Are the Dolphins doing something to tip off defenses about whether they are going to run or pass?A flurry of Dolphins fans, listening to audio of the games on TV, have asserted on Twitter that quarterback Ryan Tannehill is doing exactly that by shouting “go” before passes and “go go” before runs.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jon Gruden said guard John Jerry tipped off Tampa Bay during Monday night’s game by turning his head to look at Tannehill on passing plays, allowing an opposing lineman to get a jump on center Mike Pouncey.
Asked Wednesday whether Tannehill says “go” before passes and “go go” before runs, Dolphins tight end Michael Egnew said: “It’s not always that way. … A lot of people think they know and have no idea.”
Tannehill also disputed the notion that he is saying the same thing before every pass.
“I don’t think there’s concern,” he said. “We go against our defense every day throughout camp and OTAs. If we were tipping off something that was so blatantly obvious, they would tell us, and they would be able to defend it.”
Tannehill also said he changes his cadence during the course of games.
Egnew said even if opposing players detect any tendencies such as “go,” it wouldn’t provide an advantage because it’s happening so quickly before a play. (But it could have an impact on play-action passes.)
As for Gruden’s claim, Jerry refused to confirm or deny it. Asked whether he was indeed tipping off Tampa players by turning his head, he said: “I don’t worry about that.”