As rookie camp got underway all the talk as expected was surrounding 1^st round draft pick Ryan Tannehill.

The big question with Tannehill is, will be ready to start game 1.

Per Rotoworld.com Coach Philbin has previously said he'd let the "best man win," and he's sticking to that approach. "The difference is going to be the decision-making, the accuracy, the playmaking ability," Philbin insisted.

While Tannehill is obviously the rookie with the least experience compared to Moore and Garrard, he also is the QB who knows this offense the best. Tannehill has been quoted as saying as much as 80-85 % of the playbook is familiar to him and similar to his offense at Texas A&M.

Tannehill also has the advantage of having a relationship with offensive coordinator Mike Sherman. Tannehill also has an advantage being the most athletic of the group. Not to mention the front office and coaching staff will most likely be getting fan pressure for Tannehill to start, however that will obviously not effect their decision.

Flacco, Dalton and other young rookie QB started from day one, so why not Tannehill.

Tannehill will have opportunity to fight for the starting job, the question is will he win it.

The Miami Dolphins took a step in 2012 with the openning of minicamp. 

Those in attendence saw Ryan Tannehill throw his first passes as a Miami Dolphin. 

Both Omar Kelly and Armando Salguero were impressed by Tannehill's ability and command of the offense.

In fact, Tannehill wowed even Jeff Darlington, former beat writer for the Miami Herald who now covers the NFL for NFL.com.

As the rest of the Dolphins took the field, no one could help but notice Tannehill leading the team during today's session.

Before we all get ahead of ourselves though, Tannehill has a lot to learn and throwing against a defense in a camp setting is not exactly a glowing endorsement, but it is a sign of optimism and intrigue that as Dolfans we want the league to notice that we uncovered a gem of the two other quarterbacks taken in the top 10.

Other question marks after today's session are the additions by Jeff Ireland in Jonathan Martin and Michael Egnew. 

Clearly, Jonathan Martin at right tackle could serve the Dolphins quite well.

With Egnew, the Dolphins get a very athletic and sure-handed tight end. 

On the defensive side of the ball, fans are wondering what kind of impact Olivier Vernon will have on the defense and what position he'll play. 

The Dolphins have a long way to go. 

Both Joe Philbin and Mike Sherman are responsible for getting this team going in a positive direction.

As Dolfans, the more reps we see Tannehill take this spring, the more we will wonder if it is all part of the master plan to make Tannehill the starter as soon as possible.

Afterall, Tannehill is running the same offense and believes he knows 80% of the new playbook.

Only time will tell.

Go Dolphins!

When I was just a young lad, my parents taught me a very important lesson, which is “patience is a virtue”.

That saying is something that Dolphins fans should get very familiar with.  While I believe this year’s draft was a successful, it must be reflected on in two different ways. In terms of immediate benefit to the 2012 NFL season I wouldn’t bank on much.

The Dolphins are hoping that Tannehill will mature and grow into their franchise QB that but that could take time and mean spending this upcoming season with a clipboard in hand. The Dolphins 2^nd round draft pick was a 1^st round talent in offensive tackle from Standford John Martin.

Martin hopefully will provide stability to the offensive line and offer a contingency plan should any complications arise with the Jake Long contract negotiations.

The Dolphins however failed to find playmakers at the Wide receiver early on in the draft leaving the possibility of an anemic offense in 2012/2013. The TE Egnew is a raw player who has a nice skill set meshed with good size however is not seen at the moment as a complete player. I think comparisons on JerMichael Finely are a little bit premature and it will take work from this coaching staff to help develop Egnew into a solid starter. Egnew also lacks strong blocking skills which will need to be developed.

The Dolphins got a pass rusher in a Oliver in the 3^rd round however I do not believe Oliver is a 3 down rusher and will be primarily used as a role player in the Dolphins hybrid defense. He fits a need, but I wouldn’t expect him to make a huge impact in 2012. Mike Mayock however loved the pick and saw Oliver as a potential 2^nd round talent.

The 4^th round selection of Lamar Miller might be the most interesting one. The local Miami boy was seen as a second round talent and maybe even the second best back coming into the draft and slid all the way to the Dolphins in the 4^th. While I love the pick because of Miller’s ability to run the ball and due to the scary feeling I had when watching Daniel Thomas last year. Reggie Bush also does have prior injury history as well as will probably be used as a WR throughout the year this year. The Miller pick leaves the Dolphins with a lot of depth at the position and hopefully a strong running game which will help when Ryan Tannehill hits the field.

While this wasn’t necessarily a sexy draft, I believe in 2013/2014 the Dolphins could see serious benefits. This draft will come down to one thing: Ryan Tannehill. Any draft where you find a franchise QB is a pretty dam good one.

Another note is that I like the Dolphins bringing in undrafted free agent WR Jeff Fuller from Texas A&M , it can’t hurt for Tannehill to have the familiarity of one of his former wide receivers in camp.

I think it is a little premature to give draft grades and we don’t know what will be of these players however I will say that this draft was very encouraging to me as a fan because finally after 13 years I can say we might have found ourselves a QB.  The obvious only major concern from this draft being that the Dolphins might have the weakest wide receiving core in the NFL. But hey, maybe there is something the Dolphins brass knows about Roberto Wallace that we don’t.

That being said have patience Dolphins fans, 2012/2013 might be a difficult season but it’s a process, Rome wasn’t built over night and neither will the Miami Dolphins been.

For those wondering, Mel Kiper gives the #Dolphins draft an overall C grade: B on needs, D+ on value.

Here’s to Ryan and Lauren Tannehill and here’s to the future of Miami Dolphins football, Fins Up !

While yesterday was a tad quiet with the exception of the Dolphins landing a QB in the first round with the selection of Ryan Tannehill; today marked some improvements to bolster the offensive line, initiate the ability to stretch the field with a pass-catching tight end and a pass rusher.

Tonight, GM Jeff Ireland added some pieces to help the Dolphins in 2012.

First the Dolphins selected 6'5", 310 pound Tackle Jonathan Martin.  Martin can play either Right Tackle or Left Tackle.  Martin is a perfect fit in a zone-blocking scheme and was Andrew Luck's RT in passing situations.  In all, Martin is a welcome addition to the Dolphins who do not have anyone ready to play RT other than Lydon Murtha and Artis Hicks.  Dolfans should be happy with this move since Columbo made a swinging gate out of the right side of the line giving up a high number of sacks.  Martin can start right away and should with guidance from Coach Joe Philbin, an o-line guru.  Some insiders believe that Martin could serve as a long-term insurance policy should Jake Long leave the team in 2013.

Next witht he 72nd pick, the Dolphins selected 6'2" , 260 Defensive End/Linebacker, Olivier Vernon from the University of Miami.  Vernon contributed to 89 tackles and 9 sacks in college having his career cut short due to suspensions resulting from NCAA violations.  Vernon projects out to be a 3-4 LB or a 4-3 End as a pass rusher.  Vernon undoubtedly could work as a linebacker and a pass rusher in the Dolphins hybrid 3-4/4-3.  Vernon being selected was somewhat of a surprise since the Dolphins still had other guys on their board based on various mock drafts and draft experts.  Vernon could fill the void of Jason Taylor or take over for Koa Misi should he continue to fall short in his career as a Dolphin. 

Finally ,in a trade down scenario gaining a 6th round pick from the Chargers, the Dolphins selected at #78 in the 3rd round: 6'3" 236 pound Tight End Michael Egnew of the University of Missouri, Columbia.  In reality, this is a good pick for the Dolphins brass.  Egnew is known as a seam threat and with his body control can stretch the field and make tough catches.  In all, he should push both Charles Clay and Anthony Fasano.

So, what's left tomorrow, the Dolphins have a 4th, 5th, 2 6th rounders, and a 7th rounder.  I can see Ireland moving the 7th and 6th rounders if there is a guy he really likes. 

The Dolphins should  get at least two WRs tomorrow.  I'd also be curious if the Dolphins were to go after another developmental QB to push out Moore or Garrard.  It is all possible.  Case Keenum anyone???

Please keep visiting PhinsPhocus.com for the latest on the 2012 draft and the 2012 undrafted free-agent frenzy starting on Monday

Hooray!  Most of Dolphin Nation is praising the utter joy of drafting a QB in round 1. 

Somewhere off in the distance, a certain teacher and Miami Dolphin fan was praising his students about the Dolphins pick as they walzed into the classroom before taking a nearly impossible vocabulary quiz.  The name Ryan Tannehill sprang off of his tongue as the students prepared for their quiz seeing their teacher in the best mood in awhile after a Dolphins draft.

"Who did they take?" They inquired...Ryan Tannehill! 

 Ryan Tannehill.  From Henne to Tanny…that is what is going on.

Let’s be frank, Dan Marino sounds like ages ago and were getting to the point where most of the guys playing in college now, never saw him play.  So are we really trying to fill his shoes?

In addition, I can see where the comparison might be with Marino, his throwing motion from his ear, but it ends with Ryan Tannehill's sheer ability to run out of the pocket and make plays!  As he said yesterday, he is his own player.  That’s it.  The comparison stops at him being a first round QB joining Marino and Griese. 

So, as a Dolfan my take is this…we don’t have another QB on the roster that has won a Super Bowl.  We don’t have a QB on the roster that has ever beat the New England Patriots.  Ryan Tannehill is really the move that the Dolphins brass had to make in order to move this team into the 21st century. 

The Dolphins got better today, but why do some media members like seeing the Dolphins flounder or criticize the regime?

Because the Dolphins need to win.  Winning with Tanny will look and feel better!

If you look at the Dolphins drafts of year’s past the common denominator has been Defense.  The Dolphins have rarely sprang for an offensive skills guy until the Ireland era. 

Ireland has now picked a stellar LT in Jake Long, a shut-down corner in Vontae Davis, a staunch Defensive end in Jared Odrick, a nasty center in Pouncey, and now a golden-boy QB with an arm in Ryan Tannehill.

The Miami Dolphins are going somewhere with this pick and optimism and joy reign true in the halls of that school where “said teacher” works at and throughout the world where Dolfans are representing everywhere!

It’s all about #17 baby!