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Tua Tagovailoa – December 16, 2020 Download PDF version

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

QB Tua Tagovailoa

(I’m curious how for you, with three weeks left in the season, there are a lot of players out there who unfortunately don’t have much to play for from a team perspective. For you, what does it mean to be playing in important games that mean so much to the playoff race now as a rookie?) – “Yeah, I think all of our games are important. I don’t think it’s necessarily just this game in particular. At this point in time, this is our most important game. It’s really whatever team we have at that moment, that’s our most important game. That’s what we’re focused on. Really, we’re just preparing for the Patriots.”

(How familiar are you with Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick’s reputation as a defensive coach and what are your thoughts about seeing that defense for the first time on the field?) – “I would say I’m pretty familiar. I grew up watching the Patriots play in a lot of the Super Bowls. I would also say I’ve seen Bill a good amount at Alabama. Him and Nick (Saban) are pretty good friends. I would say (they’re) very similar in a way with I guess Coach Saban, with how they go about doing things; but I know that there’s going to be a lot of challenges that his defense has to offer our offense and we just have to be prepared this week for those.”

(I would say the defense that you face in practice is pretty similar to the Patriots’ defense. How do you think that is going to help you prepare for Sunday’s game?) – “I think our scout team does a good job helping prepare us offensively for the games. It’s all dependent on the looks that we’re going to get. I think the scout team does a good job at that. There’s always going to be new things that are going to pop up, whether it’s a front or something happens in the back end. You’ve just got to be prepared for it and adapt to that change on the fly.”

(I’m not sure if you saw, but after the game, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was very complimentary towards you, especially how you approached the latter portions of the game. He said “When I was a young quarterback, I might have tried to force some throws and tried to score 20 points at a time.” He saw a lot of composure on your part to take what was there and do it one play at a time. Where does that mindset come from? Is that just part of your DNA? How did you develop that mindset?) – “I would say that’s been our motto or our little mantra offensively. You take it one play at a time. How can you do your best job on this particular play moving forward? It’s really just the one-play-at-a-time mentality and if the play doesn’t go well, then really it’s the next snap, next play mentality. I think a lot of credit goes to our coaches and helping us, preparing us for those things where we’re in a passing situation, these guys are going to get back and take what they give you. If they give you a flat, they give you a flat. If they give you a deep route, they give you a deep route. Really take what the defense gives you.”

(The last two games you’ve targeted TE Mike Gesicki 17 times and threw three touchdown passes to him. Obviously his status this weekend is up in the air but if he’s unable to go, how do you duplicate that kind of production? Do you do it with one player? Do you do it across the board?) – “I think it’s hard to replace a guy like Mike. It’s also hard to replace any of these guys – DeVante (Parker), Jakeem (Grant). But it’s next man up and the guys that are ready to play, they’re hungry to play. This is just an opportunity for them, as well. This is a great time for me as a quarterback to show my leadership to these guys, these new guys, and then also work my timing with them.”

(I ask this because you’re playing the Patriots for the first time. When you think of the Patriots growing up as a football fan, what comes to mind?) – “I think when you think of the Patriots, you think of dominant. They’ve been very dominant over the past two decades, I would say, especially when (Tom) Brady was there. I think they have a really talented quarterback in Cam Newton and also with Jarrett Stidham. Their defense has always been their biggest deal. (Bill) Belichick takes pride and all of the DCs that have come there, even ‘Coach Flo’ (Brian Flores), they all take pride in their defense and what they do to stop offenses. That’s the biggest thing I would say, pretty much dominant.”

(I wanted to ask you about QB Jalen Hurts. He got his first start for the Eagles this past week and he’s getting another one this week. I’m curious if you were able to talk to him or see him perform and if you could share any of that.) – “Yeah, I wasn’t able to talk to him before the game or after the game but I would say maybe two or three weeks we’ve talked a good amount about whatever situation he was in and whatnot. We were going back and forth talking about it. I’m really happy to see him and how successful he’s been. It’s a big win against the Saints, so congratulations to Jalen and his team. I hope he continues to do well.”

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