Welcome to Miami | Shaq Lawson

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 are going to cover the cumulative impact of all Miami's free agent activity. Where they are for the draft and financially with the structure of

these contracts and the cap position going forward. But for now we focus on the individual player, and today's podcast is all about Shack Laws and the dolphins newest pass rusher on the defensive line. The former Buffalo Bill stays in the a f C East and reunites with his former college position coach in Marion Hobby, who coaches the Dolphins defensive line here. Lawson is very physically imposing and

satisfies both requirements of a three down edge. At six ft three two sixty seven, Laws and condented the line in the run game with relative ease. His thirty four and a quarter inch arms allow him to reset his opponent it key the play and disengage in either gap to close down on the ball carrier or to pursue the quarterback, the key to two gapping as a read

and react player. Once his run defense forces the offense into obvious passing downs, Lawson can impact the game as a rusher from a variety of positions and even fronts. Lawson can play anywhere from the wide nine technique all the way inside as a three technique. Lawson's versatility satisfies Miami's multiple defense, even or odd fronts upfront. His primary position in college was as a five technique, but he

also played some outside linebacker in odd fronts. In Buffalo, he played all over that Bill's front, but primarily in three similar positions as your five, six, and seven technique. He features a rare blend of size and athleticism, and that was on display at the scouting combine, where he set the pace for defensive ends with a four point seven forty yard dash and with a four point two

one twenty yard shuttle. He ran a seven one six three cone drill and jumped a hundred and twenty inches in the broad and thirty three inches in the vert. Those measurements brought back a relative athletics scorecard of eight point three nine that's out of ten and measured well above average among his contemporaries in nearly every category. As a pro, Lawson has played sixteen hundred and thirty three snaps over a four year career. That's an average of

four hundred and eight point three snaps per game. The twenty nineteen season was Lawson's best to date. He had forty pressures on two hundred and ninety eight pass rush reps. That's a pressure rate of thirteen point four percent. His seven sacks equate to a two point three percent sack rate, and the twenty one total quarterback hits makes for an impressive seven percent hit rate, so seven percent of his pass brush reps he's hitting the quarterback. Lawson consistently gave

the Bills production. Last season. He recorded a pressure in sixteen of buffalo seventeen games, that of course includes the playoffs. From weeks eleven through seventeen, Lawson had twenty two total pressures in average of three point six seven pressures per game, coming on strong for Buffalo's playoff push. He committed just three fouls on the season and has drawn the yellow flag just eight times in his four year career. He's been solid as a run defender ever since he entered

the league twenty four run stops last year. Those are tackles within two yards of the line of scrimmage and an eight point four run stop percentage, which ranks seventh in the NFL. Last year, he was second among all defensive ends in the National Football League with ten tackles

for loss. Nfl dot COM's Lancer Line had a glowing scotting report of Lawson coming out of Clemson back in quote, built like a tank with thickly muscled legs and a broadcast played as a five technique at Clemson and standing up on the outside scheme, versatility will likely appeal to both three four and four three teams. Very powerful at the point, able to punch, extend arms and control the line of scrimmage two gapping or set a hard edge, able to shock and shed blockers, and has the hand

quickness to stagger block attempts. Power allows him to play the other side of the line. Was second and in college football and run stuffs for all defensive ends. Comes off the ball low and with forward lean into his rush, has frame to handle a double team, has plus instincts and feel for the game. Toughness on full display. Built like a grown man, and he combines his instincts, toughness and power to fill up the stat sheet and set an early tone. Lawson's frame and game are easily translatable

to the National Football League. He turns just twenty six years old in the month of June and enters the prime of his career with the correct mindset. This according to his former Buffalo teammate Jerry Hughes quote. You see him taking the necessary steps coming in throughout the week, getting in the hot tub and the cold tub, and just to kind of contrast, to take care of his body. He's coming in on Tuesday's watching film with us again.

Tuesday's are the NFL's off day, trying to really understand how teams plan on attacking us, so he can go out there and play fast and just be ahead of the curve. End quote. And nobody is happier about lawsons migration south from Buffalo to the Dolphins defense than defensive line coach Mary and Hobby. This back from his time that Clemson quote. Shack loves the game. He loves football. I think those older guys know their biggest job is you better be keeping Shack laws And off the football field.

I'm not keeping him off the field. You're gonna have to keep him off the field yourself with your play and your work. He's been working again this summer. He did a great job in the classroom as a freshman. End quote. And finding an impact player at a premium position serves as a major boon for the Dolphins, especially

one that fits Miami's multiple system. Lost in six and a half sacks seven total plays in twenty nineteen came from every which way imaginable, starting here with sack number one, week number one at the New York Jets loss in lines up as the six technique, the Jets keep max protection seven blockers in with a tight end to the same side as Lass, and he stays in contained for a potential play side run, then works over the tight end, forcing the quarterback to vacatee Once outside the pocket lost

and chases the play down and gets his sack. Sack number two week eight against the Philadelphia Eagles lost in lines up in a wide nine technique, he uses the spacing with the tight end to the strong side to throw a book ole rush at the Eagles left tackle Laws and converts his speed to power with the rush that knocks the tackle five yards back into the Eagle

quarterback for loss. In second sack sack number three week eleven at Miami Laws in lines up as the five technique, he slants inside and wins across the face of the tackle for a solo sack. Sack number four week twelve against the Denver Broncos Laws in lines up as the nine tech, the Broncos quarterback rolls right as lost in his left unblocked, he chases the play down and makes the sack from behind. Sack number five is that same game,

week twelve against Denver. He lines up as the four technique, slants inside, splitting the guard and center combination, getting to the Denver quarterback in short order. The guard is overwhelmed by Lawson's length and get off as he easily sheds a one armed attempt to keep the pass rush at bay. Sack number six Week thirteen in Dallas, laws In lines up in a wide five technique. Initially he sets the

edge against play action off tackle. Lawson swipes the tackles initial punch, keeping his frame clean, then pushes up field. The tackle over sets to react to the speed, so Lawson dips underneath and then discards the tackle with an inside hand ripped, getting to the quarterback for a half of a sack. Finally sacked number seven week fifth team against Pittsburgh, Lawson lines up in a wide nine technique.

He works upfield around a chip from the tight end, keeps his eyes in the quarterback, and crosses the tackles face. When the quarterback tries to step up, Lawson arrives and strips the ball from the Steeler quarterback. He plays with so much power, so much ferocity, and he's a tough guy to handle from multiple positions, and his tape is really just a lot of fun to watch. And with that, let's go ahead and get now to the interview with

Dolphins new defensive end Shack Lawson. And I'm joined now by the new defensive end, new pass rusher and run defender. He really does it all for your Miami Dolphins, Shack Lawson. Check. How's it going, man? Hey, I'm doing I'm doing really good, you know, looking forward to getting down there and uh and meeting you guys and getting practices going. Hopefully that happens here real soon. But you've got a new deal, new team, new contract. How is all of that kind

of hitting you at this moment? And he didn't really hit me yet, you know, uh, because I guess with all the stuff going on in the world and we haven't been able to travel and things like that, but it ain't really hit me, uh, you know right now. So but I'm gonna site it, man. I'm excited to start my new journey down there in Miami and get this stay going man breaking a championship down in the Miami and clearly you had options this offseason. Shack, Why Miami?

What brought you to the Dolphins? Um? Um, I got a great relationship with the defense line coach Mary Hobby. You know, he's the guy that got me the player I am. Um got me the first round player to come out of college. Uh. I learned a lot from him. Um. So that was a big reason why I end up coming down there. And it was an opportunity for my family. You know, new scenery. I can get away from the colde you know, and play played back in coastal coast

to the the home. You know, it's probably an eight hour drive from where I'm from. So that's it had a lot to do it why I wanted to come to Miami. Yeah, the weather certainly is nice, and you mentioned Mary and Hobby. I want to talk about another connection you have here with the Dolphins and a teammate you played with the Clemson and Christian Wilkins. What can you tell us about your relationship with Christian Wilkins and how the two of you are going to pair together on that defensive line.

Oh Man, Christian Lucas got a great relationship. I think I was a junior when he played a freshman year. He came on as a true freshman playing that Clemson. So our bound connected from there, and you know, and we fed off each other when we played with each other. You know, we you know, we brother bringing that mindset dog mentally to the field. You know, we want to win every play and things like that. So we used to feed off each other. And I knew the opportunity

to go down there and play with him again. And also thanklessly, you know, man, tanklessly end up going a hard grade together with roommates are hard grade military end up going to Clemson. And we had a relationship too, So I mean I got a well relationship down there in Miami. So that that out a lot with me to come down there. Hey, there are worse places to take from the Clemson in the championship pedigree you guys

have there. You did win a championship at Clemson. Shack, What does that kind of do for a player coming into the league to know what it happens, know what it takes to win and to have experienced success like that. Oh man, it's it's it's it takes a lot, man, It starts with the coaching. You know, you keeople, you built around you know, and things like that. So coach, I know, I know, the new coach down in Miami got a great program going. He bought these guys in

and run into the white right way. So being a part of that and know you know that's the right way and watching and watching the guys last year towards Miami towards the end of the season last year winning big time games, and I see and I've seen this team gona be special, you know, and they just had a missing pieces to the team. So for me to be a part of that and and his team young, it's something that's it. It's great. So it's safe to a then that the Dolphins finishing the season as strong

as they did. You kind of you kind of saw that from afar and kept a close eye on how Brian Flores was getting these guys playing towards the end of the year. Oh yeah, I see how this playing us. You know, we got man, when they when I was playing Buffalo last year, they played us hard both games, you know, played us hard. You know, they were trying

to win and things like that. So I've seen that was going in the right direction, and man, I always I always wanted to be back with my my college coach, man Mary how because I mean Peter, he the guy that developed me as a player. I am so and get back on his wing to learn. I've got Shack Lawson here, your newest Dolphins defensive and on the Drive Time podcast, Shack, you talk about your connections here with the Dolphins and you are going to now join a

player you played against twice last year? And Ryan Fitzpatrick, what are some of the challenges of defending a quarterback like fits magic Man. The whole game playing was crazy. Man. We couldn't You couldn't rest crazy because you know, he a takeoff and run. You know, he a guy got that dog. You know, he's trying to win every play. So we're playing game playing for him last year. That's

all we kept talking about throughout the week. Chris Patrick, we cannot let him Ryan Ruyan wild and things like that. You know, you gotta come. You gotta come in a great capital and uh pom to tackle him because he don't make you mention with things like this. So man, go down and play with him. Play with a dog a competitive you know, it's it's great, man, it's great. It's great. Does he ever I'm curious about fits. Does he ever say any thing on the field as an

opponent that just makes you laugh? Because we see him on our social media's and when he gets miked up, he always has something a smile on his face and he's always saying something, goofy. Has he ever said anything that made you kind of chuckle? Uh? He's saying so One time, I remember, it came up the Buffalo and I actually got a rough pass on him and after of like he flopped. He's like, yeah, man, I flop. You know, they had to give me that one. So

he was just cracking jokes out there. So I'm like, man and things like that. But every time I'm playing against him, man, I mean, he's gonna he gonna get You're gonna get his best. You know, he gonna he gonna And that's that's what you need in the league like this, and you need Joe quarterback, you go put the put the game on the line, things like that. That's just a quarterback being a quarterback. And he's got a red shirt on now for you, so you can't

touch that guy anymore. Shack gotta keep that guy up here. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I'm glad I finally got him. I got him last year and I know I can't touch him no more. So that sounds good. And speaking of playing against Fitzpatrick, that keeps you in the same division in the a f C East. What kind of advantages do you think you get staying in the same division and kind of having a familiarity with your opponents

next season. Man, I've been in there for the last four years, so I mean, I know what you're gonna get from every team. No, let's go ahead and talk about how you're going to do that shock and get into the weeds. Here on the football side, how about this defense, Like, what is it about this defense that really attracted you to signing here? And what do you think that this defense offers you in terms of how it can unlock all the skills and the potential you

have shack and the defense is it's crazy, man. I remember the defense so good? Crazy man. I remember one place still got me last year was playing and I feel like everybody was standing up and the way in until they snapped the ball and some blix and some don't. I say, I've seen that play and I was like, man, that's a credible defense. That's you can open your players up. You can let your guys make plays and put them in the right position to make plays. And you got

from young Tyler. Ray called me Millon like Ray Cord I hosted Ray Corpan Millon and his clips and visit at the time. He was coming out of college. So, man, y'all guys like you know Baker, you know, playing with those guys and the d line they got there. Now you know in the new free a to see we got man this, I mean, it's got a chance to be special, and it's gonna be a special group, you know, and Dolphins fans certainly love to hear that. I want to kind of follow up on that. Ray Kuan McMillan

uh mentioned there. I didn't know he was your your host or your your guest at Clemson. There, what can you tell us about ray Kuan from a young age, Because this is a guy that comes in here and has a great leadership mentality and great locker room guy. Did you recognize that pretty early on with ray Kawa McMillan, Oh, yeah, when he first stepped in the lead you know he's leader. You know, it shows by how he played so on

and off the field. You know, Ray Klon ain't never been a guy that's you heard about it paper news and stuff like that. He always been a great guy man, So it always told by how he played, how you playing on the field, you know, being be able to play with him, you know, y'all got it. You know I'm a hold it down for him. Make sure you know that. Go get past my age and things like that. You know, be able to work with those guys. Man, it's gonna be great, man, you know, because it's it's

Tyler all over you. Man. But a lot of first rounds, I feel, for real, for real. There is a lot of talent in that on the defense, on this team and on that front seven now, and a big part of that is you and some of the additions they've made to this defense. When you line up, you put your hand in the dirt shack. What's the number one thing that you love doing most, whether it's rushing the past or defending the run. Is there a specific part

of the game that you love the best? Man, the most part of the doing is man who the man ran in front of you know, just take advantage of my one on more opportunities. You know, make sure, like like on the run game, make sure nothing get past my edge. You know, I take big pot in there and pass rest man. It's it's it's it's up man, it's coming. It's gonna be great. You know, being able, They're gonna use me a lot. You know, um a lot on their pass wrests. Uh, not the opportunity that

I got last year. So I mean it's gonna be special, man. I mean I feel like I could bring a lot to the table. Man. Just the energy to Jews. I'm gonna bring the energy to the jew Man. We need every everything in the stadium loud because you know, feed off the crowd and stuff like that. So man, I'm just gonna be the guy to just bring it every day and just drop my head down and go to work. You mentioned that radar package with defenders standing up and

kind of picking their gaps to rush from. Kyle van Noy is one of the better players in the league of doing that. Emmanuel Ogba does it as well. And now we've got you here the trifecta to go ahead and execute that package. What is it about your your defensive skills. That that makes you so versatible because I watch you line up and so many gaps and so many techniques with different you know, as a looper, as a twister, just bait straight up one on one speed

rush bull rush, convert speed to power. Is that versatility in your game you think the best part of your game? Oh yeah, yeah, to play inside out complaining uh three chechnique left hand right in like loops stay. I can play anywhere on the deepens the line, and then that's been the best part of my game. They gave me the opportunity to be where I met right now, to be able to play a different spots on the field. You know, I even played a lot back coming in

the league. So I mean I've been everywhere around him feel uh and being able to make it work, man. So I mean, whenever they put me at and free me up to it made me made play. Man. I'm gonna be loving that. So, Shack, I was looking at some of your numbers to the end of the season last year, and you average nearly four pressures per game from the Dallas game onward. Was there kind of something that clicked for you at that point of the season or that kind of got you charged up for the

end of the year for that playoff push. Oh man, I know, uh, you know, towards the end of the the season, I started getting more opportunity. You know, I think following that game, I had two sets against denverd So my opportunity start coming more. I think at the time you might have a new coach or something, but um man, I just every time might got the opportunity. And that Allas is a prime time game, gets a great office allotment. They supposed to be the best office allotment the league.

Going after playing just those guys have an opportunity. Man, I just knew that was my chance to make plays. And I know we had an opportunity to play the Steelers. You know they want another great office a line. So those big time games, man, I'm trying trying to make the most of it. And at fact the quarterback, man, and that's exactly what you're here to do. Shack. Let's go ahead and now and go back to your teammate, Christian Wilkins. Now, Christian told me shock that he's the

best basketball player on the team. But I don't know if you're familiar with Preston Williams or Devontae Parker, Mike at Sicky, these guys can all hoop? Are you a hooper? And what does it look like when you throw down? Man? Look I can still I still throw down. Man. I got a clip man on YouTube your time, and so I think if you do shout louts to basketball and I think back in the game was spears was you know people used to was the spear your shoes? I

was after a document and the tenth grade was experience on. So, man, I was a hooper. You know I want to I saw some championships, you know, I want a championship. Actually want the championship with Deanre Hopkins from UM you got traded to the Arizona. I wanted to say a ship with him in the high schools playing together. So yeah, small world. You guys both find up a class in there too. Very small world. That's that's good to hear. So one last question here for you, Shack. You're gonna

get down to Miami. When you get down there, we'll see you. What are you most looking forward to when it comes to off the field in Miami. But you know during the sun man, being closer to my family though, so people can come to the game a lot more and man for a new change. No going to Miami, you know some beach. So I'm ready to just go down, man, and Man Cloak is ready to go down a wind

the thing, and I want to win. That's why they bought me there, you know, change, So that's all I'm well, that's exactly what we want to hear, Shack, And that's all I got for you today. Man, Congratulations on the new contract, on the new team. Best of luck this year, stay healthy, and welcome to Miami. So there he goes, Shack Laws and your newest pass rusher here in Miami. You heard her from him. Multiple alignments on that defensive line, inside, outside,

can win against the past, win against the rum. He's long, he's strong, athletic. Gonna be a lot of fun to watch that guy discrub quarterbacks and prevent the run game here in Miami. On a three year contract. Big congrats to Shack. We're happy to have him as things are really coming together nicely on that defense and on this Dolphins team. We're gonna talk to more Dolphins players here on the Drivetime podcast. All the new free agents talking to me here on this podcast, but asked for today.

That's gonna be my time. You all, please be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any of these interviews with these new players or podcasts in the future. Leave us a rating, leave us a review, give me a follow on Twitter. It's at Wingfield, NFL. Follow the Dolphins at Miami Dolphins. Check out the fish Tank podcast with Seth and Juice and The Audible with Kim and John. Of course, Miami Dolphins dot com. Until next time, finds up fins up, fins Up,