Colin Cowherd take on Tua

Wow! Just wow!  Dan Marino! Wow!  Can anyone say they know who was Marino's receiving corp when he came into the league.  If I'm not mistaken, names like Nat Moore, Duriel Harris, Mark Clayton, Mark Duper, Tony Nathan come to mind.  Just out of curiosity, are we comparing those names to Mack Hollins, Jakeem Grant, Malcom Perry, Lynn Bowden, and Myles Gaskin?  Or having guys like Richmond Webb and Keith Sims and Dwight Stephenson to Austin Jackson, Erik Flowers, and
Ted Karras?  Not to mention that Marino had full control of the offense?

Not sure how we can compare that anymore than comparing Jordan to Lebron

Shoot me if you need to

Hmmm.

I think the Dan Marino and others reference was about the "IT" factor.

When Tua plays, you want to see "it" and I do readily admit that "it" is hard to define. Like pornography, you know it when you see it.

I myself call it "flashes". Even in preseason, if you see some "flashes" that may indicate that with further coaching, technique modification, experience, the player will be able to raise his level of play to "flashes all the time." I definitely saw "flashes" from Tua.

I really believe the majority of the problems we saw with Tua last season were caused by the Coaching Staff's reluctance to let Tua get hit! They were afraid of the hip surgery thing. This season, I hope they let Tua be Tua. Let him move around, let him take off more.

I think Tua WILL get better. The team around him is going to be better. But much like Tanneyhill, the question is will Tua be able to ELEVATE the play of those around him? Unknown at this time IMHO.

I do not have a problem with anyone expressing an opinion. Everyone sees things differently. Some wanted Tua to explode onto the scene and be readily seen as Franchise Material. After the Tua hype, I can understand that.

Of course everyone has their own opinion. I just don't understand setting unrealistic expectations that Tua was NEVER going to meet, given the circumstances last season. It's a miracle that he even played at all and had the limited success he did. Moving forward we need to see improvement...we all agree on that.

When I see a QB replace a starter I want to see a reason why. I did not see the reason when Tua was handed the starting job. The team took a step backwards on offense. When Marino took over for Woodley you could see the reason why. He was clearly better than the starter at that point in his career. It gave the offense a spark. When Miami needed a spark last year they would bench Tua and put in the QB Tua replaced. That's backwards in my opinion.

finfanatic wrote:Hmmm.

I think the Dan Marino and others reference was about the "IT" factor.

This is literally all I was saying, not that he needed to BE one of those guys last year, but we want him to turn into one. We haven't seen that kind of intangible yet.

CarsonChris wrote:When I see a QB replace a starter I want to see a reason why. I did not see the reason when Tua was handed the starting job. The team took a step backwards on offense. When Marino took over for Woodley you could see the reason why. He was clearly better than the starter at that point in his career.  It gave the offense a spark. When Miami needed a spark last year they would bench Tua and put in the QB Tua replaced. That's backwards in my opinion.

The main reason Tua got the starting job was because Fitz was struggling on third downs and the Phins had long stretches of games where the offense did absolutely nothing. Unfortunately, neither of those things improved when Tua took over - which says a lot more about the offensive players and coaching than it does about either QB IMO. I think people forget how bad the Dolphin offense was. It was horrific in the loss to the Seahawks, and even in the shutout win over the Jets - which was as bad an offensive effort as I can remember.

Nothing backwards about the Fitz-Tua swap at all - Flores was pulling out all the stops to try to win important games. It was a win at all cost mentality - nothing wrong with that.

One QB had the 6th best QBR one was 26th. By every metric the team was better with Fitzpatrick. It showed when he went into games for Tua.

Hopefully it was a learning experience for Tua and he can make the adjustment to the NFL.

We need to to look like he did against Arizona. That's what he was drafted for. I'm not sure why he struggled so much after the Arizona game? It was like 2 different players.

CarsonChris wrote:One QB had the 6th best QBR one was 26th.  By every metric the team was better with Fitzpatrick. It showed when he went into games for Tua.

It's not just about QBR and metrics, though. The Miami offense was absolutely putrid in Fitz's last start against the Jets, and had been going downhill already before that game. If I recall correctly, Fitz didn't convert a 3rd down in that Jets game...something like 0-12 I think. That's why the change was made...Fitz wasn't getting the job done in key situations. As I said, Tua didn't exactly change that - but there was so much more at work than QB play: injuries, offensive scheme, etc.

The offense was designed specifically for Fitz, and he was adequate for the most part, but definitely trending downward. Flores wanted more than "adequate but trending downward" for the playoff hunt, so he made the change. The team did go 6-3 under Tua, so it's not as if putting him in hurt the team's chances at all. Looking forward to 2021, we have an improved roster and a young QB that has half a season under his belt already. So, looking back I'd say Flores naming Tua the starter at midseason was the right call.

CarsonChris wrote:...... I'm not sure why he struggled so much after the Arizona game? It was like 2 different players.

I agree. He did look different. I'll even add that he seemed a lot more pressured in that game than most of the others. He has had some success but it was mostly in spots after that. Even in the Chiefs game he was a little uncomfortable until the second half.

IMHO, I really think it boils down to one thing and one thing only. "CONFIDENCE". Its different coming out of college when you are 35 points ahead in the 3rd quarter. Its different when you know you can go anywhere on the field because you team is that much better than the others. Your throws get deeper, your short throws get longer, the running game works. The injury certainly didn't help. He's struggled but no one is questioning his talent. He has it, now he just has to be Confident in what works now and not then. What makes the team win and how he can contribute. I have no doubt that he'll try and i want him to succeed, I am confident that he will.

Exactly, Umix. I heard some old O-line coach say it once, that you have to use the "Bama Discount" on players from Bama.
Discount the on field performances by 20%, 10% for the level of player Bama has on the field, and 10% for the coaching.

As Fitz said during the season he was trying to teach Tua the difference between being open in the NFL and being open at Bama. The windows to throw into are much smaller in the NFL because the defenders are better, and the speed of the game is THAT much quicker than it was in college.

I think Tua can make the adjustment. But he really does need to play well for his confidence level, as well as the team's.

This five first game are gonna be killers IMHO.

Pats - with two TE offense? The Dolphins D was totally UNPREPARED for what McDaneils and Belichek did to them in the 1st game last season. Let's hope it is not a repeat of that!!

Bills - Let's hope Miami can run the ball. In the heat. And wear down the Bills D.

Raiders - Anyone think the Raiders will have their hair on fire for this revenge game? Gruden will want to eat the Phins liver IMHO.

Colts - Let's hope Wentz stinks. But the Colts D is for real.

Buccaneers - Oy Vey!

3-2 out of the gate will be hard unless the Phins D and the Phins O are firing on all cylinders...and even then....

A QB that is going to lead the team into the future will handle those killers. That's what he's here to do. So, do it. Then we'll all be happy.

Degarmo wrote:A QB that is going to lead the team into the future will handle those killers. That's what he's here to do. So, do it. Then we'll all be happy.

That's the bottom line. 17 game season we need to be 12-5 for the year. 11-6 might not be good enough. 4-1 is ideal to start the season and I say New England is a must win game.

I say New England is a must win game.

I tend to agree here.

NE has questions at QB, little talent at WR so the key is going to be stopping their two TE set attack and the ground game with (Im assuming) Cam Newton a big part of the rushing threat. Our highly paid, highly ranked defense needs to step up in week 1 and shut down the NE offense - and that starts with stifling the run, bottling up Cam and then defending the pass plays starting with those TEs.

On offense, run the ball consistently and successfully and make plays when we need them in the passing game.

For some weird reason, I'm not worried about the NE game. I think that they are getting more and more devoid of that championship core. They are losing a lot of players that made them a cohesive unit.

I think Miami made some great moves on defense to shore up the pass defense. I think Miami has the potential to be a very very good defense. Believe it or not I think they maybe top 3 in the league. I just think that we have DB's that can stay with TE's including Waller. And with one of the potentially weakest schedules in the league it may happen

just my opinion

Miami and Tua need to set the tone from game 1. There should be no doubt Miami is a good team and Tua is the answer to our long list of failed QB talent after Marino.

CarsonChris wrote:Miami and Tua need to set the tone from game 1. There should be no doubt Miami is a good team and Tua is the answer to our long list of failed QB talent after Marino.

Totally agree. For too long we have pretty much had slow starting teams.

We need to dominate the division. 4 wins minimum, and one of those wins must come against the Bills. Honestly, I'm not too worried about the Patriots or the Jets - that should be 4 division wins right there because we are better than both teams, significantly better IMO.

But this team needs to KNOW that they can beat the Bills - and the only way to do that is to...well...actually beat the Bills!

(Takes a look at this thread.)

Nope, not touching this with a ten foot pole. I have no opinion whatsoever.

(Leaves.)

DolFan 316 wrote:(Takes a look at this thread.)

Nope, not touching this with a ten foot pole. I have no opinion whatsoever.

(Leaves.)

LOL I find that hard to believe, but...welcome back!!!

DolFan 316 wrote:(Takes a look at this thread.)

Nope, not touching this with a ten foot pole. I have no opinion whatsoever.

(Leaves.)

Just the very fact that you had to post that you have no opinion means you do have an opinion! What you meant was "No Comment."



I agree with JMP; Welcome back.

DolFan 316 wrote:(Takes a look at this thread.)

Nope, not touching this with a ten foot pole. I have no opinion whatsoever.

(Leaves.)

I will be expecting your actual opinion around Week 4.

Degarmo wrote:

DolFan 316 wrote:(Takes a look at this thread.)

Nope, not touching this with a ten foot pole. I have no opinion whatsoever.

(Leaves.)

I will be expecting your actual opinion around Week 4.

Oh man! If Tua stinks it up against the Pats, you will get the full unfettered opinion!!

I just wonder what's gonna happen when or if... Jacoby looks so much better than Tua in the preseason?

finfanatic wrote:

I just wonder what's gonna happen when or if... Jacoby looks so much better than Tua in the preseason?

Tua's gonna shock the doubters this season...sit back and enjoy the ride.

I've watched some Tua throwing this off season. The velocity is up from last years workout with Dilfer video. Thank god. I wouldn't have drafted him after watching the Dilfer videos.

CarsonChris wrote:I've watched some Tua throwing this off season. The velocity is up from last years workout with Dilfer video. Thank god. I wouldn't have drafted him after watching the Dilfer videos.

I have to believe that the hip injury really hurt Tua's mechanics and velocity last season. It seems like he's been working out like an animal this offseason, and he has clearly worked on improving strength, flexibility and mobility. The work ethic is there...next step is for that hard work to translate to the field!