Tannehill's days as starter likely sooner than later

Photo: Dirk Hansen, Flickr 

BY SEAN DONOVAN

The Dolphins' first-round pick Ryan Tannehill was taken for one reason: to be Miami's quarterback of the future. The only thing that isn't certain yet is how soon that future will come.

Coach Joe Philbin says Tannehill will have an opportunity to begin the 2012 season as the starting quarterback, according to Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post.

Though many believe Tannehill would benefit from some clipboard-holding time on the sidelines, his familiarity with the Mike Sherman's offense gives him a leg up on the playbook over veterans Matt Moore and David Garrard, the other contenders to earn the starting job. Tannehill spent a season and a half as Sherman's starting quarterback at Texas A&M.

Tannehill estimated he has grasped roughly 80 to 85 percent of the Dolphins' playbook. "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," he told the Palm Beach Post. "But it's basically the exact same thing."

Philbin does not, however, believe that Tannehill necessarily has the inside track to win the competition.

"Those guys have been working hard since April 10," Philbin said of Moore and Garrard. "At some point that knowledge is going to even itself out, and the difference is going to be the decision-making, the accuracy, the playmaking ability."

Tannehill's lack of collegiate experience was a red flag to many draft experts, and though he had good measurables, some thought he was unworthy of the eighth overall pick. Sherman, Philbin and general manager Jeff Ireland thought highly enough of the limited gameplay they saw to make Tannehill not only a top-10 draft pick, but the guy to pull their franchise from obscurity.

Being so familiar with the offense could help the former Aggie get on the field earlier than if he had to learn an entire new system. It has already given him the confidence and ability to help his teammates with the playbook.

"Before I even came, he was texting me a picture of his playbook, just trying to get me acclimated to the offense," said Dolphins third-round pick tight end Michael Egnew, who knew Tannehill from competing in high school in west Texas.

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