With the help of a suffocating defense, explosive run game and excellent receiver play, Ryan Tannehill had a record breaking day in the NFL to go along with a convincing win. This is what Tannehill can be when given a full compliment in the offense’s tool box. He was sharp and decisive making several non-routine throws – a beautiful deep ball was even taken away due to an illegal procedure penalty. The dolphins QB had a stellar stat sheet as he went for 18-19 for 282 and 4TDS.
While this record breaking performance had some inspiration with a Texans defense that seemed to mirror Miami’s from just 2 weeks ago, Tannehill’s day was still something that should quiet his detractors – at least for a little while. With the Patriots just days away, another big game could cement him to all but his most ardent critics as the QB of Miami going forward.
In my eyes, Tannehill has proven to be at least a baseline above average QB who when provided with a balanced attack and even play from his O-line can provided excellent production. I also see his ceiling as something higher given stability and time in a system with good players around him. Not many, actually very, very few could thrive under the conditions he has spent his last couple of season under. He could have wilted under the abuses he has suffered, but instead has endured. He weathered the blows until reinforcements arrived, and now he might just be ready, both personally and from a team-talent standpoint, to blossom into a top flight QB.
We Fin Fans had a generational special QB in Dan Marino, and for those who watched him, we can be a bit spoiled. We have also watched Tom Brady who also has been a spectacular QB to contrast and magnify our struggles at replacing Marino. Tannehill doesn’t need to be as good as either. It would be mind blowing to the best sportsbooks in the world if he does end up with that sort of career, but it isn’t essential. As much as the NFL tries to shoehorn the QB position into prominence with rule changes, football is still a team game and it is teams that win – see the Seahawks.
Let’s enjoy where we are heading as a team. Let’s be glad there is a turn around going on and we have a chance to reclaim our dream of playoffs. BUT, let’s also be happy we drafted a QB named Ryan Tannehill to lead this team…if you really think about, if it weren’t for him, who would be behind center?! Go Fins!!!
Come discuss this on our Forum when you are done reading!