Tannehill running away with Dolphins record book

[Daytona Fin]

I think Tannehill's runs is really sparking the entire offense, seems like everybody has upped there level of play since the second half of the GB game. Though I am still worried he may take a blind hit while running he seems to be doing a better job of avoiding those physical hits compared to the last two seasons.

But for the second consecutive week, Tannehill also produced a big play with his running ability, converting a fourth-and-1 situation in the third quarter with a 30-yard run.

To show how impressive — and rare — coming up with that kind of big play in that kind of situation can be, consider the following:

 It was far and away the longest run by a Dolphins quarterback on a fourth-and-1 or fourth-and-2, topping the previous record of 3 yards — yes, 3 — shared by Jay Fiedler in 2003 and Joey Harrington in 2006.

• The previous longest run by a Dolphins quarterback in any fourth-down situation was a 17-yard gain by Bernie Kosar — never known as a nifty runner — on a fourth-and-10 in the fourth quarter of a 42-31 loss against Buffalo in 1994.

• Tannehill’s 30-yard gain was the longest run on fourth-and-1 or fourth-and-2 by an NFL quarterback since 2006 when Tennessee’s Vince Young went 36 yards on fourth-and-2 in the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills.

• It was the fifth-longest run by an NFL quarterback since 1991 in any fourth-down situation, topped only by runs of 40 yards by Cleveland’s Tim Couch in 1999; 38 yards by Tennessee’s Steve McNair in 1999; 36 yards by Tennessee’s Vince Young in 2006; and 32 yards by Kansas City’s Tyler Thigpen in 2008.

• It was the fourth-longest run by an NFL quarterback this season in any situation. The longest belongs to Seattle’s Russell Wilson, who gained 52 yards against Washington, and the second-longest was a 41-yard gain by Oakland’s Derek Carr against Houston.

The third-longest run by a quarterback this season also belongs to Tannehill — his 40-yard scramble against Green Bay eight days ago.

Thanks to his two long runs, Tannehill is averaging an impressive 6.82 yards per rushing attempt this season, which puts him in some elite company.

Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, only four NFL quarterbacks have produced a higher average over the course of a season — Michael Vick (three times), Randall Cunningham, Bobby Douglass and Russell Wilson, whose current average of 8.61 yards is on pace to break the quarterback mark of 8.45 set by Vick in 2006.

Through six games of the 2014 season, Tannehill has rushed for 150 yards, already the eighth-highest single-season total for a Dolphins quarterback.

Tannehill is on pace for 400 yards over 16 games, which easily would break the Dolphins single-season rushing record for quarterbacks, which is the 321 yards gained by Jay Fiedler in 2001.

Interestingly, the top eight rushing seasons for Dolphins quarterbacks in terms of yardage belong to only three players: Jay Fiedler (two), David Woodley (three) and Tannehill (three).

Not even halfway through his third season, Tannehill already is fourth on the Dolphins’ all-time list for rushing yards by a quarterback. With 599 yards, Tannehill trails only all-time leader Bob Griese (994), Fiedler (834) and Woodley (771).

http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/a...pr=19853312&campaign=social_20141020_34073407

 

[foozool13]

He needs to run more. I know you dont want your QB to take hits, but one of my fav characteristics about TH is that he is a tough SOB. Obviously playing WR at in college helped with that. I'm not saying he should put his head down and gain yards - of course I want him to slide like everyone else - but a few hits here and there I can live with.

 

[MD]

As long as he knows to slide before getting hit he'll be fine.

 

[SSnowman]

I liked Tannehill's response to the media asking him after the game if he worries about taking big hits. He essentially said "I'm a football player".

 

[DolFan in NE]

It seems like his play elevates when he runs the football. It's almost like he can just play with a natural feel instead of that forced feeling of being a straight pocket passer. I really do hope he develops and succeeds. He seems to say and do all the right things and it seems that he has the respect of his teammates.

 

[zach attach]

We the fans know he can use his abilities to run. Very happy to the coaches agree.

 

[datruth55]

I thought Bob Griese would have been high on some of these single game and single season marks. Griese did stop running after he hurt his leg during the 72 season when Earl Morrall led us most of the way to the undefeated season. Think Bob got a bit spooked to run after that.

 

[LikeUntoGod]

It seems like he get into the game more, becomes more of a 'football player" when he runs a little. Plus it opens up other things. I noticed we ran the same triple option that the SeaHawks ran. Tannehill had the option of handing off, running himself or attempting/completing a short slant. Both times he was looking pass and they were easy completions. A lot of the NFL is using a spread kind of offense with the QB in a half shotgun. Most QBs cannot run, we have one of the ones who can run well.

I would swear that few things kill a defense like a QB running.........

But for me it is the way it opens up not only runs by him but other plays. The OLB had to start watching him on every running play. The only QB I think can takes those hits over and over is Tim Tebow so we do not want him to have to win the game running, but 4-6 carries a game would be great. I approve of the times Tannehill did not slide. In a couple of cases he could of been hurt worse sliding.

 

[whizafriz]

I liked how he mentioned "I told my guys in the huddle, there was a 90% chance I was going to hand it off, but I once I saw the situation I decided to keep it"
When I saw the play I was cheering on the coaching staff for finally calling a designed run, but to hear Tanne make that call himself instantaneously, good on him and his football IQ is evolving.

 

[LikeUntoGod]

This is the offense he ran in college. It takes practice to read the end/OLB and he has done it. He only got past the end easy on one play, the others he earned.

In other words, on 3 of his runs, the end/OLB went inside after the HB but they had their eyes on Tannehill and did cut right back outside after him. But Tannehill outran them. That is what he can do. Matt Moore can only do that if the end totally bites. If Tannehill can just get the end off balance, he can run.

I noticed during the game that Tannehill was doing some of his best ball fakes I've ever seen him do. At least one reason being that he did more "reading" and he was sticking in and pulling out the ball. In other words, more of our plays were real options.

 

[dolfin530]

Tannehills runs smart. RGIII keeps getting hurt because he is not smart running the ball. He is good but doesn't understand when it's time to slide etc. Being available is more important than a great play or extra yards. Tannehill seems to understand that! 5 runs a game is a good number.

 

[MRojas4]

I liked Tannehill's response to the media asking him after the game if he worries about taking big hits. He essentially said "I'm a football player".

Should of said..."Did you see me last year?"



54 sacks or whatever?

 

[Danny]

Funny but I think he gets hot harder when he doesn't run. At least when he runs he can slide or get out of bounds. He gets hit more and harder when he gets sacked

 

[Rev Kev]

Could of had Pat White running the ball for us

 

[hoops]

too much qb contact for my taste...would like to see him slide at the 2nd level...but it's not his mentality so i'm sure hard contact will come with it...tough offense though not to expose the qb to contact in...must make the edge players pay for not playing contain...that and all those loaded interiors vs the inside zone