Active NFL Pro Bowler explains his optimism about Dolphins’ Tagovailoa. And draft news
A six-pack of Miami Dolphins notes on a Wednesday:
▪ This week, ESPN host Mike Greenberg asked the latest variation of the question he routinely poses about the NFL’s 2020 quarterback draft class, a group including the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, the Chargers’ Justin Herbert and the Eagles’ Jaylen Hurts.
But this time, the answers carried more weight because an active seven-time Pro Bowl player was involved in the discussion.
Cameron Jordan, the Saints defensive end and member of the NFL’s 2010 All-Decade team, was asked which of these third-year quarterbacks is ready to take the biggest jump.
Jordan said it’s Tagovailoa, because of the impression he left in Miami’s Monday Night victory against the Saints in Week 16 last season.
“After playing Tua, [it’s Tua] because he has more room to grow,” Jordan said. “He’s poised. He doesn’t get rattled. After playing Justin [Herbert], you can hit Justin. He gets a little rattled after you start sticking him early. Tua stays calm. He has that demeanor about him. He’s been hurt more, so he has so much more room to grow.”
ESPN’s Bart Scott, the former NFL linebacker, answered the question this way: “It has to be Tua. He’s the one with the lowest floor. He has the most ground to catch. Herbert already has been a Pro Bowler. Burrow is a top five quarterback already.”
But Scott said if Tagovailoa doesn’t play well this season, “he’ll be Sam Darnold, looking for a job and being a backup. He can’t be going down with these check down Charlies. He’s got to push the ball down the field.”
▪ Meanwhile, NFL Network tackled this question involving the Dolphins: Are the Patriots or Dolphins the bigger threat to the Bills in the AFC East?
Scott Pioli, a two-time winner of the Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year award, said it’s the Dolphins and cited the element of mystery with McDaniel and how Miami can use that to its advantage.
“They had a solid core of players before,” said Pioli, now a broadcaster after serving as an executive for multiple teams, including general manager of the Chiefs. “[It was] a good enough team to beat the Patriots. They also added a head coach who is really going to make a difference. The fact of the unknown and how they’re going to be coached and what they’re doing to do is going to be a bit of a factor.
“The new players all fit the system, scheme and culture that Mike McDaniel wants, the type of team he wants. This is the team that’s going to give the Bills a real run.”
▪ NFL Network’s Willie McGinest, the former Patriots’ defensive standout, also answered Miami to the aforementioned question:
“You can bring in a collection of talent, it doesn’t really mean anything,” he said. “But they brought in players who can make a difference right now. Tyreek Hill, how they upgraded running back [with Chase Edmonds, and left tackle Terron] Armstead. They’ve brought in so much talent to win right now.
“The defense is solid. They’re going to be more physical than they were last year. You look at what they did in San Francisco. Physical, run the ball, a lot of misdirection, a lot of different formations offensively, short to intermediate, get Tua going, then you can probably strike down the field. They added a fullback. That means they’re running the ball.”
▪ According to a Wake Forest source, the Dolphins are dispatching offensive line coach Lemuel Jeanpierre and offensive assistant Mike Person to Winston Salem, N.C., on Wednesday to give a private workout to draft-eligible left tackle Zach Tom.
Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson said he’s also working out for the Saints.
Here’s how NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein sizes him up: “Center prospect who spent the last two seasons at left tackle. Tom was extremely impressive in pass protection at tackle despite a lack of desired size or length, but he’s likely headed back to center in the pros. He plays with technique and plus body control, but his aggression level is a little lacking in the run game and his mass is below average. Tom could be a priority for teams with leaky interior protection. He has Day 3 value as an above-average backup with eventual starting potential.”
▪ Meanwhile, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted, Miami has booked a private workout with Baylor receiver Tyquan Thornton, who ran a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine – which was the fastest among NFL receivers.
A source said the workout will be held in the days ahead. As a Miami native (and Booker T. Washington alumnus), the Dolphins are permitted to work him out at their facility. To work out non-local prospects, teams must travel to the player’s college campus or nearby.
Here’s Zierlein’s assessment of Thornton: “There is a lot to like about Thornton’s game, including his instincts, long speed and ability to create separation on the move. He’s a vertical threat with the speed and poise to win deep and has an excellent feel for maintaining spacing when working against zone coverage. He’s skinny and linear, which is a bad combination in defeating strong press-man corners on the next level.
“The poise and catch radius will work in his favor, but the success rate on contested catches will be lower than teams like, based upon his history and physical traits. Wideouts with his size profile have struggled mightily to succeed in the league, but Thornton’s speed and talent make him worthy of a shot on Day 3.”
Thornton - who’s listed at 6-3 and 182 pounds - was second-team all-conference last season, catching 62 passes for 948 yards (a 15.3 average) and 10 touchdowns.
▪ Not only does this coaching staff support Tagovailoa publicly more than the former staff, but it didn’t go unnoticed on Saturday when McDaniel, offensive coordinator Frank Smith and quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell showed up to Tagovailoa’s Luau to raise money for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Miami.
“To be able to have our OC, my quarterbacks coach, our head coach here in support of this, I’ve never witnessed that,” Tagovailoa told CBS-4.
This story was originally published April 13, 2022 at 11:05 AM.
