The first time Darrell Bevell met with the media as Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach in February, he hadn’t seen Tua Tagovailoa throw for him in-person yet. So Bevell, then, didn’t want to offer an evaluation of the third-year quarterback’s highly analyzed arm strength solely off of film.
Well, now Bevell has had about a month of watching Tagovailoa throw in the Dolphins’ offseason workout program. What does he think now?
“I’ve seen nothing but really good things,” said Bevell, who spoke to reporters on Friday after the team’s first of two rookie minicamp sessions. “I’m excited about what I saw. I made those comments when we first got here because I’m a firm believer that you really want to see it, and you can tell different things when it’s in person. Very pleased with what I’ve seen.”
Bevell echoed a similar sentiment that new offensive coordinator Frank Smith stated this week, that the offense shouldn’t have any vertical limitations with Tagovailoa behind center.
“We’ll be able to do whatever we want to do,” said Bevell, who has worked with the likes of Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford and Trevor Lawrence in his past two decades of NFL coaching. “There’s not really any throw that he can’t make.”
The topic of Tagovailoa’s arm has reached a fever pitch this week after the Dolphins released video on social media of a long pass from him to wide receiver Tyreek Hill that was meant to highlight the connection. The throw, however, which occurred against no defense, appeared a bit wobbly and was underthrown to the point where Hill wasn’t hit in stride and had to turn around to catch it.
It brought questions back up about Tagovailoa’s arm strength, which have been around over his first two NFL seasons. Smith backed up Tagovailoa when asked on Wednesday, and so did Hill on Thursday, responding to the many social media critics of his new quarterback with a video where Tagovailoa made a series of better-looking throws, including a deep ball in stride to Hill himself.
What Tagovailoa has always been known to do well is throw underneath with accuracy and anticipation, things that will benefit him in Miami’s new offense under Smith and new coach Mike McDaniel.
“A sense of timing and accuracy would be the first two things that I would say,” Bevell said of what has impressed him. “Tua’s got, really, a great feel for both of those. That’s where I would say it starts [in this offense].”
Bevell also raved about Tagovailoa’s personality, the way he prepares and works. He said he has seen leadership qualities out of him early this offseason.
“Each guy really has kind of a different set of leadership skills,” Bevell said. “No one’s guy going to be the same, but Tua definitely has it. The No. 1 thing is when you go play well that helps you lead. He’s doing all those other things. He’s working on his game. He’s working on his team. He’s doing all those things to help him be a great leader.”
It helps that the Dolphins have an experienced NFL starting quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater in place to support him as a backup.
“Very capable backup,” said Bevell. “Obviously, another guy that’s very experienced in the NFL, played a lot of games, so any time you would have to go to him, you would feel very comfortable with it.
“He and Tua have a great relationship already. They communicate well, and I think that’s always an important factor for those guys. The starting quarterback kind of needs that guy to lean on. I think Teddy will be great for that. But Teddy hasn’t lost his stinger either. He’s a competitive guy, and for his opportunity, if he ends up getting one, he’ll be ready and prepared to go.”
Friday, Dolphins rookie quarterback seventh-round draft pick Skylar Thompson got his first throws on Miami’s practice field in rookie minicamp after signing in the morning.
“I liked the way that he played the position, No. 1,” Bevell said of his evaluation pre-draft of the former Kansas State signal-caller. “He always, as I watched his tape, played it with a good base. He’s an older guy. He’s played it for a while, as well. He’s got a lot of experience.
“Then, [Friday], I really liked his command. I liked the way he was able to enter the huddle, communicate with the guys because the plays get very wordy. And then he was able to make some plays with his arm. Good first day.”
Said Bevell of what has stood out from fellow Dolphins quarterback Chris Streveler, who was signed early in the offseason: “His versatility. We’re doing a lot with him in practice. He’s doing a lot of different things, working on special teams. He’s just a tireless worker.”
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