Tyreek Hill blames drops on lack of reps with Tua Tagovailoa

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins extensive receiver Tyreek Hill bought his fingers on three passes that in the end fell incomplete throughout Sunday’s 29-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers, two of which might have resulted in touchdowns.

When requested about them after the sport, Hill attributed his drops to a scarcity of apply reps with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

“I really feel like, on the finish of the day, I want these helpful reps with Tua,” Hill mentioned. “These vet relaxation days are beginning to present. I fully blame myself for not getting my head round and never seeing the ball as a result of, if I see a ball, we’re speaking cross-court, 70-yard landing. However these Wednesday reps are undoubtedly exhibiting. As a frontrunner, I’ve simply bought to have the ability to chew the bullet someday and apply and get these helpful reps with QB1 as a result of, if we’re in a position to keep on the sphere on third down, who is aware of what may occur.”

Hill dropped a go on third down throughout the Dolphins’ opening drive. Later within the quarter, he dropped one other third-down go, this time ultimately zone — though 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir tipped the ball barely on the final second.

Tagovailoa focused Hill as soon as once more on an finish zone route on third down late within the third quarter, however the go was dropped. The Dolphins settled for area targets on each of Hill’s finish zone drops.

Hill was listed as questionable for Sunday’s sport due to a wrist harm, which he has battled all through the season. He missed Wednesday practices in two of the previous 4 weeks, and has been listed as restricted or worse in a minimum of one apply each week since Week 7. Main as much as Sunday’s sport, Hill missed apply Wednesday, practiced in full Thursday and was a restricted participant Friday.

Hill doubled down on his lack of apply reps as the rationale for his struggles Sunday, hearkening to a lesson he realized whereas taking part in underneath Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

“On the deep ball, it was tipped by the defensive again, and on the opposite one, it is simply, once more, lacking these helpful reps with the quarterback,” Hill mentioned. “One factor I realized from Coach Reid each time I used to be in Kansas Metropolis, I used to be blessed to have the ability to play underneath such an excellent head coach, is you may’t simply present up on Sunday. You’ve got bought to have the ability to put together your self Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, even Saturday. Then when it is Sunday, it is easy.

“As soon as once more, us lacking these helpful reps as a result of when it is stay pace, every little thing’s transferring so quick. We’d like these helpful reps each time it is Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.”

With 29 yards and a landing Sunday, the NFL’s main receiver over the previous two seasons is on tempo for simply 945 receiving yards this season — the bottom complete of his profession as a full-time starter.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel mentioned creating a participant’s apply workload is an “imperfect components” however in the end, if Hill desires extra apply reps then he’ll get them.

“You are attempting to yield the perfect efficiency on sport day, and the nice information is when a participant on Sunday can really feel the remaining in a destructive means, then you definately alter,” McDaniel mentioned. “At any time when it hits a participant and so they really feel that it has gathered, then you definately alter your plans as a result of the thought is, above all else, executing and feeling as convicted and assured on sport day. There’s all the time execs and cons with any kind of relaxation. Shoot, I would like each participant to play one hundred pc of the apply snaps at full tilt each week. You may have an imperfect components of attempting to determine tips on how to relaxation guys and what does greatest for his or her physique.

“I believe the adjustment to getting extra reps with Tua, that is a simple one. You already know what I will do? I will say, ‘Hey, get extra reps,’ after which they will do it.”

The Dolphins led the NFL in passing yards final season however at the moment rank 14th in passing yards per sport. Their offense struggled after Tagovailoa missed 4 of the group’s first six video games due to a concussion, however Hill’s manufacturing hasn’t returned to his 2022 and 2023 ranges.

Tagovailoa agreed that extra apply reps may assist get Miami’s offense again on monitor.

“If he informed you that, then that is what we’d like extra of. We’d like reps. Me and him want extra reps,” he mentioned. “That is what we have got to do. That is the key sauce to me with the ability to join with all these guys. … If we miss a throw, if we’re off on a throw within the group apply or in a routes on-air rep, we’ll get collectively in no matter time we’ve got, whether or not it is after or throughout, whereas the protection is on, and we’ll get these reps made up. Telling him what I see after which him additionally telling me how he feels with working it. That has rather a lot to do with reps for certain.”

At 6-7, the Dolphins path the Denver Broncos by two video games for the AFC’s remaining playoff seed. If the Broncos lose their remaining two video games, and Miami wins out and finishes with a greater file than the Indianapolis Colts, the Dolphins will safe their third consecutive playoff berth.