Tuesday’s first day of padded practice was quiet as it related to the Dolphins’ passing attack. Almost too quiet, especially when contrasting it to all of the reports out of camp about how potent Miami’s weaponry has been and how dynamic second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has looked. His favorite target through the first week and a half of training camp is not the team’s No. 1 draft choice, Jaylen Waddle. It isn’t the team’s 2020 leading receiver, DeVante Parker. And it isn’t the team’s top free agent signing, Will Fuller.
It is none other than Albert Wilson — the receiver who returns this season after opting out of the 2020 season due to concerns over COVID-19.
And the duo kickstarted Miami’s passing attack on Wednesday after the team (by design) kept things working on the ground throughout their first day of pads. The best link between the two was spotlighted by the Dolphins’ social media after practice — giving Dolphins fans a glimpse at what might be the team’s best pairing this season if the start of camp is any indication.
That 1️⃣ and 2️⃣ connection is 🔥@Tua x @IThinkISee12 pic.twitter.com/vEXlvzoqOp
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 4, 2021
The drill took place down in the red zone during an early period of practice and saw Tagovailoa zip a throw into a void in zone coverage despite rolling to his right — away from his throwing side. Getting any level of juice or accuracy when rolling away from your throwing arm as a quarterback is a challenge; as you need to get your momentum coming into the line of scrimmage and you also need to get the shoulders all the way around to square to throw. It’s asking a lot of your body.
And, as you can see, Tagovailoa did it just fine. The pair didn’t have their best day of practice together on Wednesday, with Tagovailoa sailing a later pass intended for Wilson high; prompting an interception from rookie safety Jevon Holland. But after Tuesday’s quiet day through the air, getting the spark back on Wednesday was certainly a welcomed sight nonetheless.