I don't want Tannehill

[Brian Fein]

In my mind, reaching for Tannehill is the worst thing the Dolphins could do.  Here's why...

Everyone had their eyes on Luck.  The "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes was out of control.  As it moved on, the focus became RG3.  He's a good player, but also will not be available beyond #2.  So, all the teams in the sweepstakes still have googly eyes for a QB, and Tennehill is just the next best thing.

In reality, he's a late-first or second round talent.  He shouldn't even be in the conversation in the top 10, but he has been boosted because so many teams had their eyes on QB's this season.  Taking Tannehill would be just grabbing the next QB, regardless of talent level. 

For a team with so many holes, I'd be fine with taking the top tackle, or if by some miracle Justin Blackmon falls to us - TAKE HIM!  I'd rather take a guy who is the best at his position than reach for a guy just because he is a QB.

But, here's how I see this playing out...  Remember 2007?

Tannehill is on the board at 8 and the Dolphins take their stud tackle, pass rusher, or receiver.  Immediately Jeff Ireland is crucified in the media for passing on the next Dan Marino.  How could he?  These guys probably already have the articles written.  Later, whoever they picked gets a career of boo's and jeers because his name isn't Ryan Tannehill.  He will never be worth a damn, never be any good, even if he is great, and he will be cut or traded before his third season.  It has happened before, and I see it happening again.

I like this article:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7835940/nfl-reaching-draft-always-mistake

[hordman]

In my mind, reaching for Tannehill is the worst thing the Dolphins could do.  Here's why...

Everyone had their eyes on Luck.  The "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes was out of control.  As it moved on, the focus became RG3.  He's a good player, but also will not be available beyond #2.  So, all the teams in the sweepstakes still have googly eyes for a QB, and Tennehill is just the next best thing.

In reality, he's a late-first or second round talent.  He shouldn't even be in the conversation in the top 10, but he has been boosted because so many teams had their eyes on QB's this season.  Taking Tannehill would be just grabbing the next QB, regardless of talent level. 

For a team with so many holes, I'd be fine with taking the top tackle, or if by some miracle Justin Blackmon falls to us - TAKE HIM!  I'd rather take a guy who is the best at his position than reach for a guy just because he is a QB.

But, here's how I see this playing out...  Remember 2007?

Tannehill is on the board at 8 and the Dolphins take their stud tackle, pass rusher, or receiver.  Immediately Jeff Ireland is crucified in the media for passing on the next Dan Marino.  How could he?  These guys probably already have the articles written.  Later, whoever they picked gets a career of boo's and jeers because his name isn't Ryan Tannehill.  He will never be worth a damn, never be any good, even if he is great, and he will be cut or traded before his third season.  It has happened before, and I see it happening again.

I like this article:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7835940/nfl-reaching-draft-always-mistake

^^^^^THIS

I see they cut Phillip Merling today, they may go DE in the 1st round now.  Tannehill is not the correct choice at No. 8.  2nd round, yes, 1st round with the 8th pick?  Not in this lifetime.

[Spider-Dan]

Unlike Mueller in 2007, Ireland made a herculean effort to put himself in this poor position.  He heartily deserves whatever bashing he receives.

First, he made it known Wide And Far that he Is Not Happy With Matt Moore and would Definitely Be Looking To Upgrade The QB Position.  Fine.
Then, an hour into free agency, he trades away Miami's best offensive weapon, instantly eliminating the Dolphins from the Manning sweepstakes (if they even had a chance).
He follows that by bringing in Flynn and lowballing him, losing him to a mediocre contract offer from Seattle.

Ireland has dutifully painted himself into this corner.  I have very little sympathy for the media deservedly tearing him to shreds if a) he doesn't pick Tannehill or b) he picks Tannehill and he's a bust.

If he was going to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to upgrade Miami at QB, he should have said "We are happy with Matt Moore and are looking to upgrade other positions."

[Pappy13]

Do me a favor. Go to youtube and pick out a couple games from Andrew Luck, RGIII and Tannehill from 2011 where it shows you every throw they make in a game. I don't care which games they are, but at least pick out 3 or 4 of each player. Watch every throw they make in those games. Not just the good ones, but the bad ones too. Evaluate each player and also evaluate the WR's they are throwing too. I did this over the weekend.

I won't deny that Luck looks the best, but RGIII and Tannehill aren't that different. They really aren't. Luck doesn't make many bad throws, but he doesn't really make a lot of throws where you go, "only Luck can make that throw" either. I saw Ryan Tannehill make PLENTY of throws where you go "Wow, that was an NFL type pass", every bit as good as Luck. Yes, he has a few you cringe at too, definately more than Luck, but Luck is considered one of the best QB prospects of the decade. If that's true (I have my doubts) and Tannehill is pretty close to him, I don't have ANY problem with Miami taking him at #8. He has some warts, no one is saying he doesn't, but RGIII has some warts too and NO ONE is saying that he SHOULDN'T be #2.

And do one other thing. Count how many times Tannehill's receivers DROP the ball or bat it into the air. Then count that number for Luck. I didn't actually count the numbers, but it would have been a lot for Tannehill and a couple for Luck. A couple times those batted balls turned into INT's and a couple more times the receivers turned the ball over after catching it which are drive killers.

When you make an honest comparison of the pass attempts in the games and don't look at just the raw numbers, you start to see why guys like McShay are high on him despite his less than stellar numbers. He played on a team with less accomplished receivers and a lot of the times the reason that A&M came up short against teams was not because Tannehill was playing poorly, it was because his receivers weren't getting open or were dropping balls they should have caught.

There's no sure thing in the NFL. I don't think Luck is a sure bet in the NFL. I don't think Tannehill is either, but I think Tannehill has a much better shot than people are giving him credit for.

[Phishfan]

He follows that by bringing in Flynn and lowballing him, losing him to a mediocre contract offer from Seattle.

See, I really hate this lowballing term and I blame media hype. How do we know it was a lowball offer? The assumption is because Seattle offered higher then Miami lowballed him. Maybe they just offered him what they actually thought he was worth. This is more media hype.

[Spider-Dan]

See, I really hate this lowballing term and I blame media hype. How do we know it was a lowball offer? The assumption is because Seattle offered higher then Miami lowballed him. Maybe they just offered him what they actually thought he was worth.

If they really thought he was worth less than the journeyman contract Seattle signed him to, he never should have been seriously considered as a long-term solution.  Therefore, one of two things was the case:

1) Ireland never considered him a serious solution (which means he had no real plan for an upgrade at QB, and was flapping his gums aimlessly)
2) Ireland did consider him a serious solution, but lowballed him

[bsfins]

I'm not sure what to do myself.....It seems like where we're at,almost every one we might pick has a some red flags,or downside...

I think Miami is sort of screwed,if they do take him some fans are going to be pissed,(and they are going to scream to play him when we lose the first game,then proclaim endlessly,how right they were,and he sucks...).
If we don't take him,there are going to be that section of fans that will never let us forget it,bringing it up constantly....

After reading Pappy's post,he sounds a lot like Jay Cutler...Played on a bad team in college,makes throws that you go Wow look at that...and a bunch that you go WTF are your thinking!!!

[EKnight]

If they draft him and DO play him this year, I'll be screaming. He's not ready for the NFL. The biggest knock I've read is that he needs a year  (and some say more) on the bench learning. Someone (I think it was ESPN) said he'll only be a bust in the draft if he plays this year and that he will be "eaten alive" by NFL defenses. Let's be honest- this team isn't going to win the division or make the playoffs any time soon (see my thread "No quick or easy fix"), so there's no NEED to have him play this year. Let Moore or Garrard take some lumps and let the kid learn if they draft him (which I'm hoping they don't). -EK

[Brian Fein]

^^ Problem is - who is he learning from?  Matt Moore, the guy with like 30 starts on his resume?  Or David Garrard, the journeyman who got cut in favor of Luke McCown and Blaine Gabbert?

[el diablo]

I'm just amazed how this guy shoots up the draft board. How do you get your coach fired in college, yet become a potential number three pick?  How do the Dolphins justify trading up (if this were to happen) for this guy, but not for RG3? I agree with Mr. Fein on this one. I don't want him either.

[MikeO]

I'm just amazed how this guy shoots up the draft board. How do you get your coach fired in college, yet become a potential number three pick?  How do the Dolphins justify trading up (if this were to happen) for this guy, but not for RG3? I agree with Mr. Fein on this one. I don't want him either.

Now Tannehill is responsible for getting Sherman fired? Nothing to do with there god awful defense or their WR's who dropped everything. Or the fact they played in a conference with outstanding teams.  It's Tannehill who got him fired? lol

I agree the Tannehill "LOVE" might have went too far with some analysts a few weeks back but the Tannehill "HATE" has now swung just as far in the other direction with fans.  I guarantee most Dolphins fans didn't watch 1 second of a Texas AM game the past 2 years and now are speaking as if they know why Mike Sherman got fired. Amusing to say the least!

If Miami drafts him fine, if they don't fine. But some Dolphins fans with this over the top Hate towards the kid are just talking about stuff they don't known about

[MikeO]

One thing to keep in mind, IF Miami passes on him. And if Moore and Garrard are well Moore and Gararrd and below average at best. Then NEXT offseason, if Miami doesn't land a QB in free agency (which its a weak class next year).....don't be crying when Miami parts with 3 first round picks and a couple 2nd rounders to move up to take a QB.

And the QB they move up for may not be as good as Tannehill.

Philbin's and Ireland's job is to think "BIG PICTURE". This is a game of chess, where they must think 3 or 4 moves ahead and what "might" happen.

That "WHAT IF" senerio of Miami goes 7-9 or 8-8. Moore walks as a FA. Gararrd retires or stinks. Miami doesn't sign a FA QB, they are picking 13th or 14th in the draft next year, the top QB's are spoken for by teams picking at the top of the draft who aren't trading down, and Miami is trading UP to get the 3rd best QB in NEXT years draft who might be worse than Tannehill. You want to give up all those picks for THAT GUY? Or just use this years #8 pick for Tannehill.

Like I have said, I have faith when it comes to QB's in Philbin/Sherman/Ireland on this one. IF they take Tannehill fine. If they don't fine, I am good with it either way. BUT don't be crying a year from now when Miami is giving up the farm to move up and take a QB with less of a resume than Tannehiill. Because THAT possibility is very real!

[el diablo]

In my case, its not TanneHate or TannEnvy. Simply put, I don't see no. 8 talent in Tannehill. I've watched him play. He's a west coast offense QB that stares down his primary receiver. Granted, he only had 19 starts. Granted, he could be taught progressions. But the elevation up the board makes absolutely no sense to me. None. He's maybe the 4th best QB in the draft. So, there is no hate here. Just personal objectivity.

[MikeO]

In my case, its not TanneHate or TannEnvy. Simply put, I don't see no. 8 talent in Tannehill. I've watched him play. He's a west coast offense QB that stares down his primary receiver. Granted, he only had 19 starts. Granted, he could be taught progressions. But the elevation up the board makes absolutely no sense to me. None. He's maybe the 4th best QB in the draft. So, there is no hate here. Just personal objectivity.

I see your point and understand it. BUT, Ponder and Locker weren't Top 10 talents and that's where they went (Ponder 12th but close enough). And in limited time last year they did fine and look promising going into year 2.

The ONLY 19 starts thing I don't get. He had more starts in college than some successful NFL QB's like Newton, and Sanchez. Those guys went Top 5. Few if any people had Joe Flacco in Rd 1, hell Parcells was dying to get him in Rd 2 and was shocked the Ravens took him late in Rd 1 That's because QB's get pushed up the board! 2nd round grade doesn't mean you go in the 2nd roudn anymore at QB. WAS Sanchez a Top 5 guy, probably not. But as Mike Mayock has stated and he is 100% correct. The QB position is judged totally different. Guys who have 1st and 2nd round grades go in ROUND 1. Guys with 3rd and 4th round grades go in ROUND 2! That is why there are so many BUST QB's that get drafted in Round 2, because they really are 3rd or 4th and sometime 5th round talents!!  The position pushes EVERY QB in the draft up the board. The position is far too important.

In the NFL you can "get by" with mediocrity at any position on the field. Pats do it with a mediocre secondary. GB with a mediocre RB. Pitt with a mediocre o-line...etc. The ONE position you can't "get by" at with mediocrity is QB!

[EKnight]

BUT don't be crying a year from now when Miami is giving up the farm to move up and take a QB with less of a resume than Tannehiill. Because THAT possibility is very real!

It's just as likely that they give up the farm for a QB with more of a resume than Tannehill. In fact, with only 19 starts under his belt, it's MORE likely they give up the farm for a QB with a better resume than Tannehill. Next year's draft will include Barkley, Jones, Aaron Murray, Tyler Bray, and Tyler Wilson- all of whom are projected first rounders right now. Keep in mind, RG3 was a projected 2nd to 3rd rounder at the beginning of this season on many boards, and he blew up. The same could happen to any number of guys including EJ Manual (Florida State's 6'4" 245 beast of a QB). Next year's draft is deeper at QB than this year's, which is why I have no qualms in saying Miami should PASS on a guy who was considered the 5th best QB in the 2012 draft until 2 juniors went back to school. -EK