The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/08/02/a1b_dolphins_0803.html

Dan Marino still best QB at Dolphins scrimmage

By EDGAR THOMPSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, August 02, 2008

DAVIE — Bill Parcells flashed a big smile at the quarterback roaming the Dolphins sideline.

Moments later, Parcells greeted Dan Marino with a hug.

For the next 10 or 15 minutes during Saturday's scrimmage, the greatest passer in franchise history and the man charged with returning it to its glory years shared a few laughs and a few memories.

Meanwhile on the field in front of them, the current crop of Dolphins quarterbacks was in the midst of another forgettable day.

While Parcells chatted with the man who has completed more throws than anyone but Brett Favre, the Dolphins struggled to complete a single pass.

Quarterback John Beck said it wasn't the kind of performance he'd have liked Marino to see.

"I'm sure we would have liked to have done a little bit better," Beck said.

"I'm sure it brought back a few memories for Dan. I'm sure he was standing there, maybe wishing he was still throwing it around a little bit."

If he had joined in, Marino, 46, might have been the best quarterback on the field.

Don't expect Marino to file reinstatement papers as the Dolphins continue to search for answers. But if things don't improve at quarterback, the team might have to do something.

During a three-series span while Parcells and Marino chatted, the Dolphins' three quarterbacks - Beck, Josh McCown and Chad Henne - completed 2-of-22 throws.

Both were screen passes.

Lined up with the first-team offense against the second-team defense for a series, McCown missed on all nine of his passes and tossed an interception - the only turnover of the day.

"It gets frustrating, but you have to weather the storm," said McCown, who with 31 starts in six seasons has a decided experience edge over Beck and Henne. "There were passes that I missed, and there were times that things didn't jell."

Head coach Tony Sparano also seemed to be frustrated. At one point he yelled, "Gotta play faster quarterbacks. Everything has to speed up ... Everything."

The two times Sparano openly complimented his quarterbacks, McCown threw a ball out of the back of the end zone in lieu of a sack and Henne fell on top of the ball after center Samson Satele snapped the ball over this head.

Not exactly plays to build on.

But coaches also have shuffled players in and out of the lineup in search of the right combination on the offensive line and at receiver or to keep players fresh during camp.

"Right now you still have a number of moving parts," Sparano said. "Maybe you have some guys in the huddle at times that may or may not even make this team."

Dropped passes have been another issue impeding the passing game the past several days.

On Saturday, wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., running back Ronnie Brown and fullback Reagan Mauia - all starters a season ago - were among players who watched passes slip through their hands.

"Those are plays we have to make," Sparano said.

But even when the passing game was in sync, the result rarely was a big gain downfield. The Dolphins quarterbacks seemed content throwing the ball to the running back or to the tight end in the flats.

"It's not where I want it to be right now - not a week in," Sparano said of the passing game. "We need to move the ball down the field a little bit.

"I think that'll come."

No one seems to be panicking. After all, a team's defense routinely is ahead of its offense early in training camp.

"It happens every camp," linebacker Channing Crowder said. "Defense is more instinctual. Offense is more timing.

"They'll come together."

The defense also knows what play to look for after seeing them over and over during a week of practice.

McCown said the coaches called a pass play he'd completed downfield twice last week. But on Saturday, veteran safety Renaldo Hill was ready for it, forcing McCown to get rid of the ball.

"They come into the locker room, 'Hey you're not going to get that one on me again.' " McCown said. "When you're in this situation, it's hard to get a lot of balls downfield."

Even so, the gap between the Dolphins' passing offense and defense on Saturday was wide enough to concern some players.

"You'd like to see more balls completed by the offense, regardless," cornerback Andre Goodman said. "The defense is playing well right now, but you'd like to see the offense match the level of play by the defense. It didn't happen.

"So one day for the defense, that's all you can chalk it up."

Sparano isn't keeping score quite yet.

He knows the quarterback situation won't sort itself out for another week or two, beginning Saturday when Tampa Bay visits Dolphin Stadium in their exhibition opener.

"The truth be told, I'm really anxious to see them in a game," Sparano said.

When your best QB at the scrimmage is a 46 year old retiree, you've got serious problems. 

However, this was only a scrimmage.  The real test will come in game situations.  Less than a week before this team takes the field!!!!

Here's a camp notebook from the Sun Sentinel's Harvey Fialkov

Miami Dolphins camp notebook
By Harvey Fialkov | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
August 3, 2008

News of the day
It had to be difficult for coach Tony Sparano to watch his three quarterbacks struggle to get the ball downfield during Saturday's controlled, yet unscripted scrimmage, especially with Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino watching from the sideline inside the bubble.

The trio of quarterbacks — John Beck, Josh McCown and rookie Chad Henne — split 90 snaps while Sparano barked out the situation. They managed to find the end zone just twice — a 6-yarder over the middle from Henne to rookie TE Matthew Mulligan and a 9-yard lob from McCown to rookie receiver Selwyn Lymon.

"I felt all three of the quarterbacks at different times made some pretty nice throws," Sparano said. "One thing I didn't think that we did a good job of today is I didn't think we caught the ball very well."

Despite Sparano's neutral stance, it seems evident Henne is closing ground on his two more experienced counterparts.



"All three of us quarterbacks are here to compete and win the job," Henne said.

Beck seems to be pressing, and although he didn't turn the ball over, his most effective passes have been short check-downs to running backs.

"You're trying obviously to maximize every play when you're in a quarterback competition like this," Beck said. "You don't want to go out there and force the ball, and not take advantage of a play, so you're really trying to be perfect."

Sparano said nothing would be decided until he sees the quarterbacks in actual game circumstances.



Roster moves
The Dolphins waived T Reuben Riley less than a week after signing him. They also waived Aaron Halterman, who tweaked his back earlier this week.


Camp observations
Tough break for fans who came to watch the intrasquad scrimmage only to be turned away when the threat of lightning forced the Dolphins inside. … K Jay Feely, who only missed two field goals last year, missed two of three in the bubble, including 37- and 42-yarders. Dan Carpenter nailed his kicks with yards to spare. … DE Vonnie Holliday lined up at OLB for a few plays, and Sparano said that it's all about roster flexibility.


QB competition
McCown had a great start and finish, but in between threw an interception to CB Travis Daniels and didn't complete a pass on his second series (0 for 7). Overall edge to Henne.

"It was just good to finish up that way," McCown said. "As a quarterback in these situations you know there's not going to be a passer rating at the end, but you know after having that goofy interception you want to come back and equal it out."


Who's up?
Reserve LB Junior Glymph was all over the field, creating havoc for RBs and notching 2 1/2 sacks. The 6-foot-5, 278-pounder nearly intercepted a handoff between RB Jalen Parmele and Beck.


Who's down?
Undrafted rookie Anthony Anderson let a 40-yard bomb from McCown go in and out of his hands. He was far from the only culprit as the receivers aren't creating much separation. Maybe agent Drew Rosenhaus was on hand talking to VP Bill Parcells and GM Jeff Ireland about unhappy client Anquan Boldin.

Injury update
CB Michael Lehan (ankle) is still out; WR John Dunlap was excused from practice due to family reasons; TE Justin Peelle (knee) remains sidelined.


Quote of the day
"I don't care. I don't like any of them, I don't like any running backs, offensive linemen, receivers. I don't like offensive players period. But they will be good and they will go with whoever they think is the most helpful for the team," — linebacker Channing Crowder on the QB competition

IMO, the Dolphins should start working a trade for Boldin right this minute.  He's better than any receiver we have and will provide an instant upgrade to this receiving corps. 

We could've had him in the second round of 2003, but Wanny chose to go with Eddie Moore. 

I'd offer the second rounder we just picked up from Washington for JT. 

I'd really love to see Anquan Boldin in a Dolphins uniform... I mean, "reeeeeally."

I see what the Patriots did as sort of like Steroids.  With Steroids its not just a magic pill to get huge and strong. You still need to get your ass in the gym and work out. The Patriots might be lying cheating bastards, but Tom Brady is still one hell of a Quarterback. The Dolphins have just had a 35 year run of Bad Luck.  Either with have a great defense and no offense or the other way around. When we have one of the greatest passers of all time behind center........we have no running game. When we have a good running game........guess what? We have a QB that can't get a 1st down let alone a score or turns it over every other down.. Hopefully the Tuna will get us balanced right again.