Read the full transcript from Tua Tagovailoa's press conference on November 17, 2024.
Q. Can you talk about a guy like Jonnu Smith, what he did today on the field to be able to also help with this win today?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think it's super cool. We've had plans to implement him in the past within the offense, so be it, the defense doesn't allow for him to get as many catches as we would like for him. But it's been really cool to see his progression from the prime time game we had against the Rams to now. Just being in the right spots. It's just a lot of the reps that we've gotten throughout training camp and leading up to this point. So all of this that everyone is seeing isn't new to our team, but now that he's being implemented more and getting the ball, going through the progressions, that's just what it is. He's a baller.
Q. You had all kinds of yards and points and last year was a special year offensively, but you didn't do it like you're doing it now. The 12-, 14-, 16-play drives. What's been different for you guys?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think what's been different with the quarterback play is now not trying to force things down the field if it's not there. Taking the checkdowns, allowing our runners in space to go get first downs. Hopefully they can break a tackle and you can use that also as essentially a run play if you look at it in that sense. And we like our matchups with our guys in space, so that's what I would attest to today's performance for us offensively.
Q. Sometimes when players are off for a week or two or three weeks, they get a chance to see the game a little bit differently from the side. Was this something when you came back that you wanted to implement? To be a little bit more ball control, keep drives up, alive longer?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Not necessarily. I think coming back it's more so how can we get back into our rhythm as an offense, finding that rhythm, whether it's in the run game, the action game, the pass game, whatever that looks like and just protecting the ball. Not trying to force things if it's not there. We've got good enough players to where if we get them the ball in space, we like our chances. That's sort of been the mindset coming back. And really pocket presence as well. If guys want to drop eight or if they want to bring pressure, just feeling that out. If I still have time in the pocket, just moving subtly, things like that.
Q. Talk a bit about having to limit an explosive player like Maxx Crosby on defense. How did you guys game plan for him? And how ultimately are you able to pull off limiting him to just five total tackles?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: He's a dawg. Everyone knows that around the league. If you watch his tape, he's in every play. Dude has a motor like no other. Got a lot of respect for him. Got a lot of respect for his game. A lot of what we did was because of where he was on the field, so we had a lot of check outs of runs and things like that to go away from him. Once you get somebody like that going in a game and he gets a rhythm, it's sort of hard to stop it regardless of the scheme or whatever. Players make the plays work, so got a lot of respect for him.
Q. When Divine Deablo was closing in on you in the last touchdown, did you see Jonnu? Did you know he was going to be there the whole time or did he all of a sudden come open to you?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: You know, I don't know – I think that was, for Jonnu, that was a feel-space kind of play because essentially that wasn't what we called for that play to be. And I think he just felt space and was, like, 'if I break it in, like, I could run into this guy over here.' And he kind of just throttled going forward and was just, like, 'yo, I'm over here.' So I got out – I think at the beginning of it the motion kind of messed up what they wanted to do. I think they were trying to get into a (Cover) Zero look. And I think 5, with the communication in the back end, I think it was messed up. That's why they dropped it. It was 2-for-3 and they were trying to bring 5. But it helped that they had that communication error because he ended up adding late. So that was cool.
Q. As a leader of the offense, just to give Jake Bailey essentially the day off with no punts. Can you describe that feeling?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Free money for him. Good for him. Great for him. We took a picture. Had zero punts. Happy for him. It should signify that, for the most, part things are going well offensively.
Q. What keyed the 10-for-14 on third and fourth downs? What was the key?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think just staying in it, continuing to have the Seakeeper mindset and each play stands on its merit. Just go through my reads. And having it in the back of my head with what other teams have played prior to us on third downs that they could potentially do that instead of what they would normally do in those down and distances and having those answers. So I think everyone was dialed in and locked in on that.
Q. Going back to the past two games, how close or far do you think you are to playing your best football?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think it's a week-to-week thing. We've just got to build off of what we can learn from this week. We move forward. We see what the next opponent is and things that we can do to get better to give us the edge to win that next game. And we'll continue to move forward. I don't think anyone can play their best game essentially. But you try to minimize the amount of mistakes that you have in games. So I think that's what we're trying to do.
Q. On that topic, just talk a bit about, there's a couple of big playoff-caliber matchups ahead, however you do have New England next Sunday. Just talk about not looking too far ahead, especially against a team you guys have already beaten earlier in the season.
TUA TAGOVAILOA: We're looking forward to playing New England, but first off we're going to enjoy the win tonight, go home to our families, hang out with our friends, whatever that looks like. And we'll come in Monday, watch the film, put that to rest, and then we'll get on to New England and focus on that week.
Q. I think you had extended play completions to Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. I might be missing another one, but are those plays particularly rewarding? Do you get a personal sort of rush of confidence when those occur, the extended plays?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, sure, if you will. Yeah. Any time we can extend plays and keep their offense off the field and we can continue to be on the field, you love that at all times. I just got to be better with protecting the ball inside the pocket.
Q. Just to put up the amount of points you guys did, how gratifying is it understanding, all right, like, all this, we're finally seeing this on Sundays?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: It's cool. It's cool. We're glad that everyone gets to see it. One thing that I know with the players in the locker room is they're not satisfied. There's a lot of things that we wish we could have done better, especially on my end with my play, with some throws. I wish I could have had back for certain guys. But that's just the way the game goes. It's football. You learn from it and you continue to play the game as it is.
Q. Your first touchdown came on a tipped ball on fourth down. Your last touchdown of the game just popped wide open. First time all season winning two in a row. Do you feel like you have more momentum going into the back half of the season?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I would say any time you can get a win in the NFL, it's a momentum builder for your team, for the locker room, for the organization. It always feels better when your body is hurting after a win than a loss. I would say we're looking forward to New England next week. We're going to enjoy this game and move forward.
