A Film Study: How’d Tannehill Really Do In Seattle?!
Tannehill has both critics and supporters, but what does the film say?
Emotions can affect memory, but emotions don’t do “jack” to the Film.
I love football and the Miami Dolphins. I’ve learned one thing over the years as a fan of both: my emotions are a turbulent sea that can thrust me into the waters of incorrect observation and opinion, but film never does.
Miami lost this week in a heart ripping, nail biter. And even though Tannehill drove the team down for the go-ahead score, the chants of his failure grew ever louder.
Ryan Tannehill has lovers and haters – not many are placing bets with the best pay per head bookie software website on middle ground.
After a bit of banter with a knowledgeable, but willful reader Lemmus, I decided to chain myself to mast and set sail, head on into this stormy debate.
Personally, I’m one of those few on the fence with Tannehill’s play. I stride the Middle Passage of ‘he’s not nearly as bad as the haters say’ and ‘he hasn’t demonstrated nearly enough of what his lovers profess’.
But, with this critical juncture in Tannehill’s career in Miami at hand, I decided to rely on my maxim, “Film never lies – ever.”
Now, tape can mislead. You can throw a few tapes on and think your watching a Hall Of Famer. A lot of film is needed to verify a career trajectory – I’m not attempting that here. But, you only need one “tape” to verify what happened in a single game.
And that, in my humble effort, I have attempted to do.
All Fin Fans want Tannehill to do well. But, if Miami is wrong on this one, then they will be stuck with an albatross to drag them down to Davy Jones’ Locker or will have cast a map to Treasure Island over-board.
As a long suffering Fin Fan, neither sounds very appealing.
Now, as a caveat and a pre-mea culpa, it was that damnable rascal Lemmus that provoked me into this unexpected, all-encompassing, two-day journey – so, take the “tape” as gospel and portions of my opinion as a foggy nether-land between truth and opinion. In short, some is my two-cents, and I look forward to hearing yours.
I hope you enjoy making your “scorecard” as much I did ( you’ll see what that means ).
Just as an additional preface, I used NFL Coaches Cam for this film study, which despite its price, I must say is continually invaluable.
Per PFF; Ryan Tannehill graded out higher than Wilson. Tanny was under pressure on 48.5% of his drop backs (the most in the league), and only completed 33% of his passes when under pressure. Tanny graded out as the highest offensive player for Miami in the game, with Steen getting the second highest offensive grade of the Fins. Tanny actually graded out w the 3rd highest offensive grade for either team (Baldwin, Gilliam).
PFF is a reputable source, so that speaks volumes about Tannys performance in Seattle. Like I mentioned before; if Stills catches the 70yd TD pass, we all are speaking a differently. I’m one that is on the fence w Tanny, I do believe he holds the ball to long at times, and some times he just has “looks like a deer in head lights”. Now all of this I believe has been under previous staffs (inept ones to boot). I do see improvement already w Gase and company, as I take in account the team and environment Tanny faced in week 1.
This Sunday’s game in NE may just be the game that makes or breaks Tanny (unless he does his part and someone or someones doesn’t do theirs, ala: Stills). Should Miami come out of NE w a win, and Tanny plays decent, he may have turned the corner. Tanny is 0-4 in NE and has not looked good up there. This game tells me a lot about Tanny (hopefully).
For the record Quddus received the highest defensive grade for Miami and the second highest defensive grade of both teams (Shead). Jones received the second highest defensive grade for Miami, a nice safety combo Miami has put together.
Admin & Jimmy
Nice analogy of last Sunday’s game.
The Miami Dolphins
We are not doing Tannehill any justice!
Our offensive formations always look pass!
When Seattle rush 4 and 5 who are we fooling?
We have a run game. The coaches must have some patient and let it develop.
New England are looking for this same formation pass.
We cannot keep asking Tannehill to sit back there and take the hits he is taking?
The solution is pretty easy We beat New England when we Rush the Ball well.
If Miami goes up to New England and run 60% New England they will have to scrap their defensive plans! “(meaning having two running backs in the back field and keep two tight ends to block)”. I’m confident Tannehill will be more successful with his passes.
Lippett has to play some Receiver!
The Defense will do their job!
The Offense I’m confident will run over New England this Sunday. You heard it from Steve Lemmus!
The Coaches need to tell the running backs to just run and forget about the designed play.
…lmao! …I hear it, would be happier than a pig in sh*t if they did …just don’t believe it
…keep an eye on the fins coaching staff during the game …there were at least two clock management errors on them last game …pats staff don’t make those
…I still think we go 1-3 …and about then the OL and DL start to meld with all the new guys …then we might start to win a few …might …we’re very thin in a number of places …the OL still has Thomas and Turner as backups …we’re already w/o the starter on the DL …our WRs and TEs have the dropsies and our CBs are questionable …so 6-10 is what the pros are saying and I just don’t see where they’re wrong …doesn’t mean I can’t hope …just means I’m not budgeting for play-off tickets this year 🙂
…what I hope to see is Gase start to put it together in the 2nd half of the season …and make a run at the end that gives some objective hope for ’17 …if that included Tanny getting his thing together and giving us 5 straight games with 100+ QBRs then I’ll call the season a success no matter what the W-L record is …a fail season would, in the end, be us taking a QB with a high 1st round pick 🙁
…wild assed comment …ala Steve …I’d love to see Tannehill play WR …he was a star WR at Texas A&M before he converted …and you know full well that he would be one hell of a blocker …the guy is tough as nails …random thought, worth what it cost you
His toughness is outstanding, but I still think like Alex Smith he will grow. At least we hope…now, I thank you for being the impetus to do this thing, but I kinda wanted to wring your neck as it sucked the life outta’ me doing it. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsbYx6hevoQ
…lmao …with a full time job plus rug rats to entertain, I’d guess you got a few raised eye-brows from the better half as well …mine has learned to live with the fins as a fact of life as long as I don’t steal her big screen …but I’m retired and the kids are long gone so I can appreciate the time and effort it took on your part
…but anytime you feel the urge, eh 🙂
…damn …I failed to read that before I posted …the last comments re Brees and the speed wonder were in reference to Stills, not the TE …mea culpa 🙁
Don’t even sweat it. I’m the edit-flop king!!! I got what you meant.
….hhhmmm …of mixed mind here …love the breakdown …love to see more …but don’t come to the same conclusion on several plays
…#1 thing I see is that he holds the ball too long in badly breaking situations …he takes a sack or hit rather than get rid of the ball …one reason he’s the sack dummy of the NFL
…#2 thing is that he’s not commanding the offense …watch a tape of any of Peyton Manning’s games …watch Peyton yelling and pointing, ordering his blockers to change for the defense that he sees …taking command of the offense rather than just executing it …rarely do you see anything like that from Tanny
#3 thing is execution …he just doesn’t make his mind up until he’s forced to, a fatal fault if Gase can’t fix it
…I could go on but its not going to change anything or anyone …I’ve spent 4 years defending him and lord knows I’d love to see Gase succeed with him …he has the mechanics and the skills, he just doesn’t execute …he’s inconsistent as hell from game to game …and he’s not a natural leader
…so while I love the breakdown I’m not moved by it …he didn’t play like he’s paid …not even close …and that’s my standard this year …it should be everyone’s …or anyone like me who can’t really count on waiting another 2 decades to see Miami win a SB again
…that said, the breakdown did lay out a number of problems from other players that, if fixed, could certainly help Tannehill …as noted above, I think its his role to fix some of them at the line before the snap …but the coaches and players need to carry the water here …I can buy a rookie playing out of position making mistakes …can’t buy that from Stills, Foster, or Albert …not as many as you pointed to …especially Stills, the drop was the only thing I’d noted before …the missed blocks are frosting …he won’t be getting that last big payday if he doesn’t fix his play and soon …and Cameron …what can I say that hasn’t already been said …now we know why Brees bad mouthed his effort when he played for the Saints …imnsho, Brees was being nice …he reminds me of that #1 speed wonder receiver Cameron drafted who refused to block for his teammates
…anyway, great job breaking the film down …makes Omar look like an amateur, it does 🙂
Yeah, since we don’t know their progression charts, dictates and protocols on offense, it’s difficult for us to get a direct read on some plays. They could be this or could be that. If I knew where his eyes should be, then I could have a better understanding, because for me, my biggest critique is he didn’t often attack small windows. Could it be lack of trust? Could it be he was told “It’s a tight game, play it safe”? Does he lack trust in his own arm? Were those small windows 2 and 3 options and when he got to them they were too small? Or as you said is he slow at reading? Can’t tell yet. But, as far as him being like Manning, that’s a high bar. I don’t see him be at that level in anything Manning did – ever. But, I don’t think that needs to be the goal. If he had a team around him, I see him being a strong asset. Now, is his price worth his play? Can he come up big in the clutch? We’ll that was a major thing for me to see this week. But, can he do it more often than not? I think he makes like 18-19 mill a year, Fitzpatrick makes 12 as a comparison. Can he be worth 75% of his pay? You are going to overpay for a QB and it’s okay because they are hard to find. Tannehill, in my opinion, needs some more protection to see just what he can be. Until then, you just won’t know. I think at this point he is ranked 25th for the season. He’s better than that, but is he top 10? Still can’t tell and as you say…Line, line, line. Really glad you liked it…it was huge and kept getting bigger and bigger in an attempt to be thorough…I’m sure I screwed up a bit here and there.
…no doubt but when you find the time, its by far the best thing I’ve seen in fins coverage …screwups are to be expected but you gave all of us exactly what you were seeing and we can make up our own minds …that’s best of breed stuff imnsho
…I think we’ll go 1-3 and then hit our stride …its about the 5th game when I’d expect Gase to stop singing lullabyes and start kicking ass and or benching people …he will have either figured it out by then or hes not the man we hoped for
…either way, Tannehill is better than Fitz or Smith …not Manning or Elway material but he’s certainly as good as or better than a few SB winning QBs we could both easily name …about mid season they are going to have to make a call on him …if we see Doughty start getting reps, that would be a sign to me that Tanny could be trade material …and there would be plenty of takers
…the thing is that Tannehill right now belongs to the old regime …not even Tannenbaum is bound to him …but come Mar ’17 he becomes their responsibility …fish or cut bait …and so far what I see is wishy washy …the OL isn’t “fixed” yet but it could get there given a couple more games …assuming it does then Tanny gets a clean eval …if not, Gase/Tannenbaum have to make a career bending decision without all the cards on the table
…as for “tight windows” I really don’t like him throwing into them if its Stills or Cameron receiving …Landry, hell yeah …Tanny can make the tight throws to the right receiver …but if it bounces off Stills hands, it could easily be a turnover …Parker I’m still out on …I’d throw it high to him but not low into tight cover …just not there yet on trusting him …Foster,no …he’s a RB that can catch if everything is copacetic …not tight
Jury is still out on Tannehill but I’m in the camp of favoring him vs hating him. Until all other areas of the Dolphins are fixed, you cannot lay ALL the blame on him. I’d like to hear from Lemmus.
Hey Fritz…I think the jury should be out on is he a top5 QB / top 10 or not. The kid can play — to me it’s whether he is worth the 18 mill a year or so. Alot of people say he isn’t even a QB…that I disagree with. As Lemmus said, he’s a bit slow on the draw at times, not sure if it’s his reads, release or he back’s off throwing in tight windows…not sure yet. Going to do some more “closer looks” to see if I can figure it out. Whatever it is, I hope Gase can fix it.