South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
How well is Tua stacking up?
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has seen a little bit of everything during the first five starts of his NFL career.
A subdued debut. A comeback victory on the road against Kyler Murray. A win over Justin Herbert, the quarterback selected one pick after him in the 2020 NFL draft. A fourth-quarter benching on the road. A thumb injury. Then a career high in yards in his first game back from the injury.
And now he’ll match up against arguably the best quarterback in the NFL when the Dolphins (8-4) host reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
As Dolphins coach Brian Flores believes, a little bit of adversity never hurt anybody, including his No. 5 pick, who has recovered from his severe hip injury a year ago and is making strides as an NFL rookie.
“I’ve learned a lot about him, and I think it just reinforces a lot of things we thought about him when
we selected him,” Flores said of Tagovailoa this past week. “He’s tough, he’s resilient, he’s accurate throwing the football, and I think he’s an improving player.
“We’ll just continue to coach him, help him grow.”
After five starts, Tagovailoa has shown he has talent and can produce like some of the NFL’s best quarterbacks.
Here’s where Tagovailoa ranks compared to Dolphins legend Dan Marino, five active Super Bowl winners and several contemporaries through five games:
Tagovailoa’s 4-1 record ties Marino, Drew Brees and Lamar Jackson but trails both Mahomes and Ben Roethlisberger, who were 5-0. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson were 3-2, Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen were 2-3, while Cam Newton, Baker Mayfield, Murray, Joe Burrow and Herbert had just one win.
Tagovailoa’s seven touchdowns matches Brady, Roethlisberger and Newton, and is higher than Brees and Wilson (five). But it trails Mahomes and Watson (14), Marino and Herbert (12), Rodgers (nine) and Mayfield (eight).
Perhaps the best statistic in Tagovailoa’s favor, he’s the only quarterback of the group with zero interceptions through five starts.
Mahomes had one, while Roethlisberger had two. Marino, Jackson, Burrow and Herbert had three picks, while Brady, Rodgers, Watson and Murray each had four. Allen had five, while Wilson, Newton and Mayfield had six.
Tagovailoa’s 99.4 quarterback rating is ahead of players such as Rodgers (95.5), Burrow (86.3), Brady (85.0), Newton (84.3), Murray (80.1), Jackson (79.1), Brees (77.7), Mayfield (76.5) and Allen (62.5). But it significantly trails Mahomes (111.5), Roethlisberger (108.8), Herbert (108.1), Watson (107.4) and Marino (105.6).
As far as accuracy, Tagovailoa’s 62.7 completion percentage is on par with Watson (62.9), Murray (62.7), Brady (62.2), and higher than Marino (60.4) and Brees (60.1). But it is lower than Roethlisberger (71.8), Herbert (67.4), Burrow (65.2), Mahomes (64.7), Rodgers and Wilson (63.2 each).
In regard to stretching the field, Tagovailoa’s 6.63 yards per attempt is more than Murray (6.59), Wilson and Jackson (6.52), Brady (6.43), Mayfield (6.35), Burrow (6.30), Brees and Allen (6.11 each). But it’s significantly lower than Herbert (8.38), Newton (8.30), Marino (8.17), Roethlisberger (8.11), Watson (7.91), Rogers (7.82) and Mahomes (7.42).
What does it all mean? Tagovailoa may not have performed drastically better or worse than some of the best young and/or experienced quarterbacks in the NFL.
He’s right in the mix.
And the Dolphins hope Tagovailoa’s improvements as a quarterback can translate into personal and team success as his NFL career takes shape.
“I think he’s kind of learning on the fly how to be a professional in this league, [and] the things you’ve got to do in meetings and walkthrough and practice to have success in games,” Flores said of Tagovailoa.
“I think he’s improving every day, getting better and hopefully we just continue to get better.”
Outside of statistics, Tagovailoa’s career and ability to reach his potential may ultimately be judged by titles such as league MVPs, Super Bowl wins and MVPs, and the ability to play in well in meaningful playoff games.
Brady (three), Rodgers (two) lead the group in MVP awards, while Marino, Mahomes and Jackson all won the MVP during their second season in the league.
It may be unfair to expect such a drastic improvement from Tagovailoa in his second season, but both Mahomes and Jackson have certainly raised the standards for young quarterbacks.
Brady (six), Roethlisberger (two), Brees, Rodgers, Wilson and Mahomes have all won Super Bowls, with Brady (five), Brees, Rodgers and Mahomes winning Super Bowl MVP.
Brady (nine), Roethlisberger (three) and Wilson (two) lead the group in Super Bowl appearances, while Marino, Rodgers, Newton and Mahomes each has one.
The experience Tagovailoa and the Dolphins gain during the Chiefs game Sunday could set the tone for future AFC playoff battles between both teams.
Mahomes believes Tagovailoa has the talent and game-winning mindset to be a stiff competitor for years to come.
“He’s super talented,” Mahomes said of Tagovailoa this past week. “He understands what it takes to win football games. I think it comes from him playing at Alabama and winning those national championships there. He understands exactly what needs to be done to win football games. …
“He can make all the throws, he can roll to his right, to his left, and throw off balance. And he can run and make stuff happen too. That veteran kind of mental mindset that he has is truly special at this time in his career.”