The Tennessee Titans saw their season turn around entirely after a slow, 2-4 start when they swapped Marcus Mariota for Ryan Tannehill.
That move was made permanent in Week 7 of last year, and Tennessee hasn’t looked back since, signing Tannehill to a four-year extension valued at $118 million.
And there are four particular types of throws the team’s quarterback of the future made better than any other signal caller in the league in 2019, according to Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire, who used advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus to compile his list.
One throw is the three-step drop.
“Play-action was a crucial part of the Titans’ passing game when Tannehill took over for Marcus Mariota halfway through the 2019 season, but the quick game was another integral aspect,” he wrote. “And on three-step drops, Tannehill led the league with a 123.9 passer rating, completing 96 of 138 passes for 1,356 yards, 12 touchdowns, and two interceptions.”
Another is throwing from outside the pocket.
“Tannehill has always been an athletic mover, but in previous seasons, his GPS when throwing on the move was iffy at best,” Farrar wrote. “But in Arthur Smith’s offense, Tannehill was able to combine quick throws with play-action and rollouts to a highly effective end. He had a 134.7 passer rating on out-of-pocket throws, completing 24 of 39 passes for 391 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions.”
The former Miami Dolphin was listed as the best play-action passer as well.
“Comeback Player of the Year, indeed,” Farrar wrote. “Tannehill tops the bill in passer rating on three-step drops, throws outside the pocket, and play-action passes. Play-action was a huge part of Tannehill’s professional redemption in Tennessee, as he posted a 143.3 passer rating, completing 66 of 86 passes for 1,149 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions. If you’re completing 76.7% of your play-action passes and averaging a league-leading 13.4 yard per attempt… well, with the four-year, $118 million contract Tannehill signed in March to stay with the Titans, expect it to be the primary construct of his passing game.”
“Might as well close out with this guy again… and gosh, what a heroic picture,” he wrote. Tannehill led all NFL quarterbacks in 2019 with a 122.6 rating from a clean pocket, completing 194 passes in 266 attempts for 2,535 yards, 21 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. Yes, it’s easier to make plays from a clean pocket, but there are studies that indicate that performance without defensive pressure is actually one of the more accurate barometers of quarterback success.”
Tannehill was in some great company, as Drew Brees, Baker Mayfield, Russell Wilson, Daniel Jones, Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson, Jameis Winston and Patrick Mahomes also made the list under different categories.
Can Tannehill keep the momentum moving forward?
The 2019 season was the best of an otherwise inconsistent Tannehill career, and the Titans will need that to be much more than a fluke as they prepare to open the regular season on the road against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14.
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