Southpaw Slinger: Can Tua Become a Top 5 Lefty?

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It’s been 5 years since the last lefty quarterback threw a touchdown in the NFL. Tua Tagovailoa was the first lefty quarterback to throw a touchdown since Kellen Moore threw for 435 yards and 3 touchdowns in week 17 of the 2015-2016 season.

Although Tua won his first career game on Sunday in a largely defensive performance by the Dolphins(4-3), he threw a few very well placed balls, including a 3 yard touchdown to Devante Parker, which was the lowest separation on a touchdown pass all season with .28 yards of separation. Talk about accuracy! Based off of this performance, where will Tua rank among all lefty quarterbacks?

Steve Young, Boomer Esiason, Mike Vick, and Ken Stabler are who I have found to be the top 4 lefty quarterbacks of all time, but will Tua earn himself a spot on this list and make it a top 5 list?

1.       Steve Young has earned himself the number one spot on this list as a Hall of Famer who has 7 Pro Bowl appearances, is a 3-time super bowl champ, and has won league MVP 2 times.

2.      Boomer Esiason receives the title of second best lefty of all time. He is a 4-time Pro Bowler with all-time records for lefty quarterbacks such as 247 Touchdown passes, 37,920 passing yards, and 2,969 completions. Esiason was also a 1-time league MVP.

3.      Michael Vick was the best running quarterback of all time and the third best lefty quarterback of all time. He is a 4-time Pro Bowler and has the most career rushing yards by a quarterback ever with 6,109 and was the first ever quarterback to get 1,000 rushing yards in a season.

4.      The fourth spot belongs to Ken Stabler (The Snake) for now, but if Tua plays to his expectations, he can easily take this spot and possibly move even higher on this list. Ken Stabler is a Hall Of Famer, 4-time Pro Bowler, 1-Time league MVP, and has 1 Super Bowl win.

5.      My prediction for Tua Tagovailoa is that he will be the Phins first star quarterback since Marino, along with the fifth best lefty quarterback of all time. I think his throw accuracy is already among the best in the league. If he can keep his cool in the NFL, he will easily be an all-time great.

 

Aidan Scully (@AScullySports) is a new contributor to Five Reasons Sports Network.

The Tyler Herro-Devin Booker Comparison Is Real

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The comparison that continually gets brought up when discussing Tyler Herro is Devin Booker, and rightfully so.

The reason they got compared originally was that they have a similar play style. They can each play off the ball through catch and shoot, but ultimately thrive more with the ball in their hands off the dribble. The shooting mechanics and form have some similarities as well, which is probably because of the fact that Tyler watches a lot of film on him to model his game.

But that is not the only similarity between the two.

For starters, they played for the same college and played the same position. Surprisingly, Tyler Herro actually had a better college career than Booker.

Herro averaged 14 points, 3 assists, and 5 rebounds, while Booker averaged 10 points, 1 assist, ans 2 rebounds. It honestly isn’t fair to compare though, since Herro played many more minutes a game.

On draft night, they both seemed to get overlooked a bit, which seems to always happen to Kentucky Wildcats until they prove them wrong.

Booker and Herro each ended up getting picked 13th in their respective draft classes. And when taking a look back at it now, they each turned out to be top three players in their draft.

When heading into their rookie years, they each didn’t have too much pressure so nobody expected much. Tyler Herro averaged 14 points, 2 assists, and 3 rebounds in 27.4 minutes a game, while Devin Booker averaged 14 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds in 27.7 minutes a game.

The only difference is that Devin had more of an opportunity to make an impact on a bottom tier Phoenix Suns team. Herro was joining a team that just acquired Jimmy Butler, and had high hopes of a deep playoff run, which obviously ended up happening. Herro’s outstanding playoff run also gives him a bit of an advantage, since Booker hasn’t had the luxury of competing in the playoffs.

Booker ended up making a huge second year jump, going from 14 points a game to 22 points a game. And after seeing all of these similarities between Tyler and Devin, I wouldn’t be shocked if Herro did the same.

Once again, it’s two totally different situations, since Miami is coming off a Finals loss. But I actually believe that Tyler Herro will be Miami’s leading scorer next season if they have this same team.

The strides he took in the bubble offensively truly stood out, since Erik Spoelstra and the team trusted him to run the offense and take big time shots in huge playoff games. If they allowed him to do that then, what makes you think they won’t let him cut loose during the regular season?

Obviously that’s a high bar to set for a 20 year old, but if there’s anybody that’s capable of doing it, it’s Tyler Herro.

Dolphins offense knows it must play better to go toe-to-toe with Cardinals

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Tua Tagovailoa’s first NFL start didn’t go exactly as many expected. And while I don’t think anyone thought he would have a big performance vs. one of the best defenses in football, we did expect more than what we saw.

Maybe, we are at fault.

After all, this was Tagovailoa’s first action since a year prior when he suffered a horrific injury—that some thought may end any chance at a professional career. It was also during an unprecedented offseason, where most–if not all–of the first-team reps went to the veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick.

On Sunday, the hip looked fine as Tua moved fluidly and played a full 60 minutes for Miami in a 28-17 win over the Rams.

Tagovailoa finished 12/22 for 93 yards and one touchdown. The numbers weren’t jaw-dropping, but I think we all realize Miami’s early lead affected the play-calling as did the Rams pressure upfront.

The Franchise

Nevertheless, Tua and his arsenal of weapons must play much better Sunday vs. Arizona–and that includes every aspect of the game.

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray is an entirely different animal for Miami’s defense to prepare for. And although Kenyan Drake might not get the revenge game he had hoped, Chase Edmonds has been every bit, if not, more impressive than Drake in 2020. And let’s not forget De’Andre Hopkins, arguably the best WR in football. Add the timeless-legend Larry Fitzgerald and the man, the myth, the legend, Christian Kirk. Miami’s defense will have their hands full.

But just like we saw the defense step up last week when the team needed it most. The offense is going to need to do much more this week.

As we heard yesterday from offensive guard Solomon Kindley, Miami’s offensive line comes into each game expecting to keep Tua clean. That didn’t happen on Sunday, and the end result led to a fumble that inevitably leads to a Robert Woods touchdown.

Miami’s wide receivers must do more.

Miami’s game plan was to get the ball out of Tua’s hands quickly. Gailey also moved the pocket for his young QB by using designed rollouts to help counter Aaron Donald and the Rams’ vaunted defense.

However, there were also instances where Tagovailoa’s wide receivers dropped the ball.

Literally and figuratively. And with Isaiah Ford headed to New England, Brian Flores needs someone, anyone, to step up.

One player who specifically needs to correct some of his consistency issues is second-year WR Preston Williams.

Williams had two drops vs. Los Angeles on Sunday. And while I won’t sit here and pretend they were game-altering miscues, they did end a few drive pre-maturely.

Another player that Tua and the Dolphins could rely heavily on is speedy wideout, Jakeem Grant.

We all know Grant is a workout warrior, but besides a monster Monday Night Football game vs. the Patriots, he’s been kept quiet for most of his career. Unless, of course, you factor in his kick returns, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Grant admits the Dolphins skill-players need to do better, which is why the team has put in the extra work (after hours) to correct some of the obvious timing issues.

“The Cardinals put up numbers and we know that we’ve got to go out there and execute to the tee. We stayed after practice. We got our timing right. All of us as receivers, we stayed after practice with Tua (Tagovailoa) just to get our timing right, so we know that we’ve got to go out there and dominate. We can’t have a game like we had last week.”

Malcolm Perry, another player that could see his role expanded over the coming weeks, had nothing but high praise for Tua.

 

Most important, however, is that Tua Tagovailoa is aware he needs to do much more to put this offense in a position to succeed.

“I think there’s room for improvement every day for me. I’m getting more comfortable in the huddle talking to the guys, getting the plays out and kind of seeing where everyone needs to go. I think the biggest thing for me is pocket presence. Being able to just step up into what feels like pressure and then also just making the throws that I need to give the receivers good run after catch.”

The Final Yard

From Tua to the offensive line, to the play-calling to the skill-players, Miami’s offense must play much better on Sunday. And everyone knows it. Now they must go out there and execute, and that’s exactly what I expect them to do. We know they won’t have RB1 Myles Gaskin. And to go toe-to-toe with one of the best offenses in football, EVERYONE will need to bring their A-game.

The Left Arm of God’s first start didn’t go as planned. But don’t let that deter you from your initial thoughts. Tagovailoa is everything we had hoped for and more. Good things come to those who wait, and for most Dolphins’ fans, the wait dates back to March 2000 when Dan Marino took off his cleats for the last time.

Last week’s game may not have gone exactly as we had hoped. But this is the game that Gailey and the Dolphins #LetTuaCook.

It’s time.

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#BugBrady: Taking Your Miami Heat Questions #4

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Well, Miami definitely views KZ Okpala as apart of their young core for the future.

The reason that is so clear is because they are very reluctant to include KZ in possible trades for a star. They’ve seen his potential since the NBA draft, since they were set to pick KZ with the 13th overall pick if Tyler Herro was already taken.

I believe he has a role in Miami’s rotation this next season, basically replacing what Derrick Jones Jr was asked to do.

And as I’ve mentioned before, he’s going through a similar process that Duncan Robinson went through, by going back and forth between the G-League and Heat team in his rookie year while flying under the radar. I don’t think it’ll be exactly like Duncan, since he went immediately into the starting lineup, but he definitely will have a role.

Miami has high hopes for his future and Heat fans should too.

Well, these are definitely two separate questions.

I believe that Tyler Herro should be included in a possible deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo if needed, but I definitely don’t feel the same way about Jrue Holiday.

The only way Pat Riley and Miami’s front office will send away Tyler Herro is for a generational talent like Giannis. Jrue Holiday is a solid player, and I believe he’d fit tremendously on this Heat team, but it’s not a clear upgrade in Miami’s eyes.

Obviously Jrue is a better player than Tyler, especially on the defensive end, but he is also 10 years older than Herro. And it’s also been reported that Miami would not include Tyler Herro in any possible trade for Jrue.

But once again, if the only way to get Giannis is via trade, Miami definitely would think about trading Herro away to get the whale.

De’Aaron Fox’s three point shooting actually wouldn’t concern me at all.

For one, he’s the number one option on the Sacramento Kings, which means efficiency is not always his worry. Instead, he just makes sure to get a bunch of shots up, even if shooting isn’t his best attribute.

But if he was the third option on this Heat team, his shot selection would change dramatically, including a lot more open corner threes.

And by the way, when you have Duncan Robinson on the floor, shooting should never be a worry.

Adding De’Aaron Fox to Miami’s offense would not hurt them, instead their offense would be even more fluid and it would improve their offensive speed. It’s also clear what he would do to Miami’s defense, since he can lock up any opposing guards.

If Miami can reunite this Kentucky duo, it would be pretty ideal.

Bam Adebayo: A Chris Bosh Leap Incoming

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Bam Adebayo just finished up a very impressive third season in the NBA, averaging 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists a game. Definitely not too bad for a 23 year old, and it’s only up from there.

When taking a deep dive into the stats of Bam Adebayo and former Heat player, Chris Bosh, you find many similarities. Bosh seemed to be one year ahead of Bam, since he didn’t have the luxury of making immediate impact like Chris did.

Chris Bosh averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds a game in his second year in the NBA with Toronto, which is pretty similar to Bam’s third year stats.

Chris then went on in his third year to average 23 points a game, without shooting the three ball.

The thing that people seem to want to see different from Bam next season is an improved jumper, which makes sense since that’ll elevate his game to an entirely different level. But it’s definitely not a necessity, since self improvement may hold an even higher importance.

The only difference that Chris Bosh seemed to show in his game when he made that third year leap was offensive confidence. I feel that’s a big thing when discussing Bam Adebayo, since it’s obvious what he can do on the basketball court, but his unselfishness seems to hold some of that back.

Even Jimmy Butler would repeatedly say throughout the season that he needs to try and score more. Miami already has an unselfish leader on the floor with Butler, so it’s Bam’s job to utilize his talent.

Chris Bosh got to the point towards the end of his third season where he’d attempt 20+ shots a game, while a big night for Bam is when he attempts 15 shots.

Once again, it’s just about a certain level of comfort and confidence when he has the ball in his hands to go and make a play.

The reason I know that’s the case is because he proved in the closeout game against Boston that if he has it going, he just can’t be stopped. He began to score at will towards the end of that game, which led to a 32 point performance to send Miami to the NBA Finals.

Another clear similarity between the two is they each have historical Miami Heat playoff blocks. Two guys who aren’t afraid to put their body on the line on the defensive end to make a play when it truly matters.

Although Bam Adebayo just made a huge leap in this past playoff run, that was just the beginning.

Be prepared for yet another breakout season for Bam Adebayo, even if Miami gets another superstar.

That Chris Bosh leap is coming, but I believe it’ll be a much larger one.

Three More Miami Heat Draft Possibilities

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One name that I haven’t gone too in depth about is point guard Kira Lewis Jr. That is because he’s been gaining more and more steam as of late to be a lottery pick, some even projecting him to possibly get into the top 10.

For that reason, there are a couple other intriguing prospects that Miami may have their eye on, which the first one is Jahmi’us Ramsey.

He’s a combo guard out of Texas Tech, who carries a wide variety of ways to score the basketball. He can score at all three levels, but most importantly he does it very efficiently, which usually is the downfall of most offensively talented players entering the draft.

He also can defend the guard position very well, which would definitely entice Miami.

It’s been clear that he’s more of a scoring guard than a true point guard, but with the development of Tyler Herro running the offense, that may not be a big deal.

He has actually gotten some comparisons to Marcus Smart, and it’s obvious that those are the types of players that Miami really likes.

Another guy that has been discussed is Desmond Bane out of TCU. He’s a knockdown three point shooter with very good size. He seems to have the ability to turn into the prototypical 3 and D guy, which could definitely help Miami.

And when evaluating other parts of his game, many have said that he’s the best passer in this draft who is not a point guard. But, he is far from being the best ball-handler in the draft, which is why people think his ceiling will be a quality role player.

But Miami doesn’t need a superstar in this draft. They might actually rather go the route of getting a guy that has a lower ceiling, but can contribute right away since he looks to have a fluid transition.

He has also been working out in South Florida preparing for the NBA Draft…

Grant Riller got brought up recently as well, which I believe is actually very intriguing. As I mentioned with Jahmi’us Ramsey, Grant Riller can also score from all three levels at a very efficient rate.

He’s a guy that was not supposed to be considered around that 20 range, but has slowly been creeping up the draft board.

People have said that not only is Riller the best finisher in the class, but he’s also one of the best scorers off the dribble. I’ve seen comparisons to Fred VanVleet, which makes sense since they have a similar size and have similar abilties on offense such as the step-back.

I’ve mentioned some other possible draft selections in past articles, but these three guys could potentially be considered as well.

We will see the route Miami elects to go on Draft night on November 18th.

Kyle Alexander: An Unknown Gem for Miami

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It’s been an interesting discussion about what Miami will do with their 20th pick in this NBA draft. A defensive guard or a back-up big seem to be the two options, but what if they already have a young big being groomed?

Kyle Alexander went un-drafted in the 2019 NBA draft, after four solid years at the University of Tennessee. The reason Miami was so intrigued by him is that he truly represents work ethic and culture. He told Knox News after he got picked up by Miami, “The Heat culture is a work ethic culture. They really grind over there. That is what I did at Tennessee. It is built into me.”

The reason I believe that there’s a chance Miami can utilize him is because he fills a lot of their holes. His strength is that he has an outstanding ability to protect the rim. In his first two games with Sioux Falls, he had a total of 15 blocks. Blocking shots is what he’s most known for defensively, but he’s also very quick and lengthy, which makes him a threat against guards on the perimeter.

Another interesting strength is that he’s a very good offensive rebounder, which could be helpful in spurts when Bam Adebayo is off of the floor. His timing is actually what many have emphasized on, which also played a part in his shot blocking.

Offensively there may be some limitations, but there are also things he can look to mirror. For one, he’s a very good screen-setter, and really knows his way around the pick and roll. He is also pretty deadly from the mid-range area, when his confidence allows him to shoot.

Pat Riley told the Sun Sentinel a few months ago, “We’ve really liked him and he’s developed…We feel he has the potential to be a prototype of today’s NBA big man.”

Draft analyst, Jonathan Givony, projected Alexander to be a late first round pick in the draft, due to the reasons mentioned prior. Many teams were worried about his size, since he’s only 6’10 with a small frame. But Riley also told the Sun Sentinal, “He’s really developed an upper body.”

This situation seems pretty similar to both Duncan Robinson and KZ Okpala. Duncan was kept under the radar for a reason during his rookie year, and we all know how that turned out. Many are expecting KZ Okpala to do the same next season, but what if Kyle Alexander does so as well?

If Miami goes the route of selecting a guard or wing in this year’s NBA draft, I believe it’ll be for the reason of another young big awaiting his moment in the NBA.

And his name is Kyle Alexander.

 

Jrue Holiday Being Discussed in Trade Talks, Miami Will Be Listening

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It was reported by Shams of the Athletic this morning that the New Orleans Pelicans are discussing Jrue Holiday in trade talks, which several contending teams are pursuing.

I mentioned what Miami would most likely need to give up to get Jrue Holiday in a past article, which would probably have to be Duncan Robinson. It also comes down to who Miami values more, Duncan or KZ Okpala. I believe they may have a chance to get something done without Duncan if they throw in KZ, but it’s their decision to make.

Tyler Herro would not be considered in a trade for Jrue, for many reasons I’ve mentioned in the past. When Giannis Antetokounmpo is getting discussed, that’s clearly a different story.

I truly believe that Jrue Holiday is the best possible fit for this Heat team right now. Of course a big seems to be the ideal pick-up, but you can get a solid back-up big in free agency. Talented two-way players like Jrue are hard to come by, especially one that already has a Heat culture to him, and is respected by Jimmy Butler.

This Heat team currently has assets, but they also have options. But I don’t think there’s many better options than Jrue Holiday.

These talks will continue to get some traction the closer we get to next season, and I know Pat Riley and others will have their eyes on that situation in New Orleans.

(Also check out an episode of Five on the Floor where they discuss Jrue Holiday here)

Kendrick Nunn: More Than A Trade Asset

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It seems as if the first thing that comes to mind when people hear the name Kendrick Nunn is a trade asset. It’s definitely a possibility if Miami looks to make a big trade, since he’s an enticing young player, but for now he’s apart of this Miami Heat’s young core going forward.

Due to the unfortunate circumstances with Covid-19, which forced the league to go into a hiatus and eventually a bubble, many seem to forget the success that Kendrick Nunn had during the regular season.

Kendrick averaged 15 points a game as the starting point guard for one of the best starting lineups in the NBA. He also finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, only behind Ja Morant, an emerging young star.

Some of Kendrick Nunn’s bubble struggles seem to be the first thing on people’s minds when discussing him, and rightfully so since they last saw him play at a high level about nine months ago.

Those struggles in the bubble did not mean that Kendrick Nunn’s rookie season was a fluke. He had some unfortunate things come up such as testing positive for Covid and other personal things, which resulted in his exit from the rotation.

Although that did happen, the part that should be even more fresh in fan’s minds is the fact that he battled through all of that adversity and showed up in the Finals. That stood out to the Miami Heat’s organization, since that proved he’s a Miami Heat type player.

Once again, of course when discussing possible trade moves, his name will be inserted due to his value right now. But that’s definitely not all he is. The Miami Heat would love to bring him back next season and continue to develop him even more. His relationship with fellow rookie Tyler Herro is another thing that stands out, since they’re going to be looking to make a big second year jump together.

We will see if Miami decides to make a trade this off-season to improve this team right now, but if they don’t, Kendrick Nunn is more than capable of making a big impact next season on the offensive side of the ball.

Dolphins trade

Dolphins Make Moves at the Trade Deadline

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Although all of the attention on November 3rd is on the national election, and rightly so, the NFL also had big decisions to make. The NFL’s trade deadline came and went on Tuesday, and while not normally an active occasion, the Miami Dolphins made a couple of interesting moves.

While there were a number of major names on the market, most teams kept their rosters intact. Rumors of players like New England’s Stephon Gilmore being moved amounted to nothing. Teams may have hesitated to pull the trigger because of concerns over next season’s salary cap and delays in player availability due to COVID-19.

Miami, though, saw an opportunity to add depth at a position of need and did so.

Dolphins Deal Ford to New England

The Dolphins completed a rare in-division trade with New England. Miami sent receiver Isaiah Ford to the Patriots for a 2022 seventh-round pick. This came as something of a surprise, considering the Dolphins liked Ford coming out of Virginia Tech in 2017. Miami selected Ford with a seventh-round pick but he’ll be a free agent at the end of the season.

Ford landed on the IR in 2017 and bounced between the active roster and the practice squad afterwards. He played only one game in 2018, but found a role last season. He played eight games in 2019 and made 23 receptions for 244 yards. This season, he played in all seven games and caught 18 passes for 184 yards.

Ford’s departure opens additional opportunities for Jakeem Grant, rookies Lynn Bowden Jr. and Malcolm Perry, as well as the recently activated Antonio Callaway. While Grant should see his role expand, Callaway could take time from the two rookies.

Callaway made 43 catches for 586 yards as a rookie in 2018. But he was suspended 10 games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy in 2019. He spent a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL before being signed to the Dolphins’ practice squad this season.

Dolphins Trade for RB Depth

The Dolphins also acquired running back DeAndre Washington from Kansas City during on trade deadline day. Miami sent the Chiefs a conditional 2021 sixth-round pick in exchange for the reserve running back and a conditional 2021 seventh-round pick. This trade comes in the wake of injury news regarding Myles Gaskin.

Gaskin leads Miami in rushing this season with 387 yards and two touchdowns, but just a 3.9 yards-per-carry average. He’s tied for the team lead in receptions with 30. Gaskin sustained a strained MCL late in the win against the Rams. He’s expected to miss three weeks.

Get one of the many original Tua t-shirts on sale now over at FiveReasonsSports.com!

Washington, meanwhile, has just three carries for five yards in 2020. He spent his first four seasons with the Raiders and tallied 1122 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 4.0 yards-per-carry. He has 89 catches for 615 yards and one touchdown in his career. Washington rarely played this season, particularly after KC’s acquisition of Le’Veon Bell.

The Raiders selected Washington with a fifth-round drafted pick in 2016 out of Texas Tech. Current Dolphins senior personnel executive Reggie McKenzie was the general manager of Oakland then. Washington won’t be available to play for the Dolphins this weekend as he navigates the COVID-19 protocols.

The Dolphins have the fifth-worst rushing attack in the NFL, averaging just 98 yards-per-game. Their 3.6 yards-per-carry average is second-worst in the league.

Without Gaskin or Washington, the Dolphins will turn to Matt Breida and Patrick Laird, as well as Jordan Howard, who’s been inactive in recent weeks, and possibly practice squad RB Salvon Ahmed.

The Dolphins (4-3) head to Arizona to face the Cardinals (5-2) in Week 9. Get the Five Reasons Sports original Tua shirt HERE!