QB - Who should start?

[StL FinFan]

I think the better question here is:
Who will NOT make the roster: Thigpen or White?

I will go with White.

[Pappy13]

I think the better question here is:
Who will NOT make the roster: Thigpen or White?

I'm going White.  Practice squad unless he can return punts or kick-offs or something else, the QB experiment is over.  In fact I think you'll see a lot less of the wildcat this year as well, it's now Henne's team.  They'll run the wildcat from time to time just to make defenses prepare for it, but I doubt you'll see Henne on the sideline 4 or 5 plays at a time like they did at times last year.  You didn't pick up Brandon Marshall to run the wildcat.

[fyo]

I'm going White.  Practice squad

Pretty sure he's ineligible, since he suited up for pretty much every game last season.

[Tepop84]

Henne is BY FAR the team's best available option at QB. Chad Pennington can't throw past 15 yards and Pat White isn't an NFL QB. However, that doesn't mean that Henne doesn't suck. IF he can't perform in 2010, then he really does suck and the Dolphins need to draft whoever is the best QB available in next year's NFL draft. This is the year of "No Excuses" for (or from) Henne.

Thats funny.  Hennes 2009 on top vs. pennington 2008 on the bottom.  Who can't throw it past 15 yards?
 

Of course, what would the team do when it is close and late without Henne, maybe win?

[dolphins4life]

^^^^

Yeah, but that was 2008.

Pennington is washed up and banged up.  It's time to move forward with Henne.

Plus, I'd have to see how many of Penny's 2008 throws were the results of YAC yards. 

[Tepop84]

^^^^

Yeah, but that was 2008.

Pennington is washed up and banged up.  It's time to move forward with Henne.

Plus, I'd have to see how many of Penny's 2008 throws were the results of YAC yards. 

Of course that chart is grouped based on how far the ball traveled in the air genius.

[fyo]

Thats funny.  Hennes 2009 on top vs. pennington 2008 on the bottom.  Who can't throw it past 15 yards?

I think you're guilty of cherry-picking data to fit your beliefs. (While I'm at it, please cite your source -- in this case ESPN player data, links at bottom).

If you actually WATCHED Miami play last year, you would have seen that our receivers SUCKED ASS and couldn't catch the ball -- regardless of who was throwing.

How did Pennington do before he got hurt last year? He only completed a single throw that traveled more than 20 yards in the air (out of 8 ) -- well, two, if you count the one he threw to the other team. Specifically, he was 1 of 4 for 21-30, 0 of 3 (with 1 INT) for 31-40 and 0 of 1 for 41+.

I will certainly stipulate that this is a rather small sample to draw any conclusions from, but it meshes very well with actual game observations.

Additionally, young quarterbacks (regardless of arm strength) are expected to throw a lot of short passes. They simply do not have the experience necessary to read a defense that far "ahead". This is one of those areas where young quarterbacks generally need to improve and this goes for Henne as well.

If we take your other cherry-picked data, the "By Close", Henne also comes out on top if we compare 2009 to 2009. Pennington had ratings of 46 and 40, respectively, in the two categories (compared to Henne's 49 and 66, respectively). Check the links below for full data.

Henne: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/splits?playerId=11291

Pennington: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/splits?playerId=2149

[Dolphster]

Thats funny.  Hennes 2009 on top vs. pennington 2008 on the bottom.  Who can't throw it past 15 yards?
 

Of course, what would the team do when it is close and late without Henne, maybe win?

Interesting stat, but it doesn't take into consideration the fact that especially in his earlier games, the game plan probably kept Henne on a pretty short leash as far as his play options were concerned.  Also, game situations play a large role in the type of play called.  If you are playing behind all the time, that would lend itself to longer passes.  If you are constantly in 3rd and long situations, that would lend itself to longer passes as well.  So although this was an interesting stat, it does not take cause and effect into consideration.  If Dan Marino had a great running game and a shut 'em down defense supporting him, he wouldn't have thrown for nearly as many yards.  Doesn't mean he wouldn't have been capable.  And no, I'm not comparing Henne to Dan Marino.  I'm just saying that situation dictates play calling as much as ability does.

[jtex316]

Tepop - You can't compare 2008 vs. 2009. Try again.

[Brian Fein]

the 2008 team was 11-5 and won the division.  Not so much in 2009.  Come on, you should know better than that.

[Pappy13]

the 2008 team was 11-5 and won the division.  Not so much in 2009.  Come on, you should know better than that.

Not to mention that in 2008 they had one of the easiest schedules in the league whereas in 2009 they faced one of the toughest if not the toughest.

[bsfins]

I thought Pennington was starting  on the PUP list recovering from shoulder surgery....(or atleast there was a good chance of it)  IT was the reason why we kept the extra QB.....

[Pappy13]

I thought Pennington was starting  on the PUP list recovering from shoulder surgery....(or atleast there was a good chance of it)  IT was the reason why we kept the extra QB.....

Will depend on White and Pennington.  If White is improved enough to warrant it or if Pennington is not healthy then yeah, that will probably happen.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Even if Pennington is slightly better than Henne, to what gain is there in starting him?

The guy has had three major injuries.  You can only duct tape him back together so many times.  Safe to assume that if you tried to use him as a starter, the backup is going to be playing sooner or later. 

Henne OTOH, should improve with experince, and if not at least play him long enough to conclude a 1st or 2nd round pick will be used for a QB in the 2011 draft.  Cause if Henne isn't your franchise QB, you need to draft one, cause Pennington, White or Thigpen ain't either. 

[Dolphster]

Even if Pennington is slightly better than Henne, to what gain is there in starting him?

The guy has had three major injuries.  You can only duct tape him back together so many times.  Safe to assume that if you tried to use him as a starter, the backup is going to be playing sooner or later. 

Henne OTOH, should improve with experince, and if not at least play him long enough to conclude a 1st or 2nd round pick will be used for a QB in the 2011 draft.  Cause if Henne isn't your franchise QB, you need to draft one, cause Pennington, White or Thigpen ain't either. 

This man speaks the troofs right there.  Well said.