Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill has taken some huge steps as a leader and a quarterback for his team, which isn’t lost on teammate Jarvis Landry.
The Dolphins appeared destined to spoil Adam Gase’s rookie season after losing four of their first five games this season — the lone win coming in overtime against the awful Cleveland Browns. During this early stretch of games, Tannehill struggled, putting it mildly.
Since then, he’s been a totally different quarterback.
Ryan Tannehill has really turned things around of late for the #Dolphins
* First 5 games: 6 TDs, 7 INTs
* Last 5 games: 6 TDs, 1 INT pic.twitter.com/Lv7iFuH1Yl— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) November 21, 2016
It’s not surprising that the Dolphins have won their past five games, beating some of the NFL’s hotter teams (at the time) in the process.
On Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, Tannehill was having a brutal time for the first 53-plus minutes of the game. Los Angeles’ dynamic front four was giving Miami’s offensive line fits, and Tannehill was getting hit hard (four sacks, eight quarterback hits).
Heading into the final minutes of the game, the quarterback had completed just 12-of-24 passes for 57 yards. The Rams led 10-0 when he and the Dolphins took over on offense at the 6:38 mark in the fourth quarter. That’s when Tannehill took the game over.
Finally receiving protection up front, the quarterback went 12-of-13 on the final two drives, passing for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
Landry summed up his quarterback’s performance with an emphatic show of support and respect.
“Hell of a job,” Landry said, via the team’s website. “He did exactly what big-time players do. He made the plays when they count. He did that for us tonight. He carried us, to continue this winning streak we’ve got. Something special.”
Now the team that appeared destined to live in the AFC East cellar is pounding on the door to get into the playoffs with a record of 6-4. An improved effort on defense is partly responsible for the turnaround, as is the emergence of a viable and punishing rushing attack.
But as we’ve seen with other teams, none of that matters without a quarterback to execute when it counts — when the game is on the line.
It appears Tannehill is finally taking to Gase’s offense and developing the confidence needed to be the quarterback Miami can count on this year, and hopefully, for years to come.