Which former Alabama quarterback will fare better in the AFC East?

Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones both delivered National Championships for the Alabama Crimson Tide during their tenures in Tuscaloosa. However, the former team-mates will now be playing against each other twice a season after Jones joined Tagovailoa in the AFC East when he was acquired by the New England Patriots in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Tagovailoa was selected in the first round of the 2020 Draft by the Miami Dolphins, but he endured a frustrating rookie season. The 23-year-old entered the NFL with a pre-existing hip injury that he sustained playing for the Crimson Tide. Ryan Fitzpatrick was solid starting ahead of him before Brian Flores called Tagovailoa into action. However, he underwhelmed in his nine starts, although he did guide the Dolphins to a 6-3 record and 10 wins on the term, throwing 11 touchdowns to five interceptions.

There is pressure on Tagovailoa to improve in his second season in the NFL. Miami have been starved of quality play at the quarterback position since the retirement of Dan Marino in the 1999 campaign. Tagovailoa represents their best hope since Marino of finding a solution to their issues and making a deep run into the playoffs, but whether he will make the step up is far from certain as the miamiherald.com explains.

The Dolphins have not won a post-season game since 2000, and won't be favourites to do so this time around. Given that, many bettors backing the team will likely look for value elsewhere. Businesses like HowToBet.com will survey the markets and stats to provide tips and predictions for fans of the NFL, away from the Dolphins claiming end-of-season honours.

Tagovailoa has a talented defence to support him and enough weapons on offence to propel Flores' men towards the top of the AFC East. DeVante Parker is a true number one wideout and Mike Gesicki proved his ability at tight end with a fantastic 2020 season. The addition of Will Fuller should ease the pressure on Parker and open up the field for the rest of the line-up, with the wideout using his express speed to take the top off opposing defences. There can be no excuses for Tagovailoa as he seeks to build his reputation in the NFL, and the Dolphins will be demanding a playoff appearance in the 2021 campaign.

The comparison between Tagovailoa and Jones will be fascinating to watch. Jones has already made an impression in his organised team activities and minicamp with the Patriots as noted at the bostonglobe.com. Incumbent quarterback Cam Newton struggled immensely in the 2020 campaign, and it would not be a surprise to see Bill Belichick move on from the former MVP and place his trust in Jones.

The Patriots are not blessed with talent in their receiving corps, while the quality of their defence is unknown despite the number of additions the franchise made in the off-season. If Jones can improve their 7-9 record from the last campaign, then he would have already taken steps in the right direction. The aura of Tom Brady still hangs over New England and will do so for the rest of time. A strong rookie season for Jones could give the Patriots hope, and put his former teammate under all sorts of pressure in Miami, especially if Belichick and his team place above the Dolphins in the AFC East in 2021.

Which former Alabama quarterback will fare better in the AFC East? to SEC Football

Top of this Page