Elusiveness
Tua Tagovailoa is a sneaky runner. When he runs, it’s not like Jalen Hurts or Kyler Murray. It’s not necessarily effortless. However, it is very effective. If he decides to tuck the ball and run, he has a great chance of getting a first down. If he can make a linebacker or safety miss in the open field, he might have a score on his hands. It’s not smooth, but it works.
The junior gunslinger also is elusive in the pocket itself. He can make a pass rusher miss when they get free, and this helps him buy time to find a receiver or scramble away. If he can improve on this, it will help counterbalance his issues with injuries.
X-factor
There’s just something about Tua. He’s not normal. Normal quarterbacks can’t come back in the second half of National Championship games. They don’t scramble for long first downs when a defender is practically on your back, they don’t throw for touchdowns on must-convert fourth downs, and they certainly don’t convert on plays like 2nd-and-26.
You just watch Tua play and can’t explain it. he does things that simply aren’t human. It won’t all translate to the NFL, but it’s enough to make GMs scared of playing against him.
Chart it off to his upbringing with his family, his personality, or just plain luck. I don’t care what causes it, but there is no denying the fact that Tua has that secret sauce that makes him special.