Former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NFL draft. While this selection was a moment of celebration for Dolphins fans, news struck just two weeks later that legendary head coach Don Shula passed away.
One of Shula’s former players, Bob Griese, came out to tell of his time with the coach.
Griese was a quarterback on the 1972 Dolphins, the only team in NFL history to have an undefeated finish. While telling tales of his time under Shula he offered some advice to the next Miami quarterback, Tagovailoa.
“Everybody says that the offensive line that Marino had was a great offensive line,” Griese said. “Some of those guys were great, but he never got sacked hardly and I smile when I talk to Marino about this. Marino just got rid of it.”
Holding onto the ball was a blessing and a curse for Tagovailoa while at Alabama. Sometimes plays would develop over time, or it would lead to a sack that put him at a high risk for injury.
“If there wasn’t anybody open and there was a guy coming at him right down the middle, Marino would get rid of that football,” said Griese. “That was a great trait to have. That’s a great coaching point. If you don’t see anybody, don’t take the sack and get rid of the ball.”
Griese made his point clear. Tua is better off losing the down than losing yards and points off of his health.
He then continues that coaching will help, but watching what Dan Marino did in his time with the Dolphins will help greatly.
“That’s going to be one of the great things that the Dolphins are probably going to tell Tua when he gets in here is look at Marino,” said Griese. “Look at some films of Marino.”
Dolphins fans will likely have to wait until the 2021 season to claim Tua as their starting quarterback. The team still has Ryan Fitzpatrick under contract through the 2020 season and will look to have the Alabama product heal fully on the sidelines and get to know the playbook.
This was some crucial advice that Tagovailoa ought to consider and take to heart, especially considering the legend it came from. He joins some elite company as a Dolphins quarterback – not as of late – and will hope to have his name last in South Florida as long as Marino’s and Griese’s.
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