When Tua Tagovailoa returned to the sphere from a concussion that briefly hospitalized him in 2022, he scrambled within the first quarter towards the Pittsburgh Steelers and initiated contact by decreasing his shoulder into the defender.
Coach Mike McDaniel later stated Tagovailoa got here to him on the sideline and stated he “wanted that” contact after lacking time together with his head damage.
However as Tagovailoa prepares to begin Sunday towards the Arizona Cardinals in his first recreation again from one other concussion, McDaniel’s message is far completely different.
“My reply can be: ‘You do not want that one’ this time round,” he stated, talking on Tagovailoa’s must “be good” in how he protects himself on the sphere.
Medical consultants deemed it protected for Tagovailoa to play soccer once more after he suffered a concussion in Week 2.
Tagovailoa’s scrambling has been a subject of dialogue between the quarterback and his teammates since his newest concussion, which got here when he initiated contact with Buffalo Payments security Damar Hamlin on a scramble as an alternative of sliding.
“We have been speaking to him ever since his damage,” working again Raheem Mostert stated. “I have been telling him, ‘Hey, you’ll want to work on sliding.’ And all of us joke round and chortle, however on a critical be aware, he is aware of that he has to guard himself slightly bit higher.”
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa on return from IR: ‘Keen to play the percentages’
The Cardinals have a quarterback in Kyler Murray, whose scrambling is an enormous a part of his recreation due to his elusiveness and velocity. He is third amongst NFL quarterbacks in dashing with 325 yards and had a 44-yard dashing landing in Arizona’s Week 7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
“We definitely need to account for that,” Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver stated. “He’s so particular from a velocity standpoint. You might be good, and also you suppose you may have an angle, and he will outrun you. … He is appears to be like like Tyreek [Hill] taking part in quarterback.”
As a lot because the Dolphins will attempt to restrict one of many issues Murray does finest, they’re hoping to lean on Tagovailoa’s strengths to jumpstart their waning offense.
“He’ll be correct; [the] ball goes to be catchable, actual good, gentle in your arms, on time, all of that,” Hill stated. “It should be sharp, so it is anticipated.”
Murray stated it is generally robust to make split-second selections on when to remain within the pocket and throw versus taking off to run, admitting he missed on open Marvin Harrison Jr. on a play by which he determined to scramble.
He stated defenses do really feel a pressure together with his capability to make performs together with his ft, although.
“I do not suppose that defenses like taking part in a cellular quarterback, no,” Murray stated. “I would slightly play a man that may’t transfer.”
Can Tua’s return rescue the Dolphins’ season?
The Cardinals’ protection suffered one other blow this week after studying that LB Dennis Gardeck is out for the season with a torn ACL.
Gardeck was main the Cardinals with three sacks and has been an essential piece on particular groups.
It is a widespread theme for the protection, which has additionally misplaced LB BJ Ojulari (knee), DL Justin Jones (triceps) and DL Bilal Nichols (stinger) for the season. On Monday, the Cardinals nonetheless managed to cobble collectively efficiency, giving up 395 whole yards however no touchdowns.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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