Story by
Dolphins rookie Michael Taaffe, while having interception in first game, takes ownership of mistake
- Story by
- Dolphins rookie Michael Taaffe, while having interception in first game, takes ownership of mistake
NAPA, California — Miami Dolphins rookie safety Michael Taaffe experienced a memory in the team's opener that should last a lifetime.
He had an interception of Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins in his first career NFL game.
Advertisement
But afterward, what was more so on his mind was a play he didn't make, where his lack of positioning left a teammate in the secondary hung out to dry for a key touchdown in the 27-13 loss at Allegiant Stadium .
When Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty came out of the backfield and started outside to the flat before pivoting inside to turn it into an angle route, nickel cornerback Chris Johnson had him covered to the outside, but Taaffe was supposed to have the center of the field covered.
Cousins looked off Taaffe by keeping his eyes on tight end Michael Mayer running a crossing pattern in front of him, Taaffe bit and left his zone unoccupied. Cousins turned and delivered a dart to Jeanty for a 13-yard touchdown, with Johnson left to appear the guilty party as the nearest defender.
As the Dolphins (0-1) stay out west this week, practicing in Napa before Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers (1-0), Taaffe, like many youngsters on the Dolphins roster, has good to build on and bad to eliminate.
Advertisement
It's why, even as media following the game in Las Vegas wanted to ask Taaffe about his highlight, the interception, he'd respectfully answer, but his mind would still revert to what went wrong, along with the team result.
"On the second touchdown, I got to be there for Chris. Kirk got my eyes. Good player. They had a good scheme, but I got to be there for Chris. I think Chris Johnson has the toughest job on our defense. … Anytime that you have a coverage to help him, you want to help him."
Related Articles
When Jeanty's touchdown was scored, Taaffe immediately tapped his chest as he looked at Johnson.
Advertisement
"I looked at Chris and I said, 'That's on me,' " Taaffe said.
After the Dolphins scored a field goal to wrap up the first half following that Raiders touchdown, Taaffe's interception, on an overthrow from Cousins, came two defensive plays later to begin the second half. It was a form of redemption that led to Miami's lone touchdown and provided a spark to keep the Dolphins in the game early in the second half before they couldn't quite rally.
"We didn't blink an eye," he said of that ensuing defensive series. "So, that was cool."
It looked like a tough first half for Johnson, as Cousins was picking on him, confident he could get the ball to his target when covered by the rookie cornerback in his first NFL regular-season game. The first touchdown was scored by Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech against him, but it also involved a safety not providing appropriate help from over the top — that time, Zayne Anderson .
Advertisement
"On those two plays, his help was not where it was supposed to be and he was playing the leverage he was supposed to be in," coach Jeff Hafley said after reviewing film Monday, "and guys on the sideline immediately took ownership for it. (Johnson) is hard on himself too, because he's the one that it's showing up on."
Taaffe took responsibility for allowing the touchdown but also was selfless over the interception.
"If somebody else made an interception on that play, I would be just as happy," Taaffe said in a separate interview with CBS-4 postgame. "I couldn't credit enough to the front because they got the pressure on Kirk, he released it and I just went and did my one-eleventh. That's all you got to do in this game, is just do your job.
"Adversity struck right before halftime. I should've helped out Chris on that touchdown. I'll take full responsibility with that, and we told each other 'next play, next play,' and that's exactly what happened. I had that next-play mentality and interception comes, so that's the game of life."
Advertisement
As Hafley said he views his top three safeties — Taaffe, Anderson and Dante Trader Jr. — all as starters, Taaffe started Sunday and played the second-most snaps in the rotation.
The NFL experience for Taaffe and other rookies keeps them on the road between their first two games on the West Coast, with the team in Napa before facing the 49ers in Santa Clara next Sunday.
"Obviously, it's a work trip. We can't forget that," he said. "We're going to take a little bit off our bodies and enjoy life, enjoy being in the NFL, enjoy getting to play a kids' game for a job. But at the end of the day, we're going to San Fran to win the game. And that's how we're going to practice."
