Welcome to the 2025 season edition of Miami Dolphins Q&A, where South Florida Sun Sentinel writers David Furones and Chris Perkins answer questions from readers.
Q: In my opinion, Tua regressed a lot this season in almost every aspect of his game. His accuracy got worse. His mechanics look off sometimes. His deep balls got worse, and there is no money spot over the middle anymore. I was a huge Tua fan the last years. How do you explain this regression?
Can’t be age! Maybe the money made him too satisfied? (That’s not how I would characterize Tua). I fear the concussions maybe made him regress way faster than usual, or was it just Tyreek Hill all along? — Justin Edwards on X
You did a lot of the work for me in laying it all out. Well done!
There’s no doubt Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is having his worst season under coach Mike McDaniel, and that’s with him being healthy all season — at least in terms of not having to miss games.
Sunday’s game against the Saints was just awful from him: 12 of 23 for 157 yards, an interception, another throw that maybe should’ve been called a pick on review and four sacks.
He missed throws he usually makes, even this year as his play has diminished. He made poor decisions, like throwing deep to Jaylen Waddle in the end zone on first down with Kool-Aid McKinstry waiting for the interception. And then you have his slide short of a pivotal first-down conversion on third down that leads to fourth-and-1 and a turnover on downs before New Orleans nearly pulled off the epic comeback.
I’ve been asked this before, and I can’t help but to point to that “Show me the money!” moment after the contract extension. I, too, would’ve never said that about Tagovailoa’s character before it occurred. He’s too much of a fighter. But there’s a correlation there, if not causation.
There are a lot of other factors, too. He doesn’t have Tyreek Hill now, after having years of prime Hill. He has been without Darren Waller for much of the season. He was without his two starters on the right side of the offensive line, his blind-side blockers, since Week 1. But both right tackle Larry Borom and right guard Cole Strange have been better in recent weeks, while Austin Jackson is now back for Borom.
Overall, it’s all no excuse to have a passer rating of 55.9 against the Saints and fail to get your team into the end zone after the opening drive to allow a two-win team to have multiple late chances to beat you.
Tagovailoa is leading the league in interceptions. I should never be so confident I’m going to win with a pick of “Tua Tagovailoa +0.5 interceptions” in our prop bets piece.
I wouldn’t go the route of blaming prior concussions for his play this season as insinuated as a possibility in the question.
Dolphins Deep Dive: What’s wrong with Tua? | VIDEO
Q: Likelihood someone takes Weaver to be a HC next year? — Tequila Guy on X
It’s hard to think Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will be as hot a head coaching candidate as he has been in recent offseasons with the way Miami has played.
His defense has improved over the past several games, though, after once orchestrating the league-worst run defense.
Weaver has the “leader of men” trait in him, and he is sure to interview well with anyone, given his presence. So he can never be counted out.