3 X-Factors for Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in 2022

The Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa don’t need to work with a blindfold on.

Mike McDaniel’s offense is deadly complex for opposing defenses, with a lot of layers to plays that may seem the same, or similar but are actually entirely different. The diversity of pre-snap movement, formations, personnel choice, and unorthodox element of surprise is what made Mike McDaniel’s offense a nightmare to defend.

I know some people will say it’s Kyle Shanahan’s offense, if we really want to get to technicals it’s Mike Shanahan’s blueprint, and McDaniel’s offense is his evolved version of it.

Nevertheless, it’s a deadly system, but to use it to its full potential the QB must know how to work it seamlessly. That isn’t only going through reads once the ball is snapped, there are a lot of audibles, and pre-snap motion involved to play calls given in this offense.

It’s the QB’s responsibility to address what he sees pre-snap and adjust, while also adjusting the rest of his offense if necessary while processing how the defense adjusts to the adjustments he made while keeping track of the time clock and making sure everyone is set before snapping the ball.

Man, that’s a lot of adjustments, and that’s not even all of it.

The point is, to be able to work this offense with no major problem Tagovailoa will have to be an exceptional leader to be able and take command, while also being comfortable enough with the offense that play calls, and adjustments in this system become second nature to him.

The other thing that needs to become second nature for a big leap in Tagovailoa’s career is mastering his anticipation skillset while passing, and combine that with the timing of where his receivers will be.

This type of chemistry allows the QB to go through their progressions more efficiently and also eliminates a big percentage of making a bad play under pressure. Why? if on plays called in Tua knows where all his weapons are without directly looking at all of them, he can get out of trouble without putting the ball in harm’s way as often.

Now, this takes us to the biggest and most important factor.