Terron Armstead blocked in front of both Drew Brees and Tua Tagovailoa during his 12-year NFL career with the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins.
‘The anticipation, the accuracy, timing of throws, the ability to knock a wing off a fly, repeatedly. Those guys throw darts,’ Armstead said of Brees and Tagovailoa. ‘They don’t throw to areas, they are very precise. And that’s an elite talent, it’s an elite trait [that] very few people possess. He’s one of them and Drew Brees is another.’
The recently retired offensive tackle was careful to note he wasn’t claiming the two were ‘the same player or same person.’
‘No two people are,’ Armstead explained.
Still, the 33-year-old expressed confidence Tagovailoa could eventually work his way into consideration as one of the best quarterbacks in the league, much like Brees did during his time with the Saints.
What has stopped Tagovailoa from reaching those heights over his first six seasons?
‘I would say time on task,’ Armstead told Eisen. ‘Having more experience, getting more reps, getting more snaps. I don’t know exactly where Drew Brees was going into his sixth year. I know he had a shoulder that had to get reconstructed when he signed to New Orleans and really pushed his career even further, to be the Hall of Famer player that he was.’
Armstead also lauded Tagovailoa for being a ‘fierce competitor’ who plays ‘with such love for the game.’
However, Armstead also noted the 27-year-old quarterback needs to better protect himself in order to stay on the field.
‘He is willing to put his body on the line in any situation,’ Armstead explained. ‘But he has to understand – and I think he’s starting to understand – his value is deeper than any one play or any one game. Him being out of the lineup changes the franchise. It does. It changes the identity of the offense, it changes the franchise.
‘So, I believe that he has to play the game with that in mind, as opposed to let me do whatever I need to do to get this first down,’ Armstead added. ‘That first down is not nearly as valuable as him being there the next series.’
Armstead understands Tagovailoa will continue to face scrutiny until he can consistently stay on the field and lead the Dolphins to playoff success.
He remains confident Tagovailoa will be able to challenge those narratives as he continues to progress during his NFL career.
‘Tua has his questions, and it’s up to him to answer these question – not me,’ Armstead said. ‘Do I believe he can? I do. Do I believe he will? I do.’