Dolphins look to go deep on offense
Tannehill’s yards per attempt are up slightly so far in preseason
Miami wants more aggressive passing game.
DAVIE — Ryan Tannehill, from all indications, is a better quarterback than a year ago. He’s hitting his receivers in stride, he’s throwing accurately into tight windows, and he’s throwing the deep ball better.
But the Dolphins still have a relatively pedestrian passing game, as opposed to an attacking passing game.
Tannehill ranked 28th in the NFL last season in yards per pass attempt (6.8), the statistic offensive coordinator Bill Lazor says he values above all others.
Through two preseason games, Tannehill has improved that number to 7.2 yards per attempt, a figure that would have ranked 17th last season.
That’s progress, but it’s still the bottom half of the league if those numbers carry over to the regular season.
Coach Joe Phibin said he’d “absolutely love to” have more of an attacking passing game.
Perhaps signs of change will come at Saturday night when the Dolphins host the Atlanta Falcons at the revamped Sun Life Stadium in the third preseason game of the year. It’s the one where starters typically make their longest appearance, playing the entire first half and perhaps the first possession of the third quarter.
The Dolphins defense will aim to shut down Atlanta’s running game, led by Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman, and a passing attack led by quarterback Matt Ryan and wide re-