The success of the Miami Dolphins will continue to come down to the play of Ryan Tannehill. The quarterback struggled once again in 2015 after signing a large contract extension. As a result, the coaching staff was fired and Adam Gase was hired. As an offensive coordinator, Gase helped Peyton Manning and Jay Cutler excel. There is hope he can do the same for Tannehill, but lingering doubt could force interest in a quarterback come the NFL Draft.
According to Gase, the struggles Tannehill had last season was a "hiccup" and he remains confident the quarterback can improve. Gase told the media that he is currently evaluating the whole roster and the play of Tannehill. The Dolphins are hopeful that Tannehill can improve and that Gase will bring out franchise player supposedly within him.
"I feel pretty good about what we can do with him," Gase said on "The Joe Rose Show" on 560-WQAM, via the Palm Beach Post. "I feel like we can help him. It was going upward from the time he started. I know last year was a hiccup and I know he was disappointed in last year and obviously every Dolphin fan was frustrated with the situation that occurred. We feel really good with the staff we're putting together, how we're going to build this thing offensively. I feel like we can help with the sacks, we can eliminate some of these hits he's taken. That's going to be key."
According to the Palm Beach Post, the chances the Dolphins draft a quarterback is high. Gase might feel good about Tannehill, but he will want to get someone in that he can develop. Contractually, the Dolphins are committed to Tannehill for two more seasons. If the quarterback cannot improve in 2016, having someone behind him will be key. The Dolphins will not make a move for someone in the first round, but players like Connor Cook, Christian Hackenberg, or Jake Coker will all be available in later rounds and could be a solid pickup for the Dolphins.
Gase said that he wants to have his imprint on the offense first and will focus on that side of the ball in free agency and in the draft. He will have to get to work quickly as Rishard Matthews and Lamar Miller are both set to become free agents and potentially leave the team while players like Jordan Cameron and Greg Jennings have proven they are overpaid. Gase knows that the only way Tannehill can be successful is if the Dolphins improve the players around him first.
"I'll be leaning towards offense early, I'm going to be able to have my imprint on the offense, be able to call a game and the way we've mapped this out, i feel comfortable having my hand on defense and special teams," Gase said, via the Palm Beach Post.
