MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins training camp Week 2 wrapped up Saturday with a dominant two hours by their very gifted defensive position and an uneven day by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The 2 phenomena weren’t unrelated.
We get into that, and way more, in our newest Dolphins apply report.
Consistency key for Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
With 5 weeks left till the common season, Tagovailoa is definitely forward of the place he was at this level within the calendar the final two seasons. And at instances, he has the look of a wonderful quarterback.
After which he has a day like Saturday, when he accomplished lower than half of his passes in 11-on-11 drills and threw two balls that may have been interceptions had Noah Igbinoghene and Xavien Howard hung onto them.
The near-pick to Igbinoghene both was a nasty throw or combined indicators together with his receiver. It was thrown to nobody specifically. Tua early in apply additionally had a wild overthrow that was not at risk of being intercepted.
He additionally had some actually stunning passes, significantly between the hashes. That’s a energy of his, and can certainly be an enormous a part of Miami’s offense below new head coach Mike McDaniel.
However Tagovailoa might want to add different pitches to his arsenal to take the following step. And he’ll want to take action constantly.
Apart from a fabulous four-game stretch in November and early December final season, Tagovailoa’s profession has been made by up-and-down performances from week to week.
Maybe that adjustments with a brand new head coach and a brand new extensive receiver who not solely utterly have Tua’s again, but additionally are decided to make Tagovailoa consider in himself.
Tyreek Hill, the brash, dynamic addition from Kansas Metropolis, is of the opinion that confidence could be infectious.
“I really feel prefer it rubs off in the precise means,” Hill stated. “It rubs off on everyone. Tua has even been speaking trash, and I believe that’s nice for his confidence, transferring ahead, going into these large video games that we’re about to play. I’m similar to a match. I get issues began, and so they end it.”
Definitely, the followers have Tua’s again. “Tua, Tua!” chants have been a continuing in the course of the open practices, and the tons of that turned out for Saturday’s apply reached a frenzy when Tua efficiently discovered the goal web on a few 50-yard makes an attempt Saturday.
Subsequent week’s joint practices can be a wonderful take a look at for Tagovailoa. The Buccaneers have a gifted and harmful protection. Two profitable days in Tampa will go a great distance in serving to Tua quiet any doubters that stay about his sport.
The Dolphins have assembled a dynamic defensive entrance
A part of the explanation Tua slumped a bit Saturday: The Dolphins’ entrance seven feasted.
Actually, Tua’s most spectacular play of the day was when he acquired off a 20-yard completion to Hill with second-year cross rusher Jaelan Phillips in his face. Earlier in apply, Phillips didn’t chew on play-action and acquired to Tagovailoa for a sack. Phillips flashed most each apply and appears poised for an enormous 12 months 2 after recording 8.5 sacks as a rookie.
“He’s a beast,” stated Dolphins proper sort out Austin Jackson. “He’s a monster. He’s quick, robust, sensible. Nice participant. … He’ll undoubtedly make his leap. He’s undoubtedly quicker, stronger, all of the issues.”
However the MVP within the trenches this camp has been Christian Wilkins, who wore the orange apply jersey Saturday signifying that coaches consider he had one of the best day of any participant Friday. And right here’s what’s wild: Nobody would fault McDaniel if he gave Wilkins the jersey once more Sunday.
He had a number of tackles for loss and was consistently within the backfield. Wilkins is a tone setter for a bunch that has had nice lateral pursuit on operating performs by the speedy Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Zach Sieler is one other Dolphins defensive lineman whose motor doesn’t cease.
“That’s the usual, actually,” Wilkins stated. “It’s been some extent of emphasis for us. We sort of set the tone because the D-line, operating to the ball. As D-linemen, in the event you set the tone, operating downfield on an enormous play, nobody else has an excuse. That’s the usual.”
When requested how difficult it’s to chase down Hill on a reverse, Wilkins replied:
“Them dudes quick. It’s good. I’m humbled operating after him, however I additionally really feel like… It’s a bit embarrassing as a result of he’s at all times going to tug away, however I nonetheless suppose I’m decently quick.”
Extra Miami Dolphins coaching camp observations
- McDaniel stated Friday that he wouldn’t be involved about Connor Williams’ inconsistent snapping “if he didn’t work at it.” However many extra days like Saturday — when Williams had three excessive shotgun snaps and Dolphins facilities had 5 poor ones complete — might power McDaniel’s hand. Will probably be fascinating to see if the Dolphins persist with Williams at middle if he doesn’t snap out of it as soon as Michael Deiter returns from a foot damage.
- The battle between Igbinoghene and Trill Williams for the No. 4 nook job has been wonderful. Each are anticipated to make the group, significantly if each proceed to carry out like they did Saturday. Williams had a sack in group drills and shortly thereafter ran stride-for-stride with Trent Sherfield downfield.
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