The Miami Dolphins are coming off simply their second successful report in 12 seasons in simply the second 12 months of the Brian Flores-era, ending with a 10-6 report however in the end lacking out on the playoffs. Whereas there are definitely loads of optimistic takeaways from this previous 12 months, there are additionally loads of locations for criticism, a few of which is directed at rookie quarterback Tue Tagovailoa, in response to a current report from the Miami Herald.
The report in query cites three unnamed gamers expressing their considerations over whether or not the previous first-round draft choose is the precise man for the job. One participant mainly stated as a lot when it was revealed that the 22-year-old could be the starter subsequent season.
“I perceive what they stated,” one participant advised the Herald. “However I do not perceive why.”
The gamers made certain to make clear that they have not fairly given up on their younger teammate — “they continue to be hopeful Tagovailoa will enhance,” is what the Herald story says — however the commentary from the nameless group reveals that there is not plenty of confidence in how he stacks as much as a few of the finest quarterbacks within the league.
From the Herald report:
“However the regarding factor to the gamers who spoke to the Herald is they don’t seem to be satisfied Tagovailoa goes to be nice sooner or later.
They stated they have been unimpressed by Tagovailoa throughout coaching camp to the purpose they thought he would not be able to play in 2020. They stated they have been ‘caught completely off guard,’ as one put it, when Tagovailoa was named the starter the seventh recreation of the season.
And one other stated that earlier than the season finale when gamers have been knowledgeable by Flores that Ryan Fitzpatrick wouldn’t be obtainable in opposition to the Buffalo Bills, he was upset as a result of he believes Fitzpatrick was higher than Tagovailoa.”
It isn’t a super state of affairs. Considerations have been expressed over the ex-Alabama prospect’s quarterbacking skills past his accuracy — which is not a horrible talent to have, for what it is value — and the ceiling is being set very excessive for the QB by teammates:
“One defensive participant stated he is not impressed with Tagovailoa’s ball velocity or arm power or capacity to make off-schedule performs together with his legs. So he in the end questions whether or not Tagovailoa will ever have the ability to match the feats of different quarterbacks within the AFC equivalent to Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson.
‘These are the boys we bought to beat, proper?’ this participant stated. ‘It appears proper now like that is going to be an enormous problem.'”
Josh Allen set a number of franchise information this season, Patrick Mahomes can already boast an MVP award and Super Bowl at simply 25 years previous and Deshaun Watson is without doubt one of the most electrifying gamers within the sport despite the Texans‘ entrance workplace showing to actively make life tougher for him on the sphere. That is a tall job for anybody, together with Tagovailoa, to reside as much as as a rookie.
On the similar time, there are some extra rational criticisms of the 22-year-old, as one offensive participant advised the Herald that Ryan Fitzpatrick — who was at one level benched for, and introduced again on to exchange, the rookie this season — simply straight up regarded higher than Tagovailoa did in follow. It was even on the level the place he was “annoyed” Fitzpatrick wasn’t obtainable to play within the season finale, a 56-26 loss to the aforementioned Allen’s Payments.
In the end these considerations from teammates solely maintain a lot weight, because the unnamed gamers usually are not those making the selections. So far as folks in these roles are involved, Tua will probably be Miami’s man subsequent 12 months.
“I feel Tua has made plenty of enchancment, actually developed over the course of the 12 months, so we’ll simply proceed to attempt to make these enhancements,” Flores stated.
