Position battles beginning to clear up, but which "Chad" will start at QB

by Matty I on Aug 19, 2008 2:51 PM EDT in News Comment 18 comments

At his press conference today, Tony Sparano really made some things clear in terms of the position battles.

And one thing that might come as a surprise is that this team is going to very much trust their rookies.

Rookie guard Donald Thomas is likely to start at right guard, with Sparano declaring it "Donald's job to lose." He also says of Thomas:

"Donald’s a young player that’s shown great progress. I like what he does in there and he’s continuing to get better, and as long as that happens I think he’s going to stay there."

Just think of the starting OL that this team could have for the next 8 to 10 years! Jake Long, Justin Smiley, Samson Satele, Donald Thomas, and Vernon Carey. Now that's an elite offensive line in a matter of a year or two.

Jumping to the other side of the ball, Kendall Langford being listed as the starting left defensive end on the latest depth chart was no accident. Sparano said that he could see Langford "there for a long time." He's likely going to start at that LDE spot, as he has in each preseason game as well. Sparano says of Langford:

"We watched him and this guy has done a heck of a job. I was impressed with what he did early in the game last week with his hands, had a couple of pressures early on in the game."

Meanwhile, one battle that doesn't appear to be as clear-cut as some like to think is the QB position. Everyone has assumed that Chad Pennington will be the starting quarterback come September. And that could still very well be the case. But Sparano hasn't ruled out Chad Henne as the starter. Sparano says of Henne:

This guy has shown me great poise, he really has. He's been in some tough situations and handled it well. He's probably made the most heads-up plays at the position. Now that being said, he's played the most."

And when asked about if he would have any issues with starting a rookie at QB, Sparano simply said, "If he's the best guy, I play him."

That '08 draft class is looking better and better every day, isn't it?

Don't forget to get involved with our first round of community projections. We've begun with Channing Crowder and Joey Porter.

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I'm with you Matty

When we drafted Satele last year i thought it was a good start towards solidifying our OL, and now we not only have created a solid core of guys, all of whom are under 30 by far.
Maybe i’m just too ‘full of hope’ but i havent felt this good about Dolphins Football in a loooong time. (probibly since we first signed Daunte, ugh, still remember that Raiders game last year lol)

One question for you though…It seemed that over the summer the main thing the new regime was doing was bringing in “solid” Special Teams players and the thought was to have a great ST group to build around, but so far this preseason our coverage on special teams has been less then impressive. any thoughts on that?

by DolPhanDave on Aug 19, 2008 3:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts on that?

It worries me big time.

The Phinsider: SBN's Miami Dolphins blog

by Matty I on Aug 19, 2008 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

at least i know

that im not alone! Its awesome that we have so many positives to discuss, but i remember in the spring the first ‘positive’ thing was our re-vamped special teams….but ill trade that for our O-Line anyday.

by DolPhanDave on Aug 19, 2008 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It shows you that's not that easy to build a good special teams unit.

As long as we don’t have the worst special teams in the league I’m ok with it. If we’re somewhere in the middle of the pack thats fine. This is still a rebuilding year in a lot of ways so it going to take a while for many of these guys to blend and have synergy. Man, do we have a good draft class though, wow!

"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 Aug 19, 2008 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

one or two

more drafts and we will be right in the thick of things. this is about as excited as a dolfan that i have been since i can remember…its fun to watch the rebuilding stage, watch new talent come in and develop and compete for a spot. just tear it down and build from the inside out. its how you build a winning franchise, the cowboys did it in the 90’s, the colts did it, the pats did it, shoot, even the chiefs are doing it. its a good time to be a dolfan.

by dlux2561 on Aug 19, 2008 3:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

well thats what i like to hear

I like to hear about the rookies,Cuz that means that we had a very good draft this year..All i can realy say what we need to do is get more draft choices in whateva way.Cuz the more draft choices the better players well have on this team for sure…N i love that…With the qb i belive that pennington is gonna be the starter,Cuz that was one of the terms when we brought him over here.N he also looks sharp in its best if we let henne sit for awaile and just learn on the side line for a year or two……..

by lionel on Aug 19, 2008 3:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's bizarre

to see just how many teams believe that they can stick a marquee skill player on an average team with average line play and they’ll contend. It’s just so backwards it beggars belief, yet every year you see a ton of teams do it. The lions drafting 103 wide receivers is definitely the funniest (and yet somewhat tragic) example.

It feels so good to see our team focusing on putting the foundations down first. For example, I do like the look of Matt Ryan over in Atlanta, but he’s going to be shovelling sh-t for a couple of years over there with the standard of players around him. If they think he and Turner alone can lift them up, they’re badly mistaken. And of course, when they fail, Ryan will be blamed. Same as all the QBs who passed through here who never had a real chance to succeed.

Last point… For so long, if we got a draft pick in a trade I considered it worthless, since we never hit on our picks for around a decade. Now every pick we get, from 2nd round to 6th, feels like it could be Wonka’s golden ticket. I mean – Donald Thomas? Starting already? F’in ridiculous. Anyway, can’t wait to watch our OL this year.

Football isn't a matter of life and death - it's far more important than that.

by Agumen on Aug 19, 2008 3:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If he starts the best guy...

…that means Pennington will start. If he starts the guy they’re paying starter money, Pennington starts. If he starts the guy with more experience… you get my drift. There’s no way Henne starts until November at the earliest.

by icerob on Aug 19, 2008 5:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sparano says

he wants the best player at every position to start. Now i dont see Henne outplaying Pennington, but if Henne ends up the starter (which i doubt) then it means he is the best player we have at that position right now. That being Henne just doesn’t make sense…unless he truely is the 2nd coming of #13.

by DolPhanDave on Aug 19, 2008 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think so far, Penn has out played Henne

and I think Chad P gets even better between now and the first game. But Henne hasn’t exactly been a slouch.
:)

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Aug 19, 2008 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How can you say penniless is better than Kenne?

penniless just play 2 drives without td’s!! basically, RW was the man on those drives. Henne did pretty good amd Sparano said that “Henne has shown me great poise, he really has. He’s been in some tough situations and handled it well.” So! if that’s not a hint, i don’t know what is it!!

I will see the Dolphins win a SUPER BOWL before i die(21 years and counting)

by Aleta on Aug 19, 2008 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wake up folks...

There is NO WAY that Henne gets the nod. Ridiculous for even thinking that. Pennington is the most accurate passer in the history of the NFL, period, end of story.

This young team needs a stabilizing force at the QB position right now to get them through the early part of the season to build their confidence. If the team/Pennington struggle during the year, then I would expect to see Henne get some time. Read the story about Pennington keeping the offensive players around for an hour after practice last week… (PURE LEADER)

However, unlike last years regime, they are giving the young guy plenty of reps early on so he learns the entire offense and has playing time with the first unit so if something happens he is ready to play.

The JETS will be sorry next year when Favre retires – AGAIN – next season and they are stuck with Clemmons as their QB and some rookie.

Definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results...

by azphinner on Aug 20, 2008 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Than Henne(sorry about Kenne) : (

I will see the Dolphins win a SUPER BOWL before i die(21 years and counting)

by Aleta on Aug 19, 2008 7:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pennington Holds Class

Pennington kept his offense 1 hr after Friday’s practice to make sure eveyone was on the same page for Saturday’s game…seemed to work…I like this, shows leadership & that extra mile needed at QB position.
Bob Griese has some very positive things to say after Sat’s game as well….liked his composure, leadership, improved throwing mechanics (even said Pennington is using a more overhead throwing motion which should help to avoid future shoulder injuries).
I also like everything I am seeing/hearing in Henne (my prediction is he will emerge as the best QB of the 2008 draft class!!

by MassFinFan65 on Aug 19, 2008 8:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This info is good to know!!

I didn’t knew penniless stay after practice with the scuad. That is leadership, right there. That is another story. Lets see what happen then. At least Henne has not make a td drive and penniless has : )

I will see the Dolphins win a SUPER BOWL before i die(21 years and counting)

by Aleta on Aug 19, 2008 10:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Henne would be in a good situation to start in

He’s got a good OL and two good RBs to lean on

Why so serious?

by Patssuck456 on Aug 19, 2008 10:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hm...

That’s what I call positive thinking! Considering it’s the offense of a 1-15 team.

by icerob on Aug 19, 2008 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The better Henne does

the better it for Beck. If Henne starts or is good enough to be the first QB off the bench I think the FO keeps Beck and lets McCown go. If Henne is not ready they keep McCown to back up Pennington. From what it sounds like Beck maybe a Dolphin one more year.

by jvw on Aug 20, 2008 9:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs