MIAMI GARDENS - Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa scrambled to his left in a training camp practice this week and threw a strike across the middle the Tyreek Hill.

It wasn't the accuracy that was noticed.

It wasn't the velocity that was noticed.

It was Tua's foot speed and quickness to set up the play.

This updated Tua is nimble!

"You know, I gave him a shirt this offseason," Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday, when I asked about Tua's newfound nimbleness. "What do you think it said?"

I wish I were nimbler?

McDaniel laughed. But I'm still not sure which shirt he's talking about.

Here's the thing: Tua has lost weight and is quicker and everyone knows that.

Tua Tagovailoa has new wheels at Miami Dolphins training camp

But how it may positively impact Miami's offense in 2024 is fascinating.

Yes, Tua may be a bit quicker on roll-outs, which have always been a strength.

Yes, Tua may be able to scramble for a first down on a 3rd-and-5 more often than in the past.

But McDaniel noted that Tua's potential to extend some more plays may impact how he designs some routes this season. Tua is so efficient in the quick-passing game.

But McDaniel may create some more broken-play options for Tua.

We mentioned that Tua is never going to be Lamar Jackson, but...

How Tua Tagovailoa mobility can impact Mike McDaniel's play design

"Well, first and foremost, that is a fact," McDaniel said. "Lamar Jackson is not Tua, and Tua is not Lamar Jackson. But I think you're always adapting to the skills of your players. And as you have more experience, and you start to see how players are utilizing that mobility, you adjust eligibles.

"Maybe if there's a primary part of the progression, you change the backside a little bit, just distributing the field more than trying to beat a coverage so that if you do break from the pocket, you have an eligible digit two. Your thoughts, I'm always trying to adjust to all the players' game."

As a rookie, Tua had a memorable run in a win at Arizona.

In June, Tua said he wants to extend more plays this season.

On the day he spoke about his contract extension - it's a bit easier to take off and run when you've got a signed mega-contract in back pocket - he acknowledged his new trim-and-fit body should help his game.

"Well, I think that’ll do a lot," Tua said. "Being more mobile, being able to run the ball a little more, being able to try to simulate that I am trying to run the ball a little more then pull up and able to catch someone off guard in a way. I just think being more mobile, being lighter on your feet, all of that helps with this game and everything in this game helps. That’s sort of the thought there.”

McDaniel wanted to make sure to compliment Tua for his discipline in the area of, for example, diet.

We all know Tua has had injuries in his past.

We all know Tua has learned ways to protect himself better from injury, on the field.

Tua is likely to pick his spots to show off the faster wheels in 2024.

But having the turbo-boost as an option can be a major positive for an offense that already finished first in the NFL in yards and second in points last season.

"I think that component, I think with his focus, definitely adds to his game," McDaniel said. "Which adds to what we can do as an offense."

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 has newfound nimbleness as Miami Dolphins quarterback