MIAMI GARDENS - Confident, cheerful and passionate, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took coach Mike McDaniel's message about player influence and ran with it on Saturday.

"This isn't Mike's team," Tua said after training camp practice. "This is our team. At the end of the day, that's what it is. Our coaches, they're out there to give us the tools that we need to help us go out there and be successful. Our mantra of how we go out there and do things is, if I go out there and I throw a pick, it's not Darrell Bevell that threw the pick, it's not Mike McDaniels' play call that threw the pick, that's my name on that. That's our offense's name on that."

McDaniel sees players like Tua, Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey taking control of the teams' mission.

"That's sort of our outlook," Tagovailoa said. "How we go out there, our style of play, our mentality, our mindset as we go out there. Like I said, we're trying to make it as hard as possible for each other to go out and compete against each other. We're trying to beat them. We're trying to whoop their butt."

The intensity at recent Dolphins practices has ramped up.

Miami Dolphins training camp is getting hotter

There are some really good battles, including between stars receiver Hill and cornerback Ramsey.

There may be fireworks in joint practices with the Falcons in Miami Gardens next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tua completed a touchdown to De'Von Achane on fourth down to cap a competitive timed game situation simulation at the end of Saturday's practice.

"It was a good day overall," Tua said. "I think we were able to trade blows. It was a good back and forth day. The only thing that matters is how you come the next day. So we'll see how we all regroup as an offense, as a defense collectively and as we come out, you know, we'll see who has a better day."

Tua, 26, has never been more confident. He is carrying himself with self-assuredness and confidence.

"There's some guys that are back that have gone through the adversity we've gone through the past couple of years," Tua said. "But this is a new team, a new season and we're looking forward to making a run at this."

Tagovailoa is more easy-going than ever in his news conferences.

Tua Tagovailoa is comfortable at Dolphins training camp

He's smiling. He's joking. He's engaging.

On Saturday, Tua accidentally knocked a reporters' digital camera off a table.

"Sorry," Tua quipped. "I'll pay for it."

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Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tua Tagovailoa of Miami Dolphins has never been more self-assured, confident and engaging