Mike McDaniel: “Tua is the leader of our team”
Expectations are relatively high in Miami this off-season, given the additions the Dolphins made in the off-season. Miami added a number of important pieces, including left tackle Terron Armstead, pass rusher Melvin Ingram, and of course wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
And yet, the biggest question remains: Can Tua Tagovailoa take the step forward Dolphins fans are hoping for?
At the start of training camp Wednesday, new head coach Mike McDaniel emphasized this point by declaring that “Tua is the leader of our team:”
Mike McDaniel says Tua is “the leader of our team.” Mike says Tua has put on more work this offseason than ever. And that he has instructed Tua not to be hard on himself this camp. He wants him to practice short memory, move on.
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) July 27, 2022
This is not to say that McDaniel is not looking for development, and improvement. The head coach shared with the media what he is looking for from his quarterback.
Deliberate intent:
Coach says he wants to see deliberate intent from Tua on each play — all players, really. He says Tua recognized how much is asked of him in this offense, at that position, of him in OTAs and he's applied himself accordingly this summer.
— Travis Wingfield (@WingfieldNFL) July 27, 2022
That “deliberate intent” speaks to how we believe the Dolphins offense is going to look this season. With Hill and Jaylen Waddle, as well as tight end Mike Gesicki, the Dolphins have skill players who can be extremely dangerous after the catch. Tagovailoa will be tasked with making quick, deliberate decisions with the football and giving them the opportunity to create in space, after the reception.
Plays like this completion against the Carolina Panthers are an example of what McDaniel is searching for this season. Tagovailoa, working out of an empty formation, uses a one-step drop from the shotgun. As soon as he hits that one step, the ball is coming out to Waddle:
On this out route to Waddle against the Atlanta Falcons, Tagovailoa makes another quick decision, and by getting the ball out quickly, he puts Waddle in a position to make the first defender miss, leading to additional yardage after the catch:
This play is an example of how a quarterback can contribute to yardage after the catch. By getting the ball out quickly to his receiver, Tagovailoa puts Waddle in a position to make the reception, and transition from a receiver to a runner. With that advantage, Waddle is able to make the first defender miss. It enables a ten-yard throw to become a 17-yard gain.
If this throw comes out later, Waddle loses that advantage, and the ten-yard throw is likely just a ten-yard gain.
McDaniel is looking for more plays like this from Tagovailoa this season. If the young quarterback shows the “deliberate intent” his coach is looking for, then Dolphins fans might just see that third-year leap they are hoping for this season.
