via Getty
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins speaks with Tua Tagovailoa #1 prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 06, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
via Getty
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins speaks with Tua Tagovailoa #1 prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 06, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
What Brian Flores failed to do, Mike McDaniel did it one season! The “Beast” as Tua Tagovailoa calls his head coach, has helped bring the best out of the Miami Dolphins QB. The QB proved with his before and after stats why the right coach can matter so much and even make or break a player.
After the game against the Jets, it has further bumped up Tua’s stats. Will he manage to continue his meteoric rise under McDaniel and win the NFL MVP title?
Mike McDaniel brings out the “beast” in Tua Tagovailoa
Dov Kleiman took to X to share Tua Tagovailoa’s records before and after Mike McDaniel became HC of the Dolphins. Before McDaniel, he had a record of 12-8, which became 15-8 in 2022-23. Under Brian Flores, his touchdown-to-interception ratio was 27/15, which became 46/16. And it keeps getting better! While his points per game were 22.1 before, it is 27.7 now. Even his QBR, which is a metric that pretty much sums up how good a QB is, got bumped up from 88.8 to 105.7.
3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for QB1! pic.twitter.com/bMuNmCNHtN
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) November 24, 2023
But McDaniel has worked his magic on the QB, not just on the gridiron but outside the field as well. The two have a special bond that extends beyond sports. In an NBC Sports interview, he revealed how he’s finally able to be “himself” since McDaniel took the helm.
Tua’s bond with Mike McDaniel is heartwarming!
Tua, who’s always his harshest critic, said that ever since Mike took over as head coach, he has been less critical of himself and has managed to tune out the negative voices in his head. He said that the “Beast” and his conditioning have let him be more of himself, and not just on the gridiron, but at home and with his family as well.
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 2, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) scrambles against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports| Credit-Reuters
When the critic in him would step up and make him doubt his move, and what the coach and the outside world would think of him, Mike McDaniels was the voice of reason for him. Tua revealed that McDaniels is always calm and composed and would tell him, “Dude, you’re okay. Move on.”
Dolphins fans are eager to see if McDaniel will help Tua grab the NFL MVP title this season as well! With a QBR of 60.1, he is 10th in the league right now. But with 6 more games left, it wouldn’t be surprising if he clinches to the top. He already leads the league in terms of passing EPA through the first 9 weeks of the season. It won’t be much longer till he wins more accolades.
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