The problem is perception. People see Fitz as a bottom of the league type QB but he isnt. He is a top 15 starter -14th in Any/a this year. His 6.85 Any/a was the best dolphin performance since Pennington in 2008 and you would have to go back to Marino in 87 to find the next best year to beat that. So people think Tua should look better than he does because they think Fitz is “garbage”.
I think Grier and Flores will look back and see what a lost opportunity this was by playing Tua.
What 'lost opportunity'? First round playoff exit vs week 17 exit?
We're talking about a 1-game difference during the season: the Denver game...maybe. Fitz wasnt stopping Denver's run game or blocking Fangio's DL stunts and blitzes. Our O-line got its ass kicked because of inexperience and Gailey failing to adjust. Gailey had a tendency to keep returning to a dry well. "It worked ladt week, so why not this week?"
Both Fangio and Rod Marinelli took away what had worked the previous week and didnt adjust until it was too late or almost too late.
Those rpo plays that were killing New England were easily diagnosed by Marinelli and we couldnt run for **** vs the Raiders.
Tua suffered, in both instances, for Gailey's stubbornness.
Tua was pulled, in both instances because the situation called for 'Emergency' 'Gotta just chuck it now' offense where the team felt Fitzpatrick's data-processing-speed and lack of caution was the most important quality for that moment.
Unlike Herbert, who wasnt even pulled when LA got blasted 45-0 by NE, Tua was on a team fighting for a playoff berth where winning the game, at all costs, was the priority vs 'let Tua take his lumps'.
The whole 'Tua had to be pulled' narrative was BS, IMO.
Miami had a Luxury with Fitzpatrick being there and they took advantage.
In the grand scheme, this season went perfectly for Miami. They played 17 meaningful games, they got their highly-drafted rookie QB important playing time and experience, they further developed winning culture, theyre almost 100% healthy going into training camp for this upcoming season. Theyre hungry, have high aspirations, and will be Loaded after this offseaon's haul.
Also, Tua's gonna make a Lot of doubters feel stupid and happy to be stupid.