I like Henne. I think it just goes to show the state of NFL QBs right now, there are some truly terrible guys starting right now. We can very very easily do much worse than Henne. I think at the end of this year and next we will definitely have a firmer picture of which of the younger QB group will be elite, which will be average and which will fall.
The best, and ONLY quarterback in the league who is suitable for Miami's style of play, is Chad Pennington. I would love to watch him pitch it to Marshall & Bess & for him to start the rest of the season.
If i could just pick a QB it would be Peyton Manning. But it don't work that way so lets keep putting Henne out there for now.
I'd like to see Thiggy on some Redzone situations. He's faster on foot and he'd throw the defense a wrinkle they wouldn't have prepared for. I think Thiggy and Henne both have their strong suits and they are different. To not use them both is a bad mistake.
You know I see a lot of Peyton Manning votes on here.....No way can you argue that the guy puts the ball on the money a high percentage of the time. What I do want to point out about Peyton though is the freedom he has that not many other QB's have. Living here in Indy and being forced to watch the colts every week you see some big big differences between the Peyton and Henne. The biggest weapon Peyton has isn't his accuracy and arm, its not his recievers or O-line. His weapon is walking up to the line of scrimmage EARLY, looking at what the defense is doing, and having the freedom to call his own play if he see's something he likes. Now I understand that this if Henne's first year starting and by no means do I or should anybody expect him to be able to do this right out of the gate. But, if we are going to see any kind of improvement in Henne, I think this is it. If we can let this guy go up and call a running play when the saftey way back to double Marshall or call that bomb when they are stacking the box. Now I know they have audibles, dont get me wrong, but its not quite the same thing. Your audible might be for a play to reciever X when reciever Y is the one being covered by the slow LB. I think this ability and this freedom from your O.C. is exactly what it really takes in this day and age to be "elite" This is what I want to see Henne be able to do, and be let to do.
Let's compare the maturation and development of Chad Henne vs. Aaron Rodgers. He was drafted in 2005 and got his first start in 2008. He sat on the bench for three years. Henne was drafted in 2008 and got his first start in 2009. One year and a few games. Aaron Rodgers didn't just pick up the football one day and started starring. He sat behind a deteriorating Brett Favre until his time came. Brett retired but when it was time for his yearly unretirement, the Pack said no thank you. Guess what, he was unproven at the time and the year before Brett lead the Pack to the NFC Championship game and lost only to the Super Bowl champion Giants. Says something about Mike McCarthy's belief in the maturation of a QB. Rodgers had been named the starter after NO real experience but McCarthy knew what pulling him for Favre would have meant to him mentally. Take Henne, he was supposed to follow basically the same course and this would have most likely been his first year of starting or maybe next year depending on Sparano's comfort level. Except that instead of planned retirement, an injury came in. Sparano made the decision, even knowing what Pennington had done in 2008, certainly less spectacular than Brett in 2007, that Henne was the best chance because of the development aspect. If Mike McCarthy can make that decision with Future HOF'er Brett Favre, why can't some of the fans make that decision with Chad Henne. Same with Phillip Rivers and Charlie Whitehurst. Those guys got their development time behind other starters. Henne's development period isn't even truly over. Next year would be the year under the previous plan that would make or break Henne's career in Miami. I'm gonna wait for next year. That said though, if it was straight up QB for QB with no injury threat, I'm taking Rodgers or Rivers only. I need to see Bradford and Freeman tested before I make a call on either of them.
Nice post Slowmo. Quality perspective. I think Bradford becomes the next elite in the lines of Manning, Brees, and Brady after they retire. IMO he'll have that rare Manning type ability to see the game & field like a grandmaster chess champion. Freeman seems very mature for a kid his age. Henne seems like the kind of guy who will enjoy taking charge of the offense at the line when he's ready...... and thrive at doing so.
Are you guys kidding me? Henne is just fine for our team. Has he had this awesome pro bowl season like a Peyton Manning or Phillip Rivers? Perhaps not, but take this into consideration. Alot of weight has been placed on Henne's shoulders. He's thrown 243 time already this season, that's an average of 34 passes per game. Compare that to the number of times we've rushed the ball, 200 rushes ("AVERAGE" of 28 per game) and an average 3.9 yards per rush. Henne's not getting any help from his rushing game. Henne has an 82.5 passer rating and a more impressive 63.4 completion percentage and has thrown only 7 interceptions this season and he's only been sacked 10 times. The overall problem as I see it based on the stats is the offensive line. The line's not pushing the line of scrimmage forward during rushing plays and opening holes for Ricky and Ronnie to get through. They also aren't giving Henne enough time to get the ball down field for the big plays to Marshall. This is evident by only having a 6.9 yards per completion average. Henne's fine guys. I'd take him over Favre, that's for sure.
One other challenge for Henne is having a true #1 WR. As a young QB, one would think he would go Marshall's way too much, forgetting about the others. I think we saw that early but, he adapted in spreading the ball around. That's not easy for a young guy with an All Pro WR.
While I tend to agree with 90% of this post, I'm not about to place blame solely on our well-above-average pass-blocking. He gets all day at times and to his credit does a fine job stepping up when he needs to. Henne's just playing a bit too conservative at the moment.
Agreed, our pass blocking has been VG in giving up only 10 sacks. Henne has helped in learing when to throw the ball away. I've seen that at least 5 times, where I think last year he would have been sacked. Henne has been allowed to advance past just managing a game. His next step will be the most important one, same as the team. Getting to be good in the NFL is no easy task but, taking it to the next level is much more difficult.
Oh man. When I'm in a foul mood sometimes I go back and read some of hopes and dreams some posters had on this board for John Beck. It always makes me chuckle. I had those same hopes and dreams, but they quickly passed when he proved several times he couldn't handle a snap...
Don't get me wrong guys, I'm not saying our offensive line isn't protecting Henne...they are, but the O-line isn't pushing the line of scrimmage on running plays. We're only averaging 3.9 yards a carry, so when we're looking at 3rd and 5 or more, there's no doubt we're passing and defenses have been bringing the heat...thus Henne having to check down, leading to his medicore 6.9 yards per pass. During the days of football's god, Dan the MF'ing Man Marino, I was ALL about the pass, but as I've grown and learned the game of football more and more, the run is key. If you can't RUN the ball...or if you don't stay COMMITTED to the run (which we've had happen too many times), play action does nothing to keep linebackers ande/or safeties honest and we can't get the big down field plays. A stat I've noticed the past couple of seasons. If we run the ball 25 times or more per game, we win. If we don't and Henne has to throw for 35 times or more (I believe it was 35), we lose.
Well, aside from obvious Pro Bowlers, no one. I think a Steve Young type would have been incredible for us with his accuracy and the huge added threat of running if they drop the defense into eight or nine man coverage. Henne with better decisions, touch and the threat o running. Damn. That would have killed our opponents. Henne may develop the decision making and touch, but he has feet of marble.
If i really would have to change Qb right now and can pick up someone it would be vick ,alot will disagree but hey we all have our choices.
This. I dont understand why so many on this forum dont understand that. Its quite ridiculous really. Is Henne the best QB in the league? No. Quite a ways from it, is he the best for this team? Absolutely. End of story. To think otherwise with the guys we have on the bench is ridiculous for the future of this team.
