I agree that we aren't putting points on the board. However, to blame it all, or even most, on Henne is wrong, IMO. (Not directed at you)

I think the number one factor is that last season we depended on the WC in red zone situations. Henne hasn't got the real game-time experience on how to get the ball into the end zone. He needs more game-time reps. Add to the fact that Henning makes some head scratching calls and that also takes points off the board.

However, I really believe that once Marshall, Bess, Hartline and Henne get more experience playing together, learn each other's game, that they will be able to get the ball in there. Now that Henning seems to have benched the WC (for now at least) Henne will get that experience. He can make the throws. And how many times have we seen Marshall and him miss by inches? They'll get it. :hi5:


P.S. And yes about the running game. Something is wrong with Brown. He's playing lackadaisically and uninspired. I'm not sure if he's getting the vibe he may be traded or what, but he's a shell of what he was last year or the year before.

 

How about Ricky and Ronnie with 6 points all year?

 

Fixed. :up:

 

I think it takes more than 6 games with what is in essence a rookie QB, new WR, no running game (anymore) and an OC that makes boneheaded calls.

I can see the progress between Marshall and Henne, for example, each week. Henne is trusting him more. Marshall is anticipating Henne more..they will only get better. Marshall is too good, Henne seems to be legit and they both definitely want to win.

 

Fire Henning, I really believe he is a big problem here. Increase offensive speed and playmaking capability. The teams that put up 30+ on a regular basis often do so through big plays. Hey, wasn't that supposed be a point of emphasis this year? All that "chunk yardage" talk is just so much more talk talk talk but not walk walk walk.

 

its hard to sustain a drive with no running game... our running game has been a huge disappointment this season

 

That's simply not true. FGs do matter, as does field position. Just this week 6 games were decided by 3pts or less.

If the yards between the 20s didn't matter, than there's nothing wrong with giving up KRs to the 40 and 50 yd line with regularity?

 

Totally agree with him not playing well. He seems "slow" to me this season.

What doesn't make sense to me is I would think he would be playing his *** off. He isn't worried about getting traded since this is a contract year and usually guys do whatever they can to play inspired under these circumstances to land a big contract, especially when you are getting into the last stretch of your career.

 

This is his first season where he went in as the starter. That's why I wrote, "in essence".

I see that he and Marshall haven't connected in the endzone. However, add everything I wrote before to the fact that we've played the Steelers, Pats and Jests (all 5-1) and what you have is an offense trying to put things together against some of the best, if not the best, teams in the league.

 

Ronnie sucks

 

I think I need to take a break from this board because my eternally optimistic outlook is taking a beating. I mean damn it's like we are the worst team in the NFL the way everything is broken down to the negative. Even the positives have a tinge of negativity along with it.

We had one game where we had our asses handed to us and you could blame the special teams for that one. Special teams coach was fired and that unit seems to have fixed their major problems.

Our young Franchise QB is keeping pace with his peers, our o-line is doing well, our young defense is growing into their own and we have abandoned the "wildcat". Seems to me like we are moving in the right direction. We lost to arguably the #1 team in the NFL right now on a blown call and a lack of aggressiveness by our coaching staff on the two turn overs. That's the way the ball tumbles folks.

It doesn't mean the sky is falling and it doesn't mean we are a bad team. It just means we have to fix what we did wrong and come back next week and execute. And you know what, even if we do all the right things we can still come out with a loss.

This is a professional sport where both teams have professional players on them that get played millions of dollars and ego's that don't stop. It's not a walk in the park for any team, just ask the Ravens or the Saints.

I for one enjoy watching what the Dolphins are doing and knowing that we have a chance to win against any team we go against. Will win them all? No, but that is what makes this sport so fun to watch. It is competitive and any given Sunday any team can win.

BTW I am not directing this rant to anyone in particular.

 

This is what bandwagon I am jumping on. I would love to see this team get a dynamic back with top speed on this team.

 

Huh??? :huh1:

If I'm understanding you correctly (and, that's a big "if"), I think that was my point. :wink2:

Bottom line, I don't see Henne as the problem. Henning on the other hand?

I also think the running game is an issue. Whether it's the line or the backs, something is outta whack. And, a more consistent running game will do nothing but help Henne be more effective.

JMHO...

 

Neither do play calls that only put 3 WRs running routes downfield with a TE and a back max protecting. We had one play on the first drive where Marshall was the only player who ran a route...is that even the attempt at a play-fake when our running game clearly isn't the same as it was last year?

Give Henne a chance to throw downfield, rather than force him to play the Chad Pennington box offense. It'd be a completely backwards move (not that playing Henne in Pennington's offense already isn't) to put Pennington or Thigpen in.

Chad Henne obviously has some things to work on, as is expected with someone who has started 19 games, but he's the franchise. I think more of it has to do with the system he's being forced to play. I'd love to see our passing game be more open like Cincinnati's or Pittsburgh's is. Obviously we don't have a Mike Wallace type, but we've seen Marshall is more than capable of going deep when given the opportunity.

 

I thought the same thing. Most players play lights out if they think they're being traded, but I just don't have any other explanation. Ronnie isn't hitting the hole, he's not breaking tackles and he's playing flat. I have no idea why.

I really wish he was used more in the passing game. He's an excellent receiving back. I think I've seen him out in the flat once in the last couple of games. :no:

 

I do like TDs more than FGs, and we have scored some TDs. But I'm not going to pretend that FGs don't matter just to prove some point.

6. What's your point? Would you have preferred we not kicked FGs at all and maybe turned the ball over on downs? I would have liked TDs without a doubt, but those pts were important even if they were less than desired.

I believe you said driving the field didn't matter from the 20 to 20, well that encompasses a lot more than the offense. Not to mention special teams affects offenses (and their performance/play calling). Just like defense does.

 

I think we have an identity problem we need to run the ball with authority and pass when things open up.
That's why Marshall was brought in to take a short pass a long way.

 

Well, against the Jests and Steelers we had a great chance to win and did win, IMO.

And I understand that he started 12 games last season. However, it's a little different when you get two preseasons to prepare for the starting role instead of one. So, in that respect, he's like a rookie 2.0. He's played games in the NFL but has only had one preseason to prepare for the starting role. He wasn't supposed to be the starter until this season. I just think he'd be a little further along if he had 2 preseasons instead of just one under his belt.

 

I thought for sure we were going to see him very active in the passing game this season.

It will be interesting to see what we do against the Bungles, as they are pretty tough against the deep pass, but we should be able to attack them underneath.

 

Sorry I even posted Padre. You're right...Henne's the problem. Thanks for clearing that up for me. :pity:

 

So OCs are never to blame then huh? Since non of them throws a pass during the game?

That's a lame argument. Henning sucks. If you call a run play with just over 2 minutes left in the game, on your own 20, no time outs, and against the best run D in the league...you deserve every once of criticism.

 

Or he's just waiting for any running room whatsoever.

 

I don't really think either Hilliard or Anderson will make much of a difference this year. Speed is our biggest issue, we just don't have any. Having a speedy guy who can create would open up Marshall and Bess and provide that quick strike threat. Simply put, we don't have that right now. Hartline plays well, but he just isn't what we need unfortunately.

And I agree Henning isn't the only problem, he's just a part of it, and a rather large part imo. There have been people criticizing him for the better part of two seasons now, and rightfully so. The man knows how to kill a drive better than most and part of our red zone woes need to be attributed to him. His biggest failure is his inability to adapt to game flow and changes and the reality of any situation, and we are pretty routinely paying for it. Also, what the hell is wrong with our two minute offense? That in large part also comes down to coaching and playcalling.

 

I've never seen an OC win a Super Bowl, how does that work?

 

I'm not as hard on Henning as some, but you have to admit that at times his play calling is bewildering. I understand that at some point the players have to execute, but they need to be set up fro success rather than failure. Also, I do think that our schedule has a lot to do with this turmoil. (I know, duh) But what I mean is that you game plan differently for the best defenses in the league, especially when you have a young QB, a gelling O-Line, a new WR and a running game that's less than spectacular.

Now, saying all of that! If our ST's don't lose the Pats game and the refs don't make a horrible call in the Steelers game, we would most likely be 5-1. If we were, none of these conversations would be happening even though the OC, Henne and the rest of the offense and defense would have played the same as they have been playing all season.

 

Wish it was true, but its not. I've seen holes open up that Ronnie can't get to. He's no longer explosive. Not only is he slow, but his acceleration is gone...