Tua prepares for his first start
HOWTUA TAGOVAILOA IS PREPARING FOR HIS FIRST START— AND FIRST PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH AN OPPOSING PLAYER— SINCE COLLEGE
When word of the Miami Dolphins’ quarterback change first hit social media last week, a natural first reaction to the news brought some angst and concern.
How will rookie Tua Tagovailoa— the future of the Dolphins franchise — fare with Los Angeles Rams star defender Aaron Donald — arguably the best and most feared defensive player in the NFL— ready to pounce on the other side of scrimmage?
Tagovailoa, who has been medically cleared for several months since his horrific hip injury, is preparing to make his first career NFL start for the Dolphins (3-3) in Sunday’s game against the Rams (5-2) at Hard Rock Stadium.
Tagovailoa will also likely endure the first live hit (maybe hits) to his body since his last, which resulted in a hip dislocation and posterior wall fracture in his final college game at Alabama on Nov. 16, 2019.
Tagovailoa does not know what to expect. But there will be no looking back when he takes the field on Sunday.
“Yeah, it’s been a long time coming. But that’s just the nature of the game,” Tagovailoa said on Wednesday.
“I don’t know what the hit is going to feel like. Every hit is different that you take in football. So, I’m really not too sure. And I don’t think you could ever prepare for hits.
“It’s just something you got togo out, knowing it’s gonna happen.”
Tag ovai lo a’ s family, the Dolphins brass including coach Brian Flores, and football fans experiencing his debut may spen da littlemore time wondering how Tag ovai lo a and his body will respond after each tackle he may experience.
But Tag ovai lo a and the Dolphins don’t seem to share such concerns as deeply as outside rs may perceive.
Even with a player like Donald bearing downon the other side.
“I think from a health standpoint, we feel good about where he is. He’s going to get hit in the game. We knowthat,” said Flores, who added he didn’t think of the topic until a reporter brought up the question Wednesday morning.
Tagovailoa wants to embrace the first start of his NFL career, and enjoy the next stage of his football life after the injury ended his college career and affected his NFL draft stock.
And he narrowed into that process during the Dolphins’ bye lastweek, where he spent most of his time at the team’s Davie facility, trying to get a nearly look at the Rams while cultivating some more chemistry with his teammates.
“Iwas up here a lot,” Tagovailoa said of his time at the Dolphins’ training facility.
“I spent a lot ofmy time up here at the facility, just watching some film, but also working out. Iwould say I got with some of the guys as well so we could work on some timing with certain things and certain routes. And really the only off day I had was Sunday.”
The Dolphins held their first full-go practice since Tagovailoa became starter Wednesday, after holding two walk through sessions last Wednesday (before their bye weekend) and on Monday to begin theweek.
The only difference in Dolphins practice this week: Tagovailoa is taking the first-team repetitions in practice.
And Miami’s former starter turned backup Ryan Fitzpatrick is continuing to play his role as a mentor to the young quarterback.
Tag ovai lo a said after every series of practice where the Dolphins split into 11-on-11 action, Fitzpatrick was ready to impart any wisdom a 16- year NFL veteran can provide to a promising rookie.
“I come off the sideline and Fitz always has something he wants to say to me,” Tagovailoa said, “whether it has to do with protection, where hewould look at as far as progression reads, and how you can read certain things out that can make it easier for me come Sunday.”
Dolphins receiver Isaiah Ford said Tagovailoa has done a steady job of mimicking Fitzpatrick’s habits as far as taking command of the offensive huddle, sharing insight and tidbits with other players on the sidelines, starting his game preparation early in the week.
Dolphins center Ted Karras said Tagovailoa “has been a strong leader since he got in the building here in July.” And he also stressed the importance of defending Donald and other Rams players to keep the pocket clean and allow Tagovailoa to be successful.
“It’s going to be a very exciting weekend for us and for Miami Dolphins nation,” Karras said.
Tagovailoa’s first start will dawn a new age for the Dolphins, who have long been in pursuit for another franchise quarterback since Hall of Famer Dan Marino retired in 2000.
Sunday’s game will also present a new stage of the Dolphins’ rebuilding effort under Flores, general manager Chris Grier and owner Steve Ross.
The anticipation for Sunday’s game may rival just about any other Dolphins game in the past 20 years of the franchise’s history.
“I don’t think anyone at the organization can get too caught up in any of the hype,” Tagovailoa said. “Everyone is just so focused on doing what they have to do to help the team be successful.”