When the Miami Dolphins hired Brian Flores, the easy assumption to make was that the team hoped to emulate everything about the Patriots’ program in South Florida and xerox their success formula. And perhaps in some ways, that’s true. The business like approach to hoarding draft picks. Signing team friendly deals to motivated players and banking on coaching them into a successful role. The multiple front mantra on defense.
Heck, there are even some ways that coach Brian Flores deflects questions that gives you a bit of a Belichick vibe.
But Brian Flores is not Bill Belichick — in accolades or in persona. And the Miami Dolphins will not be the New England South. There will be hardwired similarities, but Brian Flores is his own man and he’s marching these players to the beat of his own drum.
Close your eyes and imagine for a second that Bill Belichick is asked about specific game plan concepts from the previous season. What is the reaction you envision? A scoff? An eye roll? Perhaps a comment about how he can send you a copy of the game plan so that you can send it over to the opposition?
The point is this — Belichick is a close to the vest, no funny business kind of guy. Flores? He brings a little bit of flair and personality to the podium. He’s a little more flexible on speaking candidly — but he’s also got a self awareness that his reserved handling of information is going to tease the media.
Yesterday’s media session was a perfect example. A question was asked of Flores about what the keys were to defending him last year when Flores was in New England. And Flores’ response was playful (and reserved).
“I’m not going to give you the keys to defending him,” said Flores with a grin, eliciting laughter from the media room. “I’m going to tell you that right now! You’re not going to hear that from me. You want me to just hand it over? I’m not going to give you that.”
The media room is openly laughing at this point as Flores grins across the room.
“Well he’s athletic, he’s explosive, he’s fast. He’s a good route runner,” Flores continued, all while trying to suppress a grin. “He does a lot of good things. How do you defend him? We’ll let the opponent figure that out.”
So while the delicate handling of information mirrors that which Flores was indoctrinated with in New England, make no mistake. Flores is going to do it his way.
