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Hyde: Another Sunday, another new believer in Dolphins' Tannehill

datruth55

datruth55

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They have a quarterback. No matter what else happens. No matter where this win streak goes. No matter if this string of three consecutive games decided on final plays reverses over the next three into heartbreak.

"They have a quarterback – a good quarterback," San Francisco safety Antoine Bethea was saying at his locker after the Miami Dolphins' 31-24 win on Sunday. "We saw that."

This is no small deal. Even after recent weeks, you were allowed to wonder about Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, because San Francisco's coaches sure did with the way they set up their defense.

"A little disrespectful," Dolphins coach Adam Gase labeled it against the Dolphins' passing game, meaning specifically against Tannehill.

Here came two 49ers linebackers up close to the Dolphins line. Here came both safeties up nice and tight. Here were eight, nine and sometimes even 10 defenders to strangle the Dolphins' running game.

"I knew there'd be chances," Tannehill said.

One chance went 46 yards to DeVante Parker. Another went 43 yards to Kenny Stills when the safety so close to the line didn't get back quickly enough. Another went 15 yards for a touchdown to rookie Leonte Carroo.

By day's end, Tannehill completed 20-of-30 passes for 285 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

"He hurt us, made some big plays on us," Bethea said. "No excuses, we've got to do a better job. We can't let as many big plays happen as we did out there on the field today."

How many years has it been the Dolphins saying those same words? How many games have they said they could have or should have won a game that got away in the end?

Maybe the 17-point lead Tannehill helped build in the fourth quarter shouldn't have been lost. Maybe this day shouldn't have come down to Kiko Alonso and Ndamukong Suh stopping 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick short of the end zone on the final play.

But this isn't a time for style points. It's only about winning. The Dolphins have won six in a row now – their longest streak since 2005. That streak was in Nick Saban's first year when Gus Frerotte was the step-in quarterback.

What gives this streak traction and a foundation of hope is Tannehill looks different than his previous years. Better. More stable. Part of that is because he isn't losing an internal organ every game from the hits he's taken. Even with missing three top offensive linemen Sunday, Tannehill was sacked only twice.

"I'm better," he said. "I think of a lot of things – just playing fast with my feet. I think there's been an emphasis since we started this year and, obviously, there are times where I want to be faster. But that's been a big emphasis for us."

Over the last month, Dolphins fans have watched Tannehill take the steering wheel, push down the accelerator and drive an offense like a good NFL quarterback.

Running back Jay Ajayi was the motor some weeks. But Tannehill drove the car. He set the tone. He massaged the plays. He has thrown nine touchdowns against one interception over the past six games for a 104.7 quarterback rating.

"Any time you get in a new system, it takes a second to kind of get used to it," Gase said. "You have to go through some growing pains. Obviously, we did. I just think the timing, the group being together and the group practicing together –that's part of the process."

San Francisco is as easy as it gets the rest of the way for the Dolphins in some respects. The 49ers have lost 10 consecutive games now. Their defense gives up the most points in the league.

But by next week the Dolphins are hopeful left tackle Branden Albert and guard Laremy Tunsil will return. They don't think Parker's back injury, which kept him out of the fourth quarter, is too serious.

"We're ready," receiver Jarvis Landry said.

They know something else, too. They have a quarterback. Sunday showed that again. Add San Francisco to the list of those turned into believers.
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-hyde-dolphins-column-1128-20161127-column.html
 
67Stang said:
Hopefully he can stay in this offense for a long time!
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Offense only needs a seam threat TE, depth on the O-line (probably a starting OG or two) and it's set. I like the makeup of our WR corp and RB corp.

Defense is another story.
 
I think RT always had the skills, but Gase has helped him put it all together. Also being tutored by Dan Marino and Peyton Manning probably helped him as well.
Getting a stable and stronger oline will do nothing but help him get better. He is at the prime of his career now. We just need to plug a few more holes and build the depth.
 
He looks very confident and in command of the offense out there. Also his deep ball accuracy has improved substantially. He gives us a chance to win every game going forward, but we need to get healthy and get consistent on D.

Please get healthy like yesterday Albert, Tunsil and Pouncey.
 
..Here came two 49ers linebackers up close to the Dolphins line. Here came both safeties up nice and tight. Here were eight, nine and sometimes even 10 defenders to strangle the Dolphins' running game.
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Opposing defenses have been going all out to stop Jay Ajayi. Good to see that Tannehill has been able to capitalize on that.
 
The biggest thing from RT on this winning streak is that he has thrown only one pick. And hell even that pick i still maintain my position that parker was pushed in the back and should have drawn a flag. Now on the other hand i can think of 3 or 4 different plays where a db dropped the pass for a "would be" interception.
 
normaldude said:
I think our offense operates better with a good blocking TE (with good hands). Open bigger holes for Ajayi, and keep Tannehill clean in the pocket.
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Seam threat TE is vital in the red zone. Opens everything up and creates huge mismatches.
 
datruth55 said:
Seam threat TE is vital in the red zone. Opens everything up and creates huge mismatches.
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TES have thrived in all of gases systems. I expect that to be on our offseason shopping list. Maybe not if Gase is happy with the talent in house.
 
Blackcreekbandit said:
TES have thrived in all of gases systems. I expect that to be on our offseason shopping list. Maybe not if Gase is happy with the talent in house.
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I don't think Gase is one to settle on a, mostly, blocking TE. He wants that downfield threat at TE he's always had until now. We had a lot of plays designed for the TE yesterday...the two catches by Sims, the roll outs to MarQuis Gray. TE is a big part of Gase's offense I'm pretty sure it will be on the wish list for the draft.
 
datruth55 said:
Seam threat TE is vital in the red zone. Opens everything up and creates huge mismatches.
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I think the "seam threat TE" is an obsession among Miami Dolphins fans.

When I search for Seam Threat TE on google, virtually every search result is a Miami dolphins website or article.

https://www.google.com/search?q="seam+threat"+te+OR+"tight+end"

There's 32 NFL teams, but it's the Miami Dolphins fans that are unusually obsessed with a "seam threat TE"
 
datruth55 said:
Offense only needs a seam threat TE, depth on the O-line (probably a starting OG or two) and it's set. I like the makeup of our WR corp and RB corp.

Defense is another story.
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In fairness to the defense....Kaepernick can be very effective when he's on....and we were the first team to face him with the rust knocked off....he will give other defenses problems as well.
 
Blackcreekbandit said:
The biggest thing from RT on this winning streak is that he has thrown only one pick. And hell even that pick i still maintain my position that parker was pushed in the back and should have drawn a flag. Now on the other hand i can think of 3 or 4 different plays where a db dropped the pass for a "would be" interception.
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It was 100% a PI call missed.
 
datruth55 said:
Offense only needs a seam threat TE, depth on the O-line (probably a starting OG or two) and it's set. I like the makeup of our WR corp and RB corp.

Defense is another story.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. We need at least one guard or two and a TE would be great. Defense needs help everywhere.

Ozzy rules!!
 
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