‘I have to be a lot better.’ Tua Tagovailoa must up his game vs. Falcons
Fresh off the worst game of his career, Tua Tagovailoa gave a scathing evaluation of his play to start 2025.
“Definitely not happy, not proud of where I’m at with my play, with how I’ve gone about things this year,” Tagovailoa said following the Miami Dolphins’ lopsided 31-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns. “I know I have to be a lot better, and I’ve been better for the Miami Dolphins in years past, but this isn’t years past, this is this year, right? Just trying to maneuver everything and trying to build a collection of guys to kind of bring along with me, and I have to be able to multitask.”
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Through seven games, Tagovailoa has thrown a league-high 10 interceptions, tied only with Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith. At his current pace, Tagovailoa could toss 24 picks by the season’s end. So needless to say: he has to figure out a way to shoulder a team that’s dangerously close to being the worst in the NFL.
“I can’t turn the ball over, and I’ve been saying this for weeks, can’t turn the ball over and expect to win the game when you lose the turnover marginal game,” Tagovailoa said, adding that he’s frustrated at his play ahead of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. “That’s what is known for me for sure, and I’ve got to be better in that aspect coming into this game against the No. 1 pass defense or one of the better pass defensive teams that we’re going to go against.”
To be fair, Tagovailoa hasn’t necessarily received help from his offensive line. The Dolphins’ splash free agency signing James Daniels last only three plays before he suffered a pectoral injury that continues to keep him out. A toe injury has similarly sidelined starting right tackle Austin Jackson since Week 1. Throw in rookie Jonah Savaiinaea’s ongoing adjustment to right guard, a position he has never played before, and it makes sense why Tagovailoa has taken the 10th-most sacks, per Pro Football Focus.
Whether coach Mike McDaniel will make changes along the offensive line, something that he has teased following the loss to the Browns, remains to be seen.
“I saw a lot of things that had room for improvement, not just necessarily in the offensive line, but I’m definitely not opposed to someone raising their game, but we will play the best players and when players have bad plays, we coach them and hopefully the point is that you check off that box where you won’t get beat by this thing again,” McDaniel said. “If it’s the same thing over and over, that’s when you consider those things, or if somebody brings it to your attention that they offer a better solution.”
Take a step outside the trenches, and injuries abound among the pass-catchers. There was Tyreek Hill’s infamous left knee injury on Sept. 29. Then came Darren Waller’s pectoral injury against the Browns that will cause him to miss at least four games. Most recently, an ailing ankle will keep Julian Hill out of Sunday’s game against the Falcons.
That means several players – Greg Dulcich, Malik Washington, Dee Eskridge, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Jaylen Waddle – may be forced to play various positions within the offense, something that has increased pressure on Tagovailoa.
“The toughest aspect is when guys go down in certain personnels, trying to figure out who’s who and what’s happening there within the personnels,” Tagovailoa said. “That’s something that had also taken place last week that we kind of needed to figure that out.”
That Tagovailoa will have to find a solution against one of the better defenses in the NFL is nothing short of unfortunate. The Falcons rank not only second in total defense, allowing roughly 252 total yards per game, they pace all other teams when it comes to the pass. Opposing offenses averaged just 141.2 yards through the air, while the Falcons’ nine takeaways – seventh-highest in the NFL – shows just the danger in this defense.
“Having an aggressive front seven, bringing pressure and then the backend playing with good leverage and technique and trying to play disguise and rolling coverages,” Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith said of what makes the Falcons’ defense so dangerous. “I think it works collectively to have good pass coverage, starts with ability to rush the quarterback and have pressure on him.”
Regardless of how proficient the Falcons are on defense, Tagovailoa still carries the weight of Dolphins fans’ hopes and dreams squarely on his shoulders. At some point, he has to find some level of success – even if circumstances aren’t perfect. If not, the Dolphins’ front office will begin to have even more regrets.
