Is the quarterback position an issue of concern with the Miami Dolphins?

Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs
Coming into the 2014 season, there were many concerns about Ryan Tannehill and whether or not he was the right quarterback to lead this team into the next decade and become the face of this franchise. Five games into the 2014 season, those concerns still remain but the rumblings are starting to get a little louder about his inability to provide the long-term solution for the Miami Dolphins. When talking about Tannehill, Joe Philbin didn’t give many clear answers but was specific about wanting to see improvement.

“I think he’s making progress. As I’ve said, many times this will be our sixth game of the third season. He’s certainly made improvements between year one and year two, and we are looking for continued growth and development. The last two games I think he played a very good game over in London. He had a really good second half the other day. Now we have to get more consistency, but when I talk about Ryan (Tannehill), really he and the offensive unit go hand-in-hand. I think in the first half last week I think we had one yard rushing by our running back and nine yards rushing by Ryan for 10 yards total. We’re a team that needs balance. We are a team that needs to establish the run a little bit.”

With that said, some believe that if the quarterback is good, then the rest of the team will be good as well and if the quarterback is bad, the rest of the team will be bad. Philbin says that this isn’t the case and the quarterback isn’t the only position that needs to be looked at when evaluating a team’s success.

“No, I don’t think so. I’ve always thought football is a team game. I just think that’s the way it is. The year we won the Super Bowl, Dom (Capers) and the defense did a great job. I think the championship game, the one up in Chicago, our defense scored a touchdown. I think we won the game by seven points, if I’m not mistaken. In the Super Bowl that we won, I think our defense had three takeaways, and we didn’t turn the ball over. They scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl we won. Football is a team game. I think everybody has a fascination with the quarterback position, but I always thought it takes more than one player to win a championship.”

Tannehill has shown flashes of greatness and promise at points throughout this season but there have also been plenty of times where he looks lost and confused. We never know which Tannehill we’re going to get each week and even each half and each quarter. Let’s hope we get the aggressive, determined and passionate Tannehill on Sunday against the Chicago Bears.