Running game holds key to Tannehill, Dolphins progression
By Sean Denison
The direction Ryan Tannehill and the Miami Dolphins take this upcoming season is based solely on how effective and determined they are at running the football.
Despite Adam Gase being declared a “quarterback whisperer,” Dolphins’ fans might get confused when the Dolphins rely heavily on the running game this upcoming season. Although running the ball won’t necessarily help quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s stats, it will be critical for his development.
Last season, the Chicago Bears, under offensive coordinator Adam Gase, were sixth in the NFL in rushing attempts. Despite having the super-talented, former Pro-Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler under center, the entire Bears offense was based around running the ball. By comparison, the Dolphins finished dead last in rushing attempts last season.
More from Dolphins News
- Tua Tagovailoa practicing with teammates is everything a leader does
- 4 offensive tackles Miami Dolphins could draft at 51
- Miami Dolphins don’t need CB help but these 5 could be available at 51
- 4 players that could replace Wilkins if Miami Dolphins don’t re-sign him
- Miami Dolphins have a starting point with Wilkins after Simmons deal
At this point in his career, Gase’s system is the perfect fit for Ryan Tannehill to become a better and smarter quarterback, particularly where he struggles the most: on third down, in the red-zone, and in the fourth quarter. Gase will likely put to rest the days where the Dolphins ask Tannehill to sling the football 40-50 times in a single game.
Regardless of the NFL becoming more of a passing league, it remains imperative for teams to have a solid rushing attack. For instance, a number of young quarterbacks (Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, Tyrod Taylor, Teddy Bridgewater and Jameis Winston.) direct run-oriented offenses—which has been essential in their development at the position. For Tannehill to become a better quarterback, the Dolphins must implement the same approach and put less weight on Tannehill’s shoulders.
Not only does a running game benefit a quarterback, it helps out the defense and allows them a chance to rest. There are two games in particular last season where the Dolphins showed us a glimpse of what all of these forces working together can accomplish: against Tennessee and Houston.
In both of these games, by setting the tone early and running the football, the Dolphins produced the most points on their season (38, 44) and rushed for a combined 428 yards (averaging 6.38 yards per rush). Ryan Tannehill averaged a quarterback rating of 128.05 (548 passing yards, six td’s, two interceptions), and the Dolphins’ defense recorded 10 sacks, three interceptions, and forced 5 fumbles.
The emphasis placed on the running game opened up easy, high-percentage throws for Tannehill and he was able to get into a nice rhythm. In fact, during this two-game span, Tannehill broke the NFL record for most consecutive completions with 25.
As to who will actually start at running back, however, remains a question. Heading into this upcoming season, two players will compete for the starting job: newly acquired running back Arian Foster and second-year player Jay Ajayi. Despite getting a head start on the competition, Ajayi’s capabilities are unknown. It still remains a concern if Ajayi can withstand the workload an every-down back consumes on a regular basis in the NFL.
In comparison, Foster, a seven-year vet and former Pro-Bowler, just signed a one-year/$1.5 million deal with the Dolphins and has been a proven commodity as an all-around back, rushing for over 1,200 yards four times in his career (1,616, 1,224, 1,411, 1,246). Despite these achievements, Foster’s bouts with injuries throughout his career make him a liability. Disturbingly, Foster has missed 23 of his last 48 games due to injury.
Aside from being a good ball-carrier, in order to play in Gase’s offense, a running back must be able to catch out of the backfield and be able to block. Because Foster has proven over his career that he can do all three—if healthy—consider him to be the starter for the Dolphins first preseason game August 12, against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
No matter who winds up starting at running back for the 2016 Miami Dolphins, the running game this upcoming season will be crucial for Tannehill’s progression. Gase and new offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen know what they have in their fifth year starting quarterback and will try to get the Dolphins back to a more balanced offense.
Of course, a solid running game isn’t a magic potion designed to mask other deficiencies, but it can help grow a limited quarterback into a more confident leader—something the Dolphins desperately need Tannehill to become.