As an Alabama football hater, I didn't watch much of Tua until I started scouting him as a potential Miami pick. What surprised me most was how aggressive he was as a passer. When I watch film on a QB, I naturally think where I think he should be looking, going based on my guess on the play design. Tua went with the deeper even when he had a safe throw underneath more often than any QB I've ever scouted. Now this was Alabama so he often had multiple guys open so there really wasn't a bad choice, but his instinct was so consistently to go deep, to go for the throat. He was literally the most aggressive college QB prospect I have ever scouted.
So when media and fans latched on to his low YPA stat last year and claimed he was only a guy who dinked and dunked, it was a clear example of people who scout a stat sheet rather than film or the player. That was obviously the design of Gailey's offense and what he was told to do. His natural instincts are to look deep first. Obviously as a young player his decision-making, grasp of the offense and understanding of NFL defenses will take time to develop. I am excited to see what Tua becomes in say, year 5 in the NFL. I think at that point he could very well be Brady-like. But in the interim I still expect that he will be among the best and most consistent deep passers in the league. There will be game plans and defenses that dictate a more conservative approach at times, but on balance this will be an aggressive offense.