Ryan Tannehill – December 7, 2016
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Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill
(What was the biggest thing that you picked up on after reviewing the film of the last game?) – “We just didn’t come out and execute well. I don’t think, from the start of the game, we didn’t make enough plays. We had too many mistakes, too many plays we left out there. When you play a good team on the road late in the year, you have to bring you’re A-game, and we didn’t do that.”
(How about your performance specifically?) – “It wasn’t good enough. I think, like I said, across the board we weren’t good enough. And that includes me.”
(When you’re actually physically watching game tape like that, how different is it from other ones? Is it kind of something like ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe that happened’ moments? What’s it like?) – “I mean it’s … That’s what we do. There are going to be games where things go well, and you just try to look at them all the same. You look at them whether you won by 20 and had a good game, or you won by one, or you came out a lost. I think you try to look at it the same way, evaluate yourself through a real lens, a true lens and see how well you played, and things you can improve upon. So when you lose, it’s no different. You look at it the same way. Just make the connections you can and move on.”
(What’s the mindset of this team? It’s your first true day back at work following that game. How would you describe the way the team is responding?) – “We’re getting ready for the next one. There is still a lot of football out there in front of us. Our mindset right now is to prepare and do everything we can to get ready for the Arizona Cardinals.”
(When it comes to CB Patrick Peterson or any good DB [defensive back], do you stay aware of him, or do you treat him just like any other player on the field?) – “You have to be aware. I think he has a reputation, and it shows. You watch the game tape, and he shows up every week. It’s not something you can ignore and say that he’s just another guy out there. You have a ton of respect for him, and you’re aware of where he’s at on the field. I like our receivers. I think that we can challenge him, and still have an opportunity to make plays; but I have a lot of respect for him and the plays that he can make. It’s not just going out there and having no regard for where he’s at. You want to keep your eye on ‘21.’”
(Last week, you guys were down 24-0 in the second half. Keeping the run-pass balance is pretty much out the window at that point, right? You kind of have to pass. Does that stress the offense, or what does that do to the offense?) – “It definitely hurts. You don’t want to be in that situation, obviously down three-plus scores, depending on the 2-point conversions. It’s not a situation you want to be in, obviously. It definitely stresses the offense; it stresses the offensive line. It lets their pass rush kind of tee off. It’s obviously a situation you don’t want to be in. (You want to) keep the game close, that way you’re not in that situation.”
(The effects of running the ball … Does it go as far as imposing your will on the other team? Does it work on the other team mentally? Does it boost you guys mentally?) – “I think it helps. I think it helps us with the rhythm of the game. It helps with the pass rush, it helps with the offensive line settling into the rhythm of the game. You get those guys moving upfront and it really juices those guys up. You break off a long run and you can feel the energy upfront with our offensive line feeling the energy and the momentum builds. It’s definitely a big part of what we want to do.”
(This team has been pretty good in the fourth quarter of games. Do you think it will be a good fourth quarter of the season?) – “Yes, of course. I think we have a lot of football left and right now we’re just focused on the Arizona Cardinals. You want to be in a situation where you’re playing meaningful games in December, and we’re here. We didn’t put ourselves in the best position, but we’re in a good position. We still have meaningful games so we want to go out and take advantage of our opportunities.
(You throw the ball into small openings all the time. Is there a sense that the window is narrowing a little bit? The margin for error is decreasing as you get down to the wire?) – “Usually teams play their best football in December. That’s just the way it is. I talk about it all the time: You want to improve everyday every week and other teams are doing that as well. The best football should be played in December, so everyone has to raise their game just a little bit.”
(I feel like a while ago in 2013, you guys had a shot at the end of the season to get into the playoffs and you obviously fell short. What did you learn from that?) – “You just have to take it one game at a time. You can’t look at the end and think about all the scenarios. Control what you can control, play one game at a time and if you do that, you have nothing to look back and say, ‘I wish I would’ve done this; I wish I would’ve done that.’ You leave it all out there every single week and you can live with that.”
(Why do you have confidence that it’ll be different this time around?) – “I have belief in this team. I think we have all the pieces that we need. It’s just a matter of going out and playing well, starting this Sunday.”
(What was your view on T Branden Albert and G Laremy Tunsil playing through injury and pain?) – “A ton of respect for those guys. I think it’s a tough sport, tough game, and guys have the opportunities to either play tough and play through pain or try to sit out an extra week until they’re healthy. Both those guys really stepped up big, especially ‘B.A.’ (Branden Albert) coming off a surgery. He wanted to be out there so bad. Talking with him, it was really important for him to be out there. (I have a) ton of a respect (for him) and I’m glad he was with us.”
(How are you feeling as Week 13’s go?) – “I feel good. Obviously, it’s Week 13, so you’re not fresh. But, I feel good.”
(What have you come to appreciate on how you and Head Coach Adam Gase work together through a game that doesn’t go the way you want it to? Whether it’s after the fact or even on the sideline during a game?) – “You just appreciate his mindset of just keep fighting and keep trying to plug away and find a way to get into the game. I think we came out in the second half and we were moving the ball there, and had the opportunity to get ourselves back in the game. I turned the ball over and obviously it came to an end; but we had things going in the right way. It starts with him – that mindset he sets in the locker room of halftime and how he comes out and calls the game on the first drive.”
(What about during the week then when you guys move on and kind of digest or process some the issues but then kind of spin it forward? How does he sort of set the tone or what do you appreciate about the way he kind of leads you through that?) – “Yes, he does a great job of taking a real look at what happened. What did we not do well? What can we correct? And then you have to move on. You have to get ready for the next one. It doesn’t matter what you did last week. It’s a one week league – a one week at a time league. And it’s all about preparing for the next one.”
(Overall, about Head Coach Adam Gase’s teaching ability, what stands out to you?) – “Just his ability to teach play by play, route by route. He really communicates what he’s trying to do with a play. I think it helps guys understand not just their job in the play, but the overall concept. When you have guys understanding the concept, understanding football, it really helps us work as a unit.”
(Is there anything he did in particular to earn your trust at the beginning of your guys’ working relationship together, like either when he first met you or through OTAs? Anything in specific stand out to you?) – “Yes, his work ethic. I think that’s one thing that stood out for me. It’s just the way he came in and worked from Day 1. You kind of lead by example in that way and earn respect in that way, that he’s going to come in and work hard and try to put us in the best position to win. So that was the thing that I think got me.”
