Dolphins have created an Alabama-like environment for Tua Tagovailoa as Miami unlocks QB's potential

Miami has created Crimson Tide-like surroundings for its young quarterback

The Dolphins play in Miami Gardens, Florida, but this season it might as well be Tuscaloosa, Alabama. On the field, for Tua Tagovailoa, that is.  Career at Alabama 9.8 yards 2.71 seconds 43% 48.8% 2022 with Dolphins 9.7 yards 2.54 seconds 45% 52.8%

Given how productive and efficient Tagovailoa was before entering the NFL, attempting to recreate his collegiate environment was worth the difficulty in doing so. 

And because the Tuscaloosaian transformation for Tagovailoa's NFL surroundings wasn't easy, naturally it wasn't a one-man lift. It started with Dolphins GM Chris Grier, who first was brazen enough to hire a then 38-year-old first-time head coach with undeniable quirks and a penchant for dry humor.