STEELERS vs DOLPHINS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2007
at Heinz Field

Dolphins Conference Calls

 

CAM CAMERON

How much would a victory mean to the Miami Dolphins at this point?

 

Well for our players and our staff – there has been a lot of hard work that has gone into this entire season.  None of us want to be this position nor did we plan it being this way.  It would be a nice boost for everybody.

 

How much of injuries played into this for you?

 

I think that’s just part of the National Football League.  Some years you are more fortunate than others.  But injuries are a part of what we do and that’s where you have to continue to build your program and build your team so that when one guy goes down the next guy has got to step up.  And that player has to continue to grow and that’s probably then the silver lining in what really is again a winless season is the growth of the guys that have had to step up and play.  So those are some things that are a positive for us.

 

You are playing with a lot of young people on offense – is that a source of hope?

 

I think we knew that was an area coming into the season.  We had to improve dramatically.  There has been some improvement but we’ve got to continue – we’ve got a lot of work ahead.  Our last few weeks we haven’t performed offensively like we would like.  We all know the challenge we have Monday night going against the top defense in the league.  We’ve always had tremendous respect for any Steeler defense.  Obviously Dick (LeBeau) does a tremendous job.  It will be a heck of a challenge for our offense Monday night.

 

What’s Ricky Williams’ status?  And if he can play what kind of boost will he be for your offense?

 

His status – there is a two-week window where we need to make a decision and it started on Monday.  He will practice this afternoon.  We’ll see what this afternoon brings.  We are committed.  I know I am and he is.  We are committed of not getting ahead of ourselves. He hasn’t played football in awhile.  We’ll take it one day at a time.  See how his body responds and go from there.

 

Any encouraging at all with what happened with the Steelers against the Jets or do

you figure that’s going to rile them up a little bit?

 

Obviously we know they’ll respond.  But any Monday night game you are going to get anybody’s best effort.  I’m sure they were a little disappointed because they regained the control of the game and had opportunities.  But I’m sure they also know to you have to give the Jets credit.  The Jets came in prepared and did an adequate job at the end of the fourth quarter and in the overtime.  The outcome of the game – they’ll be ready to play and we know that.

 

We already talked about the NFL being such a copycat league.  The Jets did some things defensively and it appeared to confuse the Steelers.     Do you guys have the ware with all to replicate some of the stuff that they did?

 

There aren’t many things; every defense has certain things in their package that really you see week in and week out.  Some weeks the teams handle it better than they do.  It can change from week to week.  We’ll make the adjustments we need to make and I’m looking forward to our guys respond to that.

 

You put a lot of emphasis on getting some new players for offense – will you have to do that on defense after this season because maybe they are getting a little old?

 

Our focus is this week and that’s critical for us.  We’ve got six weeks reaming and you can’t get a head of yourself when you staring at a team like Pittsburgh.  That’s were your focus has to be.  I know Randy Mueller, our personnel department, we are always looking like every other team.  You are always looking to help your team.  But out focus is on Pittsburg, getting better and the most important thing we can do it improve the players that we have.  This isn’t the time of year to be worrying about what you don’t have and that’s where our focus is and that where it’s going to stay.

 

How far along is Beck?

 

I really don’t know right now.  I’m looking forward to just seeing again, how he practices this week, coming off his first start.  I think those are indications of where a guy’s growing.  So we’ll see this week.  Obviously he’s got a tremendous challenge in leading our offense and our team on Monday night against a very good football team.  So again in his growth ad development its one day at a time and I really don’t have that answer yet.

 

How about Ted Ginn – is he starting to do the things you have envisioned?

 

He has in the return game for several weeks now.   He’s has a couple that were called back – and that was our primary focus was with him was going to be this season was the return game.  He’s taken three back the distance, received two of them that have been called back.  But last week made a tremendous play and he’s developing as a receiver.  I think you guys all now that playing as a wide receiver takes some time and his development is on going.

Do you expect the Steelers to pooch kick?

 

I’m sure they’ll have a plan.  They’ve done several things in their kickoff game and in their punt game.  So I’m sure they’ll have a plan they’ll think fits as well as what they think they do well.

 

Describe how Joey’s affect for the Dolphins.

 

The one thing that is very clear, he is an extremely hard work.  It was unfortunate that he missed the majority of training camp.  But I think obviously we’ve been through that now for quite some time. Our package is a little bit different than the one he played there.  He’s beyond being comfortable.  He knows what he needs to do.  He’s playing extremely hard.  He’s making pressure on the quarterback last week.  He made a lot of plays here in the back half of the season.  He’s been a real plus for us.  It’s important to him.  He understands what professional football is all about.

 

What’s the status of Zach Thomas?

 

We’re going to have that at the end of practice.  Were going to see – we haven’t ruled him out yet but well have an update after practice today.

 

How has Jason Taylor been this year?

 

He’s been very good.  He hasn’t given in to the situation.  He’s a competitor.  He’s a winner.  You turn on the tape from the Philadelphia game, when the game’s in the balances he’s playing as hard as anybody on the field.  And at the end of the game, when we’re now two scores out and we’re under two to three minutes, he’s playing as hard as he can play and making tackles for loss.  For a veteran player these situations are tough, but they find a way to dig down a little bit deeper and give you everything they’ve got and he’s done that.

 

 

JOHN BECK

Are you ready for the Steelers defense?

 

Yeah, that’s what we are working for right now.  We are preparing every day in practice for them.

 

How did you feel you did your first time out?

 

I was happy with how I felt comfortable when I was out there, how we were getting in and out of the huddle, getting in and out the correct play calls  There was a couple of balls that I wish I could of had back.  There was a copy of opportunities where they knew I was delivering what would have been a good pass but I my arm got hit a couple of times.  The thing that I walk away with is that I know I can do things better and that’s what I’m trying to do, I’m trying to improve this game.

 

How much would a win mean to the Miami Dolphins?

 

It would be huge for us.  You play the game of football to win.  That’s why we practice so hard for the past 10 or 11 weeks.  It’s tough for us, we’ve been working our tails off in practice and come game day for one reason or another we’re just not getting the win.  But we continue to work hard and with that goal in mind that we want to win and it would definitely be big for us to get that first win out of the way.

 

Is it demoralizing when you go this long with out a win?

 

I don’t think demoralizing is the right word.  Hard would be a better word because it is hard but I don’t think that anybody doesn’t loses any confidence they don’t seem to lose any type of motivation.  Those things we know we still have to keep high because we know if we want to win we have to keep working hard.  We have to keep our confidence and keep our motivation.

 

Have you sensed at all this being a big week for Joey Porter?

 

Joey is going back to play against his old team.  I know that as far as the fans go that is something they really look into. I know Joey is just worried about himself and out football team.  He does a good job of working hard at practice.  I know that his focus is going to be just on what he can do for our team to help us win.

 

 

Is this your chance to show them over these last six games that you are ready to take

over the job for next year and beyond?

 

One thing that Coach Cameron always talks to us about is that nothing is about next year right now.  Right now we are worrying about each practice at a time, each game one at a time.  So in no way are we, I’m not even thinking about what happens this year how it is going to affect next year.  I’m thinking about what I can do today to prepare myself for this opponent.

 

Did Kellen Clemens’ game give you any encouragement or confidence in any way?

 

I think confidence is gained by the way that you prepare, by the way that you work with your team mates, by how things go in practice.  So when I watched that film, it also comes down to making plays on the offensive side of football.  It’s never just about what the quarterback does its about what the whole line does, it’s about what the running backs do.  So we definitely know that we have our work cut out for us.  I think that that tape is a good one to use to help us on certain things but I don’t think it changes our confidence or our motivation.

 

What about you personally as a young QB?  That was his third start, can you put is all together?

 

I know that a young quarterback, I’m sure Kellen was thinking the same thing that goes through my mind.  He just wanted to be smart with the football, take what they give you.  So he went out there and had some successful plays aside from fumbling the ball and the pick, he didn’t do many things that hurt his team.  He was always helping his team and that is something I tried to do this last game and I’m also going to try to do this game. Just do things that only help my team. 

 

Dick LeBeau’s defenses are famous for rattling young QBs  - have you seen that on tape?  How confusing they are or is that true?

 

It’s definitely true.  That’s the purpose of their Defense.  That’s why they are trying to bring guys from different areas, show one look, bring another.  That’s the illusion that it’s trying to have.  So I can see why it’s a pressure defense, why it would be confusing.  It’s no secret that when teams play a young QB, every team is going to blitz.  The Eagles did this last week, that’s one of their main things, they like to bring the zone blitz.  They brought it against us and we are expecting the Steelers to hold true to the things they do because they have been successful with it.  When you have the record like they have, when you have the success like they have had on defense, ranking one of the best defenses in the NFL, I’m sure they are going to stick with the things they do well and bring pressure is one of those things.

 

Joey played here for so long, can you maybe go to Joey to find out a little bit about what makes the Steelers Defense work?

 

One thing I don’t want to do is I don’t want to take away from Joey’s preparation on defense.  He’s definitely somebody that we can use to talk to.  But the thing also with Joey’s main focus is him getting himself prepared for his defensive role.

 

Have you had much interaction with him and what is he like in the locker room?

 

Joey has been great for the football team in the locker room.   He’s a very motivated person.  High spirited.  He keeps everybody lose.  He keeps everybody focused also, because he is a very focused, hard-working person.  He takes everything very seriously.    When he is in the locker room talking to people, when he is leading us pregame, that’s the mentality that we have that we want to me focused and we are going out there to perform our best.

 

Will it make it a little easier to read this defense with out Troy (Polamalu)?

 

I know that it’s not for sure yet of his status of what’s gong to happen.  You know Troy (Polamalu) is definitely an exceptional player, it’s no secret, everybody in the league knows it.  He’s very talented at what he does.  When you watch Troy (Polamalu) on film, things that he can do because of his athletic ability make him a difficult player to play against.  Offer the areas that he can get into because of his speed.  They make him a great football player.  We prepare for Pittsburgh at their best and we know that when Troy is out there they are the best that they are going to be.  So that is how we are preparing for things.

 

Is there any extra pressure because it’s Monday night?

 

No, I think, if I look too much into it I might be able to find something that can put pressure on me.  The thing that I try to do is just go out there and practice, use practice like it’s a game because then that way when I go out there on game day all I do is just treat it like I do practice.  I just go out there, go at the same speed, same tempo, my mind is thinking at the same speed.  It’s actually exciting.  You think about it, you grew up as a kid your whole life watching the Monday night football games, dreaming about having an opportunity to play in a Monday night game and then when you get the opportunity there is really nothing to be nervous about.  You are getting to live out a dream.