Tua Tagovailoa – October 20, 2021
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Wednesday, October 20, 2021
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(I guess first of all, how are your ribs feeling after that first game action?) – “Sore. My ribs are sore. But I’m just glad I got to get out there and play with the guys. Obviously it wasn’t the outcome that we wanted but thank the good Lord above that we have another opportunity to play this week, as well.”
(How much of your time rehabbing and coming back was spent just learning how to tolerate the pain associated with every throw?) – “I guess it was a day-to-day thing depending on how I felt throughout that week or depending on what day it was. We kind of rested it the first week and a half or first two weeks, and then I kind of sat down with the training staff and we kind of talked about things that we were going to do to try to help with speeding it up or whatever you want to call that.”
(Looking back at the film, what did you particularly like about what you did on the field and what are some of the things that you are looking to kind of improve on in this second game?) – “Yeah, I don’t think it’s more so me. I think when I look at the film, it’s what we can do collectively as an offense. I think there are some things that we did really well in the game and there are bits and pieces that you can kind of go back into the film room and say this isn’t up to our standards and how do we go about fixing that? That’s what this week is for. We have another chance to play another game and another team, so we have to prepare this week.”
(Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends George Godsey said that he’s using those two touchdown drives that you were able to orchestrate as kind of the building blocks going forward. What stood out to you about those two drives and what you liked about it?) – “I think we executed pretty well. Up front with our RPOs and then when we had to push the ball down field. Yeah, we were all on the same page on those drives, on those two drives. But that’s just something that’s hard in this league is consistency, and that’s what we’re trying to strive for offensively, defensively and as a whole.”
(The team is 31st in yards per pass play. How do you get that number up from right now where it’s 5.53 yards per attempt.) – “Well right now for me, if we’re 31st in the league in passing but we’re winning games, I think that’s all that matters is bringing home the win. Whatever we can do, whether it’s throwing check downs all game or handing the ball off. To me, that’s what is most important. Not how much I can throw the ball downfield. I could throw for six touchdowns but if we lose, to me that doesn’t matter. I think what matters is us getting a win.”
(How would you describe the mood of the team today?) – “I think everyone is just excited for a win. Everyone wants to come to work. Everyone works hard. You can see it in the building. It’s just tough. You lose and you put all this work into it and no matter how much you put into it, the outcome hasn’t changed yet. I would say we’ve got a good group of guys. There’s really no negativity in the locker room. Guys are picking each other up. I think that’s what this league is all about. You’re going to make mistakes but it’s how you learn from it. We all have an opportunity for that – offensively, in the kicking game and then also defensively.”
(Where would you say the line is between guys needing and wanting to do more but not wanting to do too much or go rogue or try to do something that’s not really their job? Where is that line?) – “Well, I guess that’s where trust comes in. You’re trusting that the guy next to you is going to do his job. I think that’s really what it is in this team sport. You’re trusting the guy next to you that he’s going to do his job and he’s trusting you that you’re going to do your job. If everyone does their job collectively, that’s what you are expecting is the result to be good.”
(You guys were pretty sharp when you played the Falcons in preseason play. How much do you take away from those series against Atlanta?) – “I think you look at the preseason, you look at the practices that – we had joint practices with them. I would say they’re a different team. They had different guys when we were playing. Obviously they’re going to have their starters out there when we’re playing them but the scheme is going to be the same. You can see they’re coming off a win. They’re well rested coming off they’re bye. For us, it’s been the same things over and over. It’s execution and go out and understand what we’re going to do offensively, defensively and in the kicking game to execute what we’re going to do to win the game.”
(Are you experiencing any discomfort whatsoever when you throw the ball these days because of the ribs?) – “Yes and no. Yes, there are some points of discomfort when I do certain things. But no because when I’m in the game, you’re just going. It just gets to certain parts of the game, I guess.”
(I know you guys walked through today. What are some of the benefits of the walkthrough environment?) – “I think some of the benefits with the walkthrough environment, especially coming back from London, it kind of helps us recharge and regroup. It helps us communicate a lot better. Not going fast. It’s at a communication pace. And you can restart it – the play that you’ve done. It’s really for teaching, I would say. I guess that’s the benefit to that.”
(Going back through your history coming up through different levels of football, is there anything in your past that comes to mind as far as going through a losing streak such as this one at five now? Anything that stands out as far as how you were able to maybe get through that point and start winning again?) – “Yeah. To answer that, I would say it’s a different league. High school is different than college. College is different than the NFL. This is the professional level. We’re not just pros on our team. They’ve got pros on their team. They’ve got good guys on their team. It’s not easy. I understand that. Our team understands that. We don’t take winning and losing for granted. But to me, that’s what it falls back to is just learning from your mistakes and continuing to grow. Like I said, the group of guys that we have in the locker room are really supportive of each other, and I think that’s what helps wanting to push to win and wanting to good for the guy next to you. I think we have a family-oriented locker room and I think that’s what’s going to keep us going the rest of the year.
