Tua Tagovailoa Tearing Up Training Camp Ready For Year 2 Jump

Former Alabama and current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is taking his game a step forward as he enters his second year in the NFL. Tagovailoa is tearing up training camp as the Dolphins are two weeks away from their first preseason game.

The former No. 5 overall draft pick in the 2020 NFL Draft knows he is expected to be more dynamic in his second year and through nearly a week of practice he has been successful at utilizing his weapons down the field.

"I would say, I'm confident in my deep throws, really it's just getting everything down with the guys," said Tagovailoa to the media. "Finding where guys are going to be, knowing how guys run certain routes, knowing their depth, really that's what we're trying to find out right now within these first couple days and brush up on those things."

Get our free mobile app

Seventh year defensive back Eric Rowe spoke to the media after practice on Monday and admitted the secondary had been beaten deep down the field.

"He's always had accuracy that was never a problem, he's always had accuracy, he's always had zip, he's always had power," said Rowe. "I just believe it's that year two jump everybody needs to make from their rookie year and obviously the type of offense, because last year I even noticed his playbook was condensed to like slants and bubbles You know wouldn't really let him show arm and now seeing it in training camp, he's got a lot more deep routes, he's got a lot more, they're allowing him the opportunity to throw it deep and that's what we need." 

In the Hawaiian's first year he completed 186 passes for 1,814 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. His 64% completion percentage and his 9.8 yards per completion are marks he must improve on if he's to live up to his high draft pick and become a top tier NFL quarterback.

In order to aide Tagovailoa in his second year the Dolphins signed free agent Will Fuller and Robert Foster while drafting Jaylen Waddle with the No. 6 pick in the 2021 draft.  These weapons along with the returning DeVante Parker, Albert Wilson, Allen Hurns and Jakeem Grant will provide the Dolphins plenty of options to attack opposing defenses.

Miami's first preseason game will be Saturday, Aug. 14 against the Chicago Bears.  The Dolphins will open the season on the road against their division rival New England Patriots on Sunday, Sept. 12.