I said earlier that I look at Tannehill as a QB who has to be built, pretty much from the ground up. That scares me, especially with a team that has major QB questions ... because he is going to take time to build correctly.
If we had an older, established QB, who he could definitely sit behind and learn, I might consider him. I just don't see him fitting our circumstances.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I believe he is going to be a franchise QB. You don't. Thats fine but dont spin to me that RG3 is the sure thing when I see an undersized QB that runs around for 10 mins while his receiver. Ask Colt how that has worked for him.
He could have 10 years as a starter in the spread but the dude never took the snap from under center, made his read while back pedaling, setting his feet and hitting the open man. Hell you have as much experience running a pro system as RG3.
Quote: I believe he is going to be a franchise QB. You don't. Thats fine but dont spin to me that RG3 is the sure thing when I see an undersized QB that runs around for 10 mins while his receiver. Ask Colt how that has worked for him.
He could have 10 years as a starter in the spread but the dude never took the snap from under center, made his read while back pedaling, setting his feet and hitting the open man. Hell you have as much experience running a pro system as RG3.
I agree Mourg, the "body of work" is a silly argument (see Colt McCoy). Both prospects are raw, but at least Tannehill has some experience under center and in a pro set offense. I still think Griffen might have a higher ceiling (and that is based purly on speculation, because he is a very gifted athlete), but any prospect still comes with a 50/50 chance at making the transition.
Trade just one first round pick to trade up and now you better hope his chances are 100% that he will be "the guy".
It's easy for fans and even dead beat former GM's (Mike Lombardi) to say that you have to get a QB at all cost.
Probably a good reason why they don't have that job today.
If the Redskins do not trade up, then I think Tannehill could be their choice at 6. I know by readying post from their fan site, that most of their fans think that they can get him in the 2nd round, but I think that would be too great a risk to expect him to fall to them in round two.
They really wanted to get a look at him in the Senior Bowl, but his foot injury would not allow for that and he might not be ready for the Combine either (other then interviews). I think that his pro day could be very important in determining where he might be selected. I don't think there is any question that he is one of the top 3 QB prospects in this years pool.
BRADENTON, Fla. -- The boot was off Tuesday and Ryan Tannehill's right arm looked just fine.
The Texas A&M product, who is considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2012 NFL draft, said the foot injury that forced him to miss the Senior Bowl is healing fast. Tannehill said he will head to Indianapolis for the scouting combine next week and will go through medical testing and meeting with teams, but will not participate in any of the on-field drills.
Tannehill said he’ll save that for his pro-day workout in late March when he expects to be 100-percent healthy. Tannehill had been in a walking boot until recent days after having surgery to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal a little more than three weeks ago.
The surgery was performed in Charlotte by Carolina Panthers team physician Robert Anderson, one of the best-known foot specialists in the sports world.
“Dr. Anderson basically put a screw in there,’’ Tannehill said. “It’s locked down and I shouldn’t have any problems going forward.’’
Tannehill will stay out of the physical part of the combine, but he wasn’t holding back on the field Tuesday at IMG Football Academy, where he’s taking part in pre-combine training with about 30 other draft prospects.
After fellow quarterbacks Russell Wilson (Wisconsin) and Kirk Cousins (Michigan State) finished the on-field portion of their workday, Tannehill remained on the field for about 15 minutes getting one-on-one work with former Carolina quarterback Chris Weinke, who runs IMG’s football operations. Tannehill said the fracture happened during a January workout at IMG, but Anderson told him it probably was the result of a pre-existing stress fracture.
Tannehill said he plans to come directly back to Bradenton after the combine and begin doing more intense on-field work with Weinke.
“We’ll come back and push it pretty hard,’’ Tannehill said. “I’m thinking I should be getting close to 100 percent by right after the combine and we’ll really jump into the on-field stuff then to make up for the time I missed and get ready for pro day.’’
Tannehill has been mentioned as a possible first-round pick by some draft experts. Last year, Carolina’s Cam Newton and Minnesota’s Christian Ponder came to IMG to work with Weinke and both ended up starting as rookies.
"I knew that Cam and Christian worked with coach Weinke and he helped elevate them,’’ Tannehill said. “That’s what you look for in a QB coach is someone who can take you to the next level. We lost a little time because of the foot, but we’ll make up for it.’’
(Note: I'll have much more from my visit to IMG, including features on some top prospects over the coming days.)
Wednesday February 15, 2012 - 2:21 PM Expert vs. expert: Tannehill's talent, inexperience spark debate
Come April 26, Ryan Tannehill might be forever indebted to Matt Barkley and Landry Jones. Then again, it could be an NFL team down the line that feels fortunate it was lured into a gamble that paid big dividends.
When Barkley announced he was returning to Southern California and Jones opted to remain at Oklahoma for another season, Tannehill became the consensus third-best quarterback in the 2012 draft behind headliners Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III.
The size of the gap between No. 2 and No. 3 is fueling one of the best pre-draft debates.
No one questions Tannehill's leadership ability, selflessness or raw talent.
A decorated high school signal-caller, Tannehill moved to receiver when he lost the battle for the starting quarterback job at Texas A&M in 2008. Sulk? That's not in Tannehill's competitive DNA. He dedicated himself to his new craft, leading the team in receptions for two seasons. More on NFL Draft Related links
Brugler: Risers and Fallers | Mock draft, analysis Rang: Updated Big Board | Mock draft | Draft blog Prospects: Tannehill No. 3 QB, 25th overall
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Given the opportunity to get back under center in 2010, Tannehill began to gain the attention of NFL scouts with good underneath accuracy and a strong arm. It also didn't hurt that he was mentored by coach Mike Sherman, a veteran of the West Coast offense.
While Tannehill was a regular on Big 12 all-academic teams and has stated an interest in becoming an orthopedic surgeon after his playing days, he's still raw as a quarterback prospect.
Tannehill broke a bone in his foot in January, causing him to sit out the Senior Bowl and the injury will prevent him from working out at the scouting combine next week. Scouts won't see him work out on a field until at least the Aggies' March 7 pro day.
But he's also working with noted quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke at the IMG training facility in Bradenton, Fla., to sharpen his mechanics and the finer aspects of playing the position.
It all contributes to a wide array of opinions about where Tannehill should go in the draft.
NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst Rob Rang is a Tannehill fan, but doesn't have him going in the first round of his current mock draft, while fellow analyst Dane Brugler has him off the board before the end of the second hour of the April 26 festivities at No. 6 to the Washington Redskins.
So we asked our two experts to explain their opinions on Tannehill, who is NFLDraftScout.com's No. 25 overall prospect.
Rang's take: There are four primary physical characteristics NFL scouts are looking for when projecting college QBs to the next level: size, arm strength, accuracy and mobility.
Tannehill could earn first-round grades from clubs in all four categories, making him the logical third quarterback to be selected. He may have a stronger arm than Luck, the presumed No. 1 overall pick, and at 6-feet-4, 222 pounds, he's far closer to the prototype frame than the 6-2, 220-pound Griffin.
It is a fifth trait in which Tannehill rates significantly below Luck and Griffin. This makes him a high-stakes gamble for the first round. That fifth skill is anticipation, the most underrated element to forecasting quarterback success in the NFL.
The fact that Tannehill played wide receiver for the Aggies for the first 30 games of his career is a testament to his athleticism and selflessness. With only 19 career starts at quarterback, however, he is understandably lacking in the finer techniques of the position. While this isn't intended to suggest Tannehill cannot improve in these areas, it does mean he's not as ready to contribute as his two seasons as a starter for the Aggies might imply.
Tannehill will fire passes before his receivers come out of their breaks, teasing with his developing anticipation. However, he also stares down his primary read and struggles to move on to second and third targets when the defense surprises him. Despite his height and an efficient, over-the-top release, Tannehill had an exorbitant number of passes knocked down at the line of scrimmage because pass rushers were able to read and anticipate where he would go with the ball.
Worse, Tannehill's underdeveloped anticipatory skills showed up in critical moments against the best competition in 2011. After directing the Aggies to double-digit leads against Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas State and Texas, Tannehill and his team foundered in the second halves of each of these games, losing all five.
It is difficult to use statistics to prove something as qualitative as anticipation and poise, but consider the dip in Tannehill's touchdown to interception ratio in the first half of these games (8-2) compared to the second half (4-6). Several factors were at play in Texas A&M's collapses, but at least some of the blame must be placed on Tannehill. He might not have lost these games for the Aggies, but he didn't showcase the ability to rally his teammates and win them.
Tannehill appeared to be in position to duplicate the Senior Bowl jump that saw hotly debated quarterbacks Tim Tebow, Jake Locker and Christian Ponder emerge as first-round prospects the past two years, but he broke his foot preparing for the all-star game. The injury and subsequent surgery could keep him from working out for scouts before the draft, making him that much more of a gamble.
Brugler's take: Luck and Griffin are expected to be top-five picks, but don't be surprised when Tannehill is selected soon after -- in the top half of the first round.
He had an up-and-down senior season and his inexperience showed, but Tannehill has all the physical tools with prototypical size, above-average arm strength and underappreciated athleticism. But the No. 1 reason NFL teams are so high on the former Aggie is the game comes naturally to him.
After playing receiver for the first 30 games of his career, Tannehill stepped in at quarterback and won 10 of his first 13 starts, showing steady progression down the stretch.
He displays good passing mechanics with a balanced throwing motion and quick release, squaring his shoulders and delivering a very catchable ball. Tannehill can spin tight spirals to all levels of the field and displays veteran poise and awareness, stepping up and maneuvering in the pocket to buy time and stay calm under pressure. He is extremely intelligent -- on and off the field -- with the competitive attitude and intangibles to hone his craft with strong preparation skills and work habits.
Tannehill also benefited playing in a pro-style offense under the offensive-minded Sherman, who was a head coach with the Green Bay Packers for six seasons (2000-05) and was recently hired by the Miami Dolphins as their offensive coordinator.
Team success in the NFL can be directly linked to the play of the quarterback. This isn't breaking news, but the NFL is a passing league, evidenced by four quarterbacks drafted in the top 12 picks last year regardless of whether they warranted such a high selection.
Tannehill doesn't have the résumé to necessarily warrant an early draft pick, but he won't be drafted for what he has done, but rather for what teams think he can do. He flashes special potential and has the mental toughness to start early as a pro and learn on the fly.
Is Tannehill a finished product? No, far from it.
However, the raw tools are there for him to develop into a quality starter at the pro level -- and maybe more. If you want a polished quarterback, Luck is your guy. If you want a quarterback with big-time upside, then take a long, hard look at Griffin. But if you want a prospect with a little bit of both, Ryan Tannehill might be the player for you.
But you'll probably need a top 20 pick to grab him.
NFLDraftScout.com is distributed by The Sports Xchange. web page
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Funny that this is the exact same debate many of us are having. It is also the same argument these scouts will be having before the draft.
I beleive Tannehill can sit behind Colt McCoy for an entire year and learn while RG3 would not be willing to. I think Richarson would be exactly like Jamal Lewis, and we saw him on the Browns 3 years ago, no playoffs either. Either way I don't think Tannehill falls past Dallas' first round pick.
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
umm, if Richardson ends up like Jamal Lewis in Baltimore, then I don't think we would complain much. what we saw of Jamal was the end of his run (after a jail stint no less)
Quote: Griffin could still become the second or third pick of this draft on a trade up. He intends to be flexible in his expectations. “There’s no problem sitting behind a guy like Peyton Manning,” Griffin said. “There’s also no problem starting right away like Ponder, [Andy] Dalton and Cam Newton. It’s all about what that team needs — not necessarily what you want. “Everyone wants to play. You’ll never meet a football player who doesn’t want to be on the field.”
I believe Tannehill can sit behind Colt McCoy for an entire year and learn while RG3 would not be willing to. I think Richardson would be exactly like Jamal Lewis, and we saw him on the Browns 3 years ago, no playoffs either. Either way I don't think Tannehill falls past Dallas' first round pick.
Tannehill is a pocket passer who also has the ability to run..he has 4.6 type speed and is 6-4..220. He is a solid prospect, IMO, with a good arm and above average accuracy.
As for RG3 setting a year behind McCoy...he doesn't have the choice.
As for Richardson...it would tough to criticize the Browns if they take him. Some reports I have read claim he is better than Mark Ingram. I look forward to seeing his combine performance.
Quote: the foot injury that forced him to miss the Senior Bowl is healing fast
he's taking a 6-8 week non-weight bearing injury and already out of the boot walking on it..... I hope he's not pushing it to have a proday. Walking on it at three weeks is just crazy. But maybe the original fracture was a minimal crack, i would love to see his x-rays.
I hope Shanahan is targeting Tannehill. If so, RGIII will be there at number 4. I'm still not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
The ability the run routes and cut and what have you not, has no similarity to that of standing in a pocket, because, I mean, it's just standing...
That's like saying someone could be a semi-productive QB in college, and go to the NFL as a WR and MVP a Superbowl or something... Never happen... Ever... Evvvveeerrr...
Am I the only one that pronounces hyperbole "Hyper-bowl" instead of "hy-per-bo-le"?
Quote: "They" say Tannehill isn't mobile. So he is mobile enough to play WR but not mobile enough to play Qb?
That does seem odd ....... and unlikely. I don't think that mobility is one of the big concerns about Tannehill.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I was surprised upon googling the top 4 QBs from last years draft that they all were around the 4.55 - 4.65 range. Jake Locker being the fastest of the bunch. Surprised me, last year had some speedy cats until Dalton. After Kaepernik you really started to get the plodders like Mallett, Stanzi, Yates all posting above 5.00. Edit: Stanzi was actually 4.93
I wonder if there is something to athleticism and mobility affecting draft ranking after all.
Here is some video on Tannehill. It is obvious the kid has speed but there is much more to like about him that I rarely see in QBs...a quick release.
It reminds me of Marino's release...similar, in that the ball comes out quickly once his eye see the target...very compact arm motion also...the kid has some QB tools.
I think that he has an OK release, but certainly not in the same neighborhood as Marino. Marino was a thing of beauty, with the ball firing out in a fraction of a second. Tannehill isn't close to that. I would say that he has an average release, that is still somewhat inconsistent. Look at the pass right around 0:55 on your video, and you'll see him kind of push the ball sidearm as opposed to firing it over the top. That's not to be unexpected with a kid who is as inexperienced as he is. It seems like he does this on some of the longer throws I have seen too ..... almost trying to get behind the ball as opposed to letting it come off his hand with good follow through. This really affects his velocity and accuracy. Again, not to be unexpected with an inexperienced kid. He does look like he has decent feet, although, again,when he loses his feet, like most QBs, he then also loses his throw.
I think the kid has some foundational tools, and if we were 100% set at QB and could wait for 2-3 years for a guy to develop I might be tempted to take him. Given that we don't have that time frame, then I am not sure he would be the best choice for us.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
1 - interesting that most of the best plays from both Qb's were them running.
2 - hard to evaluate RGIII's release because much of his throws were shown in slow mo and the way his videos was cut up was bordering on ridiculous IMO. But I would agree that Tannehill has a little quicker release than RGIII's
Don't blame the clown for acting like a clown. Ask yourself why you keep going to the circus.
It's really hard to tell much from that video, except that RG3 and Luck are almost exactly the same height.
Slo Mo stuff vs live action is always hard to compare. There was one full speed, long TD pass in there where his arm was nothing but a blur. I do think that his release and mechanics can be made more consistent as well.
I would not put RG3's release in Marino's category either.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
If Tannehill would eliminate that dip of his shoulder, his release would speed up even more and he would have a lot more velocity on his passes. If you watch the highlights of the LSU game, and compare it to northwestern, there is a huge difference. In one year, he has cleaned up his throwing motion by a good 80% but he still has another 20 to go.
I think that both guys need to work on becoming more consistent with their releases. Griffin gets a little long sometimes, especially when he wants to loft the ball over a DB, and Tannehill gets behind the ball sometimes.
When Marino came out of college, he was almost perfect in his release on each and every throw, I sometimes wonder if his shoulder was built the same way everyone else's was, because he could generate so much power in such a short space. Watching Marino sometimes was like looking at the same piece of tape, because he consistently came over the top and at the same release point/angle. Neither Griffin nor Tannehill are anywhere near that level. I would put them both around average as far as release, when they do things right. Either might be a little above, but they have to get that consistency before I could say for sure.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Jamison Hensley writes for ESPN.com a draft scenario that would change the Browns' situation at quarterback, bringing Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill to Cleveland:
Tannehill, a 6-foot-4, 222-pound prospect out of Texas A&M, is expected to be on the Browns' radar with their second first-round pick (22nd overall) if they choose to pass on Robert Griffin III with their first one.
He has been rated as the third-best quarterback in this draft despite missing the Senior Bowl with a foot injury. He also plans to skip the on-field drills at the NFL combine. His first workout for NFL teams will come at his pro day in late March, when he is expected to be 100 percent healthy.
Hensley writes more about the possibility of the Browns drafting Tannehill:
Tannehill appears to be a great fit for the Browns' West Coast offense because he is a traditional pocket passer. Drafting a quarterback late in the first round or early in the second would reduce the pressure of starting him right away.
If the Browns took Tannehill, the plan would probably be to sit him and let Colt McCoy start this season. Team president Mike Holmgren's track record with quarterbacks has been to sit them for a season before elevating them to a starting role. web page
I've been thinking this is the route the Browns might go as well. They might have to trade up from 22 to get him, but I don't see the Browns taking Griffin UNLESS he falls to 4, and even then, I could see them trying to trade back. The part about the QB sitting a year, might be more of a clue than we realize.
There may be people who have more talent than you, but there's no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do. -Derek Jeter
So Mourg, do you think we should trade back from #4 to get Tannehill? How far do you think we should go?
Let's say Washington doesn't pick up a FA QB and they trade up to 2 for Griffin. MIA and SEA get FA QBs. How far back do you go and what do you ask for? Who will give it?
Now saw WAS and MIA get QBs in FA and nobody is a threat to trade ahead of the Browns for Griffin. Seattle still needs a QB. Do you still trade back for Tannehill? How far back can you go? What do you get?
The other option I see is trading 22 and 37 to move up. Realistically, that can get you as high as #10. Would you give up both those picks to make sure you got Tannehill? Would that be better than trading #4 and #37 or #4 and #22 to take Griffin and then take a CB, WR, or DE with the other pick?
I don't think so. Griffin is already IMO the better passer. I don't think we have a net improvement to the team trying to go a Tannehill route.
All of the value and where these guys go depend upon free agency. If you want to see over bidding let Manning and or Flynn sign somewhere not in desperate need of a QB like with the Jets or Jags.
I don't see Tannehill being there is the 2nd round. I see someone falling in love with his measurables, and trading up to get him. How high is the only question to me ..... unless he totally bombs at his workout, which I don't expect.
Who knows. I hope we don't overpay for him if we do target him ...... and if we draft him, I hope he works out great. I hope the same for everyone we draft. I think that we'll make a huge mistake if we pass on RG3 though. I've already put myself out there on that opinion, and I stand by it.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
The way I see it is if we draft a shiny new QB in this year's draft, people are eventually going to turn on McCoy (deserved or not, doesn't matter), and the rook will get pressed into service. If I were to choose which rookie gets thrown into the fire, I would prefer RG3 vs Tannehill.
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
Quote: The way I see it is if we draft a shiny new QB in this year's draft, people are eventually going to turn on McCoy (deserved or not, doesn't matter), and the rook will get pressed into service.
I think that with this FO (if the decision to sit a new qb for a season is actually made), McCoy would have to get injured or come completely unglued for that to happen.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
Was your first clue his posts in this thread or the one where he proposes marriage? (just kidding)
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