Dolphins HC on Tua Tagovailoa's high school tape: 'Your technique was trash'

Tagovailoa responded, "What are you talking about? No rhythm, no timing?" as the two shared a laugh. McDaniel softened his criticisms, saying he could see "little elements" of Tagovailoa's swag, even back in high school. 

"You heard him, guys. I got swag," Tagovailoa said into McDaniel's mic. 

After Tagovailoa walked away, McDaniel had the last word. 

"Did you hear what Tua just said?" McDaniel said. "It's a dangerous indicator that he doesn't have swag." 

There's no relationship more critical to a football's teams success than the one between the head coach and quarterback, and the Dolphins seem to have that part nailed down. It's also yielding positive results. The Dolphins are one of the surprise teams in the NFL, leading the AFC East at 8-3. Meanwhile, Tagovailoa boasts the NFL's top passer rating (115.7), ranks second in completion percentage (69.7), and fifth in yards per game (284.9) and touchdown passes (19). 

This week, the Dolphins take on the San Francisco 49ers, where McDaniel spent the previous five seasons as the team's offensive coordinator (2021), run game coordinator (2018-2020), and run game specialist (2017).

McDaniel's early success in Miami has focused much of the spotlight ahead of Sunday's game against the Niners on him instead of the players. Speaking with reporters this week, McDaniels said he'd do everything he could to make it "another game." 

"My obligation is to serve each and every player and coach and try to get the best out of them," McDaniel said. "Nowhere in that equation has anything to do with my past history and travels, so that's why I don't — when I say it's not about me, I really, really mean it."