The Miami Dolphins took a quarterback at No. 5 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, but head coach Mike McDaniel took questions from reporters Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
As a first-year head coach, McDaniel had an exciting time with the Dolphins in 2022.
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He coached Miami to a 9-8 record, barely missing the playoffs but providing a lot of energy. His first assignment was to restore the confidence in Tua Tagovailoa to be a starting quarterback in the National Football League. McDaniel excelled by assuring Tagovailoa via FaceTime that he would make the native Hawaiian a star. The 39-year-old crafted an offense that allowed Tagovailoa to record big numbers in his third season. He recorded career-highs for passing yards (3,548), yards per pass attempt (8.9), touchdown passes (25), quarterback rating (68.8), and passer rating (105.5). The former Alabama signal-caller led the NFL for passer rating and yards per pass attempt while finishing in the top 10 for quarterback rating (third) and passing touchdowns (tied for eighth). Tagovailoa was twelfth for passing yards despite having multiple concussions last year.
McDaniel wants Tagovailoa to be the Dolphins’ starting quarterback for a long time; however, he knows the 2017 College Football Playoff National Champion needs to consistently be available. Tagovailoa missed a few games in 2022, and the offense is not the same without him. Miami has until May 1 to exercise the fifth-year option on Tagovailoa’s rookie deal.
The NFL world is concerned about Tagovailoa’s durability, but McDaniel says he’s working with Miami’s front office to have everything in order.
Mike McDaniel on Tua Tagovailoa’s durability and how that factors into the #Dolphins picking up his 5th-year option. @MiamiDolphins | #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/jNi4CKHFn1
— josh houtz (@houtz) March 1, 2023
Tagovailoa wants to be a Dolphin for a long time, and the team wants him. Miami’s brass has assured everyone that concussions will not be a constant for Tagovailoa moving forward. The hope is that he can play for a long time.
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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.
