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Title: Starting QB job appears to be a two Chad race Post by: DolFan619 on August 19, 2008, 08:40:07 pm http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-chads082008,0,2605595.story
Starting QB job appears to be a two Chad race By Omar Kelly Sun-Sentinel.com 3:48 PM EDT, August 19, 2008 DAVIE - It appears the Dolphins' starting quarterback job is down to the team's two Chad's. The Dolphins continue to give the bulk of practice snaps to recently signed veteran Chad Pennington and rookie Chad Henne. Coach Tony Sparano said Pennington and Henne will likely receive most of the work during Saturday night's game against Kansas City, the team's third exhibition game, which usually serves as the primary tune-up for the regular season. Despite Pennington's credentials and obvious leadership intangibles, Sparano said he hasn't ruled out naming Henne, a Michigan standout who was selected in the second round of April's NFL draft, as the possible starter. "Two, one, I'm not sure where they are right now," Sparano said of Pennington and Henne's order on the depth chart. "It's hard to tell. Chad [Pennington] hasn't had a lot of work right now. But I feel really comfortable with Chad Henne and my evaluation of where he is. "I think he's developed a bunch since the start of rookie camp. All of a sudden the game is starting to slow down and he's playing a little bit more comfortable in the pocket, starting to see the field a little clearer and making some faster decisions out there in critical situations. This guy is really showing me great poise. He really has." Sparano hinted that a lot will depend on how quickly Pennington, an eight-year veteran, learns the offense. According to the players and coaches, it appears his progression is going swiftly. When Sparano was asked about his level of concern starting a rookie quarterback, he admitted the positives and negatives of that strategy are something the coaching staff will have to evaluate. He pointed out that Tony Romo, the last quarterback Sparano worked with before becoming a head coach, didn't becom Dallas' starter until his fourth season. "If he's the best guy I'll play him," Sparano said of Henne, who completed 17-of-26 passes in last Saturday's 19-14 exhibition win over Jacksonville. However, Sparano praised Pennington's leadership, saying he's a quarterback who can "calm the crowd," referring to the players in the huddle. "They are looking for somebody [to lead] and he's done that pretty well," Sparano said of Pennington, who completed 5-of-6 passes for 55 yards and rushed for 18 yards in his first game as a Dolphin. "But so has Henne. He really has…. I've been impressed with both of them." There was no mention of Josh McCown or John Beck, the other two quarterbacks in camp, as the Dolphins potential starter on Tuesday. Both McCown and Beck have sparingly been used in team drills during practices going back to last week, and Sparano wouldn't commit to playing either against Kansas City. Sparano openly admitted his focus "right now" is on investing in the Dolphins' two Chad's, who likely represent the Dolphins quarterbacks of the present, and the future. Title: Re: Starting QB job appears to be a two Chad race Post by: EDGECRUSHER on August 19, 2008, 11:52:52 pm Dear God, both of our QB's are named Chad. It's more dire than I imagined.
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