hoops
Tua time!
When I first started working on this I wanted to make one post with all 16 games in it but I quickly found out that the amount of information if presented all in one 16 game lump sum may get lost in translation so I have decided to go to this route…a game by game play by play break down of Ryan Tannehills 2014 season…a tale of the tape…blow by blow…16 new threads and maybe a 17[SUP]th[/SUP] summary of the entire body of work…it should be noted first off that I am not a writer nor do I strive to be as I have said countless times I am a football guy and I enjoy the evaluations and scouting side of things…my delivery here is my delivery if it doesn’t work for you that’s fine…I ask only one thing of the board on this…please stay on topic…this is evaluation and tape study…nothing more…I welcome anyone to check what they have against mine and by all means debate the topic but I have been doing too much work on this to have someone derail it attempting to discredit me or trolling and ask that violators be banned from these threads…It’s a simple request if you don’t have anything to add to the topic or debate on from a football stand point and particularly the QB please let it be…I am doing this for the benefit of the entire board if it makes you rethink your position fine if it doesn’t that’s fine too…I’m just going to put out there what’s on tape and let you all decide…
Before we begin I am grading this play by play only on passing plays as Ryan Tannehill under Lazors offense this 2014 season did not have the authority to check out into other plays at the line of scrimmage therefore I cannot hold him accountable for anything but did he execute the play and offense the way the OC wanted him to…how efficient on a play by play basis was the QB…ap lay call into a bad defense provided the QB did not do anything wrong in the course of the play does not get a negative grade for the QB if he doesn’t have the opportunity and authority to check into something else…point blank…I will hold him accountable for that when they allow him to make those kind of decisions…
A couple other things…Ryan Tannehill in 2014 was in his first year in a brand new offense with different route combinations and terminology and a heavily read option based post snap decision making one in the run game and in some cases on the read option play action keep…all predicted off what the defense did post snap…I will note that there was no lost fumbles on QB RB exchanges or lost fumbles on center QB exchanges maybe one delay of game call on the offense for not getting the play off in time which speaks to a QB who gets the call and explains it well and gets the guys to the line of scrimmage…not an easy thing to do in a brand new offense with new terminology etc. and route combos…shows that the QB had control of the offense as the season progressed and was efficient in and out of the huddle prior to the snap…
A run call is a run call no grade will apply here…just the passing downs and the pass calls off the read option will I grade…even the QB keep read option plays there was no issue with his handling and decision making and sometimes as Lazor has even said they were handing the ball off regardless of how the edge player or scrape LB or DB sniffing the los was playing it…
I ask that you pay attention to the down and distance aand the scoreboard even as it is key when it comes to play calling and depth of routes as even week 1 you will see in the breakdown…stay ahead of the sticks more opportunity for vertical shots and routes to depth…get behind them more coverages to make you take the underneath and dump off etc…
The way I have written this up RZ stands for red zone los stands for line of scrimmage rac stands for run after catch and on the score the away team is on the left and the home team is on the right except for the final score at the very end…if you see a score change or a drive end with no breakdown of why you are to understand that the QB had no as an actual passer impact in the reason why…otherwise that play would be on here…a missed FG or made FG is not listed here nor is a rushing TD but if you follow the score changes or you see no change in the score just know it wasn’t because of the QB…I think we’ve explained that pretty well...
Also of note I am grading this on a hard scale…no QB is perfect but I am grading this as if I expect him to hit on every throw and execute on every play at the highest of levels…he doesn’t get any good read good decision bad throw positive grade here…but it also needs to be understood that even the best miss throws at times and make mistakes…especially ones first year in a new offense and of the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] year variety but I gave him no quarter here…the grade scale is +1 or -1…that’s it…I graded this like I would grade any QB…and will do so for every game…I held him accountable for what the offense request of him and what I expect…
i will be grading every play provided it goes thru to the whistle so a penalty etc. does not eliminate that attempt thus my number of total plays graded may not coincide with the stat line total…for example a penalty like roughing the passer I still grade the play thru completion even if an incompletion does not count against the total attempts in the end game stat line…
Finally this long introduction will only be in this opening edition expect a much shorter and sweeter one going forward and with that let’s begin…
In 2014 Ryan Tannehill put up a season total stat line of 27TDs 12 INTs 4045 yards a 92.9 rating 46 sacks 1 rushing TD and 2 lost fumbles
Week 1 NEW ENGLAND @ MIAMI
18-32 178 yards ypa 5.6 2 TDs 1 INT 79.9 rating 1 sack 9 yards lost…what does the tape say???
1[SUP]ST[/SUP] QUARTER
13:36 1[SUP]ST [/SUP]and 10 0-0 score Pats 15 yard line RZ play action hits Wallace on shallow crosser vs zone correct read correct decision hits in stride for turn up rac opportunity 8 yard gain +1
11:52 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and goal 0-0 score Pats 4 yard line RZ carries out the play fake rolls to the primary the RB on a LB working back across the formation to the flat Lamar Miller for TD +1
3:46 1[SUP]st[/SUP]and 10 7-7 score Mia 34 yard line throws catchable but behind a shallow crossing mike Wallace vs zone where when Wallace turns he is hit by the outside zone defender on the ball and fumbles for a turnover…correct read correct decision poor placement …throw didn’t let Wallace tuck the ball prior to contact -1
:42 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 10-7 score Mia 26 yard line carries out the play fake to Wallace in motion on the swing to the flat behind the los and pivots to the actual play call the screen to the RB on the opposite side Miller for a 5 yard gain all play call +1
:01 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 5 10-7 score Mia 31 yard line play action 7 man protect 2 man route with a dump off back to the flat late hits Wallace working a depth crosser over the LB level who failed to get depth on the play for a 20 yard gain…ball is thrown inside but catchable correct read correct decision some rac may have been left on the field with the placement had he missed it it’s a negative but +1
2nd QUARTER
15:00 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 10-7 score pats 47 yard line hits Wallace on the motion from the backfield to the swing in the flats with blocking in front for 3 yards placed correctly all play call +1
13:06 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 10-7 score Pats 37 yard line Clay motions from the backfield to the swing in the flats carries out the play fake to the back who will end up last on the progression works to the primary on the play clay on the swing it is covered he looks to Hartline then to the inside Gibson down the seam all covered and comes back to the backside late to Wallace 4th on the progression working right to left who has won inside on the deep post in sync with where the qb should be on the progression at the cut point and just prior to contact releases a ball too far outside and placed poorly for an INT where if he leads Wallace to the middle of the field it’s a td…correct read correct decision good work thru his progressions but bad throw and pick -1
8:13 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 17-7score Mia 35 yard line no huddle play fake to the back…Sims lined up just off the left tackle off the los as soon as the LB over him shows rush Sims becomes the primary on the leak out to the flat vs 2 inside the tackle box LBs in coverage…catch turns up field for 8 yard gain…correct read correct decision +1
7:28 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 17-7 score Mia 43 yard line no huddle play action sets up vs zone DBs stay at depth on the vertical boundary routes just prior to contact goes to Landry out the slot working a nices houlder and head fake to the seam sell and depth out route to the sideline for what should be a 15 yard gain just outside the drop LBs reach dropped by Landry correct read correct decision correct throw +1 drive ends on a miller rushing fumble and turnover next play
5:51 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 8 17-7 score Mia 27 yard line play action finishes his drop can barely set up before he has to dump to the tight end selling the run motioned from off the los off left tackle into I form late who released up the middle and out to the flat underneath a LB zone drop…albert whiffs on the OLB Hightower who plants Tannehill just as he releases good play by the QB to get the ball to his dump off and not get sacked…correct read sped up by immediate pressure could not work thru progressions had to go to the dump off 8 yard gain…roughing the passer called on Hightower on the QB drive into the ground with his weight on top of him correct decision correct placement +1
5:35 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 17-7 score 50 yard line fakes tothe RB in motion from the backfield to the swing in the flat pivots back to the actual play call the screen to clay behind the los off the left tackle for a 2 yard gain vs zone…all play call but executed properly by the QB…need pressure/man to man for that play to work more efficiently zone and only rush 3 kills it but not anything of the QBs doing +1
4:28 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 4 17-7 score Pats 44 yard line shotgun finishes his drop hits Hartline on the boundary working a comeback run 2 yards past the sticks and back to the sticks timed and placed spot on to the outside shoulder for turn and rac opportunity 11 yard gain correct read correct decision placed spot on +1
4:00 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 17-7 score Pats 33 yard line 2 man max protect route with clay as a potential at the los flat dump late Tannehill executes the play action and rolls out to his right to set up at the far hash mark but has to take an extra 2 steps outside and forward of the hash mark and throw on the run pretty much cause Vince Wilfork beat Shelley Smith quickly and was in pursuit from the inside and the throw I think is effected because of this…instead of more to the inside down the boundary it’s outside down the line…we have debated this throw to Wallace on the stutter and go double move at length but my personal take is Wallace does not early once he clears Revis work straight down the sideline he is working inside and down the boundary leaving space and he has to adjust to the ball tracking it thrown down the actual boundary line and thus the TD isn’t made…but I have no doubts that throw was effected cause he was thrown off his launch point by Wilforks inside pressure…at any rate correct read correct decision TD left on the board and the QB on my grade has to eat this one -1
2:15 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 9 17-7 score Pats 20 yard line RZ shotgun finishes his drop clays man over him LB Ninkovich in the right slot does not cover but brings pressure James engages a dline early and tries to come off and pick it up late but cannot get there and Tannehill bails out of the pocket to his right and throws on the run with Ninko in pursuit to Hartline working a shallow cross late to the boundary Hartline is neck tied and slung to the ground no call…incomplete +1
2:08 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 9 17-7 score Pats 20 yard line RZ shotgun 4 wide vs man to man has Wallace working a skinny post from the boundary working into the seam there’s a drop LB at depth Collins sitting in the hole Tannehill holds that LB inside with his eyes in his 3 step drop and in sync with the route throws over the LBs arms to the primary Wallace who has won slightly inside and the balls placed too far outside and Revis gets a hand in there and knocks it up in the air off Wallace incomplete… ball needs to be more out in front…correct read correct decision good job of holding the LB with his eyes early and timed release correctly but ball placed too far outside -1
3[SUP]rd[/SUP] QUARTER
14:53 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 20-10 score Mia 28 yard line empty set 5 wide with the 5[SUP]th[/SUP] WR being the RB Moreno drop zone hits clay working an out route just past the sticks from off the left tackle on the los pre snap in the hole in the zone between the boundary defender and the 2 middle dropping LBs timed spot on…ball comes out before Clay ever makes his out cut in the gear down Clay is able to break a tackle of the boundary DB on what should be a 12 yard gain and turn it into a 25 yard gain breaking multiple tackles…correct read correct decision timed spot on and placed perfectly…should be noted that Tannehill bypassed a RB open underneath in the flat on this play well he went with the higher progression instead of taking the bird in hand underneath in other words +1
13:42 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 7 20-10 score Pats 45 yard line shotgun 7 step drop has pressure wide on his left side immediately after finishing his drop sets up but albert is for some reason run into by Moreno in my opinion trying to get out of the backfield into the flat and he stops Alberts lateral movement and releases Chandler Jones to the QB and Moreno flails in vain late to try and stop him Tannehill releases gets hit head high and dropped immediately after...ball is spot on to Wallace working a 20 yard out route on the boundary timed spot on with the drop and ball goes right off Wallace hands and face mask incomplete…Chandler Jones called for roughing the passer on a face mask pull down as he’s taking him down… QB grade +1
11:35 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 5 20-10 score Pats 9 yard line RZ shotgun 3 step drop hits Lamar Miller out of the backfield working to the short field flat…a play designed for Clay to come off the los and in the stem of his route delay the LB Collins inside the formation from being able to get out to the flat in time to prevent Miller from catching and turning up the boundary for a possible score…Miller looks over the outside shoulder the ball is high but catchable over millers head he catches and stumbles to the ground for a 2 yard gain…correct read correct decision timed well but rac left on the field by the throw -1
10:55 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 3 20-10 score Pats 7 yard line RZ shotgun trips WR set single back in the backfield miller...QB ids man to man wants miller on an arrow route miller wins inside of the LB ball is thrown to lead miller inside properly he quits on the route when he feels LB contact coming from the inside…conversion and possible TD off the board…QB rightly blast miller for the effort +1
7:03 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 3 20-13 score Pats 14 yard line RZ 3 WR shotgun finishes his drop sets and fires to Wallace on a little outside inside post route where there’s double coverage but the inside defender is looking at the man not the ball and there is also a LB at depth trying to get into the throwing lane…Tannehill throws it over the LB Collins and right by the inside defenders turned helmet before heeven knows where it is and Wallace and Revis get a hand on it and Wallace comes down with it going to ground…it’s a gunslinger type throw no way around it and the QB got it done even if I’m not sure he read that coverage right…the timing had to be spot on or if he’s late the inside defender gets his head turned and breaks on it…TD +1
5:53 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 20-20 score Mia 47 yard line 2 split wide WRs 2 in the backfield including Sims motioning late into a off i lead role Miami wants to take a shot vertical Tannehill from under center takes the7 step drop and before he can even set gets moved off the launch point and has to bail the pocket as Shelley Smith at right guard oversets at the snap and whiffs miserably and goes to ground even and his man flushes Tannehill to the right and he rightfully throws it away +1
5:03 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 3 20-20 score Pats 34 yard line Miami again wants to take a shot 3 WRs clay coming across the formation post snap from left to right off the los pre snap off left tackle responsible for picking up the OLB released clean late (this is something you see a lot with Lazors offense the tight end being asked to come across the formation post snap and pick up a clean edge rusher) Tannehill can’t even finish his drop gets moved off the spot again and climbs forward to avoid the wide rusher from clays side and hitches 3 times before taking off to his left and throwing the ball away…nothing wrong with that the timing with the routes is thrown off by the immediate pressure in his drop…live for the next play +1
4:55 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 3 20-20 score Pats 34 yard line shotgun with 4 wide 3 step drop head in the middle of the field in his drop Wallace is working a 8 yard stop route as soon as the off man coverage DB opens his hips he gears down and sits...timing is spot on ball is placed spot on to the outside shoulder and Wallace as a result can turn and even makes the DB spin off in the process and gains an additional 6 yards…that’s textbook +1
3:32 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and goal 20-20 score Pats 10 yard line RZ shotgun hits miller on an out working out of the backfield vs an under zone in a compressed field with a zone LB trailing from the inside in space for a 7 yard gain correct read correct decision +1
2:47 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and goal 20-20 score Pats 4 yard line RZ shotgun Tannehill flanked by Landry and Moreno in the backfield on each side and 3 receivers including clay in the slot IDs man to man Moreno picks up the clean released edge player on the slanted down protection and clay wins on a corner route to the back pylon and has stacked the defender…it’s a timing route all the way and Tannehill overthrows Clay to the corner and misses on a sure TD…correct read correct decision poor throw -1
4[SUP]th[/SUP] QUARTER
14:23 2[SUP]ND[/SUP] and 11 20-23 score Mia 21 yard line shotgun shoulder fakes to Sims in the flat influencing the zone lb and safety and pivots back to the inside Clay on a crosser who is inside of a trail LB and timed spot on and placed spot on for Clay to catch and turn up field for rac with that safety influenced by the shoulder fake outside and Clay drops it on what looks like at least a 20 plus yard gain in the making…really nice play by the QB…example of influencing coverage with his head and shoulders and manipulating to get potential rac in space created by it +1
14:17 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 11 20-23 score Mia 21 yard line shotgun takes the snap starts to take his 3 step drop Shelley Smith is completely lost about what his responsibility is lets the mike LB come right by him inside to the QB and then does nothing Tannehill correctly just throws the ball away out of bounds as the mike and now 2 wide edge rushers as a result of him having to back pedal so much cause of that inside pressure converge…who knows what Shelley Smith was doing on that play…no pocket to climb up into +1
12:07 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 3 20-23 score Mia 18 yard line under center 2 split wide WRs Miami again from a run set look wants to take a shot Tannehill takes a 7 step drop by the time he finishes the mike LB delayed blitzes and comes clean thru traffic right up the middle and is 2 yards away from him closing like a freight train and sacks him before he can break out …I don’t think this is a blown assignment up front I think this is one of those 7 step drop from under center vs a delayed mike LB blitzer play calls that you have no real chance on…it’s a sack but in my opinion that’s not on the QB…if the LB had showed pre snap the blitz then I could see it being on the QB but even then in this offense Lazor doesn’t allow the QB to check out as we have already established in the opening of this very post…7 step drop vs delayed mike LB blitz who comes clean up the middle theo nly option he has is the back in the flat releasing late but Moreno hadn’t even cleared the linemen level before Mayo was 2 yards away from Tannehill…on my grade on this play the QB doesn’t get a minus…it’s a tip your cap to the defense play and a they got the look they wanted with the 7 step drop to take advantage of it…ideal world he throws that ball away maybe it comes in time but we are talking like a nanosecond here…I think most QBs in the NFL on that drop and vs that clean delayed mike backer are taking a sack here and not just the bad ones +1
11:20 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 12 20-23 score Mia 9 yard line shotgun deep drop head and shoulders in the middle of the field in his drop back foot hits pivots and fires ball vs zone to mike Wallace who gets Revis to open his hips just past the sticks on a route where he sits and doesn’t come back to the ball and as a result Revis gets a hand in there…this is a potential INT vs that coverage if Tannehill doesn’t show eye discipline in his drop Wallace needs to come back to the ball instead of sit and wait on it and it’s a conversion…push the route two yards past the sticks and work back to the sticks with the ball in the air…instead it’s incomplete…correct read correct decision correct eye discipline timed and placed spot on +1
9:30 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 20-23 score Mia 15 yard line shotgun Wallace in motion across the formation Revis follows declaring man coverage to the QB wants a corner route to Landry in the left slot but Colledge blows an assignment on Chandler Jones and engages the inside DT and leaves Chandler Jones free to the QB as Albert has picked up an edge rushing DB and Tannehill gets rid of the ball in Landrys direction just as Chandler Jones hits him high under his face mask and plants him in the ground and drops his weight on him…Tannehill hurt on the play roughing the passer called…this play had real potential for a big gain if the protections had been picked up properly…correct read correct decision no time to execute the play incomplete…it’s possible Satele blew this on the line call as far as delegating assignments…either way for the QB +1
8:13 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 20-23 score Mia 40 yard line shotgun 4 wide including clay on the los just off right tackle single high shaded to Hartline side does a good job in his 3 step drop of shoulder and head pointed down the middle before coming to Hartline vs press on the hitch working back to the ball and placed and timed spot on thrown where Hartline can pivot inside and turn it up for a 15 yard gain going to ground on no contact and rolling forward ...correct read correct decision placed spot on and timed the same for rac +1
6:23 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 2 20-23 score Pats 43 yard line shotgun 4 wide single back hits Gibson lined up a yard off the los to help with his release vs press and Gibson wins physically pivoting back outside to the boundary for a catch and rac of 15 yards…timing on placement on correct decision back foot hits ball is out +1
5:51 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 20-23 score Pats 28 yard line under center 2 wide 2 tight single back Tannehill rolls back as if to hand the ball off on the near hash but works back to the far hash very deep and sets…Dion Sims works across the formation post snap after selling blocking initially and stacks the LB in coverage running down the #s and the ball is placed perfectly over the inside shoulder and out front into his hands as he crosses the goalline and he drops it…doesn’t get any better than that from a QB td off the board +1
5:03 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 5 20-23 score Pats 19 yard line RZ shotgun trips stacked tight set off right tackle Clay on the los single wide to the far left boundary so 4 receiver set Landry motions inside the formation then back outside the formation pre snap Tannehill sets looks to Landry outside first covered pivots to his next progression Wallace working a shallow cross across the inside zone LBs face and hits Wallace for a catch and rac up the sideline to the 6 yard line…really nice pivot by the QB to his next progression +1
3:42 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and goal 20-23 score Pats 4 yard line RZ under center 7 man protect 3 wide single back clay split wide right in man to man press coverage Tannehill play fakes to the RB looks to clay the first progression one on one runs a quick vs inside leveraged DB fake to the outside on the release slap the DB with the inside arm pivot back inside to the slant but doesn’t win early enough Tannehill comes off it to his next progression Hartline working a corner route from the inside slot left side and just prior to contact steps to his left a few steps giving him the space he needs to get the ball off to Hartline at the back pylon as James was beaten around the corner and gained the inside shoulder on by Ninkovich…ball is lofted spot on to the corner and Hartline tries to basket catch it while taking contact no call and incomplete…clay split wide in space like that has shown he can win inside quickly the QB did a good job to come off of it quickly and go to his next progression here and lofted a nice ball…and showed nice feel for backside pressure on the turn to Hartline ton ot stand still and release but actually take steps in the opposite direction and give himself space for the release…that’s feel for backside pressure +1
Final score 33-20 Miami
Game Summary 29+ grades 6- grades…1 sack I deemed a tip your cap to the opposition given the 7 step drop and the delayed mike LB blitz…included in those 6 minus grades are 2 turnover producing plays one related to placement on a fumble and the other a bad throw…also included in that minus grade are 2 TDs left on the board both for what I deemed poor throws…included in the plus plays are 2 TDs 4 drops all of which were of the 15 plus yard gain including a definite 28 yard td to Sims and 2 plays where the effort wasn’t where it should be by the targets Miller and Wallace… ie don’t quit on the arrow route in cut worried about contact that splits the LBs for a likely td if he just carries the route properly and the other push the route 2 yards past the sticks and come back to the ball and help your QB out…of the incompletions 7 he faced immediate pressure…in the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] quarter with the game in the balance he had the ball 10 plays in his hands and I didn’t have a negative grade on any of them…
Next edition to come WEEK 2 MIAMI @ BUFFALO
Before we begin I am grading this play by play only on passing plays as Ryan Tannehill under Lazors offense this 2014 season did not have the authority to check out into other plays at the line of scrimmage therefore I cannot hold him accountable for anything but did he execute the play and offense the way the OC wanted him to…how efficient on a play by play basis was the QB…ap lay call into a bad defense provided the QB did not do anything wrong in the course of the play does not get a negative grade for the QB if he doesn’t have the opportunity and authority to check into something else…point blank…I will hold him accountable for that when they allow him to make those kind of decisions…
A couple other things…Ryan Tannehill in 2014 was in his first year in a brand new offense with different route combinations and terminology and a heavily read option based post snap decision making one in the run game and in some cases on the read option play action keep…all predicted off what the defense did post snap…I will note that there was no lost fumbles on QB RB exchanges or lost fumbles on center QB exchanges maybe one delay of game call on the offense for not getting the play off in time which speaks to a QB who gets the call and explains it well and gets the guys to the line of scrimmage…not an easy thing to do in a brand new offense with new terminology etc. and route combos…shows that the QB had control of the offense as the season progressed and was efficient in and out of the huddle prior to the snap…
A run call is a run call no grade will apply here…just the passing downs and the pass calls off the read option will I grade…even the QB keep read option plays there was no issue with his handling and decision making and sometimes as Lazor has even said they were handing the ball off regardless of how the edge player or scrape LB or DB sniffing the los was playing it…
I ask that you pay attention to the down and distance aand the scoreboard even as it is key when it comes to play calling and depth of routes as even week 1 you will see in the breakdown…stay ahead of the sticks more opportunity for vertical shots and routes to depth…get behind them more coverages to make you take the underneath and dump off etc…
The way I have written this up RZ stands for red zone los stands for line of scrimmage rac stands for run after catch and on the score the away team is on the left and the home team is on the right except for the final score at the very end…if you see a score change or a drive end with no breakdown of why you are to understand that the QB had no as an actual passer impact in the reason why…otherwise that play would be on here…a missed FG or made FG is not listed here nor is a rushing TD but if you follow the score changes or you see no change in the score just know it wasn’t because of the QB…I think we’ve explained that pretty well...
Also of note I am grading this on a hard scale…no QB is perfect but I am grading this as if I expect him to hit on every throw and execute on every play at the highest of levels…he doesn’t get any good read good decision bad throw positive grade here…but it also needs to be understood that even the best miss throws at times and make mistakes…especially ones first year in a new offense and of the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] year variety but I gave him no quarter here…the grade scale is +1 or -1…that’s it…I graded this like I would grade any QB…and will do so for every game…I held him accountable for what the offense request of him and what I expect…
i will be grading every play provided it goes thru to the whistle so a penalty etc. does not eliminate that attempt thus my number of total plays graded may not coincide with the stat line total…for example a penalty like roughing the passer I still grade the play thru completion even if an incompletion does not count against the total attempts in the end game stat line…
Finally this long introduction will only be in this opening edition expect a much shorter and sweeter one going forward and with that let’s begin…
In 2014 Ryan Tannehill put up a season total stat line of 27TDs 12 INTs 4045 yards a 92.9 rating 46 sacks 1 rushing TD and 2 lost fumbles
Week 1 NEW ENGLAND @ MIAMI
18-32 178 yards ypa 5.6 2 TDs 1 INT 79.9 rating 1 sack 9 yards lost…what does the tape say???
1[SUP]ST[/SUP] QUARTER
13:36 1[SUP]ST [/SUP]and 10 0-0 score Pats 15 yard line RZ play action hits Wallace on shallow crosser vs zone correct read correct decision hits in stride for turn up rac opportunity 8 yard gain +1
11:52 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and goal 0-0 score Pats 4 yard line RZ carries out the play fake rolls to the primary the RB on a LB working back across the formation to the flat Lamar Miller for TD +1
3:46 1[SUP]st[/SUP]and 10 7-7 score Mia 34 yard line throws catchable but behind a shallow crossing mike Wallace vs zone where when Wallace turns he is hit by the outside zone defender on the ball and fumbles for a turnover…correct read correct decision poor placement …throw didn’t let Wallace tuck the ball prior to contact -1
:42 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 10-7 score Mia 26 yard line carries out the play fake to Wallace in motion on the swing to the flat behind the los and pivots to the actual play call the screen to the RB on the opposite side Miller for a 5 yard gain all play call +1
:01 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 5 10-7 score Mia 31 yard line play action 7 man protect 2 man route with a dump off back to the flat late hits Wallace working a depth crosser over the LB level who failed to get depth on the play for a 20 yard gain…ball is thrown inside but catchable correct read correct decision some rac may have been left on the field with the placement had he missed it it’s a negative but +1
2nd QUARTER
15:00 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 10-7 score pats 47 yard line hits Wallace on the motion from the backfield to the swing in the flats with blocking in front for 3 yards placed correctly all play call +1
13:06 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 10-7 score Pats 37 yard line Clay motions from the backfield to the swing in the flats carries out the play fake to the back who will end up last on the progression works to the primary on the play clay on the swing it is covered he looks to Hartline then to the inside Gibson down the seam all covered and comes back to the backside late to Wallace 4th on the progression working right to left who has won inside on the deep post in sync with where the qb should be on the progression at the cut point and just prior to contact releases a ball too far outside and placed poorly for an INT where if he leads Wallace to the middle of the field it’s a td…correct read correct decision good work thru his progressions but bad throw and pick -1
8:13 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 17-7score Mia 35 yard line no huddle play fake to the back…Sims lined up just off the left tackle off the los as soon as the LB over him shows rush Sims becomes the primary on the leak out to the flat vs 2 inside the tackle box LBs in coverage…catch turns up field for 8 yard gain…correct read correct decision +1
7:28 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 17-7 score Mia 43 yard line no huddle play action sets up vs zone DBs stay at depth on the vertical boundary routes just prior to contact goes to Landry out the slot working a nices houlder and head fake to the seam sell and depth out route to the sideline for what should be a 15 yard gain just outside the drop LBs reach dropped by Landry correct read correct decision correct throw +1 drive ends on a miller rushing fumble and turnover next play
5:51 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 8 17-7 score Mia 27 yard line play action finishes his drop can barely set up before he has to dump to the tight end selling the run motioned from off the los off left tackle into I form late who released up the middle and out to the flat underneath a LB zone drop…albert whiffs on the OLB Hightower who plants Tannehill just as he releases good play by the QB to get the ball to his dump off and not get sacked…correct read sped up by immediate pressure could not work thru progressions had to go to the dump off 8 yard gain…roughing the passer called on Hightower on the QB drive into the ground with his weight on top of him correct decision correct placement +1
5:35 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 17-7 score 50 yard line fakes tothe RB in motion from the backfield to the swing in the flat pivots back to the actual play call the screen to clay behind the los off the left tackle for a 2 yard gain vs zone…all play call but executed properly by the QB…need pressure/man to man for that play to work more efficiently zone and only rush 3 kills it but not anything of the QBs doing +1
4:28 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 4 17-7 score Pats 44 yard line shotgun finishes his drop hits Hartline on the boundary working a comeback run 2 yards past the sticks and back to the sticks timed and placed spot on to the outside shoulder for turn and rac opportunity 11 yard gain correct read correct decision placed spot on +1
4:00 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 17-7 score Pats 33 yard line 2 man max protect route with clay as a potential at the los flat dump late Tannehill executes the play action and rolls out to his right to set up at the far hash mark but has to take an extra 2 steps outside and forward of the hash mark and throw on the run pretty much cause Vince Wilfork beat Shelley Smith quickly and was in pursuit from the inside and the throw I think is effected because of this…instead of more to the inside down the boundary it’s outside down the line…we have debated this throw to Wallace on the stutter and go double move at length but my personal take is Wallace does not early once he clears Revis work straight down the sideline he is working inside and down the boundary leaving space and he has to adjust to the ball tracking it thrown down the actual boundary line and thus the TD isn’t made…but I have no doubts that throw was effected cause he was thrown off his launch point by Wilforks inside pressure…at any rate correct read correct decision TD left on the board and the QB on my grade has to eat this one -1
2:15 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 9 17-7 score Pats 20 yard line RZ shotgun finishes his drop clays man over him LB Ninkovich in the right slot does not cover but brings pressure James engages a dline early and tries to come off and pick it up late but cannot get there and Tannehill bails out of the pocket to his right and throws on the run with Ninko in pursuit to Hartline working a shallow cross late to the boundary Hartline is neck tied and slung to the ground no call…incomplete +1
2:08 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 9 17-7 score Pats 20 yard line RZ shotgun 4 wide vs man to man has Wallace working a skinny post from the boundary working into the seam there’s a drop LB at depth Collins sitting in the hole Tannehill holds that LB inside with his eyes in his 3 step drop and in sync with the route throws over the LBs arms to the primary Wallace who has won slightly inside and the balls placed too far outside and Revis gets a hand in there and knocks it up in the air off Wallace incomplete… ball needs to be more out in front…correct read correct decision good job of holding the LB with his eyes early and timed release correctly but ball placed too far outside -1
3[SUP]rd[/SUP] QUARTER
14:53 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 20-10 score Mia 28 yard line empty set 5 wide with the 5[SUP]th[/SUP] WR being the RB Moreno drop zone hits clay working an out route just past the sticks from off the left tackle on the los pre snap in the hole in the zone between the boundary defender and the 2 middle dropping LBs timed spot on…ball comes out before Clay ever makes his out cut in the gear down Clay is able to break a tackle of the boundary DB on what should be a 12 yard gain and turn it into a 25 yard gain breaking multiple tackles…correct read correct decision timed spot on and placed perfectly…should be noted that Tannehill bypassed a RB open underneath in the flat on this play well he went with the higher progression instead of taking the bird in hand underneath in other words +1
13:42 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 7 20-10 score Pats 45 yard line shotgun 7 step drop has pressure wide on his left side immediately after finishing his drop sets up but albert is for some reason run into by Moreno in my opinion trying to get out of the backfield into the flat and he stops Alberts lateral movement and releases Chandler Jones to the QB and Moreno flails in vain late to try and stop him Tannehill releases gets hit head high and dropped immediately after...ball is spot on to Wallace working a 20 yard out route on the boundary timed spot on with the drop and ball goes right off Wallace hands and face mask incomplete…Chandler Jones called for roughing the passer on a face mask pull down as he’s taking him down… QB grade +1
11:35 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 5 20-10 score Pats 9 yard line RZ shotgun 3 step drop hits Lamar Miller out of the backfield working to the short field flat…a play designed for Clay to come off the los and in the stem of his route delay the LB Collins inside the formation from being able to get out to the flat in time to prevent Miller from catching and turning up the boundary for a possible score…Miller looks over the outside shoulder the ball is high but catchable over millers head he catches and stumbles to the ground for a 2 yard gain…correct read correct decision timed well but rac left on the field by the throw -1
10:55 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 3 20-10 score Pats 7 yard line RZ shotgun trips WR set single back in the backfield miller...QB ids man to man wants miller on an arrow route miller wins inside of the LB ball is thrown to lead miller inside properly he quits on the route when he feels LB contact coming from the inside…conversion and possible TD off the board…QB rightly blast miller for the effort +1
7:03 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 3 20-13 score Pats 14 yard line RZ 3 WR shotgun finishes his drop sets and fires to Wallace on a little outside inside post route where there’s double coverage but the inside defender is looking at the man not the ball and there is also a LB at depth trying to get into the throwing lane…Tannehill throws it over the LB Collins and right by the inside defenders turned helmet before heeven knows where it is and Wallace and Revis get a hand on it and Wallace comes down with it going to ground…it’s a gunslinger type throw no way around it and the QB got it done even if I’m not sure he read that coverage right…the timing had to be spot on or if he’s late the inside defender gets his head turned and breaks on it…TD +1
5:53 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 20-20 score Mia 47 yard line 2 split wide WRs 2 in the backfield including Sims motioning late into a off i lead role Miami wants to take a shot vertical Tannehill from under center takes the7 step drop and before he can even set gets moved off the launch point and has to bail the pocket as Shelley Smith at right guard oversets at the snap and whiffs miserably and goes to ground even and his man flushes Tannehill to the right and he rightfully throws it away +1
5:03 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 3 20-20 score Pats 34 yard line Miami again wants to take a shot 3 WRs clay coming across the formation post snap from left to right off the los pre snap off left tackle responsible for picking up the OLB released clean late (this is something you see a lot with Lazors offense the tight end being asked to come across the formation post snap and pick up a clean edge rusher) Tannehill can’t even finish his drop gets moved off the spot again and climbs forward to avoid the wide rusher from clays side and hitches 3 times before taking off to his left and throwing the ball away…nothing wrong with that the timing with the routes is thrown off by the immediate pressure in his drop…live for the next play +1
4:55 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 3 20-20 score Pats 34 yard line shotgun with 4 wide 3 step drop head in the middle of the field in his drop Wallace is working a 8 yard stop route as soon as the off man coverage DB opens his hips he gears down and sits...timing is spot on ball is placed spot on to the outside shoulder and Wallace as a result can turn and even makes the DB spin off in the process and gains an additional 6 yards…that’s textbook +1
3:32 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and goal 20-20 score Pats 10 yard line RZ shotgun hits miller on an out working out of the backfield vs an under zone in a compressed field with a zone LB trailing from the inside in space for a 7 yard gain correct read correct decision +1
2:47 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and goal 20-20 score Pats 4 yard line RZ shotgun Tannehill flanked by Landry and Moreno in the backfield on each side and 3 receivers including clay in the slot IDs man to man Moreno picks up the clean released edge player on the slanted down protection and clay wins on a corner route to the back pylon and has stacked the defender…it’s a timing route all the way and Tannehill overthrows Clay to the corner and misses on a sure TD…correct read correct decision poor throw -1
4[SUP]th[/SUP] QUARTER
14:23 2[SUP]ND[/SUP] and 11 20-23 score Mia 21 yard line shotgun shoulder fakes to Sims in the flat influencing the zone lb and safety and pivots back to the inside Clay on a crosser who is inside of a trail LB and timed spot on and placed spot on for Clay to catch and turn up field for rac with that safety influenced by the shoulder fake outside and Clay drops it on what looks like at least a 20 plus yard gain in the making…really nice play by the QB…example of influencing coverage with his head and shoulders and manipulating to get potential rac in space created by it +1
14:17 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 11 20-23 score Mia 21 yard line shotgun takes the snap starts to take his 3 step drop Shelley Smith is completely lost about what his responsibility is lets the mike LB come right by him inside to the QB and then does nothing Tannehill correctly just throws the ball away out of bounds as the mike and now 2 wide edge rushers as a result of him having to back pedal so much cause of that inside pressure converge…who knows what Shelley Smith was doing on that play…no pocket to climb up into +1
12:07 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 3 20-23 score Mia 18 yard line under center 2 split wide WRs Miami again from a run set look wants to take a shot Tannehill takes a 7 step drop by the time he finishes the mike LB delayed blitzes and comes clean thru traffic right up the middle and is 2 yards away from him closing like a freight train and sacks him before he can break out …I don’t think this is a blown assignment up front I think this is one of those 7 step drop from under center vs a delayed mike LB blitzer play calls that you have no real chance on…it’s a sack but in my opinion that’s not on the QB…if the LB had showed pre snap the blitz then I could see it being on the QB but even then in this offense Lazor doesn’t allow the QB to check out as we have already established in the opening of this very post…7 step drop vs delayed mike LB blitz who comes clean up the middle theo nly option he has is the back in the flat releasing late but Moreno hadn’t even cleared the linemen level before Mayo was 2 yards away from Tannehill…on my grade on this play the QB doesn’t get a minus…it’s a tip your cap to the defense play and a they got the look they wanted with the 7 step drop to take advantage of it…ideal world he throws that ball away maybe it comes in time but we are talking like a nanosecond here…I think most QBs in the NFL on that drop and vs that clean delayed mike backer are taking a sack here and not just the bad ones +1
11:20 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 12 20-23 score Mia 9 yard line shotgun deep drop head and shoulders in the middle of the field in his drop back foot hits pivots and fires ball vs zone to mike Wallace who gets Revis to open his hips just past the sticks on a route where he sits and doesn’t come back to the ball and as a result Revis gets a hand in there…this is a potential INT vs that coverage if Tannehill doesn’t show eye discipline in his drop Wallace needs to come back to the ball instead of sit and wait on it and it’s a conversion…push the route two yards past the sticks and work back to the sticks with the ball in the air…instead it’s incomplete…correct read correct decision correct eye discipline timed and placed spot on +1
9:30 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 20-23 score Mia 15 yard line shotgun Wallace in motion across the formation Revis follows declaring man coverage to the QB wants a corner route to Landry in the left slot but Colledge blows an assignment on Chandler Jones and engages the inside DT and leaves Chandler Jones free to the QB as Albert has picked up an edge rushing DB and Tannehill gets rid of the ball in Landrys direction just as Chandler Jones hits him high under his face mask and plants him in the ground and drops his weight on him…Tannehill hurt on the play roughing the passer called…this play had real potential for a big gain if the protections had been picked up properly…correct read correct decision no time to execute the play incomplete…it’s possible Satele blew this on the line call as far as delegating assignments…either way for the QB +1
8:13 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 20-23 score Mia 40 yard line shotgun 4 wide including clay on the los just off right tackle single high shaded to Hartline side does a good job in his 3 step drop of shoulder and head pointed down the middle before coming to Hartline vs press on the hitch working back to the ball and placed and timed spot on thrown where Hartline can pivot inside and turn it up for a 15 yard gain going to ground on no contact and rolling forward ...correct read correct decision placed spot on and timed the same for rac +1
6:23 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 2 20-23 score Pats 43 yard line shotgun 4 wide single back hits Gibson lined up a yard off the los to help with his release vs press and Gibson wins physically pivoting back outside to the boundary for a catch and rac of 15 yards…timing on placement on correct decision back foot hits ball is out +1
5:51 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and 10 20-23 score Pats 28 yard line under center 2 wide 2 tight single back Tannehill rolls back as if to hand the ball off on the near hash but works back to the far hash very deep and sets…Dion Sims works across the formation post snap after selling blocking initially and stacks the LB in coverage running down the #s and the ball is placed perfectly over the inside shoulder and out front into his hands as he crosses the goalline and he drops it…doesn’t get any better than that from a QB td off the board +1
5:03 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 5 20-23 score Pats 19 yard line RZ shotgun trips stacked tight set off right tackle Clay on the los single wide to the far left boundary so 4 receiver set Landry motions inside the formation then back outside the formation pre snap Tannehill sets looks to Landry outside first covered pivots to his next progression Wallace working a shallow cross across the inside zone LBs face and hits Wallace for a catch and rac up the sideline to the 6 yard line…really nice pivot by the QB to his next progression +1
3:42 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and goal 20-23 score Pats 4 yard line RZ under center 7 man protect 3 wide single back clay split wide right in man to man press coverage Tannehill play fakes to the RB looks to clay the first progression one on one runs a quick vs inside leveraged DB fake to the outside on the release slap the DB with the inside arm pivot back inside to the slant but doesn’t win early enough Tannehill comes off it to his next progression Hartline working a corner route from the inside slot left side and just prior to contact steps to his left a few steps giving him the space he needs to get the ball off to Hartline at the back pylon as James was beaten around the corner and gained the inside shoulder on by Ninkovich…ball is lofted spot on to the corner and Hartline tries to basket catch it while taking contact no call and incomplete…clay split wide in space like that has shown he can win inside quickly the QB did a good job to come off of it quickly and go to his next progression here and lofted a nice ball…and showed nice feel for backside pressure on the turn to Hartline ton ot stand still and release but actually take steps in the opposite direction and give himself space for the release…that’s feel for backside pressure +1
Final score 33-20 Miami
Game Summary 29+ grades 6- grades…1 sack I deemed a tip your cap to the opposition given the 7 step drop and the delayed mike LB blitz…included in those 6 minus grades are 2 turnover producing plays one related to placement on a fumble and the other a bad throw…also included in that minus grade are 2 TDs left on the board both for what I deemed poor throws…included in the plus plays are 2 TDs 4 drops all of which were of the 15 plus yard gain including a definite 28 yard td to Sims and 2 plays where the effort wasn’t where it should be by the targets Miller and Wallace… ie don’t quit on the arrow route in cut worried about contact that splits the LBs for a likely td if he just carries the route properly and the other push the route 2 yards past the sticks and come back to the ball and help your QB out…of the incompletions 7 he faced immediate pressure…in the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] quarter with the game in the balance he had the ball 10 plays in his hands and I didn’t have a negative grade on any of them…
Next edition to come WEEK 2 MIAMI @ BUFFALO
