FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
Fins' QB battle heating up
Posted on Sun, Jul. 20, 2008
By BARRY JACKSON
J. PAT CARTER / AP
The Dolphins' Chad Henne (7) and Josh McCown (4) watch as fellow quarterback John Beck (9) looks for receivers during minicamp Friday, June 6, 2008 in Davie.
With Dolphins camp opening next weekend, chatter on a six-pack of competitions for starting jobs:
• Quarterback: Though Josh McCown is considered by many to be the front-runner because of experience, the Dolphins have told NFL people the battle remains competitive with John Beck, and preseason performance will determine the winner. Several players thought McCown was better in May/June drills, but another starter favored Beck. Chad Henne remains an underdog, though nobody would be shocked if he was starting at some point this season.
According to sentiment inside the Dolphins, McCown -- who is OK after his wood-chopping accident -- has impressed with athleticism and mobility. Raiders coach Lane Kiffin loves McCown's ''ability to get away from sacks and make plays.'' Several players raved about his leadership. But as one Dolphins person said, his accuracy must improve.
ESPN.com stats guru K.C.
Joyner tells us McCown made bad decisions (Joyner includes turnovers and near interceptions) on 4.4 percent of passing plays last season -- 40th worst among 43 quarterbacks ranked. (Beck lacked enough attempts to qualify.)
The Dolphins appreciate Beck's tireless offseason work and want to give him a fair chance, but they need to see production in games to remove doubts. Beck had several balls batted down in off-season practices, but he's comfortable with his release point now that it has been changed ``back to the way it was in college.''
Players and coaches love Henne's potential -- ''We've seen the big arm and a pretty calm demeanor,'' coach Tony Sparano said -- but the sentiment is he needs time to develop. Henne said the Dolphins have helped him ''get the ball out faster'' than at Michigan. ''It's taking me 2.8 seconds to get the ball out now'' after the snap, he said.
• Offensive guard position opposite Justin Smiley: One lineman said the unit was most cohesive this offseason with Trey Darilek at that guard spot, but the Dolphins ideally would like him as a top reserve. Steve McKinney (out with an injury in May/June practices) is a strong candidate to fill the job, but the Dolphins are noncommittal about his role.
Shawn Murphy and Donald Thomas enter camp as underdogs to start, though Miami likes both rookies. With Smiley able to play either guard spot, the Dolphins want a veteran on the left side alongside rookie tackle Jake Long and remain open to adding outside help.
• Defensive end spot opposite Vonnie Holliday: Matt Roth is making a strong push to hold on to his job, though Randy Starks was given a big deal (five years, $21 million,
$7 million guaranteed), and the Dolphins like his size (312 pounds). Roth -- who remained ahead of Starks with the first team in offseason work -- bulked up from 272 to 285, and defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers said Roth is now big enough to play end in a 3-4 defense.
Asked who has impressed him most on the team, offensive tackle Vernon Carey said Roth -- ''He really has stepped up his game.'' Rookie Phillip Merling is expected to begin as a backup.
• Tight end: Nobody would be surprised if Anthony Fasano, off a shoulder injury, wins the job -- the Dolphins love his blocking and see receiving ability. (He caught 92 passes in his career at Notre Dame.) ''Fasano improved -- he's going to be a big help for them,'' predicts former Dallas teammate Terrell Owens, who was impressed with Fasano's pass-catching in Cowboys practices.
The Dolphins want to take greater advantage of the downfield receiving skills of incumbent starter David Martin, Fasano's main challenger. That skill appealed to the former Dolphins regime, and yet, according to Joyner, only one of the 48 balls thrown toward Martin in 2007 traveled more than 20 yards (a 28-yard completion).
• Cornerback spot opposite Will Allen: Players say André Goodman looked very good this off-season -- ''He's getting his quickness back and using his hands a lot more,'' receiver Derek Hagan said. Goodman played mostly first-team snaps opposite Allen in May/June work, while Michael Lehan played mostly nickel-back.
But Lehan, a starter most of last year, will challenge Goodman. Off a June ankle injury, Lehan is hopeful he will be ready for the start of camp, his agent's office relayed last week.
• Safety spot opposite Yeremiah Bell: Jason Allen, who got consistent first-team snaps in May/June, enters as the front-runner, but Renaldo Hill (who expects to be 100 percent after last year's knee injury) and Chris Crocker will challenge. Defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni likes what he has seen from Allen: ``Very, very good athlete. He's got a lot of range -- there's a lot of things he could do for you back there.''
Battles also loom at fullback, receiver and elsewhere.
CHATTER
• Few power-rotation players appeal to the Heat in this weak free agent class (heck, even 39-year-old Dale Davis is making a comeback), but Miami has expressed interest in 6-9 power forward/center Brian Skinner. Free agent center Kwame Brown is making visits with teams, but Miami did not book one. . . . Orlando and ex-Heat free agent point guard Keyon Dooling -- who e-mailed last week that there is ''no chance of coming to the Heat at [the $1.9 million exception]'' -- instead reportedly is headed to New Jersey in a sign-and-trade for a deal starting at $3.3 million.
• With UM's lease requiring the infield dirt be eliminated for Canes games by 2011, Dolphin Stadium officials said they will explore ways to allow the Marlins to play there that year if needed. Marlins president David Samson said ballpark construction must begin by November for a 2011 opening, and that's iffy. . . .
Because Jeremy Hermida -- who entered the weekend in the bottom quarter of MLB right-fielders in average (.255) and on-base percentage (.326) -- lacks big power numbers, a veteran NL scout said ''a guy like that needs to hit [over .300].'' Hermida, hitting .216 at-home, hopes for a second-half repeat of '07 (.231 before the All-Star break, .340 after).
• We hear classy former Canes quarterback Ken Dorsey has been helpful to UM quarterback front-runner Robert Marve, offering advice and guidance this summer. . . . Ex-Miami Northwestern offensive lineman Brandon Washington said his ACT score that he got Friday (21) -- combined with a 2.8 GPA -- is enough for him to qualify for UM, but he still must go through the NCAA Clearinghouse.
• Upstate QB talk: Simply calling Tim Tebow the best quarterback in college football apparently isn't enough. Gators coach Urban Meyer told a Miami audience that Tebow ''is the greatest player of our era.'' . . . Drew Weatherford will not have much margin for error at FSU. Bobby Bowden said Christian Ponder and D'Vontrey Richardson ``closed the gap with Drew. They will either make Drew an outstanding quarterback, or one will get his job. [Offensive coordinator] Jimbo Fisher really likes Ponder.''
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