Tagovailoa, Phillips dish on one more advantage that McDaniel is giving the Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa indicated that the reason the Dolphins are well-positioned to thrive offensively goes well beyond the talent acquired.

In an interview with NFL Network’s Scott Hanson and Willie McGinest, Tagovailoa mentioned one aspect of Mike McDaniel’s offense that has many people bullish about what this team can achieve.

“This year what makes it a lot more exciting is we have a lot of things that look very similar with our run games, with our action games,” Tagovailoa said. “It puts a lot of stress on the defense, the second level guys. And that puts a lot of stress on the third level guys, because now they’ve got to cover more room, more ground and it helps that we have speed on the back end with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Ced Wilson.

“Our running backs – we have Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert. It’s not easy covering fast, fast guys and we have more than one.”

Linebacker Jaelan Phillips also mentioned how the difficulty of defending this offense extends well beyond the talent.

“This is probably one of the toughest offenses that we’re going to go up against, just in terms of schematics,” Phillips said. “So being able to train that, this early in camp, is really crucial for the rest of the season.

“They have a lot of movement and a lot of things that are specifically meant to mess with your eyes. So being able to read your keys is one of the most important parts of our position and the defense as a whole. So when your keys are moving around and adjusting and they have trick plays here and there, it’s a lot of processing. McDaniel is a hell of a play-caller.”

▪ Asked if Hill has done anything that has particularly impressed him, Tagovailoa said: “It was probably before our first couple days of camp. Starting in OTAs, being able to throw to him. When we had minicamp, him showing off his speed. It’s ridiculous. Seeing it on TV and seeing it in person, he’s a lot faster than I thought I could perceive.”

McDaniel mentioned on Sunday how Hill is extremely coachable, how McDaniel can mention in front of the team when Hill doesn’t meet the coaching staff’s standard in some on-field nuance (route distance, for example) and McDaniel can say it aloud, and Hill takes it well and immediately corrects it that day.

▪ Tagovailoa, in his national interview, credits McDaniel for many of the good things happening.

“We’re very optimistic this year,” Tagovailoa said. “It starts with the locker room. Mike has done an amazing job getting all the right pieces and personalities, not just guys that are good on the field but guys that are great people off the field as well. Everyone meshes well together.

“I would say this year, we spent a lot more time with guys off the field, whether it’s going to get something to eat, or everyone going to my house for a barbecue or going to Tyreek’s house to get in his studio and rap or something. I’ve never been around something like that. I think it’s super cool. And the guys can feel there’s a change in the organization.”

▪ Offensive coordinator Frank Smith said Tagovailoa - who was very good on Sunday - looks “awesome. His command of the offense has been very consistent. You can see the growth each day. He’s done an excellent job so far.”

THIS AND THAT

Josh Boyer, who is running the defense as coordinator, has changed in one way since he was a defensive backs coach in New England, where Dolphins safety Eric Rowe initially played for Boyer.

“He used to be a real stickler,” Rowe said. “He’s loosened up a bit. Different guys play different techniques. He’s grown a lot.”

▪ In the wake of Adam Butler’s release, John Jenkins, Benito Jones and Nebraska rookie Ben Stille are the top competitors for a backup defensive tackle job. Stille has flashed in camp.

“Ben is a good young talent, brings it and he is smart,” defensive lineman Christian Wilkins said. “He really understands what we’re trying to do.”

But Jenkins - who is a bit slimmer but still very difficult to move - will be the front-runner until someone beats him out. “The organization knows who I am and they can trust me,” said Jenkins, who’s well equipped to back up Raekwon Davis at nose tackle.

Though he’s more of an edge player than Butler, Melvin Ingram can take some of Butler’s snaps in some defensive packages.

▪ Though tight end Hunter Long had a couple of drops last week, there has been growth, and tight ends coach John Embree said: “Hunter has done a good job of pushing Durham [Smythe] and Mike [Gesicki] He can run and catch.... He has a bright future.”

Long “fits what we do; very excited about him,” McDaniel said.

Long said “this scheme requires an all around tight end” and he believes he can be that. “I feel a lot more at piece off the field.”

▪ Sometimes, play-callers McDaniel (offense) and Boyer (defense) will tell each other their calls before plays in practice. Sometimes they won’t to add an element of unpredictability. “Boyer knows how to use everybody’s talents,” said Sam Eguavoen, who said he feels more comfortable playing inside (his current spot) than outside linebacker.

▪ Eguavoen, who had four sacks in a preseason game last year, said “I need six this year.”

▪ McDaniel loves how fourth-round rookie receiver Erik Ezukanma is coming along. “I’ve been very happy with him the whole time,” McDaniel said.

“He’s made more plays now that he knows what he’s doing. It doesn’t surprise me. It will continue to get better and better. There are a lot of things he still needs to work on. He’s a driven dude.”