Cam Newton exposes major flaw in Tua Tagovailoa amid QB's cold-weather struggles
Former NFL MVP Cam Newton offered his assessment of Tua Tagovailoa's struggles in cold weather. The Miami Dolphins star couldn't get things going in the 2023 NFL playoffs against the Kansas City Chiefs and last night, he failed to lead the Dolphins to the promised land against the Green Bay Packers.
During Friday's edition of ESPN's "First Take," Newton exposed a weak point in Tagovailoa's game whenever he plays in low temperatures.
"If anything that you need to know about the Miami Dolphins, Mike McDaniel, Tua Tagovailoa, in cold weather situations, why are all of their routes dinks and dunks? Or it's end-breaking routes. Show me a deep non-ball or deep post or an out-breaking route. What am I saying? I'm saying Tua's arm strength is exposed in cold weather.
"How do I know this? I thought the cold was just another type of situation. When I went up to the internship in New England and we had to go outside to practice in a day-to-day basis, that ball was flurrying out there rather than getting down in a straight line. What I'm saying is the verdict is out when scouting the Miami Dolphins because Tua doesn't have the arm strength in cold weather," Newton said.
He added that having Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Odell Beckham Jr. as receivers is an attraction for fans, but they want to see them running down the field and not with the short routes the Dolphins use whenever they play in cold weather.
How did Tua Tagovailoa perform against the Packers?
The Miami Dolphins succumbed to the Green Bay Packers, 30-17, at Lambeau Field. Tua Tagovailoa had a solid game, but his numbers didn't translate into more scores for his team. The former Alabama quarterback completed 37 of 46 pass attempts for a 365-yard and two-touchdown performance.
That said, he was sacked five times and the longest pass attempt he connected on was a 30-yard throw to Tyreek Hill.
Jordan Love finished with 21 completions on 28 attempts and two touchdowns. Green Bay only needed six points in total in the second half to secure the win and keep chasing the Detroit Lions, who beat the Chicago Bears in the first game of the day.
Tua and the Dolphins will clash with the New York Jets on Dec. 8, trying to bounce back against a struggling squad. The Packers will face the Lions on Dec. 5 in a high-flying matchup.