For the first time in 28 years, the Dolphins have drafted a 1st round QB. For the first time, it seems like there is a clear vision for the future at this position. But, for now, Tannehill is not yet ready for primetime. For now, we have three (four if you count Devlin, and no one really does seem to count Devlin) QBs all vying for the coveted starting spot. All of them have their strengths and weaknesses, as well as reasons both to have them as the starter, and why not to have them as out starter. So, let's take a look at the pros and cons of each QB candidate (and yes, I did count Devlin).
David Garrard, 34 yrs, 6'1", 235 lbs
Pros:
Garrard is a typical savvy veteran, having accumulated regular season, playoff and pro bowl experiance. He brings the most to the table in terms of teaching the younger QBs and acting as a mentor. He is very accurate and efficient, with a career 85.8 passer rating and an 89-54 TD-INT ratio. What these stats show is that, even though Garrard won't be putting up dominant stats, he is good enough as a stopgap option and can manage a team to the playoffs. He will not be putting up huge number and won't be leading the team himself, but he won't be a liability, and won't make game-losing mistakes.
Cons:
Garrard is coming off of a bad back injury, and it is yet unknown if he can take hits. The issue with this particular injury is that, while it will not affect his in-game play, chances of re-injury are high, and he may not last more than one season, at most. We would have to have a legitimate backup plan for him, and will need to be prepared to put in the 2nd stringer at any point during the season
Matt Moore, 27 yrs, 6'3", 207 lbs
Pros:
Matt Moore is coming off of a career season, and has the momentum going into the season. Moore has also built rapport with his teammates and already has chemistry with them. He is good at controlling the ball and rarely throws INTs. He is a typical game-managing QB, who won't make mistakes, but won't be a game-changer either.
Cons:
Moore has a few problems that he will need to work out. The first one is his tendency to hold on to the ball too long. This stems from his overall largest problem, he locks on to receivers. Last year, he rarely looked away from Brandon Marshall, often forcing the ball to him, or taking the sack and fumbling if he is not open. In a west coast offense, locking into receivers can be a huge issue. Moore will need to work on this to serve as a viable stopgap.
Ryan Tannehill, 23 yrs, 6'4", 221 lbs
Pros:
Tannehill was brought in for one reason, to provide the franchise QB we have lacked since Dan retired. Tannehill is already familiar with the system, having worked in it for 4 years both as a QB and a WR. Due to the fact that he has played multiple positions, he better understands the WR position, allowing him to build leadership. In addition, his experience as a WR will help him understand the tendencies of his WRs. He is mobile and is a typical west coast offense QB.
Cons:
Tannehill's biggest problem stems from his lack of experience. He has struggled with the speed of the NFL game, not getting the ball out in time and taking sacks. This will improve with experience, but currently prevents him from earning the starting job.
Pat Devlin, 24 yrs, 6'4", 222 lbs
Pros:
Devlin has good accuracy and ball placement on short passes, which are key in a west coast offense. He has prototypical size and had a very good TD-INT ratio in college, 42-12. This means he rarely turns the ball over, and can be developed into a solid backup QB.
Cons:
Devlin's main weakness stems from his lack of arm strength. It has been reported that he can only throw a ball accurately for about 20 yards. That is very weak, considering many plays will need to go further than that. This issue is one that may never be fixed, and could end up being his undoing as a QB.
No comments:
Post a Comment