http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...kie-qb-ranks-andrew-luck-ryan-tannehill-shine "I thought hard about ranking Tannehill first this week. He did almost everything the Dolphins asked. He started fast (129 yards on his first 12 throws) to take the lead. There were a handful of "wow" plays. He ranks second because Luck played his best with the game on the line, but this was a second straight very encouraging effort from Tannehill. Dolphins fans have to be thrilled." We know what we have here, don't need anyone telling us here what we've been watching, still like it though for the casual fan who doesn't go in depth.. What I don't think we're talking about enough, which is something I've been blown away from, is RTs accuracy.. The potential he has for this element of the game, the talent trait I saw in camp thats starting to come to fruition, is that special ability to throw the ball the best place for the receiver to catch it, it's something I completely underestimated in his game just from watching his games in college, it's not something that was really talked about before the draft, but dog gone it, there is something really special going on with it, and the more comfortable he gets, the slower the game becomes, the more his fundamentals will set him up to deliver and develope this special skill he has. there is a reason why Bess and Hart are having career years, and I think accuracy is the biggest component of it.
The thing I'm blown away by is how he handles pressure, since that's the way NFL defenses typically dismantle rookie QBs. Remember John Beck?
All I know is, I supported Henne....but whenever we got into a 3rd and long situation....I was NEVER confident we'd convert. Some was play calling. But most was lack in faith for my QB. I don't feel like that with Tannehill behind center. I feel he can/will make the throw to get us the first.
One of the things I've loved most about watching Tannehill is the fact that he barely ever throws a checkdown. He's fun to watch.
The accuracy (ball placement) might be the thing I'm most disappointed in him about. Maybe that's a strong word, disappointed, but it's probably the weakest part of his game. His handling of pressure was observable at Texas A&M. What I kept saying about him pre-Draft is the reason I ultimately just can't see him being a bust is that ability to handle pressure. It's really a combination of things but the ability to handle pressure and throw on the run which he showed constantly at Texas A&M effectively put a floor under his NFL career. He may not ever become GREAT, but he'll probably never be BAD either. A guy with this size, this arm, this level of accuracy (which isn't necessarily deadly accuracy but not close to 'scattershot' either), with this experience in a pro system, this kind of athleticism...you don't usually see that being a bust but if it is going to be a bust it's because of inability to think quickly and handle pressure. But he had that, clearly, so again I had a tough time imagining him being a bust. Flip side of it is, we don't know if he's going to be special yet. He's certainly not there yet. The thing that has pleasantly surprised me the most has been his recognition of coverage and vision of the field in real time after the snap. Disguised coverages don't seem to phase him at all, and he does a really good job seeing what is happening and then translating it into action during the play.
Tanny does seem to have that"wow" factor that cannot always be measured in the stats.He just seems so comfortable out there and gets better each game.
The thing that impresses me most is that week to week he doesn't make the same mistakes, he seems to fix the mistakes or deficiencies in his game very quickly, especially for a rookie. For example, early on I thought he didn't appear to feel pressure in the pocket well, not something that's unusual in a rookie QB to be fair, and often something that I wouldn't expect to improve in just a couple of games. But already I am seeing him step up or slide in the pocket to avoid pressure, and to be far ahead of the curve in adjusting to it. Henne showed flashes at first that made me think he might he might have it, but there was never any real signs of improvement with him. The mistakes he made early he was still making last year.
I think if there is something I'd like to see him do better at is timing on his throws. He sometimes seems to be a bit late with his throws to receivers. I do however believe it is something that he can and will improve on. He's had an advantage and a rather quick start a lot because of knowing the system and the plays. He isn't learning a system while going thru normal rookie jitters and mistakes... He is a lot different than what we felt with Henne, imo. In Henne's beginning, a) he'd already been in the system for a year, b) had a mentor in Penny and c) had a working knowledge of the other skilled players at the time he was starting his 4th or 5th game to go along with the year learning the system. I supported Henne, but always felt unsure that he was 'the man'. I'm not ready to anoint THill as the next "Marino" yet, but he's showing more than any of the plethora of guys that have come since Danny retired...
What sucks is when he hits a WR on 3rd and long and no catch is made! He's better than the numbers show and the numbers are impressive for a rookie QB!
I was never sold on Henne. He never looked comfortable. Also, it seems an awful lot of hot air was blown about how "they look to me as a leader" and "I believe I'm a leader". When you have to blow your self up like that, you're kind of putting a bullseye on your self-perceived weak point which, not coincidentally, seemed to square with his lack of poise. I don't see THill as COMMANDING a huddle yet, but there is no question that the first time I saw him in the first preseason game, he had more poise than anything I ever saw out of Henne.
Being late was what caused pick 6 He has improved that but still needs more. Love where he is at dev wise tho
I disagree, I think Tannehill has controlled the huddle. From the moment he took over as starter, the other players did not feel it was a "by default" move because of his draft status....he earned it...and by all accounts from other player interviews they back him 100%, are behind the decision, and trust it's his offense.
Not disagreeing at all - but are there specific plays / instances that you could point out these issues with his accuracy? I haven't noticed too much one way or the other, but thought he was pretty decent with the ball placement. Seems there's been a few times he's put the ball where only the WR could get it, but the WR didn't go get it (thinking of Hartline sliding in the endzone or reaching out across the sideline also in the endzone).
I was thinking the same thing. What is it specifically about his ball placement that is weak? If anything, I've felt his accuracy was a thing of beauty, with the exception of the longer throws to the back of the EZ, which almost looked like intentional overthrows because of good coverage.
I think his ball placement's accuracy irregularities are in large part due to his lack of familiarity with his WRs. His lack of knowledge of his WRs tendencies and movement patterns. The last couple of games, his ball placement has improved IMO. I was one of his biggest critics post draft, and i must say i was completely wrong. Given his inexperience and rawness playing the QB position, if we can say this is perhaps the shakiest QB play we will see from him, and he will improve, then the sky is the limit. He should be raw even by rookie standards given his small amounts of competitive snaps at QB in his career. He looks very, very little like the raw prospect we were led to believe he would be.
Just remember at some point hes going to take a few steps backward and have some bad games. Lets not be hard on him when that happens. Year two is the hardest as they have you on tape. Year 3 is where you bloom or bust..
I liked in this last game how on one particular pass play, he did a great job at looking off the Safety, shifted and hit the open man. That was sweet.
I feel the same. Third and 12? Grip it and rip it Tanny. I remember a guy that wore #13. I was more confident when it was 3rd and 12 than I was when it was 3rd and 3.
Well, can you really blame Henne? Henne would drive the team from our 20 to the opponent 30, get pulled for two wildcard plays that net -5 yards, then face a 3rd and 15. Captain Fistpump didn't do much to breed confidence for Henne.
I said COMMANDING a huddle, not controlling a huddle. Think of Peyton or Dan. THill may well get there, but he doesn't appear to have that heavy handedness.
Man, just watching that again and I am so impressed with how much he can get on those throws, it just looks like he is flipping his wrist, it is so smooth.
I don't mean this is any sort of...disrespectful way but I honestly don't believe there is a difference between commanding or controlling a huddle. You get in and call the play, get to the line make your checks and snap the ball. It's not like they have pep talks and conversations in there. All that matters is that the offensive players trust one another and they obviously do.
Hell I'm bouncing off the walls. We could be 4-1 easily. Improvement each week, over achieving pair of WR's, a damn good defense. Shall I mention a QB. Yes a QB. Watch that 30 yard pass to BH in the third qtr. Gold. A real good running game. I have to mention Sean Smith. He has been playing really well. The guy is developing into a really good CB who wants to be challenged. Hell yes I'm thrilled.
Exactly!! They never let anyone throw down field. Obviously its play calling as well but we would never go down field on 1st down. 3rd and medium to 3rd and long would usually be a draw or a short pass i.e. screen or a slant. Im really liking the confidence the team and coaches have in him. I usually dont get my hopes up too early because as dolphin fans we are usually let down, but im really liking this kid.
Same for me during the first couple games, I didn't see in games, what I saw in camp, what I saw in camp was pure, it was a conscious effort, and the talent to do so was excellent..These last couple games I've seen some throws that make me believe that what I saw in camp, may be what we see in his future.
His willingness and success beginning to use middle of the field throws more has impressed me the most. I was concerned it was not something he old and would do decisively. I was wrong.
You have to remember and take into account his mindset in camp, he KNEW he couldn't get hit, versus the unknown of his first couple of real games, speed wise and his own doubts about taking a hit. That mental reality to take that hit and get up is part of his growth and getting past that then allows for what you saw in camp to be brought forth in a real game setting. While watching Hard Knocks, during one of the preseason games he was hit really hard in the chest and came back and remarked, with eyes WIDE, stating "wow that was really hard." Yet with all that and a disaster of a first game he has continued to grow and get better because, I believe, he is realizing that he really can play in this league.