Dispelling the Myth: Tua Tagovailoa’s Downfield Dominance Emerges
For a time, speculative chatter around the NFL painted Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in a somewhat unflattering light. Critics claimed Tagovailoa’s passing game leaned too heavily on short, “dink and dunk” passes, attributing his success to the exceptional abilities of his receivers to run these into memorable touchdowns. Yet, as the saying goes, “How the tables have turned.”
This turnaround was highlighted in a series of detailed posts by football analyst Warren Sharp (found on Twitter/X as @SharpFootball) early Friday, effectively dismantling the outdated narrative. Sharp’s findings boldly showcased that, contrary to prior beliefs, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins led the NFL in a significant metric during the 2023 season: they topped the charts in total air yards for touchdown passes, amassing a grand total of 423 yards.
To put this in context, Sharp provided a comparison with other teams:
– Dolphins leading at 423 air yards,
– followed closely by Dallas at 421,
– with New Orleans rounding out the top three at 410.
Not stopping there, Sharp sprinkled in a levity-laden tidbit revealing the New York Jets’ total air yards on touchdown throws for the same period stood at a mere 36 yards.
Digging deeper, Sharp elucidated on Tagovailoa’s prowess in efficiently throwing the ball five or more yards downfield, a segment where the Dolphins’ QB has excelled since 2022. Tagovailoa ranked fourth in attempts of throws beyond five yards and led the NFL in expected points added (EPA) per attempt. The San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy was hot on his heels in this category.
Sharp emphasized, “Tua has been the NFL’s most efficient downfield thrower and proactively seeks these opportunities. Both Miami and San Francisco’s tactical setups foster yards after catch (YAC), debunking the myth they rely solely on short passing strategies.”
These statistical insights arrive at a pivotal moment amidst ongoing contract negotiations between Tagovailoa and the Dolphins, undoubtedly providing a leverage point for Tagovailoa’s representatives to negotiate a beneficial deal.
While these revelations from Sharp might unsettle some NFL and Dolphins fans, they underscore a critical truth within sports analytics: numbers tell the tale more truthfully than preconceived narratives. Or, as Ernie Lindsey succinctly put it, “Numbers don’t lie, people do.”