The Miami Dolphins were just one game short of making the playoffs and dealt with turmoil all season regarding rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. However, head coach Brian Flores doubled down on his stance regarding his signal-caller.
“If he had started the season, we wouldn’t have pulled him. We put him in. We’re in a playoff chase. At that point, it’s hey, we’ve got to do whatever we’ve got to do to try to win. But no, my confidence wasn’t shaken in him,” Brian Flores said, according to Pro Football Talk.
This might be surprising, considering the way the season went. Journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick was named the starter and ended up losing the job to Tua. Then Tua ended up getting replaced by Fitzpatrick down the stretch as the Dolphins fought for a playoff spot.
Then in the offseason, the rumors swirled regarding a potential Deshaun Watson trade that featured Tagovailoa heading to the Houston Texans as the main piece of the package. Although those rumors never came into fruition- possibly because of Watson's allegations- the questions regarding Miami's confidence in Tua became a hot topic.
Perhaps Tua is the guy, as Flores has said all offseason. They added a lot of weapons in the draft, including Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and signed Will Fuller in free agency. They also snagged tight end Hunter Long in the draft, so Tua's options on offense should be very good for the 2021 season.
With the Dolphins missing the playoffs by one game in 2020, they are out to prove that they can compete in the up-and-coming AFC East that includes the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots.
Whether or not Tua is the guy in Miami remains to be seen, but Flores' repetitive comments on his stance and confidence in their quarterback is reassuring.
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