Rising Tides: Tua Tagovailoa's Journey to Success with the Miami Dolphins
Image Credit: CCS Pictures
The progress of Tua Tagovailoa was a pivotal factor in the Miami Dolphins' triumph last season. Under the guidance of head coach Mike McDaniel, Tagovailoa made significant strides in 2022, which was his first year under McDaniel's tutelage. This has sparked a wave of optimism among Miami fans for the future. At 26, Tagovailoa possesses commendable attributes, yet there are still areas in his game that require attention.
Pros
Tagovailoa proved to all of his doubters in the 2022 season that he belongs in the league and has the potential to do great things. The Miami organization backed their guy the previous season by going out and getting some great receiving weapons. They brought the speedster Tyreek Hill to go with Jaylen Waddle, but their speed caused significant problems for defences. Furthermore, they brought in the likes of Raheem Mostert. What stood out about Tagovalioa's game was his pin-point accuracy. He had a remarkable ability to put the ball where the receivers wanted it. It was one of the improvements we saw from previous seasons as he threw the ball in the position it needed to be instead of waiting for a receiver to get there. Getting the ball out fast was a massive positive for the Hawaii native. The offensive line could have been better for Miami last year. It meant that Tagovailoa needed to get the ball out quickly; otherwise, he would be crushed by defensive linemen. Like fellow AFC East quarterback Josh Allen, Tagovailoa's third year was a breakout season.
Cons
As previously stated, last season was Tagovailoa's best one to date. He has to deal with some big problems. Consistency is vital in the NFL, and Tagovailoa has occasionally been guilty of making some poor decisions. He sometimes forced the ball into where it shouldn't be. Even though adding Hill and Waddle was a massive help in improving Tagovailoa's production, it also exposed a weakness in his game. Arm strength has been an issue for Tagovailoa throughout his NFL career. The lack of power sometimes resulted in deep balls being underthrown. It could have meant that the play didn't reach its full potential, as the receiver lost momentum when catching the ball. There has been a theme that has plagued Tagovailoa for the duration of his career. Of course, this is his ability to remain healthy for an entire season. It has been a problem since his college days. In the 2022 season, the amount of head injuries nearly forced the young quarterback into early retirement, which fans made concerned, but he played every game in 2023.
While Tagovailoa has shown promise, there is still room for improvement in his game. If he can maintain his health, he has the potential to achieve great things in the NFL, a prospect that should inspire hope and optimism among Miami Dolphins fans and NFL enthusiasts.
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