Tannehill meshing with new skill players
DAVIE — There isn’t a ton the Dolphins can accomplish right now because of the nature of offseason workouts, most of which are technically voluntary, but re-establishing Ryan Tannehill as their quarterback and leader has been a meaningful accomplishment.
Tannehill stayed in the shadows the past year, recovering from a knee injury that’s kept him out since December 2016, and his absence hit the team hard. Now that he’s healthy again, he’s reasserted himself as the dominant voice in the offense’s huddle.
“You see that he jumped right back in there and guys were rallying around him and ready to go,” coach Adam Gase said. “He’s got good rapport with those skill guys. Those guys are around each other a lot in the offseason when we’re not. Those guys seem to be pretty close and they’re working well together and I know those guys are pushing each other.”
Tannehill spent extra time throwing with receivers away from the team facility leading up to organized team activities, which was important on two fronts. Not only did it get him back in a position of leadership, but most of Miami’s skill players have little to no experience playing with him.
The last time Tannehill took a snap, Jarvis Landry was the team’s top receiver. He’s in Cleveland. Jay Ajayi was in his backfield. Now he’s a Super Bowl champion with the Eagles, and little-used rookie Kenyan Drake is all grown up and ready to take over that spot.
Danny Amendola and Albert Wilson are new additions, as are tight ends Mike Gesicki, A.J. Derby and Durham Smythe. Veteran running back Frank Gore is in the huddle.
None of those players have appeared in a game with Tannehill, but the chemistry is coming quickly. That’s particularly important as the Dolphins look to wear defenses down with a no-huddle offense.
“Every day, he’s going to get a little bit better because it’s seeing more looks,” Gase said. “The defense does a good job of mixing things up. (Defensive coordinator Matt Burke) is doing a good job of really getting those guys a lot of different looks, so I think whether we’re going up-tempo or we’re huddling, he’s gaining a lot of knowledge and getting a lot of experience, even more than what he already had.”
New No. 93: Akeem Spence wears 93 for the Dolphins, which is the same number Ndamukong Suh wore here and in Detroit, Spence’s last stop.
“I really didn’t want to be 93,” Spence said Tuesday, in his first comments since a trade brought him to south Florida. “But it was the only number available so I just took it.”
Spence actually began his career in Tampa Bay, where another 93 from Suh’s draft class, Gerald McCoy, was similarly dominant. Spence is not Suh and not McCoy. But he is a very serviceable, professional defensive tackle.
And right now, he’s a Dolphins’ starter.
“I’m not a big flashy guy,” Spence said. “I’m a do-myjob type of guy. Control my gap. Make plays when I can. … I’m a quick-twitch guy. I get off the ball. Make plays in the backfield. Hold my gap very well. Just being fundamentally sound.”
Tuesday’s OTA highlights: Veteran guard Josh Sitton was not at practice, but there does not appear to be any reason for great concern. Wide receiver Leonte Carroo (knee), safety Jordan Lucas (injury) and tight end Thomas Duarte (shoulder) were not practicing.
■ Gore got in some work, presumably to get used to some handoffs from Tannehill.
■ Cornerback Tony Lippett had a pick-six off a Brock Osweiler pass.
■ Isaiah Ford caught a contested touchdown in the end zone from Bryce Petty.
■ Tannehill had deep TD passes to Amendola and Kenny Stills.
■ The Dolphins continue to practice at a really fast tempo.