Hyde5: Why Tannehill is Alex Smith | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Hyde5: Why Tannehill is Alex Smith

DKphin

DKphin

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1. Last week, I mentioned Ryan Tannehill is trending toward Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith and was flooded with e-mail from people who said that wasn’t fair to Tannehill. I didn’t think this was a put-down. My thought was they’re both efficient quarterbacks in controlled offenses who can win, but don't have quick-strike ability and so are below the first tier of quarterbacks. Yep, the "game manager" tag. This ceiling isn’t set for Tannehill. It can still rise in his third season.
You can see how they run controlled offense from the Stats Inc. number that the Dolphins rank 29[SUP]th[/SUP] with 14 completions of 25 yards or more; Kansas City is tied for 30[SUP]th[/SUP] with the Jets with 13. The Dolphins and Kansas City also are the only offenses not to have a 100-yard receiver in a game.
As for Tannehill and Smith, let’s look at the numbers further. Smith ranks 14[SUP]th[/SUP] in QB rating with a 92.8; Tannehill is 15[SUP]th[/SUP] at 92.1. Smith is 29[SUP]th[/SUP] with a 6.75 yards/attempt average; Tannehill is 31[SUP]st[/SUP] with a 6.64 average. Smith has 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions; Tannehill has 20 and 7.

That final number could be the upside for Tannehill – Smith has never passed for more than 23 touchdowns in a season. Tannehill should pass that this year. Then again, in the fourth quarter Smith has a 94 rating (ninth in the league) and Tannehill has a 74.8 rating (25[SUP]th[/SUP]).
Let's put this in perspective. Tannehill is making a good stride forward in having numbers equal to Smith this year. And, again, it's not a finished comparison. It's just the closest comparison right now.
Click to expand...
Read more: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...of-dolphins-rushing-stats-20141203-story.html
 
I hear the fans would love to have Alex Smith back in SanFran right now!
 
If Tannehill plays as well as Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson, he's good enough to win a Super Bowl. I'm thinking he's that good already, probably better.
 
Makes sense. That is exactly where Tannehill is right now. The difference at this point in time is Smith has more veteran moxie (and therefore higher 4th qtr performance), and Tannehill is more mobile and dangerous on the read option. I'd prefer Smith for a playoff run THIS YEAR, but Tannehill is clearly continuing to develop and will probably be much better in the long-term (especially if he's able to correct his deep ball issues).
 
So lets look at it this way:

RT in his third year is as good as a #1 pick in the draft who took up until now (what, his 7th year?).

If RT can get more studs like Landry and a stud RB to go with Lamar, and he starts extending plays with his legs and gets better pocket feel, then we have a pro bowler.
 
Except those are seasonal stats including those games before the light turned on from learning the totally new system - so using them in comparison is kind-of misleading. I'm sure pro-rating those numbers from Oakland on, even with the jest stinker (where he still did what he needed to do to win, not "manage" the game) would put some mileage between his stats and those of a seasoned QB who's set in his ways.
 
Vaark said:
Except those are seasonal stats including those games before the light turned on from learning the totally new system - so using them in comparison is kind-of misleading. I'm sure pro-rating those numbers from Oakland on, even with the jest stinker (where he still did what he needed to do to win, not "manage" the game) would put some mileage between his stats and those of a seasoned QB who's set in his ways.
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The last drive against Denver was nothing indicative of a "game-manager".
 
time will tell. alex smith is a very experienced vet who plays to his abilities...tannehill is still growing and learning a lot about his own game and abilities....give this kid another year or two and I think the alex smith comparisons will be more of a compliment to smith, than tannehill..
 
Definitely agree with the article. I always said that on his way to become a franchise QB he has to become a game manager first. Time to take the next step. Consistently.
 
russianbear said:
time will tell. alex smith is a very experienced vet who plays to his abilities...tannehill is still growing and learning a lot about his own game and abilities....give this kid another year or two and I think the alex smith comparisons will be more of a compliment to smith, than tannehill..
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bingo
 
There's nothing wrong w/ being an Alex Smith type. you can win w/ Alex Smith.
 
finfan54 said:
So lets look at it this way:

RT in his third year is as good as a #1 pick in the draft who took up until now (what, his 7th year?).

If RT can get more studs like Landry and a stud RB to go with Lamar, and he starts extending plays with his legs and gets better pocket feel, then we have a pro bowler.
Click to expand...

Fully agree. A more solid line in front of him wouldn't hurt either.
 
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