What is Tua Tagovailoa’s Superpower?

I was once an avid daily sports show viewer and would have ESPN or FS1 on all day, whether watching it or letting my subconscious absorb it in the background.

I don’t watch most of it anymore due to recycled topics and the inability of media heads to admit they were wrong. When I did watch, one of my favorite topics that FS1’s Colin Cowherd would bring up is “their superpower” when describing elite quarterbacks.

It should describe the quarterback instantly, like Josh Allen’s physical talent and ability to extend plays, Lamar Jackson’s running ability, or Justin Herbert’s cannon arm.

When it comes to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, his superpower has always been his anticipation. It allows him to get the ball out earlier to avoid pressure or throwing before receivers come out of their break.

If you feel like that shouldn’t be considered a trait equal to physical abilities, I think Hall Of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner would like to have a word.

What I’m most intrigued by within the interview is the idea of extending the play on the front end using anticipation.

It feels like a concept that seems obvious but framed in a way I’ve never heard before and supports the idea of anticipation being an equal trait to extending that play with your feet.

Think of it this way.

Say five routes are running on a given pass play. A quarterback who relies on his feet more than anticipation may not be able to anticipate two routes getting open because of good coverage and has three routes to choose from. If he extends the play, a few more options open up from broken coverage. If two become open, there are five routes to choose from within the play.

A quarterback with anticipation as their primary trait may be able to see all five routes and knows the timing it takes to make all the throws. Instead of losing two to coverage, all five routes are still available to him. It’s mental maturity and instinct rather than physical ability.

I know it’s not a perfect example, but I’m pretty sure you know what I mean, and don’t get me wrong. Physical ability is what the eyes catch first and flashy on highlight reels. Most of the best quarterbacks in the league have at least some elite physical ability, but it’s time to give the mental side of the quarterback position its due.