Just give Tua Tagovailoa the NFL MVP and Mike McDaniel the NFL Coach of the Year now. It’s not even up for debate.
The Miami Dolphins squared off against the Houston Texans Nov. 27, with the Dolphins blowing out the Texans in the first half to carry a 30-point lead into halftime. Ultimately, Miami ended up winning the game, 30-15, with Houston attempting a failed comeback only after Tua Tagovailoa was taken out before the end of the third quarter. In other words, it was utter domination for the Fins.
During the game, WPLG Local 10’s Clay Ferraro tweeted out that CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala reported on the state of Tua Tagovailoa’s confidence, with the quarterback asking himself if he sucked on multiple occasions last season.
On CBS broadcast, @AKinkhabwala says Tua told them multiple times last year he looked in the mirror and asked himself “do I suck?” Because of how critical fans and coaches had been.
— Clay Ferraro (@ClayWPLG) November 27, 2022
Mike McDaniel said there hasn’t been a day as #Dolphins HC that he “didn’t attack” that crisis of confidence. First, he cut a 700-play tape of what Tua does best. He wanted Tua to know how good he thought he was. Then he shared the tape w/ the org, so Tua knew it wasn’t just talk https://t.co/XR8R7gwGAV
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) November 27, 2022
After the game, Tua Tagovailoa was asked about the tape, confirming it and humbly saying “it was cool.”
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa talks about a report during today’s game that Mike McDaniel put together a 700-play highlight reel to show him how good a player he is… pic.twitter.com/v3RK9JCmhO
— WPLG Local 10 Sports (@Local10Sports) November 27, 2022
How can you not love this guy, man?
Speaking of cool guys, Mike McDaniel also commented after the game about the psyche of Tua.
Mike McDaniel on his early interactions with Tua, how he realized just how much damage was done to Tua’s psyche and how he worked to restore his confidence. We really are blessed. #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/jEUrmY3akj
— I Ain’t Him (@Phincane) November 27, 2022
We could potentially be looking at a situation where Tua Tagovailoa wins the NFL MVP and Mike McDaniel wins the NFL Coach of the Year in the same season, and if I’m one of the people voting, that’s exactly who I have on my card.
With Tua Tagovailoa, he’s been absolutely incredible this season. On his stat line, he has a mesmerizing 19 touchdowns and only three interceptions, and on top of that, he has a 115.7 passer rating which ranks the best in the NFL, according to ESPN. And that’s not even explaining it all, Tua also leads the league in literally of the advanced metrics as well. This season, the Miami Dolphins have a clean crisp undefeated record of 8-0 when Tagovailoa is starting. And no, this isn’t just because of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Tua Tagovailoa’s last 6 Pass TD have been to 6 DIFFERENT PLAYERS:
✅Jaylen Waddle
✅Jeff Wilson
✅Alec Ingold
✅Trent Sherfield
✅Tyreek Hill
✅Durham Smythe pic.twitter.com/ri5YVL1QDM— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) November 27, 2022
Give this man the MVP, and now.
He continues to impress! #FinsUp for Tua Tagovailoa. pic.twitter.com/2C7hHLUErr
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 27, 2022
Mike McDaniel also has the NFL Coach of the Year locked up in my eyes. You’ve got to love this story surrounding that tape: He cuts it and features 700 plays, shows Tua to skyrocket his confidence, then brings it to the top guys in the front office to boost up Tua even more.
As a result, Tua Tagovailoa is now an elite quarterback in the NFL, arguably the best at this point (he’s definitely in the conversation), and he’s most certainly in the talks for MVP. Plus, McDaniel has his Dolphins at 8-3 on top of an AFC East that is loaded — all three of the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and New England Patriots have winning records. (RELATED: The Miami Dolphins Have The Best 1-2 Punch In The Entire NFL, And It Could Lead Them To A Super Bowl)
Mike McDaniel: Your 2022 NFL Coach of the Year.
Let’s call it the “700 tape.” That 700 tape is what did it for me. Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel are a lock to win their respective awards at this point of the season, and if Miami keeps playing the way they are (like a team that currently has the No. 2 seed in the AFC right now), they’ll definitely pull that off.
Not just that, but we’re talking about this team legitimately winning a Super Bowl.
A championship ring and a few trophies…
The Miami Dolphins very well may rack up this season.