Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is about to enter his fifth NFL season, the place expectations stay excessive for him and his offense to carry out beneath head coach Mike McDaniel’s scheme.
When McDaniel took over two seasons in the past, all he had have been optimistic phrases for Tagovailoa, the Dolphins’ fifth general decide within the 2020 NFL Draft, regardless of a modest 13-8 beginning file over his first two seasons.
However McDaniel believed within the lefty sign caller, and after going 8-5 in his first season over 13 video games as a starter, Tagovailoa had his finest 12 months — a full 17-game season — with an 11-6 file to succeed in the playoffs.
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Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa re-drew the offense this offseason. (Susan Stocker/South Florida/Tribune Information Service by way of Getty Pictures)
Tagovailoa, making an look on the “Dan Le Batard Present with Stugotz,” defined the arrogance that he has beneath McDaniel, and he threw some shade at his former head coach Brian Flores within the course of.
“To place it in easiest phrases, when you wakened each morning, and I informed you that you just suck at what you probably did, that you do not belong doing what you do, that you just should not be right here, that this man needs to be right here, that you have not earned this proper, after which you have got anyone else are available and inform you, ‘Dude, you’re the finest match for this. You might be correct. You’re the finest no matter. You might be this. You might be that.’ How would that make you’re feeling, listening to at least one or the opposite? You see what I am saying?” Tagovailoa questioned on the present.
TUA TAGOVAILOA INKS $212M EXTENSION WITH DOLPHINS, BUT IS HE WORTH IT?
“And then you definately hear it and listen to it — no matter what it’s, the great or the unhealthy — and also you hear it increasingly, you begin to really imagine that. I do not care who you’re. You might be the President of the US. (If) you have got a horrible individual that’s telling (you) issues that you do not wish to hear or in all probability should not be listening to, you are gonna begin to imagine that about your self. That is form of what ended up taking place. It is mainly been two years of coaching that out of, not simply me, however a few the fellows as properly which were right here since my rookie 12 months all the best way till now.”
Tagovailoa’s candid feedback about Flores, the present defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, are new as he’s calling out his teaching type. Nevertheless, when wanting on the circumstances Tagovailoa handled throughout his first two seasons, one can maybe perceive the place he’s coming from.
Throughout these first two years, Tagvailoa had journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick within the quarterbacks room, and Flores would pull the teen for the veteran throughout his rookie marketing campaign.
Head coach Brian Flores watches as Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins throws the ball throughout the coaching camp on the Baptist Well being Coaching Advanced on August 4, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Joel Auerbach/Getty Pictures)
There was additionally hypothesis that the Dolphins can be buying and selling for then-Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who in the end ended up with the Cleveland Browns.
However issues modified when Flores was let go after the 2021 season, making means for McDaniel to prepared the ground the following season. Tagovailoa’s uptick in efficiency occurred instantly, throwing for 3,548 yards with 25 touchdowns, although he needed to miss 4 video games because of concussions.
With this newfound confidence, Tagovailoa is clearly assured to talk on his previous psychological battles along with his previous coach.
The Dolphins additionally imagine in Tagovailoa, allotting a four-year, $212.4 million extension to him final month to stay the sign caller in South Seaside.
In that first full season final 12 months, Tagovailoa threw for a league-leading 4,624 yards with 29 touchdowns to 14 interceptions. Armed with speedy receivers and working backs throughout, McDaniel’s scheme preaches accuracy and timing, which Tagovailoa has proven he can do regardless of the opponent.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa threw shade at his former head coach in Miami, Brian Flores (Getty Pictures)
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Now, it’s all concerning the Tremendous Bowl run within the playoffs, which he has but to do. However Tagovailoa is assured — as is his head coach — that he could make that occur.
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