Fins Take Tannehill

[masterfins]

I wasn't crazy for, or against, Tannehill.  He seems to be teachable and has potential, I think his success will depend upon Philbin.  He's as good, or better, than anyone we would get next year...so I'm glad he's here.

[Fins4ever]

I wasn't crazy for, or against, Tannehill.  He seems to be teachable and has potential, I think his success will depend upon Philbin.  He's as good, or better, than anyone we would get next year...so I'm glad he's here.

Agree. It is all up to the coaching staff now. The potential is there! You just cannot teach speed or arm strength.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I don't think he was in any danger of being drafted until #22.

Given how fast a furious the trades were going, you really can't say that.  Yeah, you might have been able to project that the next team that needed a QB was at 22, but any team could trade up. 

[NYFin]

Obviously, there' s a chance that everyone gets fired and that the Dolphins are picking a QB #1 three years from now.

That said, there are some things working in Tannehill's favor.

Ross is on board.  That means Ireland, Sherman and Philbin all have three years to make this work.  GM picked a QB the owner wanted: for better or worse, Ireland is extended.  Philbin is a new coach so needs time anyway (which also effectively extended Ireland).  Sherman wants to be an HC again, but that only happens if the Tannehill things works--so he's stuck in Miami a few years. 

And they know Tannehill's raw.  They know he's not starting game 1 probably.  So he's not rushed into that situation.  They can take the A. Rodgers approach and build him up before starting him.  It's uncommon to do that from #8, but it's what the Dolphins will do here.  And if Tannehill plays this year it will be after Moore/Garrard has already lost the job and put the Dolphins in a hole.  So he'll get  to play in a scenario where he can make mistakes and be looking to give hope instead of instant results.

So all that gives Tannehill a chance.  Hopefully it works out.

[Pappy13]

^^ Agree with all of that.

New coach will get time. There will be no panic this year unless it's just a 1-15 or 0-16 disaster and even that may not be enough.

There's 3 scenario's where I think Tannehill could play this year and none of them I would object to.

1) Injuries to Moore and Garrard force him into playing.
2) He plays his way into the starting spot with outstanding practices.
3) Moore and Garrard aren't getting it done and the season is pretty much lost. Might as well give the kid a shot at that point.

Any combination of the 3 could also pretty much force Miami into playing him.

[EKnight]

So to put this in historical perspective:

According to ESPN's 2012 NFL Draft page, Tannehill graded out at a 94.  (For comparison, Luck was a 99, RG3 was a 97, and Weeden was an 86.)  Here's how the first-round QBs from some previous drafts have graded out:

2011
Newton (1): 93
Locker (8): 90
Gabbert (10): 96
Ponder (12): 85

2010
Bradford (1): 97
Tebow (25): 78

2009
Stafford (1): 96
Sanchez (5): 95
Freeman (17): 85

So I guess you could say MIA got a QB that graded out higher than Cam Newton!  Or worse than Mark Sanchez and Blaine Gabbert.  Hmmm.

In any case, picking a QB graded 94 at the #8 slot definitely isn't a reach, and could be considered slightly (very slightly) exceeding expectations for the slot.

P.S. Mallett (74): 82

Oddly, NFL.com's grade was only an 87 for Tannehill- lowest grade in the top 14 picks. Luck was a 97. RG3 was a 95. This seems a bit more realistic IMO. -EK

[MikeO]

Love this draft so far. LOVE this offseason so far.

Draft a Franchise QB. A 1st round talent LT falls to round 2 we grab him and can play him at RT, have legit book-end TACKLES now. Dolphins move into this century and get a pass catching TE who can make plays down the field. Added a big weapon. 2 Tight End sets with Clay and Egnew could be fun!  And we get a pure 4-3 DE who if he stayed in school would have been a Top prospect in NEXT years draft.

We still have 5 picks on Saturday to address depth everywhere. With WR and a Pulling GUARD being the top 2 needs right now!

Not sure if we win many games next year but this draft is addressing major needs (QB, TE, and RT) and moving forward the outlook is much brighter than it has been in many many years!

[Pappy13]

^^I agree. I don't see much wrong with the draft. The TE pick kinda fooled me, but after watching him play, I see it. I get it. Was better in 2010 than 2011, but that's nothing to worry about because Gabbert was throwing to him in 2010.

[Spider-Dan]

When was TE a major need?  Fasano is serviceable and Clay was supposed to be The Future.  How many TEs are we going to carry?

[Pappy13]

^^ I think we had like 4 last year? There must have been 6 in preseason.

[MikeO]

When was TE a major need?  Fasano is serviceable and Clay was supposed to be The Future.  How many TEs are we going to carry?

Yes, TE was a major need! Fassano is an out-dated style TE. Last yer of his deal.

Last year in GB the packers carried 5 TE's. Philbin was running that offense obviously so we might carry a bunch!

[Spider-Dan]

So what happened to Charles Clay?  I thought the point of drafting him last year was that he was supposed to take over TE.

Is TE really more of a need position than WR?  It doesn't make sense to be spending a 3rd there.

[Landshark]

So what happened to Charles Clay?  I thought the point of drafting him last year was that he was supposed to take over TE.

Is TE really more of a need position than WR?  It doesn't make sense to be spending a 3rd there.

If you want to duplicate the success the Pats had with Gronkowski and Hernandez, then yes it is.  Philbin's system requires tight ends to be vertical threats.  Fasdno is not a vertical threat.  His days in Miami are numbered.

[EKnight]

Yeah, I can see why you'd want to replace the guy who has caught the most TD's for your team over the past two years, as well as the second most receptions of over 20 yards. You could make a strong argument that he's been one of the best parts of the passing game recently. Without Marshall, he's actually Miami's most productive pass catcher since 2010. Between him and Clay, drafting another TE is pointless when they needed a WR and safety. -EK

[Pappy13]

Yeah, I can see why you'd want to replace the guy who has caught the most TD's for your team over the past two years, as well as the second most receptions of over 20 yards. You could make a strong argument that he's been one of the best parts of the passing game recently. Without Marshall, he's actually Miami's most productive pass catcher since 2010. Between him and Clay, drafting another TE is pointless when they needed a WR and safety. -EK

It's not the same offense. You may not have heard, but the Dolphins are switching to a west coast offense. They took a BUNCH of players that fit the offense, not just a TE. Nobody is getting rid of Fasano just yet, but there's no harm in bringing in some competition is there? If I'm hearing you correctly it's not so much a problem with the TE you have, but rather that they didn't take a WR earlier. Well the fact is that there were plenty of good WCO type WR's and there was really only 2 good "seam" TE's Fleener and Egnew. If you wait on Egnew he might be gone and they did take 2 WR's later that are very good WCO type receivers. If they would have taken one of them earlier and taken the TE later would it have made you feel better because it certainly wouldn't have changed the fact that they added 2 WR's and TE that fit the WCO. I don't really see the big problem you are having with this.