The Miami Dolphins stunned the football world yesterday when the news broke that the team was going to be making a monumental change during their bye week — and that rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would be taking over as the team’s starter. Tagovailoa takes over a team that sits at 3-3 and hopes to keep up the offensive scoring output the team has seen from veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has played well on a lot of fronts through the first six games of the season.
But if you’re looking for clues that this may have been coming, there are a few key statistics that would presumably promote Miami’s decision to make the change here and now on their bye week this week.
Turnover worthy plays
Most turnover worthy plays this season:
🔹 Carson Wentz – 17
🔹 Ryan Fitzpatrick – 11
🔹 Baker Mayfield – 10 pic.twitter.com/ppqx8gJi6z— PFF (@PFF) October 21, 2020
Fitzpatrick currently ranks second in the NFL with 11 turnover worthy plays according to Pro Football Focus — Fitzpatrick has thrown 7 interceptions but has had several other throws that are maddeningly close to being intercepted. This includes a ball that hit a Jets defender in the hands in the red zone last weekend against New York. If ball security is of a premium to the Dolphins, they were always going to be toeing the line with a gunslinger like Fitzpatrick at the helm.
The question, of course, is how a rookie handles the same responsibility. We no longer have to wait to find out.