McDaniel August 5 Media Session Highlights

The highlights from McDaniel's media session prior to the team's practice at the Baptist Health Training Complex

After the Miami Dolphins took the field at Hard Rock Stadium in their ninth practice of training camp Saturday, head coach Mike McDaniel conducted a media session.

Here were the highlights of that media session:

-- First question deals with the execution of the offense (which wasn't good), and McDaniel points out that offense had its days and defense has its days. "Today it seemed it was clearly advantage defense."

-- McDaniel spent a lot of time with Tua on this day and shared that Tua thought some of his teammates were a little "too geeked up" and trying too hard to make plays instead of focusing on the process.

-- McDaniel is asked about the lightning delay and he mentions that there are some coaches on the staff with experience with a delay in a Super Bowl, which Vic Fangio experienced as DC of the 49ers in the Super Bowl of the 2012 season when there was a blackout at the Superdome.

-- Christian Wilkins "has been one way" since McDaniel got here, and the coach says he embodies what he wants in his players.

-- Asked about Fangio's critical comments before practice Friday, McDaniel says he's being "bottom line," not being overly critical. McDaniel also points out that Fangio's approach may be different than his. "I was hoping he wasn't going to come here and try to impersonate me."

-- The next time the Dolphins take the field, they'll be conducting joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday and Wednesday, and he says one of the lessons he's learned from those is making sure his players don't show up without an edge.

-- McDaniel points out that his teams have regularly in the past ended up signing players they faced in joint practices, so there's a scouting element involved there as well.

-- Cam Smith is going through what a lot of rookies go through, McDaniel said in pointing out why he left practice early Friday, and said it didn't have to do with slipping on the concrete outside the end zone. Explains this involves the rigors of NFL life early on for rookies.

-- Rookie running back De'Von Achane is day-to-day with an issue that McDaniel says isn't a major concern.

-- Wide receiver Erik Ezukanma has been out for a couple of days with an undisclosed injury, and McDaniel says he's hungry but the training staff will protect him from himself in terms of coming back too soon.

-- The last question involves Noah Igbinoghene, and McDaniel starts by not underestimating what a change in scheme can do for a player — like we've mentioned on this site several times. McDaniel says Noah continues to make progress and make plays.

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