South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Tua dealing with growing pains
Foes forcing rookie into adjustments
DAVIE — Growing pains are part of the process, and sometimes they are just that: painful.
That’s what comes when the offensive line starts allowing pressure and the inexperienced quarterback’s internal clock begins speeding up. Or the receivers and tight ends can’t seem to shake the defenders covering them quick enough and start dropping passes.
And don’t let the run game be ineffective or the pressure continues to mount.
This is all part of the process the Miami Dolphins knew they’d experience when the organization decided to make Tua Tagovailoa, the No. 5 pick in the 2020 draft, the starting quarterback a month ago.
Now there’ s film from the past four game she’s started. That allows defensive coordinators around the league an opportunity to adjust — taking away his favorite plays, schemes and concepts and forcing the young quarterback to do things he’s uncomfortable doing. Sothe real evaluation begins.
The throwing windows are closing faster than Tagovailoa’s accustomed to, and there’s no magic formula to help him make the adjustments other than having him go through these growing pains.
But that’s if he plays Sunday. A thumb injury on his throwing hand suffered in practice this week has him listed as questionable for the road game against the NewYork Jets.
When he does play, Tagovailoa must learn to read defenses quicker, quicken his processing speed, andhe needs to begin throwing to targets in tighter windows.
It is all partof his quarterback evolution.
“We just have to help him get more comfortable with seeing things, more reps at it, and let him keep learning and getting better,” offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said after Tagovailoa’s struggles during last week’s 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos.
“Because if he knows that’s something that he’s looking at, that’s an advantage for us because at least he knows. There are some guys that don’t even know.”
In that game Miami replaced Tagovailoa with veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick while trailing by a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Tagovailoa wasn’t operating the offense effectively and coach Brian Flores sought Fitzpatrick’s experience running the hurry-up offense to deliver a score thatwould tie the game.
Fitzpatrick drove Miami downthe field but threwan interception in the end zone to end the game.
After the game Tagovailoa and Fitz patrick talkedabout the rookie’s struggles and ways to grow fromit.
“You just keep putting these things in the back of your mind, and as we go forward he’ll be able to lean on and continue to use some of those,” Fitzpatrick said. “I learned those things in 16 years, but [he needs] to accelerate the things that he’s going to learn and make sure that he learns it faster than I did.”
All young quarterbacks go through this process. No oneis exempt from it. Andit doesn’t just end after their first year as a starter.
The good ones figure out workarounds because if opponents follow Denver’s lead and crowd the first 20 yards as it did, something else is open. There’s a countermeasure for everything in football.
“It’s really all about adjusting,” said Tagovailoa, whohas a100.1 passer rating after completing 61.9% of his passes, throwing for 602 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions in his four starts.
“That’ s why we have practice. I’ ve got to continue to be better on giving these guys opportunities to have good run-after-catch [plays].”
That comes with chemistry, and that takes time and patience to develop, which is what Tagovailoa and his weaponry is working on building.
When it’s good, he’ll be able to throw it into spots where only his targets have a chance to bring in the reception.
But that doesn’t happen overnight.
“I think I’ve mentioned it to him once before, but I’m not really sure,” receiver DeVante Parker said about requesting that Tagovailoa give him opportunities to come down with 50-50balls.
“I feel like if you just throw it up and give me a chance, I’m going to come down with it. Or I’m going to make sure [the other team’s defender] doesn’t get it.
“All I need is a chance, but we’re going to work on that.”