Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has become a magician with the football. At times more point guard than quarterback, he runs a sleight-of-hand offense that keeps defenses constantly guessing as to where the ball is going.
On Tuesday, Tua was asked whether his no-look skills, whether throwing it down the field or flipping it nonchalantly behind him, were inspired by any specific basketball player.
“I would say no basketball player that I know inspired me to do any of that,” Tagovailoa told reporters. “Definitely get a kick out of it. It’s always fun when you can manipulate the defense with your eyes just because you know the spots in which guys are going to be with the throws and you’ve been working on that for some time with those guys as well.”
How about inspiration from a football player? “I would say no,” Tua said. “In my opinion you’ve either got it or you don’t. That’s what it is.”
Offensive coordinator Frank Smith was asked about Tua’s skills when it comes to getting the ball to places where his eyes aren’t.
“Some things are part of ball handling mechanics, other things he adds his flavor to it, but at the same time it comes through the repetitions of knowing where guys are at, knowing intent and purpose,” Smith told reporters. “Some things we add through what we’re trying to do with ball handling. Other things are when he feels very comfortable and thinks he can manipulate a defender a certain way and normally it goes into all of our preparation to make sure that guys handle all that stuff appropriately.”
Whatever it is and wherever it comes from, it’s working. More importantly, it doesn’t work that way with any other quarterbacks.
While the Dolphins can be faulted for not having a competent replacement for Tua during his four-game absence due to his most recent concussion, the truth might be not many people can do what he does. Now that he’s doing it again, there’s an appreciation for the fact that only so much of it can be learned.
Like Tua said, you’ve either got it or you don’t.
And most don’t.
Millions will get to see it on Thanksgiving night, when the Dolphins face the Packers at Lambeau Field on NBC and Peacock.
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Tuanon4Life and danmarino like this.
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The no look flip to Wright had the camera man fooled Sunday. It had me fooled too along with the Pats defense.
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I'd love it if we never did it again. That had the potential to ruin the game.
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At worst it’s a turnover. Every play can result in a turnover. Seems to me that a toss of 2 ft with no defenders close is less of a chance than throwing 15+ yards downfield surrounded by defenders.Tuanon4Life likes this.
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The no look to waddle completely froze the defender in the flat.
Tua right now is on another level, best ball handler in the gameExplosionsInDaSky and danmarino like this. -
Easy this is a family site.
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We know he can do it. The defenses he’s facing are preventing it and so he has developed another skill set. What he’s doing is nearly identical to what Brady did for 20+ years. Quick and accurate short throws with the occasional deep pass. The biggest difference was Brady threw mostly to his open WR’s whereas Tua throws to spots with anticipation.Tuanon4Life likes this.
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Right now Tua is the best at:
1. Manipulating defense with his eyes
2. Ball handling
3. Footwork
4. Release
5. Accuracy
6. Anticipation
His footwork and release are the quickest I have ever seen. His accuracy and anticipation are all time great.
Also, to those that still don't think he goes through progressions, the TD to Jonnu against the Pats was the 4th read.
He has average arm strength, escapability, and running ability.
The goals for the offense are to emphasize his strengths and deemphasize his average traits, and keep him healthy.djphinfan, danmarino, ExplosionsInDaSky and 1 other person like this. -
I‘m actually quite positive when it comes to the Packers game. Their D-line doesn’t seem overwhelming and McKinney is the only real good thing they got in their decimated secondary. Only thing that concerns me a little
is Jacobs, we‘re on a short week with an old team and if our offense travels well (they did in Barfalo).I think our D is better then theirs atm so I think we’ll actually get a win in Green Bay.pumpdogs likes this. -
He's got a big chance to break all the narratives this season. That's what I like about Tua the most, his will to be the guy. Hopefully we all see it this year! This game now is the first game I'm excited for since the Barfalo game actually even a little bit more.
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There's 53 men in the visitor's locker room expecting the best tonight. Have faith.danmarino likes this.