Please, PLEASE have patience with Dolphins new QB, Ryan Tannehill

Apr. 27 News and Notes 15 comments ---Bill

Last night, the Miami Dolphins took a step we’ve been waiting 29 years for.  Last night, the Dolphins selected a quarterback in the first round of the draft for the first time since 1983 when they drafted Dan Marino.  The Dolphins clearly believe that Ryan Tannehill has all of the tools to be a franchise quarterback.  I’ve never seen Jeff Ireland as giddy as he was last night after drafting Tannehill, whom Ireland said is rated as one of the top 5 QBs to come out of the draft in the last 5 years.

Ireland made no promises on when Tannehill will play.  However, he did say that he didn’t use the #8 pick on Tannehill to be a backup quarterback.  For Ireland’s full comments on Tannehill last night, check out the Miami Herald’s article here.  Ireland said that he and the Dolphins scouts have had their eye on Tannehill for some time.  In fact, they even had a first round grade on Tannehill during his junior season of 2010.  So, in the Dolphins minds, picking Tannehill at #8 was certainly not a reach.

Even though I’ve made no secret that Brandon Weeden was my preferred choice at QB, I like the Tannehill pick quite a bit.  Tannehill fits the west coast offense because he is accurate with the football, can throw on the run, is athletic, and has an above average arm.  The Dolphins knew more about Tannehill than any other NFL team, thanks to Mike Sherman, Tannehill’s head coach at Texas A&M.  The fact that the Dolphins’ offense will be very similar to the one that Tannehill ran in college will help accelerate his learning curve.  For Tannehill, he could not come into a better situation than he is coming to in Miami.

The key will be for all of us to have patience.  When the Dolphins drafted John Beck a few years ago, we all screamed for him to start over Cleo Lemon.  How’d that work out?  Whenever a young, promising QB is drafted, he is immediately thought to be the savior of the franchise.  But, Tannehill only played 19 games at QB in college.  He is still growing and learning the position.  Now he’s moving into the NFL where everything moves faster and defenses are more complicated.  The Dolphins must be patient with him and allow him to develop before throwing him to the wolves.  The Dolphins currently have David Garrard and Matt Moore to go along with Tannehill at the QB position.   I expect Tannehill to battle with Garrard and Moore in training camp, but can see the Dolphins going with Moore as their starter, Garrard as the backup, and Tannehill as the 3rd QB….at least for the early part of the season.  If he can play at some point in 2012, great, as long as he’s ready.  If not, patience will be vital to ensuring he develops and realizes the potential the Dolphins see in him.

If you would like to get to know Tannehill a little bit more, check out the Jon Gruden’s QB camp on him:

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  • Sgtflex

    I am not a fan of this pick, but look at Be Rothlesberger, he only started his senior year in high school and college. Last time I checked he was doing ok. I would still like to see Miami snag Kellen Moore later, that would be great for later on to have trade bait and a reminder to the started that there was somone ready to take your place. HAHAHa

  • phinfan4sure

    Well, we got him now so he deserves a fair shot. Still don’t quite understand why use a 1st round draft pic on a development player who needs possibly 2-3years to meet his potential. But hey I’m just a fan not the GM. Now the question is what other players do they Puck up in the draft? Our rivals solidified their front D-Line with Coples going to the Jets(this guy reminds me of Julius Peppers, bad news for us if he plays like him) and Hightower and the DE from Syracuse going to those freaking pats we need help on our O-line, so hopefully in round 2 and 3 we get our starting RT and WR(2).

    Bill, who do you like in the 2nd and 3rd round?

    • lerone

      I think that Aaron Rodgers was a late 1st round pick and sat to develop by I think HC Mike Sherman. And I think they should get their pass rusher in Courtney Upshaw.

      • Jack

        Rodgers sat behind a HOF QB. He had no choice but to sit until that HOF QB was no longer there.

        • GADOLFAN

          That so call HOF QB was over rated his whole career and past his prime when Rodgers arrived, Aaron should have sat on the bench 1 year max, he’s better than Favre ever was!!!

      • Jack

        PS…Peyton didn’t sit. He started right away. Didn’t seem to hurt him. If Tannehill is so good then he should start right away don’t you think. He already knows the playbook better than Moore and Garrard according to Ross. So again, why shouldn’t he start?

  • KillerFin

    We WILL NEED help on the o line BAD!!! It looks like our division foes are loading up on the pass rush!!! Get us a speedy WR too!!! Start Tannehill right out of the gate!!!

    • lerone

      Get that Midwestern o-linemen to play guard and move John Jerry to the Right Tackle

  • michael a. mcbride

    I’m not crazy about this pick, because the dolphins should have gotten a qb in the second round. Y’all need pass rusher on defense. Hopefully, Ryan won’t be crying this year. I just don’t think he’s in the class of Luck and RG3. But y’all step in shit now, so keep going. Maybe the smell won’t be too bad. Hopefully, Ryan will work out then the dolphins can draft RB Monte Ball next year. I know stupid people will say we already have good running backs, and I’ll say we don’t have Monte Ball the next Barry Sanders. I have feeling the fins are going to have the top pick next year, so don’t make those playoff plan yet!

  • Iam305Jules

    Not crazy about Tannehill. Not Crazy about Vernon, I am very OK with Martin and don’t get Egnew at all, he was slated a lot lower than where we got him… I hope Ireland knows something I don’t… I’m sure he does… I think… I hope… we’ll see.

    • sam

      Do I smell a 1-15 or 2-14 year coming?I’m ok with Tannehill and Martin but I’m lost on the other 2. They have no game changers.Martin will start Tannehill will watch for a couple of years and this new tight end is going to back Fasano who is a bottom dweller. Sounds to me Ireland needs to put his house up for sale and start packing.

      • T.B.

        How about 0-16 that should get rid of Ross also.

  • J.J.

    You guys try to be nice now or else Boss Ross will call you and blow smoke up your a–

  • GADOLFAN

    The fins aren’t going to do much the next couple of years any way so Tannehill was a solid pick to develope while we build…. Unless we get #1 next year for Barkley, things could get interesting then.

  • GADOLFAN

    I was looking in on NFL network after the draft and there were several trades mentioned on their scrol at the bottom with 2 involving the Dolphins, one was for L. Miller but I can’t find anything about them today??!! the to’s and froms were backwards but I knew who we picked and figured it out, did anyone else here see that?