COACH SPEAK BRIAN FLORES

Head coach Brian Flores offers his thoughts on a wide variety of topics, including the practice squad, his cornerbacks-turned safeties, rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s first NFL game, and more

Q. What is the philosophy on using practice squad spot young players as opposed to older guys who can be stashed in case you have COVID issues?

BF: Chris (Grier) and I and the scouting staff and the coaching staff, we’ve had several conversations about the practice squad. We want to develop all players, whether they’re practice squad or on the active roster. The development of players is important to myself, Chris and everyone in this organization. So I would say that’s kind of the thought process first and foremost. You can develop veteran players also, so we’re not saying that they’re not developmental players, but for the most part anyone who we feel like can help this team whether they’re developmental players, whether they’re a veteran ... if they can help this team, we’ll take a look.

Q. How important is it going forward for WR Preston Williams and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to kind of re-establish the connection they had at the beginning of last year?

BF: I think it’s important to establish a connection with quarterbacks and all of the receivers, not just one in particular. That’s something that you build that rapport in practice, and hopefully it shows itself in the game. That’s why we go out there and practice. We’ll do that again today and try to establish that rapport with ... you mentioned Preston, but it’s the same with really all of the receivers, the backs, the tight ends. It’s the same thing defensively as far as guys playing together, the same thing in the kicking game. It’s something that you build over the course of time and through practice and we’ll continue to do that.