Can Tannehill be as productive with this new Group of Pass Catchers?
The Dolphins have made drastic changes in regards to the players that will catch passes from Ryan Tannehill next season, and there is still a few more additions to come, but the main question is can Tannehill be as productive or even more productive in the passing game with this new group? The offensive passing game consists of a lot of timing routes, and when you add new pass catchers there is always a learning curve in regards to the pass catcher and QB synching up and getting on the same page. With that being said, everyone needs to get on the same page extremely quickly this off-season or Tannehill and the rest of the offense will run the risk of regressing.
Let’s take a closer look at the statistical facts of what has left Miami’s offense from last year.
Mike Wallace 67 receptions, 862 yards, 10 touchdowns
Charles Clay 58 receptions, 605 yards, 5 touchdowns
Brian Hartline 39 receptions, 474 yards, 2 touchdowns
Brandon Gibson 29 receptions, 295 yards, 1 touchdown
The total between the four players of 193 receptions, 2,236 yards, 18 touchdowns.
When comparing this to Ryan Tannehill’s 392 completions, 4,045 passing yards, and 27 passing touchdowns, we can see that these four players accounted for 49% of Tannehill’s completions, 55% of his passing yards, and 66% of his touchdowns. Clearly these are all significant percentages for each category to lose in production.
The Dolphins have added two players in Kenny Stills and Jordan Cameron, so just for arguments sake lets just add in their numbers from last season and see how much they would in theory be able to replace. (Obviously there numbers will not be exactly the same playing in Miami’s offense and with Tannehill throwing them passes, but this is only a simple look at the numbers.)
Jordan Cameron 24 receptions, 424 yards, 2 touchdowns
Kenny Stills 63 receptions, 931 yards, 3 touchdowns
The total between these two players would be 87 receptions, 1,355 yards, 5 touchdowns.
So adding these numbers into Tannehill’s stats and removing the other players numbers from Tannehill’s stats would have “in theory all things being equal” would have given Tannehill 287 completions, 3,164 passing yards, and 14 touchdowns. Which would have been an overall decrease in Tannehill’s actual numbers of 26% less completions, 22% less passing yards, and 48% less touchdowns.
So even though most football gambling fans will say this is an unfair comparison with too many unknown variables to account for, this is the best comparison we can make in regards to the shake up in personnel. Clearly the biggest thing besides the loss of production in each of the major three passing categories, is that Tannehill is losing his key touchdown makers. However, Miami is going to add at least another wide receiver through either the draft or free agency. so there will be other players that can step in for the lost production, and players like Stills, and Cameron have the chance to get a lot more opportunities in Miami’s offense, than at their previous teams. Also Cameron was hurt for some of last year, which made for a less productive year than he has had in past years. So if he can stay healthy we may be in good shape Also it should be expected that Landry will at least be able to duplicate his last year’s production, and even hopefully improve on it. Whereas players such as Dion Sims and Rishard Matthews will also get more snaps and opportunities to make plays and produce better numbers.
Hence there should not be a sky is falling type view of Miami’s loss of pass catching production from last year, but there still needs to be a conscience awareness that each pass catcher on the team needs to step up next season in order for Tannehill and the offense to produce at the same and hopefully higher statistical level.
Personally I think Cameron has the potential if healthy to out produce Clay, and Stills has better hands than Wallace, and with the increased opportunities he should be able to put up very similar numbers to Wallace. Matthews was able to catch 41 passes for 448 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2013 when he replaced Gibson so he has the potential and capability to put up similar or better numbers, which would account for the loss of Hartline. Plus who ever we draft or sign will surely be able to replace Gibson’s paltry numbers, and if we do draft a WR in the first or second round, there is no reason why that player can not surpass Hartline’s and Gibson’s numbers combined. Yes, Tannehill will have to develop a chemistry with all these new players, but he has done it in the past and he can do it again, and as long as the Dolphins do not sign a diva type receiver there will be a lot less pressure on Tannehill to throw the ball to a certain individual, which means Tannehill can throw it to the most open player or best option while going through his reads.
What does the rest of the Miami Dolphins news fans think about Tannehill and the new group of pass catchers being able to put up similar or even better numbers compared to last year?
