Interesting article (and fuel for the anti-Henne fire)

Oh sure, and let's say Justin Verlander has to throw over to first base to hold the runner, so he leaves the mound, and at fifteen feet away from the first basemen he uncorks a 100 mph throw, first basemen is supposed to catch it, right?

 

It is not about "fault" this game is over, on to the next one, who gives you the best chance to win the ballgame with those facts staring back at you?

 

talk to friends around the league about where you can potentially work as an OC next year?

the answer is not #10 or #16, imo

they have not developed henne imo. either he cannot be developed or they have done a bad job. its hard to say which. its hard to say when any QB that starts for andy reid or bill B can play lights out

i dont know what can be done mid-season

 

The coaches need to look in a mirror...... they're no better than the mediocre team this over hyped regime has built

Sparano or Henning either one know what direction they're heading with this offense and have traded the run first philosophy for an air show. The passing game was supposed to complement the running game...... not replace it for the most part.

And therein lies the problem...

 

Every single person on this board would have been happy with 4-4 considering our schedule. You don't bench your starting QB, your YOUNG starting QB after a 4-4 start with a buzzsaw schedule. You are engaging in gossipy crap.

 

BS

He never calls for anything, the ball hits him right in the hands and makes no effort whatsoever to hang onto the ball

 

I don't think comparing that one bad game of Pennington to Henne is apples to apples. Our offense in that game was completely dominated. Our offensive line was manned by Satele, Ndukwe and Alleman, and their defense was coached by Rex Ryan at the time. Our WRs were Ginn, Bess, and Camarillio. We have a much better supporting cast for Henne now, and we had the same results. I'm not calling for Pennington to start, but I don't want there to be comparisons drawn between the two games when there was so much difference between the teams.

 

with this I end My opinion On henne..
AFTER this season (before it ends We will know if hes the guy or not)

 

Absolutely 100%.

Those screaming for Pennington are ignoring the clear weaknesses he brings to the table himself, the immense step backwards in timeline to developing the future success of this franchise and the fact that developing a young QB takes time and always includes a bumpy road along the way.

If anything they need to man up and quit coddling Henne.
Quit preaching the caution mantra and let him sink or swim on his abilities and instincts.

I still fully believe this coaching staff is creating the same stigma that Wanny did. Fear of going all out for success.

 

I don't know if Pennington's got it. His head is still perfect, but I'm not sure if his body is up to it. He floated some passes in preseason that King Laserface himself couldn't float.

 

I think its more a reaction to the feeling we don't think Henne is the answer. Personally I think Henne has an 8 game audition coming up. He needs to throw at least 12 TD's in that span and less than 6 INT's to show me he has a future as the Dolphins franchise QB.

 

This is a scary, but unfortunately seems to be closer to the truth than fiction. They are way too conservative to win big in this league and it affects every aspect of the team. They seem afraid of losing, but in fact that is what happens too often when they play that way.

 

I have been beating this drum more loudly than anyone for the past four weeks, but you know what? I'm starting to think the staff HAS to play this way because Henne isn;t ready to be off his leash.

I see Henne making big mistakes and looking bad when the pressure is on him to close the deal with a goalline pass, a two-minute drill to win the game, or simply airing it out into the teeth of a defense that expects a pass because we are way behind.

Sometimes Henne does well in these situations, but more often he misses open receivers, places the ball poorly, make the wrong type of throw (velocity/arc) or throws a pic. It's weird but it's happening.

He is not ready to carry the load of a passing offense and win CONSISTENTLY against quality opposition.

He is a .500 QB at best right now and our record reflects it. His QBR has decreased as we've place more on his shoulders and plate. He is almost back down to the mid-70's level he was at LAST year. And this is with a year more experience and Brandon Marshall.

So, yeah, I think whenever the coaches try to give Henne more free rein to be aggressive Henne lets them down. Either with INTs, or no TDs, or just tons of checkdowns.

I think blame has to go 60-40 here, with 60% being on Henne himself.

He is developing, but slowly. And it's painful to watch. And, worse, we have no guarantee he'll get over enough of his problems to become a reliable top-tier starting QB for us. Average, yes. Top tier, starting to doubt it.

 

I just think Dan Henning and Chad Henne are a poor match for one another.

 

IMO its not just a Henne problem. He's part of the problem, but not all of it.

Running game
They are trying to be a ball control offense but they're abandoning the running game even when its doing well. And the running game has only been working part of the time. Early in the year, RW was running soft, then he was running much better. Brown started off strong and then disappeared until yesterday. All along the running calls have been predictable. The problems here have been both the players and the coaching. And that's without even getting into the OL.

Play calling
In addition to the predictable run calls, the play calling has been questionable at times, especially when we cross mid-field. That seems to be the spot where Henning likes to gamble, but too many have been poor gambles.

Not using play makers
The offense lacks play makers. That's where Moss could have helped. We are designed to be a ball control offense, but you need space for that unless your running game is awesome. Ours hasn't been. Hartline continues to show flashes and he should since he's always single covered. But the coaches are going to have to loosen the reins and and encourage some chunk yardage attempts. Part of that's on Henne of course. I would love to see some of the fire that he reportedly has be more evident on the field. I think Henning may have to occasionally risk a few more receivers out and use a bit less max protect. Not often, but he's going to have to pick his spots. I'd also like to Brown as the receiving back more often. I know he that inexcusable drop yesterday, but odds are that he'll make that play more often than not. He should be that late release option when we don't max protect as often.

Defense
Despite getting out-coached yesterday, I think Nolan has been very good. He's put players in position to make plays often enough. I wonder how much better our record would be if we had drafted Earl Thomas. Clemons has been decent, but not great. While Thomas has 4 INTs and is on most everybody's mid-season pro bowl list. I haven't seen any stats on this, but it seems that our DBs have had an inordinately high number of INT opportunities that they have failed to capitalize on. I know Henning likes to claim that people blame the OC when the offense doesn't execute and the players when the defense fails, but in our case, I think its accurate. It appears to me that Nolan has done a better job of putting the defense in position to succeed than Henning has with the offense. I should also mention the pass rush. Outside of Wake, who has been everything we could hope for, the rest of the pass rush has been spotty.

Overall
I'd say our team has shown itself to be good but not great. Part of that is on the players, but much is on the coaches. This is a product of the design and the philosophy. We have passed on players that have the potential to be great for more players with the
potential to be good. And philosophically, there has been an emphasis on being safe over taking risks. That's always a balance and its easy to criticize, but there have certainly been a few occasions where we might have been served better with a little less emphasis towards the safe side.

 

The thing that strikes me is that Chad Henne was not a checkdown guy at Michigan. He was an aggressive QB. He hardly ever threw to the backs and tight ends.

I just think maybe Henning and Henne are a poor match for one another and so you've got abberant production. I don't think Chad Henne jives with the "touchdown-checkdown" approach. Maybe Chad Pennington does but Chad Henne is not Chad Pennington.

 

That said, his mental 'personality' seems similar to Michigan Henne in one way: he seems to make very programmed 'correct' decisions for awhile, then just make a brainfart decision. lol.

He has been consistent in that inconcistency.

 

I can live with that RR as I really do believe this will be a great defense for a long time, and I am willing to wait for that, what my problem is centers around Henne being waaay over valued, he isn't a good Qb RR.

I'd prefer the Staff accept that, and commit to running the ball, rather than handing Henne the ball and trying to let him win the game, he has been unable to get the job done consistently.

I also think if Nolan Carroll stays healthy, he will be a special Returner.

 

He certainly seemed more confident and decisive in his throws. A sense of attack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uygjoeTs9rw


Could also be Sparano constantly berating him and critiquing him with little encouragement. I mean, first clip I ever saw of their interaction at the first training camp Sparano asks Chad how he's doin', Chad answers and Sparano says "That's kinda a stoopid answer." Imagine what he hears when he makes actual football mistakes.

Not sure this kid's confidence has been built by the 'style' of coaching either. I think he doubts himself more than he used to. It's apparent. I see him notice an open receiver and not trust what he sees. not trust himself to just sling it. He waits and makes TRIPLE sure he sees an open guy. I think he's been yelled at so many times for mistakes that he's now afraid to make them, intead of thinking about what good result will happen when he throws he worries about avoiding the BAD result.

Kinda like a coaching staff playing to not lose. lol.

 

He looks totally different in that clip. Making calls at the line...getting rid of the ball the moment he reaches the back of his drop...not scanning forever...

I really do think the coaching has him scared sh!tless to make a mistake.

 

Someone mentioned Vince Young in another thread, and it reminded me of something.

Vince Young was NOT playing great football at one point in college... then Mack Brown went to him and said, kid just play the way YOU play, forget about all the systems and stuff we're trying to make you worry about.

After that Young brought him a national championship.


Sometimes a QB can have TOO much to 'worry about' and they lose their instinctive feel for the game, their looseness and their swagger out there. Along with it, they actually can make MORE mistakes.

Not sure this coaching staff's mentality will bring the best out of Henne.

Here's what I think will happen.

This staff will indoctrinate ALL the fundamentals into Henne. Teach him to be technically great....

Then Sparano will get canned after next season.

A new Head coach and staff will see a different Henne in their first training camp. In a system where he can relax and not be so worried about playing perfect football, he will flourish. ALL the development our staff is doing now will pay off under a new regime that let's Henne "stop worrying about the dance steps and just DANCE".

Thing is, he NEEDS this indoctrination right now to cut it at the NFL level.

He is not ready for the reins to come off yet.

But when they do, I think he'll be ready. And that'll be when Sparano leaves, sadly.

Just my guess.


[alternate possiibilities: Sparano loosens up and Henne flourishes... which is unlikely, or Henne is dumped along with Sparano after next year]

 

I have to agree with you based on how I read him. I think our coaches have gotten inside his head in the same manner that a nagging, controlling, overbearing girlfriend (or boyfriend- I'm not one to judge) can get in your head..... to where you're self-conscious about every decision you make. Am I doing this right? Am I not doing it right? Will I get crucified for this decision? "Screw squeezing the ball downfield when I can complete a high percentage dump off and not get yelled at for turning the ball over" Etc etc (the f#@%ing horn in practice is a dead give away.... someone needs to take a damn sledge hammer to that thing!!.... Let Henne and Marshall do it!!)

 

That's nearly the same epiphany I had. I honestly don't know what Sparano and Henning are trying to get out of Henne. Do they want him to be a game manager like Pennington, score 23 points a game and rely on the defense?

If so, they're doing a ****ty job of helping him out with the run game.

Personally, I think they're walking a fine line of trying to develop Henne AND trying to win games. Pick one. Either let him go out and play his way, or completely put him on lockdown by running the ball 35 times a game.

The funny thing is we'll probably win the same amount of games. So I say unleash the kid, let him make mistakes and learn from them so he has confidence going into next year. No more of this coddling. We aren't a Super Bowl team this year anyhow.

Someone mentioned Wanny in this thread, and sadly I see a lot of similarities with this coaching staff. Just mediocre enough every year to keep his job, thereby setting the franchise back for years to come.

 

Based on what I saw of Henne in college, I'm not ready to say that he isn't capable of playing a more attacking style. I agree that it may be the coaches that are holding him back.

If we start over then this team will obviously be set back for a few years. That is a guaranteed back step with no guarantee that we'll be better than we are now in two years. IMO we are better off either taking the reins of Henne a bit now and seeing if he's or even continuing the same slow plan and hope that he's ready in a year or two than we are by scrapping the whole thing now and going with a new coach and new QB.

 

Einstein said the definiton of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Let's try something new the 2nd half of this season , who knows , maybe we learn something and actually have someting on which to build.

Henne has more than enough starts doing it that way , ca we at least TRY to dictate some on offense?

 

Personally I don't think it helps at all that his "mentor", is Chadley Checkdown

 

Well, I mostly agree. Chad WAS trending towards a mid 80s QBR statistically until this week and that was on pace for a second year starter's development. That's the stat test.

In terms of the eyeball test, he has shown me weekly-improvement with touch passes, looking off safeties, going through progressions, better pocket awareness.

The issue is, right now he improves in one area, then regresses backwards in the other area again (see yesterday). Overall he still seems unsure of what he's looking at and hesitant to throw the ball at times.

We defintiely have a lot more to lose than to gain by benching him at this point, and I think that's what it comes down to. We may lose this season if he struggles, but we may lose any hope of a franchise QB ready to start before 2012/2013 if we dump Henne during his development and start from scratch.

I want to see how his trends look as he faces average defenses, not the best defenses in the NFL. Even great starters have bad days against these guys.


Tom Brady posted a 69 QBR against them just a couple weeks ago. I wouldn't advocate benching him either.

 

True, but Tom Brady has consistently had great (not good, great) games for years against all sorts of competition. He's earned his. Henne hasn't proven anything.

 

I think the design of this passing attack, the route they favor and the progressions, the protections, etc...it's constructed on the basis of calling 20 to 25 passes in a game. It's not meant for 40 passes in a game. It's too easy to figure out, too exposed to the simple mistakes of a receiver.

This is not the passing offense that fits Chad Henne's skill set. Nor one that fits the Dolphins lack of consistent running attack.

 

You've made some good points, but Marshall was the one who ran straight up the DBs back and got tangled up. That ball was very catchable.

 

True, which is why we are nervous.

So while the game is not enough to prove he's good, we can;t say for certain it's proof he's bad... yet.

 

What do you think the ideal offense would be for Henne?

 

You want to see the passing offense that fits Chad Henne. Watch the second half of the Jets game.....watch him fire the ball in rythym over and over.

And, Im tellin ya...I may be making to big a deal out of such a little thing...BUT YOU COULD SEE IT ON HIS FACE. It was the first and only time I have ever seen that look on our young QB's face. It was the "Im the ****, look" and you cannot stop me.

It was the Im having some fun now.....let f'n rock look.

He CAN do it. If the coaches would only figure out a way to let him just go....

Why did our playcalling change when we had to go 98 yards against the Steelers? 20 yard chunk after 20 yard chunk....

I think you have a first time coach not wanting to make mistakes...an old coggery OC who has already said his dream offense is 28 straight running plays...and keep your young QB from killing us...and you have the makings for a good QB being forced into a cautious mode where he is afraid to use what got him there.

Thats the difference between Shula and Sparano. Shula saw what he had in Marino and let hell fire rain down opposing defenses. Now Im not saying Sparano should do that, or doing so will happen with Henne....but damn....at some point in time....Sparano has to tell Henne, god blessed you with a cannon for an arm, and up until now, we wouldnt let you use it. Guess what kid.



CLICK>>>>>>>>>>>>CLICK>>>>>>>>>>>>>


BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!! Let it fly.

 

Why do people assume that benching Henne stunts his growth? That it means he isn't the QB of the future? You play the guy that gives you the best chance to win.

Vince Young was benched in favor of Kerry Collins. Titans had a great year with Collins and Young grew on the bench and now is doing well. Wasn't Phil Rivers benched in favor of Drew Brees? Brees in favor of Flutie? Etc. Etc.

Chad Henne isn't playing well. You don't throw him out there when you have a team capable of winning. Say what you want but if our QB makes a few more throws in the redzone, score a few more TDs, who knows?

We attack the immediate routes, middle of the field--who is best suited for that? The most accurate QB ever--Chad Pennington? I think Brandon Marshall will have more success with Pennington. I say that because Pennington will recognize those 1-on-1 chances and can place the ball where he needs to. Pennington is one of the most accurate passers in the redzone--in NFL history.

I remember a throw Pennington made to Marshall in the preseason. It was a floater but he put it in a spot where Marshall went up and got it. I think the back shoulder fades, the taking advantage of single coverage, and redzone issues would be fixed with Pennington.

I don't think it would hurt. Not with the evidence shown that benching young QBs doesn't hurt their maturation process as much as one would think.

 

Let it fly?

Look at Chad Henne's games where he throws for his most attempts then look at his corresponding INT numbers. Letting it fly is not a good idea. He needs the help of the running game and when it looked like we finally had it yesterday our OC went away from it.

 

Dan Henning should be benched.


Or better yet he should be shelved for good.

 

He's been on the winning side of multiple playoff games. The 08 Ravens game isn't his entire career.

 

Which begs the question: What gives? Does Henne and his inconsistent overly cautious play hit the road in favor of the next Chad Pennington and we trust that Sparano has the right approach but wrong player?...or....Does Sparano hit the road with his "don't make the big mistake approach" and we trust in the QB to flourish that has a different approach on how to win games?

I've never, in 16 years as a Dolphins fan, been this disheartened with the state of this franchise. Not because they lost another game, but because I've seen this "don't lose" mentality take over a team's psyche before and I didn't like that decade of pain much either. I see the end coming already because this play is unfolding almost line for line with THAT regime that will not be named. I have honestly lost hope in a different outcome and don't think I'll get it back unless this front office and coaching staff makes MAJOR changes to their philosophy. The sad part is that I really, really doubt that they'll make a paradigm shift in the middle of a season, and then it will be just another year of the same. We've drafted well....we had the strong arm young QB groomed for a year and a half under the tooteledge of one of the smartest QBs in the history of the game...we built the solid running game last two years...we invested heavily into and built a solid offensive line (even though we continue to play musical chairs)...we built a solid WR corps including one of the game's best playmakers...we built a young talented defensive corps and armed them with an attacking DC...all the stars were aligned....and yet the same result....inability to SEIZE victory and a propensity to find failure because of a systemic ailment of playing NOT....TO LOSE.....THE GAME. Same philosophy...different decade....sigh. Very disheartening.