Miami Dolphins hope rookie QB Ryan Tannehill proves as another Dan Marino-NFL News
The Miami Dolphins are just hoping to find a winning quarterback in form of rookie Ryan Tannehill for the first time since their former star Dan Marino left them after a successful National Football League (NFL) career in 1999.
Dolphins have tried as many as 16 QBs since then but not a single one of them was able to walk into Marino’s shoes.
Tannehill, who is coming out of the college league as the third best QB in the 2012 NFL draft, held from April 26 to 28, joined his pro teammates for organised team activities (OTAs) on Tuesday, May 22.
Although he remained limited to a few throws and lighter workout, he made an impression on the players.
His direct competitors on the starting line, the incumbent QB, Matt Moore, and veteran, David Garrard, were particularly impressed with his talent and spoke high of his potential.
Moore said of Tannehill:
"Hey, he can spin it. He definitely can throw the ball. He's quiet right now, but you can tell he's definitely a quality, quality player. I'm looking forward to getting to see him play more."
Garrard is even more convinced of Tannehill’s ability of picking up things so quickly, particularly the swiftness he had shown in learning the playbook. He said:
"They usually come in with a question mark on their face and have starry eyes trying to figure out what's going on. But this is the offense he ran in college, or a lot of it."
It looks very much certain now that the rookie is going to challenge both, Moore and Garrard, for the starting QB position.
He might not be able to claim the number one spot at the start of the season, but can get the role as the season progresses.
Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, seems to have studied Tannehill well in spite of the player’s calm composure when he called him a hidden talent. Irsay rated him to be a quarterback of rich talent.
A number of commentators agreed to Irsay’s views, saying that since player did not have much exposure at the QB position, he remained less attractive at the draft. Otherwise, he is not far behind the number one pick, Andrew Luck, and second-rated, Robert
Lee Griffin.
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