Chemistry between quarterbacks and receivers is a big August talking point around college football.

Are they on the same page? How’s the timing? All that.

None of that matters much, however, if the passer’s other transactional relationship isn’t equally strong.

There’s no throw without a snap and Tua Tagovailoa explained some of the inner-workings of that dynamic with a new center taking over this year. It’s Chris Owens who’ll put everything in motion this year after Ross Pierschbacher’s one year there.

It’s all about making that connection off the field, Tagovailoa said Monday.

“There's been good occurrences where I've kinda gotten in his face, he's kinda gotten in my face,” Tagovailoa said. “But after all of that was said and done, when we come back to the sideline it's "Hey, how was this? Was this good? Was this good?" It's just a normal talk. But throughout the heat of the moment I think that's where respect comes, and you can only do that when you build relationships off the field. So, it transcends to on the field and I think in life."

Owens is a fourth-year junior from Arlington, Texas who has been on the roster the whole time Tagovailoa’s been at Alabama. He was the backup center and reserve tackle a year ago while seeing action on the field goal protection team.

The two practice the quarterback-center exchange at the beginning of every practice with Tagovailoa getting reps with the backup Emil Ekiyor Jr. to ensure that process is airtight.

There’s more to it than just snapping the ball and that’s where those fleeting moments of frustration can pop up.

“Whether it's messing up the protection, trying to get the ball snapped quick, not getting the calls to the line in time,” the quarterback said. “If the coach ends up yelling at him, they could get mad because I didn't do my job. Many things, a lot of occurrences."

Zooming out to look at Saturday’s scrimmage as a whole, Tagovailoa liked what he saw from the offense in his first August as the incumbent starter.

Playing without a set play list made those reps apart from the ones they’ve taken against the first-team defense to that point in camp. That script, Tagovailoa, gives the defense an edge so being able to play more freely was a welcomed change.

Tagovailoa also gave a little insight into the offensive structure after Mike Locksley handed things over to new coordinator Steve Sarkisian.

“Coach Locksley tried to simplify it because we were pretty good at the RPO and so we kinda just stuck with that,” Tagovailoa said. “But, I mean it is no different from when I was in high school you know working full progression read and then I had the opportunity to go to the Elite 11 and learn from those guys and it all transcends here.”

And the prospect of four-receiver formations have the quarterback’s attention with the core of the passing game back outside of tight end Irv Smith Jr.

“Oh yeah, it definitely opens things up,” Tagovailoa said. “I mean when you have four fast guys out there. When you have Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, I mean these guys aren’t going to play man they are going to play zone. If they play man against these guys, we gotta go out and torch the defense and I mean if they are going to play zone, it opens up a lot of the run game. Then, when they end up stepping into the box, then that’s time for RPO’s, play actions. It just opens up everything.”

Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.