Ryan Tannehill’s 28 TDs in 2014

Ryan Tannehill became the first QB of the 2012 draft class to sign his long term extension back in May. Since being drafted Tannehill has steadily improved as a player, but has yet to put up the gaudy numbers of Andrew Luck, or lead his team to the Super Bowl like Russell Wilson. So what earned him that contract extension? Let’s take a look at the film to find out.

Before we begin, here are some stats on Tannehill’s passes.

Receiver Breakdown

Quarter Breakdown

Down Breakdown

Route Breakdown

Location Breakdown

Distance Breakdown

Just based on these stats I can tell you right away that Tannehill is a prototypical West Coast style QB. Tannehill thrives on short, managable passes to move down the field and score. With that said, let’s take a look at the film.

Play 1

Situation: 1st and GOAL, ball on NE 4

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short right to L.Miller for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Split Backfield TE 2 WRs

Defensive Formation: 3-4 Base Man Cover 1

New England lines up in a normal 3-4 alignment. Tannehill runs play action to the tight end lined up in the backfield and then rolls out to his right. Miller is his primary target on this play and he is able to get open under the linebacker’s coverage. Tannehill easily completes this pass for a touchdown.

Play 2

Situation: 2nd and 3, ball on NE 14

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short right to M.Wallace for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 3 WRs TE Bunch Right

Defensive Formation: Base 3-4 Man Cover 2

Wallace runs an angle route that sets him up for a catch as if it were a post route. Tannehill drops back on this play and immediately knows who he’s going to on the throw. He stares down Wallace and forces a pass into a very tight window, but the velocity he puts on this throw and the placement of the ball is good enough for Wallace to make the catch in traffic.

Play 3

Situation: 2nd and 3, ball on BUF 7

Description: R.Tannehill pass short left to M.Wallace for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Singleback Offset 2 WRs

Defensive Formation: 4-3 Under Cover 1

Simple fade route on this play. Tannehill takes a quick dropback and throws the ball up for Wallace to catch. Wallace grabs it and hauls it in for a spectacular touchdown catch.

Play 4

Situation: 3rd and GOAL, ball on KC 1

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short right to B.Hartline for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Pistol Twin WRs Left Wing TE

Defensive Formation: 6-3-2 Man Cover 0

The Dolphins run a play action rollout play with the receivers flooding to the right. Hartline takes his route to the corner of the endzone as he should and Tannehill makes a fairly routine throw to him.

Play 5

Situation: 2nd and 7, ball on OAK 13

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short right to M.Wallace for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 3 WRs Bunch Wide Right

Defensive Formation: 3-3-5 Coner Blitz Cover 2

Wallace runs the bubble screen on this play and fights his way to the endzone. Not much to say about Tannehill on this play other than he got the ball out quick enough to avoid the blitzing corner.

Play 6

Situation: 2nd and 5, ball on OAK 18

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass deep right to D.Sims for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 2 TEs Twin WRs Left

Defensive Formation: 4-3 Under Cover 1

Lots of confusion on this play from the Oakland defense thanks to a good fake by Tannehill. Tannehill fakes the toss to his left then rolls out to his right. Sims gets open on the corner route and Tannehill makes a nice throw on the run to lay it off for Sims in the endzone.

Play 7

Situation: 3rd and 7, ball on GB 11

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short middle to J.Landry for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 3 WRs TE Bunch Right

Defensive Formation: 3-4 Base Man Cover 0

Tannehill gets pressured very quickly on the play and has to get rid of it. He sees Landry get open over his man and tosses up a pass for him to go get. The pass is well placed and Landry comes down with this ball almost effortlessly. This is a really good job by Tannehill of feeling the pressure getting to him and making a quick decision. Tannehill shortens up his release a bit as well and is able to get the pass off while he’s still balanced.

Play 8

Situation: 1st and GOAL, ball on GB 5

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short middle to M.Wallace for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on GB-M.Burnett, Defensive Holding, declined.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 2 TEs WR Twins

Defensive Formation: Base 3-4 Man Cover 0

This is an excellent job by Tannehill of moving up in the pocket and finding his receiver. Tannehill’s target at the snap is Mike Wallace. Wallace gets held off the line and Tannehill pump fakes to buy time before stepping up in the pocket and delivering a good throw to Wallce. Tannehill’s second pump fake looks more like an attempt to avoid the sack, but he sells the throw very well by doing so. The pass itself is placed well and the corner never had a shot at making a play on the ball.

Play 9

Situation: 1st and 10, ball on CHI 13

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short left to C.Clay for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 3 WRs

Defensive Formation: 4-3 Over Cover 3

Chicago is in a Cover 3. Mike Wallace is running a deep post while Charles Clay is running a short corner. Kyle Fuller is lined up opposite Wallace. Fuller’s job on this play would normally be to drop back and cover the deep sideline throw, but instead Wallace draws Fuller away from his zone and leaves Clay wide open. Tannehill makes the correct read on this play, after freezing the saftey, and delivers a good ball to Clay for the easy catch.

Play 10

Situation: 2nd and 10, ball on CHI 10

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short right to M.Wallace for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 2 WRs 2 TEs

Defensive Formation: 4-3 Over Cover 1

Tannehill does a nice job of going through his progression on this play. Wallace is running a deep deep which he turns into a zig once he reaches the edge of the endzone. Tannehill does a good job and checking his first read, Clay, and then moves on to Wallace quickly. Tannehill throws as Wallace is making his turn, and places the ball perfectly for Wallace alone to catch it.

Play 11

Situation: 1st and GOAL, ball on JAX 3.

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short left to R.Matthews for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Twin WRs 2 TEs

Defensive Formation: 4-3 Base Man Cover 2

Matthews runs the flat on this play which allows Tannehill to easily complete the pass to him off of play action. Matthew’s man is forzen on the play fake and Matthews is left wide open for the touchdown.

Play 12

Situation: 3rd and 3, ball on SD 6

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short left to C.Clay for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Twin WRs 2 TEs

Defensive Formation: 3-4 Base Cover 0

Tannehill drops back and stares down Clay on the post route. Marcus Gilcrest #38 is able to read the play and make an attempt at defending the pass, but Tannehill places the ball high enough to avoid Gilcrest’s reach and drop it into Clay’s hands. Tannehill really can’t afford to stare down his receivers like he does on this play. He needs to look off the defense occasionally or else defenses will begin to pick up on his habits and exploit them.

Play 13

Situation: 2nd and 10, ball on SD 21

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass deep left to R.Matthews for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 2 WRs 2 TEs

Defensive Formation: 3-4 Nickel Man Cover 2

Tannehill does a great job on this play. He starts off scanning the right side of the field. He progresses through his reads to Matthews and then delivers one of the best pump fakes I’ve ever seen. Tannehill’s pump fake makes the entire defensive line stop and turn around while the defensive backs are momentarily frozen on the play. Tannehill makes a nice scramble to his left and finds Matthews who became open after two defenders ran into each other trying to cover him.

Play 14

Situation: 1st and 10, ball on SD 14

Description: R.Tannehill pass short left to J.Landry pushed ob at SD 1 for 13 yards (M.Gilchrist). Miami challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play was REVERSED. R.Tannehill pass short left to J.Landry for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Singleback 3 WRs

Defensive Formation: 3-4 Nickel Man Cover 2

Tannehill makes a quick pass to Landry on the flat. Landry does the rest of the work fighting his way into the endzone for a touchdown.

Play 15

Situation: 1st and GOAL, ball on DET 3

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short right to M.Wallace for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DET-D.Slay, Defensive Holding, declined.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 2 WRs 2 TEs

Defensive Formation: 4-4 Zone

Wallace goes in motion behind Tannehill who completes the wide open pass to Wallace for the easy TD. Nothing too special on this play as this was essentially a screen pass.

Play 16

Situation: 2nd and 1, ball on BUF 7

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short middle to B.Gibson for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on BUF-N.Bradham, Defensive Holding, declined.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Twin WRs 2 TEs

Defensive Formation: 4-3 Cover 0

The same play we saw in play 6 is run here again. Tannehill fakes the toss to Miller and then rolls out to his right. This time Tannehill finds the crossing receiver over the middle, Gibson, who is left uncovered thanks to the defensive confusion. Tannehill sidearms this throw, but it’s placed well enough for the catch and Gibson pulls it in for the touchdown.

Play 17

Situation: 2nd and 5, ball on BUF 8

Description: R.Tannehill pass short left to J.Landry for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands.

Offensive Formation: Singleback 3 WRs

Defensive Formation: 4-3 Nickel Cover 1

Tannehill makes a good read on this play. He checks Wallace and sees the corner in off man coverage so he moves on to his next progression. Tannehill finds Landry on the out route. Landry makes a good move after the catch and scores.

Play 18

Situation: 2nd and GOAL, ball on DEN 1

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 2 WRs 2 TEs

Defensive Formation: 3-3-5

Tannehill fakes the handoff and runs the bootleg to the right pylon. Tannehill shows off a bit of his speed on this play which he uses very often when he scrambles.

Play 19

Situation: 1st and GOAL, ball on DEN 10

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short right to M.Wallace for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotguns 3 WRs TE Bunch Right

Defensive Formation: 3-4 Nickel Cover 3 Zone

Tannehill drops back and progresses to his second read, Wallace, after his first read runs into coverage. Tannehill delivers a good ball to Wallace on the play giving it enough touch to meet him just before the sideline.

Play 20

Situation: 2nd and GOAL, ball on DEN 5

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short left to J.Landry for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Empty 4 WRs HB Bunch Right

Defensive Formation: Sub Package Cover 1

Landry is running the quick slant on this play. Tannehill drops back, freezes the safety, then fires the pass to Landry. Good placement on the ball by Tannehill by letting Landry go up for the pass so the corner can’t easily break up the throw.

Play 21

Situation: 1st and GOAL, ball on DEN 1

Description: (Shotgun) R.Tannehill pass short left to J.Landry for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Empty RB Slot

Defensive Formation: 4-4 Cover 0

Miami runs a similar play to play 15. Daniel Thomas runs the motion to the flat and Tannehill reads the defense well enough to see that the throw to Thomas would be too tough to complete, so he moves on to his next target. Landry is running a hook route and Tannehill makes the quick decision to hit Landry on the throw. Tannehill puts some good velocity behind this throw and fits it through a tight window to Landry.

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.