While many teams around the NFL are trending upward, the Miami Dolphins are a team that is stuck in the middle of the hype built around their team. There is a lot of skepticism that the upcoming six-year veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can’t take the team to great heights.
Tagovailoa has been stellar in games when he wasn’t injured or asked to overperform for other teammates’ poor performances. He is 38-24 in games where he started under center for Miami.
Injuries have still played a significant role in his career trajectory. He missed four games due to another serious early-season concussion and two more because of a hip injury late last season. Miami went 6-3 in games he started.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) walks on the field before a game against the Buffalo Bills.
© Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Now, there’s even more pressure on Tagovailoa with the Dolphins bringing in former second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Zach Wilson, and selecting former Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers.
Despite outside noise, the coaching staff has put their complete trust in the former first-rounder. Passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik has already seen a significant leap in Tagovailoa’s leadership during on-field workouts and drills this May.
“He’s an exceptional human. He’s fun to be around, he has positive energy all the time. He’s demanding of himself but he’s demanding of others. You know, what he’s been doing out there so this summer has been to see. He’s holding people accountable; he’s holding himself accountable. He’s really on the details of everything we’re doing trying to build the foundations of stuff.”
Slowik went on to praise Tagovailoa’s characteristics as a passer and for reading the plays.
“As a player, he’s incredibly accurate. He’s unbelievable at throwing with anticipation, throwing to space, getting the ball out on time. Throwing throws you may have not thought were possible beforehand. He just has a knack for feeling and seeing things I think a lot of people of don’t have in real time.”
Outside of primetime games and the late season push towards the postseason, not many fans can complain about his playmaking abilities on the field. While the losses in primetime and late in the season are not a great look for Tagovailoa, much of that can be blamed on head coach Mike McDaniel, the preparation and the poor play of the offensive line.
Tagovailoa is out to prove why he should be one of the most respected quarterbacks in the league. He appears more demanding of his teammates, including wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who has been vocal about being in and out of the discussions to leave Miami this offseason.
