Dolphins, Tua, attempt to outduel Chargers, Herbert in season opener
LOS ANGELES — The Dolphins' road to the AFC playoffs starts in Los Angeles and it certainly may need to go through Los Angeles and quarterback Justin Herbert, one of the truly great quarterbacks in a truly great conference.
"Highly, highly talented," Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio says of Herbert. "He’s a complete quarterback.”
The Dolphins think they have a complete quarterback, too, one entirely capable of outdueling Herbert on Sunday at So-Fi Stadium. And outperforming him this season.
If Tua stays healthy.
"I think the first game is always a little more jittery than every other game," said Tua Tagovailoa, who will play for the first time in 259 days, having been sidelined last season by at least two concussions.
Tua and Herbert will forever be intertwined, the Dolphins choosing Tua one spot ahead of Herbert, fifth overall, in the 2019 NFL draft.
This week, Tua endorsed Herbert and noted that they go about things in different ways.
"Justin can throw the deep ball as far as anyone in this league," Tua said. "There’s things that Justin does that I look at and go, 'Oh my gosh.' Sometimes you can’t help but fan over those plays."
The Dolphins lost at the Chargers last season, Herbert getting the better of the matchup.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, Tua, Tyreek Hill and anyone who's worn aqua and orange credited the Chargers' staff for a plan that flooded the middle of the field — where Tua makes a living.
"They had a great game plan for us last year," Tua said.
"They do a great job of jamming receivers and playing to their leverage," Hill said.
Chargers had good strategy for Tua, Dolphins
McDaniel liked the plan so much he hired away the Chargers' defensive coordinator, Renaldo Hill, to coach the secondary.
McDaniel and Tua consulted this week with Hill. But in reality, they face a Chargers-style defense every day, as Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and LA head coach Brandon Staley operate similar schemes.
McDaniel has had all season to devise a plan to counter what the Chargers did last time around.
"It wasn’t like they reinvented defense," McDaniel said. "It was more that their guys understood their issues in each individual coverage and really played in a competitive spirit."
Contract? Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa wowed by Justin Herbert contract, wants to earn his deal
Herbert ($262.5 million payday) and Joe Burrow ($275 million payday) are Tua's draft classmates.
Tua will earn $9.6 million this season and is scheduled to earn $23.2 million next season. Any extension discussions are on hold as the organization, understandably, wants to see whether he can stay healthy for the entire season.
Will Tua be called upon to use his jiujitsu training on Sunday? Perhaps.
He does seem more adept at avoiding head injury after a hit.
What to expect in Dolphins at Chargers
Expect the Dolphins to run more on Sunday and this season than they did last year.
Expect the Chargers to try to attack Eli Apple or Cam Smith, filling in at corner for injured Jalen Ramsey.
Expect the Dolphins' defense to use more zone and blitz less in 2023, under Fangio.
Expect the Chargers to try to exploit Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack against Miami's offensive tackles, especially with Terron Armstead out.
Tua Time Tua considered giving up the sport he loves. Now he's back and he wants to stay.
Miami and Los Angeles are each projected by oddsmakers to win nine or 10 games in 2023.
Some think the Dolphins will go as far as the Super Bowl.
Some think the AFC is crowded with so many talented teams like Los Angeles that they'll miss the playoffs entirely.
Sunday is a wonderful barometer.
"I’m really excited," Tua said of facing the Chargers. "This is going to be a good team.”
Joe Schad is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on social media platforms @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tua Tagovailoa and Miami Dolphins open season at Los Angeles Chargers
