Henne or Merling...or Both?

by crossborderFISHingtrip on Oct 22, 2009 8:50 PM EDT Comment 51 comments

There are 3 premium positions in the NFL: 1) QB, 2) LT, 3) DE. In other words, be the QB, protect the QB or go get the QB. It’s a QB-driven league so it’s pretty much a given that you need a good one to be successful.

When the Trifecta came aboard, their mission was to start in the trenches first by re-building both lines while laying the foundation for a run/stop run team personality. And while I too believe in this strategy, a QB trumps all and to put it mildly, we had none. McCowan was the big free agent signing and we still had Beck and Lemon. Talk about the start of a loooong re-building process.

Jake Long is one of my favorite Dolphins. Love the pick at #1, no matter how good Matt Ryan becomes. But what really sold me on this pick was the belief that at least the Trifecta recognized the need to upgrade at QB and that we would surely pick the best available of the next 3 (Flacco, Brohm, Henne) with the the 32nd pick. My personal choice was Henne. Not because he went to Michigan but rather that he fit all of the characteristics that Parcells is known to favour in college QB’s: 4-yr starter, 25+ wins, high character, high football IQ. It just made too much sense that it had to happen, until it didn’t.

Philip Merling is also one of my favourite Dolphins but when he got picked, I remember staring at the TV in more disbelief than that infamous fan at the draft party when we didn’t pick Brady Quinn. Coming out of college, he was considered a prototype DE for the 3-4 defense. Most mocks had him as a top 10 talent but dropping into the back half the 1st round due to sports hernia surgery. I bet you that if someone told Parcells before the draft that he’d get the #1 ranked LT and DE around which to re-build his lines, he’d have probably fainted. Too this day I believe that if the Pats had that #32 pick, they’d have picked Merling and we would have picked Henne one slot later. And I still believe that the Dolphins had Merling ranked so high on their list that they couldn’t resist. But I also still wish they had, and Henne’s play in his first 2 starts only makes me believe this even more.

There were many other teams that needed a QB that year and many draft experts were even predicting a few teams looking to trade back into the 1st round to snatch Henne before the Phins got him. The Dolphins had to assume that by picking Merling, Henne wold most likely not be there 25 picks later when they were up again. And so they said good-bye and made the pick. Imagine what they were thinking when the Packers picked Brohm immediately before? How would we be feeling today?

In the end it’s all water under the bridge. We got both players and our team has a bright future. To be good, you need a bit of luck. Go Dolphins!!!

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by Farorefox on Oct 22, 2009 9:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"I hope you know a lot more than you believe in"-Gram Parsons

by texascowpunk on Oct 22, 2009 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha

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by samdaman on Oct 23, 2009 7:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

by finzrule on Oct 23, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

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by phins23 on Oct 22, 2009 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

how do you post pictures?

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by phins23 on Oct 22, 2009 9:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

First off you can go back and edit your post. There is an icon off to the right for posting pics.

Always be sure to preview your post first.

"I hope you know a lot more than you believe in"-Gram Parsons

by texascowpunk on Oct 22, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hahahahah except hmm its not his post

by MauMontaV5 on Oct 22, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ummm, yeah, ummm, I umm knew that!

"I hope you know a lot more than you believe in"-Gram Parsons

by texascowpunk on Oct 22, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i tried...

adding a photo to my most recent post about field goal kickers and it came up as jumbled crap like this guy so i obviously didn’t publish it…help?

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by phins23 on Oct 22, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When your have the text window open look to the right and there are icons to add

pics, video, ect.

"I hope you know a lot more than you believe in"-Gram Parsons

by texascowpunk on Oct 22, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very good recap, thanks a lot. I didn't know much about

all the talk before that draft. Good job

by MauMontaV5 on Oct 22, 2009 9:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Plus, I still don't get why Henne was there at 50 something, he shouldn't have

by MauMontaV5 on Oct 22, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

was just a lucky draw

Can't wait untill Sean Smith puts Randy Moss on his ass lol, Co-Vice President of the official Matty I fan club.

by jojo phin fan on Oct 22, 2009 9:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

better than Brohm.

How lucky did that turn out to be?
That draft will go down in history. Add Long, Langford, Thomas with a touch of Hilliard, Bess and Carpenter. 5 Pro-Bowl calibre players.

by crossborderFISHingtrip on Oct 22, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember them saying something like

“we were praying that henne would still be there”

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by finsxfactor on Oct 22, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's why I always had my huge doubts about Henne

and still am so so. If he was truly “their” guy. Their franchise quarterback. Then how in the hell do you let him go 2 times in a row? for a DE

by MauMontaV5 on Oct 22, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I never know what to think

Don’t forget they’ve since added Penny, White and Thigpen. The regime must think they can win with any QB.

by crossborderFISHingtrip on Oct 22, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I was never sold on them being sold on Henne.

But he is proving us wrong so that’s in the past.

by MauMontaV5 on Oct 22, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL Cant we all just get along?

"I hope you know a lot more than you believe in"-Gram Parsons

by texascowpunk on Oct 23, 2009 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How can you still not be sold on Henne?

He just walked into Land Shark Stadium for a Monday night game and basically went Julius Caesar on the Jets defense. He’s still got a lot to learn, but I’ve been waiting for a Dolphins QB to do that since…well, spring of 2000.

On the other hand, Mau, I love your cynicism. It’s refreshing to hear from someone who isn’t easily dragged into the hype and bullshit that comes so easily in the NFL. That said, I think Henne’s our man.

Drinking the Sean Smith #24 orange Kool-Aid. We have a new shutdown corner in South Beach!

by kmb8488 on Oct 23, 2009 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly, while not being crazy in love with Henne

and just already crowning him. Like you say, for me it is hard to say “one good game is nothing, Ryan Leaf had one great game”, and so so because what I’ve seen from him has really impressed me. The poise, the accuracy, how he understands the game, reading defenses, seing the blitz coming and obviously his strong arm. So bottom line, Im not sold on Henne yet but because I still want to see him face hard situations such as coming from behind, playing through interceptions and coming back mentally, when they take away the running game just see him absolutely crush a defense with 6-8 consecutive passes like Tom Brady against Buffalo the first week. You get me?

by MauMontaV5 on Oct 23, 2009 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not too many INTs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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by kewlguy on Oct 23, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Parcells gambling on Henne being there later in round two

is a good example of why he gets paid the money he does. It was risky, but he rolled the dice and it worked. We get the best left tackle in the draft, arguably the best defensive end in the draft, and possibly (and I stress “possibly”) the best qb in the draft, too.

And before you guys go apeshit over that comment, think about this: would Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco have been any more effective than Henne in that MNF game? Maybe on some pass plays, but that third down throw to Camarillo was some seriously artistic shit. I am not worthy.

Drinking the Sean Smith #24 orange Kool-Aid. We have a new shutdown corner in South Beach!

by kmb8488 on Oct 23, 2009 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I get you, and I agree with all of that, but something about Henne's demeanor...

tells me he can handle the rought stuff. I was as skeptical as anyone when we drafted him, but he’s completely won me over with his play.

Drinking the Sean Smith #24 orange Kool-Aid. We have a new shutdown corner in South Beach!

by kmb8488 on Oct 23, 2009 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And in regards to Tom Brady

Notice he hasn’t won any super bowls since “The Five Layers of Visa Protection” started to dissolve. I think our offensive line has the potential to be the best in the NFL… and we built it in less than a year. That’s the difference Parcells has made, and I still can’t believe how fortunate we were to land him in South Beach.

Drinking the Sean Smith #24 orange Kool-Aid. We have a new shutdown corner in South Beach!

by kmb8488 on Oct 23, 2009 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah he is really good. He also had a couple of top notch

receivers. Deion Branch and Randy Moss (even when they didn’t win, they had the most incredible season the NFL has ever seen). And we don’t, we need that piece too

by MauMontaV5 on Oct 23, 2009 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is too early to compare him to Flacco or Ryan

those guys one way or another have taken their teams to the playoffs. For example, like I was telling you before, that 4th quarter by Flacco against the Vikings, when Henne does THAT then he will win me over. That was a couple of drives of throwing and throwing long, without the run. Yes, Henne was impressive too on that last drive against the Jets, but those were 3 short passes and aided a whole lot by the run and even Pat White. I’m not taking anything away from him. But he just hasn’t done what every elite quarterback in this league has.

by MauMontaV5 on Oct 23, 2009 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Flacco is much better than Ryan

In fact, from what I’ve seen, Matt Ryan is kind of a little bitch. I think Flacco is amazing though.

And again, I said “possibly.” I like the direction he’s headed, though.

Drinking the Sean Smith #24 orange Kool-Aid. We have a new shutdown corner in South Beach!

by kmb8488 on Oct 23, 2009 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hahah yeah, actually last year Flacco

was amazingly shitty at times. Lots of rookie mistakes that had you thinking “wow”. But with that arm and the way that he has developed into his second season from a mental standpoint is just unbelievable. If the Flacco from today was the guy playing against us in the playoffs last year, he would’ve put 350 yards on us.
And yes, I also hate Ryan actually. He does seem like a cry baby at times. Don’t know, just to cliche for me.

by MauMontaV5 on Oct 23, 2009 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it is possible Flacco or Ryan could have done as well.

Other than WR we have a very QB friendly offense. Defenses are scared shitless of R&R and our Oline so they are cheating their safeties up and leaving our WRs one on one and with our running game being so good defenses are biting on our play actions easily. Plus defenses are basically committing to stopping the run (unsuccessfully) and let the youngster beat them through the air. In the same situation any good QB does well. Now Im not taking anything away from Henne he’s got the tools and is doing great but his production is a team effort, hes not carrying the team like #13 used to, which is a good thing.

by Wade on Oct 23, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs