Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Determined Dolphins
Tannehill, Ajayi building on strong seasons
Tannehill, Ajayi build on strong 2016 showings.
DAVIE — Keep an eye on two offensive difference-makers for the Miami Dolphins — running back Jay Ajayi and quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Both are coming off strong showings in 2016, and both, according to coaches and teammates, are having strong offseasons.
If Ajayi and Tannehill can continue what they have showed in Tuesday’s first day of minicamp and in organized team activities they should be a dynamic duo next season.
There’s even an outside chance Tannehill and Ajayi could approach the top tier of NFL quarterback-running back combinations along with Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger and Le’Veon Bell or perhaps Atlanta’s Matt Ryan and Devonta Freeman.
Most of the excitement is because of Ajayi, who rushed for 1,272 yards in 2016 and made his first Pro Bowl.
“I definitely feel like I’m a long way ahead this year [compared to where] I was last year,” he said.
But Tannehill, who missed the Dolphins’ last three regular-season games and their wild-card playoff game due to two sprained ligaments in his left knee, has also created a
buzz.
Tannehill threw 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season while compiling a career-best 93.5 passer rating. His star is still rising, according to coaches and teammates, because his accuracy and decision-making have improved in the last few months.
“He’s gotten better throughout our entire offseason process,” coach Adam Gase said.
Ajayi has raised eyebrows with Gase and offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen because of his offseason work, specifically his receiving and route-running. Simply saying Ajayi is an improved player doesn’t even scratch the surface.
“That’d probably be beyond an understatement,” Gase said.
Gase said Ajayi’s knowledge of the offense is the real shocker. Gase added that Ajayi’s questions have been second-level.
“They’re almost quarterback-ish questions for a running back,” he said.
Ajayi, who had 27 receptions for 157 yards last season, has worked especially hard on his receiving. Ajayi has been detail-oriented, working on things such as hitting his landmarks on routes, which means running to the correct depth, sharpening his edges on routes as opposed to rounding them off, and finishing with the catch.
Tannehill sees the results of the work.
“I’ve seen him take particular care in his routes and have an effort in each route,” he said.
That’s crucial because Tannehill thinks the offense’s effectiveness depends largely on thirddown conversions and extending drives.
The Dolphins ranked 25th in the NFL last season in third-down conversions at 36.7 percent. New Orleans led the league at 48.6 percent.
“I think as an offense we’ve got to stay on the field longer … but ultimately it comes down to getting first downs,” Tannehill said.
To that end, Tannehill is making strides. According to coaches and teammates he’s been comfortable and more accurate during the offseason. They say he’s making the correct reads and accurate throws.
The offseason hasn’t been perfect. On Tuesday, Tannehill overthrew wide receiver Kenny Stills during a drill when Stills was wide open, and he misfired to tight end Anthony Fasano and it resulted in an interception to cornerback Walt Aikens.
“There were some throws I was pretty happy with, and some I’d like to have back,” Tannehill said of Tuesday’s performance.
But overall he’s seemed to have improved. And he hasn’t limped or showed any ill effects from the brace on his left knee.
If the Tannehill-Ajayi duo continues to show improvement it could do wonders for the offense.
The Dolphins were 24th in offense last season at 332.8 yards per game and 17th in scoring at 22.7 points per game.
Tannehill said it “ultimately comes down to putting yourself in thirdand-manageable situations and converting.”
Tannehill and Ajayi should have plenty of help in that area next season among tight end Julius Thomas and wide receivers Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker and Stills.
But the third-down success, as is the case with much of the offensive success, starts with Tannehill and Ajayi.
“When you get third-and-6 or less, which we feel really confident if we get third-and-6 or less, then we should be able to convert a high percentage of those,” Tannehill said, speaking of the offense as a whole. “We have to make it happen. We have to do what it takes to make those plays and keep drives alive.”