Dolphins' Greg Jennings: Ryan Tannehill has been 'babied' by coaches

[Tenshot13]

This really makes me dislike the old coaching regime.  Who knows how much he would have progressed.  Hopefully Gase can get Tannehill to drink out of a big boy cup. 

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2016/02/05/dolphins-greg-jennings-ryan-tannehill-has-been-babied-by-coaches.html

When the Miami Dolphins took Ryan Tannehill with the eighth overall pick in 2012, the front office and the entire organization believed they had found their next franchise quarterback. The Dolphins are now four years removed from the 2012 draft, and it's still somewhat unclear what Tannehill is.

Though it's not entirely his fault, he has yet to lead the team to a winning season in four years and has a 29-35 record. If he's not to blame, who is?

Dolphins wide receiver Greg Jennings believes the coaches have to take some of the heat for babying Tannehill.

Jennings was asked if he believes Tannehill is the guy that will lead the Dolphins back to the promised land. His response was, well, not overly confident.

Via CBS Sports:

"I don't think anyone knows yet. I really don't," Jennings said. "He's been kind of babied -- and I don't mean that in a bad way for him. He has the work ethic and the desire to be great. He just hasn't been given the reins to where he has the liberty and freedom to call the shots sometimes.

"It's almost like taking a baby, and he's six years old and no longer a baby. And he still has a bottle in his mouth. You gotta take it out and see if he can drink out of a cup."

Throughout 2015, there were questions about how much power Tannehill was given in the offense with regards to calling audibles and making adjustments at the line of scrimmage. Towards the end of the season, he was reportedly allowed to do more, but that's after three-plus years of limitations.

Fortunately, the Dolphins have a new head coach now -- one who's experienced in working with quarterbacks. Adam Gase hopes to turn the team around and take them to the next level, and it all begins with improving Tannehill's game.

[masterfins]

Two years ago Gase was in Denver when Manning was setting records.  Last year Gase was in Chicago and Cutler had one of his better seasons of late.  Unless Tannehill goes down early in the season with an injury, by the end of next season we will know for sure what kind of QB Tannehill is.

[Rich]

Two years ago Gase was in Denver when Manning was setting records.  Last year Gase was in Chicago and Cutler had one of his better seasons of late.  Unless Tannehill goes down early in the season with an injury, by the end of next season we will know for sure what kind of QB Tannehill is if they address the offensive line.

Fixed it for you.

[masterfins]

^^^^

Yes the two guards stink, and just about anybody new will be an upgrade, BUT it's not about "fixing" the O-line, it's about having a healthy line with no suspensions to the other three players.

[Rich]

^^^^

Yes the two guards stink, and just about anybody new will be an upgrade, BUT it's not about "fixing" the O-line, it's about having a healthy line with no suspensions to the other three players.

If both guards stink, then the line is broken and needs fixing.

[CF DolFan]

I have to admit I like how outspoken he has been since the season has ended. It almost makes you wonder if he is on Tannehill's PR team ... LOL. With that said I have to wonder why the coaches have been so slow in giving him some room to make mistakes?

Jennings to Dolphins: Give Ryan Tannehill freedom

By Kevin Patra
Around the NFL writer

The Miami Dolphins hired Adam Gase to help bring Ryan Tannehill to the next level of quarterbacking, where previous coaching staffs have failed.

Last week, receiver Greg Jennings told the team's official website that previous coaches held Tannehill's hand, hindering the quarterback's growth. On Tuesday, the receiver doubled down on those comments, saying that Tannehill desires to have more freedom within the offense.

"This is no knock on Ryan. This is not Ryan's choice. He wants to be free," Jennings told ESPN. "He wants to have that freedom, that liberty at the line of scrimmage, as most quarterbacks do. When you show your quarterback that you trust him, you give him freedom...

"We don't know who Ryan Tannehill is, but we want him to be this great guy, this great quarterback, this franchise quarterback, but no one has given him the freedom, the luxury, to call plays, make checks, to do the things that a great quarterback will have the opportunity to do."

Gase received praise for his work with Jay Cutler in 2015. As the Bears' offensive coordinator, Gase devised game plans that accentuated Cutler's positives and helped negate some of the terrible decisions that haunted the quarterback under previous play callers. Cutler still had the freedom to check plays, many of which were packaged run-pass option calls that required the quarterback to read the defense before selecting the proper play.

During the 2015 season, Tannehill was caught in some controversy after yapping with defensive practice-squad players. Some from the outside viewed this as confirmation of the quarterback's insecurity and perhaps how his teammates viewed him as a leader.

Jennings dismissed the incident as a product of a losing season.

"We all respect Ryan as a leader, as a quarterback," Jennings said. "I think this stems from losing. When you are losing, everything is a big deal. Obviously there were comments made, there were things that took place throughout the entire seasons that guys didn't like, guys liked, guys loved, guys hated, but this was just made a big deal because it's Ryan. It's the quarterback. We don't expect this from guys, but he's going to say things to guys that are going to be positive and he's going to say things to guys that aren't gong to be as positive, they're going to be negative, but it's constructive. And guys need to hear that ..."

Whether getting after a practice-squad player for making a play in practice is constructive or not is debatable. What isn't debatable is that Tannehill needs to display growth in his first season under Gase or that escape hatch the team built into his contract could loom large.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000636693/article/jennings-to-dolphins-give-ryan-tannehill-freedom

[EDGECRUSHER]

Since Greg is likely to be cut, looks like he may be playing politics and trying to get Tannehill to vouch for him.

Doesn't mean he is wrong though.