Tua Tagovailoa: Transparency should excite Miami Dolphins fans

I have had some time to process and really think about Miami Dolphins’ starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and his words regarding the playbook during his rookie season.

I have an interesting take on it.

For those that live under a rock, Tagovailoa made headlines on Wednesday during an interview after voluntary workouts for the Dolphins, which he was attending. Tagovailoa was asked about his chemistry with his weaponry last season, and it sparked an answer that was not expected.

Usually, especially under head coach Brian Flores or anyone who operates “The Patriot Way,” answers to tough questions are filled with football talk and not much substance.

However, Tagovailoa clearly felt strongly about this question, and his answer was natural and not some cookie-cutter nonsense.

Here was Tagovailoa’s full answer to the question, which turned into talk about not knowing the playbook in 2020:

Tua Tagovailoa was transparent, and that should excite Dolphins fans.

Let’s get one thing out of the way, Tagovailoa was not lying in his answer. He was not trying to bite the bullet and be a “leader” by not blaming former offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. We all know Gailey deserved plenty of blame for any mishaps on offense last season.

I think Tagovailoa’s answer actually had some blame for Gailey in it, but in a sense where it really had you thinking just how unprepared and not ready, the first-year quarterback was last season. And that is partly on the offensive coordinator, and I even put some blame on Flores. Add in the fact that Tagovailoa clearly was not 100% last year, and it is head-scratching that they made a move to him as they did.

But that is why Dolphins fans should be excited. Think about this for a second, Tagovailoa literally admitted that he did not know the playbook like he should and did not even feel comfortable to call an audible, yet he still flashed greatness. He had some rookie moments for sure, but let’s lay all the cards on the table to discuss this further.

Tagovailoa was recovering from a gruesome hip injury that required significant surgery. He was doing all that while also dealing with a COVID-19 offseason, which was unlike any offseason in NFL history.

These two issues clearly were major factors in him not knowing the playbook fully, yet this dude went out there and finished his rookie season 6-3 as a starter. He completed 64.1% of his passes while throwing 11 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He added an impressive two 4th quarter comeback, game-winning drives as well.

I am far from a “Tua Stan,” but I am a fan of what Tagovailoa brings to the field. After seeing everything he was dealt last year and still having some glimpses of becoming Miami’s franchise quarterback, I feel even better than I did about Tagovailoa in 2021.

Fans should expect him to play well, and I genuinely think that now that he is healthy, he can have a typical offseason, and he will obviously know the playbook better because of both these things; Tagovailoa is poised to break out next year.

So, while some people will mock Tagovailoa for his honest and transparent answer, real football people will understand this only means bigger and better things for Tagovailoa in Year 2.