Mike McDaniel gushes about Tua Tagovailoa’s skill set, says it’s ‘very successful’ in new Dolphins offense

By Jason Simpson
Updated: February 15, 2022

With the Mike McDaniel era starting for the Miami Dolphins, there’s a lot of excitement about the future.

Many folks are hoping that young quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be a key part of Miami’s future, and it seems like McDaniel believes that’s in the cards.

McDaniel recently spoke about Tagovailoa’s abilities and provided some fascinating analysis.

“What I’ve seen is a skill set that I’m familiar with, that’s very successful in this offense,” McDaniel told ESPN. “You’re seeing a very accurate passer that receivers love to catch footballs from — tight spirals and accurate throws, which are huge for run after the catch and YAC yardage. What that means for an offense is if you have people who can run after the catch, that’s an outstanding skill set for him.

“I also see some great athleticism, some natural pocket movement and really, a tough competitor that’s willing to stand in there when necessary. All of these things that are components to a quarterback’s game that are very important in NFL systems.”

The 2022 NFL season will likely be a pivotal one for Tagovailoa. He’d surely love nothing more than to put together a strong campaign and silence his many doubters.

The 23-year-old showed some really exciting flashes down the stretch of the 2021 campaign. Over a six-game span beginning in Week 10 and lasting through Week 16, he posted some very impressive numbers. He completed 74.3 percent of his passes during that stretch for 1,299 yards and eight touchdowns.

If Tagovailoa were to play at a similar level over the course of an entire season, the NFL world would have no choice but to start talking about him as one of the league’s top young players.

The Dolphins are hoping to put together a strong 2022 campaign and reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season. Miami has enjoyed two straight winning campaigns, but a playoff bid is the next step for the organization.

With any luck, McDaniel and Tagovailoa will help the team check that box.