Ryan Tannehill needs more support

[TheWalrus]

Beware training camp reports.

Unless it is injury-related, suspension-related or playing time-related, NFL intel during the summer is often worthless. There are two main reasons. First, all of the information is coming to you secondhand from beat reporters, while camp can be set up in such a way that each individual doesn't get the best view of each player on each repetition. Second, and much more importantly, training camp practices are too far removed from the reality of regular season games. This is especially true for quarterbacks because they don't need to fear being hit and often work against simpler coverages.

Ryan Tannehill has been earning rave reviews for his play early on during camp. The positivity has primarily centered around his ability to push the ball down the field, something that has been a point of contention throughout his career. Tannehill and Mike Wallace infamously failed to create a consistent connection after the receiver signed a $60 million deal to become the Miami Dolphins' number one receiver. Wallace, along with Brian Hartline and Charles Clay, departed this offseason while Tannehill was given a huge contract extension. The Dolphins clearly felt that their offense needed to be restocked with new talent.

Much of that new talent is expected to help push Tannehill's career 6.77 yards per attempt away from the bottom of the league. His YPA and failure to connect with Wallace combined to create a perception that the QB is incapable of throwing the ball deep. While it's true that he's not a great deep passer, it's unfair to label Tannehill incapable in this area. His statistical output has been suffocated by a subpar supporting cast over the years, as long passes failed to connect due to problems on the receiving end.

[h=3]How Wallace became a problem[/h]Throughout his career, Wallace's value on offense has been primarily based on his incredible straight-line speed. He has never boasted above-average ball skills or precise route running. His speed has allowed him to create separation because defensive backs can't cover him even when overplaying deep routes. With the Steelers, Wallace was competent and consistent catching the ball when open. His consistency began to wane even before he signed with the Dolphins in free agency. Once in Miami, Wallace's skills -- and often his effort -- became a major problem.

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/142017354/ryan-tannehill-training-camp-reviews-true

Nice work by Fahey here, who has written positively about Tannehill in the past and continues to. Some illustrative gifs in here as well showing drops and other bad work by pass catchers last year.

 

[Avalanche of Wins]

wallace sucks, good find and post.

 

[VBCheeseGrater]

Was just reading HOF game rundown....Wallace drops "underthrown" ball from Bridgewater....so it begins....

 

[NBP81]

Great article, this would have been quoted in many tannehill/Wallace threads earlier this this offseason...

 

[finbully]

Was just reading HOF game rundown....Wallace drops "underthrown" ball from Bridgewater....so it begins....

That and a failed reverse play (couldn't get around the corner). Apparently he's been invisible during camp. Blaming it on Teddy and Mike not having a rapport yet.

Completely unrelated to anything except last night's opener, Kyle Rudolph looks like he's ready to go. Serious action for game 1 of 5 in the preseason.

 

[Phinatic8u]

Tannehill has become better at throwing deep & it will show up in games.

Wallace is still gonna be a 900 yd WR for Minn.

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

Tannehill has become better at throwing deep & it will show up in games.

Wallace is still gonna be a 900 yd WR for Minn.

Wallace should be more of a deep threat in Minn because teams will be trying to stop Peterson. Turner's offense should fit Wallace better.

 

[Phinatic8u]

Wallace should be more of a deep threat in Minn because teams will be trying to stop Peterson. Turner's offense should fit Wallace better.

I bet he won't be any better.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

Cian Fahey is typically pretty solid, so I have to say that I enjoyed reading this article. Was surprised that he's far more negative about Wallace than I was.

In particular,

The unpredictability of Wallace made Tannehill's job almost impossible.

Yowza.

 

[datruth55]

Was just reading HOF game rundown....Wallace drops "underthrown" ball from Bridgewater....so it begins....

Want to read something familiar?

Mike Wallace: I don't remember Wallace having a catch tonight, or even a target, which isn't surprising as he hasn't had many of either since I've been in Mankato. While part of that may be coverage, I think there is also a rapport/comfort issue here too. My hope is that Teddy will make a point to target Wallace more during training camp and in pre-season games, to help build that rapport and make Wallace more than just a high-priced decoy. From what I've noticed, Wallace tends to get open late on deeper routes, and Teddy opts for the check-down rather than trusting to Wallace's extra gear and throwing deep to where only Wallace could get there. Wallace looks to be running good routes- and not just the deep ones- and has been getting open some, although Newman has had pretty good coverage most of the time.

http://www.dailynorseman.com/2015/8/6/9099041/minnesota-vikings-training-camp-observations-day-10

Sounds an awful lot like our beat writers for two years that Wallace was here. Blaming the QB for Wallace's lack of receptions. I wonder how many of their fans will bring up Ben Roethlisberger during the season and how Wallace was successful in Pittsburgh?

 

[NY8123]

Mike Wallace was only in Miami because there was no other viable option that year in free agency. I supported the signing of Wallace and Hartline only because of the "what else was Miami to do" theory. The revamp in the receiving corps was masterful this off-season. I mean if you say it came out of right field I'd say "no it didn't come out of right field, it came out of a black hole, totally unforeseen."

I never got the animosity between some fans with respect to Ryan Tannehill, the kid has been on par since day one and continues to grow. He signs a hugely team friendly deal with little guaranteed beyond two years and people think it was typical Miami overpaying for underwhelming play. Mark this post and if I am wrong I am wrong and will own up to it, Miami signed their QB at a better deal and will have better payout at the QB position than Seattle over the long-haul.

 

[russianbear]

That and a failed reverse play (couldn't get around the corner). Apparently he's been invisible during camp. Blaming it on Teddy and Mike not having a rapport yet.

Completely unrelated to anything except last night's opener, Kyle Rudolph looks like he's ready to go. Serious action for game 1 of 5 in the preseason.

same thing happened when he was in camp here....

maybe it's time they just call a spade a spade. wallace is disengaged, and isn't going to show the initiative it takes to build a rapport with a qb. he's a one man show, and his quotes, behaviors, and reputation all confirm that.

 

[TheWalrus]

Want to read something familiar?


http://www.dailynorseman.com/2015/8/6/9099041/minnesota-vikings-training-camp-observations-day-10

Sounds an awful lot like our beat writers for two years that Wallace was here. Blaming the QB for Wallace's lack of receptions. I wonder how many of their fans will bring up Ben Roethlisberger during the season and how Wallace was successful in Pittsburgh?

He is and always has been a complimentary player... this generation's Alvin Harper. And we made this generation's version of the mistake the Bucs did when they signed Harper to big money.

Wallace has only had one top level stretch in his entire career, from midseason 2010 through midseason 2011. In that 16 game stretch, he had 10 games of more than 100 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Prior to that run, Wallace had only had two 100 yard games in the previous year and a half. In the three and a half years since then (including another year and a half with Roethlisberger), he's only had seven such games.

Wallace thinks his true level is from that stretch. But it's not. His true level is from everything else. And there's a good chance he's just never going to learn that. Especially after seeing an NFL GM -- albeit a dimwitted one -- give him so much money (and probably fawning over him in the process).

There's actually one thing I left out about that stretch -- it includes that run to the Super Bowl where the Steelers lost to Green Bay. So here comes Wallace, riding three consecutive 100 yard games into the playoffs, in the middle of the hottest streak he'll ever have his career, and what does he do? Three catches for 20 yards (on seven targets) and no TDs in the divisional round, one catch for six yards (on three targets) in the AFC Championship game, and then nine catches for 89 yards (on a whopping 16 targets) and a TD in the Super Bowl. Even after the best run of his career, when he got into the playoffs he couldn't sustain it. Because it wasn't real. It was just one of those things that happens sometimes.

---------- Post added at 10:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 AM ----------

Mike Wallace was only in Miami because there was no other viable option that year in free agency. I supported the signing of Wallace and Hartline only because of the "what else was Miami to do" theory. The revamp in the receiving corps was masterful this off-season. I mean if you say if it came out of right field I'd say "no it didn't come out of right field, it came out of a black hole, totally unforeseen."

I never got the animosity between some fans with respect to Ryan Tannehill, the kid has been on par since day one and continues to grow. He signs a hugely team friendly deal with little guaranteed beyond two years and people think it was typical Miami overpaying for underwhelming play. Mark this post and if I am wrong I am wrong and will own up to it, Miami signed their QB at a better deal and will have better payout at the QB position than Seattle over the long-haul.

They could have signed Greg Jennings instead. It wouldn't have taken that kind of money and then -- as now -- he's a better player.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

They could have signed Greg Jennings instead. It wouldn't have taken that kind of money and then -- as now -- he's a better player.

This. And as I recall, you and a few other people ( :) ) were saying it then, too.

 

[Wildbill3]

This. And as I recall, you and a few other people ( :) ) were saying it then, too.

others weren't quite saying Jennings was a better player, but they yelled Jennings was a better player for our offense.