Tua Time could mark a new era in Miami
It’s all happening. It’s Tua Time. It’s finally here.
The Dolphins are relevant. A new era of hope is about to be ushered in. South Florida is about to experience a megastar the likes of which it has not experienced since Dan Marino, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
Now, all Tua needs to do is win. And win big.
One thing we know is Tua will handle expectations with grace and ease. Tua believes he was groomed for this moment.
The Dolphins are moving to the rookie now, and it’s not because Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing terribly. In fact, the Dolphins have won two games in a row and are firmly positioned in the AFC playoff race as they head to a bye week.
The Dolphins are moving to Tua now because it’s just time to turn the page. Miami tore it all down and suffered so badly last season for this. The grand plan is crystallizing.
When the Dolphins take on the Rams on Nov. 1, Tua will be under center. And he will have a chance. It is unlikely he will be thrown around like a rag doll, like Joe Burrow of the Bengals.
That’s because general manager Chris Grier signed Ted Karras and Ereck Flowers and drafted Austin Jackson, Solomon Kindley and Robert Hunt.
Miami’s offensive line is competent and may, in fact, be much more.
Tua has weapons in DeVante Parker, Preston Williams and Mike Gesicki. This is not a putrid team.
Tua says he feels healthy. The Dolphins know he does not yet have a complete understanding of the offense, but he is a diligent worker. And he has enjoyed the absolute best apprenticeship a player could ask for under Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick endorses Tua. He says the rookie has anticipation, accuracy, hu
mility and leadership skills.
Tua has “it.” Fitzpatrick knows, because he has “it,” too.
Coach Brian Flores is not switching to Tua to appease the fan base or the media. Flores does what Flores does because he believes the decisions are in the best interests of the team. And Flores is serving both the short- and long-term interests of the team.
There must be a part of Flores that aches in benching Fitzpatrick, who is practically an assistant head coach to lean on. The easy move would have been to stick with Fitzpatrick, and hope the club could sneak into the playoffs. But an organization should make decisions through a prism that extends beyond the myopic. And so kudos, Miami, for going for greatness.
This is about to be a fun, exhilarating ride. The Dolphins drafted Tagovailoa because they felt he was a player who could be a game-changer and lift the franchise beyond the ordinary.
Anyone who has ever been around Tua will note he is poised and instinctive, imaginative and charismatic, confident yet humble.
Tua, at 22, is about to become the starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins. In an ideal world, he’ll hold on to that role for 10 or 12 or more years. What fans are dreaming is that he’ll accomplish something even the best player in franchise history didn’t.
A Super Bowl victory.