What I love about Tua (and why I didn't love last season), are the chunk plays. He's 27 of 32. But so many big chunk plays, as opposed to last season when he was having great completion, but the chunk plays weren't there. This offense is amazing right now. Finally I'm watching a dynamic, fast offense. We LOOK like a team. It's time we give Tua back 13 if he wants it still.
At this point, I'm only concerned about his health. I'm starting to worry because I watched the OL on every play and kept waiting for it to collapse. They played their best game in years by far. I don't want Tua to get comfortable enough to trust them, though. Something tells me that at some point, he's going to wait a second too long (or miss a hot read) and some defender's going to level him. They seem to relish unloading on him and I'm going to freak out with every blindside hit that he takes, waiting for him to get up. Or for the spotter to *possibly/maybe/want to* suggest that his rubbing an arm or slightly limping might be a sign of Ataxia.
Curiously, although I agree with a lot of the whataboutism with Herbert and Allen being compared to Tua, I'd prefer they were playing well while Tua played better. Burrow, too. I will always root against the Jills (and have grown used to rooting against the Bolts) but seeing Herbert and Allen struggle has me thinking I'd prefer to see a dogfight. Last night's game was too disappointing for me to join the kick Herbert parade. I don't want there to be a narrative that Tua's ascendancy is only because two great QBs regressed.
Why would Tua's play have anything to do with Allen's or Herbert's? In any case, something is wrong with Allen since the 2nd half of the GB game. Allen has 1 TD and 6 INTs with one of the worst passer ratings in the league since that 2nd half. Not sure what happened but there's something going on. Herbert's interesting because he played better with that rib injury than after he recovered from it. Not sure what's going on. But all that is independent of Tua. It just goes to show how hard it is to be one of the best QBs year in year out. Among the newer generation QBs only Mahomes has done it consistently. Oh, and Herbert was never "great". Allen was, but only for one year.
Well, the best thing about it all is that 99% of national media came into this season while saying "Tua has no more excuses", as if playing on a team devoid of pass catchers, lacking an effective OL, and recovering from injury are "excuses" instead of explanations for why he wasn't a top-10 QB. Every Dolphins fan needs to be quick to reply that blaming their current performance on physical struggles and roster deficiencies is officially an excuse.
Yeah no excuses. Not for Tua in the past and not for Allen or Herbert today. The great ones will shine. btw.. Herbert is actually a tad below average right now lol. 89 rating when league average is 89.7. He better pick up the pace soon (hopefully he plays lights out next game against KC.. we need that #1 seed!).
Here's something positive. I'm often asked why I'm a Dolphins fan. It's hard for me to respond to that question, because I really don't know. I just know that since I was old enough to appreciate the NFL and understand it a bit, I've been a Miami Dolphins fan. If I had to guess, I'd say that time period was right around the mid 80s when Marino was in his prime. Great QBs do a good job of making fans of NFL teams. Both of my children (1 boy, 1 girl) have asked me for Tua jerseys for Christmas. They previously have not been fans of an NFL team other than to say they like the Dolphins because I do. After watching 1 game with me while I explained the rules they both became enamored with Tua and now seem to be genuine Dolphin fans!
His situation was pretty bad as well but I don’t think it was worse than Tua’s. Tua got thrown into the lineup on his first season with a hip that should have been allowed to heal more and then the coach would bench him when he didn’t play well. 2nd season he was given what I believe is the worse OL PFF have ever graded. They gave up 50 more pressures than the 2nd worse line and we know how quick Tua gets the ball out. He had no WR that could get separation and he had 2 first time co-ordinators who had no idea what they were doing. All of that on top of a coach who didn’t want him and wanted to replace him with a sexual predator. Frankly I’m amazed Tua has managed to get through all that and still function as an NFL QB.
W8 at Det. - 158.3 W9 at Chi. - 158.3 W10 vs. Cle. - 153.9 The numbers don't lie, he's clearly in decline.
In response to some previous comments: Herbert has been playing with injured ribs and down his top two receivers. Imagine if Tua was playing with injured ribs, without Hill and Waddle.
Tua has FAR exceeded my expectations! He's doing things that I didn't think he could do. Let's go! stop being ***** and participate
Also res if we could go from virtual to real life we’d all be jumping on top of you like you scored a td
Here’s some context for stats Tua in his first two years had Devante Parker Mike Gesicki, Myles gaskin, Lynn Bowden and Albert Wilson as his top targets If that ain’t the worst surrounding cast ever I don’t know what is
It's positive that Tua made it through the season without missing games. Anyone else? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Buuuellerrrrrr