Media by Associated Press – Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa speaks to the news media at the NFL football team’s practice facility, Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
With minicamps underway and some finishing up, more offseason NFL news has been coming out over the last couple of weeks. We are still six weeks away from the full camps opening and two months until the first preseason game.
Some of the recent news has impacted NFL odds, and other news is more of the fun side, like the golf match between four star quarterbacks last week.
Tua Looking for More Deep Throws
There’s been a lot of talk in the last year about the arm strength, or lack thereof, of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Both the quarterback and his new head coach, Mike McDaniel, pushed back on that perception last week during Miami’s minicamp.
Miami made news earlier in the offseason when they traded for speedy wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Critics immediately jumped on the deal, voicing concerns that Tagovailoa would consistently underthrow Hill all season long. In last Thursday’s practice, the Miami duo hooked up for 45-yard and 55-yard pass completions, showing that the deep pass is part of the offense’s arsenal.
The criticism is based on stats. Since 2000, Tagovailoa ranks 30th in the NFL in average air yards per attempt at 7.13, and he attempted the second-fewest passes of at least 25 yards. When he does go deep, the former Alabama star has success, leading the NFL at a 50% completion rate on passes of more than 25 yards.
Last year the Dolphins went 9-8 but missed the playoffs and fired head coach Brian Flores. Tagovailoa started 12 games last season, throwing for 2,653 yards with 16 touchdowns and ten interceptions.
Miami’s win total for this season is nine, with the over at +105 and the under at -125. Tagovailoa is +2800 to lead the NFL in passing yards and +4000 to win the 2022 MVP Award. Miami starts the 2022 season at home against New England, favored by 3.5 points.
Bucs Add Defensive Help
While quarterback Tom Brady was having fun on the golf course, winning The Match with Aaron Rodgers, his Tampa Bay Buccaneers added defensive help this week. The Bucs signed former Chicago Bears lineman Akeem Hicks for one-year at $10 million.
Hicks, a defensive tackle, has also played for New Orleans in his career and will replace free agent Ndamukong Suh in the Bucs’ defense. Hicks was limited to nine games in 2021, finishing with 2.5 sacks and 28 tackles. Suh played all 17 games last year and had six sacks, a number Hicks hasn’t reached since 2017.
Tampa Bay opens the 2022 season at Dallas and is a 2.5-point favorite. Tampa Bay is +700 to win the Super Bowl, the favorites from the NFC. They are +100 to go over 11.5 wins and -120 to be under 11.5 wins.
Stafford May Play it Safe
One of the minicamps getting started this week will be the defending champion Los Angeles Rams. It remains to be seen, however, if quarterback Matthew Stafford will throw during camp. He didn’t throw during OTA after having an anti-inflammatory shot in his right elbow in March.
Stafford spent time in a brace after having the shot and has been using time with the team in May and June to work on communication and play calling. The only wideout new to the group is Allen Robinson II from Chicago, replacing Odell Beckham Jr. on the Rams roster.
The defending champs are also working on getting tight end Tyler Higbee, running back Cam Akers, widout Van Jefferson, and linebacker Leonard Floyd back to 100 percent.
Stafford threw for 4,886 yards last season with 41 touchdown passes and a career-best 67.2% completion rate. He is +900 to lead the NFL in passing yards in the 2022 season and +1500 to win the MVP. The Rams are +1000 to repeat as Super Bowl champions, and both the over and under are at -110 on 10.5 wins.
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