Ed Thompson:
Let’s talk a little bit about this new opportunity with the Dolphins. I
know it’s one you’ve been working hard for since coming into the
league. What went through your mind when you realized you were going to
see more playing time this year.
Joey Haynos: The
only thing I really thought about was how good of an opportunity it is
for me to prove what I can do on the field. I’m excited for the
opportunity to be the second tight-end and I plan on making the most of
it.
Thompson:
While David Martin was coming back from the sports hernia injury, you
were already playing this role, correct? So that had to help you get a
jump on this opportunity.
Haynos: Yeah,
during the OTAs and minicamps I learned a lot about the position, so
that was a big help.
Thompson:
Last year the Dolphins used two tight-ends probably 40 to 50 percent of
the time. Do you think they're going to stay the course and you’ll get
to see the field that often?
Haynos: I
hope so. They’ve adjusted a couple of things, but nothing
drastic. I didn’t play a ton on Sunday against the Falcons,
but I think we were behind and we were spreading it out a bit
more. I hope it stays the same, but it'll be whatever the
game calls for.
At 6-foot-8, Haynos is a tall target for QB Chad Pennington.
AP Photo/Alan Diaz |
Thompson:
You had a nice 21-yard catch against the Falcons. Talk a little bit
about that play, what you saw, and how it developed.
Haynos:
Well, it’s a trick play, basically. We practiced it a lot and it has a
lot to do with timing. I have to hold the fake block for a certain
amount of counts, and Ronnie (Brown) runs left and throws it back to
Chad (Pennington), and then I’m coming across the field. It worked
beautifully. I was wide open.
Thompson: Joey
did you do anything different this offseason that’s been different from
your training in the past?
Haynos: I
followed the Dolphins' offseason program and worked with our strength
trainers. I got stronger, there’s no doubt about that, in my lower body
and arms, so that’s been a big help with blocking. Especially on this
level, you have to be strong, because everybody you're facing is strong
and you can’t get away with just trying to hit someone as hard as you
can. You have to have technique and strength.
Thompson:
I've got to think that’s going to pay off Monday night when you guys
play a team like the Colts. You're out there on the edge and they're
putting guys like Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis spread out wide, and
you’re counted on to pick them up in certain situations. Talk about the
challenges they bring.
Haynos: They’re
both great players--the two of them are the among the hardest defensive
ends in the league to block. It's a good challenge, so we’ve been
watching a lot of film on them, trying to get their moves so we can
pass block them.
Thompson: Where
do you think the main misfires were against the Falcons that you guys
can work on to clean up before you take on the Colts?
Haynos: Coach
Sparano preaches nearly every day that we can’t have negative plays, we
can’t turn the ball over, we can’t have missed assignments--and we did
all three of those things. Usually, the team that does less of those
things wins, and that was the case against Atlanta. As an offensive
unit, there were things we did really well, and things we did bad. I
think we’ll get it together and we’ll be OK.
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A member of the Pro Football Writers of America, Ed Thompson's player interviews and NFL features are published across the Scout.com network and at FOXSports.com.