Marcel Louis-Jacques
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa mentioned the group has a number of “little issues” to wash up following its 1-5 begin, together with attendance at player-led conferences.
Shortly after Miami's 29-27 loss Sunday to the Los Angeles Chargers, Tagovailoa was requested how gamers can chorus from feeling sorry for themselves. The Dolphins have now misplaced 4 video games this season wherein they trailed by one rating within the closing two minutes.
Tagovailoa, who threw the go-ahead landing but in addition three interceptions, talked about potential adjustments to player-led conferences all through the week.
“I feel it begins with the management in serving to articulate that for the blokes after which what we're anticipating out of the blokes,” he mentioned. “We're anticipating this — are we getting that? Are we not getting that? We've got guys exhibiting as much as players-only conferences late, guys not exhibiting as much as players-only conferences. There's loads that goes into that. Do we've to make this obligatory? Will we not need to make this obligatory?
“It is quite a lot of issues of that nature that we have got to get cleaned up, and it begins with little issues like that.”
The Dolphins had only a 6% probability to win Sunday's recreation coming into the fourth quarter, in keeping with Subsequent Gen Stats, as Los Angeles led by 10 factors. However Miami scored 14 unanswered factors, taking a one-point lead on Tagovailoa's 7-yard move to Darren Waller with 46 seconds remaining within the recreation.
The Chargers returned the following kickoff to Miami's 41-yard line, nonetheless, and quarterback Justin Herbert related with Ladd McConkey for a 42-yard acquire on second right down to arrange the profitable area aim.
Tagovailoa known as the loss a “shock” earlier than revealing the group's inner points with its player-led conferences. He took accountability for his three turnovers, and shifted his focus to Miami's recreation in Week 7 in opposition to the Cleveland Browns.
“The one place we will go is subsequent week,” he mentioned. “We discuss figuring this out. We discuss getting it collectively collectively. What are the issues, what are the problems and are they getting fastened? Are they not getting fastened? Why are they not getting fastened? Or in the event that they're fastened, how are we not permitting it to occur once more? Issues of that nature.
“We have to take a look at the movie once more, we have to see the place we will go. I contributed to quite a lot of that as nicely with the three turnovers. You possibly can't do this and anticipate to win video games.”
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who, like Tagovailoa, is a group captain, declined to touch upon the Dolphins' participant conferences when requested. Coach Mike McDaniel mentioned player-led conferences are “outdoors of what I demand” and he has seen gamers maintain themselves accountable inside what he has requested them to do.
“We have been very accountable to me,” McDaniel mentioned. “It appears like there was one thing on his thoughts in regard to the particular conferences with a pair people that he was making an attempt to get corrected … with direct communication. I feel that is the one approach to lead so far as the place we have been at as a program. I feel we have opened the air on all of that and it's totally clear how we maintain individuals accountable and with all these issues.
“Clearly he is sending a message, however from my standpoint, the whole lot that I've requested of the blokes, they've delivered on. I am positive whomever he's speaking to, they will ship as nicely.”
Tardiness and absences have been a prevalent difficulty inside the Dolphins group final 12 months, when McDaniel mentioned he often fined gamers to no avail. A supply who beforehand performed for Miami below McDaniel instructed ESPN that gamers have been often late to conferences and apply courting again to McDaniel's first season in 2022, however the habits wasn't reprimanded as a result of the group was profitable video games.
That very same supply mentioned the frequency and severity of gamers' punctuality was exacerbated by final 12 months's struggles, when Miami rebounded from a 2-6 begin to end 8-9.
A number of sources confirmed to ESPN that Jalen Ramsey and Tyreek Hill have been probably the most notable frequent offenders. Miami traded Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason whereas Hill was positioned on injured reserve after sustaining a season-ending dislocated knee in Week 4.
McDaniel mentioned it is tough to lose video games within the closing minutes, because the Dolphins have carried out 4 instances this season. He pointed to his gamers' perseverance Sunday as a optimistic signal however insisted there aren't any ethical victories at this stage.
He additionally mentioned he and his workers will collectively work to unravel the Dolphins' late-game points.
“I attempt to discover themes for issues which can be occurring. Every recreation is exclusive to its personal,” McDaniel mentioned. “I used to be trying to make it possible for this group did not fall sufferer to, ‘all proper man, we wish to win, however oh shoot, right here we go once more.' And thankfully, or sadly, I acquired to search out that info out within the third quarter — as a result of there's the place the group quits if the losses have beat them down an excessive amount of. It wasn't the case.
“They fought again, and I used to be happy with that, but it surely's not what we're in search of. There's zero victory that will be thought of ethical. Nonetheless, I feel it is cheap to have expectation that we've our greatest efficiency on the finish of video games as we proceed to work as a group. In any other case, we'll be pressured to cope with the identical consequence.”
