ESPN: How the Dolphins should handle Tannehill

[rent this space]

There are several big issues I have with this column. First of all, why the criticism directed towards Ross for saying, "I hope we can retire Tannehill's #17 some day." What's wrong with Ross saying this? Is he supposed to say, "I hope he isn't a bust?" Or, "I gaurantee we will win a Superbowl," like some loud mouth coach says every year in NYC.

Also, what's with the "Do not under circumstances, consider starting him this year," talk. Seems like Cam Newton, Andy Dalton and several other QB's started just fine as rookies last year. Why don't we leave it up to the coaching staff to decide if and when he is ready.

back in '08, Ross said he "hoped Henne would be the greatest Dolphins QB ever", but people still to this day misquote him and criticize him for what he didn't say. I guess it just goes with the national media's negative narrative on the Dolphins

 

[datruth55]

There are several big issues I have with this column. First of all, why the criticism directed towards Ross for saying, "I hope we can retire Tannehill's #17 some day." What's wrong with Ross saying this? Is he supposed to say, "I hope he isn't a bust?" Or, "I gaurantee we will win a Superbowl," like some loud mouth coach says every year in NYC.

Also, what's with the "Do not under circumstances, consider starting him this year," talk. Seems like Cam Newton, Andy Dalton and several other QB's started just fine as rookies last year. Why don't we leave it up to the coaching staff to decide if and when he is ready.

There was no veteran leadership in front of either of those guys. Newton has Jimmy Clausen as his competition and I don't even know who Dalton had on the roster. Jake Locker I think played in part of one game and Ponder started only after McNabb fell flat on his face.

The fact that he knows the offense so well is good, he can move on to reading NFL defenses and not have to spend so much time learning the playbook. I think there is a lot of value for him to learn from the bench. I'd be more inclined to cut the loser of Matt Moore/David Garrard have Tannehill as the backup so that at least he's getting some reps in practice and getting involved in the game plan week to week and have Pat Devlin as the 3rd string guy. I don't really see the value of him being the 3rd string QB who never gets any snaps in practice.

 

[LikeUntoGod]

Most of the posts I've read are explaining why Ryan Tannehill has a good chance to be the next Tim Couch or Blane Gabbert.

Our OL in not going to become solid overnight. No one knows our new offense. Yet fans want to talk tough and risk funking up our inexperienced rookie QB.

Let's say that there is only a 20% chance of him turning into a bust if we put too much pressure of him and try to play him too early. Is everyone stupid enough to play those odds?

Mike Mayock said that Tannehill would get killed if played as a rookie. And pretty much everyone in the NFL agrees with that statement. Chad Henne lost his confidence and had to leave here to try and get it back.

Get over the Gruden QB camp videos and Tannehill's highlight videos, everyone has those.

Instead of taking the new sports car that still needs to be checked out racing down the turnpike, be smart enough to break it in.

To be honest, I knew that this is why taking Tannehill at number 8 would not work. Ross is a dumbass and agreeing with him will not make it better.

 

[LikeUntoGod]

I really like the "use Dan Marino as a mentor" point. The other ones are just obvious. I think Dan would be willing, He's been the face of this organization for almost 30 years now. He doesn't have to be his QB coach, but I think as some kind of advisor he'd be really beneficial in teaching him how to be a franchise Quarterback in a high pressure situation. How to handle himself. Etc.

Reality check:

Dan Marino has never helped anyone but Dan Marino.

 

[finfan54]

they just do not want to talk about us. they hate us. always will. they will do whatever it takes for us not to go to the dance. including get three officials from pittsburgh when miami plays pittsburgh.

 

[PALMA]

If Tannehill can't beat out career losers Matt Moore and David Garrard...I'm going to get immediately worried.

 

[Kinzua]

The rationale behind sitting Tannehill is that he's the equivalent of a college sophomore and is lacking much of the skill set that senior college QBs already have. If he's put in before he's mastered rudimentary skills (like learning to NOT stare down his receivers), he's going to fail. It's NOT just about the young QB losing his confidence, but also about the team around him losing confidence in him.

Tannehill has issues with reading defenses and seeing the field; every young QB does. This is one area where sitting and watching can help, especially if he has a mentor. Playing him too early will simply magnify his problems.

 

[FINOMINAL]

At least he will have all the ota’s and training camp, unlike last years rookies. I think if he is that familiar with the play book, all it takes is getting up to facing live fire, there’s nothing like getting in there and getting past that. It’s a new NFL, get these guys in there and coach ‘em up and play them.

 

[kloud_9]

Why is everyone dubbing this as a guaranteed rebuilding season? I didn't know #1 wide out was the solution for a winning season...I 4 one think we have a chance just like the mediocre jets..but we don't have tebow or sanchize so we suck.

 

[state06]

makes some good points. Yes, he has a jump on the offense, but everyone else is learning a new O, under a new coaching staff. ALL blame falls back onto the QB when the O is not as high powered as it wishes to be. Let the kid learn for a year. His physical tools are there, let the rest of him catch up.

 

[Exuro]

Big difference between Miami and Carolina/Cincatti is the offensive cast already on the team. Carolina had Stewart and Williams, plus Steve Smith. Cincinatti paired the #1 WR in the draft with Dalton, while having Cedric Benson (1k yards) and Jerome Simpson. Both teams had solid offensive lines too. Offensively, those teams were ahead of Miami in 2011 in both yards per game and points per game.

I don't think Miami is rebuilding, more like. reloading. The defense is mainly done, save a few pieces, and Philbin needs to how so everyone plays in the new schemes.. During that year. Tannehill can work with the mid to lower round draft picks and build up rapport. Then he can step out as the starter in 2013 with another draft class on his side and Miami will be in excellent conditional as the division realigns itself with the Jets on their downward slide and Tom Brady in twilight.

 

[finintheburgh]

i cant understand why everyone is so against playing tannehill yet they see no problems with wash starting rg3 who has to learn a total new offense that will have him doing things he hasnt dont in college. heres a guy who has never ran a prostyle offense in his life yet he is some how more ready than tannehill. i understand tannehille only has 19 starts but at least its in the same system.

now i not saying to start tanne now, because to me there was only one guy ready to start right off the bat and that was luck.

 

[DKphin]

Marino, a Hall of Famer, is royalty in Miami. I've said several times in the AFC East blog that Marino is an underused commodity by the Dolphins organization. This is the perfect time and situation to tap into that resource.

I would endorse this suggetion

 

[Cinderjav]

Why limit the kid, if he performs from day 1 and consistently outplays Moore and Garrard, I say play him.

 

[rickd13]

Most of the posts I've read are explaining why Ryan Tannehill has a good chance to be the next Tim Couch or Blane Gabbert.

Our OL in not going to become solid overnight. No one knows our new offense. Yet fans want to talk tough and risk funking up our inexperienced rookie QB.

Let's say that there is only a 20% chance of him turning into a bust if we put too much pressure of him and try to play him too early. Is everyone stupid enough to play those odds?

Mike Mayock said that Tannehill would get killed if played as a rookie. And pretty much everyone in the NFL agrees with that statement. Chad Henne lost his confidence and had to leave here to try and get it back.

Get over the Gruden QB camp videos and Tannehill's highlight videos, everyone has those.

Instead of taking the new sports car that still needs to be checked out racing down the turnpike, be smart enough to break it in.

To be honest, I knew that this is why taking Tannehill at number 8 would not work. Ross is a dumbass and agreeing with him will not make it better.

Chad Henne sucks because he sucks. It had nothing to do with him losing his confidence. I hate that stupid argument. Troy Aikman started day one and got hammered all season long. If anyone should have lost their confidence it should have been him, but that didn't matter because he was good enough to make it in the NFL. Sink or swim. There is a long list of great quarterbacks that started from day one and had miserable rookie seasons but bounced back to have great careers. You are either good enough to make or your not. Guys like David Carr don't make it because they are not good enough not because they start from day one and have rough rookie seasons.
I also love how you already proclaim that it won't work and the kid hasn't even shown up for an organized team activity yet. Even if I give you the benefit of the doubt about Ross being a dumb ass, how in the world would that make any difference what so ever on how good a player Tannnehill becomes. There have been owners of other sports franchises that were way worse than Ross that great athletes have developed under.