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Title: Chad Pennington breathes life into offense in Dolphins' win Post by: DolFan619 on August 17, 2008, 01:55:43 am http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/08/16/a1b_dolphins_0817.html
Chad Pennington breathes life into offense in Dolphins' win By EDGAR THOMPSON Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Saturday, August 16, 2008 JACKSONVILLE — With the regular season three weeks away, the Dolphins hoped that quarterback Chad Pennington could wake up the offense. It didn't take him long. A week after the Dolphins failed to score a touchdown in their exhibition opener, Pennington led his new team to quick 10-0 lead Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars - and then called it a night. The defense, rookie quarterback Chad Henne and rookie kicker Dan Carpenter did the rest as Miami picked up a 19-14 victory, not allowing a score until 6:51 remained. "Our whole thing this week was to take the next step, to get better," Pennington said. "To take those things in practice and show we could do them in a game." The only bad news for the Dolphins was an injury to running back Ronnie Brown. He left in the second quarter after landing awkwardly his right thumb. The severity of the injury wasn't immediately known, but after the game he wore only a light wrap on it. He was able to rotate the thumb and said he would be OK. Pennington, the former New York Jets quarterback who watched the opening game from the sideline after signing as a free agent, did all that could be expected in his Dolphins debut. He finished 5-of-6 for 55 yards for a passer rating of 104.9. He also rushed twice for 18 yards. Meanwhile, backup QBs Josh McCown and John Beck didn't play. "We have a little confidence now," said Pennington, who likely will start again Saturday night when Kansas City visits Dolphin Stadium. "Now we have to build on it." Coach Tony Sparano feels that his team has something to build on after an opener in which the Dolphins failed to sustain drives and scored only two field goals during a 17-6 loss to Tampa Bay. "In this league you don't win the way we played last week," Sparano said. "I'm not used to that kind of football." Teams do win the way the Dolphins played against the Jags. Miami converted 7 of 15 third-down opportunities and controlled the ball for 37 minutes. The defense also was much sharper. The Bucs mounted drives of 19, 18 and 13 plays last week, but the Jaguars had little success until the regulars had long departed. Jacksonville's best scoring chance ended inside the Dolphins' 5-yard line during the second quarter when nose tackle Paul Soliai stripped running back Maurice Jones-Drew of the ball, leading to a touchback. "We had goals set to get off the field and giving our offense the opportunity to get the ball as much as they can get something going," linebacker Akin Ayodele said. Pennington didn't do it alone. Although Brown managed just a couple of carries, Ricky Williams carried 10 times for 43 yards, including the first touchdown of the game. Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., the team's first-round pick in 2007, caught two passes in the middle. Carpenter, who became the starter when the team cut veteran Jay Feely, was perfect on field-goal attempts, converting from 31, 46, 44 and 37 yards. Williams said the Dolphins' solid performance began with one player. "I think it's based on Chad, having No. 10 in the huddle," Williams said. "He's been around. He has a lot of experience - presence." Until Pennington found his way to Miami, the quarterback situation was unsettled. Henne was leading the three-man race with veteran McCown and Beck, the No. 40 pick in the 2007 draft. Henne finished 17-of-26 for 133 yards against the Jags and led three drives that ended in field goals. "We definitely need to get into the end zone," said Henne, who led the Dolphins to two field goals last week. "Coach Sparano is on me for that." Pennington found the end zone during the team's second offensive series, showing the poise and efficiency that marked much of his eight-season stay with the Jets. He used his arm and his feet - plus Williams' rushing - to guide the Dolphins down the field for a touchdown. On the drive's opening play, Pennington exhibited the quick decision-making that he showed during his first week of practice in South Florida. With the pocket collapsing around him, Pennington tucked the ball away and picked up nine yards. Facing 1st-and-10 two plays later, he stepped up in the pocket and hit Ginn on a well-timed square-in route for a 22-yard gain to the Jags 24-yard line. Williams did the rest. Using his mix of speed and battering-ram power, Williams needed four carries to pick up the final 24 yards. He capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown, cutting back against the grain to squeeze into the end zone. |