Several Alabama alums were at Miami Gardens for a joint practice between the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles.
The main storyline, however, was Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts. Both quarterbacks played together at Alabama, helped the Crimson Tide to a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2017, and got selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.
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Tagovailoa and Hurts have a lot to prove to their critics in the fall.
According to beat reporters for both teams, Tagovailoa got the better of Hurts and the Eagles’ defense throughout practice. No stats were given out, but Tagovailoa threw more confidently into tight windows. He and Tyreek Hill had four to five connections of 10+ yards, including a 30-yard touchdown hookup. Jaylen Waddle did not practice, but it did not bother the native Hawaiian.
Tua was the better of the former Alabama quarterbacks today. Stock down performance for Jalen Hurts. No obviously horrendous throws but offense failed to ever really get going, LOTS of checkdowns. Not sure Hurts completed more than one pass over 20 yards. #Eagles
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) August 24, 2022
Tua does this thing after he delivers a dime — where he just walks away from the play like Steph Curry after a 3-pointer. Projects quiet confidence, I like it
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) August 24, 2022
Day 1 of joint practices felt like win for Dolphins. 10-9 round. Tua/Tyreek/MIA O got better of PHI D. PHI O, a lot of short passes.
Worth noting teams were down their top 2 CBs (PHI — Darius Slay, James Bradberry; MIA — Xavien Howard, Byron Jones) for most of team drills.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) August 24, 2022
Tua just threw an absolute dime to Tyreek Hill, who was draped by several Eagles defenders, in 11 on 11s at the joint practice session in Miami Gardens. Looked to be 15-20 yards, fast and right on the money.
— Al Butler (@ALaboutSports) August 24, 2022
Tua to Hill for 29 yards. Third chunk play between those two. Very good day for Tua thus far
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) August 24, 2022
Tagovailoa had a rhythm with Hill, Cedric Wilson, and others. He constantly torched Philadelphia’s defensive secondary and consistently moved Miami’s offense downfield. After practice, he explained what has made this team different in the offseason.
Tua Tagovailoa on why 2022 feels a lot different for him and Dolphins team plus where the added confidence comes from: pic.twitter.com/nRZpKqf2Ya
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) August 24, 2022
“The confidence the guys have coming into the building is different,” Tagovailoa said. “The way we do things around the building is different. I can’t point to one thing, and I think that is going to help make us a better team. We have to spend time with each other, not just in the building but outside the building. We will see where this thing goes for us.”
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Tagovailoa said Coach Mike McDaniel is the ‘most optimistic’ guy he has ever been around. Hurts, on the other hand, had a tough day getting protection from his offensive line. He completed 22 of 27 passes, but most were check-downs because of the pressure.
Jalen Hurts Training Camp Stats, Day 14 (Day 1 v Miami)
22/27, 0 TD, 0 INT
I didn’t think he had a bad day. But mostly all check downs and missed a chance at a TD to DeVonta Smith
Offensive line play lead to check downs IMO
I’d give him a C+/B-, but offense overall is worse
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) August 24, 2022
He did not have a bad performance, but the team overall could not move the ball consistently against Miami.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
