Tannehill looking at make-or-break season
Dolphins pinning their hopes on QB’s return
ORLANDO — Adam Gase says Ryan Tannehill is ready to take the next step in his career.
Of course, Tannehill hasn’t taken any step in an NFL game since December 11, 2016.
That’s 468 days since the Dolphins had their leading man, and make no mistake, they are counting on him to fully resume his role, even take on a larger role, on the NFL’s next opening day.
In fact, based on public and private conversations with pretty much everyone of importance in the Dolphins organization at the recent NFL owner’s meetings, Miami is really, really counting on Tannehill.
And it is completely fair to wonder if they’re counting on him too much.
Since Tannehill last played, the running back he once leaned on so heavily ( Jay Ajayi), the center he trusted to lead his offensive line and snap him the ball (Mike Pouncey) and the receiver that was his ultimate security blanket ( Jarvis Landry) all have been sent along.
When asked about all the changes (including the loss of their best defensive player, Ndamukong Suh), everyone with aqua and orange apparel seemed to point to the return
of Tannehill. It gives them hope. And so, perhaps they feel, it should give the team hope. And, thus, give fans hope.
It would not be surprising if it is Tannehill (perhaps alongside elder statesman Cam Wake) who adorns billboards and the sides of equipment trucks and perhaps soft drink cups in the fall.
Tannehill has never appeared in a Dolphins playoff game. But who else would get the call?
It has to be Tannehill. Oh sure, Miami would like to add a young quarterback to this mix. And if through some miracle, Baker Mayfield or Josh Allen were available at the 11th spot in the first round, they likely would pounce. Competition and depth at the quarterback position is a smart long-term move.
But for 2018? The Miami Dolphins are all in on Tannehill.
“I really believe in Ryan, probably like nobody else,” owner Stephen Ross said in Orlando. “I think he can be outstanding and I think you haven’t seen the best of Ryan Tannehill yet.”
This is possible. Yes, this will be Tannehill’s seventh NFL season (time flies).
And yes, Tannehill is 17th among active NFL quarterbacks in career passer rating.
But we must note many of the best quarterbacks in the NFL are much older than Tannehill, who turns 30 this summer. And we also note Gase did have Tannehill on the ascent before significant injuries to his knee.
Gase says Tannehill’s brain (never an issue) is moving faster, based on having studied the game alongside him last season. Gase says Tannehill is ready to take that next step. Everyone agrees Tannehill’s knee will be just fine, as early as this spring.
And no, stop smirking, this isn’t like last spring.
In one breath, Gase pulls back and says it’s not all on Tannehill.
But in the next breath, he concedes how much it is.
“I know for us to have success, he has to play well,” Gase said. “That’s the way this league is.
There’s not a lot of times where you’re saying, ‘The quarterback is not playing well and they’re winning.’ It’s rare that’s happened.”
Here’s the rub. For years, Miami coaches have suggested that Tannehill doesn’t need to force the issue, doesn’t need to try to emerge as a star. That he just needs to play within the system. That he just needs to manage the game. And trust his teammates.
Everything I sensed — and I thought about this a lot on the drive back from Orlando on Wednesday — was that the thinking has changed. The thinking now is more along the lines of — “Get ready to sling it, Tanny! Cutler’s gone and it’s your time to shine! Let’s let it rip!”
I’m not sure that will work, but we’re all going to find out together.
Dolphins executive vice president Mike Tannenbaum was asked, quite directly, “What is your plan?” and it sure seemed like Tannehill’s return is a big part of the plan.
Tannenbaum elected not to tear down the roster (you may dispute this) and add a bunch of unheralded youngsters (you can’t really dispute this).
Instead, he opted to field a “competitive product” in 2018, based in part in his confidence in Gase, and, yes, the return of Tannehill.
“We feel like we’re going in the right direction,” Tannenbaum said. “We’re going to be getting our starting quarterback back and we have a draft to look forward to. Our vision remains the same.”
You can criticize Tannenbaum for the contract he gave Suh, and the restructuring he gave Suh. And you may believe he should have gotten a deal for Landry done, and should not have gotten a deal done for free agents such as Andre Branch last offseason.
But you really can’t fairly criticize Tannenbaum for the smart, four-year extension he gave Tannehill in 2015. That deal averages about $19 million, a bargain in today’s quarterback market.
Tannehill has the NFL’s 18th-highest average quarterback salary and you may argue he’s the 18th-best quarterback.
But Miami clearly feels the ceiling is much, much higher.
In all likelihood, Tannehill never will reach the level of Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Drew Brees.
But why can’t Tannehill play at a Pro Bowl level in 2018? Why can’t Tannehill play to the level of quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins, Alex Smith, Matt Ryan and Andy Dalton?
And what if that’s good enough?
But it feels like the Dolphins aren’t counting on Tannehill to just be good enough. It feels like they’re really counting on Tannehill to finally live up to his status as the former eighth overall pick in the NFL draft.
If he does, they’ll have a fairly-compensated, accurate enough, athletic enough, hard-working, even-keeled leader.
And if he doesn’t, they’ll probably find someone new to take on all this pressure.