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Miami Dolphins pegged as team poised to take major leap in 2nd half of NFL season

Tua Tagovailoa Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have gotten out to a solid start this season, and now they are pegged as a team poised to take a leap in the second half of the year, according to Bleacher Report’s Chris Roling.

Following its Week 7 bye, Miami has decided to go with rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in their Week 8 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.

“The Miami Dolphins turning the team over to first-rounder Tua Tagovailoa might give some pause,” Roling wrote.

“Handing things over to a rookie passer could mean more bumps in the road than with a veteran like Ryan Fitzpatrick, sure. But Miami has flashed the kind of quality play the Brian Flores-led rebuild seemed to suggest over the first six games, drumming up a 3-3 record and the only positive point differential in the AFC East at plus-47.

“While Fitzpatrick was playing well, his throwing 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions on a 70.1 percent completion rate didn’t make him untouchable. Tagovailoa inherently adds more speed and potentially opens up the playbook for the entire offense from his first snap.

“Everything around the quarterback points to a strong finish regardless. The Dolphins kept New England and Seattle within 10 points and lost to surging Buffalo by just three. Miami is tied for third in allowing just 18.8 points per game, and weapons around the quarterback continue to emerge, with four players sitting on at least two touchdown catches.

“Miami also has one of the 10 easiest schedules left the rest of the way, so while it might seem like a random time to start the Tagovailoa era, doing so after a bye and heading into this stretch could produce more marks in the win column than many might expect.”

The Dolphins are currently second in the AFC East at 3-3. While the Buffalo Bills currently lead the division, Miami will get another crack at them later in the season.

Transitioning to Tagovailoa not only sets the team up for future success, but it also could help it win this year.

If the rookie is truly ready for the NFL, he will likely showcase the immense talent he has that got him drafted at No. 5 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Regardless, Miami is in a much better position this season after going 5-11 in 2019. That alone should have Dolphins fans excited.