Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa rebuilding Tyreek Hill chemistry, reveals solution for miscommunication on offense

David Furones, South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Sep 16, 2025

Published in Football

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — With not much going right for the Miami Dolphins at 0-2 going into the short week and travel to Buffalo to face the mighty Bills, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill hope to build on the momentum of their connection possibly reigniting Sunday.

In the loss to the New England Patriots, the two hooked up for 100 yards for just the second time in the past calendar year.

“It was a good feel. It felt like old times,” Hill said after the game Sunday.

It’s chemistry that had felt long lost as Tagovailoa missed six games in 2024 between a concussion and hip injury. When Tagovailoa was on the field, it was only a December home win against the New York Jets where he found Hill for a triple-digit receiving game. Hill also did it in late December last season, but with backup quarterback Tyler “Snoop” Huntley throwing him the ball.

“In this past game, just looking at what the defense was allowing for us to do, will give ‘Reek, will give (Jaylen) Waddle those opportunities,” Tagovailoa said.

The Dolphins’ left-handed quarterback completed a pass of at least 30 yards to Hill, a 47-yard completion Sunday in the third quarter, for the first time in a full year, the 2024 season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“That deep ball, that was one of those where, ‘Hey, we need a spark from our offense,’ ” Tagovailoa said. “And it was like, ‘Reek, I’m just coming to you, no matter what they do on this. And you just got to make me right.’ ”

Hill, though, did have to stop and wait for the football after burning the New England secondary. A defensive back swooped past to allow the catch for Hill, but it could’ve been a touchdown if Tagovailoa hit Hill in stride.

The Dolphins passer acknowledge Wednesday it was an underthrow.

“Heck yeah. I definitely did,” Tagovailoa said “I wasn’t able to get both my feet under me as I was moving off the spot to make that throw.”

To keep it going, the Dolphins pass game may need to work outside the numbers to the sideline, as opponents are taking away the middle of the field.

“That’s the style that teams have played us, and they’ve found a lot of success,” Tagovailoa said. “We had to throw outside the numbers this past game, and then the checkdowns.”

Tagovailoa noted it’s not a normal Tampa-2 or quarters coverage that defenses play against the Dolphins. He’s seeing linebackers drop into their zone with depth but not width, giving Miami the sidelines.

“They’re just literally packing the middle,” he said.

Tagovailoa said the Bills are really disciplined at doing exactly that and forcing the Dolphins into checkdowns.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said the team has been devising a plan to streamline communication so they don’t have mishaps like late in the game on the fourth-and-9 that had the play clock winding down before Tagovailoa’s interception.

Tagovailoa noted the Dolphins are trying to work in a number of new personnel groupings.

“With that, comes responsibilities from guys that never had to do that in years past, and now they have that on their plate,” he said. “The communication on that, from the sideline to the huddle, from me telling those guys what it is and guys in the huddle knowing, ‘Not this position; this position.’ I think that’s what it is.”

Tagovailoa hinted the Dolphins may try to simplify their personnel packages and not go as deep into the playbook with them.

“With the guys we have in there, let’s go play football,” he said.

Tagovailoa said tight end Julian Hill, who was open in the flat on that play, was part of his progression on the fourth-quarter interception on fourth down that halted the Dolphins’ penultimate drive.

“Everyone is a part of the progression in the play,” Tagovailoa said. “He had his assignment and then he chipped out, went up. Didn’t see him. Just tried to make something happen that wasn’t there.”

Tagovailoa, who also missed an open Tanner Conner on the third down in which he ran out of bounds for no gain before the game-sealing sack by Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams, denied any notion he’s not looking for the tight ends enough. He said he’s simply going through the progression.

Tagovailoa was candid answering about facing Bills quarterback Josh Allen on the other side.

“He’s top-tier,” Tagovailoa said. “If it’s not with his arm, it’s with his legs. That dude can do anything he wants. Definitely different skill set from me. I can’t do half of what he does when it comes to running the ball and then with how he can just chuck a ball down the field with how far and the arm strength that he has. He’s supreme when it comes to that.”