Tua Tagovailoa – November 13, 2022 (Postgame)
Sunday, November 13, 2022
Postgame – Cleveland
QB Tua Tagovailoa (Transcribed by ASAP Sports)
Q: You had a touchdown pass to Trent Sherfield. It looked like one of those money throws. I guess just describe the connection that you have been building with your receivers, especially Trent this year so far.
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, I think on that particular play it looked like a palms look where if Tyreek broke out, they could play cover 2, and if not, they would play cover 4. So it really helped so that Tyreek was also in the slot on that side, so we didn’t know if they were going to double or cloud it or play 4. So I did my footwork, looked at Tyreek, and was trying to feel through Tyreek with the corner. I felt like he was squatting, so I gave Trent an opportunity, and Trent made a big play for us in that instance. So I’m really happy that he finally got a touchdown as a Dolphin.
Q: I’m gathering you heard the “MVP” chants from the crowd. Did you hear that? What do you think when you hear that the fans are chanting “MVP?”
TUA TAGOVAILOA: There’s no doubt I heard that. I could hear that when it was a TV timeout, when we were walking back into the tunnel. You know, it’s flattering. But what we came to do and what we came to accomplish, it’s not accomplished yet. So it would be cool, but we have bigger goals and aspirations on what we want to do as a team.
Q: You guys had a season high performance on the ground game. I know all the talking has been about the passing game, but how do you think maybe that success through the air kind of opened things up today for the running game?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think with the speed that we can have outside, it definitely helps. But, then again, you can’t discredit our guys up front. Our guys are protecting their ass off. Had zero sacks. I had a clean pocket. When I took my shoulder pads off, Anne made a comment. She said, ‘Wow, your jersey is so clean.’ Well, it’s because of our guys up front. Our running backs with Raheem (Mostert) and Jeff (Wilson), I mean, I’ve never seen a duo like this, and I’ve never been a part of a back field like that before, so this is cool. Outside of the college realm of backs in the NFL.
Q: Three consecutive games with three touchdowns, no interceptions, very efficient. Do you feel yourself playing your most consistent ball of your pro career right now?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, I do, and I think it’s a testament to the work that we all put in day in and day out. From after a game like this, you know, coming in tomorrow. On a day like Monday getting together as an offensive group, talking about the things that we need to improve on, and then carrying that over to Wednesday and then all the way leading to Sunday. So it’s really an effort for everyone as to why we’re all having success.
Q: What do you do during an off week?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I’ll be training, but I don’t know. I haven’t really thought. For me all the years are different, so I don’t know what I’ll do yet.
Q: Having four players with four players with four or five catches, what’s the benefit when you were able to kind of spread it around on a game like today?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, I think the benefit is those guys on the opposing team have to cover everyone on the field. It’s not just Tyreek (Hill) or Jaylen (Waddle) or Mike (Gesicki) or our backs. You’ve got to cover everyone and if someone is not accounted for, then hopefully we can find them and get them the ball and force their team to tackle them. I think that’s also something that’s frustrating for defenses. It’s within the progression of my read, so regardless of who it is, if he is open, I’ll try to find a way to get him the ball.
Q: You said you’re not done obviously with what you want to do, but did you ever envision this kind of environment surrounding you with the crowd chanting “MVP” for you and on the streak you’re on right now? Did you ever envision all of this coming together like this?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: No, I didn’t. I would say I didn’t because a lot of the hard work that we’ve put in, like, we’re just so focused on how we can win games and what that entails. For our backs to have long touchdowns, explosive touchdowns, one each, and then being able to throw to three different guys, touchdowns; you’re just in the moment and you’re just enjoying that and you don’t necessarily think outside of any of that. I’m really proud of our team. Our defense gave us a lot of opportunities to go out there and try to put those guys away, but a lot of respect to their team as well. They came out. They fought. And shoutout to my boy Jacoby Brissett. He fought hard as well.
Q: How would you describe the — seems kind of obvious, but you’re the best person to ask. How would you describe the role that Head Coach Mike McDaniel has played in the team’s 7-3 record and success through 10 games?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think just his personality. Just him being himself. Not changing up the schedule. Or if it is being changed, he gets the captains together or he gets the leadership meeting together and kind of gets the feel of what the players in the locker room are saying about certain things, if they like the schedule, if they don’t like the schedule, what do we need to change. I would say he is a man of the people. He has no ego, no ego towards what he believes is right or wrong. But then again, it’s ‘our team’ is what he will tell you. I think just him being himself is really what helps us be able to be ourselves as well. We don’t have to be anyone we’re not.
Q: It’s kind of unprecedented, the leap you’ve made this year from your first two years. Can you address where you are at confident-wise compared to maybe the end of last year?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, I think you look at those, and they’re two different seasons, two different offensive-minded OCs, play callers, whatever you want to say about that. So schematically it’s totally different than what I’ve been used to at Alabama and my first two years in the NFL. Really just the guys that I’m surrounded with. I’m not able to make the plays that I’m able to do if we don’t have the guys up front blocking and the running backs with the run game, Jaylen and Tyreek and all these other guys. It’s really just everyone making me look good… one more question? You guys don’t have anymore questions?
Q: What would you ask?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I don’t know what I would ask. I’m just really proud of our guys. They fought hard today and played really good complementary football. I’m just so happy that we won, too. One more question? No more questions?
Q: It was the most distributed tickets today since Hard Rock was refurbished. What does that tell you about the fan support?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Wow. I didn’t know that. That’s a cool stat. It just shows you the belief that our fans have in our team and kind of the resurrection of the organization for us. We’re going to try to keep this going after this bye week, and we’ll see you guys in about two weeks.
