trade deadline

Fresh Perspective: Top 3 potential trade deadline targets for Miami Dolphins

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As the trade deadline quickly approaches, the Miami Dolphins have some interesting possibilities to explore. With Tua Tagovailoa set to make his debut as Miami’s starter, the future is now. But the future is also still the future, and there are players available to acquire that could help the Dolphins now and in the years to come. General Manager Chris Grier has proven he’s willing to make deals when he sees an opportunity. The draft day trade for quarterback Josh Rosen comes to mind.

Obviously, any acquisitions need to be at a good price. Miami shouldn’t try to trade simply for the sake of trading. Nonetheless, part of being a GM is doing due diligence. Here, we shall take a look at the top three players who could potentially find roles with the Dolphins if they were acquired.

DL Quinnen Williams – New York Jets

The New York Jets are a miserable 0-7 and are on the fast track to drafting Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. As such, the Jets are in a prime position to be sellers at the November 3 trade deadline. They have already traded defensive tackle Steve McLendon and a 2023 7th round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 2022 6th round draft pick. So at the risk of accusations of tanking, New York needs to build up draft capital to create a decent team around Lawrence.

Probably their most valuable piece – aside from QB Sam Darnold – is second-year defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Coming out of Alabama in 2019, Williams was considered the most dominant interior defensive lineman in all of college football before the Jets drafted him 3rd overall. He dominated one-on-one blocking, held his own against double-teams, and most felt he still hadn’t even reached his ceiling.

So why would he even be available for trade with all that in mind? Simply put, Williams has had a somewhat disappointing start to his career. In the 13 games he played for New York in his rookie season, Williams only contributed 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks. For someone projected to be the best defensive lineman in football in a few years, that’s not the stat line teams hope for. He has improved so far in 2020, already recording three sacks in seven games. But he’s not making a difference in whether the Jets win or lose. Also, there are some analysts who believe that defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has misused Quinnen Williams so a good offer may be enough to shake him loose.

This is a two-fold situation. The Miami Dolphins need defensive tackle depth with the loss of Davon Godchaux to injury. Not only that, Godchaux is in a contract year, and he’ll be looking to cash in in 2021. By acquiring Williams before the trade deadline, Miami takes care of their depth problem and even potentially upgrades from Godchaux. Not only that, Williams will be under team control until 2023, meaning the Dolphins have relatively cheap, possibly elite talent for a few more years. Icing on the cake? If Miami trades for Williams, and Godchaux signs a huge contract elsewhere, they will still be eligible to receive a high compensation draft pick. Trades are not included in that formula. There are very few downsides.

That being said, acquiring Williams isn’t likely to be cheap. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Jets are looking for something more than just a 2nd round draft pick. Of course, the Dolphins do have the draft capital to meet their demands. Miami can easily package their 2nd rounder, along with one or two late-round picks to sweeten the deal.

Ultimately, this boils down to how badly the Jets want to sell at the trade deadline. According to Connor Hughes of The Athletic, the Jets have not yet received any “serious” offers for Williams. And according to Manish Mehta of New York Daily News, the Jets are trying to trade Williams before the trade deadline. Of course, Brian Costello of the New York Post says the opposite. So there’s no telling what the Jets are really thinking right now. In a vacuum, if Miami is willing to send a package of picks to New York for a young defensive tackle brimming with potential, it might be worth the risk, especially if they can get away with keeping both 1st round picks.

WR John Ross – Cincinnati Bengals

John Ross is good at one thing. He’s really, really fast. So why bother trading for someone who is essentially just a taller version of Jakeem Grant? Because speed kills, and Miami’s WR corps – without Albert Wilson – is lacking serious top-end speed. While DeVante Parker, Preston Williams and Mike Gesicki (a tight end) are all terrific options to catch contested passes, they don’t have the speed and agility to break away at the line of scrimmage. It’s often a challenge to catch the ball.

This is why Jakeem Grant’s lack of targets is puzzling. Through six games this season, he’s only been targeted 17 times, 13 of which have been caught. Perhaps things will change with Tua Tagovailoa taking the reins. Ryan Fitzpatrick prefers taller wide receivers, and getting the ball to Grant requires pinpoint accuracy on account of his size. Tagovailoa projects to be a more accurate passer, but that doesn’t mean Miami should stand pat with one speedster.

Ross suffers many of the same issues Grant does. He tends to drop passes, his reliability is suspect. Not only that, his early career mirrors that of DeVante Parker’s. Often injured, Ross has only played in 24 of 48 games since he was drafted 9th overall in 2017. Now, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Ross is requesting a trade. Rookie WR Tee Higgins is impressive, and Ross’s snap count has decreased dramatically. He wants to play.

If the Cincinnati Bengals decide to honor the trade request, Ross could be had relatively cheaply. He has the makings of a redemption project, so perhaps a 3rd or 4th round pick would be enough to shake him loose. His contributions with the Bengals are minimal, and his reliability is suspect at best. Let us not forget, however, that is exactly what everyone thought about DeVante Parker. Looking into Ross’s history, a lot of the same patterns emerge. Nagging injuries, lack of confidence, no investment in taking care of his body, too much investment on social media.

Ring any bells?

Brian Flores was able to bring out the best in DeVante Parker. Perhaps he can do the same for John Ross. If they decide it doesn’t work out, they can let Ross go in the offseason no worse for wear and try to get a comp pick for him. If he does play well, then he can be re-signed to an affordable deal and add blistering speed to a WR corps that desperately needs more of it.

Safety Justin Reid – Houston Texans

The younger brother of Pro Bowl safety Eric Reid, Justin Reid has had a mixed start to his career. On the one hand, he’s very versatile. He can play in the box and as a deep safety. That fits the Miami Dolphins defensive style to a tee. On the other hand, Reid isn’t exactly playing at a Pro Bowl level. He’s good, but not great. That can change, however, if put on a team that values the secondary like Miami does.

While Bobby McCain and Eric Rowe are coming into their own, adding a young, developing player like Reid could offer a new range of possibilities for the Dolphins. Reid is only 23 years old, and he’s under team control until 2022. He’s also insanely cheap with his rookie contract, so the cap hit would be negligible.

As of now, the Houston Texans are 1-6. They have almost no draft capital whatsoever, and their salary cap is not a pretty sight. They only have about $7.5 million in cap space this season, and next season’s cap projects to be even worse with DeShaun Watson’s contract set to give him a massive pay bump. Houston needs to do something to collect picks for the future, because extending existing players isn’t going to be easy with their cap woes.

Any one of these three players gives Miami an added dimension they’re currently lacking. They also fit the youth movement the Dolphins clearly are looking for. Will they go out of their way to pursue anyone at the trade deadline? That remains to be seen. There are even rumors Miami may be sellers, as media speculates Ryan Fitzpatrick could be on the move.

Whatever the Dolphins decide, they should heavily consider using some of their picks to acquire established talent and potential before the trade deadline. Thanks to world events, NFL scouting has taken a massive hit. Picking players in the 2021 draft beyond the 2nd round is going to be riskier than ever as a result. So there’s no reason not to explore the possibility of acquiring young talent from bad teams looking to rebuild. With Brian Flores in charge, they may get something out of those players that previous regimes could not.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Houtz Special: Dolphins eye playoffs, division title after Tagovailoa promotion

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Prior to the 2020 season, I was telling anyone that would listen this season was the amuse-bouche (appetizer) before the inevitable Wagyu steak in 2021.

Translation: 2020 is year two of Miami’s rebuild. Playoffs will come in due time, young grasshopper.

But for a team that has only had five playoff appearances over the last 20 years–each one of those resulting in a loss—it seemed like Miami had to feel good about their chances of landing one of now seven playoff spots heading into their newly-rescheduled Bye.

Let’s check the facts:

  • The Dolphins are 3-3 and .500 for the first time in the Flores Era.
  • Ryan Fitzpatrick has the 7th highest-QBR rating of any QB in the NFL (79.6)
  • Miami currently sits one-game back of first in the AFC East, with the tenth-easiest schedule remaining.

(Is it too soon for a Brian Flores must be a passer-rating guy joke?)

The Dolphins appear to be in a good position.

After all, the offensive line is much improved. (Despite what ESPN thinks)

And with the 17-year Fitzpatrick at the helm, Miami’s offense was averaging 26.7 points per game (14th).

So while it seemed likely, the team was headed towards being In the Hunt with ten games remaining. It was clear this wasn’t about landing a Wildcard birth and slowly getting bounced. This wasn’t about participation trophies. The move to Tagovailoa was about making the playoffs, winning divisions, and, most importantly, playing complementary football on both sides of the football–and that starts now.

I’ve been critical of Fitzpatrick’s play throughout the season.

Early on, I pointed out that his arm looked like a noodle. And we all saw the plays left on the field, most particularly vs. Seattle.

I think Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post said it best when he referred to it as ‘leaving too much meat on the bone.’ Because let’s face it, that’s exactly what this offense did under Fitzpatrick.

You can look at the Dolphins first six games and make a pretty damn good argument that you win two of those games if Fitzpatrick plays better.

There’s also a very good chance you lose two of those games without him. But even in the blowout wins vs. Jacksonville, San Francisco, and the New York Jets, Fitzpatrick didn’t execute in the second half. Especially last week vs. New York.

And then it happened.

With a little over two minutes to go, Tua entered the game.

Was it the standing ovation that swayed Flores’ decision? Probably not. Was it the poise in the huddle? Or maybe it was the way he rolled to the left before throwing a dart to Patrick Laird for a two-yard completion. Maybe it was the way he manipulated the safety with his eyes before finding Jakeem Grant in the soft spot of the defense–converting the only third down of the day.

Wait, I know what it was

“It was just time.”

We’ve heard that said over the last several days, but what exactly does that mean?

No one thought it was time.

NO ONE.

Many of us couldn’t wait to see Tua in action, but during the BYE after a 3-3 start and a legit chance at the playoffs? #nah

I respect the decision Flores, Grier, and whether you want to believe it or not, Ross ultimately made. And while it sucks for the feel-good veteran Fitzpatrick, it’s time.

What I like most about this move isn’t that the team is upgrading the most important position on the roster. Or that Gailey will begin implementing new formations like the pistol–which we saw vs. New York–or even utilizing more zone reads and RPO concepts to make things a bit easier and maximize Tua’s skills.

What I like most is that for the first time in years, the Dolphins believe they have an opportunity. I believe they have an opportunity, and they’re going for it.

The truth is, Miami’s offense was already putting up points, and when healthy, the defense is firing on all cylinders. The only thing this team could truly do at the BYE to ignite this team and squeeze every last drop out of Gailey’s offense. Every last drop out of the 2020 Miami Dolphins was to make a move to Tagovailoa.

Tua does a lot of things that remind you of Drew Brees or Russell Wilson. He has an exceptional feel for the pocket. And his best traits are his accuracy and decision-making. He’s also the ability to make things happen when everything around him falls apart. Most of all, his skills should fit perfectly in Gailey’s system, and I’m excited to watch it evolve with Tagovailoa under center.

It’s Tua Time

I’m not going to sit here and tell you the Miami Dolphins will make the playoffs. That would be foolish for anyone, especially a Dolphins fan.

But Brian Flores and his staff have to believe.

The players have to believe.

And I sure AF believe.

I think I speak for all Dolphins fans when I say how thankful we are for what Ryan Fitzpatrick accomplished throughout his NFL career. But most importantly, what he did during his first 18 months in Miami. And I think I speak for everyone when I say; I’m excited to watch you transition from starting QB to mentor. Tua’s mentor.

Brian Flores and his team won’t play a game of football for another nine days. But when they do, things will look much different than they’ve ever been before because the clock struck Midnight on FitzMagic. And my clocks telling me it’s time. Tua time.

#InTuaWeTrust

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Ryan Fitzpatrick

Fresh Perspective: Ryan Fitzpatrick embodies true leadership for the Dolphins

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What makes a leader? Is it the ability to rally the troops? To rise above adversity and come out on top? Getting the best out of those around you? There are many different ways to define leadership. However, the one thing that almost everyone can agree on is the burden of leadership is a heavy one. Not everyone is cut out to be a leader. Some are crushed under the pressure, some prefer not to take up that role at all. Those that find ways to thrive under the pressure, they’re a precious commodity. That’s what Ryan Fitzpatrick has been for the Miami Dolphins since he signed back in 2019.

Every player on the team has said how much they love the 37-year old veteran. His energy on the field is infectious, his love for the game spreads to everyone on the roster. He is a beloved figure, both in the locker room and to the fans who watch him.

But what happens when everything comes to a screeching halt? All of a sudden, Fitzpatrick is no longer the focus of the Dolphins offense. Now this team belongs to Tua Tagovailoa, which everyone found out – not by an official statement from the team, but late Tuesday morning from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, stating that the information came from an unnamed league source.

It’s quite possible we will never know who that source is. Many have speculated that it was Tua Tagovailoa’s agent. Some have said that it was an overexcited executive within the team who ran to tell Schefter the news as soon as they heard it was going to happen. Regardless of who it was, it immediately put Miami into a very uncomfortable situation. This news wasn’t meant to break when it did.

“One thing on this situation that’s unfortunate is that I didn’t get a chance to address the team before this was out.” Head coach Brian Flores said on Wednesday. “The media – it’s not the way I or we want to do business. Unfortunately that’s kind of the way of the world right now. That’s unfortunate. I’m not happy about that at all. I’ll address that to the team and really apologize to them that they had to find out through social media. I don’t think that’s fair to them.”

In this hypersensitive world of social media, news gets out before anyone has a chance to stop it. There are reports from the Sun Sentinel’s Omar Kelly, with the condition of anonymity, that certain players question the decision to go to Tagovailoa at this point in the season. Others are excited about the idea of Tagovailoa starting, but were no less shocked about how they found out. Linebacker Jerome Baker appeared on the Fubo Sports Network and said that he found out about Tagovailoa being named the starter on Instagram. Later, Baker expanded on his thoughts during a Zoom conference with South Florida media.

“I think just the one thing, we were just off, and that’s when we all heard it.” Baker said. “We were just off. One thing about ‘Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) is he always makes sure we know news first. I think the team is excited. We’re all excited; we are ready to go. We believe in Tua. He definitely can get the job done. We’re all excited about what he can do, so I guess we’ll see when the time comes.”

As it turns out, however, there was at least one person who knew about the news ahead of time.

Ryan Fitzpatrick.

“I found out – ‘Flo’ called me to his office and we talked.” Fitzpatrick said during a very somber interview on Wednesday. “He’s – with everything last year and this year – everything, he’s real up front and honest and likes to have those face-to-face conversations, so I definitely appreciate that.”

This is where Fitzpatrick’s leadership truly becomes a factor. Everyone who knows Fitzpatrick knows that he loves to play the game. That’s part of why his teammates love him so much. He makes the game fun every week. Everyone is also aware of when he cheered Tagovailoa on when he went into the game against the New York Jets. He was praised as being a terrific teammate, rooting for his future replacement.

But after the interview on Wednesday, it’s obvious that Fitzpatrick believed he would have more time to play than he got.

“I was shocked by it. It definitely caught me off guard and it was a hard thing for me to hear yesterday.” Fitzpatrick said. “Just kind of digesting the news, my heart just hurt all day. It was heartbreaking for me. ‘Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) kind of said what he said and said what he said to you guys as well, and that’s the decision and the direction that the organization is going in, and obviously we’ve talked in the past – me and you guys – about how I’m the placeholder and this eventually was going to happen no matter – it was just a matter of kind of when, not if. It still just broke my heart yesterday and it’s a tough thing for me to hear and to now have to deal with, but I’m going to do my best with it.”

So with that said, it’s clear that Fitzpatrick does not appreciate the idea of being benched. Coming off a 24-0 shutout against a division rival, he expected to suit up and start against the Rams. He did not expect to sit on the sidelines and watch Tagovailoa go in his place. Now whenever he sees Tagovailoa in the film room, it’s not the student who watches and learns while he plays. It’s the person who is keeping him off the field.

“This profession is interesting in that I basically got fired yesterday and then my day of work today consisted of me in Zoom meetings listening to the guy that fired me, and then locked in a spaced out room with my replacement for four hours today.” Fitzpatrick said. “There aren’t a whole lot of jobs that are like that, but I know how difficult it is to play the quarterback position and I know that that room is so important to the guy that’s playing in terms of everybody having your back and pulling in the same direction.”

But this is where the true mettle of Ryan Fitzpatrick is put on display. This is where he proves he embodies leadership in all of its forms. It’s a lot easier to be a leader when things are going your way. When you’re forced to face a harsh reality, being a leader becomes much more challenging. Fitzpatrick being hurt by the decision does not disqualify him from leadership. If anything, he’s proving to be more of a leader than ever.

“Today is a day to digest a little bit and we’ll get away for the bye a little bit,” He said. “But once this thing starts up again, I’ve got to do my best for Tua to help him out, because there’s two separate situations here. One is with Tua, and I want him to do well and I think he’s a great kid, and I think he has a really bright future. The other one is my feelings and just kind of what I’m going through, and that has to be separate from when I walk into this building and help him out. I’ve got to separate those feelings from trying to be a professional and help him out as best I can.”

That right there says it all. There is the biggest reason this team respects Ryan Fitzpatrick and looks up to him. It’s not his seniority. It’s not because he always has a big grin on his face. The reason he’s earned the team’s respect is that no matter what, he wants what’s best for his teammates. Even if it means his own feelings are disregarded. Very few people accept this type of demotion with this much class. Even fewer are willing to continue to mentor their replacement afterwards. That is what makes Ryan Fitzpatrick such a unique individual.

And make no mistake, Miami’s young rookie QB is very aware that he’s lucky to have someone like Ryan Fitzpatrick in his corner even after what happened through this whole sordid ordeal.

“I was very excited.” Tua Tagovailoa said on Wednesday. “That’s news that I think anyone would love to hear, being named the starter at any position. But at the same time, I also felt for ‘Fitz’ as well. Me and ‘Fitz’ had a conversation about all of this. Like I’ve continued to say, although it kind of hurts me in a way to see ‘Fitz’ hurt, I’m just very, very lucky to have someone like ‘Fitz’ in my corner, regardless of the situation we’re in right now. He’s just – I hate to say it like this but it is like this, it’s like a father and son.”

The mutual respect between Tagovailoa and Fitzpatrick cannot be understated. Is Fitzpatrick upset? Of course he is, and he has every right to be. But instead of making things difficult, he’s making it clear he still wants to do what he can to help Tagovailoa find success in the NFL. Even if it means he can’t play anymore. As for Tagovailoa, he’s the man now, but even the guys most excited for him aren’t going to make it easy for him.

“I think in the locker room, he’s still our rookie.” Jerome Baker said. “He can get all the hype he wants, but he still has to do his rookie duties. He still has to – honestly he still has to prove that he’s ready. We understand that the media is going to give you all of the credit and all of that; but at the end of the day, you still have to strap on those pads and gain our trust and gain the trust of everybody that you can do it. The one thing we all can agree on is that we’re behind him 100 percent, and we definitely believe in him.”

That includes Ryan Fitzpatrick.

So what makes a leader? Dolphins fans have questioned this for years. Is it the ability to lead by example, like Cameron Wake used to when he was in Miami? Is it to be the best player on the field, like Dan Marino during his tenure? Or is it about being loud and pumping up the crowd like Jarvis Landry? Any one of those definitions would be acceptable, but they don’t tell the whole story of leadership.

Perhaps, leadership can’t be defined through words. But it is something that can be recognized when it’s there. It remains to be seen whether Tua Tagovailoa can bring the leadership he had in Alabama to the Miami Dolphins. But for now, he can continue to learn from the man who stole the hearts of Dolphins fans everywhere. The man who is willing to try and put aside his own broken heart to help the person who indirectly broke it.

Appreciate Ryan Fitzpatrick, ladies and gentlemen. He is the embodiment of what true leadership is all about.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Changing of the guard at quarterback from the Miami Dolphins as Tua Tagovailoa takes over.

Pressure Point: Brian Flores makes bold move to Tua as Dolphins QB

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Woke up this morning and surprise of surprises, the future had arrived.

Turns out that wasn’t just a Tua tease at the end of Sunday’s game. It was the dawn of a new era for the Miami Dolphins.

Reports that Tua Tagovailoa will start at quarterback when the Dolphins return from the bye week against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 1 spread through South Florida as the most welcome news for Dolphins fans since, well, since the last century at least.

Any other time the demand for tickets would be over the moon. But of course, this isn’t like any time we’ve ever known.

So the crowd at Hard Rock Stadium will be limited and social distanced. But years from now, perhaps millions will claim to have been there to witness the onset of the savior of the long downtrodden Dolphins franchise.

That is, if Tagovailoa measures up to the hype and expectations. That is what fandom has been waiting to see, and the opportunity is coming sooner than foreseen, even as recently as yesterday.

After the Dolphins won their past two games by a combined score of 67-17 and pulled to within one game of the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills, a quarterback change from veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick to untested Tua seemed unlikely.

Alfredo Arteaga on the elevation of Tua to starter

Flores follows his own vision with conviction

What the move says about coach Brian Flores is what makes it fascinating. The second-year coach, groomed under Bill Belichick, is unlike anything we’ve seen with the Dolphins.

In that regard, elevating Tagovailoa at a time the team is playing well and winning is not out of character.

Flores, since he arrived, has been unconventional and unpredictable. A number of his personnel moves have been surprising if not baffling. But they have always been driven by conviction.

This coach has a clear sense of how he sees the team moving to the next step. Given how far the roster teardown and rebuild has already progressed since he took the reins from the Adam Gase debacle, you have to say he knows what he’s doing.

Concerning the starting quarterback, Flores always says something along the lines of, “I believe, [fill in the blank] gives us the best chance to win this week.”

Fitzpatrick never reached playoffs

Clearly, he has reached the conclusion that Fitzpatrick, whose time in Miami has been inspirational and admirable in leading a young team, has taken the Dolphins as far as he can.

Fitzpatrick, at 37, has started for eight different NFL teams but has never appeared in a postseason game.

And, Flores apparently has seen enough of Tagovailoa’s progress in practice to entrust him with leading an improving team in a playoff pursuit.

Dolphins followers have had no basis to gauge the rookie’s progress. Due to the preseason canceled by the pandemic, Tua saw no game action from the time he went down with a major hip injury that ended his college career last November until that five-play cameo at the end of Sunday’s 24-0 win against the Jets.

It wasn’t the two short passes he completed, which had fans clamoring for more while expecting the wait would continue until at least Dolphins fell out of playoff contention, that precipitated the move. It was that Flores had seen enough progress in practice to believe Tagovailoa is ready to do for the Dolphins what he did in a remarkable run for Alabama.

Tua’s injury history ongoing question

What makes Tua’s situation different from most rookie quarterbacks is the health issue. A few weeks ago Flores indicated it was a factor in gauging when to play him.

“If it was my kid and he had a serious injury like that, I wouldn’t want his coach to be in a rush to put him in there because of media pressure,” Flores said at the time. “No one is going to pressure me into doing anything.”

Tagovailoa’s health, in relation to the hip injury, will continue to be an issue until he proves it’s not.

Which makes Flores’ decision to raise the curtain on Tua Time at this particular time all the more bold and intriguing.

But the Dolphins didn’t identify Tagovailoa as their quarterback of the future and draft him fifth overall (higher than any quarterback since they took Bob Griese in 1967) to shelter him indefinitely.

It has been a carefully measured process. The development of the offensive into a competent unit in pass protection undoubtedly provided some comfort in making the move.

Tua’s father weighs in on Flores

Most revealing was an interview the quarterback’s father, Galu Tagovailoa, did with KHON2 sports director Rob DeMello in Hawaii after Tua’s debut against the Jets.

“It’s very comforting. It’s things as parents you want to hear and it’s things that you want to know,” Galu Tagovailoa said. “I have direct communication with Coach Flores, with Brian, calling him and we talk and texting back and forth. He’s not just a coach for Tua out there. He’s also a father for him on the field and the things that he’s going through with Tua.

“It’s always good to hear things like that and to see it through our son and then to hear it through coach, I mean it’s so comforting. We really, really appreciate that.”

Now Flores has made his most impactful decision yet as Dolphins coach, and the future of his young quarterback and the team are on the line.

For Dolphins fans, it has been a very long time in coming. And this next game can’t come soon enough.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns

Switch to Tua seemed unlikely after win over Jets

Tua Tagovailoa made his debut in a brief appearance, but the big story of the Miami Dolphins is their rise as a playoff contender.

Pressure Point: Miami Dolphins’ rise as contender eclipses Tua debut

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Rewatching Tua Tagovailoa’s brief but eventful Miami Dolphins debut in mop-up duty in the 24-0 thumping of the Jets, and my thoughts drift back to a Monday night in September 1983.

Was watching a lackluster Dolphins loss to the Raiders in a bar in Newport, Rhode Island, which would have been lost to memory until it suddenly became unforgettable. That was when Don Shula sent in the rookie quarterback Dolphins fans had been clamoring to see, and Dan Marino began a Hall of Fame career by chucking two touchdown passes to enliven a 27-14 defeat.

It would be another three weeks before Marino would get his first NFL start (with another relief effort in between).

Remains to be seen when Tua surfaces again. Safe bet the first start won’t come in two weeks when the Dolphins play host to the 4-2 Rams (who will be coming off a Monday night date with the 5-1 Bears).

Unlike Marino, who got enough time to toss fourth-quarter TDs to Joe Rose and Mark Duper that night at the L.A. Coliseum, Tagovailoa only got five plays Sunday.

He threw two passes, completed both for nine yards. Still, he showed mobility rolling to his left on the sort of play he broke his hip on last November, and completed the first to Patrick Laird.

The second was on the mark to Jakeem Grant for a first down. Notably because it was the only third-down conversion the Dolphins made all day, in nine attempts.

More from Five Reasons: Can the Dolphins follow upward trend of Heat, Marlins?

Only one game back in AFC East

It was a tantalizing taste of Tua that will leave fans wanting much more, and soon.

I was ready for it after the 1-3 start. But circumstances have changed in the past two weeks. The surprising blowout win at San Francisco was a seismic shift.

Now at 3-3, and just a game behind the AFC East-leading Bills, the Dolphins are in position to chase a playoff spot. The way they have played in winning three of the past four weeks shows it is a realistic ambition.

The improvement since the ragged opening losses against New England and Buffalo is profound.

What stands out as meaningful about Sunday was not that Tua got on the field. It was what it revealed about how far Coach Brian Flores has taken the Dolphins as opposed to how previous coach Adam Gates has turned the Jets into the sort of mess he left behind in Miami.

The comparison was highlighted by the CBS studio crew at halftime.

Boomer Esiason on the Jets: “Looking at the Jets’ sideline, it looks dead to me. It looks like a dead team walking. … They look lost.

Bill Cowher on the Dolphins: “They are building a culture, which is about winning football games, holding people accountable and bringing people together.”

Dolphins find togetherness

That togetherness was evident in Ryan Fitzpatrick leading the cheers for Tagovailoa from the sideline. And in Mike Gesicki, who didn’t catch a pass all day, dashing from the sideline to the end zone to celebrate fellow tight end Durham Smythe’s touchdown catch.

Understand, these Dolphins aren’t ready to make a run deep into the playoffs. But they may be good enough to get there.

This rebuilding effort under Flores and GM Chris Grier appears to be well conceived and is much farther along than could have been envisioned a year ago when they were on the way to a 0-7 start.

The offensive line, with two rookie starters, has been solid all season. And when rookie Austin Jackson went down with an injury, they plugged in rookie Robert Hunt with similar results.

But most significant is the improvement in the defense in recent weeks. This is what Flores was supposed to bring, and positive signs are mounting that it’s working.

With the return of Byron Jones and Xavien Howard trending to pre-injury form (four interceptions), the secondary is solid on the corners, and Eric Rowe has been outstanding at safety.

Emmanuel Ogbah is becoming a force on the pass rush and Christian Wilkins has been stout against the run.

Stats tell of Dolphins’ improvement

All of that and more are showing up in the results:

Through Sunday, the Dolphins led the league in third-down defense. They were tied for second in points per game allowed (18.8). Their 17 sacks ranked seventh.

By outscoring their past two opponents 67-17, they pushed their net points to plus-47, third in the AFC behind the Ravens and Steelers.

It is difficult to remember when stats cast the Miami Dolphins in such a favorable light.

“I just feel like it’s a culture change,” said linebacker Sam Eguavoen, who endured the growing pains last season. “We still have a lot of guys from the team last year and then they brought in some more guys this year. It’s just been a culture change. ‘Flo’ is still hard on us but he took it back on us a little bit. We still work hard. I feel like we’re the hardest working team in the NFL. I feel like now we’re working a little bit smarter. Guys are buying in. We don’t dread coming in on Wednesdays like we kind of did last year. We’re just growing better as a team.”

Quite the opposite of what was apparent on the opposing sideline Sunday with Gase and the Jets.

So, if Tagovailoa doesn’t start a game this season it will be because they are doing fine with him on the sideline, which they are right now. That could change.

As intriguing as the prospect of what Tagovailoa may eventually bring to the future of the Dolphins, and as much as many of us our eager to see it, if the team is buying in, the rest of us will just have to trust in Flores.

He’ll let us know when it’s time for Tua.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

5 Reasons Contributors on Dolphins-Jets “clash”

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The Miami Dolphins are favored for the first time in forever against unintentionally-tanking former coach Adam Gase and the hapless New York Jets.

We asked some of our Five Reasons Sports contributors to assess the matchup.

*****

 

Though matchups between divisional opponents—especially when a head coach is going up against his former team—are supposed to be interesting, this one probably won’t be. The Jets are a dumpster fire this year led by Adam Gase, who should be on the hot seat after starting off this season 0-5 and finishing last year with a 7-9 record and whatever bag of chips you’re rewarded for being 3rd in the AFC East. 

 

Not to mention that the Jets somehow managed to waive Le’Veon Bell, arguably one of the best runningbacks in the league and almost certainly their best player, instead of trading him and getting at least something for him. Bell walks away with a cool $28 mil and the Jets walk away with… another bag of chips? Don’t ask Adam Gase about Bell though; those questions are “irrelevant.”

 

Without Bell and QB Sam Darnold, who is still nursing a shoulder injury, New York will have to hope veteran backup Joe Flacco can put something together. Flacco was 18 of 33 for 195 yards and a single touchdown in last week’s embarrassing 30-10 loss to Arizona.

 

The Dolphins, meanwhile, have started to show some grit with a big 43-17 win over last year’s Super Bowl contenders, the San Francisco 49ers, last week. Though the 9ers were decimated by injuries, the Fins showed some true potential on both sides of the ball, totaling five sacks and two interceptions on defense and 444 total yards of offense led by Ryan Fitzpatrick’s best performance of the season (including a QBR of 99.1, the highest of any quarterback this year). 

 

The only way this game could get interesting is if Bell signs with Miami, considered as of now to be one of his top three landing spots. There’s nothing better than a revenge game, right?

— Kylie Wang

*****

 

The Miami Dolphins are preparing to take on a division rival in the New York Jets this Sunday, bringing back an old face in Adam Gase. And with Sam Darnold out,  Joe Flacco, an old Dolphins nemesis, will be under center for the Jets once again this week. 

Flacco has been very successful against the Dolphins with a total of 7 wins and 0 losses. — six wins in the regular season and one in the postseason.

His regular season numbers over those 6 starts against Miami include completing 71 percent of his passes with 10 TD’s to 3 INT’s and adding 1 rushing touchdown. In his last start in 2017, the Dolphins got embarrassed 40-0 even as Flacco’s outing ended early on the controversial hit by then-Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso.

Fast forward to Sunday’s game, though, and times are different for the former Super Bowl MVP. His best days are behind him and he is currently on the worst team in the NFL.

The Dolphins are favored by eight. Don’t expect Flacco to keep it that close.

— Jaccare Givens 

 

*****

With an annihilation of the 49ers on the road comes some expectations.

We have learned that Miami can win and play good teams tough with “Fitzmagic”.  They have little to no hope with “Fitztragic”.  In this case, Miami has a decided talent advantage, are home, and confidence is riding high.  The last time I said this team had real expectations, was the Thursday night beat down of the Jaguars.  I expect much of the same.  It is required.  No letdowns allowed.

Miami Dolphins 30  NY Jets 16

— Alfredo Arteaga

 

*****

 

Dolphins offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has shown that with inferior competition he can devise strong game plans. That will continue. I expect the Dolphins to take an early lead behind the arm of Ryan Fitzpatrick attacking downfield to DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki and Preston Williams. Once the adrenaline starts to fade, an ugly, punt filled late afternoon will take place with whichever team can establish the run coming out on top. I trust Coach Flores to take advantage of the early lead and let his pass rushers like Emmanuel Ogbah, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jerome Baker and maybe the banged-up Kyle Van Noy go to work. Jason Saunders will also extend his consecutive streak of field goals to start the year and in the process break Olindo Mare’s record for overall consecutive field goals of 19 to his 20.

Dolphins 27 Jets 13

— Juan Cardona 

Pressure Point: Can Miami Dolphins follow upward trend of Heat, Marlins?

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In a year dominated by disease, division and disaster, the unexpected runs of the Miami Marlins to the playoffs and Miami Heat to the NBA Finals have been most welcome diversions for beleaguered South Florida fans.

OK, so the magic ran out. Both fell to earth with a thud. It doesn’t take away from the collective high.

And what happened Sunday in Santa Clara, California, sure felt like the possible passing of a torch for another improbable development that just might carry us through the rest of this godforsaken year, at least from a sporting perspective.

Dolphins 43, 49ers 17: Who saw that coming?

Sure, one can point to some notable 49ers injuries (premier pass rusher Nick Bosa out for the year), particularly at cornerback. Richard Sherman and K’Waun Williams are on the injured reserve. Fill-in Brian Allen, just up from the practice squad, was roasted alive by Ryan Fitzpatrick — much like Dolphins rookie corner Noah Igbinoghene was a few weeks back by Bills QB Josh Allen.

49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, coming back from an ankle injury, was clearly not right and was pulled at halftime.

But the 49ers did come within a quarter of winning the Super Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in this calendar year before the world went on lockdown. Sunday, they still had players who got them there, like All-Everything tight end George Kittle. The Dolphins, who have struggled against tight ends for years, limited him to four catches and nothing longer than 12 yards.

And every prediction I saw going into the game had the 49ers winning handily.

Long time since Miami Dolphins . . .

Consider that the 43 points were the most by a 49ers opponent at Levi Stadium since it opened in 2014.

The Dolphins hadn’t scored 43 points on the road since 1986.

It was certainly unlike anything we’ve seen in 21 games of the Brian Flores era.

“I think it might be right at the top and I think if we just continue to practice and prepare the way we’ve been doing been, hopefully we’ll string some of these together,” Flores said.

Difficult to foresee where this Dolphins season will go from here, but it is instructive to see how far they have come in the past year.

Five games into 2019 they had scored a total of 42 points and allowed 180 while going 0-5 on the way to an 0-7 start before winning four of the last nine.

So this season, in which the objective is to show this roster reconstruction is making measurable progress, is trending in the right direction at this stage.

The other thing Sunday showed is that Tua Tagovailoa is going to be waiting a still-to-be-determined amount of time before he gets the reins to the offense.

Tua Tagovailoa stuck on hold

I was among those advocating the change after last week’s loss to the Seahawks, though I was correct in predicting that Flores would decline and say that Fitzpatrick gave the team the best chance to win.

He’s certainly not going to change his tune — or the quarterback — after Fitz posted a near-perfect 154.5 passer rating while leading an offense that generated 436 net yards and averaged 6.9 yards per play.

So we’ll just have to accept that it’s not Tua time yet.

Tough to argue when FitzMagic is the joy ride he was Sunday — unlike the FitzFlop of the previous week.

Meanwhile, other newcomers are making an impact, particularly on the offensive line, which has been as big of a struggle for this franchise to achieve as the quarterback travails of the past two decades.

Notably, rookie Robert Hunt, in his first start at right tackle, thoroughly compensated for the injury absence of impressive rookie left tackle Austin Jackson (Jesse Davis moved over to the left side). Hunt joined with guard Solomon Kindley, yet another rookie, in showing the Dolphins could have the making of a dominant right side for years.

Credit the additions of solid veterans Ereck Flowers and Ted Karras, plus holdover Davis, for a lot of the line’s success along with the three rookies.

Dolphins starting to jell

The much-maligned Miami defense turned in its best effort with five sacks and two interceptions. The secondary benefited from the return of cornerback Byron Jones, and Xavien Howard had an interception for the third consecutive game.

Second-year linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel continues to have an impact (sack, forced fumble) and Zach Sieler had a sack and stood out on the defensive front.

Overall, the Dolphins appear more cohesive than earlier in the season. Understandable, considering the absence of preseason games and the numerous newcomers playing key roles, that it would take a few weeks to begin to mesh.

It would be foolish just over a quarter of the way into the season to suggest the Dolphins might ride the coattails of the Heat and Marlins to a South Florida playoff trifecta.

But with the winless Jets up next, a .500 mark is within reach Sunday. There are some winnable games among the six that follow before the schedule turns treacherous again in December with the Chiefs, Patriots, Raiders and Bills.

There are signs the Dolphins are trending upward — such as, their plus-23 points differential.

Sunday’s Santa Clara stunner will only matter, though, if the Dolphins build on it. Who knows, if recent results of other local teams are a gauge, they just might surprise us.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns

PrizePicks

Week 5 NFL: Players to Watch in PrizePicks DFS

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Week 5 of the NFL slate is here and PrizePicks has a ton of options to get you in the win column.

 

Offense is king in today’s NFL and the 2020 season has taken that to another level. Teams are putting up ridiculous totals each week and the defenses have yet to catch up. Will Week 5 finally be where the scales balance?

With many divisional matchups this week there are a lot of teams that know each other very well. This could lead to some surprising results, particularly with players not hitting their projections.

Ezekiel Elliott (Under 23.5)

Dallas is an 8.5 point favorite and should be able to pick up their second win against a Giants’ team that cannot score points. New York has a decent defense but Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott has been lighting it up this year. The G-men will try to take away something, and that could be Elliott. If the Cowboys are up big in the second half they could perhaps rest Elliott which would lower his chances of going over his projection.

 

Miles Sanders (Under 14.5)

The Eagles travel across the state to face an undefeated Steelers squad that has not allowed more than 21 points in any game this season. Meanwhile the Philadelphia offense has yet to eclipse 25 points and rank 28th in the NFL in yards. The Eagles pass defense is also an issue and this one could get ugly quick. If Philadelphia falls behind early that could take Sanders out of the mix somewhat, at least in terms of carries. Sanders is 4th on the team with 19 pass targets, but has only hauled in nine receptions this year.

Zach Ertz (Over 11.2)

 

While Sanders may be underutilized due to the score, Zach Ertz remains one of the few healthy receiving options on the Eagles. DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffrey will be out, so Carson Wentz will be looking in Ertz’s direction early and often. Ertz has not seen the volume of red zone targets (2) so far, but has caught both thrown his way and converted one into a touchdown. I expect him to at least double his red-zone target share in this one alone and is due for a solid outing.

Go to www.prizepicks.com and sign up with promo code: five.

 

Nesta Jade Silvera Miami Hurricanes

Five Reasons the Hurricanes can Shock Clemson

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The Miami Hurricanes prepare for their biggest regular season test in years when they travel to face No. 1 Clemson.

Momentum is such a subjective thing to interpret.

Does it carry over, or slowly fade as the days become weeks in between competition?

After a thorough dismantling of Florida State 52-10 nearly two weeks ago, the Hurricanes must regain it in a hurry.

Clemson sits at the summit, where Miami has been before and could (perhaps) be on the precipice of reaching again.

We have sat here, waiting for The U to be “back”.

The quarterback question seems to be answered, and slowly the Hurricanes have built a team with both elite skill and improving depth.

What does it mean against a Clemson team that is the new standard.

Can the Hurricanes compete?

Clemson has separated themselves not only from the ACC pack, but most of college football as well.

There are very few weaknesses on the Tigers roster.

They probably have the two best players overall in Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne.

So how can Miami not only punch above their perceived weight, but land a knockout?

Here are five reasons for Hurricanes fans to have hope Saturday.

King and the offense limit mistakes

In order for the Hurricanes to pull off the upset they will need to play a near perfect game.

Virginia hung with Clemson despite two early turnovers and it was a 27-17 game in the third quarter.

Miami has a far superior team and D’Eriq King so far has taken care of the football.

 

The Hurricanes will need even more out of the running game as Clemson allows just 90 yards per game on 2.3 YPC.

For Miami to have a chance they will have to try and control the clock in order to keep Lawrence and the offense on the sidelines.

King must stay calm under pressure and take what the defense gives him, if he does so then…

Big plays could be there

If Clemson does have one area of concern it may be giving up big plays on defense.

They don’t give up a lot in terms of yards-per-game, but have allowed 13.89 yards-per-completion so far which ranks near the bottom of college football.

Miami has plenty of weapons and Clemson will have to guard sideline to sideline against the speed of the Hurricanes.

Look for Will Mallory and Brevin Jordan to be involved early, especially if King sees pressure from the Clemson front seven.

Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables is as aggressive as they come, Miami will have opportunities on the outside against single coverage.

 

Miami can actually run the football

So far Clemson has faced Wake Forest and Virginia in ACC play, two of the worst rushing offenses in the country.

Not surprisingly the Tigers held both in check, especially Wake Forest who managed just 37 yards in their matchup.

Miami offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee has leaned on the ground game when necessary and may do so again.

The Hurricanes rank 12th in the nation with over 232 yards rushing per game, and 6th with a 5.86 YPC average.

 

Clemson has not seen a running game anywhere near what Miami brings, and the Hurricanes have three backs that can lead the effort.

The Miami offensive line is much improved and will need to bring it for 60 minutes against a tremendously deep Clemson defensive front.

If the up-tempo Hurricanes’ offense can keep Clemson from rotating in certain situations, perhaps they could wear them down some as the game progresses.

As long as the game is close in the second half, there is no reason to abandon the run game.

Pass rush and containment

One thing all quarterbacks hate is pressure, especially from the middle to collapse the pocket.

Trevor Lawrence has elite arm talent – accuracy and strength.

What may be nearly as difficult to contain is his ability to scramble and throw outside the pocket.

Miami has the athletes on the defensive side to set the edge but must remain disciplined at all times.

Lawrence has been sacked five times in two ACC games and was able to move the ball with his running ability against Virginia.

The Miami pass rush must be a factor and defensive coordinator Blake Baker will need to be aggressive like his counterpart Venables.

Clemson has not faced a defensive line that can do this:

 

One or two appearances by the Turnover Chain are a must for Miami to keep the game within reach.

Lawrence has yet to throw an interception this season, Miami has to force him to rush his decisions and make him feel the heat.

Hurricanes have nothing to lose

Miami enters the game as a double-digit underdog and if they can play a competitive game with Clemson it will not tarnish their standing much.

Manny Diaz has shown early in the season that he can have the team prepared and energized for big games. Rhett Lashlee has unleashed a high powered offense that balances the scales and the Miami special teams unit is much improved.

The Hurricanes are not expected to win by many and the pressure of victory is squarely on the Clemson side. Both Lashlee and Baker need to put the players in position to succeed and the team has to remain focused. Penalties have been an issue in their last two games that Miami was able to overcome, they cannot afford many mistakes Saturday.

Photo credit miamihurricanes.com.

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We will have a preview show for Miami and Clemson Thursday night at 7:30PM EST.

Follow us on Twitter @5ReasonsSports @5ReasonsCanes @DavidWEversole.

Houtz Special: ‘Tua Time’ on hold as Dolphins keep Ryan Fitzpatrick starter

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Dolphins name Ryan Fitzpatrick the team’s starting QB vs. San Francisco. But how much longer must fans wait before it’s Tua Tagovailoa Time?

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s play is better than a year ago, but the team expects more out of the grizzled veteran.

Through the first quarter of the 2020 NFL season, the Miami Dolphins currently sit with a mediocre 1-3 record.

Some might find the good in losing by 10 points to New England, 3 to Buffalo, and 8 points to Seattle. Yes, the team is probably better than its record leads us to believe. But at the end of the day, your record is everything. The Dolphins realize their hopes of being a playoff contender are slowly slipping away. We can definitely talk about the different issues with the secondary and pass-rush, and I’ll do that another day.

But Miami’s offensive woes currently fall on the shoulders of two individuals: Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. And the team’s 37-year-old gunslinger Ryan Fitzpatrick.

If you’re someone that likes to look at numbers, Fitzpatrick’s stats in 2020 are as follows:

98/142 completions for 998 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions

Those numbers are not good. But when you compare them to his stat line through four games last year, where he was benched for Josh Rosen off and on, we can all say; statistically, he’s playing much better. We also need to take into account the whacky offseason these players have had to deal with. But for a guy that knows the offense as well as anyone, he needs to play better. And Ryan Fitzpatrick would be the first person to admit that.

 

Whether or not he has the same velocity he once had and can make the same throws as The Left Arm of God is a discussion that needs to be had sooner rather than later. But I don’t think anyone believed heading into Sunday’s game vs. San Francisco; Brian Flores would make a change at quarterback.

Although, for a second, it did seem like it was possible.

Brian Flores is asked about the Miami Dolphins Quarterback situation after Monday’s loss to Seattle.

The very first question the Miami Dolphins head coach was asked at his Monday press-conference was simple. ‘Who’s going to be your quarterback on Sunday?’

“We’re still going through corrections of the game from yesterday. As a staff, we normally start talking about this this evening. ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) – I thought we moved the ball pretty efficiently yesterday. Look, I understand where everybody’s coming from with Tua (Tagovailoa). I get all that. At the same time, he’s a young player, he’s coming off the injury. So we’ll make the decision on the starter, but I would presume it’s going to be Fitzpatrick.”

Flores was later asked why he paused when asked the vital question about the team’s looming quarterback controversy.

He said this.

The pause was – we haven’t even gone through the corrections from the game. We’re actually in the middle of that right now, so it wasn’t based off of anything in the game. I hope you guys don’t take that the wrong way; but every week we come in on Monday evening after we make all the corrections. We’re a quarter of the way through the season now, so we’re going to obviously do an evaluation of our team from that standpoint. We try to play the guys we feel are going to help us turn this thing around and play better in situations that like red zone and two-minute and the fourth quarter; and that’ll be at all positions. So that was kind of a conversation we just had as a staff, so I guess that’s what gave me some pause. Not something from the game. We just talked about reevaluating everything – every position, every grouping and we always do that after every quarter, let’s say, and try to, moving forward, do the things that we’ve been doing well and try to continue to build on those and obviously improve anything where we haven’t had as much success.”

And then at 8:56 AM, before I even got to take a sip of my morning coffee, the Miami Dolphins official Twitter account answered the burning question.

BREAKING NEWS: Ryan Fitzpatrick will be the Miami Dolphins’ starting QB vs San Francisco

 

This news isn’t really a surprise to anyone.

I mean, look around. Things aren’t exactly normal. No one knows what’s going to happen over the next month. And at 1-3, Ryan Fitzpatrick shoulders the blame for 2/3 losses. But he also had a lot to do with Miami’s lone win of the season. We always knew it was a story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde with Fitzpatrick. One week he’s making unbelievable throws, like a magician. The next week he’s throwing two picks as the offense snails along to five field goals.

In Flores’ eyes, Ryan Fitzpatrick earned another chance to prove he gives the Dolphins the best chance to win. But for how much longer?

Before I go on my soapbox about Tua Tagovailoa, we need to address how wreckless Fitzpatrick has been when running the football. We all realize when Tua is eventually the starting QB, his success depends on his ability to stay healthy and elude hits. So, WTF is Fitzpatrick teaching Tua? You’re paying Jordan Howard a nice chunk of money to be your short-yardage back, let him take a beating.

Tua Time is right around the corner.

Some fans and analysts might be upset with Flores’s decision to keep Ryan Fitzpatrick, and that’s okay. I do think Tua gives this team the best chance to win. But once you hand the keys over to Tagovailoa, there’s no turning back. Fitzpatrick has put his ass on the line every opportunity he’s got in Miami and appears to be the perfect teacher for Tua. Maybe he does deserve another chance against a San Francisco team with injuries throughout the roster.

But what if Fitzpatrick starts the game with two costly mistakes? What if the team has no choice but to make a change at halftime. They sure AF are not going to call upon Jake Rudock, right. That would mean Tagovailoa isn’t healthy and according to Brian Flores himself, Tagovailoa has checked all the boxes from a medical standpoint.

No. He’s checked all the boxes from a medical standpoint. He has. Look, the honest thing from me is if he was my kid and he had a serious injury like that, I wouldn’t want his coach to be in a rush to throw him in there because of media pressure or anything like that. That’s kind of how I approach this situation and really all situations, the players. Essentially they are my kids. No one is going to pressure me into doing anything. When we feel like he’s ready to go, we’ll put him in.”

Final Yard

I know we’re all excited because we see what Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert are doing with their new NFL teams. And we are eager to see what Tua Tagovailoa can do not only for this offense but for this team. The entire franchise is relying on Tagovailoa to be the star quarterback he was at Alabama. The fanbase, everyone has waited 20 years for the Dolphins to have a QB with this type of talent; this type of ability to move around in the pocket. His pinpoint accuracy.

Tagovailoa has the potential to be the next great quarterback for a team that has had nothing but hope since #13 rode off into the sunset.

We’ve waited 20 years, what’s another week(or two) going to hurt?

***********************************************************************

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Check out this week’s episode of Yard Work with Alfredo Arteaga: 

https://youtu.be/6mjcL7fgBeE