Dolphins Opening Up Playbook for Tua Tagovailoa in Year 2
By Peter Dewey
Tua Tagovailoa has gone four straight training camp practices without throwing an interception, and he’s drawing rave reviews from his teammates heading into his second NFL season.
“It just seems like confidence. That’s a big thing for year-one to year-two players,” tight end Durham Smythe said. “He understands the offense, yada, yada, has got a great arm. Everyone says that. Everyone knows that. But confidence year one to year two, that’s big. If he continues to develop that, the sky’s the limit.”
The uncertainty surrounding Tagovailoa’s play has limited the Miami’s Dolphins’ ceiling in the odds at WynnBET, but the Dolphins apparently are opening up the playbook more for the former first-round pick in his sophomore campaign.
“He’s always had accuracy. That was never a problem. He always had the zip, always had the power,” safety Eric Rowe said. “I just believe it’s that year-two jump that everyone needs to make from their rookie year. And obviously the type of offense. Last year, I even noticed his playbook was condensed to slants and bubbles. They really wouldn’t let him show his arm. Now seeing training camp, a lot more deep routes, they’re allowing him the opportunity to throw it deep. That’s what we need. Tua is making that jump. I see each day he’s getting better from the first day.”
As a rookie, Tagovailoa made nine starts but he threw for just 1,814 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He was benched on two occasions for veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, and his average play has led to the Dolphins being placed as +340 underdogs to win the AFC East behind the New England Patriots (+320) and Buffalo Bills (-155).
While Miami likely won’t overtake Buffalo, it could hit the over on its win projection if Tagovailoa lives up to the hype. WynnBET has the Dolphins projected to win 9.0 games in 2021 with the over (-140) favored to the under (+120). After finishing with a 10-6 record in 2020, it seems oddsmakers see a similar type of season for the Dolphins even with the NFL going to a 17-game schedule.
The Dolphins are also favored to miss the playoffs in 2021. Miami has -169 odds to miss the postseason with just +140 odds to make it.
Dolphins head coach Brian Flores has been excited about Tagovailoa’s growth this offseason, and it seems bettors are going to have to trust the Dolphins’ praise of the second-year signal-caller if they’re planning on picking Miami to be a playoff team.
If Tagovailoa can move the ball down the field more in 2021 after averaging just 3.6 completed air yards per attempt last season, the Dolphins’ offense should benefit and potentially be good enough to nab a playoff spot in the AFC.
How do you think the Dolphins will fare this season? Download the WynnBET app and find out how to bet.