ATTN Joe Philbin: Let Tannehill turn it loose!

Sometimes the turning point in a game can transpire in the game's first minute. Such was the case in the Miami Dolphins' past two defeats. It wasn't Reggie Bush's fumble in the first quarter during the Dolphins Week 10 loss to Tennessee Titans or the first quarter punt return by Leodis McKelvin in the first quarter of a road loss in Orchard Park to the Buffalo Bills in Week 11 that would prove to be turning points and swing momentum in favour of their opponents. Momentum was already in the tight grip of these opponents before those respective plays ever occurred.

It was the Dolphins offense, led by rookie signal-caller Ryan Tannehill, that has started the last two games. In both of those games, the first drive resulted in alarmingly conservative play-calling. Against Tennessee, after one first down, the Dolphins would then run the ball three times, with a final uninspiring fullback carry from Javorski Lane on third and one leading to an opening drive punt. It was much of the same against Buffalo, save the one first down. After a predictable, minimal gain run on first down, Tannehill then completed a screen pass to Hartline for five yards. The Dolphins faced another third and short on the opening drive and again went conservative attempting a five yard out to Anthony Fasano, resulting in a punt (which would be the punt McKelvin would return for the TD). Of the nine plays from those opening drives, Tannehill did not attempt a pass that was in the air 5 yards past the line of scrimmage. It doesn't get much more conservative than that. 

Those early punts were the true turning points in the game.

While I will concede that you're always better off in third and short situations than third and long attempts, you simply cannot play to achieve third and short situations with each set of downs you have on a drive. Eventually, you have to push the ball up the field. I live by one credo in football:

THE MORE PLAYS YOU ATTEMPT, THE MORE LIKELY YOU'LL MAKE A MISTAKE

I understand yards and points are tough to come by in the NFL and even more so for the Miami Dolphins. Truly, running the Dolphins offense these days is no easy task for Philbin and Offensive Coordinator Mike Sherman. They are dealing with a rookie Quarterback, a shaky offensive line and a set of extremely ordinary pass catchers. That said, it's time to see what we truly have in Tannehill. To this point, Tannehill has provided highly promising performances. I don't think his numbers (6 Touchdowns to 11 Interceptions) are indicative to how good he's been this season, especially for a converted receiver who had only 19 starts previous to his entry into the NFL. Tannehill has been poised, collected and methodical in his approach. For Philbin, it's time to take Tannehill out of the crib and let him sleep in the big boy's bed aka let him loose!

Lately, Joe Philbin has no answers for the Dolphins offence 

The schedule won't lighten for Tannehill over the next few weeks, a top-ranked Seattle Seahawks defense travels to South Beach this Sunday to battle the Fish. However, it's imperative that Philbin has Tannehill push the ball up field because, as been the case the last two weeks, they continue to be on the short end of third and short.