MIAMI GARDENS — Tyreek Hill has been enjoying a nice first season with the Dolphins and through four games, he leads the league with 477 receiving yards.
Hill spoke to the media Monday afternoon and said that he is blessed to be in head coach Mike McDaniel’s scheme. Besides Hill’s elite play-making ability, there seemed to have been a strong connection between himself and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa that has led to this early success.
However, Tspangovspanilospan’s concussion issues have clouded things. While there isn’t a timetable for his return, Hill said that he is in good hands.
“For real, I don’t think there’s ever a moment when Tua is down. I just saw him in the locker room a moment ago and he’s smiling from ear to ear,” Hill said. “We want Tua on the field but we also understand the magnitude of this situation. His health moving forward is very important to all of us because life is so precious.”
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Hill will be receiving passes from bspanckup quspanrterbspanck Teddy Bridgewspanter, who played all of last Thursday night’s second half. The veteran finished with 193 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Out of Hill’s 10 catches for 160 yards vs. the Bengals, Bridgewater was the quarterback for six receptions and 109 yards.
Hill said the offense is in good hands under Bridgewater, who is in his eighth season.
“Obviously it’s going to be a different change of pace because every quarterback has a different playing style,” Hill said. “But for me, I’m just going to go out there and do what I’ve been doing on every team I’ve been on, which is playing hard, giving 110 (percent) effort and doing what I’ve got to do to help this team win games.”
Hill said that Bridgewater understands his playing style and that they are on the same page most of the time, which he credited to the big 64-yard reception last Thursday.
When it comes to the offense though the first four games, Hill pointed out that it’s a new scheme for everybody and how even with the success, the team is not fully gelled.
“I think there are improvements in every game for everyone. Moving forward, I just want us to keep the mindset of just wanting to get better,” Hill said. “I feel like if we begin to get comfortable with who we are as an offense, then that’s when bad things begin to happen and teams begin to figure us out.”
The seventh-year receiver sees the Dolphins being a dominant team, but he said the receiver group has to be better at blocking down the field. He stressed how it will help the offensive line and the offense as a whole in the run game.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s game at the New York Jets, Hill expects a challenge from the secondary.
“Two great corners. They’ve got two great safeties – Lamarcus Joyner and (Jordan) Whitehead,” Hill said. “The front seven, those guys really fly around the ball. The mindset of the defensive coordinator, you never know what you’re going to get.”
Besides it being his first taste of the Dolphins-Jets rivalry, Hill has another interesting connection with New York. Before he was traded to Miami, the Jets were the other finalist for his services. Hill said signing with the AFC East rival was close to happening, but there were some variables.
“It was just those state taxes, man,” Hill said, knowing that Florida does not have a state income tax. ”I realized I had to make a grown-up decision and here I am in a great city in Miami. It’s great weather. Great and beautiful people. Here I am.”