Tua Tagovailoa could help himself steer clear from future injury if he incorporates one important detail to his talented repertoire.
Nick Saban, the former Miami Dolphins coach who coached Tagovailoa at Alabama, says his former quarterback simply needs to learn how to throw the ball away on plays that may not go his team's way.
Saban says Tagovailoa's ankle injuries in college and the hip injury that ended his college career in November came as a result of his competitive enthusiasm and desire to prolong plays that might take longer to develop.
As the draft inches closer, Tagovailoa's college coach, his agent and his doctors have all made the media rounds in order to clear the air on his injury history and advocate on his behalf.
"The best predictor of future success is past success and that's where Tua blows off the charts," agent Leigh Steinberg said on 790 The Ticket last week of Tagovailoa, who completed nearly 70% of his passes for 87 touchdowns with 11 interceptions in 32 games at Alabama.
Lyle Cain, the head team physician at the University of Alabama, and Chip Routt, a professor of orthopedic surgery at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas in Houston who performed Tagovailoa's surgery both told ESPN last week that Tagovailoa would be healthy enough to participate in training camp this year.
Saban joined ESPN Monday to promote his appearances on Detail, a show where former athletes and coaches break down game film, where he shared insight on both Tagovailoa and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, the expected No. 1 pick. The shows are available on ESPN+.
On Burrow, Saban said: "I think Joe Burrow has great vision, does a good job with pre-snap reads and knowing where he needs to go with the ball. He also uses his legs very well to scramble and throw, which puts a lot of pressure on the defense. Joe Burrow is going to have a fantastic career in the NFL."
And on Tagovailoa, Saban says his quarterback's ability to read defenses and throw the ball accurately are his greatest assets.
"I think Tua is going to be a great NFL QB because he's very instinctive, great hands and great touch, making him a very accurate thrower," Saban said. "At all levels _ short, intermediate and drive the ball and he can throw deep. He's athletic enough to avoid the rush and is smart enough to protect himself with his protections. As an NFL QB, I think, he'll do an outstanding job."
