Tua Tagovailoa, boom or bust in 2022?
In 2020, the Miami Dolphins selected Tua Tagovailoa as the 5th pick of the NFL draft, in a hope he would become the franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Tua is now heading in to a ‘make or break’ third season in Miami, led by new head coach Mike McDaniel.
Following the addition of some fresh offensive talent in Tyreek Hill, Raheem Mostert, Cedrick Wilson and Terron Armstead, it seems Tua is in the best possible position to succeed going into the 2022 NFL season.
However, it seems that criticising Tua is a hot topic, with many holding him accountable for Miami’s struggling offensive in the past few seasons.
• Tua Tagovailoa stats (2020): 1,814 passing yards; 11-5 TD-INT; 64.14% completion; 87.1 rating
• Tua Tagovailoa stats (2021): 2,563 passing yards; 16-10 TD-INT; 67.7% completion; 90.1 rating.
Now, the question on everybody’s mind is whether Tua will breakthrough this season? Or, will he grant Teddy Bridgewater the chance to take the reins?
Here are three reasons why Tua should succeed in 2022:
1) Tua is accurate
New Miami Dolphin Tyreek Hill recently came out and said that Tua is “one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the NFL.”
Having successfully completed 67.8% of his passes in 2021, Tua ranked 4th in completion percentage in the NFL. This ranked him above some big names, including Tom Brady (11th), Patrick Mahomes (7th), Matthew Stafford (6th), and fellow 2020 draftee Justin Herbert (18th).
Furthermore, in both game-week 7 (Carolina Panthers; 87.1%) and 8 (New York Jets: 81.8%), Tua had a back-to-back 80% completion rate (with a minimum of 30 passes), something only 3 quarterbacks had done before him: Peyton Manning (2013), Drew Brees (2018) and Kyler Murray (2021).
Some attribute Tua’s success in this field to his short passing. However, with the strength and speed of Jalen Waddle, and the addition of pace-merchant Tyreek Hill, Tua’s opportunity to throw a successful deep ball has never been better.
When it comes to being an accurate quarterback, Tua has the potential to be elite. He has every chance to take it to the next level in 2022.
2) Tua is mentally and physically quick
From his Alabama days, both Tua’s physical and mental capacities were what set him apart from the rest of his draft class.
His ability to rapidly get through reads and progression on the field, in combination with an above-average mobility, enables Tua to run at and beat defenders if needed.
Despite not meeting the expectations of his draft hype so far, there have been glimpses of this stardust in Tua’s short time in the NFL so far.
He scored 3 rushing touchdowns last season, more than other mobile quarterbacks in the regular season, such as: Patrick Mahomes (2), Lamar Jackson (2), and Joe Burrow (2).
Likewise, Tua’s average throw time is about 2.49 seconds, typifying his rapid mental progressions. Again, this is faster (and more accurate) than a significant number of quarterbacks in the league.
For example, if Tua was throwing in the 2019 season, he would have ranked 5th in average time to throw.
His agility and quickness also mean he’s incredible evasive and one of the least sacked quarterbacks in the league.
As a result, there is a case to be made that Tua’s mental and physical capacities could serve to ignite a breakout third season.
3) Tua has new offensive weapons
From signing new players, to retaining squad depth, the Miami Dolphins have made around 30 moves since the start of March to give Tua the best chance for third season success.
A big signing made was for Tyreek Hill, one of the fastest receivers in the league. With his superb route running and high success rate in 1v1’s down field, Hill offers Tua an incredible option for yards in every play.
In combination with last season’s star receiver Jaylen Waddle, it seems Tua has been gifted the perfect opportunity to catalyse his own playing ability and set fire to Miami’s offense.
Another huge signing for Miami was that of left tackle Terron Armstead. Armstead will give Tua more time and confidence in the pocket, enhancing his ability to make good offensive decisions that benefit the whole Dolphins offense.
Hopefully, with the addition (and retention) of key players, Tua’s play will translate into more yards and more TDs for the Dolphins. This is something this team has often lacked in previous years.
Only time will tell whether Tua booms or busts. But it looks like 2022 will be bright for the young quarterback.
