Analysts assess Tua: ‘People realize this is a one-read quarterback.’ And Dolphins notes
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s play during this ongoing four-game losing streak — including the three interceptions in the fourth quarter against Green Bay — has begun to cause long-term concern even among the pundits who have praised him most of the season.
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, who has been an advocate for Tagovailoa during the past year, said on “Get Up” on Monday:
“That fourth quarter by Tua would make me very nervous about his future in Miami if I were part of that organization. And I absolutely love Tua. He was lights out for those first three quarters.
“But the fourth quarter was such a collapse. It would force me to pause.”
Orlovsky said “what’s happening when Tua catches that snap and immediately where he looks, teams are slowly starting to not go where that initial look is and saying ‘if you are looking over there, we dare you to throw it over there because we know you’re not going to.’
“Tua has got to get back to predetermining [what he wants to do] but not assuming [defenders are] going to move.”
“This happens a lot with these Kyle Shanahan, Mike Shanahan, Gary Kubiak system quarterbacks where the play call is so great and the design is so great and you have such confidence in that play call, you play so convicted with what you’re going to do.
“He assumes right now too much [that] if I look over there [the other way], that linebacker is going to move and I know I can throw that football [over here]. In the fourth quarter, Green Bay’s defense stopped listening to his eyes and that’s what led to those three fourth quarter turnovers.”
ESPN’s Rex Ryan, the former Jets coach and ex-NFL defensive coordinator, offered this explanation: “Finally I think people realize this is a one-read quarterback. And what I mean by that is when things are in rhythm, he knows exactly where he’s going whether it’s through coaching or whatever it is….
“As soon as you change the math on him — in other words, your defensive pieces aren’t where you thought they were going to be — that’s where he struggles. That’s why you saw the three interceptions [against the Packers].
“Some people are starting to figure it out. You lay traps out there and that’s exactly what Green Bay did. This is what happens against a one-read quarterback, and that’s what’s dangerous about having [one]. This guy has ability. He’s accurate. But as soon as somebody is not where he’s supposed to be, that’s a problem with him because he’s struggling to improvise.”
And ESPN’s Ryan Clark said: “People are starting to understand that Tua’s eyes will lie to me. But my drop, my field and what I’m expected to do defensively won’t.”
Clark put to the onus on Mike McDaniel to help fix this.
“Now they’re faced with adversity. With Tua struggling three of these past four games, can Mike McDaniel be the parent? He started this off being a friend, someone that empowered Tua and empowered this team. Now can Mike McDaniel be the parent to get that respect, get a little bit of fear, to demand accountability?”
Despite throwing three interceptions and closing with an 80.8 passer rating against Green Bay, Tagovailoa still leads the league in passer rating at 105.5. Patrick Mahomes is second at 105.1
Tagovailoa has 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions and leads the NFL in yards gained per pass attempt (8.9) and yards per completion (13.7).
But he hasn’t played well in three of Miami’s past four games: He was badly off on a handful of throws against the 49ers and finished that game with a 79.7 passer rating. He was 10 for 28 for 145 yards and a 65.3 run rating in a loss at the Chargers.
He played well in a loss at Buffalo — though Miami’s final fourth-quarter drive fizzled — and finished with a 104 rating in that game. But he had the interceptions on each of Miami’s three final possessions against Green Bay, after a strong first half.
THIS AND THAT
▪ There were a few notable developments regarding playing time on offense:
For the second consecutive week, tight end Mike Gesicki logged only 12 snaps (of the Dolphins’ 50). The four games with his fewest snaps this season have been the past four games. Durham Smythe played 32 snaps; Hunter Long 4…
At running back, Jeff Wilson Jr. got more snaps than Raheem Mostert (30 to 26) and more carries (9 to 8). Fullback Alec Ingold played 27 snaps before leaving with a thumb injury; he wore a large protective covering after the game…
Receiver snaps were similar to how they’ve been recently, with Tyreek Hill at 40, Jaylen Waddle at 37, Trent Sherfield 22, Cedrick Wilson Jr. 13 and Braylon Sanders 7. Sanders, who was filling in for injured River Cracraft, cannot be elevated for another game this season.
▪ Some notable developments regarding playing time on defense:
Andrew Van Ginkel played more than usual (33 of Miami’s 66 defensive snaps) because Bradley Chubb missed some of the game with a hand injury before returning. Chubb played 28 snaps and had one tackle. Jaelan Phillips played 55 snaps, Melvin Ingram just 13…
Only safety Jevon Holland played all 66 defensive snaps. Cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou and linebacker Jerome Baker played 64. Christian Wilkins played 63 and Zach Sieler 59….
At safety opposite Holland, the Dolphins gave Eric Rowe 53 snaps and Verone McKinley 14…
After giving Raekwon Davis and John Jenkins similar playing time in Buffalo, Miami gave 41 snaps to Davis and Jenkins 22 against Green Bay….
Linebacker Duke Riley’s snaps were down (seven). He played 30, 26, and 33 the previous three games….
Linebacker Sam Eguavoen played only two defensive snaps and allowed a TD pass on one of them. He has played only 33 defensive snaps this season.
▪ Tagovailoa’s 84-yard TD pass to Jaylen Waddle was the fourth-longest completion in Dolphins history and longest since 1986 (an 85-yarder from Dan Marino to Mark Duper). Marino also had an 85-yarder to Duper in 1983.
An 86-yard pass from Bob Griese to Paul Warfield in 1971 is the longest completion in team history.
Tagovailoa’s 84-yarder to Waddle was the longest passing play in the 27 NFL games that have been played on Christmas over the years.
Here’s my Monday piece on the Dolphins’ playoff scenarios.
This story was originally published December 26, 2022 at 12:04 PM.
