Tannehill's play all night wasn't spectacular and didn't win the game single-handedly, but it was pretty darn encouraging. Down 2 lineman he turned in a performance that didn't have any significant negative plays and required a 4th quarter comeback just to stay in the game. And although he didn't win the game with this throw, the deep pass to Wallace that was reasonably on target and may have actually won the game had not Newman made a game-saving tackle PI swung the field position drastically and set up the final defensive series that won the game.
But the thing that encourages me most is I saw a couple real growth plays. We saw the sack on the first play of the final 4th qtr drive and I was pretty much thinking game over after the final timeout was burnt. Not only did Tannehill make a couple nice throws there, including the 16 yard one to Matthews right after that and the amazing throw to Hartline, but he made the correct play in the face of a shaky pocket by getting rid of the ball and living to fight another day when he absolutely could not take a sack with no timeouts in FG range. This recognition was something lacking before. This happened on first down after the Hartline catch and then on third down. Some people were saying WTF, I was cheering it because while we didn't win the game on those plays, we for darn sure were about to lost it like the games before it. Again, I was a big start Moore guy entering last year, and I still think the performance of Moore would have lead to a better season last year than RT, but the 4th quarter comebacks this year are something that Moore wasn't ever good at in 2011.
As frustrating as RT's inconsistencies have been this year, he has shown two things that you need a QB prospect to show: red zone scoring potential (we're amongst the best in this) and 4th quarter comebacks/game winning drives. I have been saying it would have been silly to bench him after last game, and tonight shows why, not just because of the victory, but because he made another growth. His game wasn't earth-shattering, but I certainly don't think anyone would think he should not be playing after this game.
But the thing that encourages me most is I saw a couple real growth plays. We saw the sack on the first play of the final 4th qtr drive and I was pretty much thinking game over after the final timeout was burnt. Not only did Tannehill make a couple nice throws there, including the 16 yard one to Matthews right after that and the amazing throw to Hartline, but he made the correct play in the face of a shaky pocket by getting rid of the ball and living to fight another day when he absolutely could not take a sack with no timeouts in FG range. This recognition was something lacking before. This happened on first down after the Hartline catch and then on third down. Some people were saying WTF, I was cheering it because while we didn't win the game on those plays, we for darn sure were about to lost it like the games before it. Again, I was a big start Moore guy entering last year, and I still think the performance of Moore would have lead to a better season last year than RT, but the 4th quarter comebacks this year are something that Moore wasn't ever good at in 2011.
As frustrating as RT's inconsistencies have been this year, he has shown two things that you need a QB prospect to show: red zone scoring potential (we're amongst the best in this) and 4th quarter comebacks/game winning drives. I have been saying it would have been silly to bench him after last game, and tonight shows why, not just because of the victory, but because he made another growth. His game wasn't earth-shattering, but I certainly don't think anyone would think he should not be playing after this game.