What this organization could do to inspire my long term hope:

Thanks Ohio.
My opening post wasn't directed at Henne per se (although I'd like it to apply to him); I just want to see this organization dedicate themselves to developing one young QB within the next few years--- I mean really go all in on the guy, build an offense around his skill set, and display the patience to see it through to fruition or perish (just like Rex has done with Sanchez).

In Henne's 4th year with the team and 3rd as a starter, it presently "seems" like we're finally attempting it.

 

Thanks for the post Adam.
Sorry for any confusion; I wasn't referring to necessarily drafting a 1st round QB (2nd round Henne suffices.)

I was more referring to the past dozen years where fans have seen stop-gap after stop-gap, washed up vets & other team's discards whom we hoped to either squeeze an extra year or two out of or see them turn their careers around.

We took Henne in the 2nd round; it was commonly felt he had 1st round talent but might be drafted in the 2nd b/c he'd need a little more time to develop than a 1st round QB should suggest. IMO that 1st round talent should've been sufficient enough for us to make a more significant attempt to develop him and ensure a better opportunity for success.

Rex has publicly stood behind his QB since day 1; we've called ours out publicly. <just speaking out loud here> What kind of confidence does that instill in a QB, his teammates, fans, and the media?

We knew we had a strong armed QB who seemed better suited for a spacing offense to where he can properly utilize his cannon. Did we do that? Not in my eyes.

From 2008-2010
Wide Receiver: we drafted or signed nothing but possession guys (even Marshall is a possession receiver, albeit an elite one). Not a single receiver drafted with speed or playmaking ability despite an ABUNDANCE of them available. We even let Anthony Armstrong go.
Tight End: no attempt to draft a TE who's a threat in the passing game. Our highest drafted TE in 3 years was..... drum roll........ John Nalbone late in the 5th round. We couldn't even move up for a gritty playmaker like James Casey a few spots earlier who would've contributed a good deal last year.
Running Back: Highest drafted back was Jalen Parmele. No speedy COP/outlet back was drafted (and it's not like we didn't know Ricky was old or Ronnie was injury prone).

Finally, in the 4th year of this regime, we bring in that speedy playmaking WR not named Skinny Ginny; we draft a TE/Hback who poses match up problems and can stretch the defense; we sign a back who's a legit threat in the passing game and pick up a rookie FA (Grigsby) with speed and game-breaking potential....... and we did it all w/o using higher than a 4th round pick so it's not like we've been facing a daunting task here. This offseason is what Henne needed back in 2009 when we could've had them gelling & developingwith Chad rather than being rookies whom we hope can contribute during Henne's make or break year. Sorry for rambling on. lol.

 

Completely agree with everything, Alen.
I don't have a problem with a 2nd year starting QB being one of the many contributing problems to our 2010 woes, but I do have a problem with the coaching staff doing it. For a 2nd year starting QB, I expect him to make mistakes and lose some games when forced to carry his team on his shoulders despite no ground game, poor field position, crappy special teams, bad coaching, and a defense allowing too many big plays. Blaming a still-developing QB for a losing season amidst a plethora of garbage is nonsense and unrealistic.



IMO a 2nd year starting QB for this team should be measured by his ability to successfully manage an offense when the team is playing well and the QB is NOT forced to constantly carry the team's entire burden. Can he preserve wins while also directly contributing to a few wins on his own?

When this occurred (playing well as a team), Henne was good to great. I'm talking the first half of the year <when fans expressed frustration about not scoring more points> when Sparano openly stated that fans' beliefs were basically unjustified---- that Henne was doing what Sparano asked of him--> managing the offense without creating costly mistakes.

IMO Henne showed enough promise and improvement through his first 20 or so games to be able to ignore the 2nd half of 2010 when the entire offense fell apart (where no young QB would've done well). If Ryan, Flacco, and Freeman lose games when their team doesn't play well, then I wouldn't expect a different outcome here under worse circumstances.

 

Alen,

Regarding Sparano's desire for mistake-free QB play, maybe that's why Henne's vertical game struggled----> because Sparano/Henning were so on him early on about playing mistake-free and not costing us games that it caused Chad to think too much and overthrow passes.

Knowing Sparano, we both know it's possible it was emphasized to Henne, "If you're gonna throw deep and miss, make sure you miss long where a defender can't get to it". I know a lot of coaches say that during particular situations, but maybe this staff took a step farther and made it a routine philosophy. Outside of the Haden INT to Hartline (where Henne couldn't fully step into the throw), most of his deep passes were throws that missed long IIRC (which seems out of character for him IMO).

Perhaps the "mistake free" attitude instilled by this staff created a mindset to where Henne focused more on making sure the pass wasn't picked off than on completing it. I just get the feeling that for most of the season he wasn't afforded a clear mind to where he could wing it around w/o worrying excessively about the consequences.

Closing my eyes I imagine Sparano having Henne holding a calculator trying to figure out geometric equations involving trajectory, ball flight, wind resistance, and arm velocity right before throwing a pass.

 

Bingo!

 

Good stuff Dol Fan. I share the sentiments. Some fans call me a Henne lover (heck, I might even wear the crown), but I like to think of myself more as a Henne sympathizer (although I still believe he has top 10 potential).

I understand he's faced some unnecessary adversity as Dolphin that Ryan, Flacco, Freeman, Sanchez, and Bradford have not.... so that makes me want to stand up for the guy and pull for his success all the more, ya know.

 

So we need to take a guy like Eli in the first round to win a SB even though he's arguably no better of a QB than Henne after comparable points in their careers?

 

I agree.
I wouldn't be bothered by bringing in a guy like Orton IF Sparano made it clear to everyone that Henne currently has the job b/c of everything he's accomplished in the offseason, and it's his job to lose to said QB. 3 years with the team combined with a massive offseason dedication has earned that much in my eyes. It still doesn't mean he'd end up with the job, but at least it would display a vote of confidence to where fans, teammates, and the media might be more supportive and loyal.