Ryan Tannehill’s 28 TDs in 2014

Play 22

Situation: 3rd and GOAL, ball on BAL 3

Description: R.Tannehill pass short middle to B.Hartline for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Singleback 3 WRs Bunch Right

Defensive Formation: 3-4 Base Cover 1

This is an excellent throw from Tannehill. Tannehill fits this ball into a very tight window and completes the pass. Tannehill shows off a bit more of his arm here with a quick release and good velocity with impeccable placement.

Play 23

Situation: 1st and 10, ball on NE 32

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass incomplete deep left to M.Wallace [D.Hightower]. The Replay Official challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass deep left to M.Wallace for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN [D.Hightower].

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 3 WRs

Defensive Formation: Sub Package Man Cover 2

Dolphins run a 4 verticals play. The Patriots are in man coverage with 2 deep safeties. Tannehill drops back and looks over at his first read, Wallace. Wallace beats his man deep so Tannehill puts some touch on a pass and gets it to Wallace. Wallace makes a fantastic catch in the endzone to give Tannehill the touchdown.

Play 24

Situation: 2nd and 5, ball on MIN 14

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short left to D.Sims for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 3 WRs HB Slot

Defensive Formation: 4-3 Nickel Cover 1

Sims makes a very good move on this route to get open for Tannehill. Tannehill makes a good throw on this play after progressing from his first read to Sims.

Play 25

Situation: 2nd and GOAL, ball on MIN 16

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short left to M.Wallace for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 3 WRs

Defensive Formation: 4-3 Nickel Cover 2

Tannehill gets bailed out on this play by his receiver. Off play action Tannehill looks towards the middle of the field to freeze the defense, then goes to his first read, Wallace, who is covered on the play. Tannehill looks back to the middle to his second read, but sees a defender coming towards him and rushes a throw to Wallace. The pass is too close to the defender and gets deflected, but Wallace does a fantastic job of staying with the ball and then completing the play for a touchdown.

Play 26

Situation: 3rd and 5, ball on MIN 7

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short middle to M.Wallace for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 3 WRs

Defensive Formation: 4-3 Nickel Cover 2

Tannehill makes a good throw into another tight window on this play. He rifles this throw in for Wallace between two defenders. Tannehill, however, stared down Wallace as he ran his route.

Play 27

Situation: 1st and GOAL, ball on MIN 3

Description: R.Tannehill pass short middle to D.Williams for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 3 WRs TE Bunch Right

Defensive Formation: 4-3 Under Cover 1

Tannehill fits another pass into a tight window on this play. Williams runs a HB curl and Tannehill hits him as he finishes his curl. Once again Tannehill shows off some of his velocity on this throw and his placement is once again spot on.

Play 28

Situation: 1st and 10, ball on NYJ 23

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass deep middle to C.Clay for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 3 WRs Trips Left

Defensive Formation: 3-4 Nickel Cover 2 Zone

Tannehill freezes the safeties long enough to find Clay on the corner-post. Clay finds the soft spot in the zone and Tannehill rifles a ball to him for the score.

Here’s a route breakdown and some of the important zones on this play.

When Clay comes off the line, he gets bumped by the linebacker. This is sometimes done to make a QB or receiver believe it is man coverage. The linebacker follows Clay on his route and then stops short. The corner who was also following Clay now drops into his zone to cover the HB on the flat route. Where the problem occurs for the defense is the strong safety plays the deep WR instead of Clay. Both safeties cover the seam instead which leaves Clay open over the top for a touchdown. So while this may seem like a poor play by the linebacker, it’s actually the fault of the safety for committing too early and not following the quarterback’s eyes. Tannehill followed Clay immediately after he froze the safeties and hit him when he found the weak spot in the zone. Good work by the offense, bad coverage from the defense.

Overall, Ryan Tannehill is a very prototypical West Coast QB. He doesn’t venture out past 20 yards on his throws very often, and relies on his quick decision making and superb ball placement to complete passes. Tannehill can put some good velocity on the ball, but he’s much more reliant on good touch and ball placement to complete his passes in the endzone. I think the most impressive part of Tannehill’s game is just how well he can throw into tight windows and hit his receivers in coverage. Tannehill’s ball placement is very good, and his decision making, while it stands to be improved, is not far behind his 2012 draft peers. As far as his contract goes, I think Tannehill has earned it. He’s improved every season and this past season was simply more of the same from him. Tannehill works very well in Miami’s west coast offense and looks mature and comfortable in the pocket. Tannehill does need to improve some aspects of his game. He still stares down receivers which he definitely needs to cut back on. Tannehill also doesn’t progress through his reads quickly as often as he needs to, and will try to force it to receivers at times, though his ball placement usually remedies that issue. We’ll see just how much improvement is needed from Tannehill in my next article over his interceptions.