Three Reasons Why Tua Will Break Out in Year 2
By Jeremy Wilks
The Miami Dolphins selected QB, Tua Tagovailoa with their first round pick last season. After a disappointing rookie year, I am going to give you THREE reasons why I believe Tua will break out in year 2.
1. Better Offensive Weapons
A simple way to improve the play of the quarterback position is to surround him with viable weapons. The Miami Dolphins did just that in the draft selecting speedster, Jaylen Waddle with their first selection. As well as taking the second ranked Tight End in the draft in Hunter Long in the third round. On top of acquiring these weapons at the draft, the Dolphins also signed another speed receiver in Will Fuller. The Dolphins now have an offensive weaponry of Devante Parker, Will Fuller, Jaylen Waddle, Preston Williams, Mike Gesicki, and Hunter Long. With these guys to throw to for Tua Tagovailoa’s, his numbers should look significantly better than they did one year ago.
2. Another year since his injury
As all Dolphins fan are well aware, Tua Tagovailoa’s outstanding college career at Alabama came to a end due to a major injury. Tua was forced to get hip surgery and not only was his college career in jeopardy, but his football career as a whole was as well. To the surprise of some, Tua was able to play half of the season for the Dolphins, but did not look as quick and agile on his feet compared to college. With a full off-season to work, as well as a pre-season, Tua should come in more healthy and in a better position to succeed. Tua even recently came out to the media claiming that his hip feels “10x better than it did last year” via Safid Deen of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. With more confidence in the hip and more time to prepare, it should lead to more overall success this coming season.
3. Accountability/Leadership
Some may believe that it is an absolute red flag when a QB claims that they did not know the playbook very well, and I tend to agree. However, I am going to look at the flip side of this. Not many QBs would come out and say something like this. It shows that he is taking accountability for his actions last season, as well as taking the time to learn it this off-season and be better next season. Considering the fact that Tua ‘did not feel comfortable with the playbook,’ the Dolphins still finished with a 6-3 record with him as a starter with him throwing a respectable 11 TDs and 5 INTs. The point is, who knows how good Tua could be if he does feel comfortable with the playbook. On top of Tua taking accountability for last season, many of his teammates such as Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki have come out and said how good of a leader Tua is on and off the field. These are very promising things to hear from your teammates and could contribute to a break out year for Tua.
Overall, the improved plethora of weapons at Tua’s disposal, another year to recover from his major injury, and how he has held himself accountable for how he performed last season are all reasons why I believe Tua is set for a massive second year.