The Dolphins have been without their starting quarterback for the last two weeks.
But, with the return of Tua Tagovailoa, the Steelers could very well have their hands full against what appears to be a blossoming passer in the NFL.
“He’s a high level player,” Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon said Thursday. “He spreads the ball around to his diverse weapons. They have a very balanced attack.”
Those weapons are legit, and the best that Miami has had in a long, long time.
This offseason, the Dolphins traded for former Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill, who is quite possibly the fastest player in football. In 2021, they also added speedster Jaylen Waddle, providing Tagovailoa with one of the quickest pass catching duos in the NFL.
“We could put our guys in a car on a motorcycle,” joked defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said of how the Steelers can replicate Hill’s speed. “But I don't know if you can get ready for that speed. That speed is unique. And it's not just him.”
Hill and Waddle were dynamic in Mami’s 24-16 loss to Minnesota last week, combing for 18 catches for 306 yards. And that was without Tagovailoa, who could be looking at a banged up Steelers secondary and licking his chops.
“This game will be making sure everybody does their job,” defensive tackle Montravius Adams sad. “Sometimes you try to do something else, facing a team like this, not just Tua. The speed from the running back, (Raheem) Mostert, Tyreek, Waddle, they’ve got so much explosion on the field. It will just come down to doing our job.”
Tagovailoa is an athletic quarterback, but far from a runner. He’s only rushed the ball four times all season, and amassed just one yard. But what he does possess is the ability to extend plays, and has excelled at running run-pass-option plays. And, with the elite speed around him, that could end up being a lethal combination for the Steelers’ defense to handle.
"I think QB mobility is something that is huge in this game,” outside linebacker Malik Reed said. “They provide a different dynamic, things you have to prepare for. Not just their arms, but how they move around the pocket. Can't let them create yards you are not accounting for in the game plan. We have to do a good job of making sure we have eyes on him in our rush, and stay disciplined."
Tagovailoa has respectable numbers in his career to this point. He’s passed for 35 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, and has run for six more scores.
But his game, quite clearly, has gone up a notch in 2022. And, despite coming a scary concussion three weeks ago, Tagovailoa will be a massive challenge for the Steelers’ defense.
“He’s just shown the maturation process,” Austin said. “He's in year three now, and you see that he feels a little bit more comfortable in terms of the actual football itself and the game itself.
“He's making good decisions, getting rid of the ball. He's very accurate, knows where to go with it. I think that's just really kind of a maturation process for you a quarterback, and you see it this year.”