Ryan Tannehill can scratch one accomplishment from his list prior to the beginning of the 2012-2013 NFL Season. On Monday afternoon, he was named the starting quarterback by head coach Joe Philbin.
"After a thorough evaluation of the quarterback position, we have come to the decision that Ryan Tannehill is our starting quarterback," Philbin said. "It was a close competition, but in the end we feel that this is the best decision for our football team at the present time."
Tannehill was the No. 8 overall pick of the draft and the first pick of the Miami Dolphins. The former Texas A&M quarterback will put his skills to the test on September 9th. The Dolphins will face a tough opponent in the Houston Texan. Making the matchup tougher is that Tannehill will have to play on the round, in a rowdy Texans' Reliant Stadium.
So far in the preseason, Tannehill has combined for 25/43, 267 yards and a touchdown in two preseason games against the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tannehill was brutalized by the Panthers as he was sacked three times. The second game went a little smoother as he threw his first TD pass of the preseason and was not sacked while on the field.
Tannehill has the advantage of starting his college career as a wide receiver, so he understands the mind set behind catching a football. It will be interesting to see what the 24-year-old quarterback can provide for the Dolphins.
