Miami Dolphins Media Conference

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Miami, Florida, USA

Tua Tagovailoa

Postgame Presser


Dolphins - 14, Jaguars - 6

Q. How did you feel things went tonight?

TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think things went pretty well. I know the results of what the first two series looked like, but it's a learning curve, it's a learning process. You've got to get our guys all the guys that are available, you've got to get them out there, gotta get our guys playing.

I think our defense did really well, our first two groups that went out there while we were still trying to get something going offensively.

But I think for the most part, it went well. We got to see how guys kind of came back from adversity, when you're talking about our receivers, our tight ends, blocking assignments and then you're also looking at the O line and then for me as well.

So we had a lot of opportunities tonight to learn from some of those things, and we got to see how guys reacted and came back from adversity.

Q. Describe what kind of weapon Malik can be this season for you?

TUA TAGOVAILOA: You guys have seen the touchdown he had. But I think what gets overlooked with Malik is also the blocking aspect of his game. I think that's where he's most improved from last year to this year. Don't get me wrong. Last year was really good with the things that he had done in the run game. But I think this year he's improved a lot more.

But now that he's getting more touches, you know, it just allows him to be that much more versatile for us.

Q. Is there anything to experiencing a hit, just take that out of the system?

TUA TAGOVAILOA: It felt good to get hit again. Maybe that's not what people want to hear, but as we're getting ready and getting started to get back into the normal routine of what a season would feel like, it feels good to get out there, get sacked a little bit. Sure, was that the result we wanted? No, but it feels weird that I'm going to say it, but in my head, it's like it feels all right to have gotten touched. Knock it up.

Q. With the preseason games over and roster days on Tuesday, feel like you're turning the page into a more focused season approach come next week?

TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, and I think this game was really important for a lot of guys trying to make the team. But like I said, it was very important for us to see as a team, collectively, offense, defense. The guys that are being out there, can we trust them? Can we not trust them? Are they doing the right things out there? Are they not? And we'll see what those decisions and how everything shakes out come to the 53-man roster.

Q. So you're very big on chemistry with players.

TUA TAGOVAILOA: Uh-huh.

Q. How much have you been able to work with Darren Waller, and what's that process like trying to develop some chemistry with him?

TUA TAGOVAILOA: I haven't had a ton of reps with Waller just because he's working his way back into the feeling of running his routes and then the feeling of his pads as well. So hopefully this next upcoming week we can work on a lot of those things prior to the week one lead-up to play the Colts.

Q. What's the next week and a half, two weeks like from the end of preseason and training camp until that first regular season game?

TUA TAGOVAILOA: A lot of the guys -- for me, a lot of the guys that would normally be out there, I didn't have them throughout midway to the ending of this training camp. So that would be a great opportunity for me to get some work with those guys -- Reek, Waddle, Waller, all those guys. We'll get some work in. We'll try to find some time to get those in before the lead-up to week one.

Q. What do you think of the Dolphins pass-rush group?

TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, I mean, it was sweet. What else can you say? As a quarterback, with having those guys, I mean, I guess you can say -- I guess you could say it's fun that they're not across from me and they're on our side of the ball.

But I think it was cool that the celebration with Chop, how Chop tried to hit it and then he stopped and all of those guys behind him were in sync. I think that was super cool.

That tells you chemistry that those guys have in that room with each other and how close they are and how they play.

Q. What stood out to you this week about Ollie Gordon's preparation? I know he was connected to the starting role this week but what was it about the preparation?

TUA TAGOVAILOA: I'm really proud of Ollie. There's been a pretty big ask for him to step up into that role going with the 1s. And outside of that, it's not to say he didn't have some mistakes, but what he was asked of to do as a rookie, I was very proud of him.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
159226-1-1045 2025-08-24 02:58:00 GMT

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