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Title: Dolphins' QB derby will take time Post by: DolFan619 on June 08, 2008, 12:32:53 am http://www.miamiherald.com/614/story/562333.html
Dolphins' QB derby will take time BY JEFF DARLINGTON Miami Herald The practices matter to this competition, of course. Dolphins quarterbacks coach David Lee isn't suggesting otherwise. But Lee also warned during this weekend's minicamp that anyone anticipating a starting quarterback to be named before training camp might be in for a longer wait than expected. That's because practices might matter -- but games matter more. ''I really believe this in my heart,'' Lee said. ``You evaluate a quarterback once he gets into a game when people in the stands are cursing at him and throwing ice at him and the Fox camera is running over his head in the huddle. ``That's when you evaluate the quarterback.'' Looks like it's time to reach for that Snickers. This definitely could be a while. As the Dolphins continue their search for a leader on offense, as John Beck and Josh McCown and Chad Henne all vie for more repetitions with the first team, it appears Miami's most important competition could drag well into August. The team's preseason schedule begins Aug. 9 and concludes Aug. 28, which marks the first stint when coaches will have the chance to evaluate their crew of quarterbacks in a setting that's at least more like a game-type atmosphere than practices. Still, coach Tony Sparano said no specific deadline exists. ''We'll have to see how the preseason goes and how these training camps get on,'' Sparano said. Throughout the offseason, the quarterbacks have been evenly splitting first-team repetitions on a day-to-day basis. This weekend, however, each quarterback has spent time under center with the starting receivers. At this point, although Sparano urged Saturday that this is a three-man race, it looks like Beck and McCown have the early edge -- which makes good sense given their experience over Henne (a rookie). IN THE RUNNING But each quarterback said he still feels like he is in the running as much as the next one, noting this coaching staff has expressed no qualms about making the players aware of the battle. ''Oh yeah, it's very clear cut,'' McCown said. ``You're dividing the reps. Everything is even. You're getting your fair shots. It definitely does [feel like a competition]. More than anything, as a group we're all playing at a good level lately. It's pushing each other.'' Said Beck: ``It's going well. Day by day, we're all improving. I think that's the good thing. The competition level is rising each day because as they get better, I need to raise my bar and continue to get better.'' But although the presence of an on-field competition between these quarterbacks is clear to each of them, the battle isn't keeping any of them from focusing on their individual studies. Beck, for instance, isn't allowing his need to edge McCown to keep him from making necessary adjustments that could cause him to take an occasional step back before he takes a few more steps forward. An example? This offseason, Lee has spent dozens of days readjusting Beck's throwing motion to give him a higher release point (called three-fourths overhand), eliminating a slight sidearm motion. ''A guy can only be as good as he can be if he's three-fourths overhand,'' Lee said. ``You can only get so good with a sidearm. . . . He's worked really hard.'' EDGE OF EXPERIENCE It's going to take a similar work ethic throughout the offseason, especially since Beck's closest competition has the starting experience that he and Henne lack. McCown, who has started 31 games during stops with three other teams, also has been through competitions much like this one in the past. No doubt, that helps, but McCown realizes his past isn't going to determine his future. As a result, he says, this competition will go on. And on. Until, finally, a winner emerges. ''From the experience I've had in the past, whenever you feel like you've found the guy, then you move forward with it,'' McCown said. ``You have to feel like you're the guy every time you step under center. I feel like I'm the guy, John feels like he's the guy and Chad feels like he's the guy. It's making us better, and it's making the team better.'' |