Ryan Tannehill most sacked quarterback per pass attempt
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) throws a pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Miami Dolphins second-year passer Ryan Tannehill has looked impressive this season, and he did a great job leading the Dolphins to victory last week against an Atlanta Falcons defense that is banged up and filled with holes. Tannehill helped spearhead the upset with some incredibly clutch play, as he led a game-winning drive capped off by a one-yard touchdown pass to rookie TE Dion Sims. Tannehill, however, took quite a beating against the Falcons, as he was sacked five times.
That’s been the story for Ryan Tannehill this season, as he has been sacked 14 times this season, which leads the NFL. However, sack statistics can be misinterpreted rather easily if a quarterback is attempting a lot of passes, which would thus, logically, lead to a higher number of sacks. That isn’t the case, though, for Tannehill, as he has still been sacked on a higher percentage of his dropbacks than any other QB in the league. According to Pro Football Reference, Tannehill has been sacked on 11.6% of his throws, which is just a tad higher than Brandon Weeden.
In Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, Ryan Tannehill was sacked five times as well. Against the Cleveland Browns in the 3-0 Dolphins season opener, Tannehill was sacked four times and hit a grand total of seven times. Desmond Bryant had a monstrous performance with two sacks and four QB hits, and Paul Kruger also wreaked havoc in the Dolphins backfield.
Luckily for the Dolphins, the Saints only generate sacks on 7.8% of pass plays, but I wonder if they are in store for an even bigger day. Rob Ryan could come up with some nice blitz packages, and Cameron Jordan looks like a monster out there. Beyond that, Junior Gallette is dangerous, and the Saints have done a really good job of putting consistent pressure on the quarterback this season.
Meanwhile, I wonder if the Dolphins 14 sacks allowed are skewed, in the same way that the Saints have been better at putting pressure on the quarterback than the sacks indicate. I always harp on the fact that sacks only tell part of the story, and I think that’s the case here. Jonathan Martin has held up his end of the bargain on the left side, and the interior has looked steady with Mike Pouncey leading the way. The issue is that the Dolphins aren’t getting good pass blocking out of the backs, as those guys have been responsible for allowing a few sacks by not picking up blitzers.
You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates and analysis @SorianoJoe. Be sure to like us on Facebook here and follow our site on Twitter as well.