While Tagovailoa has certainly been great at the collegiate level, will it carry over to the NFL, and is he someone the Jaguars will target?
A player that needs no introduction; Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa has been exceptional ever since he stepped onto the field in the National Championship game against Georgia of 2018. The Hawaiian native has been College Football’s best quarterback and helped to create one of the best offense’s in history.
While Tagovailoa has certainly been exceptional at the collegiate level, will it carry over to the NFL, and is he someone the Jacksonville Jaguars will target?
I’ll start with everyone’s big concern about Tagovailoa: injuries. The Alabama quarterback has suffered numerous lower leg injuries and just recently had a season-ending hip injury against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
The numerous injuries and their relative severity certainly have some scouts weary of the national championship quarterback. Even Tagovailoa himself has said “I don’t think I’d be the same again.” He himself is worried about his most recent injury and how it will affect his abilities going forward. His doctors, however, do expect the southpaw signal caller to make a full recovery, giving hope to his future professional career.
It also helps Tagovailoa that none of his injuries seem to be connected. If he was suffering repeated injuries to his body that were connected, I’d be much more concerned about his long term health. However, it seems that these are all independent, freak injuries.
At 230 pounds, Tagovailoa has a solid build for a quarterback. Standing at 6-foot-1 as well, there really is no NFL comparison in terms of size. When healthy though, what does this left-handed gunslinger bring to the table as an NFL quarterback?
I’ll start with his best trait, and it is the best I have ever scouted, Tua’s touch. Tagovailoa’s ability to throw touch passes is as impressive as you will ever see in the scouting business. He is a magician at his craft and it’s a thing of beauty to watch.
You can NOT throw this ball any better. Tagovailoa throws this ball 40-yards in the air and the ball placement is just perfect. He glides the ball over the underneath defender and hits his receiver in stride. Also, pay attention to the pocket movement skills as he slides to his left, giving himself extra time to hit his receiver.
The Crimson Tide passer also has some of the best improvisational skills you will see, reminiscent of Russell Wilson and Baker Mayfield. His work in the pocket and ability to alter his arm slot makes him even more dangerous as a passer.
Below you can see Tagovailoa drop his arm in order to get a ball around a defender who is right in his face, completing a nice touchdown pass. There are shades of Patrick Mahomes here.
Certainly a crafty play by the young signal-caller.
At 230 pounds Tagovailoa is far from immobile. In fact, his mobility comes in to play often when watching him. This play below is just something to be admired by all football fans. Tagovailoa has early pressure and side steps a free rusher, before rolling out right, quickly finding an open receiver for a big gain. This is a staple of Tagovailoa’s game. A deadly accurate ballerina with NFL aspirations.
I’ve harped on his ability to create plays off-script enough, but I just felt that it was my duty to show the audience just one more play from Tagovailoa. I have no idea how Tagovailoa makes this play below, but this is as “Russell Wilson-esque” as you will find at the college level.
I would try to break this play down for you, but I think the beauty is just in watching Tagovailoa being himself. He is an incredible college quarterback, and if he can stay healthy, he could be a star in the NFL.
The Jaguars are in a bit of a predicament revolving around the quarterback position. Rookie Gardner Minshew II has played solid football, but Nick Foles is likely stuck on the roster with his $88 million deal signed in March. If the Jaguars decide to move on from the front office and coaching staff, the new general manager could look at a new franchise quarterback and there are few as good as Tagovailoa. If he is there when the Jaguars are on the clock, it would be tough to pass on such a phenomenal player.
