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The secret behind Dolphins safety Michael Taaffe’s interception in win over Jets
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- The secret behind Dolphins safety Michael Taaffe’s interception in win over Jets
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins rookie safety Michael Taaffe's interception of Jets quarterback Geno Smith in Sunday's win , the second of his career, undoubtedly came as a byproduct of watching film.
Taaffe had the deep middle zone, but he took off underneath his coverage area before Smith threw the ball, knowing he was bound to throw to tight end Mason Taylor on an intermediate route over the middle. The rookie defensive back knew where to be for the interception from studying tendencies of the opponent.
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"Tape, for me, is what gives me confidence," Taaffe said Monday. "You got six days to prepare and you got one day to go play. So, those six days, I'm going to do everything I can to prepare.
"I'm a guy that really likes to lean on the tape to see what tendencies the other team gives us, and once game day comes, I let it rip."
Taaffe's gamble on the play paid off. Of course, there was the risk that, if Jets wide receiver Tim Patrick, from the right side of the formation, was running a post route instead of a corner route and Smith spots Taaffe out of position in time, it's an easy touchdown.
But Hafley, whose background comes in instructing defensive backs, was OK with the risk taken.
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"I always say to the DBs, try to take a couple things where you feel like, when you see them in the game — and it's crystal clear and it's happening in slow motion — at that point, you've got to take your shot. And that might happen once, it might happen twice a game, it might not happen in a game," Hafley said Wednesday .
"In those instances, I want him to take a shot. It's why you study, and it's why you put in all the work. And when you get that opportunity in a game. You need to have the confidence and take the shot, and he did."
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It's encouraging that, as a rookie, Taaffe is already taking so much away from his film study.
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"Yeah, he's doing his job," said linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, another avid film-watcher as a rookie. "He works as hard as anybody, and he's always trying to do the right thing. He's communicating loud and he's exuding confidence back there with preparation. It's great to root for a guy like that who can play well and elevate everybody's game around him. It was nice to see him have another interception, and we needed it."
