2021 Miami Dolphins Training Camp Preview: Quarterbacks

[mrbunglez]

It's Year 2 for the NFL's only southpaw at the position, a season where players often make the biggest year-to-year jump in their professional careers.
"He's more comfortable with just his surroundings, more comfortable being in a huddle, giving a cadence, going through his communication," Head Coach Brian Flores said this offseason on the Joe Rose show on 560 WQAM. "Those little things that no one really talks about. He's said this: He feels much more comfortable about doing those things. I think having a year under his belt will really help him."
Palm Beach Gardens native Jacoby Brissett provides the Dolphins with experience, leadership and an accomplished resume as a starter, backup, and spot-starter throughout his career. When Brissett appeared on the Drive Time Podcast with Travis Wingfield, in response to a question about his best trait, the new Miami signal-caller gave a perfect, concise response.
"I'm a great teammate," he said.
Reid Sinnett enters his second season as a pro. He was active for his first career game in the Week 17 contest in Buffalo serving as the No. 2 quarterback.

The Cast​

• Tua Tagovailoa
• Reid Sinnett
• Jacoby Brissett

Miami Dolphins 2021 Training Camp Preview: Quarterbacks

www.miamidolphins.com

 

[Mach2]

No doubt in my mind he will be markedly improved.

It's obvious to everyone that he in a much bétter place from a physical standpoint, and confidence is undeniably a byproduct of that.

He strikes me as a person that is driven to be the best that he can be, so I think it's a safe assumption that he is also putting in the necessary work on the mental aspects of the game.

 

[GhostArmOfMarino]

There needs to be a massive jump forward this season from our entire offense, but especially Tua.

Let's be realistic, if either Sinnett or Brissett is seeing any extended non garbage time, something went horribly wrong with Tua in terms of injury or play.

 

[PHINSfan]

Heres hoping year 2 will be a much improved year for Tua.

 

[EasyRider]

There are going to be a lot of angry Tua haters here by mid season. But then again, haters usually disappear when proven wrong

 

[claytonduper]

There needs to be a massive jump forward this season from our entire offense, but especially Tua.

That's my fear for Tua and this offense. What exactly is the "massive jump" you are looking for?

Personally, I want Tua to look like he is in command of the offense. There should be a rhythm/tempo to his game. Tua needs to put the team in a position to win. Finish a few 4th quarter drives and elevate the guys around him. I want him to make smart decisions of throwing the ball away and not take unnecessary sacks/hits. I want to see throws hit guys in stride and find the open receiver. I would love to see him make audibles based on what the defense shows. We need to convert on 3rd downs and not settle for field goals.

If Tua grows to accomplish some of these game traits, I trust Flores and company will have our team on the winning side of most contests. I believe the growth will be there and at times subtle. By the end of the season, Tua will be closer to the finished product we all hoped for.

 

[GhostArmOfMarino]

That's my fear for Tua and this offense. What exactly is the "massive jump" you are looking for?

Personally, I want Tua to look like he is in command of the offense. There should be a rhythm/tempo to his game. Tua needs to put the team in a position to win. Finish a few 4th quarter drives and elevate the guys around him. I want him to make smart decisions of throwing the ball away and not take unnecessary sacks/hits. I want to see throws hit guys in stride and find the open receiver. I would love to see him make audibles based on what the defense shows. We need to convert on 3rd downs and not settle for field goals.

If Tua grows to accomplish some of these game traits, I trust Flores and company will have our team on the winning side of most contests. I believe the growth will be there and at times subtle. By the end of the season, Tua will be closer to the finished product we all hoped for.

Well I'll preface this by saying I never wanted to draft Tua. I wanted Herbert, I had Herbert as the #1 QB ahead of Burrow with Tua third.

I'll also say he is a Dolphin now and I want him to succeed. The main things I need to see to become a Tua fan and feel comfortable, in no real order:

1) Improved command and understanding if the offense as you said, as well as opposing defenses.

2) Improved mechanics rolling right. He has a very weird throwing motion when he rolls that way that impacts his middle to deep accuracy. He doesn't square up properly.

3) Improved arm strength. His velocity is good when he can get his body into a throw, but he lacks the pure arm talent to use the entire field consistently. It will open up his game a lot if he can improve his arm strength each year.

I don't need any specific statistics, I just need to see a player who is improving.

 

[fansinceGWilson]

Well I'll preface this by saying I never wanted to draft Tua. I wanted Herbert, I had Herbert as the #1 QB ahead of Burrow with Tua third.

I'll also say he is a Dolphin now and I want him to succeed. The main things I need to see to become a Tua fan and feel comfortable, in no real order:

1) Improved command and understanding if the offense as you said, as well as opposing defenses.

2) Improved mechanics rolling right. He has a very weird throwing motion when he rolls that way that impacts his middle to deep accuracy. He doesn't square up properly.

3) Improved arm strength. His velocity is good when he can get his body into a throw, but he lacks the pure arm talent to use the entire field consistently. It will open up his game a lot if he can improve his arm strength each year.

I don't need any specific statistics, I just need to see a player who is improving.

In year two "improving" should be everyone's baseline. Yes, the definition probably contains intense debate. I don't think anyone will accept 'a little' improvement, but, let's say 'noticeable' improvement. I suspect fans want to see improvement in game 4 over his rookie year and improvement from game 4 to game 17. I know I preach this too much, but EVERY NFL QB has the physical tools at a minimum level. That is, all of them can pick a D apart when they have 7 clean seconds. None of them will make many mistakes when everything is going right. What FEW QBs have is the mental quickness and 'football smarts' to read Ds, determine if a receiver is open, and make decisions on when to scramble or throw the ball away when bullets are flying. That mental quickness and football smarts is what I want to see. Call it maturity if you want. 'Calmness' under pressure. Those traits are apparent in every top QB.
That is not to say we should ignore the physical improvements - particularly mechanics. But, keep in mind 3 QBs - Marino, Brady, Montana, 3 vastly different types of QBs with different skill sets. Pretending there are physical traits QBs must have is a little excessive. Show me improvements in mental quickness, comfort under fire, and good mechanics and I'll be VERY happy.

 

[GhostArmOfMarino]

In year two "improving" should be everyone's baseline. Yes, the definition probably contains intense debate. I don't think anyone will accept 'a little' improvement, but, let's say 'noticeable' improvement. I suspect fans want to see improvement in game 4 over his rookie year and improvement from game 4 to game 17. I know I preach this too much, but EVERY NFL QB has the physical tools at a minimum level. That is, all of them can pick a D apart when they have 7 clean seconds. None of them will make many mistakes when everything is going right. What FEW QBs have is the mental quickness and 'football smarts' to read Ds, determine if a receiver is open, and make decisions on when to scramble or throw the ball away when bullets are flying. That mental quickness and football smarts is what I want to see. Call it maturity if you want. 'Calmness' under pressure. Those traits are apparent in every top QB.
That is not to say we should ignore the physical improvements - particularly mechanics. But, keep in mind 3 QBs - Marino, Brady, Montana, 3 vastly different types of QBs with different skill sets. Pretending there are physical traits QBs must have is a little excessive. Show me improvements in mental quickness, comfort under fire, and good mechanics and I'll be VERY happy.

I agree with this entirely, I was just kind of counting it under the understanding of our offense and opposing defenses. The mental aspects of the game.

 

[claytonduper]

I think the most deflating thing that could happen is IF Tua gets hurt again. In which case do we start over with a new Draft pick, or give him another year to recover? Hope that never happens.

 

[Mach2]

I think the most deflating thing that could happen is IF Tua gets hurt again. In which case do we start over with a new Draft pick, or give him another year to recover? Hope that never happens.

At that hypothetical point, I think the team has to swiftly move on.

JMO

 

[fansinceGWilson]

I think the most deflating thing that could happen is IF Tua gets hurt again. In which case do we start over with a new Draft pick, or give him another year to recover? Hope that never happens.

To state the obvious . . . depends on the injury and how he was playing before injury. If he gets hurt, say, game 10 and is playing at or above expectations, and if his injury is broken finger, I suspect Miami keeps him. A re-injury of the hip and/or playing poorly and suffers a significant injury, that's a different world

 

[Duss]

That's my fear for Tua and this offense. What exactly is the "massive jump" you are looking for?

Personally, I want Tua to look like he is in command of the offense. There should be a rhythm/tempo to his game. Tua needs to put the team in a position to win. Finish a few 4th quarter drives and elevate the guys around him. I want him to make smart decisions of throwing the ball away and not take unnecessary sacks/hits. I want to see throws hit guys in stride and find the open receiver. I would love to see him make audibles based on what the defense shows. We need to convert on 3rd downs and not settle for field goals.

If Tua grows to accomplish some of these game traits, I trust Flores and company will have our team on the winning side of most contests. I believe the growth will be there and at times subtle. By the end of the season, Tua will be closer to the finished product we all hoped for.

Exactly and they cant even go up by more than 14th spots in points scored... damn slackers