Photo: Dirk Hansen, Flickr Tannehill was now able to begin a 2012 season in which he is expected to sit and learn behind the team's two veterans, Matt Moore and David Garrard.
But if you ask Tannehill, he isn't planning to just sit and learn. He's planning to play.
"I feel like I'm in it," Tannehill said, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "I may be naive, but the coaches haven't given me any indication that I'm not so I'm going to go out there every day and do my best to win the job."
The rookie may be optimistic about his chances, but the South Florida media has all but counted him out of the team's competition to open the season as starting QB. This is mostly due to his lack of college starting experience and tepid showing at the team's voluntary offseason workouts.
While he may not have proven much in those June minicamps, his preparation and understanding of the offense were on full display in his first training camp practice.
"I thought he'd be a little rusty today, but I thought he was pretty much on task on just about everything he did," offensive coordinator Mike Sherman said. "He didn't seem to miss a beat. Obviously, he's been working hard here with the receivers all summer on their own and throwing, so I think he was ahead of where I thought he'd be -- particularly after a long night and a tough couple of days."
Tannehill impressed the media on Sunday, throwing the ball well and showing his mobility. It was a contrast from what was seen in the minicamps, where he looked very much like a rookie.
"I didn't think it was too bad," Tannehill said. "I definitely have some things to work on, being better with my feet, stepping up in the pocket, a little faster on my drops. But I thought it was a good starting point."
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