Make or break season for Tannehill in Miami
Brett Davis/US PRESSWIRE |
As Labor Day ends we enter the turn of the seasons. This wonderful time is also the beginning of football season. Next Sunday the Patriots will be traveling south to face their AFC East rival the Miami Dolphins. The point of focus when discussing the state of the Dolphins is starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The Dolphin's eighth overall selection in 2012 draft enters his third year in the NFL and his numbers have been less than spectacular.
Year | CMP% | Yards | TD | INT | QBR |
2012 | 58.3 | 3,294 | 12 | 13 | 50.4 |
2013 | 60.4 | 3,913 | 24 | 17 | 45.8 |
Comparing his first and second year numbers, Tannehill has made some improvements. His total yards went up, his completion percentage improved, and his touchdowns doubled. However his interceptions also increased and his QB rating went down.
Tannehill also doesn't look great compared to other quarterbacks drafted after him in the 2012 draft. Nick Foles had a spectacular 2013 year with 27 touchdowns and two picks, and Russell Wilson has already won a Super Bowl. They also had advantages that Tannehill doesn't have. Seattle had a stellar defensive secondary and having Marshawn Lynch as a running back didn't hurt. Foles also had Lesean McCoy, Desean Jackson, and a breakout performance by Riley Cooper. By comparison Tannehill had Mike Wallace and an emerging Charles Clay.
The former Aggie enters the season in a less than optimal situation. Mike Pouncey is on the active roster but won't make it for the season opener due to a hip injury, Daniel Thomas was recently cut by the Dolphins and their big free agent addition Knowshon Moreno has yet to establish himself as the starter. My personal feelling is that Tannehill's stats will improve but he will need rookie wideout Jarvis Landry and tight end Charles Clay to play a big role.
Do you think Tannehill will improve this year? Let us know in the comments.
Follow me on Twitter @PatriotsFan1057
Read more of my work here