I've been a Tannehill supporter for one simple reason, he's the QB my team drafted and put at the helm. I don't spend hours/days/weeks of my life trying to rip the guy apart. There comes a point when you must acknowledge there are always circumstances impacting play on the field the fans will never know about or can control (in conversation). From personal life complications, OC play calling, HC decisions, GM decisions and internal power struggles within an organization. Nothing is ever straight forward in life. In football, there will always be the system vs. player debate. And the only measuring stick we truly have is results. Miscast players can wonder the league looking for the right fit. And in the right fit, they can be world beaters. In the wrong fit, they can look like practice players.
Frankly, at this point, I don't care about the "why" or the "how" or stats or anything else. I'm worried about the results. Our team has lost at least 1 winnable game. And when we go back to last year, you can say we should have made the playoffs. Forget the collapse at the end, we should never have lost to Tampa. I'm not as convinced as others that we should have beaten the Bills. The Bills execute very well. Their stars produce predictably and answer the bell. And that defense is a force.
When I look at our team, we have a fundamental design flaw. We have no one on the field at any time that is the undisputed leader of this team. The guy who holds everyone accountable and makes this team elevate its play. We have some great stat guys. But no true leaders. This team has been built to funnel all leadership to it's HC. And he is a silent man. We play too soft. And we take plays off, on both sides of the ball. When either side of the ball is confident, we are a different team. The problem is the lulls between those confident streaks. We don't have someone that makes us confident on the field. Our confidence is more circumstantial. We wait for the other team to allow us to be confident. And that has infected this whole team.
For 2 years, most on this board have bemoaned the retention of a player. But the fact is very obvious when he steps on the field, this team takes on a different personality. We look to score. We look to stop. We look to win. It's night and day. The man is simply a leader. He has the "it" factor that no one wants to admit makes him better than his skillset. And now I think his true value is, once again, going to come shining through... if even only for a while.
There are 2 bigger questions here looming for our HC. Does he sever ties with his young Franchise QB? When does he do it?
We are 3 games into a new offense. Are the flashes RT has shown in the past a function of the system? How many "great" QBs have honestly changed systems and still found success? There are a few. But are we not in an age were the QB is a byproduct of the system? Aside from health, what of RGIII's struggles? Has Peyton ever truly succeeding in a different offense at this level? (He brought his offensive system with him to Denver). Can Kaepernick succeed as a true pocket passer? Would Russell Wilson truly succeed on a team with an average D, average run game and OL?
Some players adapt better than others. I don't recall the exact number, but I'm fairly confident Alex Smith suffered 6 new OC's his first 6 years. Yet he is one of the winning-est QBs in his time. But, like Matt Ryan, he has problems in the post season.
It is safe to say this league is more about systems than players. Of the 32 teams, how many depend on their players to make the system work? How many depend on the system to make the players work?
So, how far down this rabbit hole do we go? Will Philbin bail on RT to save his job?
The answer is yes. We have precedence in his friendship with Sherman. Ultimately, with a heavy heart, he did fire Sherman. That tells me he will eventually pull RT. But the bigger question is "when"? Philbin is loyal to his decisions and is slow to react. And I believe it will be much later in the season before we see any decision made. Philbin will give RT time to fail and time to succeed.
My personal beliefs right now? Matt Moore is the best QB on our roster. Matt Moore is our "Bridge QB". I think Moore gives us a chance to salvage the season and possibly start an additional year. He could buy us time to draft another QB.
But most importantly, Moore can keep this team moving forward so the decisions we have made in 51 other roster spots remain forwardly moving decisions we can build upon.
I think there is 2 big overall questions looming for this franchise? When does RT get pulled? Will Philbin defer and allow a player to lead his team on the field and in the locker room and draft the guy who has the leadership qualities to get it done?
I think RT has had his chances. I think the guys in the huddle are questioning their QB. I think the dropped balls are showing that in a measurable way. If we wait until half of the season is gone to do this, we won't make the playoffs.
I didn't think I would say this so soon, but I'm tired of not seeing a fire in RT's demeanor.
I think it's time Matt Moore took over and saved this team and give the other 51 guys on the roster the confidence they need to go out and take a win from the other team.
And if he gets us to the playoffs, this needs to be his team until he falls on his face. During that time we need to be drafting and grooming the next guy while continuing to fill the ranks.
If Philbin continues to be stubborn, I think we unfortunately start over again next year. And I do NOT want that.
I would rather see Philbin mature as a coach and change what needs to be fixed than start over. If we start over, we just set ourselves back another 5 years, if not longer. We need forward momentum and stop rebuilding.
Bench RT, start Moore and get this ship back on track.
