Especially when you consider Sanchez doesn't have a big arm. Throwing in the cold Meadowlands winds should be a challenge for him.
I think Henne has looked pretty damn good for a guy who has only started 2 games. He looks like a veteran out there.
For me, it's not his arm, rather his accuracy down the field that's always been an issue. I watched him in college and that's what stood out. Down the field, he's got some Donovan McNabb in him, he gets erratic and he'll start over throwing his wide receivers. I think it's something that he should work on and I think it's something that he will. One could say he's already made improvements in that aspect of the game because he's made some quality throws down the field this year but I still think he needs to work on it; get it consistent.
IMO.... Henne has greatly improved our screen game with the zip he puts on his short passes. His reads arent any better than Penny's were, but his ability to zip it in there quickly but at a catchable launch has really given us some nice screen plays since he took over. His rocket arm has also improved our passing game, showcased by the bomb to Ginn and the deep outs (especially vs the Jets in that final drive). Henne has the arm to scare opposition, and we havent had that for some time. I expect our WR's numbers in yards per catch and other big play stats to dramatically improve with him under center. So far Henne isn't making mistakes, and if he can continue that he'll do something I never felt sure he'd do, and that is make people forget how well Penny played for us last year. Henne is everything we want and need at QB right now.
Being groomed by Penny both on and off the field and forearmed with a modified Henning gameplan appears to have already paid dividends. He did a good job of game managing vs Buffalo and looked like an outright Marino-in-training against the Jets supposedly vaunted defense and their alleged "lockdown" corner. I like what I've seen so far and felt like with him under center if we stay close, we've got a shot at pulling most any game out. The delicious irony is that if the Jets weren't so myopic over Favre, it would be Penny on their sidelines grooming Sanchez instead of him looking like the scared and morose overly-hyped 16 game underclassman which he was. Of course having Schottenheimer modifying the offensive plan also did SexyMexy no favor so that's a double whammy!
i just read this entire thread and it looks like quite a few people should be eating crow right now. So far Henne is everything i wanted him to be. If we can beat the saints, this case is closed! Of course this will lie on our defense's shoulders, but henne must keep up with bree's to give us a chance. I'm very happy with Henne right now. its just a matter of time before Henne and Ginn perfect thier timing. That's when Henne will be dropping bombs like hiroshima!
I think that for the first time since Marino we "could" have a franchise QB. At the very least he is going to be very good (I am hoping).
It should have been started the day after we lost to the Ravens in the playoffs....because IMO that's when Henne should have been named starter for the 2009 season.
I agree. We "could" actually have OUR qb. It's possible that it doesn't work out...noone knows at this point. But, he has had a great start;that definitely should give us some hope. In that Jets game, his play in that final drive was just awesome. Of the past 12 QB's we had before him...not one could make all three of those throws (especially in a pressure situation like that). Maybe one could throw deep, but they couldn't hit that throw on the move. Maybe one had a strong arm, but couldn't make that touch pass to Camarillo. Maybe one was accurate, but couldn't get the ball down the field...and so on. This is what impressed me. That combination of throws is one that most "average" quarterbacks could only dream of making consistently. Maybe it was a one-game wonder??? If he can continue to play like that, then the sky's the limit.
As I have said in everyother thread about our Mr. Henne, just where is my slice of humble pie? He has shown growth in every game he's played in and there is nothing more I could ask of him than that, that he is winning is just iceing on the cake. BTW as was stated in another thread even Tuna had started to question Chad's progression. Of course maybe Chad felt that he didn't need to turn it up until he was truly the starter. If the last two games are any gauge of Henne's value as our starter then "Look out World!"
What's impressed me aside from his accurate passes, his arm and all those things, is he doesn't have the happy feet you always see with young QB's. I really liked how Henne stood tall and strong in the pocket. My goodness did he ever have an awesome game against a confusing shifty defense like the jets. He handled it better than anyone could have ever dreamed. It was surreal how calm, collected and poised he looked.
Just like any player Henne has to do it more than once. His having one great game doesn't change everything he's shown previous to that. The fact is that he had all day to throw and didn't have to make any really quick decisions under pressure. Prior to last game I'd seen no ability to feel the rush, no ability to make the quick read, and so on. Those are things you have to do more than once to get rid of the concerns on.
IMHO, this game is going to be huge for him. He will have had the bye week to prepare and the New Orleans defense is nothing to overlook. They are playing great right now. If our defense can make a couple of key stops or get a couple of turnovers, I think it will take the pressure off Henne. He could be great for us, but honestly only time will tell. We have had too many QB's who had a "great" game and then fizzled out. I really don't think he will, but I am trying to temper my enthusiasm a little right now.
Henne will do just fine: 1) The guy has been an eight year varsity starter throughout HS & College 2) Came out of Michigan which has an excellent developmental record for QB's 3) Studied a year & a half under one of the best QB's in the NFL: Pennington 4) Has only known success/knows how to win games. He is the IceMan 5) Week three @ the helm should reveal a much improved report with the offense & especially the WR's. He is on the fast track. 6) He has the NFL arm that we haven't seen since Marino. Can make it happen: bomb, butter or bullet. There is simply nothing not to like about Chad Henne or his development as a Miami Dolphin. A special thanks goes out to the unselfish & great talent of Chad Pennington in his help in the schooling & preparation of the IceMan. Henne has been groomed to be & now is the Franchise QB.
would like to see a healthy Chad Pennington return as back-up & continue to mentor or become our qb coach
For selfish reasons I'd love to see the same thing. But I'd also be happy to see him play somewhere (other than a division rival of course). The guy is hands down a gamer, and just by the amount of time into it you can tell he truly loves the game. People like that should be allowed to play until they feel it's their time. I suppose thats why we have our yearly Favre drama. I hope CP has many more years in the NFL. If it's not with us, starting somewhere else would make me just as happy
I'm impressed with Henne's workman's attitude. He is not at all phased by the spotlight or being a pro QB. I hope he continues to do well and gets better every game. I think we can count on him to win a game or two.
Henne has looked damn good these last two games. But I hesitate to crown him just yet...I remember a few other QBs who looked very good in their first one or two games for us and then proceeded to fizzle out.
Nah we have a good QB coach right now and to be honest, I just think Pennington has served his purpose and is at the end of the line as far as his usefulness to the Miami Dolphins. And unlike a lot of others, I don't really feel we owe him anything other than our respect and gratitude for a job well done. That job was to be a stop gap QB while we groomed Henne.....it's not like Penny didn't get anything out of this opportunity himself. If he is done then he went out on a pretty good note. As far as I'm concerned, he stopped being much help to Henne at the end of last season. Because that's when Penny started being in the way more than anything else. I do wish him luck tho....he's a good man
in a perfect world I'd like Pennington to be our backup for the rest of his career, but i'm sure he wants to start somewhere, so i wish him luck!
No way that Henne fizzles out. Definitely not going to happen. This guy is going to be around for a while.
not about Pennington anymore, it's all about Henne the point I tried to drive home is that he has been instrumental in the development of Henne & would continue to help if he returned as a backup/mentor or coach I am not, nor have I ever been in favor of dead weight you sink or swim in the Miami Ocean on personal merit I simply think that Pennington still has value as a Dolphin in one capacity or another. the IceMan cometh... Henne
I agree with the above, what also should help his development and confidence is the investment made in the OL he had the kind of protection that a young QB needs and the kind of running game that's the envy of the NFL. With Penny we don't beat the Jets, no doubt and with Penny we'll never win the big one. It's time for Henne to shine.
have maintained all along: the Orca-5: Long-Smiley-Grove-Thomas-Carey were the key to our success, as they go so goes the season it all begins in the trenches As a result: the Tandem from Hell are the #1 running game in the NFL & the IceMan cometh... opening up the aerial assault GoFish!
I still cant believe this is true with all the flack Ronnie took over the last couple years. Reality seems so sweet now though!
I love him. He's started 2 games and I've seen everything you want in a franchise quarterback in him. Strong arm, tough, tremendous leadership qualities, smart, etc. I'm very excited about this team with Henne leading the offense.
Yeah, that has been my knock on him all along. He sure demonstrated poise vs. the NYJ. Its got to continue though.
Henne is very simply the Miami Dolphin Franchise QB we have searched for so desperately since Marino the IceMan cometh... Henne!
this is not an experiment or trial run Henne has been weighed & measured & found viable, then served an apprenticeship under one of the best the IceMan cometh... Henne!