OFFICIAL @MIAMIDOLPHINS 2016 PLAYOFFS! THREAD (10-6) :::: NEXT: WILDCARD Vs @STEELERS 1:00PM EST CB

Tannehill was quietly effective this game.

His audible to sweep left for Ajayi resulted in a 20yard TD.

Passes to Damien Willams and Dominique Jones to keep the drives moving.

He almost had a disastrous pick 6. But that was really his only mistake of the game. He even climbed the pocket to avoid the rush.

It doesn't show up in his stat sheet, but in contrast to his sloppy play last week, he subtly managed the game to a W this week.

He will have to overtly perfect next week tho.
 
Quit worrying about your QBs, Miami. Tannehill is good enough. And Kaaya will be back


We cannot claim either of these statements about Miami’s two major quarterbacks are a fact. We’d admit both are conjecture, not science -- still unknowable with certainty -- and acknowledge there might be disagreement on either. But we’ll offer a case why we think each is true:

1. Ryan Tannehill is good enough. It’s time for Dolphins fans to get past doubts and equivocation that have dogged him his first 4 1/2 NFL seasons.

2. Brad Kaaya is coming back. The Hurricanes’ QB would benefit from another college year and there is reasonable cause for UM fans to think he’ll agree.

The opinion of Tannehill may never move all the way past debatable among some fans. The thought on Kaaya’s future will be revealed soon enough. Meantime I’m not being a frontrunner here with either opinion. Tannehill is coming off a season-low 149-yard game in Sunday’s win over the Jets, and still I’m pushing him as the long-term answer. Kaaya is coming off a big 356-yard, four-touchdown game in the win over Pitt, yet I still doubt he’s next-level ready.

Let’s frame the argument surrounding both young men:


THE CASE THAT TANNEHILL IS GOOD ENOUGH

Adam Gase, quarterback whisperer, took over as Dolphins coach this season and immediately decided this about Tannehill: He couldn’t be fairly judged. Not yet because in four seasons he’d been a punching bag, sacked more times (184) than any other QB. By a lot. Gase felt so strongly about not taking sacks as the key to Tannehill’s development that during training camp he said this when pressed on why Miami wasn’t attempting more long throws: “There’s a time and a place [for deep passes]. But there’s also a time and place to not get sacked 60 times in a year. If you want to stand back there and have your quarterback get his brains beat out, then go at it.”

Gase saw Tannehill’s potential amid the bruises and pounding. And this season we have been reminded the difference protection makes. Tannehill has averaged a subpar 72.5 passer rating in the three games he was sacked 16 times. But that rating has shot to a solid 94.2 in the five games he was sacked a total of only three times.

With an increasingly complementary ground game led by wunderkind Jay Ajayi and solid blocking, Tannehill is averaging 7.79 yards per attempt, a key statistic that finds him sixth-best in the league. And his five games with a completion of 50 yards or more are tied for the most with Baltimore’s Joe Flacco. His touch on deep passes has improved, as has his still-rising comfort in Gase’s new system. No NFL starting QB has played under more different head coaches and offensive coordinators in 4 1/2 seasons than Tannehill. His ceiling is yet unreached. We are just beginning to discover the Tannehill who has time to throw in an offense he knows fully.

Tannehill is durable; he has yet to miss a start -- all the more remarkable for the beating he’s taken. Gase has called him probably the offense’s most consistent performer. He throws well on the move and is mobile, about to surpass Bob Griese’s three-decades-old franchise record for career rushing yards by a QB. And this may surprise you: His 15,460 passing yards are third-most ever in any player’s first four seasons, trailing only a couple of guys named Peyton Manning and Dan Marino. Is that really the quarterback some are still doubting?

Yes, there is a caveat still shadowing Tannehill. It is the lack of playoffs, of winning enough. Head coach and quarterback are the two jobs in the NFL judged most harshly and perhaps disproportionately by this bottom line, and it is not unfair to apply that to Tannehill. Finally, with a cleaner pocket and an extra beat to throw, it is a fair fight. But the onus is on him and it’s all the greater after three straight wins to level the season at 4-4 at midyear. The idea of playoffs has grown from hopeless cause to nearly expected. Now the quarterback must lead the way.

I am not overselling Tannehill. He isn’t the Next Marino. He isn’t Tom Brady. But solid, steady quarterbacking is itself a prize in the NFL, and hard to come by. Ask the Browns, Jets and so many other teams who keep desperately pounding the reset button at the most important position. I like Tannehill’s upside, his chance to prove worthy of that first-round draft status and contract extension. Greatness is a rarity, an historical bonus. For Miami, right now, by my eye, Ryan Tannehill is good enough ... and getting better.


THE CASE THAT KAAYA SHOULD COME BACK

UM’s junior quarterback has not had a great season big enough to reshape NFL draft boards. He was hurt vs. Florida State, the game in which a tooth was knocked from his head, and it took him awhile to fully recover -- a partial reason for that four-game losing streak. He has been hampered by spotty line play that has seen him sacked 21 times. Preseason talk of Kaaya being a certain first-round draft pick and maybe even top-10 has largely evaporated.

“This is as bad a quarterback [draft] class as I can remember,” ESPN analyst Todd McShay wrote recently. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking any of these quarterbacks in the first round.”

An NFL scout I know was among those working Saturday’s Miami-Pitt game, and I asked him by phone Monday what he thought of Kaaya and of this QB class in general.

“1996,” he answered.

I had no idea what he meant. He explained that was the last year no quarterback was drafted in the first round -- but that he thought it could happen in 2017 for the lack of a ready and/or certain franchise QB.

The scout told me Kaaya has near-perfect size at 6-4 and 210 but that he needs to get stronger and develop what is “a pretty good, not great” arm, and, bottom line, that he’d benefit from one more season in Mark Richt’s pro-style offense. He included Kaaya among the most draftable QBs along with Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer and maybe North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky, but the scout’s emphasis was, “You don’t come out early at that position unless you’re sure [about the first round], and Kaaya has a better shot in ’18.”

When you combine this uncertainty with what surely will be Richt’s sales pitch that he return for his senior year, Kaaya’s likelihood of sticking around for a fourth UM season seems better to us today than it did in September.

The message for South Florida fans on both sides of the pro/college aisle?

Quit worrying about your quarterback.
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:pimp:
 
Reminding me a lot of the 2002 Ricky season. Ricky ran for 1850+ yards, all we needed was a QB that didn't turn the ball over.
 
Miami Dolphins won’t keep winning unless coaching gets better
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http://theundefeated.com/features/miami-dolphins-wont-keep-winning-unless-coaching-gets-better/
Though Ryan Tannehill is in his fifth season with the Dolphins, the football world has yet to come to a consensus on the most basic question. Is he good? Unfortunately, after watching the New York Jets game, I can’t answer that question. But I can tell you that, based on the playcalling, Gase doesn’t trust him. All the passing plays were simple reads and called for Tannehill to throw a lot of short outside routes. It looked like the game plan they’d use if they had to play with a backup quarterback.
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Former player talking here, great read.

Also, Gase HAS to get the penalties down with these guys. Too many bonehead penalties, it's shooting the team in the foot over and over and over and over.
 
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Yeah, he doesn't really know what he's talking about.

The talent is there........? On THIS roster? :lol:

And back to back games, Gase "doesn't trust" his QB, yet he's throwing key passes on the most important plays.

Drop by Foster, TD to Stills
Drop by Jones, PI to Jones
 
4 straight wins, trailing in all of them.

QB getting knocked the **** out and throwing DIMES.

Refs threw 197 flags on us, and 4 on San Diego. :stoneface:

Gase using different attacks each week AND adjusting at halftime every week.

Vance Joseph has very little talent to work with, but his Def GRINDS.

DVP was great today and ROBBED of that huge catch on the bogus James hold. (Every Right Tackle in the league holds Cam like that every God damn play)

Ajayi running hard wears down opposing Defense.

Elite Rivers with FOUR INT's in the 4th quarter.

Jakeem Grant makes an ENORMOUS mistake. His head coach has his back 100000000% instead of that ****** Philbin. Grant will pay his coach back, learning experience.

Still a lot of work to do, much more talent needed, but on right track. Coaching is working, OLine is huge, young guys playing hard and growing, mistakes and all.
 
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Negatives:

Jakeem and Bobby tried their best to cost us the game.

Jakeem needs to take a knee, he's leaving a good 10-15 yards on the field when he decides to take the ball out of the end zone. The risk isn't worth the reward, even considering his speed.

Bobby McCain spent half the day lost in coverage. Had no idea what was going on.

This team has to get a grip on these penalties. Especially on 3rd down.

The positive:

Tannehill. He was on target, especially with the pressure he was facing. Dude delivered his best throws with someone in his face.

Cam Wake is a monster.

Our d-line as a whole have been carrying the defense.
 
Culliver could be back anytime at this point. Jusg conditioning... McCain seems lost at times, others he is in perfect position. More reps and coaching.

Kiko has been a bright addition and has been getting better. People saying Dolphins were fleeced... they've had two starters playing decent to good (more so Kiko except for the last few weeks) and just moved down a few spots. 3 starters for just moving down. Silly to even try and bring that up at this point.

Finally Albert displays his toughness, dislocated his wrist, HE popped it back in... got wrapped and went back out there. I think he sees how valuable and important it is for him to be out there. I believe if it were any of the previous years he would of sat out.

Parker showed up, was great to see. He was robbed with a bogus flag but it didn't matter.

Gase sticking with the run is really setting the tempo on offense. Jay Ajayi is breaking tackle after tackle, dude is a horse and showing his balls.

Awesome to see from this team, can definitely sense a change in culture. 4 game win streak, should beat the Rams next week as well. We'll see.
 
Yep.

Just got 4 picks (3 really... the 4th was desperation but still came down none the less)... against a damn good QB and passing team.

Goff has to be hit, and hit often. The Dolphins have to create the turnovers. I for sure don't want to see this guy throw for 300 yards and 2 tds. Smack this dude in the mouth.
 
im that one said:
Yep.

Just got 4 picks (3 really... the 4th was desperation but still came down none the less)... against a damn good QB and passing team.

Goff has to be hit, and hit often. The Dolphins have to create the turnovers. I for sure don't want to see this guy throw for 300 yards and 2 tds. Smack this dude in the mouth.
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I'm far more concerned with the Rams Defense. They're legit. We'll win if we can score 20
 
Turnovers created = to getting points. 2 Tds and 2 FGs should do the trick. More is even better.

This Dolphins OLine has been going against the very best im defensive lines, this is no different. Been a tough stretch and they are performing.
 
Albert out for Sunday.

Tunsil will likely play LT, need someone to handle LG. Maybe the guy that backed up Pouncey???? Steen?
 
Who was a very solid starter. Played damn well at Center.
 
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