Commitment to Tua

[CF DolFan]

I will say that I am happy that the new coach has not only made a commitment to Tua but has done it publically. Regardless of whatever Tua's limits are I can't help but think the way he has been treated the last two years didn't help. Hopefully this will help him to continue to improve his game instead of feeling like he is going to be replaced at any time.

Jeff Darlington said this morning that Mike McDaniel sees Tua and the whole Miami frachise as the place to be. He loves the ownership and his commitment to get whtever they need to be better. Apparently Darlington has been friends with him for many years.

On that same note with the interview released yesterday his interactions that were captured on film it's obvious we are looking a whole new approachable coach. Interviews will never be boring. haha

[EDGECRUSHER]

Not only should this have been done last year by Flores, but it's just the logical move for 2022. You aren't going to draft a new QB and very rarely QBs of worth are available in free agency or trade and if they are, lots of draft capital. Committing to him from Day 1 is smart and I personally think it will work out well.

[Dolfanalyst]

The problem with that is that I don't think it's necessarily dispositive of Tua's ability. McDaniel didn't get any other job interviews, and I'm sure it's clear to even the casual observer that an interviewee for the Dolphins job needed to indicate a willingness to work with Tua to get the job. On top of that, it's probably clear to McDaniel that he can work with Tua for a year and then indicate he's soured on him (if indeed that's the case), and the team will then attempt to get a QB more to his liking. They aren't going to fire McDaniel after a year if he simply indicates he needs a better QB to win -- they're going to move on from Tua at that point.

What I wouldn't do if I were McDaniel is construct a team around maximizing Tua's performance if it isn't consistent with the kind of team functioning he believes is most competitive in the NFL. An unproven QB shouldn't dictate a team's personnel moves entirely -- what's most competitive in the league should dictate that.

[CF DolFan]

The problem with that is that I don't think it's necessarily dispositive of Tua's ability. McDaniel didn't get any other job interviews, and I'm sure it's clear to even the casual observer that an interviewee for the Dolphins job needed to indicate a willingness to work with Tua to get the job. On top of that, it's probably clear to McDaniel that he can work with Tua for a year and then indicate he's soured on him (if indeed that's the case), and the team will then attempt to get a QB more to his liking. They aren't going to fire McDaniel after a year if he simply indicates he needs a better QB to win -- they're going to move on from Tua at that point.

What I wouldn't do if I were McDaniel is construct a team around maximizing Tua's performance if it isn't consistent with the kind of team functioning he believes is most competitive in the NFL. An unproven QB shouldn't dictate a team's personnel moves entirely -- what's most competitive in the league should dictate that.

Jeff Darlington basically stated that everything you just assumed is false this morning on the Joe Rose show. He has had conversations with the guy during this whole process as like I said ... they are actual freinds. He said he didnt need to be convinced of anything and that he is looking forward to working with Tua and the Dolphins. He thinks this is a great opportunity that he is getting and it will benefit his talents as a coach. 

[Dolfanalyst]

Jeff Darlington basically stated that everything you just assumed is false this morning on the Joe Rose show. He has had conversations with the guy during this whole process as like I said ... they are actual freinds. He said he didnt need to be convinced of anything and that he is looking forward to working with Tua and the Dolphins. He thinks this is a great opportunity that he is getting and it will benefit his talents as a coach. 

My point is that any head coach hired by the Dolphins was going to have to make a public commitment to Tua, and that coach would likewise operate with the understanding that he can move on from Tua after a year if he so chooses.  Therefore any public commitment to Tua 1) isn't dispositive of Tua's ability, and 2) has meaning only if such a commitment makes Tua play better.  If such a commitment doesn't make Tua play better, it's meaningless in terms of Tua's performance and the direction of the organization at QB.  McDaniel's public support of Tua means nothing in terms of Tua's ability or the organization's commitment to him beyond 2022.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I won't be convinced he is truly committed to Tua unless he gets a Tua tattoo the way Rex Ryan got a Sanchez one.  Oh wait, Rex Ryan cut Sanchez.   

[Dolfanalyst]

This is an article in this vein that was published just this morning:

https://www.nfl.com/news/dolphins-to-tailor-offense-around-qb-tua-tagovailoa-s-strengths

That sounds all well and good, but there should be a recognition as well that there is an optimal recipe for winning in the league, and teams are most likely to accomplish that recipe when they have players who can pull it off, thus needing little if any "tailoring" to them.

Consider an extreme and unrealistic example just to make the point:  if you had an average high school QB you wouldn't "tailor" your NFL offense to him, because it would result in an offense that couldn't possibly win in the NFL.  You would go and get a better QB who needs far less tailoring.

So what will be interesting for me is to see what this tailoring results in, because it's entirely possible it results in an offense that maximizes Tua's performance but isn't sufficiently competitive in the NFL.  Tua may have an individual ceiling that, even when maximized, doesn't permit the offense around him to compete sufficiently.

[EDGECRUSHER]

This is an article in this vein that was published just this morning:

https://www.nfl.com/news/dolphins-to-tailor-offense-around-qb-tua-tagovailoa-s-strengths

That sounds all well and good, but there should be a recognition as well that there is an optimal recipe for winning in the league, and teams are most likely to accomplish that recipe when they have players who can pull it off, thus needing little if any "tailoring" to them.

Consider an extreme and unrealistic example just to make the point:  if you had an average high school QB you wouldn't "tailor" your NFL offense to him, because it would result in an offense that couldn't possibly win in the NFL.  You would go and get a better QB who needs far less tailoring.

So what will be interesting for me is to see what this tailoring results in, because it's entirely possible it results in an offense that maximizes Tua's performance but isn't sufficiently competitive in the NFL.  Tua may have an individual ceiling that, even when maximized, doesn't permit the offense around him to compete sufficiently.

I think they are just throwing that word out there in the media to offer support and not fuel any rumors. They will improve the O-Line, Run game and Receiver corps to "tailor the offense to Tua". However, this can also help the next QB if Tua isn't the one. 2 first rounders in 2023 will help us draft a replacement. For 2022, there is no other option besides going nuts and trading for Aaron Rodgers and that's just not likely.

[masterfins]

With the signing of quality lineman, RB's, WR's, and now Tyreek Hill; Tua better be lights out this year, or Miami will be using their two first round draft picks next year on a new QB.

[EDGECRUSHER]

With the signing of quality lineman, RB's, WR's, and now Tyreek Hill; Tua better be lights out this year, or Miami will be using their two first round draft picks next year on a new QB.

Absolutely. We did what had to be done and that is leave no doubt. At the end of this season, we will know with 100% certainty if Tua is the man or not. Worst possible scenario would've been flashes of brilliance but mediocre stats because the O-Line was shit and he had no weapons. Now, no excuses.

[Spider-Dan]

You guys are counting a lot of OLine chickens that currently look like a basket of eggs...

Let's see this OL take the field healthy before we declare that the line problem is solved.

[EDGECRUSHER]

You guys are counting a lot of OLine chickens that currently look like a basket of eggs...

Let's see this OL take the field healthy before we declare that the line problem is solved.

Oh, 100%. This is why I was so adamant about Tretter and Collins, I wanted 3 new additions to the line. As it stands, we got two and one is a Pro Bowler when healthy but has issues with that. I believe the new coaching will do us a world of good but I would've still preferred the tried and true method of just getting the best guys.

I think we move up to a unit ranked around 17th or so and that's good enough. Top 10 is better but as long as Tua isn't being hit before he hands the ball off, we should be able to execute our offensive game plan.

[Dolfanalyst]

Oh, 100%. This is why I was so adamant about Tretter and Collins, I wanted 3 new additions to the line. As it stands, we got two and one is a Pro Bowler when healthy but has issues with that. I believe the new coaching will do us a world of good but I would've still preferred the tried and true method of just getting the best guys.

I think we move up to a unit ranked around 17th or so and that's good enough. Top 10 is better but as long as Tua isn't being hit before he hands the ball off, we should be able to execute our offensive game plan.

That's most definitely good enough.  A team with one of the worst offensive lines in the league came within about 50 yards of winning the Super Bowl last year.

[CF DolFan]

It's nice to see this. The article refers to Mike McDaniel as well as the OC and QB coaches but Dan Marino even showed up to support Tua which I heard was unexpected.  There were also a lot of players.


Tua Tagovailoa feeling a new level of support from Mike McDaniel and Dolphins’ staff
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/04/12/tua-tagovailoa-feeling-a-new-level-of-support-from-mike-mcdaniel-and-dolphins-staff/

[EDGECRUSHER]

It's nice to see this. The article refers to Mike McDaniel as well as the OC and QB coaches but Dan Marino even showed up to support Tua which I heard was unexpected.  There were also a lot of players.


Tua Tagovailoa feeling a new level of support from Mike McDaniel and Dolphins’ staff
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/04/12/tua-tagovailoa-feeling-a-new-level-of-support-from-mike-mcdaniel-and-dolphins-staff/

Whether he believes it or not, to not publicly support your starting QB when no other options exist is a mark of stupidity. Brian Flores treated Tua like he was Sam Darnold and everyone noticed and it seemed to hurt team chemistry. Now, players say things are great and there is no doubt who the Week 1 starter is. Really shouldn't be that hard.