MIAMI – Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been in a scenario identical to Mac Jones’ existing predicament.
Miami produced Tagovailoa the fifth over-all decide on in the 2020 draft right after he led Alabama to a national title. But his NFL vocation began little by little, and he was heavily criticized throughout his to start with two seasons.
Jones, another countrywide championship winner for the Crimson Tide, is struggling with very similar adversity in his 3rd yr as New England’s starter. He has shouldered blame for the Patriots’ 2-5 get started, and New England faces one more challenge when it visits Tagovailoa and the Dolphins (5-2) on Sunday.
Tagovailoa’s remedy was to tune out exterior commentary as a lot as probable and emphasis on himself. Jones is adhering to a identical script.
“A lot of situations, people today will appear at you perhaps when you happen to be not all the way up, you happen to be type of not undertaking far too fantastic, and they want to see how you answer,” Jones reported. “That is what I emphasis on — is the response. I stick to my process, adjust my course of action, and then I check out and, you know, have that onto the discipline. So regardless of everything all around you, when you adhere to the method, it ordinarily turns out fantastic inevitably.”
In his fourth 12 months, Tagovailoa is major one of the NFL’s most effective offenses: The Dolphins lead the league in overall offense, crimson zone effectiveness and yards per engage in. And Jones carried the Patriots to a 29-25 upset of the Buffalo Charges in 7 days 7.
Jones and the Patriots hope to build off final week’s win. They are previous in the AFC East and another decline would even more jeopardize their playoff hopes.
The most important dilemma for the Dolphins is the standing of All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill, who was minimal Thursday and did not exercise Wednesday mainly because of a hip damage. Hill indicated Thursday he options to play.
“I just preferred some interest, man,” Hill stated, “due to the fact my mother wouldn’t talk to me yesterday, so I essential some attention from any person. I am great although.”
Hill has not missed a game due to the fact Miami acquired him from Kansas Metropolis prior to the 2022 time. He sales opportunities the NFL with 902 acquiring yards and seven touchdowns.
If Hill are not able to play, that would likely signify a greater part for Jaylen Waddle, Miami’s next-major receiver with 30 catches and 359 yards.
“I feel folks forget about about the issues that Jaylen Waddle can do,” Tagovailoa claimed, “the items that he previously has finished for our workforce due to the fact his rookie 12 months. And there is certainly a ton of other men I consider that you are unable to rest on.”
The Dolphins struggled previous 7 days in a reduction to the Eagles and one more former Alabama QB, Jalen Hurts. They hope to regain their sort ahead of a 7 days 9 sport from the Chiefs, who will be just the third crew they have confronted with a winning report.
The Patriots have proven improvement considering the fact that Miami defeat them 24-17 in Week 2.
“They get improved as the year progresses,” coach Mike McDaniel explained. “I assume that is the formula. I consider that’s the close-all for NFL football. … They concentration on fundamentals. They do a good occupation tuning out the sound. I see a group that just final 7 days was an example.”
FLIP THE Field
No matter if experiencing very long or small fields, the Dolphins have consistently uncovered strategies to get to the end zone. But the Patriots experienced results in Week 2 when forcing Miami to get started drives deep in its have territory.
The Dolphins commenced inside their own 20-yard line four periods in that video game. Their most effective travel in individuals scenarios finished with a field aim. They punted two times and experienced a subject target blocked.
A few of these Dolphins belongings adopted punts by Patriots rookie Bryce Baringer, who has been pinning groups deep constantly. He enters Sunday tied with Jacksonville’s Logan Cooke for the NFL guide with 18 punts inside the 20.
RESILIENT ROOKIE
Patriots receiver Demario Douglas debuted in Week 1 versus Philadelphia with four catches for 40 yards. He had a fumble that led to a touchdown in the reduction to Miami. He then noticed his development stunted in 7 days 5 when he left early in the reduction to New Orleans with a concussion that also kept him out the following week.
Douglas bounced back very last week with a year-high 4 catches for 54 yards.
“I have known of him due to the fact I was tiny. I know that he’s often fought an uphill struggle,” Jones mentioned. “He normally talks about his size, correct? He’s always going to preserve preventing, and I know that about him. I can be really hard on him and consider to elevate that conventional due to the fact I know wherever he arrives from. I know how really hard he works, and he is heading to convey it each week.”
Shielding Home TURF
The Dolphins are 15-2 at residence considering that Nov. 7, 2021, which is Miami’s best 17-recreation extend at Difficult Rock Stadium because the venue opened in 1987. In their three residence online games this year, the Dolphins have outscored opponents 143-57.
“Perfectly, I think for a single, it’s the lovers that we have,” Tagovailoa stated. “The followers definitely make the ambiance just one to keep in mind as significantly as third downs, they’re seriously loud. And it’s when the fellas go out there and we’re all warming up. The fellas see the group, the fellas are enjoying catch with the enthusiasts, we get to see our households. It really is just an atmosphere that we come to feel comfortable in.”
