Tennessee Titans: Ryan Tannehill Adjusting Well to His New Home With the Titans
Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill endured a lot of turnover over the offseason. He was traded away from the Dolphins and, thus, pretty quickly had to move his family from Miami to Nashville. He also went from being a starter, the role he'd had with the Dolphins since they drafted him in 2012, to being […]
Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill endured a lot of turnover over the offseason. He was traded away from the Dolphins and, thus, pretty quickly had to move his family from Miami to Nashville.
He also went from being a starter, the role he'd had with the Dolphins since they drafted him in 2012, to being a backup to Marcus Mariota. Yet, after all of the change, Tannehill is settling in well with the Titans.
"It’s wild," Tannehill said. "It’s a crazy business, especially when you see trades happen midseason. Guys changing teams and then being expected to play Week One. It’s a wild business, but it comes with the territory. Everyone kind of knows what we signed up for, and you never really know what’s going to happen. But you just roll with it and make the best of it."
A Family Affair
After almost every Training Camp practice, Tannehill is greeted by his wife, Lauren, and their two children. Tannehill's son, Steel, stood at his dad's left hip during the entirety of our interview.
Balancing family life and a demanding job in the NFL can no doubt be tough, especially when going through the amount of change that Tannehill has in the last few months. Nonetheless, he's adjusting well.
"It’s been good," Tannehill said. "The family came up with me right at the first of May, so we got to settle in a little bit during the spring. Went back to Florida for the summer, then they came back up here with me a couple of weeks ago for Training Camp. Got a place to live, finding our way around town, found the little man a school, so we’re settling in nicely."
New Group of Weapons
During his time with the Dolphins, Tannehill worked with a very diverse group of receivers. He threw to speedsters like Mike Wallace and Kenny Stills, bigger guys like Devante Parker, and the ever-nimble Jarvis Landry.
In Tennessee, Tannehill is already developing a relationship with his new pass catchers. He clearly already has some on-field chemistry with tight end Anthony Firkser, and he's made nice throws to receiver Taywan Taylor and plenty of others, as well.
"It’s a deep group," Tannehill said of the Titans' receivers. "We kind of saw it in the spring. I didn’t know what it was going to be like stepping into this team, wasn’t really familiar with the talent that this team has for wide receiver. Kind of stepping in, getting to know the guys and their skillsets, what they can bring to the table, I’m really excited about the group we have.
"We have a deep group, a group who can run, a group that works extremely hard day in and day out. I’ve yet to hear those guys complain, and we’re pushing those guys, making them run in and out of the huddle, downfield, multiple reps. Their conditioning level is high."
Settling in with Smith
Tannehill spent his last few years in Miami playing under head coach Adam Gase, an offensive play-caller who's highly respected around the league. Admittedly, Tannehill didn't know what to expect in his transition from Gase to Titans' offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who has never called an NFL play before.
"I wasn’t really sure what to expect," Tannehill said. "A friend, [former Titans and Dolphins tight end] Anthony Fasano, played under Arthur here at the tight end position and really loved him, so I knew he was a good dude and expected good things from him. As I stepped in and got to get to know him a little bit and how he’s going to run this offense and how he operates, it’s really been good.
He has no ego, he’s not a ‘my way or the highway’ type guy. There are obviously certain things that we want done a certain way, but he’s able to hear thoughts, hear suggestions, and talk through them and not just shoot them down. It’s been great to work with him. I think he’s done a great job so far of setting the tone of what we expect offensively."
Playing under Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, perhaps the most hands-on head coach in the NFL, is also a new experience for Tannehill.
"It’s fun," Tannehill said of playing under Vrabel. "I’ve never had a head coach do it. I’ve had some position coaches get in there and hold the pads and try to take on crack blocks and receivers, stuff like that, but I’ve never had a head coach do it. So, it’s definitely a different vibe. But I love the way he leads, he sets a great tone from the front of the room each and every day. He expects a lot out of us, he sets a high standard and holds us to it. I can’t say enough about the way he’s leading this program."
Clicking with Mariota
Tannehill has also enjoyed working with Marcus Mariota. Despite Tannehill's demotion of sorts, the two seem to be developing a good bond that will ultimately help the Titans.
"I love working with Marcus, Tannehill said. "He’s a great dude, first and foremost. Working with someone closely, you spend a lot of hours together. When they’re a good person at the heart of it, that makes it a lot easier to spend that much time together. He’s competitive, he’s a good quarterback, and I’ve enjoyed working with him so far."
"It's been great," Mariota said of his relationship with Tannehill. "Ryan's an unbelievable guy in and out of the building. I've gotten to meet some of his family, his son Steel, and for us, it's another guy who's had experience playing at the position. He kind of understands the ups and downs and kind of understand what's the expectation for you as a player. To have another guy in the room who supports you just means the world. I'm thankful he's here, he's going to continue to push the entire room in a better place."
"I mean, Ryan’s been great," Mike Vrabel said. "Ryan’s been supportive, he’s been productive, he’s made some really good throws, he's stood in the pocket. I’m glad he’s here."
The Titans probably hope that Tannehill doesn't have to play at all in 2019. But if he does, though, the team will be in much better hands than they've been with a backup quarterback in some time.
Cover image: Christopher Hanewinckel
