From profootballfocus.com.

In 2009, our run blocking earned a +56.0 grade.

In 2010, our run blocking is a -11.5.

2009
Jake Long +6.9
Justin Smiley -1.0
Jake Grove +16.8
Joe Berger +7.5
Donald Thomas -0.5
Nate Garner 0.0
Vernon Carey +11.5
Anthony Fasano +12.6
Joey Haynos +3.3
Lousaka Polite +6.0

2010
Jake Long +7.8
Richie Incognito -0.4
Joe Berger -1.9
John Jerry -6.8
Pat McQuistan +2.7
Vernon Carey +1.3
Anthony Fasano +4.6
Jeron Mastrud -5.4
Lousaka Polite -9.6

The loss of Jake Grove has been a huge, huge blow. And John Jerry has been a disaster, which is why he finally lost his job to McQuistan last week. Polite has also been a major cause of the decline. And if you doubt the 2010 numbers, do note that he has been losing snaps to Lex Hilliard each of the last 2 weeks. And don't underestimate the dropoff from Haynos to Mastrud. We use the 2 TE set a lot, and that's a major downgrade. And the other big culprit if the falloff in Vernon Carey's play.

The 2009 pass blocking was a +43.2.

The 2010 pass blocking is a +15.9

So, while the run blocking collapse is enormous, the pass blocking has been significantly worse as well.

2009
Jake Long +18.3
Justin Smiley +5.5
Jake Grove +4.6
Joe Berger +3.0
Donald Thomas -2.1
Nate Garner +6.2
Vernon Carey +6.2
anthony Fasano -1.7
Joey Haynos -2.2
Lousaka Polite +2.5
Ronnie Brown +1.8
Ricky Williams +2.8

2010
Jake Long +10.7 (the Bears game kills his grade)
Richie Incognito -0.1
Joe Berger +2.7
John Jerry -2.0
Pat McQuistan -0.4
Vernon Carey +2.0
Anthony Fasano +1.0
Jeron Mastrud -0.4
Lousaka Polite +0.3
Ronnie Brown +2.8
Ricky Williams -0.3

McQuistan, Jerry, and Incognito have combined to allow 30 QB pressures already this season. In 2009, Smiley, Garner, and Thomas combined to allow 20 QB pressures all season. We went from having a really strong interior line for pass protection to a poor one, especially at the guard position. You want to talk about QBs having passes batted, and you will usually find the interior of the line is not doing their job.

The decline in overall line play is very disappointing, given our head coach is an o-line coach. And this team has tried to address the line with big contracts for Long, Carey, Smiley, and Grove. And year 4 of this regime will find themselves still trying to solidify the interior of the line.

This is some good information. Everyone including writers want to place the blame on Henne. And while he should shoulder some of the blame; there is so much to go around. Honestly, I'm disappointed in Sparano because he has thrown his QB under the bus but refuses to discuss the ineptness of his CB to catch a single ball or his o line's inability to be effective which is his "expertise". He has not called the out the FO or anyone regarding the decisions to cut Grove and Thomas and replace them with ineffective players. Won't get into Henning. A true leader starts evaluating himself before he calls out his players.

From Dolfanmark

"The decline in overall line play is very disappointing, given our head coach is an o-line coach. And this team has tried to address the line with big contracts for Long, Carey, Smiley, and Grove. And year 4 of this regime will find themselves still trying to solidify the interior of the line."

I've been saying this all season. Biggest disappointment of the year is the OL. Sparano needs to get that changed as the FIRST priority. Or he will never succeed no matter what QB we have. The Line makes the offense work.

And for those that think Brady is the second coming, his line make it work for him too.

Leon In Denver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> I've been saying this all season. Biggest
> disappointment of the year is the OL. Sparano
> needs to get that changed as the FIRST priority.
> Or he will never succeed no matter what QB we
> have. The Line makes the offense work.

Might be too late for sparano his days might be numbered IMO.

>
> And for those that think Brady is the second
> coming, his line make it work for him too.

100 Percent agreed....

Humm. let's see. The #1 reason our offense struggles? What could it possibly be? Humm. Oh yea. We don't have a QB. That's a good place to start IMO.

Phinsfan.....your demand. Here it is. Just posted.

I am like a pit bull and I can't control myself when I see post like this guy above.

Please talk to him.

Because I am about to go off on this guy.

---------------------

"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

Lets see...The reason our offense struggles...

- Henne has been horrible this year, 2nd worst starting QB in the league this year behind Matt Moore

- Vernon Carey SUCKS

- Inconsistency from the WR core

...pretty much sums it up

561_Dolphins Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lets see...The reason our offense struggles...
>
> - Henne has been horrible this year, 2nd worst
> starting QB in the league this year behind Matt
> Moore
>
> - Vernon Carey SUCKS
>
> - Inconsistency from the WR core
>
> ...pretty much sums it up


All that along with henning.

Read during practice that John Jerrry was playing the RT spot with McQuistan (sp) playing the RG spot. Be a bonus if this guy can shift outside and move Carey inside where he does not have to play in space. I've always felt that going into the offseason that the RT will be a major issue.

CG Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Read during practice that John Jerrry was playing
> the RT spot with McQuistan (sp) playing the RG
> spot. Be a bonus if this guy can shift outside
> and move Carey inside where he does not have to
> play in space. I've always felt that going into
> the offseason that the RT will be a major issue.


Yes carey has struggled this season way more than last year.

Pretty much a big ditto to everything we knew from what myself and others have preached since pre-season.

We need a better center, I've said that since well last year, Jerry has flammed out, which is a dissapointment, and Carey I havent been impressed with since last year, he is always hurt, and is not the same Carey that we had in 2008.

Lets not forget the terrible throws Henne makes when he is not pressured. And also he locks on, is ssslllloooowwwww, and provides zero
enthusiasm. Hope Locker is around come our pick.

I would rather bulk up the O-line this year, and wait till next year and take the QB from Nebraska!!! Or whenever he is available for draft.

Granted Henne isnt consistant, if we had a better offensive line, then he can do a little more, and maybe win some more games, instead of throwing pick after pick, like last year.

Or start Thigpen.

Mia1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I would rather bulk up the O-line this year, and
> wait till next year and take the QB from
> Nebraska!!! Or whenever he is available for
> draft.
>
> Granted Henne isnt consistant, if we had a better
> offensive line, then he can do a little more, and
> maybe win some more games, instead of throwing
> pick after pick, like last year.
>
> Or start Thigpen.

I'm with you...except for the Thigpen part.

Ya know it's really a sad testimony to the state of this “team” that we have to buffer fault and deflect the REAL ISSUE with our performance this year.

Quite simply, the NFL is a QB dominated league, like it or not. And in the words of the great Shula, “not having a great QB is bad luck.” So we can fault the OL, WR’s, Henning, Sparano, and even Santa. But none of that solves the QB malignancy.

Remove the tumor and get us a legit NFL QB and watch like magic, we start scoring TD’s and maybe winning more games.

Take away Joe Montana and how “brilliant” would Walsh have been? Take away Brady and suddenly NE is exposed. Take away Manning and Indy is nothing. Drew Brees doesn’t go to Norlens and they ain’t crap.

Certainly you may disagree but that’s the way the NFL works nowadays. It’s not “real football” anymore – but that’s absolutely nothing new. The game is fundamentally structured for passing, holding, long interference calls and high-octane offense. Heck you can’t even touch the QB anymore without a flag. And that’s what they’ve made it – flag football.

I submit we start scouting flag teams everywhere and bring in ALL the best rock chuckers we can find. Let ‘em fight it out in the Jacuzzi and the best looking takes the snap. Easy fix IMO.

Remember they found Curt Warner in the Omaha Steak arena league so it’s not that far off. Hell our best D player was imported from Canada. There’s gotta be some Russian Ukrainian Slavic kid who can chuck the rock? Or maybe a Brazilian?

Whatever. Just go find us a QB and let’s get this party started!

Out.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/2010 09:34AM by BigNastyFish.

BigNastyFish Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ya know it's really a sad testimony to the state
> of this “team” that we have to buffer fault
> and deflect the REAL ISSUE with our performance
> this year.
We are. This is a TEAM sport. If we lose, the TEAM deserves the blame.

>
> Quite simply, the NFL is a QB dominated league,
> like it or not. And in the words of the great
> Shula, “not having a great QB is bad luck.” So
> we can fault the OL, WR’s, Henning, Sparano, and
> even Santa. But none of that solves the QB
> malignancy.
Nor does blaming everything on a QB that has crappy OL, WR, OC and HC.

>
> Remove the tumor and get us a legit NFL QB and
> watch like magic, we start scoring TD’s and
> maybe winning more games.
Magic? REALLY? You REALLY think so? Name ONE team with a bad O-line and bad WRs that scores lots of TDs and wins games. Just ONE. Just look at, arguably, the best QB in the league and his team. Since the injury bug hit Indy they are 1-4.

>
> Take away Joe Montana and how “brilliant”
> would Walsh have been? Take away Brady and
> suddenly NE is exposed. Take away Manning and Indy
> is nothing. Drew Brees doesn’t go to Norlens and
> they ain’t crap.
Take away Montana's O-Line and receivers and what do you have? You don't think Jerry Rice and Roger Craig had anything to do with the success of those 49ers? Take away NE's pass protection and what do you get? A loss to the Giants in the Superbowl!! Sure they were undefeated up to that point, but it wasn't until the Superbowl that their protection really broke down. The Giants had a great gameplan and neutralized what was, arguably, the best offense in the league (with a QB many think could be the best in the league). Their future HoF QB couldn't win that game for them by himself. As for N.O., if they had the O-Line it has in the 70's Drew Brees would be injured, or at least hobbled and playing really bad, right now.

> Remember they found Curt Warner in the Omaha Steak
> arena league so it’s not that far off.
Which proves my point. This guy didn't start playing well until he was put in a great offensive system, with a monster O-line and great WRs.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/2010 10:10AM by montequi.

On second thought, you're 1000% right montequi.

Henne is Ahhhhh MAZE zing!

:0

BigNastyFish Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> On second thought, you're 1000% right montequi.
>
> Henne is Ahhhhh MAZE zing!
>
> :0

Whatever dude. You're just yin and yang. To you if Henne isn't a future HoFer then he sucks. There's a middle-ground dude. 99% of the QBs that ever started in the NFL fell somewhere in that middle ground.

If he becomes great -- then great for him (and the Dolphins if he's with us). But I think the odds are VERY VERY low that will happen. In fact it's just as likely Marino returns as our QB.

It's not that he isn't HOF material -- he's not legit NFL QB material IMO. There is a big difference. Right now Henne is not even as good as Joey Harrington was...

But the real issue isn't Henne -- it's the regime trusting the franchises destiny with him alone and NO alternative. That's my real concern.

BigNastyFish Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Right now Henne is not even as good as
> Joey Harrington was...
Harrington had a ton of experience that Henne didn't. That's the ONLY thing that kept him going. His decision making was no better (actually WORSE) than Henne. His accuracy was about the same as Henne has been lately, worse than Henne was earlier this year.

>
> But the real issue isn't Henne -- it's the regime
> trusting the franchises destiny with him alone and
> NO alternative. That's my real concern.
I agree with this, but we DID have an alternative this year. It's name was Chad Pennington. Too bad Penny was kidding himself, and the organization, that he could actually play anymore. We DO need someone else to push Henne in TC.

C'mon. Chap P was NO ALTERNATIVE whatsoever. For gods sakes his arm fell off the first throw. Pennington is a great kid but we were LUCKY to get one good year from him. There's no way this regime should have counted on him beyond his lockeroom presence and sideline PC role.

Except for that Pennington obviously threw well enough during the week prior to the game. And that he obviously threw well enough in the limited reps he got inthe weeks leading up to that game...there is the chance that there was no real cause for concern regarding the stability of his shoulder prior to the final injury.

Maybe, just maybe the medical staff didn't relay enough accurate inforation to the coaches, maybe they did and it was disregarded, and maybe Chad hid things because he wanted to play...we'll never know for sure one way or the other.

But to fault the coaches for relying on Pennington when we don't know the complete story...is simply a knee jerk reaction.

SigKash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lets not forget the terrible throws Henne makes
> when he is not pressured. And also he locks on,
> is ssslllloooowwwww, and provides zero
> enthusiasm. Hope Locker is around come our pick.


When not pressured, Henne is completing 70% of his passes for 8.1 yards per attempt, and a passer rating of 93.1. So, your first point is not valid.

When blitzed, Henne is completing 68.9% of his passes for 9.2 yards per attempt, and a passer rating of 99.7.

The problem is when Henne is pressured from a non-blitz. In that situation, he is completing 41.8% of his passes for 4.7 yards per attempt, and a passer rating of 48.1.

This is probably a combination of factors. Without a blitz, Henne is probably anticipating time to throw, he's not getting it, and it results in a poor decision or hurried throw. I think you have to look at his stats when he is blitzed, and it gives you a lot of hope.

Ken Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Except for that Pennington obviously threw well
> enough during the week prior to the game. And that
> he obviously threw well enough in the limited reps
> he got inthe weeks leading up to that game...there
> is the chance that there was no real cause for
> concern regarding the stability of his shoulder
> prior to the final injury.
>
> Maybe, just maybe the medical staff didn't relay
> enough accurate inforation to the coaches, maybe
> they did and it was disregarded, and maybe Chad
> hid things because he wanted to play...we'll never
> know for sure one way or the other.
>
> But to fault the coaches for relying on Pennington
> when we don't know the complete story...is simply
> a knee jerk reaction.

Couple of points there Ken.

#1 Chad P had a PROVEN history of SERIOUS shoulder issues in his throwing arm -- and that's a FACT.

#2 Chad P has blown his shoulder out on his last two NFL passes (spanning 2 entirely differenct seasons). And that's a FACT.

#3 How focking stable do you think his shoulder WAS at the start of this season?

#4 If this regime is banking our future on players who obviously are not up to NFL spec in terms of functionality (i.e., the ability to get on the field and actually play for more than one throw), then what good are they?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/2010 04:43PM by BigNastyFish.

dolfanmark Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SigKash Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Lets not forget the terrible throws Henne makes
> > when he is not pressured. And also he locks
> on,

>
>
> When not pressured, Henne is completing 70% of his
> passes for 8.1 yards per attempt, and a passer
> rating of 93.1. So, your first point is not
> valid.

I can see where sigcash is coming from. Henne has made some terrible throws when having the whole day to release the football. I thought about that myself. And im a henne supporter.

Thank you for the statistics Dolfanmark.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/2010 09:53AM by samsam3738.

Get Henne with the right OC and QB coach and try to make that work. If it doesn't then go for the best QB possible next year.
Of coarse we need to bring in a vet and/or draft another in the later rounds.

If this is done, our team as a whole, better OL, better depth etc., will be much improved. Going for broke on a QB will not improve the team as a whole. If that is done, it might be years before the team is ready to compete for the division title.

Again without the OL improved, better running game, the so called franchise QB won't look so good. I don't know what more proof one needs than to take a look at Manning's Colts.

Exactly.

The O-line is #1 priority.

---------------------

"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

SO what is going to happen when we draft a QB in the first round and he gets his neck snapped on opening day from the horrendous line in front of him?


Answer that question, smart guy.

---------------------

"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"