Tua Tagovailoa, the Miami Dolphins quarterback, had an excellent season in 2023, leading the league in passing with 4,624 yards. It was Tagovailoa’s strongest season yet, thanks in large part to his ability to stay healthy. While he performed well, others debate whether he is the right quarterback to lead the Dolphins to the Super Bowl.
The questions are reasonable for a quarterback who has yet to lead his team past the first round of the playoffs, but Tagovailoa has also faced some unjust criticism during his career. The criticism has continued this offseason, as witnessed on an edition of “The Joel Klatt Show” when Klatt advised the Dolphins choose Michael Penix out of Washington.
“We waited a long time because I had wanted to do this. I did it in my first mock, and I will do it again here. I’ve been waiting for news on the Tua contract. Tua does not have a deal, which I find telling. Tua, in my opinion, is not the proper fit for Mike McDaniel’s offense.
Klatt questions Tagovailoa’s fit in the Dolphins’ offense, which is an intriguing statement given his almost 5,000-yard season.
“When you watch Miami and what they do, you see that they need a player that throws down the field on time, with excellent leverage, and accuracy. There simply happens to be a guy sitting there with it as his best attribute, and his name is Michael Penix.”
Should the #Dolphins draft a QB? @joelklatt says YES ⬇️
🎙: https://t.co/filgv8YY0d pic.twitter.com/AMcJucZ2YJ
— The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) March 21, 2024
Penix Has the Same Questions That Tagovailoa Has
Penix performed admirably for Washington last season, throwing for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. It was also his greatest season, but he faces many of the same questions as Tagovailoa.
The likely first-round pick has had many injuries throughout his career, including two season-ending ailments in each of his four seasons at Indiana. He tore two ACLs and sustained two shoulder injuries.
Tagovailoa has had injury concerns in the past, but he has been ailment-free this season. While it is no guarantee for next season or any other year, it was a positive indication for the Miami Dolphins.
If they were to trade Tagovailoa and take Penix, selecting a quarterback with similar health concerns makes little sense. Last season, the Dolphins shown that they were capable of winning games at a high level when Tagovailoa led the offense. While they fell to the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, it’s unfair to assess him based on a postseason game in inclement weather against the best team in the NFL.
Former Dolphins Player Believes They Can Win a Super Bowl With Tagovailoa
Can the Dolphins win a Super Bowl with Tua? 🤔
Watch full episode here: https://t.co/rKnID43iyn pic.twitter.com/yG166f2V1D
— The OGs Show (@theOGsShow) March 19, 2024
Former Miami Dolphins star Xavien Howard believes Tagovailoa can lead the squad to the Super Bowl. Despite having yet to win a postseason game in his young career, Howard appears sure that the Dolphins will win one with him.
On March 19, Howard appeared on “The OGs Podcast” and said the following.
“Yeah. I believe they can do it. “I believe they will definitely win a chip with him,” Howard remarked.
Howard seen firsthand the type of work that Tagovailoa does, and his positive feelings toward his former colleague are an encouraging indicator.
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