Tua Tagovailoa was exposed in self-destructive loss against San Francisco 49ers, Colin Cowherd insists

Tua Tagovailoa came into 2022 needing a big year. Injuries got in the way at times, but many were preparing to anoint him as the next big quarterback in the NFL. However, after Tagovailoa went down in flames against Brock Purdy, one NFL analyst claimed that the Miami Dolphins QB had been the same player all along.

Speaking on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd traced the struggle back through the season and drew a new picture of the Dolphins signal caller.

"Tua was kind of what we thought he was, right. We've got to be honest about this... He was obviously rattled early off his game, lacked confidence, got hit, had no interest as a small guy getting hit... [he] missed open throws. He was totally off. I think he was in his head. He made one big throw all day to a wide open Tyreek Hill. That was it..."

He continued, admitting that Tagovailoa can win games with great pieces:

"He's not a playmaker. He's always been small. He's just not a guy that is going to elevate people in crisis. That's not what he is. You give him a great coach. You give him great weapons, you give him all these guys are healthy. You can score a lot of points in a win, a lot of games."

Lastly, he placed a hard ceiling on him:

"He's not [like Joe] Burrow, [Patrick] Mahomes, [Justin] Herbert, [or] [Josh] Allen. He's not going to overcome obstacles, potholes, or flat tires. That's not what he is and you saw it on display there."

How was Tua Tagovailoa's performance against the San Francisco 49ers?

Tua Tagovailoa at Buffalo Bills v Miami Dolphins

In a game that saw Jimmy Garoppolo leave the field as a player for the last time this season, the Dolphins quarterback failed to take advantage of the situation. Despite facing a third-string quarterback serving as opposition, the Dolphins quarterback simply could not find the end-zone reliably.

In the game, Tagovailoa completed 18 of 33 passes for 295 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. In the end, the Dolphins succumbed 33-17. Pundits and fans are now on red alert, wondering if other defenses will be able to duplicate what the 49ers were able to accomplish.

Meanwhile, the 49ers' offense will be hoping to duplicate their success despite the quarterback switch. Purdy threw for 210 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while completing 25 of 37 pass attempts.

The 49ers face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next. As for the Dolphins, they'll hope to bounce back against the Los Angeles Chargers.

If any of the above quotes are used, please credit The Herd with Colin Cowherd and H/T Sportskeeda.