A recent report from NFL Network indicated that the Dolphins, despite the open competition for the starting quarterback gig, were likely to have quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick start the season. That’s not necessarily an earth-shattering development given his advantages in Miami’s offense and with the Dolphins’ coaching staffs — but some may point to No. 5 overall pick Tua Tagovailoa and question why he was unable to defeat Fitzpatrick, a career journeyman, for the starting job.
Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd has chimed in on the matter and would like to make the case that Tagovailoa not starting from the jump for the Dolphins’ is not bad news — but rather it is great news for Miami’s young signal caller.
You can hear his case for yourself below:
According to reports, Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to begin the season as the Dolphins starting QB. @ColinCowherd on why this is great news for Tua: pic.twitter.com/HKrdpOeCdB
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) August 20, 2020
Cowherd’s point of view for why not starting Tagovailoa early on can be best summarized with the following blueprint:
- Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson were both not ready to play early on as rookies despite having mini-camps and OTAs, neither of which Tua had access to
- Both of those quarterbacks also touted better rosters and more stability than Tua as rookies
- Joe Burrow in Cincinnati is set up for a disappointing season
- Opt-outs to wide receivers Allen Hurns and Albert Wilson further complicate the supporting cast for a rookie quarterback
If it sounds like Cowherd is bagging on the Dolphins, he does go on to admit that he loves the direction of the team and is forecasting a 7-win season in 2020 for Miami. That’s a perfectly reasonable prediction based on the team’s schedule and all of the new pieces in place that will need to settle in — plus the unknown of the team’s offensive line. But if the line gels and, as Cowherd predicts, Tagovailoa cracks the lineup for the second half of the season, perhaps a 7-win prediction will be selling this team short.