Ryan Tannehill Has Top Quarterback Potential

Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is a definitive candidate for NFL players who are just scratching the surface of their potential. A former receiver, Tannehill was originally recruited to Texas A&M to play quarterback before being beaten out by Jerrod Johnson and veteran Stephen McGee as a redshirt freshman. Head coach Mike Sherman quickly realized the athlete he had in Tannehill and made the decision to move him to receiver where he hauled in 46 receptions for 609 yards and four touchdowns in 2009 as approximately 80 percent of his receptions went for first downs or touchdowns; he earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors for his efforts. He split time with Johnson the following season, starting seven games and completing 65 percent of his passes for 1,638 yards and 13 touchdowns against six interceptions while adding another 76 and one on the ground. He was recognized as an honorable mention all-conference selection for the second straight year.

2011 was Tannehill's breakout year as he earned the starting nod and ran with it: he completed 61 percent of his passes for 3,744 yards and 29 touchdowns (15 interceptions) while adding another 306 and four on the ground. He capped his illustrious seasons by guiding the Aggies to a bowl victory over Northwestern before declaring for the draft. Tannehill's exceptional pro day performance, where he measured at 6'4," 217 pounds with a 4.58 40, catapulted him into top 10 conversation that the Dolphins capitalized on; they took him eighth overall.

The 17th Dolphins starter since Dan Marino took his bumps as a rookie and showcased his deep ball struggles that plagued him at A&M.



The video above features a multitude of things. For starters, you'll notice Tannehill's ability to step up into a clean pocket, reset his feet, and deliver the ball down the field, creating pocket awareness and maneuverability he flashed as a rookie and has bettered has his career's progressed. Things go awry from there where the aforementioned deep ball issues rear their ugly heads. Although his accuracy is on display here, albeit something he still struggles with today, his lack of touch is what potentially costs Brian Hartline six.



Because Tannehill is a change-of-pace passer, those issues with down field touch are not uncommon. This video highlights the quick release and zip Tannehill possesses, zip that challenges defenses at all levels of the field as a trait he perfected at A&M and is comparable to top NFL quarterbacks. These attributes served him well last year where the Dolphins featured many vertical route combinations out of 2x2 and 3x1 sets that dove the defense deep before an underneath route came open late and allowed them to get their athletic pass catchers out in space and earn yards after the catch; the same can be said for their heavy use of bubbles and spot screens. Case in point, Tannehill's arm talent is top tier.



This is one of my favorites because it encompasses many areas where Tannehill has really grown. There has been an exponential growth in his football IQ as he has made the correct pre- and post-snap reads on countless occasions and has grown to understand throwing lanes. In turn, hwill take what the coverage frees up, allowing him to create offense. Jacksonville's defender is lined up slightly outside shade of tight end Jake Stoneburner, something Tannehill recognizes pre-snap and realizes Stoneburner has the leverage. From there, he keeps his footwork in rhythm with the concept and anticipates him running into the window behind linebacker Telvin Smith and delivers an absolute strike with impeccable timing.



Pointing back to Tannehill's 40 time and numbers on the ground at A&M, this video is an example of the dual threat ability Tannehill brings to the table. With 911 career rushing yards and five touchdowns, he can extend plays with his feet and poses a threat when he escapes the pocket.

While Tannehill is growing as a player, his mental processing continues to be a glitch in said growth. Many times last year, Tannehill had guys open in tight coverage and he failed to pull the trigger while the opposite was also true, and he held on to the ball waiting for someone to get open, a cardinal sin in the NFL.

Regardless, he's bested his numbers each season, a remarkable feat considering he was forced to begin his career with the likes of Mike Wallace (long removed from the former Steeler version), Brian Hartline, and Reggie Bush. Tannehill has posted back-to-back 4,000 yard, 24 touchdown seasons, but has fumbled the ball a staggering 38 times and tossed 54 interceptions in his four seasons. If Tannehill wishes to be the next $100 million passer, he drastically needs to cut down on the turnovers and improve his undesirable 29-35 record as a starter.

The 2016 season offers serious hope for Dolphins fans with new head coach Adam Gase. Continuity is absolutely key for young passers, and with three offensive coordinators in four years, it's a feat that hasn't stunted Tannehill's growth, a testament to his mental and physical capabilities. The Dolphins' line was absolutely gashed by the blitz last season and it lead to Tannehill taking a beating, but Gase brings a quick-timing system predicated on three-step drops and immediate decision making. Thus, an elite pass blocking offensive line isn't a necessity and makes the Laremy Tunsil decision more of a head scratcher.

2015 first round selection DeVante Parker battled a foot injury for most of last season and struggled to see targets behind a talent receiving corps, so look for him to become the team's number two option with Greg Jennings and Rishard Matthews now gone. Recent reports have Arian Foster taking first team reps, a plus both on the ground and in the air, but adding Kenyan Drake was quite possibly their best move in the draft. He works best in space and was used heavily as a receiver at Alabama, in addition to his impact on the ground that should translate well to the next level. With the litany of weapons at his disposal, expect Tannehill to capitalize on his potential.