Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Flores to players: ‘Get over yourself’
DAVIE — Check your ego at the door when stepping foot inside the Miami Dolphins facility because humble pie has been the meal on the menu during the first two weeks of training camp.
In fact, if you somehow forget that there is no “me” in “team,” players can remind themselves by reading the entry way wall to the team meeting room, which has the words “Get Over Yourself ” written on it.
That’s yet another not-so-subtle reminder from new coach Brian Flores that the Dolphins must adapt to doing things The Patriot Way.
“Put your egos aside for the greater goal,” said safety T.J. McDonald, who has started all 75 NFL games he has played in since joining the league in 2013.
These days McDonald is sharing the safety workload with four players.
Whether he’s working with the first team depends on what defensive package is on the practice field that day. And he’ll likely face the same situation in games that matter.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t [hard]. Everybody wants to play every snap,” said McDonald, who contributed 86 tackles and three interceptions last season. “The defense calls for what it calls for. Collectively as a whole, if it helps the defense we’ll be successful.”
McDonald and his teammates have been told they might play a ton some games, and not at all in others. The workload is totally dependent on the game plan, how many packages players are part of, and how they perform on game day.
Using players as interchangeable chess pieces, playing them to their strengths and masking their weaknesses, has been part of the Patriots’ secret sauce for years. But to make it work the players must buy in.
In New England everybody — and that includes Tom Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback of all time and a future first ballot Hall of Famer — is viewed as little more than a worker bee for the franchise that has dominated the NFL for nearly two decades.
It’s part of the mindset coach Bill Belichick has instilled in his organization — from coaches and front office executives to players. Nobody is bigger than the team, and it’s goals.
It is the vision, the game plan, the work put in each week, and the execution on game day that matters. So play your role and shut your mouth because complaints, pouting, campaigning for more playing time, or a bigger role will likely lead to your departure one way or another.
“Put the team first,” said second-year linebacker Jerome Baker, who so far is being exclusively used in Miami’s nickel package. “When you do that, no accolades, selfishness comes to your mind. It’s all about the team.”
Each player must minimize their ego for the good of the team.
At least that’s the threat — we mean approach — Flores is selling to the players for the rebuilding Dolphins, with the goal of eventually replicating the success of the dynasty the former Patriots defensive play-caller is coming from.
That explains why established starters like Kiko Alonso and Kenyan Drake began camp as backups, and how talents like Raekwon McMillan and Mike Gesicki are sparingly getting snaps with the first-team defense and offense.
Flores and his staff have carved out specific roles for each player to fill based on their strengths and weaknesses. If they excel in those roles — say Drake thrives as a third-down back, the role carved out for him so far — more will be put on your plate.
But that means well-established veteran starters like Reshad Jones, a two-time Pro Bowler, and McDonald must get comfortable with being role players until they prove they can be game changers.
“Some games you might start, and play a lot, and some games you might not even play,” McDonald said. “Every day is an interview.”
And everyday Dolphins players are required to check themselves before they wreck themselves, and Miami’s season.
“It’s all about discipline,” said pass rusher Charles Harris, another young talent who is laboring to carve out a niche for himself. “Coaches are going to put you in the best position to make plays. It’s not about [play count]. When that game ends and you win it is all that really matter.”