Dolphins defensive end Mario Williams said this week that he’s enjoying what he’s seen from the team’s defensive scheme after a dismal year with the Bills in 2015.
Williams isn’t the only member of the team excited about life under a new coaching staff. Unlike Williams, quarterback Ryan Tannehill didn’t have to switch teams to find something more to his liking.
Tannehill said that the offense being installed by coach Adam Gase allows for the quarterback to have more control over adjustments before the play, something that wasn’t the case under the previous regime and something that Tannehill’s teammates said hurt the quarterback at times.
“We do a lot of things differently now,” Tannehill said. “Being on the line of scrimmage adjusting, whether it’s protections, routes, a whole new play — there’s a lot of freedom in what we do. I think it’s going to make us always on the attack. We’re not going to have to sit on our heels and feel like the defense is coming after us and we have to figure out a way to make it work. We can put pressure on the defense by getting in a good play and always keeping the heat on the defense.”
The first year in a new offense can make for some growing pains, but the change in coaches won’t do anything to lower expectations that Tannehill show he can take the next step in his development during the 2016 season.