Chad Henne set for breakout season
Chad Henne showed some great signs last season. He was put in a tough spot having to step in and replace Chad Pennington a season earlier than expected. When Henne was drafted in 2008, it was expected that he’d sit and learn from a veteran quarterback for a while.
When the Miami Dolphins signed Pennington to a two-year contract it was a sign that Henne would take over as the starter in 2010. He took that role in week three last season when Pennington suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Henne had to step in and lead a team that had started 0-3 and performed well.
Henne showed that he has what it takes to be a great NFL quarterback. He went 7-6 as a starter and he showed that he can win games in the fourth quarter, which is something all the greats can do. Late in the season, Henne struggled as he lost four of his last six games. He finished the season with 2878 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
The interceptions stand out but we can’t forget that Henne did not have a true number-one receiver. Ted Ginn proved to be a disappointment; the Dolphins had hoped he could develop into Henne’s favourite target. He dropped many passes and Henne was forced into a lot of short throws.
The Dolphins addressed their major need for a wide receiver when they traded for Brandon Marshall. Marshall is a difference-maker and makes any team (and quarterback) better. Henne now has a receiver who has caught at least 100 passes in his last three seasons. The Dolphins may be a running team first but with Marshall they can now add a whole new dimension that they were missing last season.
Henne has also been mentored by Pennington since his arrival in Miami. Team mates say that they are now beginning to see a lot of Pennington in Henne. Henne is essentially Pennington with a stronger arm. Pennington has been a short-range passer who’s very accurate and can move the ball down-field. Henne has the ability to go deep and he will now get more chances this season with a reliable target like Marshall.
Many have remained sceptical about Henne but he showed why he can be the Dolphins’ quarterback of the future last year. It was also Henne’s first time as a starter and he did not have the kind of supporting cast he now has. Henne was drafted in the second round in the 2008 draft out of Michigan.
His team-mate and protector left tackle Jake Long was Henne’s team-mate in Michigan as well. Long was drafted first overall that year and has been in charge of protecting Henne’s blindside since 2006. Long has complete faith in Henne and believes Henne will prove all doubters wrong in 2010.
“I've seen him prove people wrong," Long said. "When he got thrown in last year, when Pennington got hurt, he really became the leader on our offence. He's the rock of our offence, the leader of our offence. Everybody here has total faith in him. He's not a question mark. He's going to have a really good season.”
Henne’s coaches and team mates have raved about him through training camp and he is really starting to find his stride with Marshall. Many doubt that Marshall can catch 100 passes again in an offensive system that focuses on the running game.
What can’t be forgotten is that Marshall has caught 100 passes with Jay Cutler and Kyle Orton. Cutler struggled last season in Chicago without Marshall as his safety blanket and Orton is not seen as an elite quarterback. Marshall may be what Henne needs to take the next step.
The journey now officially begins for Henne in south Florida. It’s the first season in which he enters as the starter and he is bound to flourish. He was rushed onto the scene as a freshman in Michigan and continued to improve every season. Now he will improve with the Dolphins and should be the answer to the Dolphins’ long-time problem at the quarterback position. Since Dan Marino retired the Dolphins have not had any stability at quarterback, but Henne looks he will be that long-term solution.
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