When the Miami Dolphins selected former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the first-round of the 2012 NFL Draft, it was originally assumed that he would start his rookie season on the bench as Matt Moore’s backup. However, after an impressive start to rookie minicamp, Tannehill will be given a chance to win the team’s starting job.
Tannehill played under new Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, during his four years at A&M. That familiarity has allowed Tannehill to have a head start learning the team’s playbook and he has been helping his teammates in the learning process as well.
“Being in the offense for four years back at A&M, it’s not my first go-around,” Tannehill said. “So I’m trying to help these guys learn as much as I can. Just help speed their learning curve up. I would probably say 65 to 70 is the exact same, pretty much, and the other 15 that I’m familiar with is pretty much just changing of a few words, but it’s basically the exact same thing.”
Head coach Joe Philbin has said that Tannehill will be given the same opportunity to win the team’s starting job as fellow signal-callers David Garrard and Matt Moore.
Tannehill was so excited to get started with the Miami offense that he was texting pictures of the playbook to new teammate Michael Egnew.
“Before I even came, he was texting me a picture of his playbook, just trying to get me acclimated to the offense,” said Egnew, who was the Dolphins third-round pick.
That kind of gesture will help the team respect Tannehill and present him as the leader this team needs. Leadership is a role that Tannehill will gladly accept and that he will openly welcome.
“Well, I hope I’m looked at as the leader of the team,” Tannehill said. “Especially (at) these rookie mini-camps. Quarterbacks are the leaders of the team and I want to try to get guys going, get guys playing together and make everyone around me better.”
It seems that the Dolphins could have the face of their franchise sooner than anticipated. Tannehill was originally viewed as a quarterback with a ton of upside and potential, but he has been impressing his team and coaches early in the process. If he can continue to be ahead of the learning curve, you would expect him to be under center early in the 2012-13 NFL season.
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