Dolphins making right move by starting Tua Tagovailoa

The future has arrived in South Beach with Tua Tagovailoa taking over the starting quarterback job.

The Miami Dolphins always had a plan when they drafted Tua Tagovailoa this past April. Now, that dream has become a reality.

Dolphins coach Brian Flores announced Tuesday the team would name Tagovailoa the starter, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The former Alabama product made his NFL debut last Sunday, going 2-of-2 in the team’s 24-0 victory over the New York Jets.

Even in minimal snaps, it’s clear fans of Miami are ready for a new era of Dolphins football with Tagovailoa calling the shots. The crowd erupted with chants of “Tua” watching their future take the field for the first time at Hard Rock Stadium.

“I know there was some excitement when he went in. I’m happy for Tua,” Flores said during his postgame interview on Sunday.

Even with the emergence of Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow last season, some speculated the former Crimson Tide signal-caller was worthy of the No.1 pick. If not for a hip injury that cost him the remainder of the 2019 season, perhaps Miami never lands its franchise quarterback.

When looking back at his college numbers, few were as explosive under center in the history of the sport. In back-to-back seasons, Tagovailoa completed at least 69.3 percent of passes for over 2,800 yards and scored at least 33 touchdowns through the air and two more on the ground. Perhaps his most impressive trait is his ball security. In 32 career starts, Tagovailoa threw 11 career interceptions.

It a bittersweet moment for Dolphins’ fans as Ryan Fitzpatrick will return to the bench. A journeyman who’s kept the team afloat with a 3-3 record, his benching comes due to the future, not on his own merit.

Through six games, Fitzpatrick threw for 1,535 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. In most circumstances, that would be enough to keep the starting job.

However, in less than 180 seconds, Flores knew “Tua time” has officially arrived. Now, Fitzpatrick will be there to help groom perhaps the NFL’s next great quarterback.