Tua Tagovailoa – August 14, 2021 (Postgame)
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Saturday, August 14, 2021
Postgame – at Chicago
QB Tua Tagovailoa (transcribed by the Chicago Bears)
(How do you think you did?) – “Well, I think the better question for that is what didn’t I do well? I thought I did all right. There were a lot of things that we need to clean up offensively. You know, with our communication, more so our execution with our plays that we’re given. But first time coming out in a real game-like situation, environment. I thought it was pretty good for the first time. Obviously there’s a lot of things that we need to clean up, but that’s what we got film for, you know, when we hop on to the plane, we’ll take a look at some of those plays that didn’t go the way we wanted to, and we’ll get those fixed.”
(What should you have done differently in the interception to Shaheen) – “Probably not throwing it. Probably not throwing it. I think the DB made a great play. That wasn’t a good decision on my part. When you get down to the red area, you gotta make good, quick decisions, and that wasn’t a quick decision — or that was a quick decision, but not a good decision. That was just something that I gotta continue to learn from, take that and put it in my arsenal and hope not to make that same mistake again.”
(Were you looking at another receiver before you came back to him or were you looking at him first?) – “Yeah. I just went through my progression. And to me Adam looked wide open.”
(He was.) – “But I — you know, I was late. And in this league you can never be late over the middle in the red area. Like I said, those are recipes for disaster and that’s what happened.”
(Before that you had like eight completions in a row. Were you feeling it, I guess is the question. Were you feeling good about I’m stacking good precision?) – “I would say we were getting into a good groove offensively. I think we did a pretty good job converting on our third downs. On our fourth downs as well. But then again, it’s a one-play-at-a-time kind of mentality that we need to have. You can never get too high. Hey, we’re feeling good. Maybe take a shot. Whatever play we’re given, gotta go through the fundamentals and techniques that we’ve been taught throughout the week, you know, and use that.”
(Tua, what went into the long completion play working out?) – “I think it first off started with the line. I think the line did a tremendous job today. They kept the pocket clean, gave me a lot of time to step up into the pocket and make that throw. And it wasn’t just that play. There were numerous occasions throughout the first quarter and second quarter where they’ve really shown up and given me a clean pocket. But, yeah, they played one route around that. Just went over the top. Mike had a one on one matchup with them and just gave them a chance.”
(Tua, you had the 50-yarder and the 16-yarder to Hollins that was called back. How much of a focal point for you was it to take those shots down field and not settle for the shorter throws?) – “I’m just going through my progression, but those were all within the play. What I seen from what the defense had given me, I made my mind up on where I was going to go with the ball if this wasn’t open or if this wasn’t open. And I think for quarterbacks, being able to understand where you’re going, being decisive with knowing where you’re going with the ball, and getting the ball out quick helps with kind of building up that rhythm.”
(Was the line of communication today Coach Godsey in the press box directly to you? Was that the line of communication?) – “Really Charlie was giving me the plays. I don’t really know how that kind of communication came in, whether it was from George or whether E said something to Charlie.”
(You’ve known him for a long time. Has that worked out well? What kind of communication do you have with Charlie?) – “With Charlie?”
(How is it working?) – “Yeah, I think it’s working really good. I like who Charlie is. I’ve known him for quite some time. I think he’s a really good coach. He’s personable. A lot of the guys on the team like him. But, yeah, I think he’s a really good coach.”
(Tua, what’s that moment like when you come out of the tunnel and your parents are there? You kind of ran by and you had to come back.) – “Yeah. That wasn’t good on my part, but it’s good to be able to see my parents. I never take that for granted. Anytime that I get to see them, say hi to them, spend time with them, I’m going to take that time to do that. But it was great seeing them.”
(What did you think of their number one today, Fields?) – “Yeah. I think he did good. A little tough in the beginning, you know, first couple of series, but you could see he kind of found his rhythm throughout the game and kept playing, stayed in there. I mean he’s good. He’s a good dual-threat quarterback, too. He can stay in the pocket and throw, throw on the run, you know, run the ball like we’ve seen. But, yeah, I thought he did really good. Wish him the best.”
(Tua, how much time do you feel like you need to get your comfort level with Fuller and DeVante and Albert?) – “I think only time can tell. Whenever those guys are available and they’re ready to get back in action, it’s just practice. I think for anyone is just takes practice for them to get good at something or build communication, build chemistry with one another. I really think that’s all it is.”
