I liked what I saw in the games but the sample size was much too small. Practice reports are the reason I'm geeked out for his potential year-two jump. Especially the reports from the two joint practices (props to Coach for arranging that; I think those sessions will prove to be invaluable).

I do like the fact that he played well without Wilson, Parker and Williams on the field. They're going to provide better targets even though he's done well with the guys we gave him. I really appreciate what appears to be a rapport with Hollins, especially since we know he has chemistry with Waddle. Those relationships lead me to believe that he's going to distribute the ball to all of the WRs because he trusts them to catch it. Our leading receiver might pull down 65 passes this season and the fourth-leading receiver might grab 50.

Last season, it honestly looked like he didn't believe the receivers (beyond Gesicki) were capable of making plays downfield. I don't think that's going to be a problem in 2021.

Of course, he'll be as good as his line allows him to be.

 

I didn't watch the videos (yet) because they'd influence my opinion, so I wanted to post this 1st. I'm excited about Tua because he worked hard in the off-season and has improved himself both physically and mentally. It's a new offense and he's really dug into the playbook and knows what's going on. So I think it's important to realize that we're comparing an unprepared Tua from 2020 that didn't know the playbook to fully prepared Tua in 2021.

With that said, what I love seeing this preseason is Tua throwing the ball BEFORE his receiver is open and leading them to a spot on the field to make a play. I remember in the early Tannehill years where our guy would throw a pass slightly behind the receiver going across the middle or on a slant route...which would pretty much get those guys killed. The same pass on-target might earn 15+ after the catch and that's where Tua has always excelled, but he wasn't throwing the football into those windows last season (he'd choose a different receiver instead). This year, he looks a lot more confident and it feels like he's hitting those windows at a much higher clip.

With that said, defenses aren't game-planning or doing anything exotic in pre season, so we really don't know yet how big of a stride Tua has taken so far. Just knowing the playbook and the route concepts is huge though and it gives him a chance to be successful. Tua has always been mega-accurate with his release and that's why we wanted him, and it's good he's pulling the trigger on passes that have windows in tight coverage. His growth is seeing those windows before they're actually there, which is a mental aspect of the game that can take a very long time to master.

So it's great to see he's more of a physical specimen and comfortable on the field, but what really impresses me is the mental stuff- timing, anticipation, etc. I think he's going to have a very good year- maybe top 12ish?

Now I'll go watch the videos, LOL.

 

Does he look, act and play healthy and confidently? Has he shaken off the rust and uncertainty that made him captain check down last season?

Can he maneuver in the pocket and take off for a chunk yardage run if a lane is open for it? Can he sling it with some authority and sizzle in short to medium yardage situations - can he thread the needle?

And then, can he LEAD this team and be the captain he should be?

These are things elite QBs do. If Tua is elite, he needs to as well, and it starts now. I'm more positive because I recognize the multitude of issues from last season. The injury hesitancy to overcome both mentally and physically. Getting into real football shape and NFL strength via a fuller offseason. A better offensive system, better receivers leading to more confidence in the staff and teammates.

 

Have to wait till regular season starts to seriously evaluate Tua. Preseason is just too uninformative (and for all NE fans out there that also goes for Mac Jones who they're anointing as the next Brady lol).

I think Tua will be much better and more decisive. However, I still worry about our ability to consistently move the ball down the field especially if the defense takes away the downfield pass and we're stuck in dink and dunk. Dink and dunk can be very successful, but you need at least the threat of going deep, and I'm still not convinced we have it.

Either way, I think Tua will show he's at least above average this year (he better.. or I'll go full negative on him).

 

I wouldn't say that my opinion has changed much yet. There's a long ways to go in real games before we get to that point. But its been good to see that he seems healthy and able to do things physically the same way that he did at Alabama before his injury. We haven't seen the mysterious throws into the dirt, or balls that seem like they have zero oopmh on them landing well behind the intended receiver this summer.

So, we'll see how it goes. I don't think that he has the size and physical gifts to ever be a special NFL QB. And I fear that the Fins will always have to run a limited offense due to that. But if he can play within himself, be smart, take what's there, then he could be OK. Time will tell, but I want to give him the next two years to prove who and what he is, and not make a knee jerk reaction due to a slow start.

 

*cough cough*

 

The Patriots defense will be better than they were that day. The odds of the Fins running for 250 yards and 3 TDs are pretty small. However, that day remains the shining star of what Tua did last year in my eyes, and is absolutely how our offense should attack the Pats this week as well.

Run the ball as best we can, and regularly all day long. Take what's there in the passing game. Don't get greedy. Run bootlegs, play action, crossing patterns and drags, and just move the ball down the field.

 

So much our success (or lack thereof) will depend on how well Godsey and Studesville designed the offense and also on their playcalling. The Pats might be spending a half figuring out what we're doing. I'd love to see a balanced offense with a high percentage of individual wins. Football always comes down to who blocks whom.

 

Preseason means nothing!
Do it in the regular season and then we will talk!

 

With this offense, I feel like it's going to be a lot of misdirection to get guys open in space through the scheme. Generally I'd agree with you though- it's been my actual signature for years.

 

The Samoan Sniper.

 

1 think what I feel will happen in this game is BB will take away the middle of the field and Tua is going to have to beat them outside the numbers.The question is can he do it?

 

I’m in the I’ll believe it when I see it camp. I’ll call myself skeptical hoping to be proven wrong.

 

He had a few really nice passes in the preseason to the sideline that he never came close to in 2020. I'm hopeful that it will be a regular part of our gameplan now.

 

Why in a sane and well understood world, would anyone want to be wrong?

 

How did you even understand my post?I just read it.Must have been drunk.

 

I have two young kids and have needed to make sense of gibberish for a lomg time . :chuckle:

 

My big, big hope today is that Tua and the offensive coaches don't go into the game with the intent on quickly hitting on his first read. The Patriots are going to do everything they can to disguise what he's seeing and take that away. He needs to drop back, take his time (if possible) and then just go to the open man.

One of my biggest criticisms from last year was his tendency to throw the ball almost as soon as he took the snap, without giving himself any time to see whether that player was actually open, or to see if any of the others were a better choice. That could KILL him and the team today.

 

From what I’ve seen thus far, the few games he played last year and his time at Alabama, he seems to know where to put the ball, but the pass/catch combination also involves the tail end of that pass…the receiver. Last year’s offense involved mediocre receivers and an offense designed more for the strengths of Fitzpatrick rather than Tagovailoa. I think this year’s receiving corps is an upgrade from last year’s.

As for defensive schemes, remember there was no training camps, Tagovailoa was learning NFL defensive schemes on the fly. This season, with a great defensive minded head coach, Tua has seen complex tricky defensive schemes and I think will be better able to recognize those schemes on the field.

 

With the RPO & the unproven line, I feel like that will be a good part of the offense in game one- short, quick passes in the flats to guys with speed that can make you miss (Waddle, Grant, Gaskin). I would guess true drop-backs would be less than 30% of the passes if we stick to the game plan- which is score early for the lead, force the Pats to pass, then let the defense eat. This is the recipe to a blowout for Miami.

If the Patriots establish the run game early and we stall our first few drives, then the drop backs from Tua will be more frequent and that plays into the Pats strengths. As long as we get a few early scores though, everything else plays into Miami's favor and forces their rookie QB to beat our secondary.

 

You might very well be right, but I hope not. I don't trust the rpo at all.

 

I personally don't know myself- it's a nice little gimmick but it's rarely seen in the NFL as a base offense. We'll see how it translates today and if there's something there to build on.