Dolphins QB in waiting Chad Henne getting anxious?

Henne is going to have to learn to wait his turn, but this kind of competitive attitude is great to see in our young QB!

 

Personally, I think it ought to be an open competition in camp. Henne, if he can outperform Pennington in practices, and preseason games, can bring another dynamic to the passing game.

This is nothing against Pennington and how he did for us last year. But if Henne is better, they should play him.

 

If we could just attach Henne's arms onto Penny's body.

 

Camp should always be an open competition in my opinion. Every player should earn his spot on the roster every year.

 

Henne will get his opportunities. Right now he is in a great position. He is learning valuable lessons playing behind Penny and while he is in waiting the offense as a unit is coming together. Therefore when he gets the nod, he won't have to do too much during those first starts. He will have more then enough talent around him so he won't have to bear the brunt of making the offense go. Much like when Ben was pressed into service in PIttsburgh, the offense was stout, all he was asked to do was manage the team while he got some experience. Hey he was able to win a Super Bowl by playing this role. In time he has become the central leader of the offense.

I hope Henne will walk a like path, including a couple of SBs in his first few years once he is the starter. Bringing him along slow and steady is not a bad thing. While it may be frustrating for him, he has to know he was drafted to be our starter. His time will come.

 

While I love the idea of the open competition as it will make both players that much better, Penny still has attributes that Henne doesn't. Mainly his experience which proved to be vital last season as a young offense was just starting to be bolted together.

Yes, on a skill level, they should compete, as I am sure they will. But unless he SO far outplays Penny to a point that just can't be ignored, Penny's experience has to tip the scales his way. At least for one more season.

 

I think the title exagerates his anxiety, but I wouldnt want a QB who didnt want to start after sitting out a year. You have to realize that for these guys it is the first time they havent reall "played" a season of football since they started ecspecially Henne who played as a freshman, Im sure it is a tough thing to do.

I would be open to a competition because why not? If Henne outperforms Chad that will mean he is the beast we all "hope" he is.

 

Even better

Would be if we could insert Penny's years of experience into Henne's head.

 

Its got to be hard for a 4 year starter with Henne's attitude to not become anxious. He should get an opportunity this year based on Penny's injury record. It's a good Qb situation for us for a change.

 

Remeber too that not only does he learn from Chad P. but Chad P. gets him and beck involved off the field as much as possible including running film breakdown sessions. I think that in itself will develop him so much further and hopefully make him feel less anxious and occupied before his turn comes up.

There is a lot more to being an NFL qb other than playing on the field. Our backup qb actually gets to be hands on with a lot of it and should feel comfortable with the other aspects of being a starting qb by the time his chance comes. When it does come all he has to do is concentrate on the field development and he'll already feel comfortable with the off field items.

As many say, patience is virtue.

 

Nice point Tiki. I truely believe the FO see Chad P. as a way to manage a low risk type of offense that can slowly build confidence while they manage to put the talent and other pieces together.

Once they feel strongly about the rest of the team's ability and confidence, insert rookie qb with more phyiscal traits and rely that the team can overcome his initial shortcommings. I also believe Chad P. is fully aware and supportive of this. The guy will be a coach to some capacity in the next few years. So nice to have a qb now who is so unselfish as CHad Pennington has been.

 

Iam a big Henne fan, AND i'am well aware of Chads Pennington's weaknesses, but lets reflect for a moment, Pennington took a 1 and 15 team and turned them into a 11 and 5 division champion {nfl history}, all while showing up at training camp a month prior to the season opener...should i repeat that?because that my friends means something.

Iam excited for what Chad P can do with a whole offseason to prepare himself and his troops, OTA'S start in a few weeks ya'll. Imagine the chemistry, the rhythm, the bretheren thats going to be built this offseason. I was one of chads biggest critics before the wildcat was installed, this new offense caters perfectly to his strengths, and as long as we continue to be everevolving, unpredictable, multi diverse with our personell and formation packages, i think he will shine, this is a smart offense and he is a smart cat man.

Iam one of the few that is totally happy with our skill position players 1 thru 8, all i wanted for the offense this offseason was the strengthening of the Oline, which i believe has happened, combine that with the return of smiley and Thomas the Train {like that} Iam ready to roll..

Check this out guys...Its not out of the realm that this draft will be 90 percent defense, i could make an arguement that the top 5 will be all defense, except one and his name is Pat white. I mean think about it, unless were going for a #1 receiver with #25, where else does an offensive player fit it...We just signed grove to play center, carey and long our fixtures, thomas and smiley sure up the guards, we now have depth as well. so unless were Eyeballin hakeem, heyward bey, Britt or a possible trade for anquan {warner fiasco has me thinking} then i see us going something like 2 linebackers, 2 corners, and a nose,throw Pat White in their for firepower and BAM!! you got your 2009 Draft.

Now if henne gets a little to impatient, then like i have suggested before, open your mind, open your playbook, create the 'henne package' and lets get that boys gun on the field. Use it as a weapon, {an unexpected 2 minute drill at any time during the game} then create the pat white package, and that my brothers and sisters would be the ultimate in totally progressive multi dimensional offense.

 

That was not a competitive attitude, at least from the words. Competitive is "yeah he's the starter but I'm going to go out there and compete and try my best and we'll see what happens"

"I would assume" and "but who knows" and "we'll see" does not sound like a competitor. Period.

 

It's a good thing that Henne is anxious and wants to start.
If he was content as the backup. that would be a problem.

 

I agree that the title of the article exaggerates his level of anxiety.

That said, its good he's got the fire, unlike Matt Cassell, who has repeatedly shown no desire to be "the man".

I'm a Pennington lover, but a Dolphin lover first and foremost. If Henne can beat out Penny in training camp, let him have the starting job.

 

That would be one crazy quarterback.

I hope Henne sticks it out and waits his turn because he will be very important to us when that day comes. It could be this year or it could be 2 years from now but we'll need him.

 

Yeah, I agree: you WANT your QB in waiting to be chomping at the bits and confident.

 

I love what Pennington did for us this year, but theres no doubt in my mind theres a few small things about him that hold us back a bit that Henne could probably take the offense one step further. That being said, its tough to replace Pennington after the season he had for us this year. However, I don't see any reason why we shouldnt have Henne and Pennington playing for the job in camp this year. Who knows, Henne having spent a year learning the NFL life, and learning offenses, and how to read defenses from one of the leagues brightest QB's could lead to Henne being just as good, if not better than Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco were. The only way to find out is to let him go out there and compete for the job. Its clear he wants that opportunity, so why not give it to him. Im not saying give henne the job, just give both guys the opportunity to compete for it, and earn it.

 

If Henne was coming out this year, do you guys think he'd be a first round pick? Possibly even compete with Stafford? I know its a little off topic, just thinking aloud.

 

You got it backwards IMO, put Penny's brain into Henne's body.

 

I agree that Pennington played outstanding for the Dolphins last season. But I believe that Pennington, though efficient, limited our offense. Ted Ginn will never realize his full potential as long as we have a guy in there who lacks the gun to get him the ball. A lot of grief has been laid on Ginn for lack of production, and while I'm not sold on Ginn as a #1 receiver, he was drafted for his big play potential - stretching the field. We can't realistically do that with a guy who struggles to throw the ball over 35 yards. Ginn would be a much better receiver with a QB who could get him the ball deep and we'd be a bigger scoring threat because of it.
Don't mistake this as a knock on Pennington. I realize what he did for our team last season and I really appreciate it. But, to be fair, if Henne outplays him - out performs him - and earns the right to start, would it be fair to the team NOT to start him just because of what Pennington did last season? While Pennington is a very efficient QB within his limitations, Henne could POTENTIALLY give us a whole new dynamic to the passing game because of his arm strength. I am totally against giving someone a job based on past performance, team record, etc. Keep in mind that we played games that we should have handled easily but struggled to score points. Our inability to run the ball effectively consistently last year can be pinned equally on the fact that teams KNEW we couldn't hit them deep as much as ineffective line play. A QB who could stretch the field would certainly take pressure off of our offensive line and help to open the running game better for us, and as I said before, we could then see the full potential of what Ginn brings this offense.

All that said, I won't be disappointed if Pennington is our starter. He is a great leader and class act who really took our offense and made it, at least, respectable. I'm just a firm believer that the better man should get the nod, regardless. If Henne earns it, would it be fair to sit him? And what kind of message would that send? If you want to take the next step on offense, and Henne provides that next step, you have to take it.

As you can see, there are a lot of IFs in there. So it really doesn't matter at this point. But I'd like to see the best QB under center for us next year - the one who can move the offense better and gives us the best opportunity to score points.

 

Yes he may of limited our offense in some aspects, but he also thrived in others, its a matter of taking the bad with the good and projecting hiow far the good can take us, iam all about finding out what this cerebral qb can do with a full offseason in this particular offense

 

Wow. Maybe I'm reading too much into your post, but was that 'Period' really necessary? I don't even get the point you are trying to make. Henne is obviously stating things carefully so as not to make waves in the locker room. If you view that as not being a competitor then I guess you're welcome to your opinion, but I don't think too many people will agree with you.

 

I think JD is referring to some who are calling him a great competitor for simply talking and saying what hes supposed to say...maybe.

 

All of you going on about Pennington limiting the offense must have selectively erased the 2000-2007 seasons from your memories. I remember when people were happy that our QB only threw one pick in a game. We have the runner up for league MVP behind center but he was "limiting the offense." I guess everybody can't be Peyton Manning, I'm pretty happy with what we got. The offense was better with Pennington than it would have been with anybody else that Miami could have had. Henne included. He'll get his shot soon.

 

He played great but he his arm did limit our offense in some ways. There were certain routes that we almost never saw all season that were routine for many other teams.

 

There were also many interceptions that we almost never saw that were routine for many other teams.

 

i cant wait to see him at ginn playing together

 

Poor John Beck, he is the epitome of the "Completely Forgotten Man". Who knows, this all may light a real fire in his heart, and he may surprise a lot of guys, including Parcells, Ireland and Sparano.

 

We ran a limited offense then too. The only difference is that Pennington is much smarter and runs it far better than our previous quarterbacks. With him in there are far few turnovers as well but anyone who watches the Dolphins play and then watches other games can see the difference in the passing game.

 

You mean other teams like the Saints? They ran one hell of a passing offense. It was beautiful to watch. They finished 8-8 and we finished 11-5. I know part of that had to do with the Saints defense, but another part had to do with turnovers.

So my question to you and every other person who claims Pennington limited, rather than helped our offense is do you think adding a few more post routes would have won us more games than tying the record for fewest turnovers in a season? IMO, not a chance.

All this discussion about Pennington "limiting" our offense also ignores his clutch performances in the 4th quarter. It's much more important to make first down throws in the 4th quarter with the game on the line that it is to complete a 70 yard bomb in the middle of the game and lose it in the end.

 

With Chad P's injury history don't be surprised if he misses a couple games this year. So we hve a good shot of seeing what Henne can do this year.

 

no competition this year. with what penny did for this team last year, and not just his production, hes owed that.

 

What is he supposed to say?
He won't flat out start campaigning for the starting job if he knows whats good for him.
And of course hw won't be like "Oh yeah, I love being the backup! Sideline, best seats in the house baby!"

Common.

 

I never said that he didn't help our team. He did. All I'm saying is that there were certain offensive plays that we couldn't run that others do because of his arm strength. That's all I'm saying.