Tua Tagovailoa – October 30, 2022 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 30, 2022
Postgame – Detroit
QB Tua Tagovailoa (transcribed by the Detroit Lions)
(On the offensive gameplan today) – “I think (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) did a good job calling plays today. He put us in a really good position to get yards after catch on plays, trying to move the spot for the defenders (and) D-linemen getting it back there. I think for as much as we passed with, what, maybe two sacks that we had? That’s a really good job upfront. I think a lot of things married with routes, action passes within the run game, so I think we felt really comfortable. After moving the ball the first series, second series, started feeling really comfortable just going with the gameplan.”
(On if he feels the offense is unstoppable) – “We feel like the only guys that can stop us are ourselves. We did have some miscues on guys misaligned at some points and guys kind of moving their feet when we have motions going on. Those are all things that are correctable, so we’ll look at the tape and we’ll move on from there.”
(On if the offense is how they envisioned it would be) – “Yeah, this is sort of what I envisioned. The greatest thing about this game is that you can never get content. You have to continue to keep growing. We’ll go and watch the film and look at things that we could’ve done better. So, that’s the best part about it.”
(On if the offense is where they want it to be) – “I wouldn’t say so. Not yet. Not yet. Too early still.”
(On both teams moving the ball up and down the field in the first half) – “Well, it can be fun if you are moving the ball down the field and you’re the opposing team, first off. But I would say I have a lot of trust in the guys that we have on our side of the ball, that in any scenario, in any situation, we’ll be able to do what’s enough to help us win games.”
(On FB Alec Ingold’s block that set up a big run for him) – “Yeah, that was big. As you can tell, I’m not a runner. But with that block, if anyone else was running behind Alec (Ingold), it could’ve been a lot bigger. It could have been a score. Who knows? But, knowing me, Alec blocks the guy and almost pancakes him, and I run right into the guy for the tackle. (laughter) If it was any other person, it probably would have been a lot bigger.”
(On his decision to slide today) – “Oh yeah, I slid today. I know my coaches, my teammates – my teammates were definitely proud of me. I came to the sideline, (and) everyone was happy that I slid. I was kind of happy that I slid, too.”
(On if the Ravens game influenced their approach towards the Lions) – “I would say none of that played a factor in us playing this game. These guys, they’re not the Ravens. They’re the Detroit Lions. We’ve got to take these guys on the same way we take everyone on, just have to focus on whatever that play entails for us and execute one play at a time. So, we’re not trying to force anything or do anything that is without the boundaries of the play.”
(On if he’s concerned about the amount of penalties they were called for today) – “Yeah, I would say there is some level of concern, but there is also a lot of things going on with that as well – communication with the play call, communication with the personnel. Sometimes it gets to a point in the game where the full play call isn’t called, so I have to kind of adlib at times. So I kind of put our guys in a bad situation, knowing where to line up on plays and whatnot, and not really giving them time to think before they’re going out because of how fast I am getting the play-call out. So that’s why we have practice, and it will be good for us to work on that throughout this week.”
(On the process of hearing the play call from the sideline) – “Yeah, so you hear the play and then once that 15 (-second mark) hits, you have to start adlibbing. “
(On the offense’s ability to flip the field today) – “Yeah, I think the key to that is, like I said, we continue to play within the boundaries of what that play entails. So with whatever coverage we’re getting, this is the side I am working. If they play this certain coverage, I’m going opposite. Things like that, and if they take it away then, hey you have to chuck it down, live to play another down and hopefully flip field position, get some yards back.”
(On what play stood out to him today) – “Yeah, the one I really liked I would say was Trent Sherfield’s – I think they took away his touchdown. I think they took that one away. (laughter) Do we agree? So, Trent there’s about like six people and 12 people raised their hands to say yes.”
(On why the completion to WR Trent Sherfield stood out to him) – “Well for one, that play when I ranked it, I did not like that play. I did not want to run that play. I told (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel), ‘Don’t run that play.’ But Mike being Mike, we ran the play, and I just had to read it out. I thought it would have been something really special for Trent (Sherfield), too. Every time you see Trent in there, the guy’s pretty much blocking, running across the field, running back on motions, and he never necessarily gets opportunities, so I really wanted that opportunity for him.”
(On the direction the play-call went on WR Trent Sherfield’s completion at the goal line) “No it was dealer’s choice – I could have worked either side. But it looked like they were doubling No. 2 (Chase Edmonds) inside, and Trent (Sherfield) was open. I just really wanted that touchdown for him.”
