By: Jake Rajala

The Miami Dolphins finished another week of OTAs yesterday. The Dolphins offense is striving to be in sync in May, so they can reap the benefits against the Josh Allen-led Bills in September. With that said, I’m going to untwine three positions that Phins nation should expect a lot of potential and excitement from.

Wide Receiver

Tyreek Hill needs to be involved early and often. It may seem like Hill’s blistering speed and Tua Tagovailoa’s arm strength is an awkward combination, but that is not true. Per NBC Sports, Hill believes that Tagovailoa has one of the “prettiest balls he’s ever seen”. Outside of Hill and the sophomore stud Jaylen Waddle, it will be fascinating to see how reliable the fourth-year WR Cedrick Wilson Jr./replacement for Devante Parker can be for the Dolphins offense.

Left Tackle

The Dolphins won’t build Rome in a day, but it’s clear that LT Terron Armstead is a monster piece of their offensive puzzle. Armstead is a key reason why CBS Sports believes that the Dolphins could turn heads in 2022. Armstead was also introduced as a Top-10 tackle, per PFF. Armstead will be pivotal against the countless stud AFC pass rushers like Von Miller, Myles Garrett, and Trey Hendrickson.

Punter

The Dolphins may have found a diamond in the rough in Thomas Morstead. The once highest-paid punter was booted from the Big Easy, but he was able to still be a very good punter for the Falcons last season. Morstead was named the NFC Special Teams Player of The Month in December. I expect the former Pro Bowl punter that actually reached out to the Dolphins to have a motivated, strong season in 2022.

.

The post 3 positions to watch in Dolphins OTAs appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Reese Nasser

The Miami Dolphins have decided to go all in with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. After a rocky first season with the Dolphins, which included being benched on more than one occasion, Tua is officially QB1 in Miami.  

Tua led Miami to a 6-3 record in games where he started. While much of this success came from both defense and special teams, Tua still showed flashes of potential. Tua accounted for 14 touchdowns with 6 turnovers. It is also being said that he’s also looking a little different than he did last season.

With the Dolphins going all in on Tua, there has been conversation about the backup spot. Last season Tua was replaced by longtime quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick  on more than one occasion. With Fitzpatrick no longer on the team, is there still a risk of Tua being pulled in high-pressure situations, much like he was during his rookie year? Let’s take a look at the QB2 spot for the Dolphins and if a change should be made. 

Who is the Current QB2?

The current QB2 for the Dolphins is five-year vet Jacoby Brisset. Brisset has played well during his time in the NFL. After being drafted in the third round of the 2016 draft by the New England Patriots, Brisset was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 2017. This off-season, Brisset came to an agreement with the Miami Dolphins on a one-year deal. 

During his time in the NFL, Brisset has a mediocre record of 12-20 but that doesn’t tell the whole story. He has played well in the league and has earned a spot on an NFL roster. He has thrown 31 touchdowns and only 13 interceptions and has proven that he can play when called upon. 

Potential Other Options?

With free agency dwindling down and most high-profile quarterbacks being off the board, are there better options than Jacoby Brisset available? In short, no. 

Robert Griffin III is still available and would arguably be the only free agent that could fight for that QB2 spot. RG3 has appeared in only 14 games since the 2018 season. In those 14 games, he has accounted for only one touchdown. While still showing to be a capable player, it wouldn’t necessarily make sense to try and replace Brisset with someone such as RG3 who hasn’t played as much. 

Other free agent quarterbacks such as former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens or former Buffalo Bills quarterback Matt Barkley are also available. 

Mulles started eight games for the 49ers in 2020 where he had a record of 2-6. He played decently given the circumstances he was in but was not a game changer for the team.

Matt Barkley has seen far less playing time than any other quarterback mentioned to this point but has still managed to stay in the NFL since being drafted in 2013. He has a record of 2-5 and has only appeared in 19 career games.

Jacoby Brisset should be the Dolphins QB2 heading into the season. The available options aren’t on par with what Brisset can do. There would also be no point in using a draft pick to trade for someone else. As long as Tua performs to the level that he should and Brisset is ready to go if needed, there should be no issues at the QB2 spot. Plus, he already has a solid handshake game locked down. Every great team needs a great handshake guy, and its’ a plus when he’s also a quality quarterback.

The post Should the Dolphins seek out a stronger QB2? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Pat Pitts

The NFL offseason brings me so much joy. It is a time where any player could be the break-out star of the season. Anyone can make the leap into that higher tier. 

In 2021, Tua Tagvalioa needs to be that player. 

Tua walked into a dream situation in Miami. He sat behind journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick, learning as much as he could from the veteran. Flores names him the starter in Week 8 and almost leads the Dolphins to a playoff birth. However, even being replaced by Fitzmagic in crucial situations was not enough for a spot in the postseason. 

Tua had a decent first year as the starting QB. The stats are not glamorous, but rewatching his starts helped me realize he performed extremely well for someone coming off a serious injury and little time to prepare as a top ten draft pick. 

With that being said, there are zero excuses in 2021. 

I believe that Tua can make a significant step in the right direction. He will finally have a normal-ish offseason to fully prepare for his role. The franchise has put him in a very good position to succeed. Here is how. 

The college reunion

The Miami Dolphins drafted Tua’s former teammate, Jaylen Waddle, with the sixth pick in the NFL draft. The reconnection of the duo gives Tua the confidence the QB1 needs. He becomes more comfortable in the pocket with the established chemistry with a rookie, along with a superstar wide receiver named Devante Parker. 

Mike Gesicki is sick, too. Pun intended. 

Tua played his best season at Alabama in 2018. Waddle was a freshman. History repeats itself. 

Patience is a virtue. 

Tua sat out the first seven weeks of 2020, aside from a few late-game possessions. This time gave him more time to take note and properly prepare to be put into such an important role. 

2021 brings the tradition of mini and training camps, unlike last season. Tua has been given an ample amount of time to train physically and mentally to make that next step in his career. 

It’s time for Tua to be a sponge until September. 

You have to fail in order to succeed.

The Miami Dolphins were one game away from making their first postseason appearance since 2016. The Fitzmagic ran out at the worst possible time. 

Analysts and the social media peanut gallery criticized Tua for not living up to expectations in 2020 by missing the playoffs. His stats may not wow fans, but it is how he played that manifests hope. He made the expected rookie mistakes; however, he completed some incredible throws and scrambled for critical first downs when the game was on the line. 

2021 is a fresh start for not only the NFL, but for everyone. Tua can put last season in the rear view and keep moving forward. It is time to take the leap into superstardom. 

It’s your time, Tua. 

The post Tua Tagovailoa has the most to prove in 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.