Tua Tagovailoa has Dolphins fans in jubilation and critics walking back all negative statements.
He has been tremendous in training camp and is displaying the arm strength many thought he lacked. People knew Tagovailoa’s accuracy from high school, the Elite 11, and the University of Alabama. He turned in accurate moments last year with the Miami Dolphins, but people doubted his ability to stretch the defense with deep passes. Tagovailoa has connected on numerous plays 50+ yards downfield to Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and others in camp. Fans and national media are in amazement at the videos captured on social media of Tagovailoa’s abilities. He now has one of his biggest critics doing a 180 turn on his thoughts of him.
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Colin Cowherd, host of The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Fox Sports 1, was not a fan of Tagovailoa in the 2020 NFL Draft.
He made statements questioning Tagovailoa’s athleticism, mobility, and arm strength. Cowherd saw signal-callers like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson as guys that “pop.” He did not see Tagovailoa in that category, but now he’s changing his tune. Cowherd said Tagovailoa is going to have ‘a big year’ with the Dolphins in the fall.
*Cowherd starts discussing Tua Tagoailoa at the 7:13 mark
“Based on practice clips we have seen, Tua is going to be the MVP of the league,” Cowherd said. “The clips coming out of Miami are unbelievable. It is one 55-yard perfect strike after another for Tua. He has been great, and the video that’s been on the internet and blogs, it’s perfect.”
Cowherd said he always thought Tagovailoa was accurate, but he did not have an elite supporting cast around him.
Dolphins’ head coach Mike McDaniel has surrounded Tagovailoa with talent. He is playing well, he is speaking confidently, and critics are backtracking doubting statements. Tagovailoa is prepared to have a breakout season in his third year.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
