Two Tua Tagovailoa plays that impressed Dolphins head coach
The Miami Dolphins’ 31-27 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday featured plenty of big plays from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, including two that caught head coach Mike McDaniel’s attention.
When talking to the media after the game, McDaniel cited a third-down pass to Tyreek Hill and a touchdown pass to Mike Gesicki as plays that stood out.
The pass to Hill came on third-and-13 with 3:36 remaining in the first quarter as the Dolphins trailed, 14-0.
Detroit rushed seven, and safety Kerby Joseph made his way into the backfield, but Tagovailoa kept his composure and hit Hill down the right sideline for a 36-yard gain.
“He knows that we’re going to be hot, they’re in (Cover 0), he buys as much time as he can in the pocket and then throws a ball that’s not easy to throw to a really fast guy,” McDaniel said of the play. “That one stood out.”
The strike to Hill set up a touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle.
Gesicki’s 11-yard touchdown reception gave the Dolphins their first lead of the game with time winding down in the third quarter.
Tagovailoa surveyed the field and did not force the throw while Gesicki worked his way behind the defense.
“That was the first time we’ve ever hit that route on that concept,” McDaniel said. “You rarely ever see it, and it’s something that was number four in the progression that he progressed through very quickly.”
Tagovailoa finished the game with 382 passing yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, and earned a 96.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, his highest of the season.
While it may have lacked the thrill of the 42-38 comeback win over the Ravens, Sunday’s game was the most consistent effort the Miami offense has put together to date.
“I think when you get into games where the opponent kind of has a rush of success, a lot of times you can feel it on the other side of the ball, and you start pressing. And I think that’s what was happening in the first half of the Baltimore game and (I) never felt that this game,” McDaniel said. “We’re starting to learn as a team that momentum swings happen and to have faith in each other and play complementary football when we can.”
The Dolphins scored on all but three possessions Sunday, one of which was a possession at the end of the game. Their first drive ended with a Braylon Sanders fumble, and they punted once in the second half.
Meanwhile, the offensive line allowed just four pressures, per PFF, and Hill and Waddle continued to dominate.
Hill caught 12 passes on 14 targets for 189 yards. He leads the NFL with 961 receiving yards. Waddle had eight receptions on nine targets for 106 yards and two touchdowns. He ranks fourth in the league with 727 receiving yards. He is third in receiving touchdowns with five.