The way things are playing out with Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins (winning games, strong defense, not asking QB to do more than be efficient) I'm reminded of three other situations that happened over the last two decades.

@3YardsPerCarry @5ReasonsSports

I'm reminded of Tom Brady taking over for Drew Bledsoe in 2001. NE leaned on a veteran defense, on Antowain Smith, even tho he was hardly a big name at that point in his career. Brady was a "caretaker". He threw 28-29 times a game, went 11-3, then went on a Super Bowl run.

Also reminded of Ben Roethlisberger taking over for for a 2-1 Tommy Maddox in 2004. These were the Bill Cowher Steelers. It was Defense, Jerome Bettis. Big Ben only threw 22 times a game, but he rattled off a 13-0 record, then a playoff win, before losing in the playoffs to NE.

Then there's Russell Wilson being a Week 1 starter for the Seattle Seahawks as a rookie in 2012. Seattle leaned on defense, on Marshawn Lynch. They went 11-5, won a playoff game, before exiting the playoffs. Wilson only threw the ball 25 times a game.

Two of them took over for well-regarded veteran QBs, not unlike Tua Tagovailoa taking over for Ryan Fitzpatrick.

All three EVENTUALLY played in high volume passing offenses, and went on to etch their legends into the NFL archives. But as rookies, they were not asked to do that.

Keep all this in mind as I see people having Twitter fights over the size of Tua's role in Miami's winning, the complaining about Tua having only 25 throws per game in his 3-0 start, Chan Gailey calling too many runs while ahead multiple scores in the 2nd half of games, etc.

There was no coincidence any of these three (Brady, Roethlisberger, Wilson) were winners so young, whatever their role. All are future Hall of Famers.

But it is a FACT their coaches tried to keep them out of trouble, in deference to their youth and inexperience.