Ryan Tannenhill named starter for Dolphins against Texans on opening day.

[Vancouver Grizzly Fan]

The Miami Dolphins named rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill their Week 1 starter on Monday. It's a move that won't pay immediate dividends. But it was absolutely the right call for the long-term success of this franchise.

It was clear to see this offseason, in training camp and in the preseason that the Dolphins are a rebuilding team in transition. Miami is not making the playoffs in 2012 regardless of who's the quarterback. It was best to start Tannehill now to develop the rookie for future seasons.

This is a grace-period year for rookie head coach Joe Philbin. He has nothing to lose. If Miami goes 5-11, fans will shrug amid the already low expectations. If Miami goes 8-8, it will be an overachievement.

Matt Moore wasn't beating out Tannehill (or David Garrard) in practices or in games. Starting Moore would have simply been a decision based on what he did in a different system under a different coaching staff. Moore never played in a West Coast offense before this season and, in many ways, has looked like a fish out of water.

Tannehill has rapidly made improvements since spring workouts. He played under Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman at Texas A&M and knows the system very well. Naming Tannehill the starter now provides about three weeks to get him ready for the Houston Texans as opposed to sharing first-team reps and playing time with Moore the rest of the summer.

The only downside to the decision is the message it sends to the Dolphins' locker room. By naming a rookie quarterback the starter over a veteran who went 6-3 in his final nine starts last season, the coach staff is essentially saying this team isn't good enough to make a postseason run and is building for the future. Miami's aging veterans may not want to hear it, but that's the reality.

Starting Tannehill right away means the Dolphins are eyeing 2013 and beyond after the rookie takes his lumps. Surely, there will be some growing pains and rookie mistakes from Tannehill, who had just 19 collegiate starts. But it's good to get them over with now in a rebuilding year.

The Dolphins were very wise to start the Tannehill era. The future is now.

The Tannenhill Era has begun. The right decision was made, Moore was slacking and looked too comfortable.

I truly believe that the Dolphins can win 7-8 games this year with Tannenhill. He's a special talent and able to bring life back into the Dolphin organization.

 

[heisenburrr]

I'd love for us to make a run at anything

but realistically, the talent around him is too bad for him to really work a miracle this year

Bad o-line and terrible WR corps are not a rookie quarterback's best friend

 

[MMS]

i called this months ago

wouldnt surprise me in the least if hes the most productive of the 2012 draft QBs either

 

[Maschine_Man]

I'd love for us to make a run at anything

but realistically, the talent around him is too bad for him to really work a miracle this year

Bad o-line and terrible WR corps are not a rookie quarterback's best friend

the whole line isn't terrible so its not all gloom and doom, and it's not like their offense is that much different than last year.

I mean shyt, look what they did last year at the end of the season?

they would have probably had a winning record if they didn't waste their time on Henne and just started Moore from the get


but realistically I don't think much will come of anything this season for the phins, as far as winning shut.

I just hope that Tannehill can come out and have a good year and build some cohesion on that offense and show some good progress throughout the season

if they wanna fukk around and be this years bengals....I ain't gonna be mad

 

[heisenburrr]

the whole line isn't terrible so its not all gloom and doom, and it's not like their offense is that much different than last year.

I mean shyt, look what they did last year at the end of the season?

they would have probably had a winning record if they didn't waste their time on Henne and just started Moore from the get


but realistically I don't think much will come of anything this season for the phins, as far as winning shut.

I just hope that Tannehill can come out and have a good year and build some cohesion on that offense and show some good progress throughout the season

if they wanna fukk around and be this years bengals....I ain't gonna be mad

81 receptions 1,214 yds 6 TDs will be missing from this offense

 

[DallasTxRep]

 

[Maschine_Man]

81 receptions 1,214 yds 6 TDs will be missing from this offense

meh, addition by subtraction

he also made A LOT of bad plays as well. people don't forget all the drops in the endzones

sure between the 20's was important but whats the point if you always settle for fg's??


I ain't gonna lie Marshall was big, but this team isn't that much worse without him

 

[heisenburrr]

meh, addition by subtraction

he also made A LOT of bad plays as well. people don't forget all the drops in the endzones

sure between the 20's was important but whats the point if you always settle for fg's??


I ain't gonna lie Marshall was big, but this team isn't that much worse without him

team now as arguably the worst receiving corps in the league

 

[DalMem]

The Tannenhill Era has begun. The right decision was made, Moore was slacking and looked too comfortable.

I truly believe that the Dolphins can win 7-8 games this year with Tannenhill. He's a special talent and able to bring life back into the Dolphin organization.

 

[lamont614]

fukk the dolphins they going 4-12

 

[lamont614]

The Tannenhill Era has begun. The right decision was made, Moore was slacking and looked too comfortable.

I truly believe that the Dolphins can win 7-8 games this year with Tannenhill. He's a special talent and able to bring life back into the Dolphin organization.

7 games

 

[heisenburrr]

fukk the dolphins they going 4-12

fukk you

 

[Dr. Fauci]

i called this months ago

wouldnt surprise me in the least if hes the most productive of the 2012 draft QBs either

not a chance

 

[MikelArteta]

Enjoy all those interceptions

M

 

[MMS]

not a chance

i watched him regularly in college

i said this before i knew he was going to Miami as well

hes the best "prototypical" qb of the bunch imo

i think fins fans will be pleasantly surprised