Ryan Tannehill – November 30, 2016
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Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill
(Six wins in a row. How good is this team? Is that something maybe you’re wondering a little yourself?) – “We’re on the right track right now. We have to keep progressing, keep working, taking advantage of each and every day and keep working to get better. Obviously, (there is) still a lot of room to improve. (We are) doing some good things, but (there is) a lot of room to improve. If we keep doing that, we’ll be in a good spot.”
(What kind of potential do you see here?) – “I don’t know. Right now, (we are) taking it one game at a time and (have) a big one this week up in Baltimore.”
(You mentioned about improvement. The 1-4 start … Of course you want to win – not win every game after that – but are you surprised how the improvement has come rapidly the way it has?) – “I wouldn’t say I’m surprised, but I’m proud of the way the guys have banded together. Times were tough early on in this year; things weren’t going well. We really stuck together, kept pressing forward and came together as a team. We found a way to win in a bunch of games. This team knows how to win now. I feel like no matter what happens going forward, we can always try to find a way to win, because we’ve done it before.”
(We talked to Ravens WR Mike Wallace on the conference call today. He said he recalled his time here fondly, said he wishes the team could’ve made the playoffs. How do you recall his time here and your relationship with him?) – “Mike was good. He did some good things as a weapon down the field for us, got some big touchdowns for us. Especially his second year here, I think he really caught more touchdowns and made some bigger plays for us. (I have) good memories of Mike being here and wish him the best – except not this week, but other than this week.” (laughter)
(I think you guys had a conversation after the 2014 season. How did that go? I know that WR Mike Wallace was traded a couple of months after that or whatever, but how did that meeting go, and what do you recall from it?) – “We wanted to end it on a good note and wish each other the best moving forward. Obviously, this business is tough sometimes. People move on, and that’s obviously what happened. (I) wished him the best as he continued on his career.”
(Obviously, you guys might get some key pieces back along the offensive line potentially, but how big has it been for the offensive line and the run game to be able to have success on frontside and backside runs?) – “It’s huge. It takes all of them. You never know when one is going to cut back, or whether it’s an outside zone or inside zone. It takes all those guys working together as a team. Usually, it’s one guy that really has to crease the defense to give the running back a lane. It takes them all. I think no matter who has been in there the past month or two, we’ve found a way to have good, positive runs, and it has really had a positive impact on the game.”
(Nice to get T Branden Albert back out there? He’s all wrapped up. You can’t keep him off the field, can you?) – “’B.A.’ (Branden Albert) is a tough guy. He wants to be out there. He’s doing everything he can to get himself ready to play. You appreciate his toughness, his willingness to be out there, play through pain, play hurt. That example – that leadership – is huge for this team.”
(I know the mentality is, “Do what it takes to win,” but just from a pure enjoyment standpoint of a running role, is it fun for you? Some announcers will wince when it happens saying, “Oh my God, they’re putting their quarterback at risk even though Ryan does it well.” Is it fun for you? Are you always aware of being hit when you do scramble or zone reads?) – “I think it’s a weapon for us. I think it opens up some things in the run game. It keeps them accountable on the backside, (and) obviously, in the pass game, if I’m able to scramble and create yardage there. It keeps them honest up front when they have to stay in their run lanes and it keeps them accountable. It’s definitely a weapon for us. Obviously, you have to be smart and not put yourself in harm’s way too much and leave yourself out there for potential injury.”
(Does the threat of you running with the football actually open up passing windows as well?) – “I’m not sure. I don’t really know if that matters, but it keeps them accountable, so it could help with the play-action game.”
(How important is the game this week?) – “They’re all important. We’re getting into December football. It’s really crunch time across the NFL. Right now, you’ll see where the good teams can finish out strong and make a run into the postseason or fall to the wayside. We’re going to see what we’re about here in the next month or two.”
(Can you talk about the Ravens defense and what they bring to the table?) – “They’re a really good defense. You see a talented defense, tops in all types of categories. (I have) a ton of respect for what they do. They do a great job in the run game shedding blocks, getting to the ball carrier, swarming, tackling well. In the pass game, they rush the passer well. They do some exotic stuff to create pressure on the QB. They can get pressure (with a) four-man rush. They really have it all. It’s just a matter of what they want to do. They try to mix it up a lot. (I have a) ton of respect for what they do, and it’s going to be a challenge for us.”
(Statistically, this is probably the best stretch of your career. Nine touchdowns, one interception during these six games. How do you feel about the way you’ve played, and is this definitely the best stretch of your career you think?) – “I don’t know. I feel like I’m progressing, and that’s what I want to do right now is keep getting better, keep working every day in practice and putting our team in a situation to win.”
(What are you doing better – you personally, right now – do you think?) – “I think I’m really comfortable with what we’re doing in the offense, really kind of settled in. The offensive line has done a great job protecting, giving me time to make throws, and the receivers are getting open down the field. It takes all 11 guys to have success.”
(Do you allow yourself any time to feel proud of yourself – or not until the season ends – in terms of your growth?) – “No. I’m excited about the growth that has been there, but (I am) hungry to keep getting better.”
