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Quarterback Analysis

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Vengeful Odin, Dec 9, 2007.

  1. Vengeful Odin

    Vengeful Odin Norse Mod

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    Most would argue that Quarterback is the single most important position on the field. The Miami Dolphins have struggled for the last 8 years to find a suitable replacement for Dan Marino. The names read like a "who's who" of crappy quarterbacking. Jay Fiedler, Ray Lucas, Brian Griese, A.J. Feeley, Sage Rosenfels, Gus Frerotte, Daunte Culpepper, Joey Harrington, Cleo Lemon, Trent Green, and now John Beck. That's 11 QBs in 8 years. It goes without saying this is obviously not the stability you hope for from your franchise position.

    That said, I thought I would break down the current status of the QBs on our team, Free Agents, and potential QBs available in the draft next April. Keep in mind I'm no an expert, these are only my opinions.

    Current Roster

    John Beck - Beck is sort of an unknown quantity, even at this point. In the limited action he has seen, he has done nothing spectacular. I haven't seen any glimmer of hope that he may develop into something. Compounding the fact is the fact that he is 26 - this year amounts to a redshirt year, so he will be coming into camp as a 27 year old rookie, essentially.

    Cleo Lemon
    - There's no denying Cleo has some skills, but he is maddingly inconsistent. In today's game we saw great touch on a deep ball, and then a pick that was completely overthrown. He makes too many mistakes and disappears for stretches.

    Trent Green - Trent needs to retire. I don't see the Dolphins coaching staff (or his family, for that matter) letting him back out on the football field.

    Potential Free Agents

    Rex Grossman - One knock on Rex is that you can rattle him if you hit him a few times. That, along with madding inconsistency, tells me that we can do better. He's got all the physical tools you look for, but I'm just not sure he's a gamer.

    Derek Anderson - I don't see Cleveland letting him get away. He has a tendency to force his throws, but overall I like him. I'm not sure how interested he would be in coming into our current QB situation.

    Quinn Gray - Haven't seen enough on him to really comment. I imagine he'll remain in Jacksonville as a backup.

    Daunte Culpepper - Didn't we try this one already? Next ...

    Ken Dorsey - Lacks the arm strength to get the ball down field. Probably the only person Chad Pennington can beat in a distance contest.

    Drew Henson - I haven't seen anything to suggest Henson has regained the form he once showed at Michigan. The window on his career seems to be closing fast.

    Josh McCown
    - Is serviceable when on the field of play, but can't stay out of the training room.

    Street Free Agents

    Aaron Brooks - I find it hard to believe that Vinny Testaverde is on an NFL roster and not Brooks. He's got tremendous physical gifts, but has never put it all together. He is not a long-term answer, but could be serviceable for a stretch of games. Heck, he's probably better than anyone on the roster right now.

    Chris Weinke - Heck, he's not much older than Beck at this point.

    Draft Prospects

    Matt Ryan - At 6'5, he certainly looks the part. Ryan seems to have a propensity for turning the ball over, but also has made some spectacular plays. I don't know if he's worth the #1 overall pick in the draft though.

    Brian Brohm - From a potential standpoint I have to wonder if he has peaked. I also think he's somewhat of a system quarterback - the dude threw 473 times this year. Again, I don't think he's worth the #1 overall pick in the draft.

    Andre Woodson - Probably has the most potential out of the group of QBs coming out this year, but also is one of the most raw. He only started for 2 years, and really only came on strong this year. Keep in mind raw=needs time to develop.

    Colt Brennan - Two things limit Colt Brennan. 1) He has to fight the "system quarterback" label. 2) He has a really funky delivery. I would not be surprised if he drops into the second or third round because of it. The delivery causes him to have some bouts of inaccuracy, surprising considering he completed over 70% of his passes.

    Eric Ainge - I actually like what little I've seen of Ainge. Seems to show good leadership and fire on the field. He's got good intangibles. If we were already set with a veteran I wouldn't mind seeing how he would develop.

    Chad Henne - The knock on Henne is that his arm strength is only adequate. He has been given props for his accuracy, a trait most NFL teams prize. (Note: This was also the trait that led to us drafting Beck last year).

    John David Booty - Booty suffered from inconsistency and injuries this year, causing his draft status to drop. He's a little short (6'2) and will need to bulk up (215 lbs) to play, especially behind our offensive line. I'm not sold on him as the next great USC QB.

    Dennis Dixon - I suspect that Dixon will be used as former QBs Michael Robinson, Brad Smith, and Antwaan Randle El are used - namely at positions other than QB. He's also coming off an ACL tear, so there's really no telling how that injury will affect him. (We've had great success with other QBs coming off of knee injuries)

    At the end of the day, I'd like for us to keep Beck, if just to see if he can develop into anything useful. I the meantime I'd like to see us pick up Anderson, McCown or one of the other FA QBs to keep the seat warm. Then, in the draft we take one of the QBs listed above. My preference is to invest our #1 overall in another position, which would eliminate Ryan and likely Brohm. Of the others, I like Ainge the most - his mechanics are better than Brennan and he is battle tested. The simple truth is that, unfortunately, we will likely see more changes at this position. That said, here's hoping we can start to see some stability in this position in the near future.
     
  2. billsfaninpeace

    billsfaninpeace New Member

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    Hey if you want Losman will be on the Block and seeing you are in the Div we will give him to you for a 3rd
     
  3. mmikel30

    mmikel30 New Member

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    Out of the free agents i'd take anderson only maybe brooks maybe and out of the rookies i like brennan the best...... "a gun slinger" with accuracy.
     
  4. Califin

    Califin Well-Known Member

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    When it comes to picking prospective QB's to draft, I'll readily concede the appropriate rankings to the experts, and typically listen to those who watch their respectable share of college football.

    One thing I do recall reading earlier this year was a story about Colt Brennan (possibly in SI), on how he went through some difficult times on the mainland, regarding some domestic related issues involving a girl, that severely had jeopardized his character status regarding any hope for a future NFL career. It went on to describe how he basically took off to Hawaii, where he could escape the media circus that surrounded him at his former school, and that he ultimately ended up as a walk-on at UH.
    Starting over from square one, he knew he had a long road ahead to get back into contention, and that he had to make the most, with whatever he got.

    Since reading that article, if he's kept his nose clean, it sounds to me this kid may have done well with the opportunity he was eventually given, and perhaps may have rediscovered himself, and matured in ways, well above what his age might otherwise suggest.

    Considering he was once a highly regarded prospect, who found himself walking out of one program, and into the bottom end of another entirely new, and different college program, of which he then garnered control of, and drove the reins to manufacture success, tells me somthing significant, about the adaptability of this kid.
    If June Jones was his coach, it seems to me he would of corrected his throwing style, "funky" as it is. That is, if it was actually determined unfeasable to perform with, or rather up to, NFL standards.

    Bottomline, I'm certainly not suggesting we draft this guy above what his value may otherwise measure up to be, and not to infer he holds any more promise than any of the other QB candidates we may be looking at come April ( if by then Beck has indeed demonstrated a need), but what he will have impressed me with, up to this point, and out of the gate, will be an uncanny ability to overcome the odds.
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2007
  5. Regan21286

    Regan21286 MCAT's, EMT's, AMCAS, ugh

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    Good read. I don't think the QB's in this draft are worth the #1 overall but then again, they're better than Alex Smith was. And heck, Aaron Rodgers isn't looking so bad right now.
     
  6. kadiddlehopper

    kadiddlehopper Senior Member

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    Don't need any retread QBs thankyou.
     
  7. Zod

    Zod Ruler of the Universe

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    We will draft one of the following:

    Matt Ryan
    Brian Brohm
    Jake Long
    Darren McFadden

    Then the best performer (at QB) will start the season. The mistake this year was thinking the team could be competitive with Trent Green as QB. They should have been preparing the rookie to start. Instead, he was taking snaps as the third string QB. In other words, he was just another arm in camp.

    The two quarterback draft prospects will go in the top ten. The only question now is will one of them go to the Dolphins at number 1.
     

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