Ryan Tannehill has shown a lot more than you think

When it comes to Ryan Tannehill there is a big divide among Miami Dolphins fans and even a divide among the national and local media.

Everyone seems to want to put Ryan Tannehill down. The media, the fan base, and if you happen to support him, the fans who don’t are quick to let you know. We have hashed this all out before. But the thing is this, Ryan Tannehill has shown a lot more than most give him credit for.

It is a common quip from fans to say that over the course of his NFL career since 2012, Ryan Tannehill hasn’t really shown all that much. In some regards it is true but it is also an unfair comment.

It really tends to come down to comparison and who exactly you are comparing him to. Tannehill is not a leader like Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees. He needs a supporting cast and when he has had something close to that, he looked really good. 2016 is the best example of that.

In 2016 Tannehill had a pretty decent offensive line. A good group of receivers and solid running backs that could take pressure off the passing game. In some respect it was a moving forward year for Tannehill. Many expected that 2016 would be the catalyst to a much better career moving forward.

Then he tore his ACL.

Tannehill of course missed the playoffs in 2016 and eventually missed all of the 2017 season but prior to that 2016 year, Tannehill faced a lot of adversity that few rookie quarterbacks are forced to endure.

Consider that in 2012, his rookie season, he was teamed with his college coach Mike Sherman. Yet the Dolphins offensive line was just o.k. and Sherman’s play calling was atrocious. Sherman had little confidence in Tannehill as a rookie and because of that, Tannehill was not put in a position to lead but to follow. Not ideal for a quarterback in the NFL.

By 2013 Tannehill was still not allowed to audible and Sherman was still trying to keep him in the pocket rather than use his athleticism and role him out. This despite Tannehill showing more accuracy on the run outside.

In 2014 Tannehill watched Sherman get fired and Bill Lazor take over. There was a promise of more use of Tannehill’s legs. More options to audible and move around. In the end it was simply more of the go-no-go calls at the line of scrimmage.

In those three years the Dolphins changed OC’s twice, changed running backs and wide-receivers and had to endure the bully-gate drama in 2014. An event that dismantled the Dolphins from inside.

Tannehill’s biggest problem however came at the hands of his head coach, Joe Philbin. Philbin lacked the confidence in Tannehill and even in his third season, Tannehill was still shackled by the cuffs of his head coach. In 2014 OC Bill Lazor was fired mid-season and replaced with quarterback coach Zac Taylor. By seasons end, Joe Philbin and most of the staff were gone as well.

More from Phin Phanatic

• 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

Looking back over those first four years it is surprising that Tannehill lasted but statistically he wasn’t all that bad considering everything we mentioned above.

Completion percentages: 2012 – 58.3, 2013 – 60.4, 2014 – 66.4, 2015 – 61.9. His best year? 2016 at 67.1. This is not a great number but it is improvement from the years past and again, it was his first season with a new head coach and a new offensive system.

Tannehill’s best TD year came in 2014 when he threw 24. In 2016 he threw 19 but missed the last month of the season. He was 8-5 when he got hurt.

2018 is going to be a test for Tannehill. Mentally and physically but on the football field, the Dolphins need Tannehill to take yet another step. If his ceiling is indeed what we see now, then the Dolphins are looking like the once again put too much faith in a QB that can’t move forward. They don’t believe that is the case.

With training camp starting tomorrow and the first practice on Thursday, the wait time ended. Tannehill is not as bad as many claim and there is a lot more to him that we have yet to see but how much of that is drastic improvement remains unknown. Unknown until he takes the field and shows who he is.