AFC Notes: Dolphins, Ravens, Titans

Dolphins

Dolphins HC Adam Gase mentioned that C Mike Pouncey is “really improving” in regards to his return from hip surgery.

“He’s really improving,” Gase said of Pouncey, via James Walker of ESPN. “We feel like we’re on a really, really good track right now and we’ll wait ’til the next doctor’s visit when we get kind of that report back and see what our next step would be. Or did anything change? Better? Worse? We’re just trying to really focus on the steps that the doctors have for us right now.”

Ravens

According to veteran Ravens S Eric Weddle, free agent acquisition Tony Jefferson is “light years” ahead of most guys he’s played with over the years.

“No disrespect to any of the guys I’ve played with, but it’s nice not to have to explain why I do certain things or why I’m doing this in this coverage,” Weddle said, via the Baltimore Sun. “From day one, he already had a feel for how I play and how to work off me. … It frees me up a lot more mentally. I don’t have to tell him after each play why I did this or, before the snap, let’s do this. He already knows. That is just light years ahead of most guys I’ve played with. I’ve loved every guy I’ve played with, but he’s just on another level.”

Ravens HC John Harbaugh added that Jefferson has been “A-plus in every area” up to this point.

“I would say, Tony Jefferson, my impressions would be A-plus in every area,” Harbaugh said. “I see him in the weight room, I see him in the conditioning and I see him in the meeting room. I see his knowledge of the defense already; I see how he and Eric interact back there. We are doing a great job of disguising our looks, and we are causing the offense a lot of trouble.”

Despite signing a four-year, $36 million contract, Jefferson believes he still has a lot to prove.

“This is my most important year,” Jefferson said. “This is where you really make your mark on the league and stamp yourself in a division like this. I’ve got a lot to prove. It’s not pressure, exactly. It’s pressure I like. I can’t wait to put on the pads, honestly.”

Titans

• Jim Wyatt writes that the Titans’ decision to move on from veteran CB Jason McCourty this offseason was a clear indication that they really wanted to get younger in their secondary and there were other factors in play here such as playing time and money.
• According to Wyatt, the coaching staff likes Kalan Reed‘s versatility and should compete with Brice McCain, D’Joun Smith, Adoree’ Jackson, LeShaun Sims and Logan Ryan.