Tua Tagovailoa – December 8, 2021
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Wednesday, December 8, 2021
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(What’s the self-scouting process going to be for you? I know guys have talked about doing that this week. Is it all looking at mannerisms to make sure that you don’t tip off defenses? How in depth will you go with that?) – “I would say that is a part of it. I would also say for myself, just finding ways to get completions, get the ball out of my hands on third down. If you looked at previous film, there have been some guys that have been open that I’ve missed. Just trying to eliminate that period of missing guys, whether it’s in the flat, whether it’s an under route, an over route, whatever it might be. Just going through my progressions faster.”
(How did you enjoy the experience of going to the Heat game, being shown on the big screen, getting a Heat jersey?) – “That was cool. It was my first experience of going to a Heat game. I thought that was cool. The love and support from the fans there at the game. I also knew there were teammates there after I was shown on the big screen. I got a lot of text messages. I wasn’t aware that I wasn’t the only Miami Dolphins player at that game.”
(Can we ask who else was there?) – “Mike Gesicki, Jacoby Brissett, Durham Smythe and a bunch of those guys. It was literally a last-minute decision. I asked one of my guys what there was to do around because we had a bye week and he said that there might potentially be a Miami Heat game. The game started at 7:30 and I told him at about 6:50 that I wanted to go. (laughter) So thanks to him and the people that he got to get us into the game.”
(Was that your first NBA game and have you been to a Major League Baseball, or National Hockey League game?) – “That was my second NBA game. My first NBA game was at the – I believe the Army All-American Bowl and we went to watch the Spurs play. This is my second NBA game. I’ve never been to a baseball game. I’ve been to a hockey game, a Panthers game. It was a fun experience. I like it though because it’s cold. I don’t like being hot, especially after you’re cheering. It’s nice.”
(Inter Miami, have you been to an Inter Miami game?) – “I haven’t, but I do have friends that I train with that have gone to some of them. They’ve taken their kids and they’ve enjoyed it a lot. There are a lot of people that go to those games too. I might have a better chance of going to those games and not being recognized because everyone is so much more focused on the soccer players and whatnot. It might be more enjoyable to go to those games.”
(You don’t like being recognized?) – “I just want to enjoy. (laughter) I don’t go out as much too. The reason I don’t is because of that. I try to go out as much as possible. Every time my mom is in town, I go out to Winn Dixie near my house. I get my mom flowers every time she’s in town. (laughter) That’s the reason I go.”
(Do you get a lot of people coming to you?) – “No. I wear a hoodie, wear a mask and glasses. (laughter) It’s good, but that’s really it.”
(It’s difficult living in Miami trying to hide.) – “Yeah, but the cool thing about Miami is that there are a lot of celebrities out there. It’s almost like it’s nonchalant. They see you like ‘oh, that’s Tua. Let’s go eat Subway.’ (laughter) I think that’s how it is.”
(The next time we see a hoodie, masked figure at Winn Dixie, we’ll know it’s you.) – “No, no, no. I’m going to change it up. Play the game.”
(How does it compare to Tuscaloosa?) – “Tuscaloosa it’s just hard to hide. No one looks like me in Alabama. (laughter) You can’t hide.”
(Do you have any plans this weekend?) – “Yeah. I am going to go golfing. I’m going to go golf and enjoy the bye week with some of my teammates. There might be some last-minute decisions made whether I fly out to go see my parents or spend some time with my brother. Who knows?”
(How’s that golf game coming along?) – “I played yesterday. I shot all right. I shot an 88. It was pretty decent. It was at Fort Lauderdale Country Club. It was good fun. It’s getting better but still a lot of shots that I wish I could have back.”
(A lot of your teammates have pointed to your confidence … [inaudible]?) – “I think we’re getting the ball out. We’re completing the balls. I’m not too sure from my standpoint. I know there are a lot of things that we can continue to fix. There are things that we could continue to get better with. To me, that’s the way to go with it. Don’t be satisfied. Just continue to find out what we can do better.”
(What gives you more satisfaction – you nail a golf shot these days or you throw the perfect pass?) – “It depends. Is the perfect pass a touchdown? And is the hit going in the hole? (laughter)”
(Inaudible) – “I’d take them both if I could. I’ll take them both. To me, there is nothing better than maybe hitting your 8-iron 160-yards out and you see it land on the green and it starts rolling and it disappears. (laughter)”
(Have you had one of those?) – “No. I’ve never had one of those. (laughter) But I’m just saying – I’ve had a nice chip and it’s went in. Other than that, that’s it.”
