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Thoughts on the Dolphins Titans Game

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by KeyFin, Jan 2, 2022.

  1. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    This was a devastating loss at the worst possible time for Miami, and it should essentially mean that our season is over. We're 8-8 going into a home game with the Pats that will decide whether this is a winning or a losing season, and somehow I'm more than content with that.

    The 7-game winning streak was awesome and we were all drinking the kool-aid towards the end there, but the fact of the matter is that this team is just too stripped down on offense to do much with the football. Asking this team to play in the cold rain, playing from behind, against a bruising running game...the writing was on the wall very early that we wouldn't get back into this one.

    However, I do want to talk a little bit about the game anyway, because it wasn't as one-sided as the score indicated. We had several long drives that we just couldn't finish, and our defense was not as big of a factor since we're built to play with the lead. Man, the game we could have seen if Miami took the lead early and Tannehill was forced to beat us...

    The refs hurt us some today as well- the PI on Parker that wasn't called in the red zone, the fumble recovery that the Titans kept, the PI on Needham where he was getting tackled. It's easy to see those things in a loss but it's not an excuse- on this 7-game win streak, we've outplayed the refs and bad calls like that were easily forgotten.

    It doesn't make it any easier today, but still, we had some moments to shine and they just didn't shake out.

    So as we sit at .500 and hope for four other AFC teams to choke and let us in the playoffs, I think we'll see this team playing with a heck of a lot of pride against the Pats. To me, the season hinges on it- go 9-8 and call it business as usual, or go 8-9 and start asking some tough questions in that front office.

    This offensive line, there's just no excuse for protection that horrible. There were a few plays today with a solid pocket and I'm hoping that we can eventually see that with some regularity from this starting five. But man, looking back and seeing that we're going to miss the playoffs by one win...and we had SO MANY close games where we couldn't finish out the go-ahead score...a loss to the Pats would put Grier back on the hot seat for me.

    Anyway, I know we have another week left but it was a great season, my friends...lots of ups and downs with several records set along the way as well. Speaking of which- I didn't watch the last few minutes of the game; did Waddle break the rookie reception record?
     
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  2. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    Can't write up a summary of the game without mentioning Tua. If there's one primary reason we lost today it was him. Not good. We need a QB that can help us win in adverse conditions. Tua hasn't shown that this year. He did show it at least once last year (Arizona), but today was on him more than anything else, not the OL or refs etc. even though there is some stuff to complain about there too.
     
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  3. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Tua was inconsistent today and missed several open receivers, but in each and every instance he was also running for his life. I completely agree that Tua played poorly but everyone also needs to realize that Tua has no business rating in at "above average" with a historically awful offensive line. He has played exceptional with very little help, and I just can't bash the kid for fumbling in a monsoon or throwing a late pick (I had turned the game off by then, so I can't comment there).
     
  4. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    No the OL was a lot better today than earlier in the season. This was mostly on Tua. He had far too many bad throws. And there are quite a few QBs that overcome bad OL. We need one of those. Tua has shown he can do that in certain games, so I don't for once think he can't, but today was not an OL issue it was primarily the QB.
     
  5. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    I just dont see how Tua is going to drastically change into a franchise quarterback next year. You all are telling me this guy, basically has played the same since last season, this same guy is going to evolve into something we have yet seen from him, on year 3?

    okay………. Ive recalled that happening once in the last 20 years and that was Drew Brees in year 4 with the Chargers
     
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  6. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    History shows some QBs can make that leap in year 3 or 4. So you can't give up too early. But you also shouldn't wait too long either. Oh, and there's no question Tua was better this year. He just played like crap today.
     
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  7. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    History only has Drew Brees as that example. Name me other quarterbacks in the last 20 years that has taken that long to evolve?
     
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  8. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

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    They still weren't good.

    Tua always had a hand in his face or was running for his life.

    I disagree about it not being the offensive line.
     
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  9. JJ_79

    JJ_79 Well-Known Member

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    That was the Tua of old today, happy feet, nervous not in rhythm. He had one really good throw to Waddle, that doesn’t cut it though. I wanna see a good game against the Patriots.

    The refs killed me today what a **** show.

    Duke was good except that one drop. He was the only one who really shined on offense, that doesn’t cut it.

    Strange play calling today too.



    Can‘t win games when D is the one unit that came to play.
     
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  10. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    Statistically most QBs improve from year 2 to year 3, and plateau at around 3-4. Some take even longer. Statistically the most impressive QB in history in terms of efficiency, Steve Young, took MANY years to show that.

    Anyway, I'm not saying Tua will be elite, but he could become good enough. I wouldn't just give up after year 2. If he's like this after year 3 then yeah sure.
     
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  11. Destroyer

    Destroyer There for every play.

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    Sorry dude but there was nothing good about this game and this can't be a great season if we don't even make the playoffs. You can tell how far this franchise has fallen when you describe it that way after we only beat terrible teams. We didn't even dominate any team that had all their players.
     
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  12. OwesOwn614

    OwesOwn614 Well-Known Member

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    Tua was bad today. With that being said, he didn't benefit from at least two (three?) drops and no fewer than two uncalled PIs. And for as much as I'm in his corner, being unable to play in inclement weather is a clear problem that he needs to overcome. I hope we keep him next season and put the pieces around him where he doesn't need to be a superstar to win most games.

    Personally, folks who believe that a franchise QB can make a silk purse out of the sow's ear that is our offensive line are delusional. They also need to check their definition of "franchise QB". There are only about 12 of those for the entire 32 team league and consequently, they are in short supply. So, go ahead and give up on this quarterback and see if the next one will be better. Keep in mind, we've had 20+ starters since #13 retired, so if history is any indicator, the next guy who comes in won't be a hall of famer.

    Criticizing what you have is one thing. Actually replacing it with something better? That's something else. So I suggest we actually fix the team before worrying about whether he's the liability. Otherwise, you can bet the next guy will be a liability too.
     
  13. pumpdogs

    pumpdogs Well-Known Member

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    delaware
     
  14. TheHighExhaulted

    TheHighExhaulted Well-Known Member

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    I thought the offensive line didn't play bad at all. Tua wasn't good. The play calling was even worse. The officiating was even worse than that.

    Tannehill was way too comfortable way too early in the game. He did just what he needed to do, hand the ball off and throw in a couple of play action passes. That's where he excels.

    Where was Waddle all game? It's like they expected Tennessee to focus on him all game. Parker's body language is off putting on plays that he can't make. If the ball is placed perfectly he is going to catch it though. He gets no separation and is always challenged. He doesn't win off the ball alot.

    They finally let Tua take a shot down field and he throws a perfect dime to Waddle. The next play call is a mind boggling feat of ineptitude, a reverse flea flicker pass that didn't work and eventually killed all momentum of that drive and ended the game essentially.
     
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  15. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    Ryan Tannehill.
     
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  16. Dorfdad

    Dorfdad Well-Known Member

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    Ryan tannehill if you say Tuas better at this point our lying. He has improved a lot since leaving Miami. And I wanted TUA
     
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  17. jdallen1222

    jdallen1222 Well-Known Member

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    What’s his record in Tenn without Henry?
     
  18. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

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    Better than without AJ Brown
     
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  19. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    Yeah, no one should be arguing that we would somehow be better with Tannehill this year. Even after today his overall rating is 86.3 when league average is 90.8, his rating with Henry is 90.2 (still a tad below average) and without Henry it's 82.0.

    And if you're looking for a game that a QB "lost" this year, one of the best examples is Tannehill against Houston where he threw 4 INTs in crucial situations, and that's against a weak team. That's a much bigger "blame the QB" scenario than anything we saw today with Tua.
     
  20. muskrat21

    muskrat21 Well-Known Member

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    tua aint it and you can make whatever excuse you want, it won't make it true.

    herbert had the 32nd ranked OL last year, and never looked this terrible.
     
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  21. ripper1961

    ripper1961 Active Member

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    Embarrassing. That's all I have to say.
     
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  22. The_Dark_Knight

    The_Dark_Knight Defender of the Truth

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    5-3. The real question you should be asking is what is the Titans record since Tannehill went to Tennessee versus the Dolphins record since trading Tannehill.

    The Dolphins have been a subpar team since the early 2000’s. No one who is objective should dispute that. We have been hit garbage with a flash one season with Sparano and one season with Gase. Other than those two seasons, straight up garbage.

    Everyone here got fed up with Tannehill…quarterback quarterback quarterback Tannehill sucks, he’s got to go. We’ll never win with him. Anyone with ANY objectivity should have felt as if they were smacked in the head with a shovel when Tannehill went to Tennessee, became the starter and took the Titans to the AFC Championship his first year there.

    I know, I know, “That was Henry, not Tannehill.” Well then, explain to me why the Titans weren’t vying for the playoffs with Mariotta as the quarterback, huh?

    The epiphany everyone should have had with Tannehill’s success in Tennessee is that we as a team SUCK. We’ve sucked for years and we’re going to continue to suck until the entire TEAM is rebuilt. Well that rebuild is the result of YEARS of neglect so it’s going to take a number of years to fix.

    We were embarrassed today but defensively the team is good to go. Offensively? Ok, we drafted a quarterback with a subpar offensive line…a unit that the Dolphins have shown year after year the inability to produce a solid effective unit. We drafted a quarterback without a franchise running back, a back that averages 5+ yards per carry…a back that you can reliably hand the ball off to 20-25 times a game.

    The Titans have just that! They have the offensive line…they have the franchise running back…all they needed was the right quarterback and they got it in Tannehill.

    What has Miami done? Screw the offensive line. Need a quarterback…so he can run for his life. Screw a running back…running backs are irrelevant. Need a quarterback to put it all on his shoulders…again with no OL so he can run for his life.

    Am I saying Tagovailoa is the answer? Nope. Am I saying Tagovailoa is the problem? Nope. What I’m saying is our entire offensive unit as a whole sucks, has sucked for years and will continue to suck until someone with half a functioning brain cells realizes that the offensive line is just as important as the quarterback…that the running back position is just as important as the quarterback. Our receiving corps needs shoring up but I emphasize those two areas as the most important, because until you have an offensive line that can hold the opposing defense at bay and open up running lanes…until you have a running back that can beat the crap out of opposing defenses running the ball, it doesn’t matter WHO you have at quarterback.

    This entire organization needs revamping from the top down and get a GM in here that can assemble truly talented players and lure competent position coaches to help these players excel.

    Until THIS happens, might as well change the team’s name to the Mediocre Dolphins because that’s all we’ll ever be
     
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  23. The_Dark_Knight

    The_Dark_Knight Defender of the Truth

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    Please tell me I’m not reading this the way I am.

    The Titans are going to the playoffs for the 3rd year in a row…AFC Championship and winning the AFC South 2 years in row and just secured the number 1 cede in the AFC (provided they don’t implode next week)…

    And Tannehill STILL sucks? Is THAT what you’re saying?????
     
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  24. ExplosionsInDaSky

    ExplosionsInDaSky Well-Known Member

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    I've been saying it for years. We are not going to win anything let alone any game of importance until we have a franchise quarterback on this roster. With that said, due to there being NO other options in the draft or free agency, I think the job is still Tua's going into next season. Keep upgrading the roster around him and hope for the best. Maybe we get lucky, I don't know. It's hard to look at this in any type of positive light. This is the second year in a row in week 17 that he has crapped the bed on us. I wont be fooled again. I like Tua, I'm still rooting for him, but this is an exact repeat of last season.
     
  25. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    This year yes. Not in 2019, he was elite then, and not in 2020 where he was way above average. But in 2021 he's a below average QB.
     
  26. ExplosionsInDaSky

    ExplosionsInDaSky Well-Known Member

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    I think what he's saying is the Titans have a much more complete team then we do. I personally think Tua and Tannehill are in the same tier of Quarterback. Neither are Joe Burrow, Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, Brady, etc. But...You can win with them if you have a complete team around them. Meaning good defense, a strong run game, and a good offensive line. Tannehill has had the success he's had in Tennessee because he's had all those things. When the Titans have had injuries or missing players, we've seen Tannehill resort back to the Miami version that he once was. He's been a different QB without Derrick Henry. Take away Taylor Lewan and he struggles big time. Take away AJ Brown and they're lucky to have played the crappy teams they played and squeeked by.
     
  27. The_Dark_Knight

    The_Dark_Knight Defender of the Truth

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    And this is exactly why the Titans will be vying for the playoffs and Super Bowl year after year. They’re a complete TEAM, not an “elite quarterback” with “other guys” playing around him
     
  28. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    Yeah, but keep in mind what I've said repeatedly: it's hard to actually win the SB without requiring the QB to overcome adversity in at least one playoff game. That's Tannehill's weakness, which is why I don't think the Titans will ever win the SB with him (or at least the probability they'll win is extremely low IMO). We'll see. They have the #1 seed this year so there's little excuse.
     
  29. Cashvillesent

    Cashvillesent A female Tannehill fan

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    Tennessee has been winning game despite poor QB play all year
     
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  30. The_Dark_Knight

    The_Dark_Knight Defender of the Truth

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    Without overcoming adversity? Are you for real?? You do recall the 2019 AFC Championship game don’t you? The Titans were up 17-7 on Kansas City…AT Kansas City until 4:03 left I. The first half. They were dominating the Chiefs until their juggernaut offense finally woke up and ran all over the Titans’ defense.

    And this doesn’t take into account t going into Foxborough and taking on Brady and the Patriots followed by going to Baltimore and steam rolling Jackson and the Ravens before heading to Arrowhead.

    “Elite” Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes folded in the Super Bowl last year to the Bucs…so to say that one can overcome adversity (Mahomes) and the other (Tannehill) can’t…when both have demonstrated they can…and can also fail is not an objective statement.

    Now that it appears our season is virtually over, I’ll be pulling out my Tannehill Dolphins shirt and hitch my wagon to the Titans for the playoffs
     
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  31. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Well we are officially eliminated with the chargers win
     
  32. Rouk

    Rouk Well-Known Member

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    The titans had 10 days to prepare for the most predictable offense in football. Thats the game in a nutshell. I literally laughed at one point when 3 titans defenders jumped our go to 2 yard smythe route to the left.
     
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  33. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    Exactly. Tannehill had one full half of football to overcome what was a 4 point deficit and they ended up losing by 11. That's precisely what I'm talking about: can't overcome adversity, and he's showing it this year too when playing without Henry or without Brown.

    There were two elite QBs in that SB: Brady and Mahomes. One was going to lose. But once again it was a team with an elite QB or one that played great that year that won the SB. If Tannehill wins this year it'll go down in history more like Dilfer's win.

    Yeah you've been a diehard Tannehill fan. What's interesting is that you tell Herbert fans that because Herbert's not on our team he doesn't matter and people shouldn't talk about him, yet you keep bringing up Tannehill even though he's not on our team either, and you do that well before we're eliminated. Hypocritical.
     
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  34. The_Dark_Knight

    The_Dark_Knight Defender of the Truth

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    We had elite level quarterback in Tannehill and traded him. Herbert was NEVER Dolphin. No hypocrisy at all.

    So Tannehill overcoming the adversity of playing against Brady in Foxborough and winning doesn’t count…

    Tannehill overcoming adversity against Jackson In Baltimore and winning doesn’t count.

    Sometimes Brad with you, it counts until it doesn’t count…and doesn’t count until it does
     
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  35. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    Titans weren't behind in Foxboro in the 2nd half. They led 14-13. Same against Baltimore. Titans led all the way. A QB overcoming adversity generally means comeback wins, often in the 4th.

    And it doesn't matter that Herbert was never a Dolphin. Tannehill is no longer a Dolphin so he's irrelevant. Stay consistent here.
     
  36. The_Dark_Knight

    The_Dark_Knight Defender of the Truth

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    Imagine…just for a moment if you will…had we had a COMPLETE team when Tagovailoa was sidelined with injuries, those are 4 games we actually could have won, but since we got a race car driver without building a race car first, Brissett was driving up and down the field in a VW Beetle instead of a Shelby Cobra
     
  37. ExplosionsInDaSky

    ExplosionsInDaSky Well-Known Member

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    I think we're saying the same thing....Tannehill was never elite level while he was here. His best season was the year Gase came aboard and Jay Ajayi rode us to the playoffs. That 2015/16 version of Tannehill was the same Tannehill that is currently leading the Titans. I honestly think the difference was the fact that he had a strong run game to fall back on.
    While it's true that he overcame adversity to beat both New England and Baltimore, I think the Titan defense deserves some of that credit. It's not like either of those games were track meets offensively. The Titans did their thing on defense and they controlled the clock with Derrick Henry. In fact, Derrick Henry is more the reason why the Titans went as far as they did. Tannehill managed those games. He didn't make mistakes and he did enough to not lose the game. It was Derrick Henry that led the way. As far as this year goes, Tannehill has done well in the absence of Henry, but that should be expected at this point in is career. He's 33 years old. Since Henry went down, they haven't exactly beaten elite teams in this league. they did beat the Rams off the back of their defense in week 9. They beat a mediocre Saints team, they lost to Houston, they lost to the Patriots, they beat Jacksonville, they lost to Pittsburgh, they beat a mediocre 49ers teams, and they beat a crappy Dolphins team that had been on a roll winning 7 games in a row against bad teams. I tip my hat to the Titans and to Mike Vrabel for winning despite the adversity that roster has faced all season, but Tannehill hasn't exactly carried that team. 3300 yards, 15 TDs 15 INTs. He's still the same Tannehill he was in Miami, he's just in a better situation. He's doing exactly what a lot of us thought he could if WE had ever gotten him the help that he has with the Titans.
    Tua can do the same for us. I personally would rather have a franchise quarterback leading the way though. Guys like Rodgers, Mahomes, Brady...They get it done even when their main receivers are out. They find ways to put points on the board with third and fourth string receivers. They make something out of nothing no matter the circumstances, O line deficiencies, injuries, etc. They make it happen. That's the quarterback that I want in Miami. If Tua is the best that we can get for now, then I have no choice but to hope for the best, but his play has been atrocious these last three weeks, and he tanked again when it mattered the most. Tannehill used to do the same thing. I remember one year we had a chance to clinch a playoff spot in week 16 and 17 and we lost miserably both weeks to the Jets and then to the Bills.
     
  38. plc001

    plc001 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    it doesn’t help that when tua managed to throw a decent enough pass our targets dropped passes. But yeah, I feel like tua defined himself in my eyes with this game. He might be another tannehill at his best.
     
  39. Serpico Jones

    Serpico Jones Well-Known Member

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    I thought Tua was awful last week in New Orleans as well. He was lucky we were playing against a high school quarterback.
     
  40. plc001

    plc001 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    really I felt like I was watching clones out there in tannehill/ tua through much of the first half.
     
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