NBC 6's Adam Kuperstein sat down with Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin for a one-on-one interview, ahead of the team's training camp starting this coming Thursday. The entire interview will air on Sunday's Sports Final, July 26 at 11:30 p.m. Here are some highlights:
Joe Philbin on the Harvard study that predicted the Dolphins as the best team in the AFC this season:
(Sarcastically) "I called my old boss at Harvard and said thanks a lot for having one of your students put some pressure on me."
(Seriously) "That's a great reminder for everybody in the organization.
That's why Joe Philbin came to Miami, to compete for championships and win champions. So somebody thought enough of us to say we're capable of doing that, that's great."
On what he'd like to see Ryan Tannehill improve on this year:
"3 things I talk about all the time. I want to see him to improve as a decision maker, accuracy, and playmaking at critical times."
Will the offense take more chances downfield this season?
"Sure, if we get in the right situation, the right opportunity, the right matchup. Some of that (last year) was maybe toward the end of the year we didn't like the protection because if you're going to throw the ball downfield, typically those are 7 steps. It may not be a reflection of the quarterback or the receiver. Football is a team game."
On what he learned from times in the past when he clashed with players publicly:
"That's something I'm continually working on to do a better job of, but at the same point I have to be myself. I got here for a reason, being Joe Philbin, I can't just morph into somebody I'm not. I want every player to have a great experience here, but I realize sometimes I may not be everybody's cup of tea and they may not be mine."
On what he's changed about his approach to coaching since he started as a head coach:
"I think I've done a better job of putting myself in (the player's) shoes in terms of what I'm asking them to do from a time commitment standpoint."
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"I've devoted more time to step out of meetings and sped more time with players to develop more of a personal relationship. I do the bed checks every night. If there's a problem, an issue I can make myself more available. As opposed to when I first came I was maybe thought of the principal upstairs."
On what he needs to do this season to keep his job:
"Help this team reach its potential. The AFC East championship certainly hasn't been decided, the AFC Championship hasn't been decided and who's playing in Super Bowl 50 hasn't been decided.
That's really the motivation. It's not for Joe Philbin's job security. This is a lot bigger than Joe Philbin, it's about the Miami Dolphins reaching their potential in 2015."
"Most of my career I coached on a 1-year contract and I never thought anything about it. I got into coaching to make a difference in the lives of the people I work with and that hasn't changed."
What kind of football player were you? (Philbin played 1 year of college football at Washington and Jefferson)
"Not very good. I was just a team guy. Loved contributing any way I could.
How he spent his offseason:
Spent some time fishing in the Everglades, went to his first Marlins game. Spent 2 weeks in Italy.
"That's probably the best medicine for me."
Do people recognize you in Italy?
"One guy, a waiter (in Rome) said, 'You look familiar. I'll be back in one second.' And he came back with a Dan Marino bobblehead. He said he's been a Dolphin fan for 30 years. You forget about the impact sometimes that you have. You just love meeting those kinds of fans."
