Tua Tagovailoa’s efficiency in final Sunday’s 20-7 season-opening victory over the New England Patriots was ok to supply a win on a day the place the protection put collectively a stellar outing, however the Miami Dolphins quarterback got here away feeling there was a lot to enhance going into Week 2.
“There’s a lot of things that we wish we had back in the game,” stated Tagovailoa, talking after Wednesday’s follow. “It was great to look at them and learn from them, and then move on to this week against the Ravens.”
Tagovailoa and the Dolphins head right into a hostile setting that has not been type to Miami traditionally in Baltimore for a 1 p.m. kickoff at M&T Bank Stadium. The Dolphins’ two most up-to-date journeys there, earlier than Tagovailoa arrived, have been defeats by a mixed margin of 72 factors in 2016 and 2017.
For Tagovailoa’s half, he has confronted the Ravens as soon as, and it was within the second half of final yr’s Thursday evening upset win on Nov. 11 that sparked a midseason turnaround. He didn’t begin as he handled a finger harm on his throwing hand, however with backup Jacoby Brissett happening, he stepped in and went 8 of 13 for 158 yards and a speeding landing. Baltimore has a brand new defensive coordinator this season, Mike Macdonald, after Don “Wink” Martindale went to the New York Giants.
Tagovailoa will go into Baltimore seeking to increase on issues he did nicely within the opener towards New England whereas correcting performs that have been left on the sector.
On the plus aspect, he bought the ball to his playmakers, particularly broad receiver Tyreek Hill, within the 23-of-33 outing for 270 yards and a landing, whereas not turning the ball over. His 42-yard landing to Jaylen Waddle on fourth down proper earlier than halftime was an distinctive instance of Tagovailoa manipulating a defender away from the place he’s going with the way in which he appeared left to get linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley away from Waddle over the center on the slant.
But Tagovailoa nonetheless had numerous performs he needs he had again. Some throws, together with his very first go, have been quick, skipping to the meant goal. While he didn’t flip the ball over, he narrowly prevented both an interception or fumble on a number of events the place he was beneath duress.
“It’s hard,” stated Tagovailoa of constructing a call whereas getting taken down by a defender. “As a quarterback, you’re wanting to make plays, but at the same time, you kind of don’t want to lose the field position that you have, knowing you’re in field-goal range. I would say, just on my part, just got to be smarter in those instances. Sometimes, it’s not bad taking a sack, whereas turning it over.”
Of the passes that fell quick: “It was the timing of the play. Some plays, I was a little fast within my footwork. And some plays, I was a little slower and having to speed up.”
Coach Mike McDaniel has been impressed with Tagovailoa’s strategy to correcting errors.
“It’s just the continued growth. He hasn’t been satisfied at all, so he keeps building,” McDaniel stated Wednesday. “I want to see him focus on the stuff that he knows that he was frustrated with to get better. Also, I want to see his confidence continue to grow because he should get more confidence each and every day that he’s playing the position with us and doing it at a high level.”
McDaniel took blame on Monday for among the situations the place the offense was off steadiness, noting he took too lengthy to get sure performs in to Tagovailoa.
“He found ways to make plays even after plays that he was frustrated at, which a lot had to do with me,” McDaniel stated. “Together, we’ll keep moving forward, and I’m excited to do so.”
Tagovailoa, already pressured a lot in Week 1, now faces the prospect of doubtless lacking one or each of his beginning tackles with Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson every lacking Wednesday’s follow.
“It was awesome that guys stepped up,” he stated of a consistently shuffling offensive line final Sunday. “And when their numbers were called, they stepped right in and it didn’t seem as if we kind of missed the step.”
Tagovailoa bought to follow in rain outdoors at group services on Wednesday. He stated quarterbacks went by means of wet-ball drills, which is an space the place he has needed to enhance after leaving a lot to be desired in final yr’s loss within the rain on the Tennessee Titans that eradicated Miami from playoff rivalry. The Dolphins prevented the South Florida rain all through coaching camp.
Tagovailoa stated he may get to take a look at his youthful brother, Taulia Tagovailoa, play his faculty recreation Saturday evening for Maryland towards Southern Methodist, relying on when the Dolphins arrive into city and if the schedule permits it.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com