Yesterday’s Miami Dolphins practice offered the most intrigue yet — primarily because the team was without projected starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, thrusting two former top-10 overall picks into sharing the workload at practice as the only quarterbacks in attendance. 2018 pick Josh Rosen and 2020 rookie Tua Tagovailoa each struggled with operating the offense at a high level — with some even going as far as to track the passing statistics of 11-on-11s and citing turnovers for each passer.
Even before Fitzpatrick’s absence, tracking the interceptions and completion percentage of the quarterbacks has a fairly common activity at Dolphins camp. But you shouldn’t stress about it — at least not yet.
Why?
Because each of these three quarterbacks is operating at a different chapter right now and all three are learning the timing of the offense with the receivers the team has at their disposal. Take Ryan Fitzpatrick as an example. This will be his sixth season playing under Chan Gailey as his offensive play-caller — but the first time he’ll be commandeering the offense with DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki, Preston Williams and others. Fitzpatrick doesn’t have to learn this offense; he’s plenty versed in the language already. His challenge is to find the timing and make it click with these receivers — there’s no reason for overly conservative check downs when that isn’t going to be an option on 3rd and 10 during a 2-minute drill on game day. Because Fitzpatrick knows the offense and knows the timing required, expect him to be a bit more assertive with tight windows and risk, especially in practice.
For Josh Rosen and Tua Tagovailoa, they’re both looking to master the concepts. Rosen has looked more consistent than Tagovailoa early on, but Tua also hasn’t taken snaps in an 11-on-11 setting prior to this week since when he dislocated his hip against Mississippi State.
It’s been a week. The Dolphins boast two young quarterbacks looking to find their stride with a brand new offense and one elder-statesman who knows exactly how the offense works — but he’s throwing to pass catchers that are seeing it for the first time themselves. There will be plenty of time for fretting about production. The first of pads? This isn’t the time.