University star, Tua Tagovailoa landed in the NFL last year at the Miami Dolphins. The Florida franchise is banking on its young quarterback to regain its former glory. He will be at work on Sunday against Carolina (7 p.m., live on L’Équipe).
The Miami Dolphins are an institution in the NFL. They won twice le Super Bowl, including that of 1972, where they were undefeated all season. Miami is the only team to have achieved this performance. But the Dolphins are also a sleeping legend: no final since 1985. And, since the departure of Dan Marino, their fabulous quarterback, in 2000, they have contented themselves with four appearances in the play-offs, and have exhausted about twenty QB’s. .
So last year, Miami chose in the first round of the draft Tua Tagovailoa (22), the quarterback of Alabama, a juggernaut of college football. Born in Hawaii to a Samoan family, Tagovailoa, whose official first name is Tuanigamanuolepola, was a high school soccer star. He has the particularity of being born right-handed, but throwing with the left hand. His father, himself left-handed, trained his son to throw with this hand.
First a merchandising success in NFL
In 2017, during his first year in Alabama, Tua Tagovailoa was a replacement. But, in the second half of the final, he came in and delivered the touchdown which allowed his team to be crowned champions. The following season, he was untenable with nearly 4,000 yards and 43 TD’s thrown. His name was on everyone’s lips in the fall of 2019 to be the major of the next NFL draft. And indeed the young Hawaiian had started off on a very good basis. But two injuries cut short his season and lower his rating.
The Miami Dolphins have however raised the bet. And the arrival of Tua Tagovailoa was a success: his jersey was among the bestsellers in the NFL, before the start of the 2020 season. The former QB of Alabama was however initially a replacement for the veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. The results with the latter being irregular, Tagovailoa was thrown into the deep end after six games. A small “Tuamania” was then born. The young man began to string together the good matches and allowed Miami to remain competitive for the play-offs until the last day.
A good first season
For one loss too many, the Florida team ultimately missed the wagon for the finals. However, she signed her best season for four years. Tua Tagovailoa has honorably completed his first year pro with 1,814 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. What to hope for beautiful things for 2021.
And indeed, Miami and Tagovailoa started well, beating New England (17-16), with a good sheet of stats for the Florida quarterback. But very quickly, the mechanics got stuck. The following weekend, the Dolphins drowned against Buffalo (35-0) and Tua Tagovailoa injured his ribs, missing three matches.
Tagovailoa relance Miami
Jacoby Brissett, his replacement, did not make him forget. And Miami’s shortcomings appeared: a young team, dependent on aerial play, with a largely recomposed offensive line. The Dolphins have aligned seven consecutive losses, practically making a cross on the play-offs. Tagovailoa got away with decent stats, but missed out on victory against Houston (17-9) in early November, this time with an injured finger.
The former Alabama star, however, then scored the touchdown of victory over Baltimore (22-10), a week later. Before winning Miami against the NY Jets (24-17) last weekend. What to give another relief to its season. To be confirmed on Sunday against Carolina. But in Tagovailoa to go now look for his first real performance in the NFL, to pass a course.
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