Is There a Realistic Chance of Ryan Tannehill Starting Dolphins Season Opener?

The Miami Dolphins owner, head coach and one of their veteran quarterbacks have all spoken out about expectations of the team's upcoming position battle to lead the offense in training camp.

With each of these pronouncements in mind, should we believe that No. 8 overall 2012 NFL draft pick Ryan Tannehill could start vs. the Houston Texans in Week 1 of the 2012 season?

Exhibit A: Pro Football Talk reports that head coach Joe Philbin said he wanted to have the decision made by the third preseason game and cited leadership quality and fit as factors on ESPN's NFL 32.

Help or Hurt Tannehill's Chances?: Probably hurt. Tannehill's preseason performance in Weeks 1 and 2 will likely be ugly at times because it will be his first live NFL action. The rub here is that it will be difficult to get all three QBs enough practice snaps and preseason action to fully evaluate them.

Philbin's decisions about how to divvy up that work will likely tip his hand as to who he is favoring early on. Fit should favor Tannehill, and he is a natural leader, so if he is getting equal snaps in practice and the preseason as Matt Moore and David Garrard, perhaps Philbin will be more open-minded to starting him than we expect.

Exhibit B: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross thinks Moore "will probably" be the starter, according to Jeff Darlington of NFL.com. Darlington also reports Ross said he thinks the team isn't going to rush Tannehill into the starting lineup.

Help or Hurt Tannehill's Chances?: Hurt, but not as much as it seems. If Philbin has seen enough from Tannehill to start him, Ross will likely defer to his coach's judgment.

The same limitations that made Ross feel urgency to get a potential franchise quarterback will still be present in Moore's game, so it shouldn't be too hard to talk Ross into having the rookie as the starter. Ross won't be part of the day-to-day evaluation, so his opinion is merely for entertainment value. 

Exhibit C: 

"

Garrard on Tannehill.."First time I've been in a meeting room where the rookie knows the offense better than the veterans."

— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) May 17, 2012"

Impressive, although according to Pro Football Talk, Garrard also reminded us that there is more to being a quarterback than knowing the playbook, such as knowing the nature of and how to prepare for the defenses the team will face.

Help or Hurt Tannehill's Chances?: Help at first, but it probably won't be determinative. Whatever Tannehill displays in practice due to his superior knowledge of the playbook will be trumped by his preseason performance.

Moore and Garrard should also close that gap quickly as learning a new offense in one offseason isn't that rare of a task for an NFL quarterback.

Final Verdict

The team may say that the quarterback battle is a true open competition, but Tannehill would have to decisively outplay and out-practice Moore and Garrard to win the job. The team already has the mindset of expecting Tannehill to need some time, and we all saw how putting a quarterback in too early can damage a team like last year in Jacksonville.

With the Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders and New York Jets defenses opening the Dolphins' schedule, wisdom will favor letting Tannehill watch and learn on the sidelines instead of getting a trial by fire to start his NFL career.