Moving forward, reporters probably shouldn’t ask Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel if quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is merely a product of McDaniel’s system who is finding success playing alongside top-tier weapons such as wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
“I’m about to push this podium over,” McDaniel said Wednesday when asked if any quarterback could flourish in Miami’s offense, according to the Dolphins’ website and c of CBS Sports. “My answer to that would be, ‘Who the F cares,’ because it is a team. We’re working together, and I know one thing. I’ve coached a long time, I haven’t seen people do what our guys do …To their credit, to their ability and their commitment to their craft.”
Tagovailoa helped the Dolphins jump out to a 5-1 record this fall. Per ESPN stats, he ended Week 6 leading the NFL among qualified players with a 114.1 passer rating, 1,876 passing yards, an average of 9.5 yards per pass attempt and 14 touchdowns through the air (tied with Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings) on the campaign.
As of late Wednesday afternoon, OddsChecker listed Tagovailoa as the betting favorite at +350 odds to earn Most Valuable Player honors for the regular season. “We’re all tied together,” McDaniels continued during his lengthy and passionate response. “It’s a journey that we’re experiencing together … But I know this, our players run a lot of plays that I have a lot of history with, and it looks different, and that’s because of hard work and unbelievable abilities.”
McDaniel and his Dolphins have bigger things to worry about, as they next play at the 5-1 Philadelphia Eagles this coming Sunday night. OddsChecker listed the Eagles as two-and-a-half-point favorites for that matchup on Wednesday afternoon, but McDaniel seemingly was annoyed about a different matter during his news conference.
“Don’t try me on other players,” he added. “I’m not trying to prove that.”
Also on Wednesday, OddsChecker had McDaniel second among the betting favorites at +300 odds to win the NFL Coach of the Year Award behind only Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions (+250).