I am Tua fan and I am in agreement with the article. Tua was reluctant for several reasons as I see it:
1. He was injured. His hip was medically cleared, but that is different than being fully rehabilitated. Tua’s mechanics and confidence were affected.
2. Lack of practice. Rookie season, no OTA’s, minicamps except zoom, pre-season games. Tua’s off-season was focused on getting healthier, not getting together with players developing chemistry and timing. During camp and the first 7 weeks of the season, Fitz was getting the majority of reps with the 1st team, not Tua. If I recall correctly, the only day Fitz missed was when his mother died.
3. WR group. Clearly Tua did not trust the group of WRs he was throwing to. Parker, Williams, Gesicki, Hollins, Ford, etc. do not get Alabama open. Flo, Gailey, Fitz, Parker, and Tua himself discussed the need for Tua to trust the WRs that do not get separation, but use body position and win the 50-50 balls. One of the reasons I am confident Tua will be able to make the adjustment is because he has excellent ball placement, beyond being accurate. Fitz understood to throw the ball high in tight coverage to Parker and Gesicki, Tua will too. Most of Tua’s deep throws the first few games were to Grant. A couple of them he were overthrows by a good 5 yards and another resulted in a pick in the KC game the Grant bobbled.
4. OC. Gailey’s implemented a stripped down modified version of the playbook designed for Fitz.
All of the above have been addressed this offseason.
1. After 4 months of individualized training his hip is 100% full strength, and the injured side actually tested stronger than the non-injured side. Parker mentioned how Tua looks different throwing the football. Tua was hitting some shots down field in day 2 of minicamp and should only get better. Tua’s trainer estimated based on testing his injured hip was about 60% and had to rely more on arm than less on his lower body than usual when throwing. No is accusing Tua of having one of the strongest arms in the NFL. Now he is able to get more torque on his throws.
2. Tua was proactive in getting WRs together for practicing during the offseason building chemistry and timing. OTA check, minicamp check, and all indications are training camp and 3 preseason games with Tua getting 1st team reps are a go. Fitz is gone and this is clearly, 100%, Tua’s team now.
3. Grier / Flo adding Fuller, Waddle, Foster, and Wilson back provide the speedy WRs Tua had success with at Alabama, even if it is just Fuller and Waddle he is throwing to. No doubt Tua will further develop confidence in throwing to WRs winning the battle at the catch point.
4. New OC’s. Obviously this is a wildcard. The design of the playbook has been a collaborative effort that includes input from coaches and players and was referred to as a living playbook being continually modified. We will see how that plays out.
All indications are Tua is going to make significant strides this season and that includes success on deep passes.