Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins’ Offense: A Challenging Start
In a season start that did not meet expectations, the Miami Dolphins suffered a resounding 33-8 defeat against the Indianapolis Colts. The performance of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was subject to analysis, although the team in general showed a poor performance. In his first start since Week 16 of last season, Tagovailoa completed 14 of 23 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown, but unfortunately threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Tagovailoa’s passer rating of 51.7 was the lowest of his career in a game where he didn’t leave the field due to injury. Furthermore, this game marked his fewest passing yards in similar games since Week 18 of the 2021 season.Miami’s offense struggled to generate plays from the start, with Tagovailoa making mistakes in three of the first four offensive series. The only bright spot came in the final quarter, with an 11-yard pass from Tagovailoa to running back De’Von Achane. Coach Mike McDaniel highlighted the difficulty of playing quarterback under “surprise pressures.” According to NextGen Stats, Tagovailoa faced pressure on 26% of his pass plays and did not complete any of his three pass attempts under pressure. He was sacked three times, including a fumble on Miami’s second offensive series. The connection between Tagovailoa and receiver Tyreek Hill seemed rusty. Hill was the target of Tagovailoa’s first interception, and although he had four receptions for 40 yards, the chemistry between the two players was not ideal. Miami’s 211 offensive yards were their lowest since McDaniel was hired in 2022, in any game in which Tagovailoa started. The Dolphins will face the New England Patriots in their next home game, and Tagovailoa expressed his desire to improve his performance. The quarterback emphasized the importance of self-criticism and team responsibility to prevent situations like this from happening again. Tagovailoa looks for a better performance in Week 2.There were throws that he normally completes, and today he didn’t. Definitely not all his fault; too many people didn’t execute their jobs for him to carry extra responsibilities.
Mike McDaniel, Dolphins Coach
