Jaws on Tannehill

[MikeO]

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2012/11/23/miami-dolphins-talking-points-ron-jaworski-says-ryan-tannehill-needs-more-playmakers/

1. Ron Jaworski confirms what we all can see: Ryan Tannehill needs more help around him.
The Dolphins’ decision to trade Brandon Marshall last March was understandable. He was a divisive force in the locker room for two years, underperformed on the field and couldn’t stay out of trouble off the field. With the Dolphins intent on grooming a rookie quarterback this year, trading Marshall (and the $27 million it still owed him) was seen internally as addition by subtraction.

But the Dolphins’ decision not to do much to replace Marshall was a real head-scratcher. They didn’t sign any receivers of note in free agency, and didn’t draft a receiver until taking B.J. Cunningham (since cut) and Rishard Matthews in the sixth and seventh rounds, respectively.

They got away with not having a legitimate No. 1 receiver early in the season, as Brian Hartline and Davone Bess combined for four 100-yard games and Hartline had his franchise-record 253-yard day against Arizona.

But opposing defenses have caught up to the Dolphins’ offense at this point in the season, and Ryan Tannehill and the passing game has hit a wall. They threw for 153 net yards against the Rams, 139 yards against the Jets, 201 yards in a blowout loss to Tennessee and 124 yards in a loss to the Bills. Tannehill has one touchdown pass and five interceptions in his last two games, and no passes over 20 yards.
Tuesday, I asked ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, who has watched the coaches’ film of all 10 Dolphins game, if Tannehill’s struggles have to do with the Dolphins not having enough playmakers on offense.

“Well, that clearly is the issue,” Jaworski said. “There’s an ebb and flow to young quarterbacks, and there’s an ebb and flow to every offensive team and defensive team in the NFL as the season goes, and adjustments are made. And I think what you’re seeing now is teams are adjusting to what the Dolphins are doing. There’s not much separation from their receivers, so I think the windows are always tight that Ryan is throwing into.”

“So I think when you look at a quarterback, particularly a young rookie quarterback in a new system, you need all the other components to be perfect, to be really at optimum levels, and they haven’t been. And I think that has really impacted Ryan’s performance. And he has made some bad decisions as well, and sometimes that does happen with young quarterbacks.”

We wrote today that this year’s draft doesn’t have any elite playmaking receivers, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t good depth in the middle rounds. The Packers, famously, have turned second-round picks like Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson into Pro Bowlers and household names. The Dolphins have five picks in the first three rounds of April’s draft, and need to use at least one pick, if not two, on a receiver to give Tannehill some help.

[Brian Fein]

I disagree they didn't do ANYTHING to replace Marshall.  They just didn't do anything that worked out.  They brought in Chad Johnson and Legedu Naanee and now, Jabar Gaffney.  All have been servicable WR's in the past, and Johnson has been a pro-bowl WR in the past.  They brought in Braylon Edwards for a workout as well.  They just all didn't work out for various reasons. 

Its not like they have completely ignored the need. 

But I agree, it needs to be the #1 priority this offseason.  Finally, maybe we can stop worrying about our QB for a change, and go get some guys that can catch the ball and make plays.

[Fins4ever]

I disagree they didn't do ANYTHING to replace Marshall.  They just didn't do anything that worked out.  They brought in Chad Johnson and Legedu Naanee and now, Jabar Gaffney.  All have been servicable WR's in the past, and Johnson has been a pro-bowl WR in the past.  They brought in Braylon Edwards for a workout as well.  They just all didn't work out for various reasons. 

Its not like they have completely ignored the need. 

But I agree, it needs to be the #1 priority this offseason.  Finally, maybe we can stop worrying about our QB for a change, and go get some guys that can catch the ball and make plays.

Thank you! Read my mind. I don';t care if they signed Howdie Doody, better than BM! I look foir ole bm to blow a fuse any game now. Da Bears are going NOWHERE!

[EDGECRUSHER]

Chad Johnson was coming off of his worst year as a pro. Gaffney was off of the scrap heap and Edwards was the same, unwanted by everyone else.

Yeah, management tried, but they tried to catch lightning in a bottle as opposed to trying to find a high percentage success. This offseason, WR needs to be either a high draft pick or a big time free agent.

[Pappy13]

You can't fix all the problems in one year. They had defeciencies all over the team, not just at WR and they still do.

[bsmooth]

You can't fix all the problems in one year. They had defeciencies all over the team, not just at WR and they still do.

Bingo.

[Landshark]

You can't fix all the problems in one year. They had defeciencies all over the team, not just at WR and they still do.

Like I said in another thread, next year's draft should be dedicated to receivers, defensive backs, and pass rushing specialists.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Receivers need 100% of the team's attention. For the first time since Marino, Miami may have a franchise QB so you need to give him every chance to succeed and fail. That way, if he sucks, no one can point to a lack of talent and the team can move on. With a Hartline/Bess 1-2 combo, it's hard to judge how good Tanny really is.

[EKnight]

Yeah, because it's Hartline and Bess that make him stare down, get the ball tipped at the line, over throw a wide open TE, and shrink in the fourth quarter. -EK

[Pappy13]

Yeah, because it's Hartline and Bess that make him stare down, get the ball tipped at the line, over throw a wide open TE, and shrink in the fourth quarter. -EK

Yeah, because it's Tannehill's fault that Long gives up sacks, that bush runs scared, that the defense gives up 1st downs on 3rd and 20, that Carpenter misses FG's whenever you really need one and the kick coverage team can't tackle.

[bsmooth]

Yeah, because it's Hartline and Bess that make him stare down, get the ball tipped at the line, over throw a wide open TE, and shrink in the fourth quarter. -EK

Hmmm, things that rookies do. Did you expect him to come in as a rookie and turn into Marino overnight? You sure are hyper-critical of a rookie QB. I guess you will only be happy when Tebow is wearing aqua and orange.

[MikeO]

Hmmm, things that rookies do. Did you expect him to come in as a rookie and turn into Marino overnight? You sure are hyper-critical of a rookie QB. I guess you will only be happy when Tebow is wearing aqua and orange.

You nailed it!!