Former Dolphins Star Believes Tua Tagovailoa Shows Similarities to Elite QB

Former Miami Dolphins star left tackle Terron Armstead has protected one of the best quarterbacks of the past fifteen years for the majority of the early part of his career, and he believes that Tua Tagovailoa has similarities to him.

Armstead originally played the first nine years of his career with the New Orleans Saints. During that time he protected the blindside for future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees and during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, he detailed how Tagovailoa relates to him.

“I see similarities. I’m not saying they’re the same player or same person, no two people are,” Armstead said. “The anticipation, the accuracy, timing of throws, the ability to knock a wing off a fly repeatedly. Those guys throw darts. They don’t throw to areas, they are very precise. And that’s an elite talent, it’s an elite trait. Very few people possess (it). He’s one of them and Drew Brees is another.”

Tagovailoa has certainly flashed elite traits with his anticipation in operating the passing game through Mike McDaniel’s offense. Since McDaniel took over, the former Alabama star has seen significant growth in his production and has translated to a record of 25-16 during that span.

But much like Brees, Tagovailoa has battled injury throughout the early portion of his career but has not been limited to the significant shoulder injury Brees dealt with. Instead, Tagovailoa has fought through a hip injury as well as multiple concussions causing him to miss large portions of the regular season.

The missed time can certainly add up, which is one reason Armstead believes he hasn’t quite reached those heights yet.

“I would say time on task,” Armstead said. “Having more experience, getting more reps, getting more snaps. I don’t know exactly where Drew Brees was going into his sixth year. I know he had a shoulder that had to get reconstructed when he signed to New Orleans and really pushed his career even further, to be the Hall of Famer player that he was.”

This upcoming season is a major test for Tagovailoa as the Dolphins need to get back on track after missing the postseason a year ago. But Armstead understands the narratives surrounding his former quarterback heading into OTAs and believes he will be able push on.

“Yeah, he has narratives in front of him that have to be answered,” Armstead said. “Not necessarily by me or in an interview form, it’s from him, and his play, and getting the job done. Any quarterback or any team that (doesn’t) hoist that trophy at the end of the year, you have questions, you have narratives, you have challenges, you have adversity, you have things to answer.

Only team that don’t really have that is Philly. Everybody else, they have their questions going into the season. Tua has his questions, and it’s up to him to answer these question — not me.

“Do I believe he can? I do. Do I believe he will? I do.”