Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Tannehill and Dustin Keller pulled off the type of throw and catch you typically see between Aaron Rodgers and James Jones Friday night, hitting Keller back-shoulder for a twisting 22-yard touchdown catch with the defender’s back turned toward the line of scrimmage. While this is not a display of virtuosity by the Miami Dolphins pass offense, it is encouraging for the second-year quarterback and free-agent tight end to show they’re in sync this early in the preseason.
Tannehill left the field afterward, calling it a night to the tune of 5-of-9 for 75 yards with a score and no picks.
“I feel we finally settled in, got a good drive, put a good drive together, got a first down and finished it off with a touchdown,” Tannehill said, via the team website. “It’s just a building block. It is the preseason. So don’t read too much into the negative things or the positive things.”
Added Keller, who finished with 46 yards on two catches: “That’s what we know we’re capable of. We’ve always known we have the ability to drive the ball 80 yards and score like that. What we need to work on is getting more consistent.”
This performance has to be extremely encouraging for Phins fans after how abysmal the first-team offense played against the Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame game. This was followed by noise out of a late-week practice that Tannehill was struggling in Dolphins camp. Mike Sherman, Tannehill’s college head coach and current offensive coordinator, even spoke to the media defending the young quarterback’s recent performance.
After Tannehill’s performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars matters have calmed a bit, that is until the next week of preseason football.
Thomas Emerick is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasEmerick, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
