The Dolphins travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons in a Week 8 interconference showdown. Despite their 1-6 record, confidence remains high among players and coaches as they maintain a game-by-game, day-by-day mindset.
Pressing forward
Running Back De'Von Achane 鈥 "It doesn't matter what the record is 鈥 we've got a game on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, we've got to go out there and play 100 percent. It doesn't matter what the record is, we're going to go out there and give 110. We've just got to keep working. The record isn't where we want it to be, so it's just another opportunity to get a win in the 'W' column."
Head Coach Mike McDaniel鈥 "I think you try to lean into what players are good at, and then you're trying to assess where the failures are coming and why. If you're asking your players to do something that they're incapable of, you make sure to specifically when you have a team that's really focused on getting right and ending a streak of losses, you make sure the players are empowered. You take a critical look at quite literally everything and if you need to be under center in pistol, in gun, if you need to motion more to get guys open, to motion less, if you need to play more zone defense, if you need to play more man defense 鈥 all things, without revealing a competitive advantage, all things are assessed for sure."
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa 鈥 "I wouldn't say there's any losing of the confidence. I think the confidence comes from within but then also the confidence comes from what you know you can do, what I've done in the past. I think we're this close to being able to go out there and show what we've said we've wanted to do, but we've just got to be able to put them all together. I think that's what it is. I don't think I'm the only one that has that kind of confidence, I think there's a lot of guys in the locker room that have that, too."
Rookie growth
Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver on DT Kenneth Grant 鈥 "It started two weeks ago and you saw it in practice where he just seemed more relaxed out there. He kind of let the pressure fall off and just went out there and played football. When you start to gain confidence, particularly as a young player and then you pair that with the technique and fundamentals that's been continually growing throughout, you start to see games like that. There's going to be a lot of good games ahead for Kenneth Grant just because of who he is and how he works."
Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith on OL Jonah Savaiinaea 鈥 "I think whenever you look at any player, are you seeing signs of progress and growth? If you're not seeing signs of progress and growth, then you have to evaluate why are you pushing the decisions you're doing. We are seeing development and growth, it's just having it to the play here and there that you can feel that that's where we need to get the improvement, but overall you can see the growth."
For more on Dolphins-Falcons, download the Drive Time Podcast with Travis Wingfield, available wherever you get your podcasts.
