One player that will make or break Tua Tagovailoa’s season

What an offseason it has been for the Miami Dolphins. The good, the bad, it all is microscopic compared to the name Tua Tagovailoa. Nevertheless, Miami’s starting quarterback has become one of the biggest names in the NFL, for better or for worse.

Tagovailoa’s jersey is top five in jersey sales (via ESPN), showing you he has tons of fans. But it seems the “fans” may be the only people who love Tagovailoa, as the media has (I’ve said it before) used him as a punching bag all offseason.

In all of my years covering the NFL, I have never seen such a spectacle regarding one player. Even though I sit in the middle, there is no middle ground from either side. You either love Tagovailoa, or you hate him.

It seems there is a lot of pressure on Tagovailoa to succeed in 2021, and if he stinks, it will be interesting to see what Miami does.

Tagovailoa isn’t even the biggest concern on offense, which is crazy to think about. Miami’s two offensive coordinators should concern fans more than Tagovailoa, but there is also one player that will make or break Tagovailoa’s second season in the NFL. And honestly, he is the most important player on the Miami Dolphins, in my opinion.

Tua Tagovailoa is not Miami’s most important player.

That player is center, Matt Skura.

I know what you are thinking, “Why would a center they just signed in free agency make or break Tagovailoa’s season?” “Matt Skura is the worst starting offensive lineman on the team; why does he matter so much?”

Let’s start here. Skura will start at center for the Dolphins in 2021 unless general manager Chris Grier gets crafty and trades for a veteran center. I don’t see Miami making that move, mainly because they signed Skura in free agency, and I think they believe in him.

The starting center is crucial for an offensive line’s success, and an offensive line’s success is crucial for the success of an offense. Thus, using the transitive property, the starting center is crucial for the success of an offense.

I was on Phinside The NFL with Reason and @FinsOrDie last week, and we discussed how crucial Skura would be for Miami.

Skura has had an up and down NFL career, with injuries and rain hurting him the most. The rain comment was more of a joke, but Miami better hope he moves past that disaster he had in Baltimore.

But the injuries are where the real concern should be for Miami fans. I am very outspoken that you should never worry about injuries, as Tom Brady once tore his ACL and was out for the year. But, unfortunately, they happen to the best player on the roster and the worst player.

However, Skura is a different story. I know I am contradicting myself, but Miami’s season is really riding on the health of Skura, in my opinion.

If Skura plays all 17 games this season, Miami will likely have a successful season. Now, Skura isn’t some All-Pro, and that’s why Miami will succeed with him, but it’s because behind Skura, who is the next guy up?

If you had an instant answer, you’re lying to yourself. There is no instant answer. The honest answer should be, “Man, I hope Skura doesn’t get injured,” because, man, I hope Skura doesn’t get injured.

If Skura goes down with another significant injury, Miami will go down too. There is no player on their roster that can step in and help lead the offensive line. Skura might not even play that great, but his health is everything to the success of the Dolphins in 2021.

If Tagovailoa doesn’t have Skura this whole season, I can guarantee he will not do as good as he could have been. And yes, that’s another excuse for Tagovailoa, but it’s just a fact that Skura is needed.

Hold your breath, Dolphins fans, because Skura will truly make or break Tagovailoa and the Dolphins season in 2021.