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Can the Dolphins continue their good fortune against the Saints?
The Dolphins will play the Saints in New Orleans on Monday night. (0:38)
6:30 AM
After the Miami Dolphins' win against the Baltimore Ravens, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa spoke to the media.
The questions about the Dolphins' faith in Tagovailoa were gone after the trade deadline. He showed off a dance after rushing for the game-sealing touchdown.
He smiled at the questions, his responses were clipped and he demonstrated the "Smeeze" dance he learned from Najee Harris. If Tagovailoa had gripped the lectern tighter, he would've left an impression, but now he seems more relaxed than he had been all year.
Miami fans chanted Tagovailoa's name after the Ravens' win.
He said he heard it. It makes me feel good, but the fans can't play for me. I have to go out there and do my job.
The Dolphins are riding a six-game winning streak entering Monday's game. The New Orleans Saints are playing against the ESPYS. The Dolphins need to win out at the Saints, at the Tennessee Titans and at the New England Pats to have a chance at the playoffs.
This is my favorite Tua moment.
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November 17, 2021.
There's a bigger question looming this off-season, the one that Tagovailoa has been hearing since he arrived in Miami: is he the guy?
Tagovailoa has 14 touchdown passes and eight interceptions and has missed four games and two others because of injuries. His efficient play has helped the team.
"He is a very talented natural passer who has played some quality football and is a highly instinctive individual," Louis Riddick said. Not as consistent as you need him to be, but in spurts. The next few games are going to be useful for them to make a decision.
The Dolphins have the second-most cap space in the league this year and have three first-round picks over the next two drafts, so they can make a bold move for a new quarterback or build around Tagovailoa.
Trade winds.
The most talked about topic entering the season and the first two months of it was Miami's interest in Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has been accused of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior in 22 civil lawsuits. The general manager decided against trading for him.
Grier made a rare media appearance to discuss the situation, offering firm, albeit less-than-glowing support of Tagovailoa.
We're very happy with Tua. He's developing well, we think. Coach Brian Flores has been very consistent in his message and we have as well.
There is a person named Burrow.
Tagovailoa
Herbert.
It's a touchdown-INT.
26-16.
14-8
32-12
Cmp.%
68.7
69.9
66.4
Yds./Att.
8.4
7.1
7.5
The QBR is a rank.
17th.
7th
2nd
The information is from the ESPN Stats and Information.
Tagovailoa has completed 74.5% of his passes for 1,101 yards, seven touchdown and three interceptions over five games, as Miami has been winning since the deadline.
The completion percentage was the best among quarterbacks who have played at least four games in a row, and the yards and touchdown rankings were 18th and 16th, respectively. The leader in the two other categories? One pick after Miami took Tagovailoa, the Los Angeles Clippers selected Pro Bowler Justin Herbert.
Mina Kimes, an analyst for the sports network, said that the conversation about the two is pointless.
Kimes said that it's not worth engaging with as an organization or fan base. How does Tua compare to your other options? It seems like what you've seen from Tua is better than what you would get in the draft.
The analyst projects three QBs to be drafted in the first round, but no top seven picks.
Positive signs.
In the first round of the NFL draft, teams don't draft a quarterback unless they think he has elite qualities. Accuracy and ball placement are two of Tagovailoa's traits. He has completed a league-leading 69.9% of his passes this season, which has drawn praise from his pass-catchers.
Mike Gesicki said that his accuracy is great. He hit me on a third down in a preseason game, and he put it low and away where I could get it. It's just those throws that he makes. You can see it now.
The ball placement on this throw is perfect.
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The NFL app is pictured.
December 19, 2021.
He's going to throw a ball that can be caught and he's going to make it easy for his receiver. A lot of guys are making plays because of where he's putting the ball.
Miami's offense ranked 23rd overall and tied for 21st in scoring, but Tagovailoa has been efficient in running it, mostly because Flores and co-offensive coordinators George Godsey and Eric Studesville have built it around his strengths.
The Dolphins have run play-action on 30% of their plays, which is fifth highest in the league. Tagovailoa's 71 QBR and 74% completion rate are among the best among qualified passers. He ran more run-pass option plays at Alabama.
Tagovailoa's ideal playing style is similar to that of a former Saints quarterback.
Tua could be that efficient rhythm and timing thrower if he played the position like Drew Brees. "One who can see it fast, read it quickly out of the pocket and deliver it with accuracy and location." Tua has done well this season because he's able to read the first, second and third throws with speed and take the throws that are available.
"You have to scheme your offense around the throwing tendencies of your quarterback, and that's what he is."
Some of the offensive deficiencies of the Dolphins are being worked on.
The Dolphins were last in pass block win rate entering Week 16 and this was fixed by drawing up plays for Tagovailoa to get rid of the ball quickly.
The way to overcome this is to wait for the offensive line to develop. He thrived in getting the ball out of his hands quickly and also ball placement.
When Tagovailoa gets the ball out within 2.5 seconds, he is one of the most efficient passers in the league, and he has a 9:1 touchdown to interception ratio. His QBR goes down to 62.8 and his touchdown to intercept ratio goes up to 6-7.
He averages 6.88 air yards per attempt, the fourth-fewest among qualified passers. It's a necessary evil because of the protection he has.
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Kimes suggested the team address the need in free agency to fix the offensive line. There are quarterbacks who play behind bad offensive lines, but they don't have it anyways. That's not Tua, I think it's really impressive that he's shown improvement despite his offensive line getting worse from year one to year two.
If fixing the offensive line is the top priority for Miami, then surrounding Tagovailoa with weapons is a close second.
The wide receiver corps was in need of a new player and Grier signed Will Fuller to a one-year, $10.6 million contract. The four of them didn't play a single snap together.
Miami is 28th in rushing with 86.6 yards per game.
"I want to see the pieces around him improved before I judge him," said Reid. I think they need to get a running back in the draft, but I am not sure if they will. Tua needed a strong running game behind him.
Can he take over a game?
Dan Orlovsky mentioned health and arm strength when he was asked if he had any concerns about Tagovailoa's game.
"I wouldn't panic at the position but I think that if the Dolphins were going to, those would be the reasons," Orlovsky said.
Tagovailoa has completed four passes that traveled at least 30 air yards, and though he has been efficient during the winning streak, Miami's 31-24 victory in Week 15 against the New York Jets teetered.
He completed 16 of 27 and had two touchdown. The second pick-six tied the score at 24.
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The picture and scenarios of the playoffs.
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He made a crowd-pleasing 9-yard run when he lowered his shoulder into Michael Carter.
Tua didn't have his best game, but when he needed to make some throws, he did, according to Riddick. He ran when he needed to. He made some great throws. He is growing within the team context, in terms of his comfort and confidence.
Is he an upper-echelon franchise quarterback? No. Is it really expected that it would be relative to what he has around him and where he is in his development? No.
Where is the next step in his development?
Can Tua take over the game as a thrower in a high-level game? "Bowen said that." We don't know that yet, that's something I want to see. The top players can.
There's a chance to take advantage of.
Miami's three remaining games are against teams that have been ranked in the top 10 in defensive expected points added since the Dolphins' winning streak began. If Tagovailoa could win any of those games, it would be the best game of his career to date.
Kimes thinks that most of the teams that win games in the NFL are because of their quarterback. Many teams have quarterbacks who help them win.
Tagovailoa has a year to show which category he belongs in.
She said that it's only going to be a difficult decision in the next few years, but by then, you'll have a lot more information. Tua has shown you that his floor is high. Where is his ceiling? I don't think it's as high as Herbert's, but I don't think we know where it is based.
"'Tua or not Tua' is not the question right now as an organization." How do we improve this football team so that we can evaluate Tua, and how do we set up the next quarterback to succeed if we decide to move on from him?
