Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins are worse since Adam Gase was hired to fix them

The Miami Dolphins came into the 2016 season with a renewed sense of optimism. Adam Gase, a hotshot offensive coordinator who helped shepherd resurgent seasons from Peyton Manning and Jay Cutler, was named their head coach in January. It was believed he could be the missing link in fixing quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins’ offensive woes.

At his introductory press conference in January, Gase said that Tannehill “needs a guy that’s going to have his back; that he feels comfortable with right out the gate.

“And I’m going to be working directly with him. And then I am going to hire guys on the offensive staff to also help him develop. I feel like when we do put a staff together we are all going to be able to help him get a little bit better.”

But that plan hasn’t panned out so far this season. In fact, fans were chanting for backup Matt Moore after Tannehill threw two interceptions against the Tennessee Titans, a team that hasn’t put together a winning season since 2011.

Gase insists he’s sticking behind Tannehill. “He’s not coming out. You can ask me a hundred times. He’s going to be in there the rest of this season,” Gase told reporters.

At the same time, Gase is not happy at all with the team’s overall performance. “We’re inept right now,” he said.

There’s no reason to doubt him, either. Earlier this year he benched starting cornerback Byron Maxwell, and just this week he cut offensive tackles Billy Turner and Dallas Thomas after Tannehill was sacked six times.

Tannehill seems behind the moves Gase has implemented. “It sends a message to everyone on this team that, ‘You’ve got to get your job done, or we’re going to find somebody who can.’”

Protection issues haven’t helped — only the Indianapolis Colts have given up more sacks all year — but Tannehill still looks like he’s regressing.

“You have to be able to move and some of it is, you have to have time to move. If your eyes are downfield and you’re looking at 1 and you get hit from behind, it’s tough to move at that point. As a quarterback, as a guy who has the ability to move, I feel like I need to be able to escape the pocket some and get out of harm’s way.”

His 83.6 quarterback rating ranks 21st among starters in the league. He’s thrown just six touchdowns all season and is currently third in the league in interceptions with seven, turning the ball over four times in the last two games.

“When we start cleaning some things up and give him a chance to perform at the level I think he’s going to perform,” Gase said Monday, via the Miami Herald. “And if he doesn’t do it, that’s one thing. I need to see where we get a chance on protection.”

The Dolphins extended Tannehill’s contract last offseason, and while he’s earning over $11 million this year, he’s set to make $20 million next year, and around that amount until 2020. If he doesn’t show improvement, and soon, his days in Miami could be numbered.

The Dolphins’ offensive problems go beyond just Tannehill, however. Last year, they were in the bottom third in every major offensive category. This year, they’re even worse, including ranking just 29th in the league in total yards. The running game has been abysmal, too. It’s the second-worst in the NFL, down from 23rd last season.

The Dolphins are rushing for just 72.4 yards a game this season. The loss of running back Lamar Miller in the offseason may not have seemed like a big deal at the time, but he wouldn’t hurt them right about now. Both Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake have started while Arian Foster has been out due to injuries, but Ajayi’s 42-yard game against the Titans was the most any Dolphins running back has rushed for in a game this season. The team also released Isaiah Pead this week and expect Foster back soon, so they’re still looking for any kind of consistency there.

The offensive struggles have also likely had an effect on the defense. The Dolphins are last in the NFL in time of possession, with just 24:38 per game, due in part to how quickly the offense gets off the field. Miami is converting just 28.6 percent on third down, which ranks No. 31 in the league.

The run defense has been so ineffective that it’s last in the entire league. That’s especially concerning considering the talent they have on the defensive line. Ndamukong Suh, Mario Williams, and Cameron Wake seem like a strong anchor, but it hasn’t gone that way by any means.

Just like on the offensive side, the Dolphins have made moves defensively as well. Cornerback Chimdi Chekwa was re-signed this week after he spent training camp with the team before being cut. Defensive tackle Leon Orr was promoted from the practice squad.

The signing of Bene Benwikere following his release from the Carolina Panthers might be the greatest indication of the defense’s struggles. Benwikere gave up 228 of Julio Jones’ 300 yards in Week 4, according to Pro Football Focus. Benwikere was cut following that performance.

The 2016 season has gotten off to a downright awful start for the Dolphins. Their only win came in a Week 3 overtime game with the lowly Cleveland Browns. And while they showed a little life in a comeback effort against the New England Patriots in Week 2, they’re well on their way to their eighth straight season without a winning record.

The front office is desperate for a winning product after spending $500 million in renovations to their stadium. Miami made a coaching change with the idea that Gase would help the team get better, fast. Neither of those things are happening: The Dolphins are 1-4 and 21st in the league in attendance, averaging 64,800 fans a game.

In a city where there’s plenty to do and people can lose interest quickly, they surely want to keep the Dolphins relevant. That’s hard to do when the Dolphins aren’t being competitive year in and year out.

At minimum, it seems roster moves are an immediate plan of action. How those work out will be evident in the near future.

Sunday may not be fun for the Dolphins against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Safety Reshad Jones may be out, and with an already poor defense against the Steelers’ high-flying offense, things could get ugly if Jones is inactive. A Pro Bowler in 2015 and one of the lone bright spots on the team this season, he’s easily the highlight of their defensive backfield. His absence as the Dolphins go up against Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, arguably the league’s best receiver, is asking for trouble.

But the Dolphins’ slate of games after that could serve as a way for them to try to get things right. The Bills, Jets, Chargers, Rams, and 49ers are their next five opponents, and each one is a winnable game.

The playoffs are likely out of reach again, but if they can correct their shortcomings and prove they have the right personnel to get things back on track, all might not be lost for the Dolphins in 2016.