Dolphins name Dan Henning as Offensive Coordinator

by Matty I on Feb 4, 2008 5:53 PM EST in 2012 Miami Dolphins News

Well, it took long enough, but it's official. The Dolphins have hired Dan Henning as the team's offensive coordinator.

Henning was out of football in 2007, but was the offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers from 2002-2006. With Henning as OC, the Panthers went to the Super Bowl and just narrowly failed to beat the Patriots in that game. He also helped develop guys like Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith into pro-bowlers.

What isn't known right now is if Henning will be the play caller. I suspect we'll find this one out in the near future.

But there is one thing that worries me. If Henning impressed enough to get hired in his interview, what the heck took so long? Clearly, he wasn't the top candidate for the job. That label would go to Pete Carmichael Jr, who turned down the job to stay with the Saints. The Dolphins also interviewed Hue Jackson. And personally, I would have rather seen Jackson get the job.

We also know that there may have been interest by the Dolphins in Giants' QB coach Chris Palmer. And after watching Eli Manning's performance this post-season, especially in yesterday's Super Bowl, I think I would have liked him to be the OC in Miami.

But, after all this talk, I guess I will again put my trust in Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland, and Tony Sparano and hope they know what they are doing. After all, they are the ones getting the big bucks.

Thoughts?

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Palmer

I thought for sure would have at least been interviewed. I wonder if he turned them down via a phone call?

Matt

by Matt27 on Feb 4, 2008 6:02 PM EST reply actions

yea...

thats probobly why they waited till today. They wnated to wait until Palmer had a minute to figure out what he wants to do after the superbowl

by YatilGinnJr on Feb 4, 2008 6:16 PM EST up reply actions

i like...

what henning was doing in carolina, they won alot of close games... and i agree that 'the familia' prolley knows what its doing. As stated previously, alot of ppl were happy about cam cam initially, [ i was tentative at 1st, bought into it w/ time... i was a heart and soul saban supporter too so there you have that, shows ya what i know] but...i think in a coaching staff, like the players, it has to be a great 'team', less important that we have the 'T.O's' of the league in place, which is my guess as to what the greattunafather has in mind..i hope at least....I have seen him talk in the past, and he speaks of franchise 'failure' as a virus that must be eradicated, hence his impersonal demeanor.Maybe im just an optimist, but i feel good about having Dr. Tuna in the house, as i have sung his praises for yrs. Its nice to see the staff pretty much in place.

by Krab on Feb 4, 2008 6:40 PM EST reply actions

I'm neither...

excited or particularly disappointed with this announcement. Henning seems like a solid guy who can run a good enough offense at this level.

What we need this year, in addition to a decent scheme, is to not be so, so conservative as well as making better decisions (4th down, FG's, went to punt, etc) on game day and not screwing up clock management - all these things were problems last year with cam.

So if we can do those things, I'll feel pretty positive about the Offensive staff and coaches in general.

Last night was a good example of the value of both a game plan and equally so, adjustments. The G-men had a plan and the Pats simply kept doing the same thing over and over while getting bashed. They let Brady get pummeled like 20 times without bringing in extra blockers or max protect. Their OC, McDaniels, didn't exactly show much ability to do anything different.

by Natalya on Feb 4, 2008 7:01 PM EST reply actions

So does this take us back...

to the theory floated earlier, that Henning is coming in just for a couple of years, to groom one of the young coaches we poached from Dallas for the job?

by urbino on Feb 4, 2008 9:14 PM EST reply actions

Actually...

...I was thinking that we might see new QB coach David Lee as a potential future OC. He does have OC experience in the collegiate level at Mississippi.

by Matty I on Feb 4, 2008 9:24 PM EST up reply actions

Arkansas, I think.

He never actually coached at all at Ole Miss, did he? He arrived there with Nutt at the end of the season just completed.

by urbino on Feb 4, 2008 9:59 PM EST up reply actions

correct

he was at Arkansas in 07 and would have been at Ole Miss in 08 until Parcells stole him

by Matty I on Feb 4, 2008 10:24 PM EST up reply actions

I'd have to say he did...

alright in Fayetteville. They were obviously very run-oriented, but who wouldn't be with that backfield? It was an innovative, unpredictable run attack that put up huge yards and points. Plus, as I mentioned before, even the QB, Casey Dick, showed tremendous improvement over the course of the 07 season. By the end, he looked like a college QB, and that's something I never thought I'd hear myself say.

by urbino on Feb 4, 2008 10:38 PM EST up reply actions

The rumor has been

Hening will mentor Dorell and he will become the next OC for the fins.

by Patssuck456 on Feb 4, 2008 9:52 PM EST reply actions

From what I've been told from UCLA fans...

...Dorrell isn't all that great at running an offense. But I'll trust Parcells, Ireland, and Sparano over bitter UCLA fans.

by Matty I on Feb 4, 2008 10:27 PM EST up reply actions

i think the play calling...

will be a "collective" effort. lol

by YatilGinnJr on Feb 4, 2008 10:57 PM EST reply actions

Remember

Tony Sparano helped put the game plans together last/this (whatever) year in Dallas. And the year before he actually called the plays for the Cowboys. Both years they seemed to do ok, don't ya think? No worries here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKu3wbzo0-g

by Neo on Feb 4, 2008 11:20 PM EST reply actions

Henning

"Henning got his start in the NFL as quarterbacks and receivers coach with the Houston Oilers in 1972."

1972? This dude is old. But has had a lot of success as an OC and making mediocre QB's efficient. You know he knows talent and can help evaluate for the draft and evaluate our current offensive roster.

by gophish on Feb 5, 2008 1:37 AM EST reply actions

Yeah

and like I said, I trust Parcells & Co. that they know what they are doing. They get a free pass from me until something happens to prove otherwise. And I kind of like the idea of bringing in one of the old guard to mix with all these younger guys... let him do his his thing for a couple years, and groom either lee or dorell to take over...

The Jayfiss Report ...one fan's rants.

by NumberSeven on Feb 5, 2008 10:30 AM EST up reply actions