I do know, I do know. I simply talked concerning the Miami Dolphins saving their season final week, however this week I’m going to speak about one other Miami Dolphin who’s taking up extra accountability this season: QB Tua Tagovailoa. One among my largest criticism of the Dolphins’ sign caller was in his play exterior of construction. He tends to disintegrate when the learn is a bit cloudy or when he’s pressured to carry onto the ball, and it limits the capabilities of the Dolphins’ offense.
Nonetheless, since coming back from damage, Tagovailoa has flipped the script. In his 4 video games since coming again, he’s been actually good exterior of construction, preserving performs alive and serving to to maintain the offense shifting. Since his return in week eight, Tagovailoa has been 13-for-15 when exterior the pocket, 17-of-22 when pressured and has bailed the Dolphins out of some precarious positions.
Performing some analysis for the pod to again what the movie tells me with Tua’s play making this season.
I feel it’s protected to say he’s made some strides. pic.twitter.com/bjsgtAsQWQ
— Travis Wingfield (@WingfieldNFL) November 19, 2024
Anytime your face is on the highest proper of a graphic, meaning one thing good is occurring.
In opposition to the Raiders, he was as soon as once more cooking, guiding the Dolphins to a different victory. Let’s break down what he’s executed exterior of construction that retains this offense flowing.
I feel the most important factor for Tua since coming again has been his consolation. Regardless of lacking time as a consequence of a concussion, Tagovailoa has come again being much less gun-shy and extra keen to take issues into his personal fingers. That is the third 12 months within the offensive system head coach Mike McDaniel delivered to Miami, and it’s clear he has the last word religion within the system and the place he can ad-lib. On this play, the Dolphins try to work a deep out to WR Tyreek Hill, with a curl on the bottom to WR Jaylen Waddle. The Raiders even have this pretty lined, forcing Tua to go away from his unique learn. Tagovailoa doesn’t panic within the pocket, escapes and is ready to discover Waddle to maneuver the chains.
Tagovailoa has leaned a bit extra into the chaos since coming back from damage, and it’s helped to maintain the offense on observe, on prime of the same old stuff he does inside construction. His landing to Hill on Sunday was an instance of this chaotic play understanding. Tagovailoa desires to work this dig to Hill on his first learn, however the Raiders have it fairly properly lined. Strain is available in off a well-executed stunt and Tagovailoa is pressured to scramble. Tua earlier this season would possibly find yourself taking a sack right here or throwing the ball away, however since coming back from damage he’s determined to lean into the variability extra typically. Tagovailoa escapes to his left, and is ready to discover Hill, who stored operating by the zone for a landing.
Miami has an actual shot to backdoor their manner into the playoffs, nevertheless it’ll need to be executed with this model of Tagovailoa. The mix of consolation in his third 12 months of the offense, with possibly utilizing that point away to judge the place he might enhance, has actually helped elevate Tua’s sport to be extra keen to work out of construction. Like I mentioned, it’s a small factor, nevertheless it helps to maintain this offense on the sector and generate extra explosives when issues go improper (see: distinction between Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy within the Niners’ offense). I feel it’ll additionally do wonders for Tagovailoa’s public notion.
Many (together with myself) have seen him as extra of a degree guard, somebody who has to have all the things schemed as much as an ideal level simply to maintain the offense afloat. Having the ability to do that at a constant stage will assist change these concepts, particularly if Miami can get into the playoffs once more.
