If Pennington Struggles vs Pats could Henne start after the Bye?

One can only hope.. I think Sparano is ready to make the move.. Parcells just needs to sign off.. Sparano spoke earlier this week about Henne getting some time in games we were either winning big or losing big.. I don't think a peep of that gets mentioned unless the plan is to play Henne if Pennington continues to fail with his throws.

 

I said that last week after he got the TD. It wouldn't suprise me. But the question remains, is it a good move?

 

I'm a strong believer in throwing a QB in to the water to see if he sinks or swims. Super Bowl caliber QB's usually float to the surface and start swimming, even after taking a few hits. Peyton did it, Aikmen did it Marino did it, Cutler is starting to show signs of it, Big Ben won a Super Bowl. The list can go on and on.. Granted some QB's have a tough time, but most of those can't make it anywhere. These are grown men getting paid millions of dollars in a testosterone filled, violent game. I don't buy for a second that getting thrown the wolves can permanently destroy a QB's confidence. If anything the great ones come out with something to prove, and the scared ones that will never make it come out like Beck, fumbling every third snap. I think Henne has shown the poise and confidence to take the beating and come back for seconds.

 

Well everyone else on the team that has a bad game, gets demoted. Why should Pennington get special treatment?

For the record I think demoting someone after a bad game is a little crazy. Everyone has bad games and your better off having continuity. But fair is fair

 

Can we bench them if we lose this weekend?


Great point FinFan, I agree 100%

 

I was thinking the exact same thing. With Merriman out, it makes it a bit better, but still. Not exactly an ideal opponent to have your first career start against, as a rookie.

I think he can handle it though. Probably not as well as most would want. As long as he plays smart, and is responsible with the ball, even if we loose the game, its still a big win for us and for his development i think.

 

IF Pennington struggles against the Pats? What do you mean IF? He will struggle against the Pats, no question in my mind. The front seven are going to give our line fits. Its could be a long, long day for Pennie.

 

Absolutely and frankly, I think he will. I said in the Club Level that Henne would start at least by mid-season but after the bye sounds more accurate. I think that he adds a new dimension to this offense and opens up the door for guys like Ted Ginn to have some confidence.

Henne can make every throw and really impressed me in the Arizona game. Not just the throws but on the goal line, after he threw a decent pass to Ronnie Brown (which he dropped), he came back in the huddle and was telling everyone what to do. He was calling the play and then right before the snap, he was pointing out players and so forth. I think that Henne is very good in the pocket, he's very comfortable there, he knows when the pressure is coming and seems to have a overall good feel for the game. He can make all the throws with velocity and zip on them and he can take the hits but still deliver the ball which is key. He also has good confidence back there.

 

I like Henne too but it is too soon for him to start. He is not Beck old so no need to rush

Henne's pass to Brown was behind him.
Henne's pass to Wilford in the end zone was terrible

Let him learn a few more weeks

 

Can a brother get a gif request for hennes last drive so we can all study it and break it down..would be a great thread.

 

My opinion is absolutely not.

Our offensive line has to get their **** together first. Lets see if Chad continues to struggle when he is getting protection. If he is still terrible while getting time then we look at Henne.

I don't want our young QB getting the hell kicked out of him while Samson Satele is playing turnstyle for Brian Robinson. What is going to happen when we get into the meat of our schedule and start playing real defensive tackles?

 

As I've said before only if the staff is willing and ready to stick with him thru thick and thin. None of this Blah blah gives us a better chance to win BS after Henne is head guy! No waffling allowed.

 

This is too familiar from last year with Cameron/Beck...

The fans/press calling for Henne (Beck) to start, but Sparano (Cameron) isn't ready to start the rookie and he eventually caves...

 

Anything could happen,but i'm not sure putting a young QB in with this OL is something' i'd want to see.

 

Henna needs to start this year and play next year, But that's just IMO

 

Henne won't start until at least week 12, if it all, if the coaching staff has anything to say on the matter (i.e. if Pennington stays healthy). I want Henne to start because I think he gives the team the best chance to win; he can make throws downfield Pennington cannot. But I don't want Henne to get the snot kicked out of him on this stinky team. I'd rather the team waits until they get more talent @ the WR & TE positions. Let's get some good skill position players around Henne so that when he's ready to start he'll be in the best position to succeed.

I've never advocated wasting a season of effort but let's call a spade a spade and write off this season. Let's not risk damaging Henne to rescue a losing season.

 

If Penny is falling out of favor, imagine what the coaching staff thinks about the defense.

 

I'm not so sure it comes this early....I think it comes more likely if Pennington continues to struggle during that 5 of 6 games at home. The schedule should be easier, and he could start 2 games at home in a row.

 

I don't think Henne should start at all this season unless Pennington gets hurt. Pennington has started lots of games, and he gives us the best chance to win. I like putting Henne in at the end of a game to see him against other teams starters on D, but only if the game is already lost/won.

 

I think this year is different.

I think last year Cameron put in Beck just to please the media and fans even though he knew Beck wasn't ready.

I think this year Sparano wants to put in Henne because he thinks he's ready, but he and the rest of the Front Office believe it'd be way too soon to bench CP

 

I don't believe the change wil be because of a bad game or not...but more to alow the offensive coaches to be able to plan around some of the players strong points and to open up the OC's game plan due to his arm strengh which is limited due to Pennie's lack there-of

 

You also know the list of those who sunk was much larger right? You need to look at some of those temas where those players started. None of them were basically rebuilding like us.. They had some CORE members of the team inplace.

We have new players everywhere and holes all over. Henne would be better served EXACTLY like it is now. Let pennington take the beatings his carreer is winding down (and he was a JET!). let our team grow and have Henne come is and get spoon feed some game experience even if it's mop-up.. let him at least this year play backup...

Now if Pennington gets hurt thats a bit different and he goes in, and possible the last 3-4 games of the season for some exposure.. Next year he gets a chance to win the starting job... We get 2 widerecivers to compliment him and some defensive secondary and we might have an 8-8 team..

 

As much as I hate to start henne so soon. I believe its the right choice. If Penny continues to start, the opposing team game plan against us will be simple: stack the line and not worry about the deep pass. Ricky & Ronnie will most likely have a bad year and we will be influxed with Ricky sucks and Ronnie's a bust threads again.

With Henne, opposing team will have to factor Henne can make the deep throws and maybe just maybe our WR can actually show they belong in the NFL and stop looking like pop warner WR's. Ricky hopefully regains form and Ronnie does what he does best and runs like a champ. Hopefully, the line gels by the time henne starts.

 

I think it's too soon to start Henne. But I'm fine with starting CP and then benching him in the 2nd quarter if he's having a bad game and letting Henne take over. I have no problem benching CP every game and letting Henne come in as the bright young savior come to lead the faithful to the promised land. And maybe after Henne has won us a couple of games we could name him starter then. I think we are best served by letting Pennington take the heat and the blame for the horrible passing game and sneaking Henne in to get as much real practice time as possible.

 

i see your point, but you are forgetting these are human beings. Being athletic or having a talent of throwing the ball doesn't preclude you from having feelings & having confidence issues. As much as we talk about confidence around here, we seem to forget that it has to be built up over time. You don't just get it overnight, and much like trust, it can be lost in a single moment or game. The amount of money you get paid should not warrant or define a player's confidence level. It isn't just talent, it's also being brought up to speed to the NFL game. some players adjust faster than others, some never adjust. There are also a LOT of great quarterbacks who didn't start their rookie year. You seem to have only listed the ones convenient to your argument. Nevermind the fact those guys are in the minority when you're talking about QB success. More QBs have had success NOT starting as rookies than those that have. food for thought.

Pennington isn't playing "bad", he's just not making as many plays as he should. He isn't fumbling the ball, taking unnecessary sacks, or throwing crazy pick-sixes. He just isn't moving the team like he should, although i still maintain it is a complete team effort and that many parts of the team are failing pennington, not vice-versa.

a lot of you guys are also forgetting that we signed Pennington on August 9th... he's been here a month and a week. you think that's enough time to learn everything & form chemistry with the team? give him a chance... Henne had all offseason to form that chemistry. Pennington is still the better QB right now, even though he hasn't become comfortable in this offense yet.

some other food for thought. a lot of you are betting Henne's going to be good based on his preseason production.... well i might remind you that Beck had a better preseason last year. who saw his meltdown coming? that's my point. I'm all for Henne as QB of the future, but its just that - for the future.

If i am proven wrong and Henne comes in and blows everyone away and becomes the next Marino, Roethlisberger, Peyton, etc, i'll be happier than anyone else and i'll be the first to eat crow.... but history tells us that we should wait and follow proper grooming methods.

EDIT: as the poster above me said (which i agree with), i'm not against having Henne enter games when we've either pulled away with a lead or are so far behind its a loss.... i'm not against giving him real-time reps, just don't want him starting just yet.

 

I'm not disagreeing with your point, but both Indy and the Cowboys were rebuilding when Peyton and Aikmen got their starts. The Colts were coming of a few really bad seasons if memory serves.

 

you're correct about the Cowboys, but the Colts already had Harrison & Marshall Faulk when Manning was drafted... so they did have SOME quality already in there.

but the overall point is still there i guess.

 

I just love it when these articles come out and say " according to sources"... Exactly what sources ?? Tito the ballboy ?? Randy Mueller ?? Bill Parcells ?? I don't know, but this kind of journalism really concerns me...The source could have been a professor of English at Nova for all we know ???!!!???

 

haha, great point. i understand the reason for being clandestine about it... you don't want to reveal the sources if they might get in trouble or lose their ability to get information from said source.

its a wicked double-edged sword, for sure.

BUT, on the other hand, that's why these sites and columns are known as rumor-mills... that precludes them from having to cite any references

 

i see your point but isn't the whole idea of not starting a rookie qb too early all about unnecessary pressure? how do you think Henne would feel having to be the "bright young savior com(ing) to lead the faithful to the promised land" every game? if he comes into a game from behind every time he has not only the pressure to do well but to do better than he has to be to win a game.

i'd be okay with not playing henne at all, i'd be okay with starting henne, and I'd be okay with only bringing him in in the 4th quarter with a + or - 15 point game. but i do not think i'm okay with using a 2 qb system and using Henne as a fall back guy. Chances are he'd come into games, do fine, but not be able to make up ground, and then there'd be a ton of negative press about him losing games. not what he needs at all.

EDIT: and having CP play a quarter and Henne come in in the 2nd, would not lead to Pennington taking the heat and blame for a gorrible passing game, it would go on Henne, because thats how the media and the fans are.

 

actually it's the exact opposite. if we're down by 30 points, there is NO pressure on Henne b/c the game is already a "lost cause." that's when you have pressure-free football as a rookie really.

 

how the heck would be we down 30 points in the 2nd quarter?

 

I hope you were knocking on wood when you typed that. With this defense, anything is possible.

 

haha i know, i'm just sayin' is all