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Jaylen Waddle describes why Tua Tagovailoa is such a special quarterback

profilephotocropby:Suzanne Halliburton•07/04/23•

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tua tagovailoa jaylen waddle

So many fans of football are hopeful that Tua Tagovailoa can stay healthy just so we can enjoy the Dolphins passing game with Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill.

Waddle and Hill probably represent the quickest pair of receivers in the league. And if Tua stays concussion free in 2023, Miami’s passing numbers should be downright gaudy.

And there’s also that special connection between Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle, the two former Alabama stars. The Dolphins selected Tagovailoa with the fifth pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Then a year later, Miami opted for Waddle with the sixth selection of the draft. And on top of that, the Dolphins signed away Hill from the Chiefs.

Waddle’s first touchdown reception with the Crimson Tide came via a pass thrown by Tagovailoa. And his first TD catch in the NFL also came courtesy of Tua.

Waddle, who grew up in Houston, recently talked with KPRC, a hometown TV station, about what made Tagovailoa such the perfect quarterback.

“His ball placement,” Waddle said in regards to Tua. “I think everybody sees it, knowing exactly where to put the ball where his receivers can not just catch it, but catch it and run with it. So that’s what makes Tua Tua.”

The NFL caught a glimpse of how Tagovailoa can dominate when healthy. Last fall, he led the NFL in passer rating with a grade of 105.5, coming in just ahead of Patrick Mahomes‘ 105.2. In doing so, he became the first Dolphins quarterback to lead the NFL in the category since Dan Marino did so in 1984.

And early last season, Tua Tagovailoa notched another team record with help from Jaylen Waddle. He threw six touchdown passes in a shootout with Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson. The six TDs tied a Dolphins record co-owned by Marino and Brian Griese. Overall, he completed 36 of his 50 pass attempts for 469 yards. Hill caught 11 of the passes for 190 yards and two scores. Waddle’s stat day was almost as spectacular with 11 catches for 171 yards and a pair of TDs.

The game came down to this pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle.

Waddle had more nice words for his quarterback while speaking with KPRC.

“Tua’s a great guy,” Waddle said. “We’ve got years in with us playing together, so it’s always good being familiar with your quarterback, from the college game to the NFL game. It’s like riding a bike, getting back playing with him. It’s fun. You don’t have to learn quarterback tendencies when you’ve already played with him.”

Waddle had a definitive sophomore season with the Dolphins. He caught 75 passes for 1,356 yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged 18.1 yards every time he caught the ball. That was a league best.