Miami Dolphins: 4 Reasons Tua Tagovailoa will be great

Tua Tagovailoa has been under major scrutiny for many reasons, but Dolphins fans have no reason to worry. Brian Flores will make sure Tagoviloa has the tools to succeed. 

The Miami Dolphins selected Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft with hopes of him taking the Dolphins to the next level. As a top-five pick, let alone a quarterback, all eyes focus on you. And that amplifies any tribulations, though Tua has been through plenty of adversity before.

Tagovailoa had his fair share of misfortune in college as he dealt with a slew of injuries at Alabama. The quarterback had an ankle injury that kept him out of the 2018 SEC Championship Game, a knee injury that slowed him down and then the 2019 season that saw him limited due to an ankle injury before returning and suffering his career-threatening hip injury.

In the wake of that injury, Tagovailoa’s draft stock was thrown into question. However, many still mocked him to the Miami Dolphins and, of course, that’s where he ended up.

His rookie season was a roller coaster, without question. His first start didn’t come until Week 8 and he was even benched a few times thereafter. Subsequently, his play was heavily criticized, especially when compared to the year Justin Herbert enjoyed. But he was coming off a serious hip injury with no preseason to aid him. Thus, there are reasons to be optimistic that Tagovailoa will be great.

Here are four of them.

4. The top-tier defensive play under head coach Brian Flores

Brian Flores, the former 15-year New England Patriots staffer completely transformed the Dolphins defense in 2020. Dolphins went from last in the league (30.9) in the points allowed per game to sixth (21.1). They were also last in the league in sacks in 2019 with 23 and jumped to tenth (tied with the Green Bay Packers) in the league with 41.

Being able to pressure the quarterback in the NFL is a big deal. This clip highlights how hectic the Miami defensive front was this past season. With the top-six sack leaders for the Dolphins defense all under contract for at least 2021, Miami should be able to keep the pressure rate up.

The Dolphins defense was also tied first in interceptions (18), led by First-Team All-Pro Xavien Howard. Howard led the NFL in passes deflected (20) and interceptions (10) in 2020. As with the pass rush, every player who nabbed an interception in 2020 is under contract for 2021. Having these players locked up is big for Flores’ defense heading into the next season.

For the Dolphins’ defense to keep the elite pace, they will have to keep up the turnovers as they led the NFL in total turnovers (29) in 2020. Turnovers and pressures are valued highly for an elite defense and bringing players back who did both in 2020 sets the team up for success moving forward.

The youth and veterans mix is perfect for Tagovialoa as keeping the pressure off No. 1 will be a huge help for the Dolphins. Football is a team sport and Tagoviloa is in great hands with Flores guiding him and his peers.