Tua impresses as second week of Dolphins training camp begins

Rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa impresses with three touchdown passes to start the second week of Miami Dolphins training camp. As you would expect, the first week of NFL training camp has been a bit of a roller coaster ride, especially for the younger players. And although every player is sure to have it’s up and down moments, none gets more attention than those playing the most critical position on the roster–the quarterbacks.

After the first week of practice, we heard various reports on the 2020 5th-overall pick.

I know its hard to believe things you don’t see, but trust me…& every other Dolphins reporter watching practice…..Ryan Fitzpatrick give the Dolphins the best chance to win games NOW. It’s not even debatable. He makes everyone around him better. Rosen & Tua aren’t there yet

— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) August 22, 2020

Don't make me break the internet with an answer. https://t.co/1IG5HkfqdR

— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) August 21, 2020

Tua Tagovailoa and Josh Rosen did not capitalize on Ryan Fitzpatrick’s absence today. Tua intercepted by Breon Borders and Noah lgbinoghene. Rosen intercepted by Tae Hayes. Not pretty.

— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) August 21, 2020

 

Towards the end of last week, a majority of the fanbase took an all-too-familiar stance. The Sky Is Falling.

Sure, it was only the 4th-padded practice.

And who cares about the horrific injury Tua suffered eight months ago.

Fans wanted results. They wanted to hear the same rave reviews that Joe Burrow was getting in Cincinnati.

Hell, some went as far as to question whether or not Tua was a unique talent.

With a weekend to regroup and a Sunday walk-through to help give the younger guys a sense of what’s to come in the next few weeks, Dolphins fans got exactly what they had hoped.

According to every beat writer in attendance for today’s practice, rookie QB had the best practice of his young NFL career.

Hey guys, so today was #DOlphins QB Tua Tagovailoa's best day in practice. Tua threw 3 TDs, including a 70-yard bomb down the sideline to Malcolm Perry. He wasn't afraid to take chances today, and threw the ball away equally when necessary too.

Stock going up!

— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) August 24, 2020

NEW TUA Numbers: 30-48, 7 TD's, 2 INT's, 5 sacks given up. These are very rough numbers, but pretty damn close to accurate.

— Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) August 24, 2020

 

Tua starting to turn heads

One play that has received the most attention from Monday’s practice is a 69-yard (nice) touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Malcolm Perry. Here’s a look at the play, which shows off Tagovailoa’s accuracy and showcases Perry’s abilities as a pass-catcher. Perfect throw and catch. https://twitter.com/MiamiDolphins/status/1297975843789168642?s=20

All other reports suggest that Mack Hollins was the recipient of not one, but TUA Tagovailoa touchdown passes. Which may spell the beginning of the end of the ridiculous ‘tUa Is oNlY goOd bEcAuSe oF hIs FiRSt RoUnD aLaBAmA wIdE ReCiEvErs” narrative.

Nevertheless, today is precisely what you want to hear about the rookie QB. The same QB that many of us have already concluded as the savior. But for Ryan Fitzpatrick–one of Tua’s most knowledgeable advisors, sometimes it’s just about getting better day in and day out. Here’s what Miami’s veteran signal-caller had to say about the promising young rookie.

“Yeah, he’s doing a great job and I know it’s your guys’ job to look at and evaluate every single day and every throw; but it’s something for us as quarterbacks and for me, I just like to see progress and sometimes it’s not necessarily a completion, but it’s the thought process and making sure the ball is going to the right spot at the right time. Sometimes there’s not going to be – some things are not going to look pretty, but it’s the right decision and that’s, for me, a step in the right direction.

#InTuaWeTrust

I know it’s easier said than done, but fans need to be extra patient with Tagovailoa. He is eight months removed from a devastating injury, and he’s going to take time to get acclimated to the NFL game. 2020 will be a season, unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed. So, let Ryan Fitzpatrick start week 1 vs New England.

Because soon enough, Tua Tagovailoa will be the Miami Dolphins starting QB. And there won’t be any turning back from there.

last week, some were worried tua ‘wasn’t special’ or could be the next QB on a laundry list of failures.

now, after throwing 3 TDs in practice, tua has a chance to get inducted into the HOF before zach thomas.

the #dolphins have ‘the guy’ now give him time & patience to develop pic.twitter.com/OMEESSfDBl

— josh houtz (@houtz) August 24, 2020