I've been critical of Tua and Miami administration (namely Chris Grier) in selecting Tua over Herbert. Herbert looks to be the better QB. But you can't watch Tua's last two games (JAX & ATL) and think that Tua is the problem for the Dolphins. Did he throw interceptions that cost Miami? Yeah, but the second interception today was him trying to make a play because the team the front office has put around him sucks, and it's a case of Tua doing too much.
Tua's final two drives today to get Miami within a TD and then the go-ahead TD (should have been the GW TD), he was Steve Young-esque. Tua was beating ATL's defense with his arms and his legs. Speaking of, Tua's hip injury and surgery from college isn't impeding him. He looked great escaping trouble and in the open field. He's making guys miss and he looks elusive. He isn't Miami's problem. Would Watson be an improvement at the position? Of course. Watson is a top 5 (at least) QB in the NFL. But at what cost? Miami would certainly have to part with their 1st round NFL pick in 2022, and both of their 1st round picks in 2023. And that's the floor. Now that Carolina has joined the Watson sweepstakes, the cost has gone up to maybe include one or two 2nd rounders and a starting, young player too. That's too much.
Watson is great, but he's not going to put Miami above the Bills or in the top 6 teams in the AFC. Miami with Watson (on this team) isn't better than the Bills, Bengals, Ravens, Titans, Chargers, and Chiefs (Miami's defense isn't any match for the Chiefs offense). That's the AFC's teams that I would put above Miami even with Watson. And teams like the Browns, Steelers, NE, and the Raiders would be "right there" with Miami even with Watson. Why?
1. Miami's defense has completely taken a step back. They can't rush the passer (near the bottom of the NFL in sacks), and they are last in total yards allowed, pass yards allowed, and rushing yards allowed. And they only have 9 takeaways, including the two that they had today. Not to mention, the last two weeks, the defense has allowed the Jags and Falcons to drive down the field to make GW field goals AFTER the offense game them the lead.
2. Chris Grier has to be either reassigned or fired. Miami saw up close and personal his inability to identify talent. Kyle Pitts was a monster today. Ja'Marr Chase is a monster already. I like Waddle, and I think he can be a pro-bowl WR with game-breaking speed and talent but he looks to be behind Pitts and Chase just like Tua appears to be behind Herbert. Grier's drafting along both lines has been just as bad. LT Austin Jackson isn't a tackle, Eichenberg isn't a LT, Ighobenege has been (until recently because of injuries) healthy scratches (i.e., he can't help us win), and Byron Jones, X, and Baker look like they cashed in and have been on vacation. Van Ginkle and Phillips don't look like stars. Phillips wasn't any factor whatsoever today. 0 tackles, 0 sacks, 1 QB hit. All of these transactions belong to Chris Grier.
3. I hope Brian Flores isn't doing his best Al Golden impersonation and refusing to fire Def. Coord. Josh Boyer. It's Boyer's defense and he must answer for how bad they are. Again, they are either last or near the bottom of the league in essentially every single defensive category.
4. Brian Flores. He was so impressive as a HC and a developer of talent his first two years that we thought Miami hit the jackpot with him. But his decisions concerning his assistants is completely head scratching, especially his OL coach and both coordinator personnel.
