Our offense was very predictable last year. The hope is that it will be much more dynamic this year. Last year, here were our problems:
1. OL couldn't consistently generate running lanes, making us one-dimensional.
2. OL was mediocre at pass defending, and often so bad that we didn't have time to throw deep, further limiting us to a short passing game.
3. QB was bad and became extremely gun-shy when the OL couldn't keep pressure off him, so he spent much of the season in a non-stop backpedal, further guaranteeing that we could only throw short.
4. No TE threat down the seam or in the red zone, and minimal production on 3rd down.
This year, we made a bunch of changes: So with Sitton and Davis, we have two guards who generate good run blocking and solid pass protection. Our center Kilgore is average. Tunsil looks to be improved at LT. Our depth with a healthy Larsen, etc., should be a bit better than last year. That really helps points 1 and 2.
Our QB is ten-fold better than last year, with ability, accuracy, mobility, command of the huddle and offense, and willingness to stand in the pocket and deliver strikes even when he gets hit. The deeper routes are back on the table.
The addition of Gesicki is going to be huge for seam, red zone, and 3rd down efficiency. I'm expecting a lot better options for our offense.
But, as far as Amendola/Landry, I think we are going to be able to spread it out a lot more. Before Cutler became gun-shy and permanently back-pedaled every play, he was utilizing Parker a fair amount. I'm expecting Tannehill to get back to that. Plus, rotating in Jakeem Grant for deep balls and ridiculous lateral agility, Albert Wilson all over the formation as a wildcard, and Amendola in the slot, means we will see a more varied offense. Preparing for us will be much harder this year, and we will have a lot more options to exploit mismatches. Amendola will certainly not generate the number of targets that Landry did, but it's a good thing, because we will have so many more weapons.
I'm expecting Tannehill to build upon his 2016 season after the team learned Gase's offense. This should be fun.
