1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

The major offensive failure is with Bill Lazor, not Ryan Tannehill

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Disgustipate, Sep 21, 2014.

  1. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    31,608
    55,631
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Bill Lazor's job first and foremost was to install a system to fit the players on the field. A large portion of his hiring was centered around his coaching of a related offensive tree, and his work with quarterbacks, and he's failed in both regards.

    Even if Ryan Tannehill is a failed prospect that will have to be replaced, Lazor's job is to get the most out of him. He's totally failed in that regard, and instead we've got a player who is regressing at a critical part of his career. We're watching Ryan Tannehill handle multiple aspects of his job markedly worse than he did with the Dolphins in the past, and that's on Lazor.

    For some reason, we've tossed wholesale a wide variety of passing concepts, route combinations, and plays that worked well in the past. If they were things that violated the orthodoxy of the offensive system we chose to install, that'd be one thing, but they're not. The out-breaking routes that Tannehill excelled at are de-emphasized. Bread and butter WCO concepts that shouldn't really be off the table for schematic reasons are missing. Charles Clay and Brian Hartline are missing in action.

    Ryan Tannehill is struggling with his new footwork. The receivers are struggling to properly run there routes. The quarterback and receivers are quite frequently having issues where they're both not making the right reads. Those are teaching issues, and that buck ultimately stops with Lazor on that. He's essentially the quarterbacks coach, with the Dolphins choosing to retain Zac Taylor, whose qualifications are based more on marriage than skill.
     
    Califin, fin13, Kud_II and 23 others like this.
  2. RoninFin4

    RoninFin4 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    23,681
    44,611
    113
    Dec 11, 2007
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Mods, sticky this.
     
  3. Dolphans Unite!

    Dolphans Unite! Banned

    553
    154
    0
    Aug 17, 2014
    How do we know the issue isn't that Ryan Tannehill has been stretched too far beyond his Texas A&M/Mike Sherman comfort zone?
     
  4. Deerless Dice

    Deerless Dice Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    2,288
    2,486
    113
    Oct 30, 2013
    Still trying to wrap my head around why Lamar Miller only rushed 15 times when he was ripping off 7 yards a clip. Lazor's inexperience is showing, and he needs to pull his head out of his rear ASAP.
     
  5. Fin-Omenal

    Fin-Omenal Initiated

    36,936
    10,264
    0
    Mar 25, 2008
    Thee...Ohio State University
    Bill Lazor is the reason our QB has the awareness of a toddler?
     
    Ozzy, Sceeto, KeyFin and 6 others like this.
  6. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

    20,810
    8,965
    0
    Jan 7, 2008
    Hollywood, Florida
    Sooo we shouldn't change his poor footwork because he may struggle at first and regress? I don't get it. I don't get any of this blame on Lazor when receivers are dropping passes, Tannehill is missing open guys, and not to mention when Tannehill has a run/pass option on every play and only gives his back who is gashing the defense 15 carries.
     
    Sceeto, KeyFin, finyank13 and 5 others like this.
  7. Dolphans Unite!

    Dolphans Unite! Banned

    553
    154
    0
    Aug 17, 2014
    That might be because from the time the Chiefs went up 14-0 in the second quarter, they hovered right around being about 70% likely to win the game for nearly the remainder of the game. Being only about 30% likely to win will likely make a coordinator focus on the type of offensive play that stands to move the team down the field more quickly.
     
  8. Serpico Jones

    Serpico Jones Well-Known Member

    4,697
    1,667
    113
    Feb 1, 2012
    All I know is this might be the worst offense I have ever seen in Miami, it truly is sickening to watch this team try to pass the football.
     
    ASOT likes this.
  9. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    31,608
    55,631
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Even if he is, it's Lazor's job to identify it and compensate. Keeping a lot of familiar Mike Sherman passing concepts was an option totally on the table. Even if he would not adequate progress moving forward your job is to come up with viable quarterback play.

    We had that with Tannehill previously, we don't seem to now.
     
  10. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    45,652
    19,304
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    Windsor, ON. CANADA
    Exactly what I've been saying in alot of places today. Lazor is this place's new golden boy for now, but this post sums up exactly what I've been left wondering through 3 games. Where's the offense tailored to our QB? Where's the involvement of the players he's comfortable with. Where's the routes he's comfortable throwing. Why are we yet again, under Joe Philbin trying to fit square pegs, into round holes. Is this staff (referring to co-ordinators and the head coach) ever going to get outside their own comfort zones, and come up with a system that fits the players strengths and weaknesses.

    Either be completely able to change the player to work in your system, or take the concepts of your system, and apply them to said player's strengths and weaknesses. To me, that's what coaching is all about. Take your idea's and concepts as the coach, and mesh them with the strengths and weaknesses of the players you have to work with. If you can't do that, then you don't deserve the position. There's times where certain players just wont work, we all get that, but most guys are coachable, and have the skills to adapt, but you have to help them.

    As disappointing as Tannehill has been, I'm willing to bet without Lazor's new scheme, that clearly isn't working for anyone (not just the QB based on other players comments) had consistency remained for Ryan, we wouldn't be complaining about his so called "regression".

    Almost feels like this change from sherman to Lazor at this point is a great case of the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

    Where's Gibson? Where's Clay? Where's Matthews? Where's Hartline? These are the guys that Ryan is comfortable with, these are the guys the run the routes he excels at throwing. Why aren't we doing that? Why are we trying to run the passing game through Wallace? The guy he's obviously least comfortable with. I get that Sherman's idea's were antiquated, and it was time for him to go, but damn... why can we not build this offense, with these new idea's and concepts Lazor has around the strengths of the QB, rather than trying to fit the QB who may or may not be a good fit into the system? Simply because he came from Chip Kelly's offense... as a QB coach??? Similar to how Philbin came from Green Bay as the OC... who really had no control or play calling abilities??

    Lazor may be the golden boy around here for most right now, but I'm with you. These problems we have right now are on him. We haven't seen a version of Ryan Tannehill this... uncomfortable before. He looks more uncomfortable this year, than he did behind that pathetic OL from last year. Thats not on him, that's on our OC failing to put in a system that evolves around what he has to work with.
     
    fin13, RevRick and A13OVEAVERAGE like this.
  11. Dolphans Unite!

    Dolphans Unite! Banned

    553
    154
    0
    Aug 17, 2014
    But what if the Mike Sherman offense is simply not viable in today's NFL? Should you then keep part of that offense in place for the comfort of a quarterback whose ceiling in the NFL is unclear, or should you implement an offense that can work in the NFL and see what you truly have at QB?

    In other words, tailoring your schemes to your players' strengths is a concept that can go only so far. You can't tailor your schemes to your players if the result is a scheme that isn't viable, for a player who also may not be viable.
     
  12. CoastieMike

    CoastieMike New Member

    41
    10
    0
    Sep 21, 2014
    Long Island
    Tannehills horrible accuracy and weak arm isn't at the fault of Lazor, if anything I feel Lazor offensive calling is very limited because of Tannehill. Today would have been a great day to throw some long balls, but Tannehill seems to underthrow every single time.
     
  13. Dolphans Unite!

    Dolphans Unite! Banned

    553
    154
    0
    Aug 17, 2014
    Are these guys open and is Tannehill not hitting them? Do we know?
     
  14. dWreck

    dWreck formerly dcaf

    5,200
    2,975
    113
    Oct 23, 2011
    Sebring, FL

    Ehh in all fairness most of the time they either seem to be covered fairly well, or Tanny stares his laser lockdown first read and doesn't even look their way. Happens more often than we want to admit.
     
  15. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    31,608
    55,631
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    If Tannehill is not learning what he has to do effectively, it's almost certainly a teaching issue. He graduated with a Biology degree and has shown a lot of aptitude in learning new physical tasks(playing multiple positions, etc.). Unless there's been some sudden unexplored work ethic issues, he's absolutely a student you should expect success from.

    Tannehill missing open receivers and a sudden huge drop in accuracy is a pretty clear symptom of what I'm talking about.
     
  16. heylookatme

    heylookatme Well-Known Member

    902
    438
    63
    Sep 12, 2012
    You aren't supposed to 'go through your progressions' on a 3 step drop, are you? You take your drop and release the football. Timing offense. No?
     
  17. emocomputerjock

    emocomputerjock Senior Member

    5,649
    1,853
    113
    Nov 23, 2007
    DC
    To the point we've got the TV replay at best there were some open options out there at times that were missed. honestly though it cant be more useful without the full tapes and time to compare to other teams
     
  18. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

    3,807
    1,282
    113
    Oct 31, 2013
    Houston
    They both suck. And this year, you can't blame the O-line or the running game.
     
  19. dWreck

    dWreck formerly dcaf

    5,200
    2,975
    113
    Oct 23, 2011
    Sebring, FL
    You're going to make progressions if you would like to release the football, lol. atleast on most plays without an obvious lock.
     
  20. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

    40,533
    33,035
    113
    Dec 11, 2007
    It took the Seahawks as far as the superbowl.

    Took the Broncos to the superbowl as well.
     
  21. The Finest

    The Finest Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    912
    1,395
    93
    Oct 3, 2011
    He's always been mediocre
     
  22. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    31,608
    55,631
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    I'm not sure there's an argument that Mike Sherman's offense isn't viable(or for that matter for argument's sake that you would have to retain that much of it).
     
    unluckyluciano likes this.
  23. Serpico Jones

    Serpico Jones Well-Known Member

    4,697
    1,667
    113
    Feb 1, 2012
    It also seems like Philbin is lost without Mike Sherman at his side essentially doing the coaching for him.
     
  24. CashInFist

    CashInFist Well-Known Member

    10,069
    2,624
    113
    Nov 30, 2007
    West Virginia
    Is it possible that both Lazor and Tannehill suck?
     
    Clark Kent and Bpk like this.
  25. PhinFan1968

    PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member

    Did you see the O line today? Pfft. Running game was great...pass pro was bad.
     
  26. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    31,608
    55,631
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Did they finally ban LBsFinest?
     
  27. Serpico Jones

    Serpico Jones Well-Known Member

    4,697
    1,667
    113
    Feb 1, 2012
    I've obviously never been an offensive coordinator but I imagine it's tough to call plays when your quarterback sucks.
     
  28. Dolphans Unite!

    Dolphans Unite! Banned

    553
    154
    0
    Aug 17, 2014
    Well there sure was one last year, when Ryan Tannehill was struggling in it. Now that we've replaced Sherman with someone supposedly "cutting-edge," the scheme is still the problem? When does the focus shift to Ryan Tannehill the player?
     
  29. Griese's Glasses

    Griese's Glasses Well-Known Member

    1,388
    438
    83
    Oct 16, 2013
    Ottawa, ON
    Did you tune in to the Buffalo game?
     
  30. CashInFist

    CashInFist Well-Known Member

    10,069
    2,624
    113
    Nov 30, 2007
    West Virginia
    Should have called more run plays. Anyone could see that. It's the ONLY thing that was working today.
     
  31. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

    3,807
    1,282
    113
    Oct 31, 2013
    Houston

    They've given up 9 sacks in 3 games. Half of those are because Tannehill stands there like a mannequin.
     
    Ozzy, DPlus47 and MrClean like this.
  32. jpep13

    jpep13 Coach Of The Year Club Member

    14,303
    6,244
    113
    Dec 2, 2007
    where is Gator Hoskins, thought he can be a weapon
     
  33. Dolphans Unite!

    Dolphans Unite! Banned

    553
    154
    0
    Aug 17, 2014
    He can learn the offense "academically" all day and still not have the physical talent to pull it off on the field.

    If the "academic" learning of an offense was all it took, then every successful offensive coordinator could also be a successful NFL QB. One has to learn the offense on an intellectual level AND have the mental and physical skills to play well within it on the field.
     
    Bpk and MAFishFan like this.
  34. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    31,608
    55,631
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    I don't think there was anything wrong with the playbook and philosophy, as much as it was the play-calling, gameplanning, and adjustments.
     
    Califin, PhinGeneral and jldolfan like this.
  35. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    31,608
    55,631
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Him learning footwork, his reads, and the appropriate ball placement on a throw aren't physical issues.
     
  36. Dolphans Unite!

    Dolphans Unite! Banned

    553
    154
    0
    Aug 17, 2014
    But his doing it is! :)
     
  37. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

    20,810
    8,965
    0
    Jan 7, 2008
    Hollywood, Florida
    All systems use the same routes. We didn't take routes away from Ryan. Some may be used more or less of course, but the basic tree is always the same. The difference is in progressions, route combinations and formation. What he is looking for in the defense has changed and IMO he isn't seeing it.

    If Tannehill doesn't see an open back in the flat on third and short and/or refuses to run when it's there I don't see how that can be pinned on Lazor.
     
  38. The_Dark_Knight

    The_Dark_Knight Defender of the Truth

    11,817
    10,321
    113
    Nov 24, 2007
    Rockledge, FL
    CashInFist and Bpk like this.
  39. mroz

    mroz Fix the OL Club Member

    25,867
    24,359
    113
    Oct 26, 2008
    SF Bay Area
    i have sister that is very book smart... was in college at 16. getting to think on her feet.. on the fly... well lets just say book smart and being able to process info on the fly are two different things...
     
    Ozzy, Ophinerated, Fin-Omenal and 2 others like this.
  40. gilv13

    gilv13 Well-Known Member

    2,540
    1,327
    113
    Aug 23, 2009

    This.
     

Share This Page