Miami Dolphins Head Coach Tony Sparano
(On how rushed this is for him) – “Well I’ve said this before to a few people right now is there was a long period of hurry up and wait and now we’re in a little bit of a track meet. So it is rushed because at this particular time every day that goes by here is clearly one day closer to the start of the season. Everybody is playing by the same rules. So we’re just excited to be back out here on the football field and be around the guys and finally see the lines out there on that field. For a while it kind of looked like one of those chipping greens (laughing).”
(On Reggie Bush) – “Well, I mean it’s just another step towards what our goal was which is to add a dimension of speed here that we hadn’t had and obviously some of those pieces with the draft and now with Reggie here help us to do that. This is a guy a think an awful lot about. I had the opportunity to play against him a bunch of times and he’s one dynamic football player.”
(On if the offensive is going to be dramatically better, dramatically more dynamic) – “Well as far as talking about adding Reggie I’ll talk about that. I mean anything else I’m not going to talk about obviously any kind of UFA type person or any of those type guys. Can’t even be here on the campus until 6:00 p.m. tonight and there’s an awful lot that has to go on after that before you can say anything so you guys will hear about that later on. But on adding Reggie, okay, from an offensive standpoint I think you know certainly gives us the ability to, this is a player that I think can help you become multiple and help and stay that way and be less predictable but yet still carry the ball on first and second down. I mean the guy only had, you guys can do the homework with the number of carries this guy had in college, but it was a lot. And I think that when you start looking at what he’s done that way to him the opportunity to be out there on first and second down, that’s something that’s important and he gives you a different dynamic. It creates and puts pressure on the defense a different way when you have a guy like that a long with Brandon and Bess and Fasano and that type of situation. So predictability, speed, all those things are things I wanted to either get away from or get a lot of and I think we’re getting better. We’re getting closer.”
(On Chad Henne being able to digest the playbook) – “It was very, very good. Really very good. So his ability to digest and retain from that one day, whatever it was back there in the draft, okay, where they were able to come in to the building, it was outstanding. So the guy did a tremendous job between the meeting last night with the players and what we had in here on the field today, we moved. We didn’t take the approach of crawl before you can walk here. We wanted to make sure that we can get enough in and challenge these guys and see what sticks and then pull some of it out as we get down the road. Chad was outstanding.”
(On evaluating the offense today) – “Well, we had several snaps on the ground today with guys working with guys obviously for the first time. You know that hadn’t happen in, whatever it was, 100 some odd days. So those kind of things. It was a little bit hard to see but I think the groups that you can, you watch the receivers a little bit and kind of get an idea. You know of course, one guy wasn’t in there right now but other than that it gave you a chance to see some of them and see some of that tight end group pretty clearly. But the running back position we didn’t have some pieces here. There’s some rules with when guys are going to be able to practice and be able to report and all that stuff, so, without boring you with those details, it’s going to be a few days before we get some of those guys back.”
(On if Reggie Bush can be a feature back) – “Yeah, I think so. I mean I really do. I think he can be there’s no question he has to have a caddy and we know that and that’s why Daniel’s here and the other backs that we have right now. We have several backs that we think are good players but that being said I really have a strong belief that this guy can carry the ball on first and second down. Now Reggie has a specific style that he excels best at and from our end we’re not going to push square pegs in round holes here. So it’s our job as coaches to figure out what that style is and make that work.”
(On if he is concerned about Reggie Bush’s injury history) – “Yeah, I mean they play a hard position first of all. And this guy’s history has been obviously that he’s been involved in special teams as well and I do know where he came from so I know that he wasn’t coddled that way. I mean they used him in the special teams area and they used him on offense and they used him in third downs. Like any running back you need him to be out there on the field and to be healthy but I believe that he’s in really good shape and we’ll see what happens. I mean over the last couple of years here we’ve been through several running backs and even my time in Dallas things happen. So it’s a hard position to play. Is it a concern? Sure. I mean you want those guys out there all the time but you’re playing in, I mean you’re planning with depth and all that you hope to have enough good players around him to be able to help him a little bit.”
(On if he will use Reggie Bush on special teams) – “I mean we’re going to watch him right now and see what he does out here. But it’s something that he does and he does well. It scares the other team, so we’ll see where we go but we’re going to watch him when we get him out here and see what he does. I mean if his play count is one it’s going to be really, really high and we have other people that can do those jobs then we would talk about it maybe a little bit later and it might be more situational than all the time but we’ll see.”
(On if Chad Henne is the starter) – “Right now, with the quarterbacks that are out here and we have out here there’s no doubt that Chad’s the starter. So that’s where we are right now. I mean any other speculation would be premature to talk about that right now. I mean everybody knows that I’ve wanted to bring in competition here and there’s competition out there but Chad’s the quarterback out there right now.”
(On what he wants to see from Chad in this training camp) – “I want see from…Chad clear progress. I want to see the leadership skills that should be at the next level right now. I haven’t been standing around at any of these workouts, or whatever they were during this whole period but I do know that as the players have come back this guy took charge of those. So that was a good period for him. These player only workouts that were out there. That was an outstanding period for him. So a real giant step. I think that every team probably relied on their quarterback and that point and that was good for us and good for Chad. So I’d like to see that happen. I mean I think obviously we’ve got to do some work on the deep ball. That has to improve from our end because you know as you go back through the film there were some opportunities that we just didn’t hit. And Chad knows that and (Offensive Coordinator) Brian (Daboll) knows that. So we’re going to work out tails off to get better at that part of it. And then just really with Chad he’s a rhythm guy and has been. You know we’ve watched him. You’ve guys have watched him run off 8 or 10 or 10 of 12, that type of thing and I think from out end offensively no having the period of time that we just missed with a bunch of new coaches is just everybody kind of getting to learn Chad a little bit and Chad getting to learn them and what the strengths and weaknesses are so that we can get them into that kind of rhythm. That’s important. We’ve got to help him that way.”
(On Jake Long not practicing) – “It’s me. You know right now so I mean what I’ve done is I’m just going to really take it really slow with Jake. I know what Jake needs to be ready and I don’t plan on really putting him out there before that.”
(On his comfort level with Brandon Marshall) – “That’s a good question. I mean my comfort level with where Brandon is with mindset and focus right now is 100 percent outstanding. I mean like I really believe this guys mindset is tremendous coming into camp. I do think his mind and his focus on his job and on his commitment to this football team 100 percent is outstanding. So we had a chance to visit here over the last day and really get a chance to visit with Brandon and talk. Talks were really good. He’s got a clear mind right now and he’s excited and the one thing I know is that this guys in tremendous, tremendous shape right now.”
(On how not having an offseason impacted training camp and forced him to make any changes) – “It changes because in a normal training camp when you have two practices and two installs that you can come out here and handle and you’ve kind of repaired that way a little bit I prepared for a bunch of scenarios through the summer. Once scenario was one practice. One scenario was whether or not you’d have the ability to be out for double sessions. You know at 2 -1/2-1 type of thing which is what we’ve done in the past. Well in my mind when you’re taking 2 practices and putting it into 1 you’ve got to be careful with that install. You don’t want to get too far ahead yet you don’t want to get too far behind. So that’s been the greatest challenge right now from my end as far as that goes it’s just keeping that consistent with where the vision needs to be for the New England Patriots and that you hit everything that you need to hit and you get enough work and everything. But all that will go according to script right now based on where we are and it’s not surprise to me it was one of the scenarios we planned for so we’re right on course and we’re happy.”
MIAMI DOLPHINS PLAYER QUOTES
Friday, July 29, 2011
RB Reggie Bush
(On his memories of South Florida and now being a member of the Miami Dolphins) – “It’s still pretty surreal for me. This whole experience is great; I am looking forward to the opportunity. I think that this is an amazing city to play in, and I am just looking forward to being able to come in here and contribute right away and just be a difference maker and help this team win.”
(On the last 24 hours) –“Yeah, it just been, getting the news and really just hoping on the flight, throwing some clothes in the bag and getting on the flight and coming here right away, but like I said it’s been surreal. The last 24 hours is still, it still really hasn’t hit home yet. So, I think that it will settle in once I get acclimated and get to know more of the guys, the team and just learning the city a little bit.”
(On if he thought that Miami might be a destination) –“You know what I wasn’t sure; there were a few different opportunities or a few different places that I could have ended up, but I wasn’t sure. Everything was kind of up in the air really until the last 48 hours is when it kind of started to role and happen and look like I was heading here.”
(On if he wants the role of being a featured back) –“I do, it’s an opportunity that I have wanted and envisioned, I think as long as I have played in football. I have always wanted to be a featured back, you know, the main guy and I feel like there is an opportunity here for that and there is also an opportunity to be a leader and contribute and help some of the young guys come along too. I have been in the league five years and I can’t believe it, but I am kind of one of the older vet guys now.”
(On how he would be used ideally in his mind) – “I don’t know exactly, we haven’t nailed down what my role is going to be exactly, but I know that I definitely plan on being a running back first and helping to contribute in the pass game obviously and I’m not sure what my special teams role is going to be yet, but I know that in the short, brief conversation with Coach Sparano we are on the same page, we are on the same wave length.”
(On if he has anything to prove) –“I feel like I have a lot to prove. I feel like, there are obviously a lot of critics and naysayers and I feel like; I wear my heart on my sleeve so I am one of those guys who also feels like he always has something to prove, year in and year out, but more so now. Coming to a new organization and getting the opportunity to be that featured back, I feel like there is an even bigger chip on my shoulder.”
(On what he envisions he carries to be as a running back) –“I don’t have a specific number and I think whatever we decide, but obviously I would love to touch the ball from the backfield, running the ball. Like I said I don’t have a specific number, obviously I do more than just play running back, I can play receiver, I can line up outside, motion out of the backfield I can do a lot of different things, so it’s kind of hard to say that I would like to have 25-30 carries a game.”
(On how he feels physically coming into training camp) – “Physically I feel good. Obviously we have all had a long off season, so I have had plenty of time to heal up, and physically I am good, I’m prepared, I’m ready to go. I would have loved to been out there practicing today, but obviously certain rules don’t allow me to do that right now.”
(On playing more games on a natural grass field) – “You know it’s funny you mentioned it, I was talking to the Coach about that and just how excited I am to get back on grass. Obviously turf is a fast surface and for guys like me it’s even faster but there is no substitution for grass. Playing on turf it just wears and tears on you, and like I said, it good to be back on grass.”
(On describing the past few days) –“I think I have been through every emotion possible, you know these last 48 hours. I’ve been happy, sad, excited. So it’s been a little bit of an emotional roller coaster, but at the end of the day, I know that this is a great opportunity for me to make a difference and do something special here and hopefully help this organization turn things around.”
(On the off the field distractions that comes with living in Miami) –“You know obviously off the field, we all deal with off the field stuff, but I look at football, the football field as kind of my sanctuary, my home away from home, where I get a chance to escape all the off the field stuff and just focus on football and focus on what I love to do and my passion and that is playing football. So I am not too much worried about any the distractions of the off the field stuff or anything else that comes along with playing in Miami, I am looking forward to getting on the football field and just doing what I love to do.”
(On if he likes being the center piece of a new offense) – “I do like that and I embrace it and I think it’s an opportunity for me to come in here, and obviously I have been able to win a Super Bowl in the five years in New Orleans, so just bring a different mentality to the offense, to the team and helping contribute. To bring some fire power to this offense, obviously they already have some great weapons here with Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess and Anthony Fasano, so I feel like we are one or two pieces away from maybe being a premier offense and a premier team and competing year in and year out, as a contender. As a real contender.”
(On his impressions of Coach Sparano) – “Well I have met Coach Sparano before, so I already knew of him and we have had somewhat of a previous relationship. He came and spoke to us, actually a few days before we played in the Super Bowl here, so him and Coach (Sean) Payton are good friends. But I have a high respect for Coach Sparano and what he has been able to do, and just look forward to working with him, building a relationship with him and helping him change some things around here.”
(On what number he will wear) – “I don’t know yet. I don’t know a number yet.”
QB Chad Henne
(On Reggie Bush) – “Oh yeah I mean playing against New Orleans in the preseason obviously two years ago when I played him he’s versatile guy. He can get out in the slot. Plays slot, play receiver. Make any runs out there. I mean played, he didn’t play against me in college but I mean I remember studying tape on him and just an unbelievable athlete and just a great plus for us to get him here and get him in the mix.”
(On his current grasp of Brian Daboll’ playbook) –“I mean I feel pretty comfortable. I mean I’m not going to say I know that 100 percent, I don’t know how to switch the switch here. Do everything with audibles but with off season workouts that we did and meeting with the guys I feel comfortable but there’s so, so much to learn and that’s what today was about. Taking it in. I mean it’s different when you’re throwing seven on seven or routes on air then going against the defense. So it’s just the learning process right now and we’ll just keep learning with it.”
(On how much the offseason workouts helped prepare him for camp) – “I just hope that it brought some familiarity with a bunch of the players. The receivers, the skill guys that, they’re just not here in the play with firsts. You know once out there, not in the huddle saying what’s this and this. What do I do here. How do I line up. So for the most part we got most of our formations lined up correctly. Obviously younger guys coming in are going to have mistakes but I felt for the older guys they grasped it pretty well.”
(On if he made strides with his teammates in becoming a leader) – “Yeah, I hope so. I mean I hope I turned their heads a little bit. Gave them a little bit more of leadership qualities to them that I know I can be and you know I always tell them every night you know my rooms open if you need help come to me and I want to be that guy for them. If they have a problem come to me or if I have a problem come to them so it’s an open door relationship just like the head coach.”
(On the Dolphins finding a new quarterback) – “Well I mean, you know, there’s going to be a quarterback coming in no matter what and this leagues all about competition. Each and every day you’re out here competing and whoever they bring in, I just heard they brought in Matt Moore, that’s another competitor. You know we’ve got Tom (Brandstater) and Pat Devlin out there, so you know I’m going to be here to compete. Nobody said who has the job yet so I’m just working the stride to be that starter and be that guy here.”
(On how much he has kept up with all the free agent movement around the league) – “Nothing at all. I mean I’ve been trying to keep my head in my playbook and make sure I can go out there and say a play and not stumble over my words out there in the huddle and try to let the guys know my presence is there and get them to play as well as they can.”
(On how well he knows Matt Moore) – “I don’t know him at all.”
(On if there is added pressure this year) – “There’s always pressure out there. I mean I think when I was a quarterback in myself I put more pressure on myself than anything. So pressure out there, you know, the stands, the fans, the coaches, whatever goes on for me I can’t pay attention to that. I put more pressure on myself to perform at a higher level rather than somebody else doing that for me.”
(On if it helps his confidence with Matt Moore’s signing as opposed to the team making a major deal for an established quarterback) – “No, not at all. He’s been in this league, I don’t know how many years, 5/6 years. If you’re a quarterback in this league and you made it that long you deserve to be in this league. You can play at the position so it will be a good competition and you know, we’re just going to have fun with it. But the biggest thing is we’re trying to have the Miami Dolphins win games, not worry about, obviously we’re going to compete each and every day but our whole goal is to make the Miami Dolphins win games.”
(On how far behind does he feel they are due to the labor dispute) – “I don’t think, you know, we’re behind. Don’t get me wrong. Everybody’s behind but I feel we have a great advantage from March when we started in March installing some plays up until mid-June. I feel, not 100 percent like I said before but I feel confident in what I know that I’m not hearing the plays for the first time.”
(On that everyone is behind but everyone is not trying to learn a new offense) – “Right absolutely. There’s some teams out there learning new offenses out there. We’re just playing catch up. We’re learning each and every day and we’re trying to perform at a high level.”
(On if he watches what others are doing in the division) – “Obviously everyone sees it on the news. The Patriots are making moves. The Jets are making moves. Buffalo made some moves. So that’s our division. We have a tough division but we’re striving to be at the top. We’re striving to win the division and get in the playoffs.”
(On what he likes about the moves that have been made by the Dolphins) – “I think we’ve gotten a lot of great players. We have everybody in pieces. It’s just how we perform out there on Sundays. All comes down to learning quickly. Being astute in the classroom. Applying it to the field and I mean we have all the athleticism we need for offense. We’ve got the tools now it’s our job to learn from the coaches and perform on the field.”
(On if he feels any different entering the third year as opposed to the second year of being the starter) – “It’s not different. Common analysis, starting back to day one with the new offense, new coordinator, new season. You always start back at one. You don’t want to do what you did in the past. You want to fix your mistakes and move forward but each and every year you want to keep on improving and if I feel myself keep improving each and every year I should be where I want to be.”
–DOLPHINS–