Miami Dolphins coaches and players comment on their upcoming game against the New England Patriots.
On facing the Patriots...
"They're going to be very well-coached, they're going to play hard, they're going to play for a full 60 minutes and we've got to be ready to match that and we've got to be ready to go."
- Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer
"It's a fun game because you know a lot of guys on the other side and it reminds you of growing up, playing football in your neighborhood where you're going against all your friends and it's more trash talk and it's more competitive because you really want to beat those guys. For me, I look at Sunday like I'm to play a game in New England like I've done other times in my career. I just spent some time there this time. It should be exciting. I'm looking forward to it."
- Dolphins DB Jason McCourty
"For us, it's stay on double teams. It's finishing plays. Don't take a play off. Don't give them an easy one. For us, it's be strong, play together, communicate. This will be the first time we're playing together as one unit, so it'll be a good challenge."
- Dolphins G/T Jesse Davis
"I was there for a long time. I learned a lot there. There's a lot of – obviously from Bill (Belichick), and I'm very fortunate to have been there. I enjoyed my time there and there's still some people there that I have good relationships with and then I have a great deal of respect for their coaching staff, the people in that organization; but when we go there, we're going there to compete. And there's no – that's what it is. I've said this before – they know that. Bill (Belichick) – everyone on his staff is there to compete and that's what I learned there and I've taken that with me here and that's my approach. So there's no nostalgia. I know I used that word the other day, but I'm just going there to compete."
- Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores
"This is a tough league and there's good coaches, good players and every week is a challenge. This is the first challenge of many. We're going to have to be – especially against a quality opponent, divisional opponent, good coaching staff, good players that we are going against so we are going to have to be sharp and execute right off the bat. Even though it is game one, that is our expectation."
- Dolphins Co-Offensive Coordinator/TE Coach George Godsey
On the Patriots defense...
"They are a tough defense. If you look at the resume of Coach (Bill) Belichick – I mean really, really good defenses. This is like no other week. We take all of these games serious. For me, I think it's really just getting the ball out quick and letting our playmakers make plays for us."
- Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
On trying to disrupt the Patriots offense...
"We're always trying to disguise and create a situation where it's not easy for the quarterback. I'd like to think that. I think that's always part of the game plan. That player has the ball in his hands on every snap, so if you can disrupt that player, then you have a good chance of creating disruptive plays. I think we're always trying to have an effect on the quarterback – rookie, veteran. I think that's where it starts, I would say just at least from a pass game standpoint. But they've got a very good run game. I think we're a little bit of 'Mac Jones, Mac Jones, Mac Jones.' He's a good player, but they've got a lot of good players on that offense and defense and kicking game, so I think for us, we're playing the Patriots. They've got a good offensive line. They've got good tight ends. They've got good receivers and I think there's a lot to handle there. If we just put our emphasis on affecting the quarterback, then they'll probably get us somewhere else. So there's a lot here."
- Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores
On Mac Jones...
"From film study on him; he does great things as a young player. Obviously he's a rookie. The things he does, the passes he makes, you'd be like, 'wow.' Which is a good thing. He will definitely be a test for us this week and we are just going to have to take it one play at a time with him."
- Dolphins LB Elandon Roberts
"He's smart. He's not like your typical rookie quarterback coming in and making mistakes. He's smart, he's got a strong arm, accurate. He's a Patriots guy I guess you can say. We've got to come in there and bring our A game. At the end of the day, he's a pro player just like the rest of us, no matter if it's his first year or his fifth year. You've got to come in there and really execute at the end of the day."
- Dolphins LB Jerome Baker
"I think for the most part, whenever you are preparing for an opponent, you don't really want to look at their experience. You want to watch the film and see what they're telling you on film and as we have gotten a chance to watch Mac (Jones) throughout the preseason, he's doing a lot of good things for them. Just the subtle things he does, the way he moves the defense when he's looking off; getting them into the right play at the line of scrimmage. I won't say in regards to a rookie quarterback this or that, I just think we have a tough opponent coming and obviously a divisional opponent we are going to visit for Week 1. With Mac Jones there, it's going to be a tough game and you can see some of the things early on in his career that he is able to do that puts him in a good place on offense so we are really going to have to go up there and execute well."
- Dolphins DB Jason McCourty
"Smart guy. Smart guy. He likes to take one play at a time. He's an accurate guy. I loved playing with him at 'Bama. He's a funny kid."
- Dolphins DT Raekwon Davis
"I just remember him just being real competitive. I think when he got his time to really start, he was just really competitive about business really every day. Of course he would joke around and stuff, but he was really about business."
- Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle
"I just think for us, there's no film of him. I once had a coach say, 'prepare for war in a time of peace.' I think sometimes you look at it and you're like, 'Oh there's a rookie quarterback, we'll be alright,' and you have no idea what this rookie quarterback is going to go out there and do Week 1 of the season. You better make sure you're dotting all of your I's, crossing all your T's and disregard Bill Belichick. Just the fact that he's a rookie quarterback and he's stepping into the NFL, you know he's prepared for the moment or he wouldn't be out there. I think for us – especially when there was a veteran in front of him so you know he's going to be prepared, he's going to be ready to go and we have to make sure we are doing the same."
- Dolphins DB Jason McCourty
"To be honest, I don't care if he was in Year 22. (laughter) I don't care at all, I look at him the same. I don't care how old he is. Us, as a defense, we don't look at it like that either. We really don't care his age. We just look at what he brings to the team. He's a great competitor. He seems like a very smart guy; I don't know him personally but from film. We are just going to have to take it one play at a time with him."
- Dolphins LB Elandon Roberts
"Mac has always been a big competitor. He takes what's learned in the quarterback room out to the field. Just how smart he is on the field and whatnot, and knowing where to go with the ball. He's really smart."
- Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
On kicking off the regular season...
"It's going to be crazy. It's going to be fun. Like Jevon (Holland) said, it's been a dream of mine since I was little to be able to do this for a career and it's honestly so surreal at this point so I can't even tell you how it's going to feel. It's just a lot of emotions, a lot going on at once; but you've just got to focus on the game. I'm definitely excited."
- Dolphins LB Jaelan Phillips
On playing at Gillette Stadium with the fans back...
"It's definitely going to be a pretty wild experience to just hear the crowd and experience all of that so I'm excited."
- Dolphins LB Jaelan Phillips
"I think it'll be exhilarating, honestly. It's a lifelong dream, playing on an NFL team, making a roster and things like that. The first game is going to be awesome, especially with the fans back. I'm really excited."
- Dolphins S Jevon Holland
On the Patriots free agent additions...
"They've got some very good players at the tight end position, defensively. I think they'll have a significant impact. I think they are good players. They are guys that could potentially be featured on both sides of the ball and the kicking game as well. They complement a lot of the players they already have on the team. They fit what Bill (Belichick) and his staff are trying to do. I think they are good additions. It will be a competitive game. They've got a good team. They are well coached. We're going to have to prepare the right way and execute the right way if we're going to have success."
- Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores
