Based largely on the fact that he made just 19 college starts at quarterback, most draft prognosticators projected Ryan Tannehill as a developmental prospect coming out of Texas A&M.
But Tannehill played in a pro-style system for the Aggies. He is blessed with ideal physical tools, and has the rare rookie-year advantage of already knowing the NFL offense in which he’ll be playing. Dolphins coach Joe Philbin isn’t ruling out the possibility of starting Tannehill in Week One.
“I don’t remember a master plan that said, ‘Here’s when Ryan’s going to play,’” Philbin told SI.com’s Peter King late last month. “If there is one, I was never told about it. We’ll let them come to work, and the best man will win.”
Philbin reiterated that stance at the Dolphins’ current rookie camp. Tannehill’s competitors, David Garrard and Matt Moore, are behind the rookie in terms of mastery of coordinator Mike Sherman’s offense. They’ll eventually catch up, and the camp battle will play itself out in August.
“Those guys [Garrard and Moore] have been working hard since April 10,” Philbin said Friday, according to Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post. “At some point that knowledge is going to even itself out, and the difference is going to be the decision-making, the accuracy, the playmaking ability.”