Dolphins search for starting quarterback continues

[DolFan619]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolqb060608,0,5419059.story

Dolphins search for starting quarterback continues

Kyle Whitehead
Sun-Sentinel.com

4:05 PM EDT, June 6, 2008

DAVIE - With training camp still about seven weeks away, the Dolphins are no closer to naming a starting quarterback.

"We're watching and evaluating daily, but I've had guys that can really practice and get in the game and spit the bit," quarterbacks coach David Lee said Friday after the morning practice session. "We have to get these guys into a game and let them play before we go naming one, two and three."

The three-way battle is between returner John Beck, second-round draft pick Chad Henne and veteran offseason addition Josh McCown.

McCown and Beck have taken the majority of snaps with the first team in offseason workouts.

"Day by day we're all improving and I think that's the big thing,'' Beck said. "The competition level is rising each day because as they get better, then I've got to raise my bar and continue to get better."

Several coaches have raved about Beck's relentless work ethic in the offseason, after coming off a difficult rookie season in which he threw just one touchdown pass in five games.

"I guarantee it, nobody in the league has worked any harder than John Beck," offensive coordinator Dan Henning said. "From the first day that David Lee came here as a quarterbacks coach, [Beck] has thrown somewhere in the neighborhood between 6,000 and 7,000 balls and if you want to see them we have them all on tape."

Lee believes all the one-on-one work has paid off. The former Cowboys quarterbacks coach noticed Beck dropped his release point after injuring his shoulder in college at BYU and it stayed that way during his rookie season.

"I just want him to get his ball up there at least helmet high," Lee said. "I believe in my heart that a guy can only be as good as he can be if he's three-quarters overhand."

While Beck works on fine-tuning his technique, coaches say Henne isn't that far behind. After working through mental errors in rookie camp, the four-year starter at Michigan appeared much more composed Friday, according to Lee.

"He has not gotten lost. I thought he was going to and he hasn't," Lee said.

"I think if there's one thing that strikes me about this kid, one word, he's just unflappable. You chew him out, 'What's the next play.' He takes criticism, 'You got it Coach, give me another one.' There's no sense of throwing anybody else under the bus. There are no excuses with him. He's tough."

Beck and Henne may have impressed, but McCown has something neither of them can offer: six years of NFL experience. He has thrown for over 6,500 yards and 35 touchdowns in 46 games with the Cardinals and Raiders.

"He has been knocked around, but he's had some good games," Lee said. "The number one thing about him is he's a natural leader.''