Miami Dolphins 2009

MIAMI (CBS4) ― (On his thoughts on Kendall Langford and his pass rush potential) "I thought Kendall put together a really solid year for us last year. I thought he got better and better. He did have sacks early in the season. To be honest with you, one of his sacks came, I remember it clearly, and there was a mental error out there. It's hard for those defensive linemen, I think, to get sacks in what it is that we do. It's more outside linebacker driven probably than anything else. But that being said Kendall, I think has developed some pretty good pass rush moves right now. He's working real hard on it. He is a guy that I think can provide pressure on the passer. So if we get on in this we'll see. I've been impressed with what I've seen so far."

(On Lionel Dotson) -- "As far as Dotson goes and how realistic it is that he may get on the field. I mean he's certainly a contender out there right now to be a guy that is in the mix. He's competing. And this kid competes real hard. He's changed his body an awful lot from when he first came in here. I mean when we drafted him he was an undersized guy to be honest with you. He's right now hanging around 290 lbs. and he's kept it. So we're pleased with that. He's gotten a lot stronger. He's an explosive kid. So he's going to be a guy that's going to compete. He'll play an awful lot in the preseason and we'll see where it goes."

(On competition at the outside linebacker position) -- "It's a good problem to have. To have those kind of decisions. I've said this before, that will we have those kind of (tough) decisions. The outside linebacker position is one of them. We're doing a good job right now. I think the coaches are doing a nice job of getting these guys reps in different situations as we go on in practice here. There's nobody really that has more reps than the other guy. So even the young guys, the seventh and eighth person, I mean there's eight of them right now and the seventh and eighth person have maybe the difference of 10 reps between the first and seconds. So we're getting an opportunity to see a lot of them because of the different packages that we're in right now out here in the substituted defenses. So it gives us a chance to evaluate them a little bit. They're all doing some pretty nice things. There will be some hard decisions. No doubt about it. But pressuring the passer, doing all those things and how they attack the run game will be the deciding factor."

(On if the linebackers play on special teams will play a difference in the competition) -- "I think what you can do on special teams helps. And right now, to be honest with you after six practices, we made some evaluations on some of the top special teams players and right now it's a heavy linebacker ranking if you will. So we have the big bodied players there right now that can run. Now obviously they're not all going to make our team and they're not all going to be able to go to the game. So as we get on in this thing, what happens in the game, when we get pads on, we'll probably make that very clear for you."

(On Sean Smith playing with the first unit today) -- "We wanted to not give him too much time to really think about the whole thing. So we just put him in there this morning and told him that he's going to get reps in the first group. I think everybody there knows that they're competing and we wanted to see him versus maybe some better people there and see what he did today. Watch him down there make a couple of plays in the red area. So I was happy with that. But we've got a long way to go."

(On Sean Smith) -- "He's been getting better and better each practice and getting his hands on more footballs. He is playing a little more confident. He had a real good practice yesterday. So as he starts to progress a little bit we just want to see him versus better people. So every bodies kind of going to get an opportunity a little bit here to get some reps with that group and it was his day today."

(On Phillip Merling) -- "Well Phil's done a nice job. I have seen him come along pretty well right now. I see him a little bit more physical right now in there. He's playing a lot stronger. A little bit more confident. In the beginning at this time he was kind of, I don't want to use the word awkward, but he was a little bit awkward out there at this time. Spent some time on the ground. You know kind of had to find his legs. Going through a little bit of period in the weight room that was different than what he was use to. And right now I don't see him on the ground. He's done some really good things from a pass rush stand point so I have been impressed that way. Consistency I think with Phil is the key. So keeping him consistent. Making him understand on a day to day basis what it takes to be in the first huddle and just to find out whether or not he really wants the bulls eye on his back is going to be important as we get on in this. There's some good competition at that position as well as I mentioned before with Randy Starks, with (Tony) McDaniel, so I mean there's some good people there and Phil's got to come out here and he's got to play consistent. For a young guy to do that it takes some maturity."

(On how long a nose tackle can play with the nature of the position) -- "Honestly with what goes on in there I think that you're certainly on a play count. I really believe that with what goes on in there with the amount of double teams. The amount of things that that nose has to handle. I think at some point the number of plays kind of catches up with you a little bit. But that being said I think you look at our nose with (Jason) Ferguson. I mean he had a year a couple of years ago in Dallas where he didn't play. So he got hurt. I don't recall when. I'm going to say it was a preseason game or first game of the year. Yeah and then was done for the year. So that whole year he didn't play and he kind of, he got a do over if you will. That's one year where he didn't get banged around for five, six hundred plays in there. But I do think those guys take an awful big pounding in there and I think that you've got to be in exceptional shape to be able to do it year in and year out. Ferguson is one of those guys that can. So he has done a nice job that way. He understands what he needs to be ready to play and I think I understand what he needs to be ready to play as we get on in this."

(On if his approach to practice has changed during his second year as head coach) -- "I don't think it changes my approach during practices. I really don't. I think I'm doing the same things right now that I was a year ago. The difference is they're paying attention a little bit more right now (laughing). Where last year I think they were paying attention out of what might have been fear. And that the unknown was out there and maybe those type of things. Here we have a little bit more credibility as staff because they understand that some of the things that we've done have worked. And they've seen some of these things. They now have a better understanding of our system. What it is that maybe we expect from them and in turn what they need to do out here to, and I said this to them, to please us. Okay. And that's important. It is important to find out what your coaches want and it really is out here. So it's important to find out what your coaches want and how your coaches want you to do it. So I think from their end they're figuring it out. It makes it a little bit easier just day to day wise with them. We've got a good group of people here and a good group of veterans. So they do a nice job."

(On Jason Allen) -- "Well honestly with Jason unfortunately he's been bouncing around a little bit positionally. When we came here he was safety and then we looked at him as a safety. We moved him to corner. You know how the whole thing went down. So right now it's just again, he's a guy that from a consistency stand point really needs to become consistent out there at what he does well. Which is he's a big guy that can run. So he needs to play like a big guy that can run out there and cover. There's no secret in our division we need big corners. Sean Smith, Jason Allen, these guys are big corners out there so I think that when we're looking at him consistency would be the biggest key I would so to Jason Allen's game and just letting the game slow down a little bit for him out there at corner. So in fairness to Jason positional moves take some time. But he is the guy that's played this position once before so I think we should start to see some of those things happen a little bit easier for him."

(On if there is a number one receiver on the team) -- "It's important to me to have a clear number one receiver but honestly there's a long time between now and the time we play so when you say training camp I'm assuming you mean the big training camp down the road. At that point yeah, I'd like to find a number one guy. A clear number one guy that Chad (Pennington) feels comfortable with and that we feel comfortable with that's going to be able to come up with the big play in those kind of situations. But I like our receiving group right now. I really do. I think there's some, and I said this before, I think there are several contenders there right now to be a number one guy but there's an awful lot of football ahead of here and there's an awful lot of opportunity out there for some of these guys to show us that they can do that."

(On how Ted Ginn, Jr. has risen to the challenge of stepping up at receiver) -- "I think very well. I really do. Ted Ginn right now, if you said to me tell me the player that is probably, in seven practices that we've had , whatever it is, seven, eight, that has impressed you most in his growth out there, I would say Ted Ginn is in the top two. Right now. Just with the way he's handling himself out there. The way the whole offense has started to slow down for him a little bit for him that way. I really have seen him be, in some situations, pretty dominant. So you can see his confidence is really at a high level right now. He's running better. Playing a little bit stronger. So and really understands what's going on around him. I mean even handling kicks back there I've seen a little big different guy. So I've been impressed with what Ted has done right now. He's another guy. You know consistency. The opportunity to do it over and over again the right way. He's a guy that I've seen in the last several practices come out here with a clear purpose to get better each day."

(On Andy Alleman not practicing) -- "It's this back thing. So it still, really honestly, it's a sore back. We just can't get it, at this particular time, comfortable enough to be able to go out there and put him in a position to do football things out there right now. So little by little it's coming along but it's taking a little bit more time."

(On the difference between Chad Henne now than a few months ago) -- "Faster decision making process. Much clearer at the line of scrimmage with what he sees and getting people lined up. And that sounds like a little thing but it's a big thing. What he sees at the line of scrimmage. His identifications of the defense. Of the secondary, of the front. Getting the protection lined up. All those things I think are probably the biggest difference from a mental standpoint. Physically Chad has gotten a lot strong. He's throwing the ball better. I think he would tell you that. His off season program has been outstanding. This guy was here probably six weeks before everybody else was here. So before the off season program started, I bet Chad Henne was here six weeks before, going through lifting on his own and doing some of that stuff. So he's put an awful lot of time in and I think he's seeing some of that out there on the field. He's throwing the ball better. But mentally he's done an awful lot of work."

(On if he has a plan to play Henne during the year in game action) -- "Well I think it starts with the other Chad. It starts with know what exactly Chad Pennington needs to get himself ready to go and then we start working with Chad Henne. So I have a pretty good idea right now what Chad Pennington needs. You know when he came in here last year he actually came in here at the end of the first preseason game. So didn't play in that game and we were able to get him ready. So I have a pretty good idea of what he needs. That tells me a little bit about what we can do with Chad Henne and then certainly with Pat White When the real games come around, I mean to get him (Chad Henne) work, I mean it's hard for me to say that right now. So it just depends on opportunity. Last year I would have loved to have gotten him a little bit work than we were able to get him but so many games were fourth quarter games and the end of the day we're out there trying to win the football game."

(On having big corners and if he drafted big corners because Buffalo signed Terrell Owens) -- "I think a big part of our philosophy, when I say our philosophy, me, Bill (Parcells), Jeff (Ireland), has always been to have big corners. It really has. So I mean we like big corners. In fact we'll take smaller corners in some situations off the board. And they might just be good players for other people just maybe not for us. So we kind of really wanted to have big corners. It's something that we believe in. They're a little bit more physical and you can do maybe a few more things with them in some situations but I would also say yes. To answer your question. Randy Moss, now Terrell Owens. Those type of people in this division. Just know Terrell, just being with him and how he approaches some of the smaller corners, there's certainly have a history versus Randy, in those type of situations you better have some big strong people that can compete against these guys because they're big, strong, physical receivers that can't take over a game in those situations and I think that you need to be prepared when you're playing against them and of course for us, our division is first and foremost."

(On Brandon Frye) -- "I only knew what I had done with him through the draft process. I knew he was a good athlete. He played left tackle and had left tackle feet. Was a guy that probably would go inside at some point, clearly. And was a pretty smart guy. That's what I knew about it. As far as what I've seen to date right now is, I see a guy that is a good athlete. Does some good things on the perimeter. A little bit inconsistent in line right now. The games got to slow down a little bit for him. Meaning that's a positional change for him coming from outside the inside. The game happens a little bit faster when you move a guy four feet from the tackle position to the guard position. It just gets on you faster. So he's got to learn a little bit more about the speed that it takes to play in there. But he's getting it. He hasn't been in there more or less than anybody else. I believe yesterday was EK's (Ikechuku Ndukwe) day. Today was his day. Murphy was in there at some point a couple times. So we're just rotating those guys around and I'm really looking for one guy that wants to come out of there going into training camp with the responsibility to be the guy."

(On Matt Roth's upside) -- "I think his upside right now is very good. What I think about Matt Roth is, I see tremendous progress from where we were at any point last year. Even at the end of the season to where we are right now with him. First of all from a mental standpoint. Some of the things that required an awful lot more reps in-season last year for him because it was always the first time, maybe, somebody was attacking him this way or this way. He was kind of learning on the fly. As we get out here right now we've thrown an awful lot at him from a formation standpoint. His recognition, his recognition in coverage, his recognition with formations has been outstanding right now. It's almost old hat for him right now. So it's kind of one of those type of things. I think he's done a really good job that way to the point where he's starting to perfect his skills now. He's not thinking out there. He's not worrying about what's happening at the line of scrimmage and what's going to happen if this movement takes place. So I'm starting to see more progress with his hands, his punch, his pass rush, all the things that we were hoping to get from him. He's taken the next step that way. Again, with Matt Roth it's never going to be a question of helmet and t-shirts. In other words, what you see out here right now is a pretty good indicator of what you're going to get when you get out there in the season because he's not one of those guys that's really putting his toe in the water."

(On his expectations for Cameron Wake) -- "One of the real expectations for Cameron Wake certainly is that he provides pressure on the passer. That's what the guy did and did a nice job of it at a different level, clearly, so I think right now we're starting to see some of those things take place out here. I would say I've seen a big jump with Cameron from practice one and two to practice four and five. He got a lot more reps during the course of those days and I've seen a big jump in speed with his pass rush, in pass rush technique and all those things. But we have to remember with him, this is the first time around in this kind of an environment for him or I guess second time around, whatever it is. But for him this long of an opportunity to be under the light and be evaluated this way. So I'm seeing progress but we're really patient. We do hope that he's going to provide pressure on the passer."

(On if he encouraged Pat White to not wear gloves) -- "Did I encourage him? No. I didn't encourage him to take his gloves off but I did see him out here throwing the ball around in pre-practice with no gloves on. So I've seen him throwing it and just told him hey, if you get the opportunity go out there and throw it around with no gloves on. Let's see what happens. So we know he can throw it with his gloves on and I was kind of curious to watch him a little bit that way. But it was really on him, not on me."

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