The dynamics of the White-Henne competition

I cannot begin to tell you how many e-mails have flooded my Outlook box since the draft, wondering about the dynamics of the looming Chad Henne vs. Pat White competition.

Can I give you one man's opinion?

Don't get too worried about this competition deal. Having witnessed only four rookie minicamp practices I can tell you Pat White has a loooong way to go before he can compete with Henne. And, by the way, Henne has a loooong way to go before he can be considered an NFL starting quarterback.

Thank God for Chad Pennington!

Pennington should be the starter at the beginning of the 2009 season, assuming he is healthy. Where things go beyond that will be determined by Miami's record (are the Dolphins contending in 2009 or so far out of the picture they need to look to 2010?), how well Pennington is playing, and how fast Henne and White are progressing.

But let us forget 2009 for the moment. It is an unquestionable fact the Dolphins are expecting a quarterback transition prior to the 2010 season. It will be either Henne or White if Bill Parcells' plan is followed. I still believe it will be Henne.

Why? He has the superior arm. He has the superior pocket presence. He is not as mobile as White, but neither is he immobile. And I have never seen him overmatched by any situation or circumstance during his 12 months in Miami. 

White? You have to understand I've only seen four practices so this will be a fluid and too-early call on a rookie. But unless he has an arm transplant, it isn't likely to get a whole lot stronger. And unless he's about to get a leg extension, he isn't likely to get a whole lot taller.

His arm is good enough, but not great. He sailed quite a few passes during the practices this weekend. His mid-range and short-range throws are excellent. His ability to read and recognize was decent, considering he learned the play only hours before running them. But his deep outs and 9-routes (deep up the sideline) throws were unimpressive to me. They get there, but not with the velocity of a Henne pass.

That does not guarantee White cannot become a better quarterback than Henne and a fine quarterback overall. Arm strength is only part of the equation for an NFL quarterback. But off the blocks, White is behind on both his size (which is important to staying healthy and seeing over the blockers and rushers) and arm strength.

If you are wondering why I haven't mentioned Henne's one-year advantage over White in experience, it's because in 2010 that might not be a factor. White, you see, will see more game action this season than Henne if Pennington continues playing well. Absent a change at the starting job, Henne will sit while Pennington starts. And White will play more than Henne as he contributes to the WildPat spread option package.

Many of you were thrown off by general manager Jeff Ireland's point that White will be exclusively a quarterback at first and would compete with Henne in the future. What about that is troubling? This is what he must say. This is how it must be.

Can you imagine picking a guy in the second round and setting the ceiling at playing only in the WildPat package? The last time that happened was when Cam Cameron announced Ted Ginn Jr., the ninth overall pick, was going to be a special teams guy. It's a disastrous approach.

So Ireland set the bar high for White and, in so doing, gave the rookie something great to shoot for while also sending a message to Henne. The message: You've not won the 2010 starting job yet so don't get all comfortable and cocky.

The Dolphins win all around with their current situation. Henne is motivated. White is motivated. And the team has a great competition in the offing.

If Henne wins the competion, which I predict he will, the Dolphins have a promising young QB as the starter and a backup quarterback, who also has promise but will not be simply holding the clipboard waiting for an opportunity. The backup will be contributing (hopefully) in the WildPat spread option package the Dolphins hope to eventually unleash.

If White wins the competition, the Dolphins have a mobile quarterback with a good enough arm that is obviously so intelligent and sound that he beat out a more experienced player. And the Dolphins still have waiting in the wings a hungry Henne who will be doing all in his power to reclaim something he will see as being rightfully his.

We have a term for this in my country. Win. Win.

By the way, to answer some reader questions, yes, the 2010 Dolphins probably would want a veteran quarterback added to fill out the QB corps. That experienced QB could be Pennington if he's willing to accept a diminished role. Or it could be some other player if Pennington finds an opportunity to compete for a starting job elsewhere. Pennington is currently unsigned for 2010.

Comments

[Harry potter and the deathly wildcat]

It seems voldomore has been stalking this blog on the regular...

[Da Real Voldomore]

No good sir, i have nothing to do with debachory.

[anthony]

armando can we get cb bruce johnson from um

[mexico]

rexayansucks=DaRealVoldomore

[swine flue in mexico's azzzz]

i dont belive Rex is up this early..

[mexico]

rexraynsucks never sleeps ,bty swine flue in mexico's azzzz=rexryansucks=ace=dfan=alien=huban menace=soiledbottom=kiz azzzz

[swine flue in mexico's azzzz]

nambe me la pelaaz.

[Da Real Voldomore]

Please good sirs stop your agrueing for There can only be 1 voldomore.

[mexico]

stop it SOILED,it's enough rREX,com on KIZ AZZZ,it's not nice ALIEN from romania.i hope you stop it now SWINE FLUE, done deal HUBAN MENACE or should i call on my dog on u ACE ,THE best name you signed with so far is NJ PHIN FAN in balck last night

[Da Real Voldomore]

yes i agree with mexico this needs to end lets be freinds. For this way Voldomore Grows stronger.

[mexico]

please REAL VOLDOMORE ,tell the people, WHICH SHELTER YOU CAME FROM IN ROMAINA.

[finfan13]

why soiled or rex not banned yet ? for his dirty topics and insulting armando under many names,it's any one's guess .

[Ace]

You guys are so sick.

[mexico]

ace=soiled, ace you are not fooling any one with your last post.
ACE=SOILED=REX

[Ace]

mexico,

You are wrong. I am not associated with those other guys. I only post as Ace. Sorry.

[mexico]

prove it

[gary 1 1/2 of the duo]

i really dont think ace has to prove anything to u many me.

[Ace]

mexico,

I will play your game. How do I prove it?

[gary 1 1/2 of the duo]

yeah mex ace will play your game, how do u want him to prove it?

[Ace]

Thanks Gary time and half of the duo

[mexico]

gary=ace=soiled =rex AND ALL THE REST

[mexico]

any time a poster takes on rexryan the soiled ,he assume that must be Gopats,like he has no more people who can't take his S@T.

[gary 1 1/2 of the duo]

ace and gary the ambiguously gayyy duo they fight mexico and many me every day there ambiguosly gayy.

We have our theme song.

[finfan13]

gary, does ace loves the mexican long red beans ?

[gary 1 1/2 of the duo]

F you ace

[Ace]

mexico,

Where is your test? I will not waste my time with you anymore. There are so many fake posters that you never really know who you are talking to. All a person has to do is write something down as post as finfan, monkey man, mexico, or anything else. Then you add that name to a string of names all associated to rex from romania or whatever.

[cinpau]

I agree with Smokey Bandit. Regardless of where they drafted him, or even why, the QB job is not Henne's to win, it's Pennington's to lose. If he shines this year that will be evidence enough. When was the last time the Fins were happy about their QB for 1 season, let alone 2 in row. Do we really believe Parcels & Sparano are more gamblers than strategists? I don't. I think they will go with the proven guy over the untested guy. Only caveat...Penn does well but team doesn't, so Henne gets playing time...and excels. Now we have a pretty good competition for 2010.

[gary 1 1/2 of the duo]

hey ace i got ripped off seriously my mex and posted my name to say F u...

not cool mex... not cool

[mexico]

ace, i am the real mexico and i wrote only one post today the rest are fake not me.could be mr bunglito,as you know he loves this stuff.

[Cuban Marika]

oye Mexico why dont u get ur swine flu infested nalga off this blog mang none of these papis care about u... MANG.

[nickNY]

pat white is the future and henne is good number 3

[Ace]

No problem Gary, I knew it was not you.

[gary 1 1/4 of the duo]

Cuban Marika======tex====soiledbbottom

[gary 1 1/2 of the duo]

no problem ace, f you too

[souljahbeats]

Startrek,

Did Chad Henne do your sister or something? What is your problem with him? I don't think Parcells is to upset about passing on Matt Ryan, don't forget we picked up a rookie, pro bowler in Jake Long... It wouldn't have mattered if we drafted Ryan, b/c without a line, he would have been on the ground the whole time. Your thoughts on the Pennington/Henne/White combo makes it clear that you know more about soap operas than football...

[heathfinfan]

ace, where's gary went ? are you going to keep gary 1 1/2 on all day.

[hmorgan78]

Pat White is not in competition for the starting quarterback's job. You obviously never saw this kid play a single game at WVU. He's not an NFL caliber quarterback. His style doesn't work in the pro system. In case you missed it, he was drafted as a wide receiver. That doesn't mean he can't be used to throw. It doesn't mean he won't fill the position from time-to-time. But White's great asset is his versatility and his quickness. He'll be very dangerous in the wildcat. But he's not a starting NFL quarterback. He just doesn't fit that mold. But he can be used as a quarterback, receiver and even defensive back with his skill set. Just not a starter QB.

[gary]

souljahbeats

when did you start watching football ? not much i am sure.
why do you have to get over the top if i disagree with you plumber

[CHAMP]

WE WILL WIN THE SUPER BOWL WITH PAT WHITE AT THE HELM AND HENNE WILL BE THE GREATEST BACK UP FOR WHITE AND WE WILL DESTROY ALL TEAMS FROM JETS TP PATS TO BILLS.

GO WILDPAT WITH THE FUTURE PAT WHITE.
GO FINS OMEGA 3

[wildpat]

when pat white will be on tv this week ? any info

[mtz]

x

[mtz]

.

[Confused]

Two things that do not go together:

Football
Poetry

[MJZ]

For one - I agree Armando that "the plan" is to supplant Penne in 2010, however, if he stays healthy and has another great year in 09 he may well be the starter in 10, he's still a relativley young guy. Timetables are not set in stone.

For two - in the comparison between Henne and White you neglected to factor in White's running ability, a clear advantage for him.

[Diego Montoya]

Here is a little poem about the Jets from me to you:

Fat coach in a little coat,
double chins hold their hope.

I look at Sanchez, I see Mr. Interception,
When Bunglito sees him, he gets an erection.

High hopes that always fall,
Can any of your quaterbacks throw the ball?
Super Bowl dreams that always stall,
They are the Jets, after all.

[Confused Poet]

I love the poems

[gary]

Diego Montoy aka soiled ass, come again .

[Confuesd too]

this last poem was very funny,can you write one more Diego

[Diego Montoya]

Gary 1/2 of the ambiguously gay duo, I am not soiled bottom, this was my first poem. I hope you like it, even if you are a sorry Jets fan.

Thank You,

Diego Montoya

[gary 1 3/4]

soild ass aka Diego, i didn't say any thing,any way.....F you

[Diego Montoya]

Ok, due to popular demand, One more poem about the Jets from me too you:

Dirty Sanchez, a mustache of poo,
As bad as it sounds, believe it, its true.
Jets Rock, and Cuban, and Jets in Love too,
Something real stinky is coming to you.

Fumbles, and sacks and lots of pick sixes,
When will the Jets learn there are no quick fixes?

[Dfan]

Gopats...where were you born?

[RexRyanSucks]

one more soiledbottom aka diego,pleazzzzze

[gary 1 1/2]

diego=soiled=dfan=rex=all the dirty comments you see here

[Diego Montoya]

I am not the soiled one or anybody else and you will not get any more poems out of me.

[Diego Montoya]

you guys that sign in under multiple names are more paranoid about "impostors" than anyone else.

[Diego Montoya]

gary is only upset because he likes the Jets

[gary 1 1/2 of the duo]

hey many me stop biting my names jotez.

[SC_Dolfin]

I agree with Pete. If he's a WR, you start first down with 2 QBs, Ronnie & Ricky. The other team will have some MAJOR matchup issues - go no huddle all the way to the end zone.

[x]

soiledbottom in action