Observations of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the Miami Dolphins’ training camp have prompted stories such the one headlined “This Tua Tagovailoa has more swag, more confidence and more assertiveness with Dolphins” in the Palm Beach Post.

Miami wide receiver Jaylen Waddle said the biggest improvement for Tagovailoa has been “his communication.”

Dolphins wide receiver Braxton Berrios related an example during his Wednesday press conference.

“There was something, I came back from a route and immediately we were talking,” Berrios said. “I’m not saying that’s foreign or rare, but you know when it is in practice, you know a lot of times that doesn’t happen because you move on to the next play. But it comes up and we have that communication right there on the sideline, and the next time we get it, so I think the communication and the vocalness of him has been a huge step.”

What has prompted the emergence of the supposedly “new” Tagovailoa? Confidence after leading the NFL in passing yards in 2023? Comfort in preparing a third season in coach Mike McDaniel’s offense? Security from signing a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension last month?

Waddle offered another explanation on Wednesday.

The wide receiver played with Tagovailoa at Alabama for two seasons before joining the quarterback in Miami for the past three seasons. Waddle said the established culture of success at Alabama didn’t require from Tagovailoa what being an NFL quarterback does, and he has adjusted accordingly.

“He was kind of not as talkative when he first came in just due to culture,” Waddle said, “and I know just being at Bama with him, the standard was already set, so I feel like it’s something that he learned. But he’s much more talkative, really does a good job of telling us what we want, what he wants and just leading the guys.”

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Tagovailoa led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards in 2023, and Waddle said the quarterback is primed for a big year when the Dolphins kick off their season on Sept. 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“Day in and day out, he’s just making tremendous plays, playing with a lot of confidence, leading our guys and I’m excited for him,” Waddle said. “I’m excited for the year, excited for the team and what he’s going to contribute to the team.”

Miami coach Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa, whom he called a “freakish learner,” targeted several areas for improvement in the offseason.

“We were connected from our exit interview right after the season, where we first began the conversations of what those things could look like,” McDaniel said, “and him being the competitor that he is, he wasted no time to attack those. I won’t divulge exactly what they are, but I think visibly you could see one of them the first time you guys saw him. …

“He wasted no time to do what you’d hope, which is, ‘Hey, bottom line, I want to get better. I’m not happy with the results, so I’m going to work to change them,’ and I think that’s been the whole mindset of the team. You’re led by the quarterback, so it’s very important that he is that way for himself, for his production, but along the same lines to lead by example for what players and coaches and the whole organization need to do for us to get what we want.”

Tagovailoa played for the first time this preseason in the Dolphins’ 13-6 victory over the Washington Commanders on Saturday. He completed all five of his passes as Miami opened the game with an 11-play touchdown drive, then watched the rest of the game.

The Dolphins conclude their preseason schedule against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 6:30 p.m. CDT Friday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.