Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa leading the NFL in a very important area
The Miami Dolphins and QB Tua Tagovailoa will not negotiate a contract extension until the offseason. Based on the QB's performance so far, that conversation could be getting a lot more expensive for Miami. According to Pro Football Focus, Tua leads the NFL in a number of categories in a very important area: throws that […]
The Miami Dolphins and QB Tua Tagovailoa will not negotiate a contract extension until the offseason. Based on the QB's performance so far, that conversation could be getting a lot more expensive for Miami.
According to Pro Football Focus, Tua leads the NFL in a number of categories in a very important area: throws that travel beyond the first down line.
Tua has the most throws, completions, yards, and touchdowns on all passes that go beyond the first down marker. To that some might argue, sure, but Tua has two elite receiving options in Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. And that is certainly the case.
However, it's not just having the players who can make plays. It's also about making those throws when the opportunities are available. Pro Football Focus calls those "big time throws", and Tua leads the league in those with eight.
According to PFF, a "big-time throw is best described as a pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window." It's not something per se where it's a lob to a wide-open Hill – although Tua's placed a couple of those nicely this year. It's about fitting into a window at a challenging distance.
As such, Tua has shown that he's not just a quarterback who's benefitted from a short pitch to Hill or Waddle and watching them run. He's been outstanding in making difficult and high-reward throws, which has been a major reason why Miami has started off 2-0.
And why Miami could end up scratching a very big check.
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Featured image via Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
