Since entering the NFL back in 2012, no quarterback has been sacked or hit more than Ryan Tannehill. The Texas A&M recruit has been on the end of hit after punishing hit, never adjusting how he plays the position to limit the damage of another onrushing defensive linesman. The quality of his own offensive line has been inconsistent at best, downright awful at worst, but Tannehill continued to play with a ferocious bravery which was ultimately his downfall, suffering a season-ending injury last season – as well as going down sans contact during a practice session last week, suffering a partially torn ACL.
Immediately the question turned to who could possibly replace Tannehill. The 29-year-old has often been criticised for his play, unfairly so, and his coach Adam Gase has reiterated multiple times that he had the utmost faith in Tannehill. There are many misconceptions about Tannehill, not least his ability to throw the ball deep – despite being the third most accurate quarterback slugging the ball down the field last season. So it was going to be very difficult to replace Tannehill sufficiently, especially so late into the summer with free agency and the draft well in the rear-window.
The first player off of most people’s lips would have been Colin Kaepernick. The former San Francisco 49er’s situation has been well documented this off-season, and there’s no need to go into that any further. He would have been the best footballing option and a very talented player to work under Gase’s system, but the politics involved and Kaepernick seemingly being black-balled by the NFL ownership across the league almost instantly rules him out. As much as fans and neutrals see Kaepernick as the best possible replacement for Tannehill, the powers-that-be that rule the league with iron fists make it an impossible option for coaches and general managers.
There would have been the temptation to coax Tony Romo out of retirement. The 37-year-old hung up his boots at the end of last season after losing his starting role to the phenomenal rookie Dak Prescott, venturing into the commentary booth, but he is still an undoubtedly talented player that would have majorly softened the blow of losing Tannehill. This suggestion never got off the ground, however, and the former Cowboy seems pleased with life in retirement and a future on television.
The final options was to turn to Matt Moore, a perennial backup who did ok in Tannehill’s absence last year – but is a limited quarterback that is not good enough to push teams to victory.
Instead, the Dolphins chose to un-retire Jay Cutler, previously of the Chicago Bears for eight seasons having been drafted and then traded by the Denver Broncos after three seasons. Like Romo, Cutler retired after the 2016 season – injuries curtailing him to just five games in which he was a part of just one win – with a move to the broadcast booth in mind. The allure of a cushy role up in the stands seemed less appealing when Adam Gase, a previous offensive coordinator for Cutler during the 2015 season – which just happened to be the best season of Cutler’s career in terms of QB rating – gave him the call to come play in sunny Miami.
The fact that Cutler and Gase are familiar with each other is a major bonus when it comes to uniting a previously-retired quarterback and a new team. Gase will put Cutler in a position to succeed, but at this point of his career – does Cutler still have what it takes to propel Miami back into the play-offs, on the back of a 10-6 season?
If you consider if the Dolphins are better off with Cutler in tow, they probably are if he can play to the maximum of his ability, which dwindled from season to season. If Gase can get similar production out of Cutler that saw him knife through the league in 2015, the $10million they invested in Cutler would be entirely worth it. He was less prone to mistakes under Gase – a 2.3% interception rate the best of his career – but must now operate behind a weak offensive line with inconsistent pass catchers in Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker. Miami’s most reliable receiver, Jarvis Landry, has faced allegations of domestic abuse this week.
What will help Cutler is Miami’s penchant to running the ball. Jay Ajayi, the English-born running back, was superb last season and took a mighty load of Tannehill. He will be expected to tote the ball again this year in aim to surpassing his 1,272 yards and eight touchdowns from last year. A strong running game will take focus off Cutler, and allow him time and patience to throw the ball. If Ajayi fails to replicate his 2016 season the Dolphins have no adequate option capable of performing to that level.
At his opening press conference, Cutler joked that because he plays quarterback, he doesn’t have to be in “that great of cardiovascular shape”. There’s numerous examples of players defying their body in the NFL, Peyton Manning to name just one, but not many would have faced the onslaught that Tannehill has been on the end of in previous years. Similar pressure on the QB this year and Miami seriously risk going back to the drawing board at quarterback, because Cutler’s body has never been the most rock-steady.
Cutler is a decent short-term option – but whether he can truly improve Miami or be an adequate replacement for Tannehill remains to be seen. If his body stays intact and he can pick up where he left off in Gase’s system in Chicago, it will be a shrewd move from the Dolphins. If he plays like his age – like a retired player who’s focus had turned away from playing the game – then the Dolphins risk losing their play-off status, or losing him entirely to injury.
For Cutler, he gets to play another year of football and lodge a $10million cheque to his bank account. He gets to link up with his most successful offensive coach, in a team capable of running to the playoffs. There’s little downside for Cutler’s venture, extending his playing career in the sunny south east of America.
The Cutler Show arrives into Miami to much anticipation, but picking him out of the retirement home may not be the answer Dolphins fans need.
