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Your Ideal Backup QB for Tua?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Pennington's Limp Arm, Mar 13, 2021.

  1. TheHighExhaulted

    TheHighExhaulted Well-Known Member

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    No one said Josh Allen was going to be a top tier quarterback either. Your assumptions that Tua won't be after 9 games are baseless.
     
  2. Rick 1966

    Rick 1966 Professional Hipshooter

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    No, they're based on my judgment from watching him play. You don't think I'm right and I don't care. I could tell from watching Josh Allen his first year that he was raw but he had great physical tools. That's the difference between him and Tua. Tua doesn't have great physical tools. That's why his ceiling is so much lower than Allen's.
     
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  3. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    For me, this stance is about two years premature. Give Tua the training camp and pre-season to figure some stuff out. It's not like he wasn't throwing good footballs...he simply didn't take chances and missed some opportunities. That is correctable in my opinion and I think he will make a fairly big jump in year 2.

    The other thing to remember is that this line is still developing. Tua's favorite target, Preston Williams, only played a few games with Tua before being out for the season. Our receivers were also pretty darn thin towards the end of the season, so there's a lot outside the QB that should improve this year as well. I'm not making excuses for Tua, but I do want to see a complete picture before passing judgement.

    As far as those who said to draft a QB at #3 overall, I wouldn't hate that approach but I wouldn't love it either. To me, it makes more sense grabbing a top WR in this class and delivering another legitimate weapon to the offense. I'd be looking at a late 2nd, early 3rd round QB prospect (depending on how we trade back) and allowing them to develop...then having a veteran in camp as well to push the young guys. I DO NOT believe in free passes at any position and I do think Tua needs to earn the starting spot....but it should be his to lose.

    Of course, Watson is the wild card in all of this. I'm expecting the Texans to eventually try to nail down a trade with us just like Arizona did a few seasons ago, and we're going to trade back from #3 while picking up a 2022 1st and some other assets. I wouldn't be shocked to see us move from #3 to #6, from #6 to #8 and then try to trade all those picked up assets (#8, two 2022 1sts) plus Tua for Watson, essentially meaning that we're paying #3 and Tua for Watson, while also picking up an extra 2nd or 3rd rounder along the way. It's EXACTLY the same thing we did w/ Rosen and I'm confident we won't trade picks the way they currently sit on the board.

    Honestly though, a part of me hopes that doesn't happen. I would rather we grab our legit #1 WR, #1 RB and a few more pieces to the offensive line, plus maybe replace McCain and a few more moves in the early rounds. This year is strange though because we have to have a 1a and 1b strategy with Watson in play. I think with the right moves they can be a very similar strategy though and allow us to keep #18 and gain a 2nd rounder.
     
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  4. resnor

    resnor Derp Sherpa

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    I'm not sure how drafting a QB in the 3rd or later is then "risking it all."
     
  5. resnor

    resnor Derp Sherpa

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    Premature? Based on what? I don't believe my assessment is premature, given that I watch almost every Alabama game, and I watched every Dolphins game last season.

    People who believe Tua will be a superstar are basing that, I believe, on the projections of draft pundits, not on his actual play.
     
  6. resnor

    resnor Derp Sherpa

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    His mistakes are correctable, potentially, but Tua might NEVER adjust to NFL open being a step or two past a defender, vs 3-5 yards he was seeing in college.
     
  7. JJ_79

    JJ_79 Well-Known Member

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    Same here, I think he‘ll be fine the only thing that still really concerns me is his durability. That’s why I feel torn when it comes to Tua and a potential trade for Watson. I just hope we get things right this time but so far I like what they are doing and I am really intrigued when it comes to the rest of the Off-season and especially the draft. I‘m already pumped for next season, can’t remember the last time I was so giddy about them Dolphins!!!
     
    KeyFin likes this.
  8. resnor

    resnor Derp Sherpa

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    Right, he'll be fine. But will he be a superstar? I agree that Tua will be a fine pro. I just really question whether he can be a QB that is a game changer with his individual ability. It's just so difficult to actually be competitive in the playoffs if you don't have a game changer QB. Like, honestly, if Tua was really a superstar type QB, shouldn't he have had much gaudier numbers in college, given the receiving talent he was throwing to? I just never, as an avid Alabama fan, ever felt like the Alabama offense was ever about Tua. They just needed Tua to go out and execute.

    I dunno, just me rambling I guess. But it's just that for me, a fine QB isn't what we were drafting with that pick. I think that Tua is the new Ted Ginn. Fine professional career, lasted 14 years so far, had some nice moments, but was never worth the draft spot.
     
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  9. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Your expectations are higher than mine. I think that "fine" is his ceiling. Alex Smith, Chad Pennington type that relies on smarts and savvy to compensate for a lack of physical size and ability. But even the level Smith was in KC would likely take a while to achieve.
     
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  10. Irishman

    Irishman Well-Known Member

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    My preferences, considering the stage they are now at in their careers,

    #1 Fitzpatrick (I feel he has earned it after his last 2 years with us - I don't see any prospect I like as well or better).

    #2 Alex Smith ( I have always liked Alex and feel his play over his career, along with the complete recovery from a bad injury, makes him the most promising guy if we really want an effective back up).

    #3 Brian Hoyer ( I feel his career trajectory would have been better on better teams. As it his, he has always played tough and has always been a good QB in my opinion).

    #4 Jake Rudock (He's here and the coaches know better then we do what he's got and if it will be enough to make him a good backup QB, or even more).
     
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  11. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Hey, I was beating the same drum over Alabama...with such an elite team, it was very tough to see how much was actually Tua. He wouldn't have been my pick either (I said to trade the farm for Burrow or grab Hurts on the cheap). But at this point that stuff really doesn't matter anymore since Tua's our QB1 and he's not going anywhere (unless the Watson angle comes into play).

    The assessment I was referring to was his average production over half a season- I don't believe that's his ceiling. And you might be 100% right that his ceiling isn't very high, but this shouldn't turn into RT 2.0 where folks are raising pitchforks before we actually have the offense sorted out and the right pieces in place for a QB to succeed. I don't think Tua will ever be "elite" either, but I do think he can be a good enough game manager that he can grow into this position and take us through a playoff run.

    Now, if you're saying to bring in a legit challenger at QB1 then I'm all for it, but I do not think we've seen enough in a COVID season with Tua coming off major injury to say he's not the guy. That's the part I believe is premature...it's way too early to completely abandon hope. Tua was 26th overall last season in passer rating, but that was also 2nd best in the division (Fitz was 17th, Allen 4th, Cam 28th, Darnold was dead last in the league at 35th).
     
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  12. Pennington's Limp Arm

    Pennington's Limp Arm Well-Known Member

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    How much would you pay for Fitz or Smith ?
     
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  13. Irishman

    Irishman Well-Known Member

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    I feel they are both worth the same amount of money. The question really is, what are the Dolphins prepared to pay for a back up QB. We will know the answer to that shortly after the end of the draft, or possibly sooner.

    My guess is around $5 million dollars.
     

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