football is one hundred injury sport. You
play football, you will get injured. It is a cost
(15:43):
of doing business. I do feel good about how we
practice and how we protect each other. So most importantly
is we are trying to go after how good can
we get this team in the spring.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
I eventually want to ask a question about the value
of the continuity at the center position with Aaron Brewer,
who missed most of camp last year, and he's talked
a couple of times at media availabilities about coming back
and playing the same position for the second straight year
for the first time since he was in college. And
that's kind of the theme across the board, that and
the competition and just kind of trying to fuel guys
in a certain way.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
And I think there's value to all of that.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Let's go ahead, though, and pivot next back to Tua,
who talked a little bit here about the shift in
terms of the culture and the way things have gone
so far this offseason.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
We've heard about it all off season.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Now let's hear from the guy that's lived it and
experience it and get an update on where things stand
right now.
Speaker 6 (16:36):
There is a culture shift, and I know it. I
mean I feel it just as much as everyone that's
been here. Since I've gotten into the league. We always
hear about, man, yeah, oh, culture shift. You guys have
a change of this. You guys are doing this always optimistic,
but I really do feel in my heart that this
is a change of scenery for our guys in the
(16:58):
locker room, and then it also transitions to our coaches
as well, because we get opportunities to lead and it's
not as much the coaches as it is the players.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
I would say this year one more time from tow
on the topic of culture.
Speaker 6 (17:12):
Well, I think I think first you you got to
have the right guys to be able to do that
with right and uh, I think we I think we
have the right guys with within the room, within the
locker room, within the offense. And I know those guys
on the defense, you know, feel like they have their
guys as well. But for me, I think it what's
(17:35):
most important is like, you know, I've been here for
five years going on six, Like are you not tired
of what we've done these past five years? Like if
you are, then why aren't we doing anything about it?
Like you know, what do we have to change? What
do we have to do to correct the the navigation
of where we want to go?
Speaker 4 (17:54):
So I would say that's what it is.
Speaker 6 (17:57):
And you create that standard in the locker room, the
guys follow, and you got to uphold it. And so
you come into work knowing that they're looking to you
to uphold that standard. And if you don't, you got
to have brought enough guys to hoold you to that
standard as well.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Man, That's that's a really cool thing to hear from
a leader because like if you're not on your p's
and q's as a leader, you then have to fall
back on the leadership of the guys you brought along
with you as a leader. So it's like it all
kind of comes back to you, Right. I love that
idea and that thinking and to and a quarterback should
be the one that kind of you know, after the game,
(18:31):
he's the one that takes blame for the loss and
he's the one that gives credit when they lose or
when they win. Had that backwards there for a second.
And this concept of competition, I mean, we heard about
it really at every stage this offseason, but the one
that really sticks out in my mind is back at
the owners meetings when coach talked about building your culture
through the draft and the young hungry athlete who's ready
(18:52):
to kind of, you know, earn that second contract and
earn a job, and the hunger that comes from those
players reverberates throughout your entire roster. And I just love
this because it seems like there's a real intentionality about
what this time of year is and a trust not
just among the players, but from the player to the
coaching staff. And I apologize for going back to this
(19:12):
well again, but get used to it, because I'm going
to make it about golf. When you're making a swing change,
focusing on the fundamentals of the swing, you have to
be okay with crappy results. If I'm hitting a bad slice,
I need to hit a bad snap hook, draw the
other direction to kind of correct it, and find my
club path on the opposite side to even it out
(19:33):
back in the middle to get that result that I want.
But you have to do that through trust in the
process and hitting bad golf shots. So if I'm trying
to learn a t step as a cornerback, or I'm
trying to take a snap from under center and get
my footwork right from that from a quarterback position where
I want to press a gap as a running back,
I have to trust the process and not be obsessed
with the result of the first couple of reps of
(19:54):
doing that, as bad as it might look. And then
the idea is you come out the other side, you know,
Andy frame style, through five hundred feet of filth, and
you come out the other side clean. Like that's the
idea of kind of stripping down the fundamentals and building
them back up to be the best version of yourself.
And I love that there is this trust for the
guys to really trust the coaching staff to work on
(20:15):
the development and not be concerned about possibly putting bad
results on tape and making yourself into the best version
of yourself. So here's coach on two other topics that
I thought tied back into this. He was asked about
the cornerback room and the availability of those jobs. We'll
go ahead and play that sound here first.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
I think the biggest thing is what we've captured this
offseason that you know I prioritize over over everything is
really like a competitive get something out of the day
develop mindset, all right, So we are going to If
I'm asking players to develop their game, I can't right
(20:56):
in the middle of it expect them to really go
after it and say, hey, you're accountable for the result.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
There's a a day in, day out challenge that really
I start meetings challenging the line of scrimmage, particularly with
wide receiver versus dbs, and then you watch how they
own they they play with confidence, but more so defensive
(21:25):
back is about the next play after you get beat.
Speaker 5 (21:29):
It's not if, but when. So we are getting major
evaluation stuff That a guy might have a good day
for two days. To me, that's a setup at this stage,
and the evaluation for me, I'm waiting, okay, two good days.
This is fantastic. I can't wait until he gets beat
because now we got action. Now we're seeing who we're
(21:52):
dealing with. Because the one thing that I can't coach
is that that mental fortitude to bounce back an inherent
feature in the game, and that's what we're looking for
and that's that's how you're starting to hear you talk
to other players across the ball and you feel that
(22:14):
they're not trying to pick who the best corner is
because every day you have to come to work and
deliver your best stuff, or whoever's guarding you will be
the best corner for the day. Challenge accepted, competitive mindset
to develop, not to figure out the depth chart today.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
I just love that comment about high stakes reps in practice.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
I've talked about it on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I'm not gonna pull the old quote, but you can
go back and find me talking about how when you
put these high intensity reps on the practice field, you're
creating situations that prepare guys for that critical third down
on Sundays, right, And it's through earning a job, Like
you don't get to Sunday if you don't earn the
job out here on a Wednesday. So I think there's
(23:00):
tons and tons of value to that. And because of
that competition, I think you can expect to be a
better version of your football team from week one opposed
to a slow start where you know, last year I
talked in the summer about how this team starts fast
every year, and then it wasn't the same offensively, and
Tua gets hurt in week two, which kind of changed
the trajectory of that. But when he came back in
(23:21):
week eight against the Cardinals, they kind of picked it
up from there, right, and that's when the kind of
offense looked like we were used to in the past.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
So that fastart to a season.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
I think there's something to that with the idea of
competition and the working training camp. And then this answer
about Ashton Davis is kind of the same thing about,
you know, being committed to the process through the coaching
staff's message and points of emphasis. Here's why he's such
a fan so far of working with Ashton Davis.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
You know, both he and we agree that he is
of that caliber and he's going to get the opportunity
to earn that role that he covets.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
But how does he do that?
Speaker 5 (23:59):
Well, he's the exemplified out the gate being supremely coachable
in a and not just a surface level. Hey, this
guy listens, it's all right, let me find I'm going
to take the points of emphasis keyword emphasis, and I'm
going to apply that every rep for this practice. So
(24:21):
you're you're a guy that is talented has the desire,
but is also coupling, you know, the residuals of deliberate practice.
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Stacked on top of each other.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
So what I need is to see no regression from
that development, and A being a technician of sorts thus
farign camp to make sure that growth stays linear or
even exponential, particularly after more defense gets in and the
(25:00):
inevitable safeties had the same situation.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
Corners do same as every player. So much of this
is forcing it.
Speaker 5 (25:10):
Or creating a competitive environment, making the stakes high, and
then seeing how people respond. Failure is the key, because
too many people are avoiding failure in life and in football.
It's not about avoiding the failure. It's about taking those
lessons and utilizing it to build. Because you're either getting
(25:32):
better or getting worse. There's nowhere in between.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Speaking of that culture and guys leading by example, we
did a whole segment last week on how much Jalen
Phillips and Bradley Chubb help you not just in your
pass rush but also your run defense. But how about this,
It goes beyond just what happens in terms of their production.
Here's coach on the early returns of JP and Bechub
being back on that field together.
Speaker 5 (25:54):
You know one thing, you know, I really thought that
we could get a tremendous amount of gains in in
the off season as we attack it and develop who
we are is through competition and having.
Speaker 4 (26:06):
The having.
Speaker 5 (26:10):
The most talented players be the hardest working players, and
players that you can feel their love for football every
time they're on the grass gigantically beneficial.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
It's a tone setter in and of itself.
Speaker 5 (26:26):
I think having you know, both Bradley and Jalen back
is something.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
That I don't.
Speaker 5 (26:35):
They were on the team doing their absolute, above and
beyond best that they could do to impact the team
while while coming back from injury. But it's just it's
a different presence that I think I think has been
understated and has been you know, gigantic.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
I think.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
You talk about the work for the tackles, you talk
about the work for the quarterbacks. They every time they
bring their best to practice, that's who's getting better along
with them, influencing the defense. You have, the best way
to teach a quarterback how to play on time is
to have edge rusher production and practice. Because you're like,
(27:20):
see you're dead here, would you like not to be dead.
All right, let's let's play with timing. Those types of
things hugely impactful. And you know, anytime that you have
a you have some living testaments of uh like real reality,
(27:41):
which is the game. This this beautiful game that I
coach you guys cover they play. Your existence within it
is finite. So truly appreciating the little.
Speaker 4 (27:59):
Points.
Speaker 5 (28:02):
You're hard pressed to roll your eyes and be like, ah,
another practice when you go past Bradley Chubb, what I
worked a year and a half for this practice. So
the answer your question you kind of got me fired up.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
I just thought that was really great stuff there and
Chubb to get back to the practice notes had a
pressure that shut a play down today and just watching
him celebrate. I had a chance to chat with Bradley
for an interview you'll hear in a week or two
or three. Just his mindset, his focus, and his love
of the game. You're not going to find anybody besides
maybe his close family who's rooting harder for Bradley Chubb
(28:38):
this season than I am. What a gem of a
human and I have full faith that he's going to
bounce back in a big, big way. Speaking of pressure,
let's go ahead and sprinkle on some more practice notes here.
I had a great battle ensuing between Patrick, Paul and
Grace and Murphy. Murphy, as he has done basically every
day since last August, had a sack. But I also
had a couple of reps where Paul locked him out
and really kind of took it to him in terms
(28:58):
of keeping him off the quarterback and moving in the
running game. So some iron sharpening iron that way. And
Matthew Dickerson had a really nice day as well, some
line of scrimmage resetting. He had a really strong long
arm move on Austin Jackson. At one point, I had
Chop Robinson with a pure speed rush sack. Gosh, he
is so dang fast. I had kJ Britt springing a
leak up the middle with an immediate sack on Zach Wilson.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
And that's it for now.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Let's go ahead and get back to the storytelling aspect
of the podcast. And this was something that was attached
to the long ball stuff. To bring it back full circle,
was this idea of alec Ingold and his impact in
the running game. Let's go ahead and start with this
here from coach McDaniel.
Speaker 5 (29:35):
What people don't understand is so alec Ingold makes a
block well when he comes from the backfield and goes
into the line of scriptage and blocks whomever. Half the
team adjacent to him has better angles at their blocks.
So a fullback allows you to every play not only
(29:58):
is he executing his block, but he's he's made the
angle better for the center on his target, which helpes
helps him execute his box.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
So that's the trickle down.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
The the physicality at the point of attack, the known
matchups going into a game where hey, this dude is
a physical thumper that can presses force. All right, well,
hey Alec, we're gonna need a tone set at the
beginning of the game.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
Those things are in football. That's that's the end.
Speaker 5 (30:37):
All so accountable teammate that not only is he executing
and getting better and better at the point of attack,
but simply put a fullback in the run game for
offenses is the ultimate point guard for the offensive line,
(30:57):
helping their angles and their leverage and their to block
talented athletes.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
And man the red zone running game was rolling today.
I had Jalen Wright, Alex Madison, and Olie Gordon with
rushing touchdowns and that kind of six to eight yard
range mid red zone, and then they would call they
would all go on to catch touchdown passes in that
same area of the field. The quarterbacks during their individual
drills were really drilling on different drops from different platforms, shotgun,
(31:23):
under center, all that stuff and those throws to the
running backs carried over from that indie drill into the
team period, and I just thought it was fitting that
an hour or so after coach tells us about all
the variables that go into the long ball game, we
see the run game get some room and then the
play pass game open up and low red zone expanding
that for them, and then it would go on to
lead to the long ball. But I asked alec Ingold
(31:44):
about the relationship between the running game clicking, the running
backs catching passes, and how the play pass can open
up from all of that.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Here's the Dolphins fullback.
Speaker 7 (31:51):
The running backs are playmakers, and I think when the
pass game can be an extension of the run game
and vice versa, I think that's where you really get
the skill sets. So devine to really embrace that last
year and for Jalen.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
Right to watch that happen and unfold.
Speaker 7 (32:03):
I think both of those guys being able to see
the run in the pass playing off each other. That's
what I'm most excited for this year, as well as Alex.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
And you'll notice a omission there of Devon ah Chan
by myself that was intentional because he just made plays
in several ways. He kind of passed from Zach Wilson
where he got on top of Willie Gay and coverage
in the back of the end zone, but was out
of space. So he elevates and adjusts to it in
the air and makes a play on the football in
the air the way a wide receiver would. And later
I see him make a catch on our route twenty
(32:31):
yards down the field. I saw him with a little
shake on Tyrel Dodson to get you know, in the
aforementioned misconnection down the field with Tua Chan just looks
like a further evolution of the player we've seen the
last two years, and with the depth we have at
running back, I think there's opportunities to further explore all
the options that he affords.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
You.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Let's go back to Alec one more time for this
on Devon chen and it.
Speaker 7 (32:53):
Looks so smooth, yeah, right, Like I remember his rookie
year where all tell him to run like run, man, run,
because it never looks like he's hitting that twenty two
miles an hour that he actually is. So dude plays
football at a smooth level. Man, it's really cool to see.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Two segments down, we are about thirty four minutes into
the show. I have one more to go, including more
practice notes. We're gonna hear from Ashton Davis and talk
about the aggressive natures of these of these cornerbacks and
how that all ties together. That's next Draft Time podcast,
brought to you by AutoNation. So as I sit here
and tell you about all the plays the offense made,
(33:26):
it's worth noting that Elijah Campbell, Dante Trader Junior, and
Isaiah Johnson all had picks, and Jordan Colbert would have
had a fourth, which would have been the first of
Tua the spring that the media has been around to see.
And Ethan Bonner also had a drop pick. Bonners would
have been a ninety eight yard pick six had he
squeeze an off Zack Wilson. So it was three picks,
two drops, one of the drops off off Tua, one
(33:48):
of the drops off Zach, two of the picks off
Zach and one off Quinn. Viewers, and I want to
play the audio here because again result in these practices,
you want to see quarterbacks challenge windows and try stuff
can get away with like Quinn. Ewers's pick, for instance,
wasn't at all his fault. It hit the receiver in
the hands and bounced off. One of Zach's picks was
a fifty to fifty ball he took a chance on
(34:09):
and Isaiah Johnson just made the play. Let's go ahead
and hear from Tua on this concept of results evaluation
this time of year.
Speaker 6 (34:16):
I hate that, you know, for certain practices, you guys
aren't allowed to see the development that he's made and
the shrids that he's made as a player. I would
say the same for Quinn as well, that the results
out there is not an epitome of what they've done
this entire offseason within OTAs and in this first day
of mini camp. You know they've been working really hard
(34:39):
and they've been making really really big jumps.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
But that brings me back to this that these cornerbacks
are playing so aggressive, like they're not going to go
down looking, they're going to take their swings. They're getting
hands on guys and the safeties fly to the football.
It's a theme they preach in that back end. I
mentioned that Patrick mcmoor story last week, how he chased
that football down that was just rolling around harmlessly after incompletion,
(35:02):
run to the football.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
You can create things when you do that.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
And the way you capitalize on tip balls that can
be a product of that tight coverage that forces quarterbacks
and receivers to be on their p's and ques. You
run to the football, you get rewarded. So no surprise there.
But I asked Ashton Davis about this and here's what
he said about how much those aggressive cornerbacks can help
the safeties do their jobs on the back end.
Speaker 8 (35:23):
It makes it a lot easier, especially you know, whether
you're a man covered two whatever, they can get hands
on and I mean, shoot, you saw it today. We
had a few tips and yeah, we can get our
hands on all those and more and more physical. The
corners are the better for us. But the communication over
Osmond great.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
Speaking of those corners, I thought Cater and Duck were
excellent today. Isaiah Johnson plays this way too, Ardie Burns,
I thought I had some good reps. There was a
play where he had really good feel in the corner
of the end zone and left the man in the
back of the end zone and closed down on the
short throw and was there to arrive at the catchpoint
to make a big stick on the receiver. And I
saw a play where bj Adams pressed and re routed
the Owiese Junior, stayed in phase and then completely pinned
(36:01):
him to the sideline for an incomplete pass. And with
a good pass rush that style of play, with fast,
hungry safeties who fly around, you can generate more takeaways.
And that's something Weavers talked about. If we get six
more takeaways last year, and you give the offense six
more possessions, that can swing some games and swing your season,
and you can maximize your skills through the concept of
team football. He talked about that as well cohesiveness and
(36:24):
a total trust in the scheme. There are a lot
of teams that execute this every year, especially teams that
get banged up like the Buffalo Bills last year. You
don't have to look any further than your own division.
From a team that's playing cornerbacks threes, four and five
and goes and gets Russell Douglas midseason. Two years ago
and gets him playing to a high level in that defense.
Like it's all about playing connected coverage on that back end.
(36:45):
So I think that's the mindset and we'll see what
the finished product looks like come September. But I thought
you could really see the vision out there today. Let's
close with a mixed bag here two more soundbites from
Tua and some practice notes. Tua talked about what he
can do to help himself stay available for all seventeen
games this season.
Speaker 6 (37:01):
Yeah, for sure, doing everything I can to stay available
for the guys. Like I said before in the past,
nothing changes with that.
Speaker 4 (37:08):
It's knowing when when is.
Speaker 6 (37:10):
The time to give up on a play, and uh,
you know, I would say the longevity for me to
be on the field with with my guys is more
important than whatever that one play is. You know, you
have you have more quarters than than there there would
be with within just that one play that I'm trying to,
(37:31):
you know, show the guys that you know, I'm competitive
and whatnot. And I know they know that, but it's
just a you know, a nature It's it's a nature thing,
you know, it just comes natural to me, uh to
compete in that sense and that that's just the thing
I fight with every time.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
Last one.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
How he can practice that and put it into practice.
For lack of a bird term, Well.
Speaker 6 (37:52):
I think that's that's why you have practice, and it
starts in practice. I gotta sort of shift my mindset
of this isn't just practice where guys can't hit me.
You got to take it into a sense where like,
if this guy's here, get the ball out, and if
I'm scrambling and this guy's getting close, not to just
hold on to it, you know, knowing they they can
hit me. If it was real football, you know, just
(38:13):
throw it away or run and then just stop to
signify it to slide if you will. But I think
it's the transition and focus of bringing that game like
feel into practice.
Speaker 3 (38:24):
All right.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Final practice notes here. I had Jordan Brooks with a
couple of reaction instinct plays that just pop off the
field when you watch him. Storm Duck had a bunch
of good reps day, but a PBu on a coverage
snap against Tanner Connor really jumped out Connor and the
Orange Jersey today. By the way, I thought Larry Boram
and Braden Daniels had excellent days. I thought Ted Kushi,
the UDFAO lineman, had a block that sprung and all
(38:46):
a Gordon touchdown run that was impressive.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
And I guess that's it long podcast.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Today, But we heard from the head coach, from the quarterback,
and you've got, you know, one more week of football
practices before we go away for you know, six or
seven weeks here on the show. So I wanted to
bringing you guys plenty of content today. I hope you
enjoyed it. We'll be back again to do it all tomorrow.
In the meantime, you all please be sure to subscribe, rate,
review the show, follow me on social at linkfold NFL.
The team at Miami Dolphins check out the YouTube channel
(39:13):
for Dolphins HQ, drivetime content, media availabilities, and so much more,
and last but not least, Miami Dolphins dot com. Until
next time, Vinza, Caroline Cameron, Daddy, He's coming, hope,
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.