I am not sure where the rules fall on this one, but I think we ought to sign him.

Nice extension. Focuses on the ball (bat). Makes the catch. Takes the hit. Retains possession. Shows swagger by looking at the camera confidently.

Plus his small size should allow him to sneak in behind linebackers. Clearly he's not scared to cross the middle. A Yac Machine that is hard to locate to tackle. Apparently he's hard to jam at the line too.

Like I said, Sign Him.

In a light-hearted, non name calling sort of way.

But seriously. The Henne thing. Let's have it out here and now.

You write in the comments section of a post or so ago that only now do we have reason to believe that he could be the franchise QB of the future. This of course implies that those of us that have been pushing to get him involved are of course uninformed. That only now is there a reason to be excited about him. We were unfounded in our belief, etc.

You also cite that he was an underachiever at Michigan as a reason for our excitement to be unfounded. Not to mention that he was unexciting in the preseason.

Okay...

So let me list some reason's why this is both unfair and hypocritical.

1. Florida. Chad Henne, in a manner very similar to Monday nights performance, rallied his troops his senior year to defeat the mighty Gators and their great Captain Tim Tebow.

2. Chad Henne is 6'3" and 230 lbs with a powerful arm.

3. In every appearance on the field Chad has never looked flustered or out of place. He not once had the "deer in headlights look" that nearly every rookie QB has. He just didn't look like a rookie. Ever.

4. The first regular season series he was under center led to a touchdown. He generated 67 yards in the air that drive. In fact, he should have had a passing TD in that first series (against the Cardinals last year) except Ronnie Brown uncharacteristically dropped an easy pass in the endzone.

5. He has votes of confidence and the appellation of "QB of the Future" from not only Tony Sparano, but also Jeff Ireland and that other guy... What's his name? Oh. Bill Parcells. Yeah. Those voters.

6. He has a huge Spartacus-esque cleft in his chin.

7. He played his senior year hurt, which could explain some diminished stats. Like for instance, only being the second most prolific passer at Michigan. Ever.

8. John Beck.

Oh yes. What ever made you think he was the one? Don't worry. I'm not going to lie here. Beck had the measurable talent. He had a strong arm. He had the stats in college. I didn't like his age, but after he mentioned the "fiery eyes of Marino" in an interview with Joe Rose I was smitten too. I thought he could do it, you know, be the QB of the future.

But he didn't have it.

I look back on it now and think how freaking stupid it was to be excited about how far he could throw the ball (and touting a youtube clip where he hurls an incomplete pass some-odd-yards down the field).

So seriously dude. Some of us saw talent in Henne, tangible and intangible. I for one learned something watching John Beck in those early games. I learned what lack of confidence looks like.

Please don't imply we were somehow unfounded in our belief.

I mean, what made you predict that Teddy Ginn was going to finally have that breakout season?

Zing.

Just keeping you honest Matty. This has been the only thing I have disagreed with you about. Except the whole Beau Bell vs. Curtis Lofton man-crush thing. But hey, let bygones be bygones. Right?

The early word on the street is that Chad Pennington has a dislocated shoulder. Not a torn rotator cuff.

Why is this good news for him?

While a dislocated shoulder may also involve a torn cuff it does not necessarily have to. Both injuries would put Pennington out for several weeks but the dislocated shoulder, sans a cuff tear, will allow Pennington to make an eventual recovery. Probably full.

The rotator cuff is the thin muscle that lies underneath and between your deltoid muscles (shoulders). It is essentially assists in articulating the shoulder and when the arm's range enters certain extreme angles the cuff is more or less on its own, as the deltoids have no role in those positions.

In my opinion the rotator cuff is the biggest design flaw in the human anatomy. It is too small to be expected to suddenly handle what much larger muscles can. Then again, I don't believe that the human body was designed. But that's something else entirely. ;)

Think of doing a bench press. If you touch the bar to your lower pectoral muscle and then push the bar up and back towards your eyes you have done it perfectly. You have used your pectorals, triceps and deltoids and a host of other minor muscles, including the cuff. If the bar goes too far forward, say nearing your ribs, it involves more of the rotator cuffs and increasingly less of your chest, which is the biggest group you were relying on to perform the exercise. The rotator cuffs, as I said before, are very thin and tear easily when suddenly forced to maneuver weights that previously were being sustained by larger muscle groups.

So while this might be Pennington's last start as a Dolphin (and I hope he somehow stays involved with the team - even if Henne proves he's the man) we can all hope for his sake that the separated shoulder does not involve a cuff tear.

He might get back in the game faster with a cuff tear, but given it is his throwing arm the injury will be a nagging one and will forever diminish his arm strength. I've had a tear before. It took me three and a half years to get my shoulder strong enough to go heavy on bench again. I just got back to where I was (benching 350 these days) this month. It has not been an entirely pleasant experience.

Incidentally, I tore it playing football in the snow. My team won though, so it was easier to take. ;)

Go Phins!

Okay, seriously.

The hate has to stop. Chad Pennington whether injured or not, needs to be shelved. Not because his play is bad but because of his age. The Dolphins need to figure out what they have in their other two young QBs. Namely Chad Henne.

Why Chad Henne? Because Pat White is lost out there on the field. He might in time turn into something but it will not be this year. As to Henne... Get ready. Here comes an earful.

Chad Henne was inconsistent in college. When he was healthy (he struggled the later half of his college career with a shoulder injury) and surrounded by decent talent he produced at a very high level. When he out-played Tim Tebow (yes, knuckleheads, he out-played Time Rainbow as my true Cane loving self calls him) in the Capital One Bowl game he showed that he was a big game QB who could make all the NFL throws. That was his senior year. The Senior Bowl and the combine would demonstrate his native abilities as well.

After being drafted by the Dolphins last year he slowly emerged, as a rookie, as the best QB in the Phins stable before bringing in Chad Pennington. John Beck was/is a total bust. Josh McCown was/is a joke. Henne, until Pennington, was going to be the starter.

In a league nearly defined by the storyline(s) of rebuilding teams last year two rookie QBs emerged as top competitors. Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. Chad Pennington, not Chad Henne, emerged as the Miami Dolphins storyline last year. It was a story that revolved around the jets (not capitalised as is proper). Last season's number one narrative for the Phins was a subtext to the failure of the jets organization. It tasted sweet, but belied many issues.

We could not run up the middle from the pro set or other NFL base offenses. We had trouble defending the pass, though certainly not to the degree we have trouble today. We lacked big play potential (though I will concede that it was not as big a deal as it is right now). All things we have dealt with this season, with the exception of the line's run blocking, which is so far improved.

Chad Henne sat the bench all year, with the exception of one very good showing in mop-up work in a losing game against the Cardinals. Henne too was behind the eight ball, and I believe this, no matter what he did in the preseason. Chad Pennington was going to start this season. I believe this messed with Henne's confidence. Pay attention, because I'm going to say something hypocritical in a second.

So Pennington goes down today with what looked to me like a torn rotator cuff. I've suffered one of those in my life and you hold your arm low, around the wrist, because the pain shoots down from your shoulder into your whole arm. That aside, Henne came in and played sub-average. I won't say he played poorly. Here's why.

The hipocrasy. Though I believe Henne might have suffered some psychological blows by being so quickly sidelined this preseason, I also saw incredible mental toughness today. I also saw his big play potential.

The play where he crossed the line of scrimmage... I saw a bigger, stronger QB who dealt with poor line play with Ben Roethlisberger style toughness and broke two tackles to make a (albeit illegal) nice pass downfield. I saw a guy who made a couple of very fast passes (again because of CRAPPY line play at the end) were slightly off their mark, yet still were catchable passes. Ted Ginn, you apparently are not going to be that guy. Too bad.

I also saw a guy who shook off a terrible interception off a designed play (it was a designed play where he was to look off the coverage and make the quick throw in hopes to get Davone a big chunk of yards).

I also saw a offensive line that crumbled. Henne was getting rid of the ball without even having a chance to look second or third receivers down.

I also saw a guy who looked unpolished and who made some sloppy, innacurate passes. He also led the Phins on their only TD drive. He showed his live arm and his physicality in the pocket. Two things that Pennignton lacks. Now whether Henne will ever attain the level of cerebral play that CP was capable of, well, that is a different story.

One more thing to think about: These receivers are used to running timing routes to catch softball passes from Pennington. They will take time to adjust to catching balls thrown with the velocity that Henne has. That longish catch and run from Bess? Methinks it happened because the ball came in really fast. Ginn's drops? Ditto.

A week of practice and better communication with the line may work wonders. Before those of you who hate Henne and for some utterly insane reason still mention John "Bust" Beck, I say give him the next three games. I think he'll prove to be something legit. If I'm wrong about it I want to know by the end of the season. That way we can draft a QB.

I won't touch the Tebow stuff yet. If Henne fails, well, we'll have plenty of time from November through April to talk that talk.

This is probably a disastrous suggestion, but hey, how has it not already been disastrous?

But I say we should put Smith (or Davis) and Allen both on man coverage. Leave them unassisted with the free safety providing stop gap over top on the number 1 receiver side or man-up on the slot.

The SS and the Sam backer would then be put on the tight end every second and third down of 6 plus yards. The SS on every other down would key off the tight end solo.

Our front three plus the two OLBs and the Mike are enough to stop the run.

Basically I don't think the Phins can coddle the CBs any longer. Let them run and play. We have to adjust to stop the hot routes and tight end routes. Against the Colts we had a pass rush but the tight end was getting open too fast for the rush to develop. JT had a poor game, but in his defense he appeared within the picture as Manning threw the ball plent of times.

How can we sack the QB if the receivers/ backs are open in no time at all?

I've been thinking about this lately and what I've arrived at is the notion that the Dolphins are loaded with trade bait. I'm not personally saying they should do any of these trades (except the case of unloading one to two OLBs for high value because of the inflated market).

I think these are all possible. In fact... I daresay one will happen (other than the Samson rumors, which already exist).

Outside Linebacker

With all the new teams going to a 3-4 scheme there will be high demmand for guys that can play OLB in a 3-4. Preferrably guys that have experience.

The Phins are loaded with warm bodies (now with coaching) and even a couple of blue chip prospects.

Matt Roth, Charlie Anderson and Quentin Moses are all prime trade material. Roth in particular could bring a late first day or early second day pick from a team trying to convert.

Moses too, could fetch somethin in the 4th to 5th round level, as the kid seems to be perpetually on the upside collum and the current regime seems to at least see something (perhaps only a fith round pick!) in him, which will intrigue teams.

With Cameron Wake on board and the potential addition of someone in the draft the Phins have the room to trade one or two. IMO Roth would have the most return in a trade. Face it: They ain't resigning him.

Wide Receiver

This will be scandalous. But...

Trade Davone Bess or Greg Camarillo? They won't do it, but with a logjam at the speedy slot receiver position they have a lot of value stuck in one spot. With Camarillo coming back off an injury I don't think this will happen.

But maybe in a year. At some point one of them will be leaving the team either via FA or trade. I'm big fans of both so I can't say I want this.

Trade Ernest Wilford to the Raiders. If they're that dumb. Since they're that dumb.

Trade Ted Ginn? Before you throw something at me let it be said that I like Ginn. He's showing signs of having some (for lack of a bettter word) moxy. I liked the aggressiveness he showed later in the season, particularly agains the Jets. But, if the Phins are trageting a WR with the first two picks then unloading Ginn for a solid draft pick might not be crazy. Think Kenny Britt, Greg Camarillo, Davone Bess and Brandon London.

Face it. The Phins lack a no. 1 receiver. They have some of the best no. 2 and 3 guys around, but not a no. 1.

Center

I don't even need to explain this one.

Again... Just talking ideas here. Who would you trade and for what? If at all.

Been a long time since I've posted or commented here, but I have still been looking over this wonderful blog.

Matty I, you truly run a great shop here. How you deal with all these nuts is beyond me.

;-)

The one way the Dolphins are in the conversation with all those elite teams is turnovers.

We're tied for second in the league with a +10 turnover ratio. The top three are the Titans (+11) and then the Giants and the Dolphins.

I really think that is the number one reason this team has won so many games.

I mean, we're a team with a very weak offensive identity. We don't dominate in the running game and if anything, we're a scrappy (not powerful) passing team.

The offensive line has many questions along it. Samson Satele can't handle 3-4 nose tackles. Vernon Carey is underachieving. Ndukwe stinks. Smiley and Long have been the heart and soul of the line and now Smiley's gone (and some credit has to go to the improved blocking of David Martin and Anthony Fasano - those of you that have been around this site know how I feel about Martin - he nearly got John Beck killed last year).

The key is that our defense can play very stubbornly and we take the ball away at the right times. On the offensive side Chad Pennington is incredible at not turning the ball over. He also makes the plays when they're needed.

The 2008 Miami Dolphins are play makers, not powerhouses.

Just think, one pick thrown by CP on last Sunday against the Rams and the game could have ended completely differently.

My point is that I think that the Phins protecting the football and creating turnovers is as good as an extra 1,000 yards on offense.

That's the premise of David George's article in the Palm Beach Post.

Now, before I launch into some stats let me say that this is one of those arguments where the only way to be wrong is to insist that your right.

To write so casually about Seau's "career being so much better than Porter's shows a total lack of knowledge. I fully admit to being a fan of J-Peezy. I defended his down season last year.

My business partner is a Steeler's fan and I watched him plenty in the Black & Gold making plays. The has had a very good career. So has Seau. Neither are sure-fire HOF guys. That's just the stats talking.

Here's why it's ridiculous to think Seau is better than Joey Porter. Tackles are not accurate because the NFL apparently is not listing them prior to 2001 (I seem to remember there being tackle stats prior to 2000 before).

Junior Seau - 18 Seasons

509 Tackles (354 Solo)
56.5 Sacks
21 Passes defended
18 Interceptions

Joey Porter - 10th Season (being played now)

455 Tackles (334 Solo)
70.5 Sacks
36 Passes defended
12 Interceptions

Joey also has a Super Bowl ring.

I think there is a reason for this kind of article getting written. It's simple. People love to say Joey Porter is overrated (to the point where they underrate him) and at the same time they love to think of Junior Seau as one of the all-time greats (top ten - something I think he is not).

Joey brings it on himself. His barking makes moderate people dislike him. Meanwhile, I think the world is better with dogs in it.

Holla back, now ya hear?

This is selection from something I wrote elsewhere, but thought would add to the community here. If any of this refers to something previous it is because it belongs to a longer article.

After two games shaping up the way they did, I was pretty down on the line and the performance of the backs. Then I remembered something and decided to do a little research.

I wanted to shed light on some confusion over the Dolphins running game. So here it goes:

So far this season...

Ronnie Brown has carried the ball 17 times for 48 yards. Earning him a 2.8 yard average.

Ricky Williams has carried the ball 21 times for 52 yards. Earning him a 2.5 yard average.

Ronnie has carried the ball more times than Ricky in the 3rd and fourth quarters. Both of these guys are big backs that need to wear down defenses to start getting longer runs.

Ricky's numbers look bad right now. I couldn't possibly argue against that idea. The bottom line is that Ronnie isn't setting the world on fire either. So that leads me to the newspapermen and radio hosts (790 The Ticket's Sid Rosenberg, I am looking at you). These stalwarts of suspect statistical awareness have pronounced that the running game will be either completely lost this year or that switching the roles will solve the problem.

So, let's look at the Dolphins overall situation before we go off the deep end and join them.

Maurice Jones-Drew has carried the ball 12 times this year for 30 yards in his first two games. Good for a 2.5 yard average. That includes a 22 yard run.

Fred Taylor has carried the ball 23 times for 67 yards. That's a 2.9 yard average.

Larry Johnson has carried the ball 34 times for 96 yards. That's only a 2.8 yard average and he too has a 22 yard run in there.

All of them have logged two games. Their teams need a solid rushing attack to win and both teams have, like the Dolphins, lost their first two games.

None of them are impressing, but does anyone actually think that Maurice Jones-Drew will average 2.5 yards a carry this year? I hope not.

So the season has started slowly for some running backs. So why is it in the case of Ricky and Ronnie that it is less an issue of a slow start and more of a possible loss of ability. It's only natural, I guess. Ronnie Brown is coming off knee surgery and Ricky is not a spring chicken and, despite his physical gifts seeming undiminished, he may have lost a step.

There is also the chance that it is just a slow start. What if?

There is an aspect to this discourse that casts the fans and media's responses to early failure in a somewhat poor light.

The issue is looking at the ball carriers over their careers.

In 2005, when Ricky was reinstated he carried the ball 5 times for 8 yards in his first game. He followed up that break out day with a 6 carries/ -1 yard performance. Negative one yard. He finished the season with a 4.4 yard average, multiple hundred yard games and was a key component in that team's 6 game winning streak that closed out the season.

Ricky's prior stats from 2002 and 2003 are ridiculously impressive. In 2002 he was averaging over 5.5 yards per carry after two games and over 4 yards per carry in 2003. So he might not be fully explained here.

How about Ronnie Brown? If this guy is consistent at something it is certainly that he starts slow. Fantasy vultures ought to memorize these numbers.

Ronnie Brown in 2005: Carried the ball 22 times for 57 yards in the first game. That's a 2.6 yard average. He followed that up with a breakout 12 carry/35 yard masterpiece. Lifting his first two game average to 2.75 yards per carry.

Ronnie Brown in 2006: Carried the ball 15 times week one. He got 30 yards. I won't do the math for you on that one. The next weekend he had a respectable game. Carrying the ball 15 times for 70 yards. Good for a very healthy 4.7 yard average. Still, he averaged 3.33 yards per carry over the first two games.

Ronnie Brown in 2007: Game 1 against Washington Brown carried the ball 11 times for 32 yards. That's a 2.9 yards per carry average. The following game was a much improved 11 carries for 33 yards. Yes, 11 multiplied by 3 is 33.

My point here is that you can't write off players or a whole team (even a team with as many struggles as the Dolphins) by week 3. Yes, they're going north this week to face the New England Patriots. Yes they just got blown out by the Cardinals. No, Ronnie and Ricky won't continue to play poorly. No, I'm not crazy (hopefully) and yes, the numbers tend not to lie.

I wouldn't be surprised to see this as a breakout game for one of the two running backs. I also wouldn't be surprised to see the Dolphins lose anyway. They've been pretty good at finding ways to do that despite breakout performances at the running back position.

Ah, fellow Dolphins fans, I hope you're all ready. You especially Rzayo and Left Coast. The ultimate mind-bender of them all is about to descend on the noble Phinsider's website.

Are you ready?

Can you possibly fathom how difficult the answer is to obtain?

Do you believe there is even a proper method to determining the right answer?

Here you go:

Who would be a better running back?Ricky Brown or Ronnie Williams?