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Adam Gase, Ryan Tannehill safe despite slow start

By Walter Villa, The Sports Xchange
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) sits on the ground after getting sacked in the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on September 18, 2016. Photo by Matthew Healey/ UPI
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) sits on the ground after getting sacked in the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on September 18, 2016. Photo by Matthew Healey/ UPI | License Photo

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- When a team is losing, the scapegoat is usually the coach or the quarterback ... or both.

But with the Miami Dolphins (1-4), first-year coach Adam Gase seems secure, at least for this season, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill isn't in any danger of losing his job, either -- no matter how poorly he plays.

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Tannehill completed just 12-of-18 passes for 191 yards and no touchdowns and was intercepted twice in Sunday's 30-17 loss to the 2-4 Tennessee Titans.

"No," Gase said when asked if he thought at any time about benching Tannehill, who was also sacked six times. "You can ask me that 100 times, but Ryan's going to be our quarterback the rest of the season."

The Dolphins, whose only win this season came at home in overtime against the lowly Cleveland Browns, entered Sunday averaging just 17.8 points, which ranked 28th in the 32-team NFL.

That offense was even worse than that on Sunday considering that one of their two touchdowns came on a 74-yard punt return by rookie Jakeem Grant.

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Miami produced just eight first downs on Sunday. The Dolphins punted six times and had the two Tannehill turnovers.

"It was a tough day," Tannehill said. "All-around, we have to do better. Every man has to be better, starting with me."

To be fair, the Dolphins were without seven injured starters on Sunday, including four on offense: running back Arian Foster (hamstring); left tackle Branden Albert (ankle); left guard Laremy Tunsil (ankle) and tight end Jordan Cameron (concussion).

Tannehill's three primary weapons were all shut down: wide receivers Jarvis Landry (three catches, 28 yards), DeVante Parker (two catches, 70 yards) and Kenny Stills (zero catches).

It's no wonder that Dolphins fans left for the exits halfway through the fourth quarter.

But before many of them bolted, a "We Want Moore" chant went up in which fans were asking for Tannehill to be benched in favor of backup Matt Moore.

That's not going to happen, but Tannehill's postgame comments came off as delusional, at least if he thinks this is an easy fix.

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"It's nothing drastic," Tannehill said. "We just have to come to work. Every man has to control the things he can control. All it takes is one week, and we will be headed in the right direction."

All-righty then.

Meanwhile, the New England Patriots lead the Dolphins by three games in the AFC East, and even a wild-card playoff berth seems like a pipe dream.

Amazingly, Tannehill responded to a question about progress by saying yes, he felt the Dolphins have moved forward when looking "at the big picture."

As for the fans, Tannehill said he wasn't bothered.

"They don't affect the way I play," he said. "(Gase) has confidence in me. I have confidence in myself. And I know (my teammates) have confidence in me."

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