Dolphins determined to turn up tempo
Tannehill’s return, fast new players likely mean return to up-tempo offense.
With Ryan Tannehill back in control of the offense, coaches look to go no-huddle, high-octane.
The last time Ryan Tannehill was quarterback for the Miami
Dolphins, the team finished last in the NFL in offensive plays per game.
The last time Tannehill was Miami’s quarterback, the Dolphins had given up on a preseason plan for a no-huddle, up-tempo,
high-octane offense in favor of a more methodical, huddle-up attack powered by a tackle-breaking running back.
In Week 2 of the 2016 season, Tannehill led a furious comeback at New England, operating the no-huddle with aplomb, pulling Miami from down 31-3 to 31-24,
the final result.
“We get a lot of practice at a no-huddle offense,” Tannehill said after the game. “It’s kind of what we are. We have the ability to go huddle or no huddle and we kind of got the pressure on them. We kind of got them on
their heels a little bit.”
It was kind of what Miami was. But entering Week 6, with a 1-4 record, head coach Adam Gase pulled the plug on his ideal offensive plan.
“When you’re the quarterback, you’re burning a lot of mental credits there before you even take a look at what the defense is do i ng,” fo r mer Dolphi ns
offensive coordinator Clyde
Christensen said then. “It’s a lot on the quarterback when you do things at the line of scrimmage. When you huddle, everybody already knows what’s going on.”
Christensen has been replaced by first-year offensive coordinator Dowell Log- Ballage up to speed as quickly gains. And after one season as all would like. of watching Miami’s offense But Miami seems deterfrom the sideline due to a mined to really, really try. knee injury, Tannehill is Gase and Tannehill do not about to be handed a cadre want to be last in the NFL in of fast players and a plan to offensive plays again in 2018. use fast gas. And because it seems obvi
“Obviously we want to ous the Dolphins will attempt run an up-tempo, no-huddle to play faster and pass more offense,” Loggains dropped often, it seems unlikely. at a recent press conference. “It’s really the quarterback “That’s what Adam has done and the play-caller getting in the past and that’s where on the same page that way, our vision is and we’re tryand then the quarterback ing to get going that way.” being able to communicate is good for us for this race.” Speaking about Tannehill everything at a very fast pace
If the track is soggy, that at the NFL owner’s meetings, to the wide receivers, the would be even better. Curlin Gase highlighted how quickly tight ends, the running backs earned 2007 Horse of the Year Tannehill has been process- and the offensive line,” Loghonors after slogging to vic- ing the offense. gains said. tory in the muddy Breeders’ “The clarity really picked Gase has repeatedly taken Cup Classic. up for him as far as why I the blame for early offen
“With all this wet weather, was calling things when I sive struggles in his first him being a Curlin, he steps was doing certain things, the Miami season. Last season, up with the sloppy track and way I’d install something,” Miami’s season was turned moves forward,” Blasi said. Gase said. “He understood upside down when an offense
Trained by John Servis, things a lot better than what designed around Tannehill Diamond King (30-1) won he had before and that gets was operated by Jay Cutler, the Federico Tesio Stakes at me excited thinking, ‘Wow, who preferred different plays. nearby Laurel Park in April. the fact that he didn’t play When Miami hits the field While Diamond King prob- the entire year and now it for organized team activiably doesn’t have the speed makes more sense than it ties on Tuesday, Tannehill and stamina of Justify, he did before.’ And I think he is expected to be cleared for does have a trainer who has understands why, when I full participation. Gase has won the Kentucky Derby and called certain things, how publicly stated, however, jockey, Javier Castellano, who the ball can come out faster that Tannehill may be eased guided Cloud Computing to and what he can do protecinto action and that backups victory at last year’s Preaktionwise. His brain is moving David Fales and Brock Osweiness. faster just from watching. I ler may receive some extra
“We’ve got a top jockey think he’s just ready to take first-team reps. and the horse is doing really that next step.” But it is Tannehill’s team. well,” co-owner Chuck ZacTanne-haters will cringe. And Gase and Loggains are ney said. They’ve heard it all before. going to make sure Tanne
Baffert has already beaten They’ve also heard about hill gets enough reps with three of the horses in the field. Miami’s plans to go with a his many new teammates Though he’s never faced the faster tempo from other to allow them all to run at others, they certainly have coaches, like former offen- the faster pace Gase prefers. grabbed his attention. sive coordinator Bill Lazor. Gase thinks Tannehill is
“You’ve got new shoot- And it has never really come ready. ers,” Baffert said. “John Ser- to fruition. “He’s just really smooth vis didn’t come for the crab Despite that, a few of Tanwith the operation that cakes. Then you’ve got Quip. nehill’s best moments in 2016 we’ve been able to do as far And Wayne? You can’t count came when operating at a as what we’re doing in pracWayne Lukas out. That’s when faster pace. It may be a bit tice or those throwing seshe does the most damage, challenging to get newcomsions,” Gase said. “It just feels when nobody’s talking about ers such as veterans Danny smooth.” him, he’s under the radar. He Amendola and Albert Wilson still knows his horses and he’s and rookies Mike Gesicki, up here for a reason.” Durham Smythe and Kalen
Gase has repeatedly taken the blame for early offensive struggles in his first Miami season.