Tagovailoa was sacked at the 10th-lowest rate in the NFL last season. He faced pressure on 27.1% of his dropbacks, ranking 22nd lowest in the league. Tagovailoa's average time to throw was the fourth fastest in the league, and he spent less time in the pocket than any other quarterback.
Tagovailoa's average depth of target was impacted by his quick throw. His 6.92 average air yards per attempt was the eighth lowest in the league, and his 10.09 average yards per completion was the seventh lowest.
That was in the old offense of Miami. The new one will likely feature a heavy zone-blocking scheme that uses the run to set up the pass, something the team was not equipped to do last season. The San Francisco 49ers ranked 11th in the league in rushing yards and sixth in total offense with the help of McDaniel as their run game coach.
He said that people call the scheme creative, but really they are just adapting. We are adapting to our players. We are constantly evolving. I think that is a winning formula. The key drive for the scheme is that it puts players in position to succeed.
It is less trying to be creative for the sake of creativity. It's more about having different tools and abilities to solve problems in different ways.
Fortunately for the Dolphins, they have more than $60 million in salary-cap space to help solve their offensive line problems.
Applebaum and Smith have a history of developing offensive linemen and were the first steps in bolstering the line. Four of Miami's five starters along the offensive line were taken in the top 100 of the draft, and Liam Eichenberg, Austin Jackson, Michael Deiter and Robert Hunt will likely get the chance to further develop under this regime.
The starting right tackle for the Dolphins this past season, Jesse Davis, finished 160th in pass block win rate among 170 qualified linemen. The Dolphins should use free agency to replace him. If the Dolphins want to move Jackson or Hunt back to tackle, veteran tackles such as Terron Armstead, Cam Robinson and Trent Brown are well within their price range.
The Dolphins are all-in on Tagovailoa in 2022. He missed six games and the first half of seven because of various injuries. Miami can protect its investment in Tagovailoa by literally protecting it.
The Dolphins need a few more playmakers. Tagovailoa is destined for another efficient, albeit unspectacular season without proper protection and time to throw.
McDaniel put it this way:
I have never seen a quarterback win a football game by himself. He has to throw something to someone. He needs to not be tackled before he throws.
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