Dolphins HC Brian Flores (11.24.19)
Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores:
On the inability to run the football early in the game:
“I think early it was everything – it was run game, it was pass game, protection. We couldn’t get anything going. We have to do a better job.”
On QB Ryan Fitzpatrick as the leading rusher and getting the run game to where it needs to be:
“I think we have to keep the score competitive, and it wasn’t that way. When you get down two, three scores, it’s hard to run the football. There’s a lot that goes into it. We’ve got to play better across the board – offensively, defensively, and in the kicking game. They got out ahead of us, so we had to turn it into a passing game to try and get back into it. We’ve got to do a better job.”
On Fitzpatrick’s performance:
“I think we got ourselves somewhat back into the game in the third quarter, but when you’re digging yourself that type of hole, it’s hard to get out of it. We couldn’t string enough plays to really get back into it.”
On why it was difficult to guard Browns WR Jarvis Landry and WR Odell Beckham, Jr.:
“They’re good receivers. I think we had good coverage on them a lot of the day. They made plays. That’s what they do. They’re good receivers. We’ve got to find a way to get the ball out, knock some of those out, and get a better pass rush. They made a lot of plays.”
On making adjustments when the lineup changes:
“We have the guys we have. We coach the guys we have. I think those guys work hard. We go through the week and we try to put them in positions to play well. We didn’t do a good enough job of that as a staff. We need to do a better job. We’re not going to sit here and talk about who we could have or who’s not here. We have the guys we have and we’re going to play with them. We’ve got to do a better job.”
On how Cleveland was able to get out to a 28-0 start:
“We came out and we didn’t make enough plays early. That’s it. Offensively, defensively, kicking game. We didn’t make enough plays.”
On whether a quarterback change was considered after the Browns got out to a 28-0 start:
“Nope. I didn’t. I felt like we had a good drive at the end of the half. We came out and put some points on the board in the third quarter. We just needed one, two more stops and we didn’t get them. But no, I didn’t.”
On the pass rush:
“They were getting the ball out quickly so it is hard to generate a pass rush when it’s coming out in one, two seconds. When they did drop back five to seven steps, we didn’t generate much rush there either. We’ve got to be better from that standpoint. We’ll try to do that.”
On the Browns having multiple players suspended or injured on the defensive line, but coming up with four sacks against the offensive line:
“There is a lot that goes into it. We could talk about this player or that player. There are 11 guys on the field that play together. Their guys played better than ours. Players do make plays. I think they made more plays than we did today.”
On why he was very emotional and upset during the second quarter:
“I don’t [remember]. In the second quarter I think it was 21-0 or 28-0, so there’s a lot to be upset about. Offense, defense, special teams – pick one.”
On the fake punt:
“We were trying to get a spark. I felt like we needed one so we went with it. We didn’t get it. It felt like we needed a spark. I don’t think anyone could argue that. It didn’t work out though.”
On if he has a status of WR Jakeem Grant and WR Albert Wilson injuries:
“I don’t. It’s too early. I haven’t even seen them yet. I saw them on the field, but they’re going to get evaluated and go through that process. We will check on those guys throughout the week.”
On whether he will consider changing to a zone defense:
“I thought we played a lot of zone today. I think you have to mix both man and zone.”
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