Gase, Tannehill under pressure
line, added two veteran receivers in Danny Amendola and Albert Wilson, a veteran tailback in Frank Gore, and selected two tight ends in the early rounds of the draft.
Dowell Loggains replaced Clyde Christensen as offensive coordinator, and the hope was that comfort, chemistry and new players would finally allow Gase’s offense to soar. But it has consistently sputtered.
And this regression can mainly be blamed on the offense’s troubles converting third downs. The problem also can’t be blamed on injuries because it was still an issue when the team’s top playmakers were healthy.
“I look at the big picture of saying ‘How are we as an offense?’ We’ve been poor,” said Gase, focusing on the team’s drive-stopping third-down issues. “We haven’t done nearly enough to get the conversions we need.”
Keep in mind, all three of the receivers and the tailback projected to be the team’s starters are finishing out the season on the field in Sunday’s 1 p.m. game against the Buffalo Bills (5-10), so at some point user error has to be factored in.
“We’re so inconsistent,” Gase said, talking about an offense that has produced less than 200 yards in five games, and scored fewer than 17 points in six contests. “That’s why we’re where we’re at right now.”
The Dolphins (7-8) rank 25th in points scored per game, 30th in net passing yards per game, 31st in third-down efficiency and first downs per game, and 30th in sacks allowed per passing play.
Miami’s coaches acknowledge that the offense has been too reliant on big plays, and lacks an identity.
“I think the receivers have been okay. I think it was easier with Albert being around because he can ... run through all that stuff,” Gase said.
“Our other guys are more vertical, cut-type players. They’re not inspace, make-you-miss type guys.”
The common thread that can be connected to Miami’s offensive struggles are Gase and Tannehill, who is producing a careerhigh 99.0 in passer rating this season, but has been used sparingly as a true passer in the 10 games he’s been healthy enough to play.
Tannehill hasn’t thrown for more than 300 yards all season, which is puzzling considering the NFL has become a pass-happy league due to all the rule changes that favor offensive players.
And poor play in the fourth quarter of games against Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Jacksonville, where Tannehill threw a pick-six, have contributed to Miami’s losses this season.
After playing seven years in the NFL, with six seasons as a starter for the Dolphins, Tannehill has produced only a 42-47 record as the conductor of Miami’s offense.
Tannehill’s 87.5 career passer rating indicates that he’s more of a bridge quarterback than a franchise QB. That means the Dolphins might need to explore other options — either in free agency or the draft — this coming offseason instead of paying the 30 year old his $18.75 million salary in 2019.
“I have a lot of belief in myself. I know what I can bring to the table, wherever it is,” said Tannehill, who has a 72.9 passer rating on third downs, which ranks him 28th among NFL starting quarterbacks this season. “I want to be here. I want to finish my career as a Dolphin and win a championship here. That’s what they brought me here for, and that’s what I want to do.”
Loggains recently raised concern about Tannehill’s third-down struggles, and questioned his ability to create — evade sacks, buy time in the pocket, throw receivers open — when things are not ideal.
“The things you do as a quarterback, we’re judged on third down, 2-minute [drill],” Loggains said. “Sometimes that’s where you have to improvise and make plays off schedule and it takes 11 guys doing their job to do that.”
It works in Tannehill’s favor that his head coach has been his biggest supporter, and advocate.
But at some point selfpreservation will take over and Gase will have to decide whether he’s willing to stake his reputation on Tannehill’s ability to perform under pressure, which is exactly what Gase and his quarterback find themselves under entering the season finale.