Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill completed all six passes he threw in the team’s preseason opener against the Falcons, an encouraging start to a big season for him even if we add all the disclaimers about preseason performances being of varying accuracy about future outings.
Those completions came as Miami ran their offense at a quick pace that forced Tannehill to make quick, precise decisions about where to go with the ball. Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor liked what he saw from his charge, especially in terms of the footwork that’s been a point of emphasis for him at practice this summer. Lazor also liked Tannehill’s leadership and said he will keep the pressure on Tannehill to continue building him as a quarterback.
“My job right now is to push him. I’ve got to make it very hard for him out here on the practice field,” Lazor said, via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “I heard a rumor that some people have reported we’ve made it hard for him on the field. That’s on purpose. That’s how you build a quarterback. He’s coming.”
Lazor also said he thought the team was better in pass blocking than they were in run blocking. While they’d like to better across the board to field a balanced attack, better pass protection should only help Tannehill grow as a quarterback after getting pressured so often last season.