https://chargerswire.usatoday.com/2023/09/06/chargers-dolphins-things-to-know-tua-tagovailoa-tyreek-hill/

Gavino Borquez
September 6, 2023 12:33 pm PT

The Chargers will open up the 2023 regular season at SoFi Stadium
against the Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1:25 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 1 bout, here are five key things to know
about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

The man under center

Tua Tagovailoa led all quarterbacks last season in several categories,
including passer rating, yards per passing attempt and passing touchdown
percentage, despite sustaining two concussions. To help avoid the injury
scares going forward, Tagovailoa changed his diet and got into a
strength training program, adding 10 pounds. Additionally, he took
jiu-jitsu classes on a weekly basis to avoid harmful falls on the field.

Dynamic duo

The Dolphins have two of the NFL’s most prolific wide receivers in
Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. In 2022, Hill caught a career-high 119
passes for a career-high 1,710 yards and seven touchdowns. He set an NFL
record for most receiving yards recorded by a player in his first season
with a new team. Conversely, Waddle led Miami last season with eight
receiving touchdowns and an average of 18.1 yards per catch.

New defensive mastermind

The Dolphins’ biggest splash of the offseason was hiring defensive
coordinator Vic Fangio. Fangio succeeded Josh Boyer, who was fired after
three seasons as Miami’s DC. Before taking the job, Fangio was recently
the head coach of the Broncos (2019-21). During his three seasons,
Denver had one of the top defensive units. Before being a head coach,
Fangio oversaw the defenses of the Panthers (1995-98), Colts
(1999-2001), Texans (2002-05), 49ers (2011-14) and the Bears (2015-18).
Brandon Staley is a disciple of Fangio and his system, having spent time
with him in Chicago and Denver.

Prolific pass rushers

Fangio will have a handful of weapons at his disposal, led by the edge
defender tandem of Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips. When Chubb and
Phillips were on the field together in 2022, the team had a 40% pressure
rate against opposing quarterbacks. Chubb only finished with 2.5 sacks,
which is lower than what he has compiled in previous seasons, but he
dealt with a couple of injuries. On the other hand, Phillips totaled
seven sacks and finished in the top ten of all edge defenders in
pressures with 70.

Look out for…

Jevon Holland, a third-year safety from Oregon. Holland, a playmaker on
the backend, has 165 tackles, four interceptions, four sacks and 17
passes defensed across his first two seasons. Given Holland’s
versatility to play safety, corner and nickel, Fangio will use him in a
lot of different roles in his two-high safety look.