The Miami Dolphins' quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has already entered dangerous territory in his second NFL season. As Tagovailoa's play continues to be average at best, the term "bust" will be attached as Velcro to a pair of sneakers. It can be difficult to get rid of a player's name once it is associated with this word.
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Since his time in Tuscaloosa, Tagovailoa has been plagued by injuries. In November 2019, Tagovailoa's Alabama career was ended by a major hip injury that required surgery. Tua also sustained two ankle sprains in college. Both required surgery. Tagovailoa was also injured when Tua's throwing hand broke while playing for Crimson Tide.
Tagovailoa's injuries have not stopped since he arrived in Miami. He is quickly establishing his reputation as an injured player, even though he is a professional. Tagovailoa, who suffered a fractured rib in the Dolphins' Week 2 defeat to the Buffalo Bills, is currently on the Dolphins' injured reserve. He will be out of action for at least three more weeks and may not be able to return when the Dolphins host the Jaguars in Jacksonville. This seems like the ideal game to help him get back into his routine. Or the Atlanta Falcons in Miami the next week.
One thing is certain, the injury bug that we hear so much about has been eating the flesh of Mr. Tagovailoa. Even when he is playing, his performance hasn't been up to par with his draft position. The Dolphins selected Tagovailoa as the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. This was one spot more than Justin Herbert. Herbert was also awarded Rookie of Year by the LA Chargers, but he did not break rookie passing records. It wasn't a big deal.
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While Tuas injuries were serious, it is not fair to directly blame the players for their bad luck. However, players can be held responsible for their public statements. Tua, for example, was the Dolphins' starter in Week 8. He made notable comments about his transition from college football to the professional game after a 3-0 start.
Tagovailoa said that he expected it to be more difficult. It's not difficult.
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Tagovailoa finished his rookie season with a record of 6-3, but that was not due to his performance. Tagovailoa rushed for 181.4 yards per contest and had a QBR 52.5 for the season. Tagovailoa's average passing yards per attempt are well below the average. This 181.4 figure is significantly lower than the league's 240.2. I'm not sure that the Dolphins drafted him at this high level for such production. Tagovailoa was able to pass for 202 yards in Miami's Week 1 win over New England. He completed 16/27 passes with 1 TD, and 1 INT. Although nothing extraordinary, the Dolphins have Tagovailoa and a very good team. The Patriots are also in the process to retool themselves. Again, the Dolphins win games despite Tuas' performance and not because of him.
Where is the fault? I believe that Head Coach Brian Flores has done a good job building this team in the last couple of years. The team is to blame. Tua, despite his 6-3 record as Dolphins' starting quarterback, would have been more well served if he was allowed to learn the majority of 2020 season. Even if we consider Tagovailoa's hip injury, the entire season would have been fantastic.
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But I don't think he is the right QB to lead Miami to where they want. If they were fully on board with Tua, the Dolphins wouldn't have expressed interest in trading for Deshaun Watson or any other QB. The time has come to grab that division in the AFC East and make it a stronghold. It was done by the Bills in 2020. The Dolphins had hoped to do it in 2021. However, the latest Tagovailoa injury has thrown a wrench in the plans of the Dolphins.
Tagovailoa appears to be destined to be an average-to-below-average NFL quarterback in the best of circumstances. It doesn't matter how many talent-rich the Dolphins surround him with. Tua is not a perennial pro-bowler and definitely not an All Pro, due to his weak arm and all the injuries. It is more likely that hell will become a journeyman quarterback than an elite one in NFL. If you are drafted fifth overall, there is a word for it: Bust.
