By Carl Mahler and Kayla Morton
The Miami Dolphins recently trimmed their quarterback room from four down to two active QBs in time for the 53-man roster deadline last Saturday.
In doing so, Miami cut QB Josh Rosen who was in his second year with the team on a four-year contract.
The Dolphins thought it was more important to add a depth spot than carry a heavy-cap hitting No. 3 QB, confirming what many already thought would happen.
The Dolphins made No. 5 overall 2020 draft pick Tua Tagovailoa their No. 2 QB with the intention to hand him the franchise in 2021.
Tagovailoa’s Preseason Progress Noticed
Head coach Brian Flores said Tagovailoa’s progress through training camp and team practices mirrored those of any NFL rookie.
He had some good and bad moments, nothing uncommon, and Miami planted him in the middle of a plethora of reps.
Tagovailoa was reported to not throw as much against the defense as one would expect, throwing just a few routes in the direction of his cornerbacks and linebackers.
Tagovailoa Working More with RBs than WRs?
However, with the new additions of veteran running backs Jordan Howard and Matt Breida, the Dolphins have been wanting the offense to transition to a run game — something Miami hasn’t successfully had in years.
Transitioning to Throwing Drills
As practices have progressed Tagovailoa has transitioned into more throwing drills and grown his patience on his throws.
This has resulted in better accuracy and play-making decisions to help extend practice drives and results on the field.
In just a short amount of time, Tagovailoa is easing into first-team work that he could find himself in at the drop of a hat if something were to happen to starter Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Tagovailoa Moving Into First-Teams Reps Mirrors Rosen’s Usage
We saw Rosen come in for Fitzpatrick for strings of plays in 2019 when the Dolphins were trying to answer their QB carousel and even take over as the starter for a few weeks.
While Miami likely isn’t trying to determine who should start for the Dolphins, especially behind four new faces on the offensive line, it clearly is comfortable activating just Fitzpatrick and Tagovailoa, speaking volumes about Tagovailoa’s preseason.
-
Ep 119: Patrick Mahomes' Top 5 List
by Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2023 at 7:49 pm
ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe Confirms Aggression, Arm Improvements
ESPN’s Dolphins beat writer Cameron Wolfe also reported Tagovailoa’s aggressiveness this preseason. He said he has shown a little more of an aggressive side with some effectiveness and better fluid motion.
Additionally, Wolfe said his arm strength has increased, along with reading the defense better. He fires the ball toward the sideline more now and throws in the middle of the field with more accuracy.
Tagovailoa Bringing Alabama Skills to NFL
Even with the occasional rookie mistake, Tagovailoa is starting to show glimpses of the player he was at the University of Alabama on the NFL level.
The only thing keeping expectations tampered has to be if he can then carry it over to a true NFL game.
A Tagovailoa Takeover Sooner Than Later?
Until more 11-vs-11 drills can be examined to show clear differences between Fitzpatrick and Tagovailoa, Fitzpatrick starting makes sense.
However, most NFL teams are carrying three active QBs and Miami has just two. Now, QB Jake Rudock is once again on the Dolphins’ practice squad and protected from being claimed by any other team per the NFL’s new rule, but it’s apparent that Miami is all in on the rookie.
It’s unlikely we’ll see Tagovailoa at any point early in the season unless Fitzpatrick is injured. The Dolphins signed the 16-year-veteran for two years for a reason.
It’s more likely that Tagovailoa taking over at any point in the season only comes if the Dolphins find themselves out of the now-expanded playoff picture. If the team is succeeding under Fitzpatrick, Miami will not have any good reason to make the change.
– Carl Mahler is a Sports Contributor for Full Press Coverage Miami Dolphins. Like and follow on Follow @C3Mahler Follow @FPC_Dolphins and Facebook.
– Kayla Morton is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Miami Dolphins. Like and follow on Follow @northdakayla74 Follow @FPC_Dolphins and Facebook.
-
Ep 157: Colts Owner Jim Irsay Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2023 at 7:24 pm
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay joins Clark and Ira to discuss his Top […]
-
Ep 156: Karen Guregian Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Karen Guregian of MassLIVE joins Clark and Ira to talk about her near four […]
-
I will be watching these NFL Coaches Closely this seasonby LandryFootball.com on May 30, 2023 at 11:40 am
We have spent a good amount of time this spring talking about the NFL […]
-
Each NFL Team's Player Contract to monitorby LandryFootball.com on May 29, 2023 at 12:00 pm
As the offseason quiets down a bit, teams start putting more emphasis on […]
-
Ep 286: FPC Dynasty Rookie Draftby Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2023 at 3:01 pm
-
Ep 285: Draft Discussions Dominatingby Full Press Coverage on May 18, 2023 at 4:38 pm
-
Ep 284: Recapping Rookie Dynasty Draftsby Full Press Coverage on May 11, 2023 at 12:59 pm
-
Ep 283: 2023 NFL Draft Recapby Full Press Coverage on May 1, 2023 at 7:09 pm
-
Episode 3.11: OTAs and Hot Topics w/Sam Fortier from the Washington Postby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 9:20 pm
George Carmi hosts Sam Fortier from the Washington Post to discuss the […]
-
Episode 3.10: Commanders Roster and OTAsby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 8:53 pm
On the latest episode of the Command the Mic Podcast, George Carmi hosts […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - Tuesday, May 30thby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Does picking Connor Bedard speed up the Blackhawks’ rebuild and few […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 767by Charlie Saunier on May 30, 2023 at 4:01 am
Ep 767 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 3 Preview Game 4 Milwaukee […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - Monday, May 29thby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 12:45 am
A deeper dive into the Hurricanes free agent list and the cap situation as […]
-
Full Press Kraken - Monday, May 29thby Full Press Coverage on May 29, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Looking back at Shane Wrights’ first season and the future. Learn more […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 766by Charlie Saunier on May 28, 2023 at 7:01 am
Ep 766 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 2 Preview Game 3 Milwaukee […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 765by Charlie Saunier on May 26, 2023 at 11:23 pm
Ep 765 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 1 Preview Game 2 Milwaukee […]
-
5/30 - Heat Dominate Celtics; Vegas Advances; Jimmy Gby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 3:35 pm
Ian and John discuss the Celtics disappointing Game 7 performance against […]
-
5/29 - Celtics/Heat Game 7; DeAndre Hopkins Releasedby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 12:12 am
Ian and John discuss Game 7 between the Celtics and Heat as well as the […]
-
5/26 - Celtics Force Game 6; Mahomes QB Listby Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2023 at 2:12 pm
Ian and John discuss the Celtics big Game 5 win the Top 5 quarterbacks of […]
-
5/25 - Panthers Advance To Stanley Cup Finals; Celtics/Heatby Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Ian and John discuss the Celtics and the Heat and welcome in Jim Bringer […]
-
5/24 - Lakers Eliminated, Celtics Force Game 5by Full Press Coverage on May 24, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Ian and John discuss the Lakers loss to the Nuggets in the Western […]
-
5/22 - Celtics, Lakers Face 0-3 Deficitby Full Press Coverage on May 22, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Ian and John react to the Celtics and Lakers being down 0-3 in their […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Full Press MMA - Tuesday, May 29thby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
Ep. 246 - Who is to Blame for the Celtics Coming Up Short?by Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 9:27 pm
-
Episode 3.11: OTAs and Hot Topics w/Sam Fortier from the Washington Postby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 9:20 pm
-
5/30 - Heat Dominate Celtics; Vegas Advances; Jimmy Gby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 3:35 pm
-
5/29 - Celtics/Heat Game 7; DeAndre Hopkins Releasedby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 12:12 am
-
Full Press MMA - Monday, May 29thby Full Press Coverage on May 29, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
Heat at Celticsby Broken Controller Media on May 29, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Ep 119: Patrick Mahomes' Top 5 Listby Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2023 at 7:49 pm
-
Celtics at Heatby Broken Controller Media on May 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Ep 166: Gene Snitskyby Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2023 at 2:00 pm
-
Boot 2 The Face "PPV Predictions"by Boot 2 The Face on May 26, 2023 at 1:06 am
BIG weekend in wrestling and EJ and Rucker are here to predict!AEW Double […]
-
Boot 2 The Face "Backlash Preview"by Boot 2 The Face on May 5, 2023 at 2:43 am
Your boys are back talking WWE Backlash, All In ticket sales, the new […]
-
AEW Double or Nothing and Night of Champions Previewby Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2023 at 9:59 pm
Jim is back once again joined by Teddy Repantis as they preview Double or […]
-
What's Next For CM Punk and AEW, The Bloodline, and the Countdown to Double or Nothingby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 1:27 pm
Jim is back once again joined by Teddy Repantis as they discuss the launch […]