Welcome to Miami | Ereck Flowers

terrific financial shape going forward. What's up, Dolphins? Travis Wingfield with you here for a special series of the Drive Time Podcast, part of the official podcast network of your Miami Dolphins. We aren't making these shows with specific dates, but we are rolling out a new episode per player signing, and we'll start with the details of the player's career, taking a look at their counting stats, advanced metrics, film study,

character testimonies, and a whole lot more. All of that before we hear from the newest Miami Dolphins and exclusive interviews with the Drivetime Podcast. So, without any further ado, let's get in to the free agency series here on the Drivetime Podcasts, and we're gonna cover later on a future Drivetime podcast the cumulative approach the Dolphins made this free agency period and what it means going into the draft, the financial ramifications, the cap structure. All that stuff we'll

get to eventually. But today we're covering a local guy coming back home to play his football in Miami Gardens once more. The Miami Norland High graduate comes back home and will play his professional home games just one point six miles away from where he played his high school ball.

Elite size when you're talking about Eric Flowers, formerly of Washington, drafted by the New York Giants out of the University of Miami, six ft six, three hundred and thirty five pounds, thirty four and a half inch arms and that frame aime paired with good athletic ability, made Flowers the ninth overall pick back. He carries that massive frame with relative ease, and that had scouts fawning over the potential of Flowers

at the next level. Like he did in college, Flowers played both tackle positions for the Giants before a trade to Jacksonville, and his first rep as a guard came last season in Washington. This from Lancer Line of nfl dot Com quote big athletic frame carrying more than three twenty pounds with ease ascending maller in the run game, bender who is the low man off the snap and pops his hips into block to leverage defenders at the point.

Combines hips, arm extension, and upper potty power to consistently turn his man when base blocking. Once he gets upper hand in the run game, he usually sustains and finishes secures combo blocks with a vengeance. Has feet to become a solid zone blocker and a mean and highly competitive player. Wants to dominate and get surly when beaten on a snap. Special foot quickness and pass portag should able to mirror

and counter two way rushers or b gap blitzers. Us his quick feet to loosen hips and turn and recover when he's beaten. Now, flower strength as a run blocker and ability to uproot his man and get them turned is undeniable. He may be drafted as a tackle, but his best position could end up being a guard, where I would put a draft grade on him of six one two, and that grade reflects an immediate impact starter

on zerlines grading system. Flowers brute strength was evident at the scouting combine when he paced all offensive lineman on the bench press with thirty seven reps of two and twenty five pounds. He pairs that strength with a desire to punish opposing defenses and a workman like attitude. Last year, after Washington's first victory under Bill Callahan, interim head coach there at Washington, Flowers had this to say, quote, we want to bring physicality. That's the mindset, putting your head

down and just working and playing. A physical brand of football requires a requisite level of toughness, a trait that Flowers embodies. The former Miami Hurricane has miss just four games in five years as a pro, and three of those miss games occurred in eighteen, meaning that Flowers has four seasons of fifteen or more games played. In those individual seasons, He's logged four thousand, six hundred eleven snaps through his first five seasons. That's an average of nine

hundred twenty two point two plays per season. He turns twenty six years old in April, and he found his groove last year in the nation's capital. Per Pro Football Focus, the Washington offense ran the ball inside the tackles seventy eight times, and they split those evenly between the right

and the left side. When running right away from Flowers, Washington average three point eight seven yards per carry, but running off the left side behind Flowers nets a point six eight yard differential at four point five five yards per carry. Nine of the seventy eight carries behind left

guard went for ten plus yards. Adrian Peterson average point seven yards per carry better running off left guard than he did right guard, and Flowers, known for his mulling ability in the run game, his past protection was even better. In twenty nineteen per PF, Flowers played five hundred eighty eight snaps in pass pro and just four of those plays resulted in a hit on the quarterback from a

left guard position. Flowers isn't rarefied air rate. There just one other guard that had more than five hundred pass blocking snaps allowed fewer quarterback hits than Flowers did. That was Dallas Is four time All Pro Zack Martin, with a ninety seven point six pass blocking efficiency rate on PF and pent pass blocking win rate on ESPNS next gen stats. Flowers was one of just thirteen guards to play more than five hundred pass blocking snaps and allowed

two or fewer sacks in twenty nineteen. The twenty four pressures he allowed in twenty nineteen ranked twenty nine among guards and tied him with Pittsburgh's five time Pro Bowl selection David DeCastro. His two sacks allowed equate to a point oh three percent sack rate, and the four total QB hits it doubles that number point o six percent times he allows his quarterback to get hit on those five hundred and eighty eight pass blocking reps. He was one of twenty left guards to play more than nine

hundred snaps. Among those, he ranked tenth among his qualifying position mates. And pressures allowed and he never allowed more than three pressures in a game, so not really ever a bad game for Flowers, and he committed only one foul from Week six team to the end of the year. Just a clean season for Flowers both and the penalties and production standpoint. And this guy entered the league a spry one years old and really blossom last year under Bill Callaghan, who had this to say about his left

guard in Washington quote, I love Flowers. I loved him coming out of the draft. I think the world of him. He's physical, He's been really good in past protection. He's a strong square force in that respect. I just love the kid. I just like the way he works, how he goes about his business. Sometimes it's just a breath of fresh air. I've had a lot of guys in my career and a couple of different places that sometimes the different exposure to new techniques, a different system, it

kind of revives them. He'll hit free agency and I think he'll do pretty well and quote some nice praise and foreshadowing there for Flowers, former position coach and interim head coach there at Washington. And according to the Draft Network on their big board, none of the top fifty players in this year's draft our guards and only three

guards rankings at the top one hundred. So for Miami to land a surefire starter at the position while not resetting the market at the top of the market, that has to be considered an organizational win for the Miami Dolphins. His tape sure is a lot of fun to watch. He moves guys off the football with relative ease. And now he joins the Drivetime podcast Let's go ahead and roll my interview with Dolphins new guard Eric Flowers and

joining me now here on the Drivetime podcasts. Dolphins new guard coming over from Washington, Former Miami Hurricane Eric Flowers, Eric how you doing, man, I'm doing it good. Man, I'm doing fantastic. It's really fun to get a chance to talk to all the new signings, all the new free agents. Exciting times here in Miami. I gotta ask you a new deal, new team. How's this all kind of hitting you right now? It's really surreal, man, I

really still can't believe it. Man, to get a chance to really come back home, it's like, you know what I mean, A lot of people get to experience that. So, man, I'm really excited. Now. You went to the U. Did you grow up a Hurricanes and Dolphins fan as well? Yep, I grew up going to the games, man, both sides, the training camps, Miami games. So from here. Awesome to hear. I was curious to get your your opinion here on this, and I'm glad to hear that you're a fan growing up.

I worked for the team now and I also grew up a fan of a team, and I've got my favorite moments in team history. Do you have a moment as a child or maybe like before you actually started playing at the college level that really stands out to you as a Dolphins fan? Uh, that's that's the Pacific. I just I wasn't around with it. I don't even wasn't even more when he won the Super Bowl. Man, But I mean I don't have nothing specifically, man, outside of you know, a really good chance to see the

players and beat them, you know what I mean. But I mean, I just you know, I always done just like man, I don't really have nothing. I mean, well, I don't have that really specifically with Miami. Either's just just loving them. It's just really just root for him. Yeah, that's that's that's no problemise totally acceptable. I just I was curious from one fan to another. But let's go ahead and talk about the fact that you are here

playing with us now. I think the answer to this might be obvious, but maybe outside of the fact that it is your hometown team, why did you decide to go ahead and sign the contract and come down here and be in Miami Dolphin Because I'm from here, man, that was like the biggest thing on it, you know what I mean, My family's here, I grew up here. It's just to be able to play. So like one thing, one thing growing up, like coming out of the draft and all that one person I really thought was dope

was learning carry you know what I mean. He grew up in Miami Light high schoolball here, played in college here, you know what I mean. One in Miami ain't got the chance to play his whole career here, you know what I mean. And I always of them to do something like that, you know what I mean. So that's why coming out of the draft and this whole, they have always wanted to be home. You know what I'm saying,

This is the place I've always wanted to be. Those are some great Yeah, those are some great footsteps to follow. For sure. Eric one of the better Dolphin offensive lineman in our team history. But I want to ask you, have you had a chance to meet coach Flores yet and what's your initial impression of him? Um, I've talked to the man. He's something. He's a really a beat guy, like he's ready to win. Man, this whole Corona man has kind of slowed it down. I haven't been able

to get over there. It's crazy because I'm right down the street, you know. Yeah, Yeah, I saw you played at your your high school ball at Miami Norland, just one and a half miles away there from hard Rock Stadium. So really cool story to have you come back home, Eric, and last year you've got a chance to get a front row seat to see fits magic and action. And I wanted to ask you how much are you looking forward to blocking for Ryan Fitzpatrick and your upcoming season?

Oh yeah, I really saw. I was up there in New York. Sayny time he was in New York, that's right, So I got I got to see yeah, yeah, yeah, he had a great season in New York. So he's already already sparks it up wherever he goes. Man, be excited that you gotta be a man. I can't wait to get over there. And last year was your first year, Eric as an inside offensive lineman playing guard. What was it about kicking inside that you think really compliments your

skill set? Uh? Man, versatility. I think it makes you more versatile. Man. I think that's what the league looks for because every years injuries every year is something you know what I mean. So I'll be able to play more in one position that has value. See yourself into it, into what you bring to the table, you know, and so and so when you do get into the into the huddle with whether it's Ryan Fitzpatrick, or or any quarterbacks you play with in the past, the play call

comes in. What is the call that gets you the most fired up to go out and execute every time? Running the ball? Really, you know what I mean? That's really so I really love Man, because you're a big part. You're a huge part of the ring game, you know what I mean. You can't really control who he passes to or what the route they want, but running the

ball opening holes, Man, that's that's probably, that's probably. I think that's it every office of LAFE as big as you know in the excitement in the game plans is running the wall. Well, we're definitely looking forward to watching you put some dude to the turf here at hard Rock Stadium. Is there a better feeling for an offensive lineman than getting a pancake block? No, definitely not, Man, other than a block for a touchdown? And Eric, you

mentioned meeting with Brian Flores over the phone. Have you had a chance to talk to Chan Gailey or Steve Marshall, your offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Yeah, I talked to him. I've talked to him a sound I did. Ready to go, Man, So hopefully we can put this

all together man and you get some success. And last year you spent your time with interim head coach and former offensive line coach in Washington under Bill Callaghan, and he really lauded your work ethic in your mindset, saying that you just put your head down and work and you really did a good job of kind of reinventing yourself as a left guard last year. Where does that mindset and you're just kind of your general approach of the game, where does that come from for you? Um,

it's really just man. I think going there was really just imagined me to even man. You know, he's a straight shooter man, best best coach I ever I've ever been around, from Phil Phil studies to just teach him, met this man. So I really just I really just do away everything manages. I was able to trust to him to do the things that he wanted me to do. So, I mean it was just man a coach man. So Eric,

I got trying to come here and continue those things. Eric, I gotta ask you, since you're a Miami native and you know the area so well, I actually am not from South Florida, but I'll be moving there very shortly. Here, what are some things that a person coming to South Florida has to do. Like what the bucket list for South Florida bucket lists. You gotta go to a Hurricane game and Miami all the sports games. You gotta go to go to East Stadium. Um, South Beach, of course, man,

but South Beach. South Beach is cool. You know, that's when a lot of tourists go. But you gotta go to the games, man, Hurricane Offen, Miami he games. Um Man, there's so much to do around here, man, so much to do. High school games are really big down here. You gotta go to the Northwestern Verse Central game. Um It's just I couldn't even tell you. Man, it's so much to do, fool. The food here is tremendous, Man, you gotta go. You have to get some cribby and food. Man.

My people came here from Jamaica, so you gotta Jamaican food, Haitian food, Hispanic food. It's all, you know what I mean? A lot of career good cribby and food. So well, I think a lot of the listeners are probably get hungry right now. We talked to Ted Carriss earlier the new edition. Coming up to the offensive line as well to join you on the old line. And he used to drink a gallon of milk every single day to put on enough weight to get up to playing offensive line.

So maybe not so much the milk aspect, but go after that, that Spanish food, the Haitian food, the Cuban food. I did have one of those Cuban sandwiches. That stuff is delicious, so definitely gonna have to check that out. One thing we've talked about with everyone so far in the podcast, Eric is basketball playing hoops. Do you have a hoop background and are you willing to stake the claim that you're the best basketball player on this football team. Oh,

I used to play basketball. I used to play basketball, but I mean it's too many it's six sid cancer that I would start to football. But I played basketball. I don't know if I'm the best stuff. That's what you're looking for in terms of like your jump shot or just playing rebounds or what what what makes you the best in the basketball court? Uh, great, Fasten, I mean just wrong game. I mean it is when you've got some dudes who who really have real, like you know,

athletics game. It was like I'm a little bit heavier dude. So, I mean I could I mean, I couldn't even tell you, man, I played a great team. Boy, I'll tell you that. That's that's a good answer. That's a good way to to get things down and hoop. Uh let's go back to the football field here there, and I want to just kind of get your general scouting report on yourself, like what are the Miami Dolphins getting and Eric Flowers, Uh, dude, this is gonna play with energy man, dude that wants

to win. Um, I think my best years of football ahead of me, man. So I mean, I'm just you know what I mean, I'm just ready to get in and work, man. And it's just do the things you need to do, and do bring my party, do my job what I have to do to help my team to be successful, you know what I mean. Absolutely. And one of those things we talked about with Bill Callahan, what some of the leadership you bring to the locker room. Is that something that you think that you bring in

spades to the Miami Dolphins locker room? Uh? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I definitely considered myself a great teammate due who support the dudes around. Yeah. I mean, so you're definitely gonna get a dude who gonna have his back do whatever. You know what I mean. So and I asked that. Yeah, man.

And on the topic of your of your teammates here in Miami, as far as opening up holes for the running game, you obviously played against Miami last season, can you give us a scouting report on some of the defensive lineman you went against last year, whether it's Christian Wilkins or Divon got Shaw or anybody else. Oh. Yeah, even like Christian Roams, I think he's gonna be He's gonna be a good player. Man, It's gonna be a really good player. Then they had another I mean the deference.

I mean, I don't know exactly who's coming back. They have some pretty strong dudes. But then you look at the people they bring it in. I think Zavia Horroard was he was hurt by the time I got there. But I think we all the dudes coming in healthy and I think to help enough talent or defense to get it done. Yeah, it's been fun to watch what Chris Career and Brian Floors and the entire staff has

done so far over the free agency period. Eric, It's all I got for you man, Congratulations on the new contract, Congrats on coming home. Best of luck this season, stay healthy. And I would say welcome to Miami, but you're already there, so I enjoy being back in Miami. Game man, cool man,

thank you appreciate it. Yeah, you got it. We'll see you at camp cool And there he goes Eric Flowers, the big bruising guard, Gonna help out exponentially both in the ground game and in the passing game, and really kind of maybe harken back to someone like Jamie Nails back in two thousand two, leading Ricky Williams to a rushing championship in a Russian crown that year. Looking forward

to having that guy on the field. It's always fun to watch that physical style of football, and that's certainly what Flowers brings to the field. And how fun is it to have a guy that grew up a lifelong Dolphins fan go to the you get here to Miami and play for the Dolphins. He just he was very excited about the fact that he gets to come back to Miami to his hometown play for his childhood team. I think it's a dream we've all had, and Eric

Flowers now gets to live that dream. So great to hear from him, and we've got plenty more podcasts coming the rest of this weekend and into early next week talking about these Miami Dolphins new free agent additions. In order to catch all those podcasts, make sure you are subscribed to the Drive Time podcast here on Apple podcast, Google Play, Spotify, wherever you get your podcast from. Go ahead and subscribe, rate and review the show. Give me

a follow on Twitter It's at Wingfield, NFL. Follow the fins at Miami Dolphins of course, check out the fish Tank podcast with Seth and Juice, the Audible with Kim and John Knjemmy, and check out John's All twenty two breakdowns he's posting up there giving you a good look at what these guys bring to the football field, and of course all of that consolidated on Miami Dolphins dot com. But as for today's show, that is going to be my time until next time. Fins Up, Up, Up,