It did not take long for Ryan Tannehill to make his mark in his new home. After only two preseason games, Tannehill was named as the starter when the Miami Dolphins open up the season against at Houston on September 9.
Tannehill earned the starting nod by completing 25 or 44 attempts for 267 yards and a touchdown in the Dolphins’ first two preseason games. When Tannehill starts the game against the Houston Texans he will become the first Aggie quarterback ever to start the first professional game of their career.
Tannehill was the Dolphins’ first round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft and the No. 8 selection overall. He was the first quarterback that Miami has selected in the first round of the draft since they took Dan Marino out of Pittsburgh in 1983.
Photo Credit: MiamiDolphins.com
Tannehill was expected to be the quarterback of the future but with David Garrard injured, Tannehill has been thrust into a starting role. He has many advantages over most rookie quarterbacks who were selected with a Top 10 pick. Miami is running Mike Sherman‘s offense and Tannehill has played in that offense for the last four seasons in college.
Most teams who draft a quarterback early, have to worry about him getting injured behind a weak offensive line. The Dolphins have a solid OL led by Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long.
Tannehill will have to concentrate on reading defenses and minimizing turnovers if he wants to have success early in the season. He has the physical tools to succeed in the NFL, but he lacks experience. The only way for him to get better is for him to get thrown out into the fire and learn by doing.
It is not yet known who will start under center once David Garrard gets healthy.
Michael Taglienti writes on college football and the NFL for GridironGrit.com. Follow @miketag98and @GridironGrit on Twitter!
