This season has been the worst for Tua Tagovailoa’s well being, but in addition the perfect for proving his worth to the Miami Dolphins. Regardless of shedding to Josh Allen for the second time this season, Tua’s 25-of-28 passing day with two touchdowns in Week 9 was among the finest performances by any QB this yr and provides the Dolphins hope that lacking the playoffs now received’t must imply rebuilding Miami’s roster (once more) in 2025.
If they’ll simply maintain Tua upright and guarantee he’s doing the suitable factor by persevering with to play.
Redemption Day
In his final recreation earlier than occurring IR with one other head harm, Tua threw three interceptions in a 31-10 loss to the Payments, a day wherein Allen had +0.50 EPA per dropback, the Sixteenth-best mark of any QB this season.
In Tua’s second recreation again from IR, as soon as once more dealing with Buffalo, he went 25-of-28 for 231 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, and +0.59 EPA per dropback, which is the Tenth-best mark this season.
Per @TruMediaSports, Tua Tagovailoa’s EPA per dropback was 0.62 vs. the Payments in the present day. That’s the ninth highest single recreation EPA/dropback for any quarterback in 2024.
Tua is the one one of many high 9 to lose the sport.
— Matt Infante (@MattInfante) November 3, 2024
QBs with an EPA/dropback of +0.46 or larger are 17-2 this season, with these losses being Tua in Week 9 and Joe Burrow in a 41-38 loss to the Ravens in Week 5. (Burrow has 2 of the 20 finest EPA/dropback video games this yr and he’s 0-2 in them.)
Per week earlier in his return from harm, Tua had a actually good +0.22 EPA/dropback in a 28-27 loss to the Cardinals. However though the Dolphins are 0-2 since Tua returned, they’re competing once more as if Miami remains to be the nice crew they have been imagined to be in the beginning of the season:
- The Dolphins scored a complete of 40 factors within the 4 video games Tua missed (10 PPG)
- The Dolphins have scored 54 factors in 2 video games since he got here again (27 PPG)
Tua’s tremendous energy
In accordance with NFL Professional stats, Tua’s the quickest draw within the league: His 2.39 seconds to throw is the quickest within the league by a HUGE margin, and his 57.8% fast throw fee (eliminating the ball in beneath 2.5 seconds) can also be the best mark.
As a result of the Dolphins should not have a stable backup plan, there’s actually no different QB on the roster to match him to pretty. Nevertheless, in his final recreation, Tyler Huntley was throwing the ball a mean of three.3 seconds after the snap, one of many slowest marks within the league.
NFL offenses are timed to the quarterback’s ft, so Mike McDaniel’s week-to-week plan has to vary so dramatically with out Tua that it most likely feels somewhat pointless to even strive. What can the Dolphins do to insure in opposition to shedding Tua sooner or later?
Properly, the unlucky reply for McDaniel is that there could also be nothing you are able to do when a QB is as distinctive as Tua. When he will get the ball out that shortly and is so correct, that’s why the Dolphins signed Tua to a four-year, $212 million contract extension previous to the season.
And although Miami may entertain drafting a quarterback as insurance coverage, that’s taking away the chance to draft a participant who may assist Tua, like one other receiver (Tyreek Hill turns 31 subsequent yr) or a giant physique up entrance who can maintain Tua off the bottom.
At this level is is apparent to everybody that this model of the Dolphins can’t succeed with out Tua. The one query remaining is: How for much longer can the Dolphins afford to lose video games and miss the playoffs with the identical plan?
