Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins Offense Getting Red-Hot Headed into 2015 Season

It's all coming together for Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

In the first three years of his career, the former first-round pick improved each year in three of the key metrics of efficient quarterback play: completion percentage, touchdown-interception ratio and passer rating. 

At this point, it would be considered a disappointment if that trend does not continue.

The Dolphins' front office has gone to great lengths to surround Tannehill with a new and improved set of weapons: wide receivers DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Jarvis Landry and Greg Jennings and tight end Jordan Cameron. And in Saturday's 13-9 preseason victory against the Atlanta Falcons, Tannehill was spreading the ball around to all of them (except Parker, who is still being held out after foot surgery). 

He connected five times with his most comfortable target, wide receiver Jarvis Landry, and also found running back Lamar Miller on five more of his completions, but he was as accurate and efficient as his final stat line would indicate. In all, he completed 15 of the 19 passes he threw (78.9 percent) for 145 yards, a touchdown and a 116 passer rating. 

That's the marksmanship we've come to expect from Tannehill through the first three preseason games. Tannehill expressed optimism when speaking on his readiness for the upcoming regular season (via the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero):

Through two preseason games, Tannehill had led the Dolphins offense to a touchdown on three of his four possessions. The Dolphins offense stalled out on its first three possessions on Saturday night, but bounced back and marched down the field 79 yards in six plays for their first points of the game. The Dolphins didn't score again until Josh Freeman was manning the triggers, well into the fourth quarter.

But Tannehill's preseason stat line says it all. In the first three games of the preseason, Tannehill is 33-of-41 passing (80.4 percent) for 303 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 121.8 passer rating. Those are numbers that are unparalleled in the rest of the NFL this summer.

We saw it all from Tannehill on Saturday night; he hit Landry on a deep pass down the seam for 46 yards, and he found his running backs out in the flat on short passes that helped keep the offense moving forward. 

There's been a lot of talk about the evolution of Tannehill's deep ball, but it's easy to forget the importance of positive offensive plays.

Even with the strong string of performances from Tannehill and the offense, head coach Joe Philbin sees some room for improvement, and rightfully so. Tannehill was efficient, but the first-team offense as a whole was not. It was a sentiment echoed in Coach Philbin's comments, courtesy of the Miami Herald's Adam Beasley:

That being said, this is not the best the offense has to offer. We've seen some of their full potential already this preseason, and it's a safe bet that we'll see that again soon when the regular season begins. 

This is what the Dolphins hoped they would see when they signed Tannehill to a four-year contract extension worth $77 million in new money and $21.5 million guaranteed upon signing. 

Of course, his job will be much easier if he has the help of a full starting offensive line. Right now, left tackle Branden Albert remains out of action, but despite a recent report from Adam Caplan of ESPN that Albert would be out until at least Week 3, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald begs to differ.

The Dolphins also got a little scare when center Mike Pouncey left the game with a left knee injury, but head coach Joe Philbin said he thinks Pouncey will be OK, and Pouncey himself said he "ain't missing a game."

But Tannehill has proven that he can continue to improve each year despite an offensive line that continues to crumble at his feet. If that group can hold it together, and if the Dolphins can keep the momentum they've built over the summer, their offense could rise to the top of the NFL this season.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained via team news release.