Tua Tagovailoa – October 15, 2021
Friday, October 15, 2021
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(On how it feels to be back this week) – “I feel good. I’m just happy to be out there with the team again.”
(On how he is enjoying London) – “I enjoy it. Coming from Miami, it’s pretty humid and hot. It’s a good change of scenery for us as a team. It’s cool.”
(Obviously you weren’t able to practice but what was the keeping up to date with the team? Were you at practices? I know you were getting the play calls on the sideline) – “I was in practice, well not necessarily at practices, but in the meetings with the quarterbacks just trying to help the quarterbacks out although I wasn’t playing with the gameplan and whatnot. Being on the sideline, that’s not something I take lightly as well because when I’m in, I want the next guy or whoever it is on the sideline helping me out, too.”
(Are you managing pain at this point or is it all 100 percent?) – “I don’t think it’s 100 percent pretty, I’m just 100 percent ready to get back out on the field.”
(The team has obviously had a difficult start to the season. Do you feel as though you’re in a good spot to come in and turn the season around? Do you feel any pressure given the 1-4 start?) – “I don’t think it necessarily takes one person to change the outcome of a game. The way I kind of look at it, is we all 11 have to go out there and do out jobs individually but collectively, if that makes sense, in order for the play to be successful. We have to string all of those good plays and keep stringing them together I think in order for us to be successful.”
(On seeing the game in a different way on the sideline and whether he agrees with that) – “I definitely agree with that. One of the differences that I see is that I’m not in there calling the play. I know what the play is and I’m just looking at the defense. You know what’s going to happen, what’s not going to happen watching film. It’s a totally different ball game when you’re on the sideline than when you’re in the game. In the game, you got to manage where everyone goes, you got to put people in the right spots and then aside from that you have to go out there and execute. It’s a little tougher.”
(You faced Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence in Elite 11, college and now on the international stage. Do you ever get a chance to think about that?) – “I’ve never had the time to think about any of these things. His success has been really good for him. I’ve been very blessed to have some success in my life as well. I know they’re hungry for a win as a team and for us as a team, we are hungry for a team as well.”
(Towards the end of last season we saw TE Mike Gesicki and WR DeVante Parker get a lot of targets and a lot of receptions they haven’t necessarily had so far this season. How important is it for you to get those two guys especially on the ball and making big plays?) – “I think it’s important to get all our playmakers a chance in these games, early in the game so that we can build off of that momentum with them. I think the thing that we haven’t done a good job with is doing that and that’s I think, coming to this game, that’s what we want to do. We want to start off strong and finish strong.”
(On keeping in touch with former Alabama teammates Patriots QB Mac Jones and Eagles QB Jalen Hurts) – It’s little tough in the NFL, but Mac (Jones) is in our division so it’s a little tough with that, too. But I would say just in general keeping in touch with other guys that we’ve gotten to play with at Alabama, we do keep in contact.”
(When they announced you were coming to London what were your first thoughts?) – “This is my first time out of the country, so just it’s awesome. It’s different. Back in Hawaii and back in Miami you’re driving on the right side of the road. Over here you’re driving on the left side of the road and the drivers are on the right side, (laughter) so it’s different. Everything is just different.”
(Earlier we asked Head Coach Brian Flores about this experience of being over here for these games because it’s more of a celebration. It’s a different type of atmosphere. Is there anything you’ve done to prepare for this game [differently]?) – “I guess I would say I prepare the same way I’d prepare if we were back in the United States. It’s another game. We do understand that the atmosphere is a little different, but I heard it’s a really nice stadium so I’m excited to play in it.”
(Are you expected to wear a flak jacket and have you experimented with different ones this week?) – “Yeah, I’ve had protection. I’ve had a rib cage protector when the incident happened, but we’ve made some adjustments to what I’m going to wear and whatnot.”
(On advice he would give to Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence) – “I mean honestly, I’d tell him to continue to work hard, keep your head down. It’s not easy to win in this league, in the NFL. So when you do have a win you cherish it, you remember what that felt like; and for me after my first win, I kind of went back on the things that kind of helped me I guess prepare myself to try to get a win. So as far as preparation, I tell him to continue to do the same thing and if that’s not working, then change it up and find something that works for you.”
(What does this offense need that you hope to bring to it?) – “I don’t think it’s necessarily just me. Like I said it takes all of us out there on the football field. I’ve got to do my job and everyone else has to do their job on the field.”
(I’ve been on all the London games for the Miami Dolphins except for one – the only one they’ve one… This year I’m going to see them win because I’ve always seen them lose.) – “Well that’s the plan. (laughter) We’re trying to win. We’re trying to win.”
(For the neutrals who obviously support different teams and are there for the celebration of the game why should they support your team?) – “I think that’s a good question. I think it’s really up to them. We play this game because it helps take care of our families back home, but it’s been a childhood dream for a lot of us to be in the spot and position that we’re in. It’ll be good to hear the fans whether they’re for us or against us. We’re going to go out there and continue to play the same game we’ve always been playing since we were little.”
(Considering the records of the two teams does this feel like one you really need to have to set you up for a push towards the playoffs at the end of the season?) – “Like I said it’s hard to get a win in the NFL so we try to prepare as if we’re going to win every time and at the end of the day and at the end of the week that’s the goal for us.”
