BREAKING NEWS: Sparano names Chad Pennington starting quarterback

If Pennington is ready to go and gives this team the best chance to win, he should play. I hope it’s the same at all positions. Let’s not lose sight of the 1 TD and 5 INT in the last 3 games. The team simply isn’t rallying around Henne at this point.

Henne will get another chance, probably sooner than later. Maybe a couple of weeks off will give him a chance to catch up.

 

Time will tell whether this was a good decision.

I will say this... even I was pumped listening to Pennington talk about creating sparks on the field and sticking dagger touchdowns on opposing teams.

I like Henne, but maybe we need a stronger leader in the huddle in the red zone when yards get tuffer.

Our receivers are much better than what Pennington had in the past with the Dolphins. From the pre-season game this year, we know he's not afraid of lobbing up a deep duck and letting Marshall go up for it.

Sunday will be interesting.

 

No way.....his contract is ridiculous, no way we take that on.

 

7 I think.

 

I'm not a Henne hater, but i have not seen nothing other than average play from him since he's been a starter. The way the league works its based of production and wins... Ive seen more production from Colt McCoy and Josh Freeman than Henne. Even Parcells was disappointed in the way Henne was developing. There is something that the coaches don't like about him and it shows because benching your starting quarterback at 4-4 is not common.

 

Tony has just made a decision that will potentially lead to his firing.

 

Yep. Nothing potential about it. Tony will not be here next season.

 

Dude, the violent reaction is not because people dislike Pennington. Its because we don't like that they are acting as though re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic would have made a difference. You don't make this move for the team, you do this to make sure you get at least 9 wins and save your job.

 

What a ****ing joke. REALLY? We're bailing on our young QB halfway through is first full season when he's proving to be adequate despite having a clown for an OC?

I HATE Rex Ryan but at least that guy had enough balls to stick by his rookie QB. I personally think Sanchez is over rated but I'd attribute his over production largely to his coach believing in him and making him feel like he's better than he is.

 

They still don't trust him to go out there and just *play*. Trust me on that one. They let him do it a few times last year and the results were disastrous. And not for nothing, it's a pretty easy decision to stick with him when your options are Kellen Clemens and Washed Up Brunnell.

 

What do you think of Sparano's decision BB?

 

If we beat the Titans with Pennington this week it was the right move.

I was expecting to lose. Will be a good test.

 

Just want to say that I have always been a Chad Pennington fan - even when he came up short in playoff games. He gave the Jets franchise everything he had and he is a class act. I find it very difficult to root against him and for that reason more than any other I hate this move.

Pennington is still a capable QB and he can do certain things better than Henne. But Henne can do certain things better than Pennington. I think it is up to the coaching staff to coach to the players strengths...something that I think they failed to do with Henne. Pennington will do well in this offense system. I just don't know if he is going to get it done against a big time defense like Pit or Bal. He never could in the past (sadly for me).

Anyway, good luck the rest of the way. If anything, I hope Penny stays healthy and can walk away from the game on his own terms, whenever that may be.

One last thing. Which game does Pennington win that Henne lost? Not the Jets game. I totally blame your defense. The Pats? No way is he winning that game either. The Steelers? Henne played great in that game and should have won it. Baltimore? They would have ate him for lunch. IMHO, I don't think your record would be any different had Penny started the entire year. To summarize, points given up in your losses: 31, 41, 23, 26.

 

ultimately the truth is always exposed on the playing field
my message for Pennington: do it; make it so; win the game

 

I've sort of answered this. It's a mixed bag. From a purely emotional fan standpoint, you are going to like it. It takes a real hardcore fan to bite the bullet and sacrifice a few wins for the long term development of a player. And let's face it....all fans have that blind faith that they can go on that magical run and win it all. I remember years when the Jets were 2-6 and I had visions of them winning out to finish 10-6. It's what makes us fans.

But from a pure emotionless football standpoint, I think it is a bad move. I'd only make this move if I thought my team had a real legitimate shot to win a championship with the QB switch. And Lord knows the Miami coaching staff and FO know their team WAY better than I. But I don't think they are a Pennington away from a championship and that being the case, I'd give Henne the full year to develop. There are a bunch of quality QB's that took a minimum of 2 years to become decent.

Lastly, I am a NY'er who is used to sacrificing the future to try an win now. Look at the Yankees. Look at the Jets....the Rangers....the Knicks. So I get it. I just hope you guys don't give Pennington a hard time if he comes up short. He really is a class guy and you know he didn't lobby for this move....but he will give you his all now that he has the shot.

 

maybe he can win comeback player again

 

My honest thoughts:

The problem with our offense has very little to do with Henne, and a lot more to do with Sparano and Henning. I was so excited for this season and how we brought in Marshall, but our offense is boring and so predictable. I would rather lose running a how powered offense, like the kind the Chargers run, than falling asleep watching boring football.

 

Every team's goal should be to win the SB. You guys WILL NOT win the SB with Chad Pennington at QB. Therefore, let Chad Hanne learn all he can this season and maybe, just maybe, his struggles is because of the coaching staff. Somehow, someway, he lights the scoreboard up on the Jets every single time.

To be honest, I hate when the Jets play the Dolphins because I know it will come down to one play or a drive. Now, I'm really not feeling the same way towards you guys. Chad Pennington is not the type of QB that can scare you.

 

All I will say is that I would rather face Pennington in NJ than Henne. Miami still might win with Pennington, but I feel better facing him. I think he is easier to defense that Henne (provided that Henne isn't shackled like he has been in some games this year).

 

Henne scares the living **** outta me out of that play-action they do. Pennington, not so much. The point is the Dolphins have had to play the Jets , Steelers, Pats, Ravens, Packers, Vikings. Those are not easy teams to play against. Chad Henne is 4-4 as a starter and you're already giving up?

I'm very happy we have to face Pennington in NY and not Henne.

 

Screwed ? Are we in any better shape now ?

 

Im a big fan of henn but he has all the weapons and were not making Td ,The Qb is the first to go in those situations.

I really hope we turn this around we should be making 2 to 3 td a game with the weapons we have.

 

I assume you are referring to the other Jets fan. I never said he didn't scare me. I just said I feel more comfortable with him as QB against the Jets in Dec than Henne. Last time I checked, Henne did pretty good in the first meeting.

 

You would rather have a one year wonder than a team that can compete for a long time, and possibly become considered a dynasty?

I'll take the dynasty over the one year wonder.

 

Having had a chance to let this sink in a bit, I've come to the conclusion this was inevitable. I say that because it's obvious (to me anyway) that this coaching staff does not believe Henne has the skill set to run the offense the way they want it run. I think they think Henne doesn't have the smarts to read and react like Penny. So, they dumbed it down for him, and limited what he could do with it. Results? We're 4-4.

So, now frustrated with where we are in the standings (and frankly more than a little concerned about their job security), they decide to change horses mid stream. Make no mistake, this is a gamble of epic proportions. If this doesn't work, if Penny's arm is shot, or if he's rusty to the point that we lose the next two or three games, and it's due to poor play at the QB position, then what? Do you go back to Henne? Moreover, can you go back to Henne?

I think Henne will be fine long term. I hope so anyway. Whereas I was initially concerned about how this might mess his head up, I think it may actually end up helping him long term. If nothing else, it just shows him how special it is to be a starting QB in the NFL. And, as such it should make him work twice as hard to get his job back, and keep it. So, from that perspective maybe I've answered my own question. Maybe you can go back to Henne if you need to. Well, as long as he's motivated.

All that said, this move just seems really desperate to me. Instead of trying to make Henne into something he's not, why didn't they try to tailor a offense more around him and his strengths? Why haven't they taken more deep shots down field? Why didn't they incorporate the run more into the game plan? It's almost as if they set him up for failure, then make him out to be the scapegoat. But, WTF do I know. These coaches see things in all these players every day. They must see things that the rest of us just aren't privy to. All I can do is hope they're right. 'Cause if they're not, we're screwed. Another lost season, and the search continues for a franchise QB. While one could sitting right in front of us.

 

That doesn't make sense though. You have Henning calling a game plan that plays to Pennington's strengths, not Henne's. So how will this prove anything other than, Henne is the problem?

There is was a thread here that had pictures and breakdowns of plays, stating that Henne was missing the open receivers. That thread was fantastic and there was a ton of great analysis and debate going on.

I would truly love to see that same type of thing done with footage from Henne in Michigan compared to Henne in Miami.

I know that is asking a ton; seeing as the time involved would be immense. I know I don't have that kind of time. I am just saying it would be great to see the difference, or if there "REALLY" is a difference.

Edit: Dear lord, I am not going to make it through this entire thread tonight. I want to though, I really do; because I know there are going to be another 20 pages by the time I get back. :P

 

Youre not missing anything, Boomer didn't even post a pile of poo.

 

Absolutely disgusted by this decision, and livid with the coaching staff...I respect the hell out of Penny for his leadership and smarts out on the field, but Henne has the talent and potential if given more time to grow...to bench him at this point is simply ridiculous, a clear desperation move...Henning obviously needs to go, and if Sparano ultimately made this decision, and it doesn't pan out for the team, which I don't believe it will, because Henne wasn't the key issue, then he needs to get his *** fired at the end of the season...period

 

That just begs the question then. Why was the offense set up that way when the QB you designated as the starter, at the start of the season, doesn't play to those strengths?

If you're going to build the offense around a QB that is nearing the end of his career, then start him, from the start. Otherwise you better start retooling for the QB that you are going to start and develop for his career.

 

It is an awful decision, no matter how it plays out. As far as Omar the writer goes, thats the worst piece of gossip I have ever heard. All I have to say is with all that talent on Offense, Henning should be RUN out of TOWN.

TONY, when you lose your job, PLEASE take Henning WITH YOU.

 

Thanks for taking less than 2 years worth of stats from a developing young player and turning into "it's all done it's over he's ****".

I guess they should have just shoot all the other QBs that took time to devolop and been done with it. They were, and still are, all worthless pieces of **** anyway.

 

Dink-dunk-dink

Dink-dunk-dink

Dun-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh- dink dink dink dink dink

 

I was watching the Dolphins game at a bar and sitting next to me was a Kansas City fan. The Kansas City fan asked me if Henne was the quarterback of the future for Miami.

I honestly couldn't answer him. He hasn't shown me enough to prove that he isn't, however he also hasn't shown me enough to prove that he is. He has some good qualities, however he has some horrible ones.

The thing that annoys me the most about Henne is his horrible pocket presence. It is like he is Stevie Wonder back there. A few of his sacks he actually moved in the pocket towards the defender who is being blocked. It is like he doesn't know when to step up and doesn't know when to step to the side. He turns a good block into a quarterback pressure way too many times.

Then there are the times when no one is near him and he throws the ball away. Miami is in max protect, there are 6 blockers and 4 people rushing and he throws the ball away in 3 seconds.

I still have some hope that this will be a turning point for Henne. Getting benched isn't the worst thing for a quarterback. If this shatters his confidence like people are saying then he should be cut now.

 

great post and I think the running game is the key with everything that has transpired. I think that the coaches realized that Henne needs a tremendous pocket to be effective. He simply doesnt have the wheels of an Aaron Rodgers or even a Matt Ryan so if you dont have a picture perfect pocket it becomes dicey with him back there. Because of this I think the thinking was to improve pass blocking up the middle which is what a lead footed QB needs. He can avoid a DE swinging by the outside but if a rush comes from the middle he's dead. Unfortunately by going with Berger, Incognito and McQuistan/Jerry we forfeited our run blocking for pass blocking and therefore our running game bogged down into a below average attack since our rushing attack is most effective inside the tackles. I think you see the running game starting to improve though so there is still hope in that area.

Unfortunately without a running game, victories and losses were almost all on Henne and he simply isnt ready to be the focal point of an attack. He plays too conservative always checking down rather than using his arm and attacking. People blame Hennning but its really Henne. The routes are there and the receivers are getting open but he's choosing the guy five yards down the field who is wide open vs the guy twenty yards down the field who only has a step. Guess who Peyton would choose? His problem really is cover 2. He is a split second slow in his reads and decision making and its costing us yards and completions.

Now unfortunately we have decided that if the game we're getting from Henne is going to be the dink and dunk, we might as well let Pennington run it since he's a master at dink and dunk and as weird as it sounds will probably attack vertically more than Henne on top of that.

Henne isnt done. He's made to much progress to be given up on. He is where you want a second year QB to be. Unfortunately the expectations for this team are ridiculously high every year and he had to be benched to please the owner and the fans who only care about wins

Next time Henne starts he needs to realize its his job to attack and to know when to take chances and when to play it safe

 

The decision was made because we believe we have a team to compete for the playoffs. That was made clear with the offseason acquisitions of Dansby & Marshall.

I think everyone hear knows my feelings on Pennington. As a Marshall University guy and a Dolphins fan, I couldn't be happier.

I really believe this offense is set for Chad Pennington. I think Brandon Marshall will only improve on his ability.

This decision doesn't mean the end for Chad Henne. As I posted, young QBs have been benched before and come back--Vince Young, Phil Rivers, Drew Brees, Steve Young, Matt Cassell, Kevin Kolb, to name a few and be productive. I don't think this is the end with Henne.

I think there is pressure on Sparano and Ireland to win now--that was made clear by Ross' statements earlier this year. Can you blame him for making a move that he feels is best for the team right now? This could be good for Henne down the line, because truth is, he hasn't been playing well lately. The offense hasn't been scoring TDs.

I think you'll see Henning be fired, retire at the end of the year and an offense better suited to fit Chad Henne.

I believe Chad Pennington will come in, seamlessly, and lead this team to the Playoffs. I really feel that way.

 

The worst part is Henne has faced 5 of the 8 (6)win teams..... and we've beaten all the average teams that we should've beaten. Now Penny gets to come in when we're on the easy half of our schedule. So if we go 6-2 over the final 8 games and make the playoffs, Sparano will get all the credit for making the switch and save his a$$ in the process. What a crock of $#!t.

We're a sloppy team right now, and a sloppy team is a result of sloppy coaching IMO. I've held my reservations about Sparano for a while now, but I really hope he's canned after this season...... with Henning's bags packed along with him.

 

The back half of that schedule doesn't look real easy.

 

its a cakewalk if we dont shoot ourselves in the foot

 

IMO this is a scared move by a coach who knows his playoff-expected team is falling apart everywhere and is hoping that an experienced veteran QB can pick up everyone's slack and carry an entire team b/c this isn't a weight that a 2nd year starting QB should have to carry. Sanchez, Flacco, and Ryan never had to do it.

If our team as a whole was playing like the Jets, Ravens, or Falcons, then there probably wouldn't be pressure to bring in a seasoned vet...... and we'd still be seeing Henne starting and going through his development.

Coaching, not Henne, is the reason we got here IMO, and now the coaches are scapegoating Henne and praying that Penny can save their a$$. I guess Sparano forgot that Penny is 0-4 in his last 4 starts with a QB rating under 75 and 1 legit TD to 6 INTs.

Every game Penny starts is a delayed game in Henne's development.