We Need More From Tua, It It Just Speed & More w/ Chris Perkins

Chris Perkins, Miami Dolphins columnist at the Sun Sentinel joins the show. Chris shares how he wants to see more of Tua Tagovailoa, what are the Dolphins expecting out of Odell Beckam Jr., do the Dolphins have any other aspects of their game that could make life difficult for the Seahawks, what are they getting in Jerome Baker and much more. 

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
The second home game of the season, the Miami Dolphins come all the way
across the country to play the Seahawksand Soto and our continuing series of Seahawks
foes. We are joined on theBeacon Plumbing Hotline live now by Chris Perkins,
Dolphins Calmness for the South Florida SunSentinel. Chris, thanks a lot
for joining us on this Monday.I hope your summer is well, maybe

(00:23):
not cool, but going well,and I hope you're taking some time off
before NFL starts. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, it's not cool. You
know. I go from Miami whereI live to visit family down here in
San Antonio, so cool is definitelydefinitely not the word. But yeah,
I'm looking forward to starting training camp. Man, I can't wait. Chris.
Yeah, I saw you wrote forthe Sun Sentinel couple of days ago

(00:44):
that you are looking for quote magicfrom Tua tech lev Ela in his c
upcoming Dolphins season. What did youmean by that? And what haven't you
seen that you think he still has? Here's what I meant by that.
We've seen Tua do a lot ofstatistical things that raise your eyebrows, and
you say, yeah, that's nice. Right, he laned the league in
passer rating two years ago. Lastyear he laned the league in passing yards.

(01:08):
They were number one in offense lastyear. They're one of the highest
scoring teams in the league. Yetthey don't play well against the best teams
in the league. Right, weknow that last season, per instance,
they were eleven and sixth in theregular season and then ohe and one in
the playoffs. They lost that inthat freezer in Kansas City, that playoff

(01:30):
game. So overall they're eleven andseven. They were ten and one against
non playoff teams, one and sixagainst playoff teams. So I need to
see more from TUA from that standpoint, right, I need to see you
win a playoff game. I needto see you do some things that we
see from Patrick Mahomes, josh Allen, Lamars, Lamar Jackson. You know,

(01:55):
give me some magic on that secondand four in the second quarter.
I'm not just talking about out youknow that that that bomb that you throw
on the last play of the gameto win the game. I'm talking about
throughout the game. Give me confidencethat you can make every play, you
can convert every third down, thatyou can put fear into the opponent.

(02:15):
I don't think that Tua is quitethere yet. I want to see him
move from mountains. That's what Ihave not seen from Tua on a consistent
basis. That's the way, saidChris Perkins, Dolphins columnist for the South
Florida Sun Sentinel, joining us onninety three point three KJRFM of Tua.
Chris, do you how much doyou think the concussions, the controversy surrounding

(02:36):
all of that his first couple ofseasons set him back to where he could
be now in his career compared towhere he is. I think his injury
issue overall has set him back alittle bit. You know, It's always
been something, starting with his finalseason at Alabama where he has the hip
injury along with a concussion on thaton that play, Uh he had.

(03:00):
He's had I believe finger injury andshoulder injury and the NFL if I'm not
mistaken, but last year was thefirst season that he went through an entire
season healthy. I think that he'skind of over the injury theme. You
know, last year he went lastoff season he took jiu jitsu lessons to

(03:20):
learn how to fall to help himprevent getting concussions, and I know,
you know, I talked to ajiu jitsu instructor. I used to cover
MMA, and you know, soI talked to a jiu jitsu instructor and
he was saying that what they telltheir fighters is as soon as you feel
yourself going down him to the chestand that way, your hand is not
going to have that whiplash effect.That seemed to work for two a last

(03:44):
season. So he didn't have aknee injury, he didn't have a finger
injury. I think that he'll gointo this season a lot more confident about
his ability to avoid injuries. That'sa major hurdle for him to cross.
I feel not confident that he canplay. You know, let's not be
ridiculous and say seventeen games. Weknow how quarterbacks go out nowadays. I've

(04:08):
got to see him put together afifteen game season, and maybe that's where
the Dolphins are at. Also,maybe that's part of the hold up with
the contract extension. But I thinkfor the most part, he's over the
injury thing. But let's see himplay like fifteen games this year. Speaking
of injuries, you guys went outand are bringing in thirty one year old

(04:28):
ODJ knee injuries, a bunch ofsurgeries. This offense is based on speed
and timing. How does he fitand what do you see his role becoming?
Because you guys got a lot oftalent in this wide receiver room and
including your running backs as well.Yep, yep, yeah. Speed is
the thing with this offense, asyou know at the receiver spot, especially

(04:48):
Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddell. Here'show I look at OBJ, the OBJ
five six years ago. Who thiswould be a perfect fit. These guess
would be on right OPJ of twentytwenty four, who is thirty one and
has had what three straight injury interruptedseason. You know, let's be a
little bit more realistic. You know, if you could get I don't know,

(05:14):
you know, forty five fifty receptionssix hundred yards something like that,
then I think that's very productive forhim. Again, let's be realistic.
He's not playing seventeen games. Youreally want OBJ to be there at the
end of the season, say,you know, November December and the playoff
runs. That's really what you want. And look, the Dolphins are relying

(05:36):
on a lot of key thirty somethings, right, You got Obj at thirty
one. You got Tron Armstead atleft tackle, a Pro Bowl left tackle,
but he's going into his twelfth season, so he's probably thirty four something
like that. Jordan Tooyer they justsigned at safety from Buffalo thirty four.
Talis Campbell they just signed from Atlantathirty seven, so you know you do.

(06:00):
And Raheem Moster Pro Bowl running backthirty one. Tyreek is thirty,
Jalen Ramsey is thirty. But I'mnot worried about them. But yeah,
when when you're talking about Poyer andObj and Tron Armstead and Kalais Cambell and
Raheem Moster, that's a lot ofthirty somethings at key positioned. So we'll
see what happens there. But butreally, you know, I think that

(06:24):
Obj, if you keep your expectationsrealistic, he should have a productive seedon
Outside of the speed that the MiamiDolphins present, what other problems do they
present to any defense coming in?Oh, this is a personal big thing
with me. None, And Imean that, Look, they don't really

(06:44):
have a power running game, theydon't really have a tight end threat.
They don't they didn't have a slotreceiver threat. Before Obj, they don't
have a big receiver, a bigtarget to go to. So they just
signed Janiu Smith at tight end.We just said they just signed Obj for
the slot. So we'll see howthose two guys can can fill in some
of these gaps. But this teamis pretty much all the offense. It's

(07:09):
pretty much all Steve and Finesse thirdand one. They're throwing. They don't
have a big bat to hand itto goal line situation. They're getting cute,
they're they're kind of running these also, you know the kind of misdirection
stuff. They can't just pound you, they can't just get physical with you.
They can't just throw to somebody.Aside from Jalen Waddle or Tyreek Hill.

(07:31):
Durham Smythe was their tight end.You know, he be okay.
I think he had thirty six receptionslast year, career best, but you
know they didn't have another slot receiver. The running backs they can catch the
ball out of the backfield, Devona Shan and Raheem Moster. If you
put the ball in their hands,they can really make it happen. But

(07:51):
the throwing game and the offense isso dominated by Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle.
They're really isn't a two punch whenyou talk about from one to two
punch of this offense, And that'sone thing they need to develop. Chris
sounds like they need some home playoffgames in this January done in South Florida
instead of in the freezer boxer.You can pass the ball, throw the

(08:15):
ball out the yard. My goodness. Look, that is such a priority,
and we talk about that down hereall the time. You went to
Buffalo two years ago freezing temperatures,lost thirty four to thirty one, and
right we all know it happened lastyear in Kansas City. The windshields like
twenty below. There were fans wholiterally had to get imputations like fingers and

(08:35):
toes because it was so cold there. So get a home playoff game.
Look, if they would have beatTennessee that twenty eight twenty second game they
lost late in the season, theyprobably would have played Pittsburgh here at home
in the first round of the playoff. Instead, you got to go to
the Super Bowl champs and twenty below. So yeah, you got to get
a home playoff yet, Chris Perkins, South Florida Sentinel columnists or the Dolphins.

(08:58):
The third week opponent for the SeattleSeahorks talking to us on ninety three
point three KJRFM, and thank youfor joining us. You're talking about all
the thirty Septings, the Kalas Campbell'sand everyone they've signed and brought in.
You're talking about to his contract,the fact that he's playing the option year
this year at twenty three million guaranteed, and then his future still remaining in
doubt beyond this year. Is thewindow now for the Dolphins or do you

(09:22):
see it perhaps extending well beyond thisNo, it's now. It's definitely now.
Look it started last year. Yeah, they are not going to be
as individually talented this year as theywere last year. You lost Kristin Wilkins
at defensive tackle, you lost RobHunt at right guard, you cut a
Zaden Howard at cornerback. So thereis some key pieces of talent are gone.

(09:46):
However, I think if you deploythe existing talent a little bit differently,
you can be a better team.One thing that we're gonna see,
you know, Vic Fangio, theformer defensive coordinator, went to They signed
Anthony Weaver as their defensive coordinator.He comes over from Baltimore. Baltimore has
that aggressive attitude. Baltimore plays multipleformations defensively. And one thing that Anthony

(10:13):
Weaver said that he wanted to do, which I think is really gonna help
this defense. He said, Iwant to use Jalen Ramsey as a chess
keys. Last year, Vic Fangiopretty much kept Jalen Ramsey at one spot
on the field. He shadowed areceiver I think once against the Jets,
but that was pretty much hit.So there's an indication from Weaver that we're

(10:33):
gonna put Jalen rams We're gonna havehim shadow receivers more often, We're gonna
use him in the slot. We'regonna kind of use him as a jack
of all trade. That immediately makesyour defense better. So things like that.
Offensively, yeah, use that slotreceiver more. Get a power running
game, use your tight end more. Defensively, Again, the Dolphins,
I think they were twenty one percentin blitz rate percentage. They were one

(10:58):
of the lowest ranked, you know, blitzing teams in the NFL. Maybe
you blitch more and with different typesof blitzes, maybe different stunts and swifts
up front with the defensive line lavedby Zach Seeler. So there's different ways
you can use your talent even ifyou aren't individually talented. And that's another
thing I want to see from theDolphins this season. Chris Perkins a columnist

(11:20):
for the South Florida Sunset, andI'll talking about the Seahawks third week opponent
September twenty second at Luminfield Dolphins Seahawks. Chris, when the Dolphins get here
that day week three, do youthink the tow of contract will still be
an issue or are you expecting themto extend your boy? That's a good
question. You know, first ofall, let's say this two is not

(11:41):
going anywhere because they can franchise himfor the next two years, so he's
their quarterback of the future. Willhe have an extension or I don't know.
I would not give to an extensionuntil after this season. I just
need to see more. And Iknow that TUIs said the market is the
market. You guys know that Tuais not happy about this. That at

(12:01):
many camp, he didn't participate ineleven and eleven. We don't know if
the contract is not completed or theextension is not completed. We don't know
if he's gonna hold out. Wedon't know if he's gonna hold in.
We don't know if he's gonna fullyparticipate. We have no idea. But
you know, Tua at many campsaid the market is the market, and

(12:22):
that was kind of meaning. Okay, Jared Golf got his bag and Trevor
Lawrence got his bag, I getmine. I say, no, there
needs to be a market correction.And if I'm the Dolphins, you know
I'm telling Tua and here's the way. Well, I'll say this for me
personally, I've always said this Dolphinsoffense is about two things. Tyreek Hill
and the threat of Tyreek Hill.Again, you know, your running game

(12:45):
isn't that good. Your passing gameaside from Tyreek isn't that good? Your
tight end, your offensive it's allTyreek. So I'm now speaking as the
Dolphins sitting at this negotiation table,I'm saying, look, I think that
you're really the cause. So I'mnot gonna give you a contract mess averages
fifty five million a year, likethe ty reef makes all this go.

(13:07):
I need to see it from youone more year. I need to see
some magic from you. I needto see you get us a whole playoff
game, a playoff win. Ineed to see you healthy for another fifteen
games. If Tua does all thatstuff and balls out, okay, I'm
happy to give you that big moneybecause you've earned it. But to me
right now, I haven't seen enough. I need to see a little bit

(13:28):
more from Tua. So I wouldhope that Tua does not have an extension
by the time the Dolphins go toSeattle. And let me add this,
that third week, there's no guaranteethat either of their top pass rusher,
Bradley Chubb, who's coming back froma knee injury, or Jalen Phillips coming
back from the achilles, are goingto be healthy. So if I'm the

(13:50):
Dolphins, that's another thing I wantto see from Tua. Like your defense
is down, uplift your team,make your teammates better. It gets no
matter what personnel you put on thefield offensively, defensively, special teams,
that our quarterback can make it happen. Right I think you know Kansas City
thinks that, right with with Mahomes, and Buffalo thinks that with Josh Allen.

(14:11):
I convinced me to us, convinceme, what do we get in
Jerome Baker at linebacker here in Seattlefrom Miami. Do you think, Oh,
I love base He's one of myfavorite players personally, A really good
guy, insightful, knowledgeable, he'salways, you know, got a smile
on his face. But you know, BA can make some plays. I
think he had a against Philly.He had an interception return for a touchdown.

(14:35):
He's not gonna make a Pro Bowl, Okay, let's get that straight.
But he is a solid NFL starter. You're gonna enjoy having him around.
You know, he hits his pastcoverage quite honestly. Probably needs a
little work, but Baker is areally good guy, a really good player.
He's reliable, He's gonna get thejob done. Right. He might

(14:56):
be the green dot guy who callsthe plays. That's how intelligent he is.
You're you're gonna love Drome Bank.He did some of that in Miami,
right, the green dot calling himpuff. Yeah, he did,
he did, Chris, I willlet you go back to enjoy your family,
and thanks for taking the time whenthey're limited days until an NFL training
camp begins. Believe me, Iget it. I'm a Seahawks beat writer,
so I understand little time is limited. I appreciate you sharing yours with

(15:18):
us. Hey any any time,and plus I used to do radio.
I know the Bath Desert. You'rewalking right any time. We appreciate you man,