The Miami Dolphins dreamed of selecting QB Tua Tagovailoa in the NFL draft back in 2019 when they had just signed Josh Rosen to come in and battle for the starting job. The dream, of course, came true in 2020 and now the Dolphins look forward to having their quarterback of the future under center.
When will that happen and will the whole coronavirus pandemic have an effect on Tua Tagovailoa’s development? By this time in a normal year, the former Alabama star would have a set of organized team activities (OTAs) and a minicamp under his belt.
Not in 2020. Teams were not permitted to hold their usual offseason activities due to the COVID-19 virus. That means Tagovailoa will report to training camp on July 28th without having thrown to WR DeVante Parker or TE Mike Gesicki or having worked in the Dolphins offensive huddle.
Dolphins’ fans need not worry though. If Tagovailoa’s pre-draft preparation is any indication, he will be more than ready to begin the 2020 NFL season.
Tagovailoa worked with former NFL quarterback and Elite 11 founder Trent Dilfer to get ready for his pro day workout. Dilfer worked with the young star at his Elite 11 camp when Tua was in high school.
Dubbed the “Rebuilding of Tua,” Dilfer hammered out workouts minus all the modern self-aggrandizement seen today as athletes continually promote themselves. Tagovailoa essentially holed up at Lipscomb Academy, a small private high school where Dilfer coaches.
Tagovailoa attacked his training and the results were viewed by hundreds of thousands when Dilfer finally posted his pro day workout on social media. Sure, Tua will not have had ample time to work with his receivers, but that will be true for every other quarterback on the Dolphins roster as well as those around the league.
It still appears that Miami head coach Brian Flores will not rush Tagovailoa and likely start with veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who can act as a mentor to the Dolphins young star. At some point in 2020, Tagovailoa will likely take over the Miami offense. When that happens, the memories of an offseason affected by the coronavirus will be distant.