Jackson shares that:
“The expectation of Fitzpatrick starting the opener and beyond is based on the fact he has not only infinitely more experience than Tagovailoa, but five years of experience in offensive coordinator Chan Gailey’s system, and also the fact that Tagovailoa cannot do on-field work with Dolphins coaches because of the lack of an offseason program. But if Tagovailoa impresses coaches, they’re not at all opposed to playing him this season.”
Could we see Tagovailoa play his rookie year, or will the Dolphins choose to sit him out?
NFL Network analyst Brian Billick says:
“You have to draft him to play. Keep him on a 20 to 25 pitch count during the course of the game [as far as pass attempts, initially]. Convert on third down, run the ball and watch him mature.”
NFL Network’s Booger McFarland tends to agree:
“I truly can’t believe we continue to have this conversation about Tua and about redshirting. If the Miami Dolphins doctors cleared Tua, he needs to be on the football field. One of the most valuable things is having a young quarterback on a [reasonably priced four-year] rookie deal because it gives your franchise so much flexibility. You’ve got to put him on the field and get him playing.
The whole idea of redshirting? He’s going to go through growing pain; there’s going to be a learning curve. Why not go through that year one rather than year two, because if he sits all of year one, [then] year two is essentially his rookie year. So I’m not at all in favor of redshirting Tua. He needs to start sooner than later.”
And even former Giants quarterback Tim Hasselbeck agrees, and shared how Eli Manning became the quarterback he was based on playing time:
“If he is cleared by the doctors, and they say there is not more risk by him playing this season than next season, you have to take the gloves off and say it’s time to go, and let him get out there and learn and take hits and basically be like any other rookie that would really benefit from playing time. I think he would be prepared to play well in his rookie season.
Eli Manning’s backup his second and third years. Had Eli not played those nine games in his rookie season, he wouldn’t have been close to the player he was in year three because there was so much learning.”
Clearly, the decision will come down the the Dolphins, and what they feel most comfortable doing, and what’s best for Tagovailoa in his first season. It’s also important to remember that the coronavirus situation has changed a lot of the normalcy of this time of the season.
Tagovailoa is not getting the on-field work/coaching he would have had the coronavirus not taken the world by storm. But, that doesn’t mean Tagovailoa won’t get his chance to play, or even shine, this season.
Time will tell what will happen, but one thing is for sure, many players, coaches, and fans are rooting to see Tua Tagovailoa play this seaon.
Last season at Alabama, Tagovailoa threw for 2,840 yards, 33 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
In his career at Alabama, Tagovailoa racked up 7,442 yards passing, 87 TDs and 11 INTs.
Stay tuned for more NFL draft coverage from the team at Roll Tide Wire, part of USA TODAY Sports!
