Tyreek Hill blames drops on lack of reps with Tua Tagovailoa

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins large receiver Tyreek Hill bought his palms on three passes that finally 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 beneficial reps with Tua,” Hill stated. “These vet relaxation days are beginning to present. I utterly 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 pacesetter, I’ve simply bought to have the ability to chew the bullet someday and apply and get these beneficial 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 might occur.”

Hill dropped a cross on third down through the Dolphins’ opening drive. Later within the quarter, he dropped one other third-down cross, 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 cross was dropped. The Dolphins settled for area objectives on each of Hill’s finish zone drops.

Hill was listed as questionable for Sunday’s sport due to a wrist damage, 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 no less than 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.

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Hill doubled down on his lack of apply reps as the explanation for his struggles Sunday, hearkening to a lesson he realized whereas taking part in beneath 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 beneficial reps with the quarterback,” Hill stated. “One factor I realized from Coach Reid at any time when I used to be in Kansas Metropolis, I used to be blessed to have the ability to play beneath such an ideal head coach, is you’ll be able to’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 beneficial reps as a result of when it is stay velocity, every part’s transferring so quick. We want these beneficial reps at any time when 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 whole of his profession as a full-time starter.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stated growing a participant’s apply workload is an “imperfect components” however finally, if Hill desires extra apply reps then he’ll get them.

“You are attempting to yield the most effective efficiency on sport day, and the good information is when a participant on Sunday can really feel the remaining in a damaging method, then you definitely regulate,” McDaniel stated. “Each time it hits a participant they usually really feel that it has gathered, then you definitely regulate your plans as a result of the concept is, above all else, executing and feeling as convicted and assured on sport day. There’s at all times professionals and cons with any form of relaxation. Shoot, I would like each participant to play 100% of the apply snaps at full tilt each week. You’ve gotten an imperfect components of attempting to determine relaxation guys and what does greatest for his or her physique.

“I feel the adjustment to getting extra reps with Tua, that is a straightforward one. You recognize what I will do? I will say, ‘Hey, get extra reps,’ after which they’re going to 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 workforce’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 might assist get Miami’s offense again on observe.

“If he informed you that, then that is what we’d like extra of. We want reps. Me and him want extra reps,” he stated. “That is what we have 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 workforce apply or in a routes on-air rep, we’ll get collectively in no matter time we have now, 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 so much to do with reps for positive.”

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