Training Camp Primer: Burning Question #2 - The QBs

by Matty I on Jul 17, 2008 12:15 AM EDT in News

It's time to continue on with our "burning questions" training camp primer. If you missed "burning question #1," then just click here.

And while the Jason Taylor saga was listed by me as the first burning question, this next issue is undoubtedly the biggest on-field question that needs to be answered in training camp.

Who will be the team's starting quarterback against the Jets in week one?

This is a question that likely will not be answered until mid to late August. In fact, John Beck even confirmed that he's heard talk that the timetable for a decision to be made is the 3rd preseason game. Beck also said that he doesn't feel any of the 3 QBs have a leg up at this point.

For obvious reasons, this will be the most closely watched and most widely scrutinized position battle of them all down in Davie. But the funny thing is that the outcome of this competition could very well be the key to the Dolphins' future...or it could mean absolutely nothing at all. It's an odd situation, really.

For example, if John Beck wins the starting job and then plays very well in the regular season, this could mean that we've found our QB of the future. On the other hand, Beck could win the job, struggle mightily, and be replaced by Josh McCown at some point - only to act as a placeholder until the coaching staff feels Chad Henne is ready.

Another example. Josh McCown could win the starting job. But does anyone really think he's our long-term solution at QB? I didn't think so. So if McCown was to win the starting job, then that would probably signify that Beck isn't the player I thought he was. But it will mean nothing at all in terms of helping find a long-term solution at QB. We'd then have to wait until the staff decides to let Henne get in the game before even coming close towards answering out long-term question.

And this is why I say that this training camp battle could be the most important in franchise history - at least in recent memory - or it could mean very little in the grand scheme of things. Odd, right?

One other thing to consider here as we gear up to monitor this QB battle all training camp long is how the winner of the competition actually wins the starting job. Does he simply blow the other two out of the water? Does he look so sharp that there's no question as to who the starter is? Or does he win the starting job by default because the other 2 look simply terrible?

What I'm hoping for is not just a clear-cut starter. What I'm hoping for is for one quarterback to win the starting job because of his own effectiveness - not because of the other two quarterbacks' ineffectiveness.

Thoughts on this?

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I think its like this: McCown is a guy who is decent but not great by any means. At most he can win a few games but he is not the kind of guy to lead you to the playoffs. Beck has worked hard but no one really knows what he is yet. If he can’t beat out McCown then he’s not worth keeping around for this regime. Henne would then be a developmental guy for next year. Unless Henne is just spectacular which no one expects. If McCown wins the starting job out of training camp, its bad for the team because we wont have the upside. We would be looking at 3-4 wins. In order to have a good year and get close to 9 wins, Beck has to be the guy.
ALL I want is no major injuries, especially for the quarterbacks. I want to see what happens as they battle it out and I don’t want injuries to be the determining factor.

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you."

Coach Paul Bear Bryant

by AussieKen on Jul 17, 2008 12:54 AM EDT 0 recs

Remember

that Parcells likes veteran QBs. I don’t think any of us should be surprised to see McCown start at least the first couple or few games if the competition is close. I think Beck will be the man eventually but could see where Parcells would chose to go with experience if Beck doesn’t just blow him away. Heck, that may even be good for Beck to have McCown start at first just to fire him up that much more. Kind of a fine line. Do you make Beck feel like he really needs to prove he’s head and shoulders better – which could make him work even harder or make him press too much – or if it’s close go with Beck and help build his confidence and let him grow into the position? Tough call. I’d go with the Beck if it’s close and talk him up and let him know he’s the guy so he’s not looking over his shoulder. Then again, I’m not quite as qualified as that Tuna guy.

mophins

by mophins on Jul 17, 2008 9:28 AM EDT 0 recs

Beck will be our guy, mark it down

Barring a catastrophic event, Beck will be the starter. You could see it at the end of last season. The guy has the intangibles needed to be a winning qb. You don’t even have to be an expert to see this. When he hit Ted Ginn down the middle for the TD, I KNEW he was our guy. Now, after reading all about the progress he’s made in the offseason, I can say without a doubt, he will be behind Samson on opening day. I guess I’m being a homer in the sense that I’m forgetting about the 7 fumbles against the Jets. I’m gonna chalk those up to being rookie jitters, and being behind a broken O-Line. The new regime has made him better from what we’ve read so far this offseason, so I expect Beck 2.0 in training camp.

by JLFins08 on Jul 17, 2008 9:46 AM EDT 0 recs

Beck will start

Everybody knows what McCown is…he is a back up at best. Beck is going to get every opportunity to start because they need to find out with this guy has come game day and how he responds to pressure. If he cant cut it, McCown is the short term answer till they can groom Henne. If Henne is a bust, we are in for a long rebuilding prcoess.

by dlux2561 on Jul 17, 2008 10:42 AM EDT 0 recs

Oh yes!

Ok I gotta say that I am looking forward to Beck being our starter. We need to find out sooner rather than later whether or not to hang on to Beck, McClown and Henne. Beck and Henne COULD be studs but nothing is proven till they get the time and experience under the belt and that is sorely needed right now. McClown needs to set his sights on becomming a Strock like backup and begin to work at making himself a home here as a groomer for the future.

by unklphinnie on Jul 17, 2008 11:00 AM EDT 0 recs

nice summation, matty

I agree with the consensus, Beck must be the started unless he fails miserably in camp and preseason.
As stated by most, to some extent we have a “known” with McCown and an “unknown” with Beck. Henne isn’t going to play this year unless injuries dictate or in garbage time.
McCown will likely only get another starting job due to injuries, but could rehabilitate his career if he plays well when he gets his shot. Beck is 28 and need to play now or retire. If he doesn’t play well, this year, he will most likely end up being a backup at best. Just because no team is going to spend time trying to develop an almost 30 yr old (next year) QB.
Beck will start this year unless he blows it. If Beck is successful, I think you still have Henne challange for the job next year and play the best guy.

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Jul 17, 2008 11:13 AM EDT 0 recs

should say "the starter", obviously

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Jul 17, 2008 11:13 AM EDT up 0 recs

You know I actually have a strong feeling...

McCown and Beck will both get a chance to start at different points in the season.

Whether by injury or just struggling or other reasons – I doubt we see one specific QB start 15-16 games.

So as far as I’m concerned whoever ‘wins’ the contest is far from secure at anything. This team is still rebuilding and the offense in particular will probably have difficulties at times. That’s the sort of thing that invites change at the QB position.

My initial feeling is the contest is close and nobody stands out, then Parcells will probably start with McCown just based on experience.

The real question for me isn’t who wins the job in the preseason, but who can hold it down by being solid?

by Natalya on Jul 17, 2008 12:51 PM EDT 0 recs

I tend to agree that for whatever reason, we will not see 1 QB start the whole season.

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Jul 17, 2008 1:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

Devils advocate...

if McCown does beat out Beck in training camp/ presseason I don’t think that would bode too well for Beck’s future in Miami. He could still maybe sqeeze a couple of starts out during the season, but I think the new regime is looking for him to come in and really take the bull by the horns.

That said, I too agree with the concensus that Beck will be under center at the beginning of the season. After that, as Nat pointed out, it’s anyone’s guess.

The Jayfiss Report ...one fan's rants

by NumberSeven on Jul 17, 2008 4:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not so sure we won't see...

one QB start the whole season. You feel the reasons don’t matter, that they will try more than one starter. Hypothetical: Beck starts and they are 4-4 after 8 games. Passer rating in the high 80’s low 90’s and he is playing smart. No reason to change. We already exceeded the expectations, right?
Injury, struggling, etc, sure we make a change.

As true in all situations, nothing is in stone. But if the team is heading in the right direction, don’t try to tweak something that ain’t necessariy broke. If your QB is delivering but you aren’t getting the running game going because of a weak side, the QB is not the problem.

You mention if nobody stands out, Parcells goes with McCown…..based on experience. I look at it this way (of course not the way the Tuna looks at it). McCown is in his 7th year and he is only doing as well as a second year QB. That tells me something. It tells me McCown missed his opportunity. I go with the kid you can mold and shape, the one that is working his ass off.

I agree that the key is who can hold it down. If we knew that at this stage, there would be not contest to watch. This is almost as exciting as the draft….!

by Thruthickandt on Jul 17, 2008 5:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Thats a real good point

But how i see things,I fell that chad henne shouldnt start at all this year no matter what happens,We dont want to mess up are qb of the future.I fell that beck should start for us,Unless hes just doen realy realy terrible and just cant start..Cuz i think we should give him one last chance and if he cant make it happen this time then where just gonna have to let him go or trade him….Cuz we dont have time to be waiten on this old guy to make somethean of himself.And if he isnt the answer well just simply draft another qb next year in the late rounds to be the back up for henne.

by lionel on Jul 17, 2008 3:11 PM EDT 0 recs

It

It all comes down to the IT. Does Beck have IT? I’m an avid BYU fan and watched Beck all 4 years. He certainly has the physical and mental abilities. The biggest question to me is, will he be able to rally the team around him when there is 2 minutes left on the clock and 6 points down with the ball on the 4 yard line? I feel that the BYU team respected him greatly, but it wasn’t because of his personality. He definitely got the job done at BYU. The other thing that he has against him, is that he is Mormon. He isn’t hanging out with the guys at the bar after practice. It will be hard for him to develop off-field relationships with his line and receivers.

I do believe that over time, if Beck is given it, the team will respect him.

by dal on Jul 17, 2008 3:41 PM EDT 0 recs

Two things:

First, you say his BYU team did not respect him for his personality…implying it was because of his skill. I can think of another BYU quarterback that probably wasn’t “respected” for his personality… Remember Jim McMahon? Errogant as hell, but delivered…..and thus respected.
Second, There was another successful QB from BYU, a little more clean cut. He was Morman and likely did not “hang out in the bars” as you eluded to with Beck and his relationship development with his teammates. Remember Steve Young? Respected…..Highly.
I think you make some good points and I also think times have changes a bit. If you have “good” guys on your team, they will give you respect for your personal life choices. You first have to be able to control the game and controling yourself is an added bonus.
My take, Beck gets the start. If he and McCowan are splitting hairs in the third Preseason game, you go with Beck. They kept him for a reason and its an insult to retain a player then have someone with the same capability start in his place. If its a tie, Beck starts.
Henne should not even be a factor at this point.

Beck starts. If they are .500 after 8 games, finish the season with him. If they are 3-5, factor the variables and possibly move to McCowan. Anything worse, yank him. Remember, the Raiders are the 9th game on the schedule. HMMMMM.

by Thruthickandt on Jul 17, 2008 4:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

A little more info

Jim McMahon won right off the bat. John Beck didn’t. People were calling for his up until his last season. Steve Young was not as clean cut as he is now. (There are a lot of stories about Jim and Steve from there BYU days.) Jim and Steve both have a cockiness about them. BYU’s current quarterback, Max Hall, has that cockiness. I wish Beck had that cockiness.

Chad Lewis, who is a BYU alum and former Pro-Bowler for the Eggles, said that the locker room is a lonely place for a Mormon.

I hope Beck shows he can play. I really do think he will be the best prepared out of the three. I know he has the skill. I hope the team has his back.

by dal on Jul 17, 2008 5:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Thanks, dal, for the insight

This “Mormon storyline” is interesting. I really didn’t think too much about what it might mean in the locker room as far as developing a rapport with his teammates.

Could this really be an issue in a professional environment? I hope not, but you really never know…

The Phinsider: SBN's Miami Dolphins blog

by Matty I on Jul 17, 2008 7:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed

I remember the “clean guy image” pokes and jabs in the locker room in high school; definitely hard to deal at times (especially in Oklahoma where you can either drink or cow tip). I remember the coach telling me to drink some piss to be meaner and more aggressive! Hopefully Beck will get that “killers look” to be mentally tough and competitive in the pros, he certainly has the physical skills to get the job done. I would assume that you would have to be pretty cocky to play at the level of profession sports.

by jtuffy10 on Jul 17, 2008 10:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

Drinking goats piss only got me ready for a beer drinking competition in Germany.

y not if im wrong who will remember

by qbinfin on Apr 27, 2008 3:27 PM PDT

by DolfinPhan on Jul 18, 2008 3:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

This is what I see

Josh McCown may be a nice guy and he is a Vet., not very good or bad, and to my way of thinking he is nothing more than insurance. Not the best policy but he’s ours. I might even say if a Vet. QB gets cut that Jeff or Bill likes I wouldn’t be surprised to see Josh gone. I also believe that if John /Chad can’t beat Josh out then we are in for another QB search next April. Josh McCown is nothing more than a jurneyman QB and that is all he will ever be. We really don’t know what we have in John or Chad as John was thrown to the wolves last year and Chad hasn’t seen the bullets fly yet.

I want/hope that John will take the bull by the horns and be our guy; as the song says “Its now or never”.

by gafinfan on Jul 18, 2008 5:46 PM EDT 0 recs