As we approach the biggest weekend in Miami Dolphins recent history, I thought I would share with you some interesting numbers that I noticed before the season. Like most of you, I expected this season to be a 6 to 8 win season at best. In fact, before the Dolphins signed Chad Pennington, I wouldnt have been surprised if we had only won 4 games this season. Then the Dolphins signed Pennington. First of all, I always liked Pennington as a smart, efficient quarterback. I always found myself having two thoughts about Pennington everytime we would face the Jets with him at quarterback.
#1 - I cant believe that this guy is beating us! He never seemed that impressive. In fact, many of his throws when he releases them appear to be throws that have a chance to be intercepted...but they always ended up where they needed to be. So, I was always amazed that we couldnt stop him.
#2 - During all of those years, I remember wishing that the Dolphins had someone like Pennington instead of Fiedler, Huard, Feeley, Frerotte, Culpepper, Harrington, Green, Lemon, Beck (wow...its been bad!). Knowing that if we had him and the Jets had "our guy"...many of those outcomes and seasons would have been reversed!
So, the day the Dolphins signed Pennington...like many of you, I knew that we were much improved. But, I didnt quite realize how much of a winner this guy has been until I took a look at his career.
Here is the summary of his career:
The first two years dont really even count. Penny threw 25 passes combined and had no starts while backing up for the Jets.
Beginning in 2002, he became the Jets starter until last season.
Here is what I came to find out. Any year that Pennington stayed healthy, and started more than 12 games...he and the Jets have been a success.
In 02, he started 12 games. he finished with a rating of 104.2. completed 68.9% of his passes. Threw 22 td's and only 6 int's.
In 04, he started 13 games. he finished with a rating of 91.0. completed 65.4% of his passes. Threw 16 td's and only 9 int's.
In 06, he started 16 games. he finished with a rating of 82.6. completed 64.5% of his passes. Threw 17 td's and had 16 int's. (btw, this is his worst season - even this season would have been as good as the best season we got from any Dolphin qb in the last 10 years!!)
So, going into this season, I realized that the most important thing for Pennington and for the Dolphins success would be "could he stay healthy". If he could, he would probably do similar to what he has always done when healthy.
Now we are one game from the season being complete...and his numbers after 15 games are:
In 08, he has started 15 games. with a rating of 96.4. has completed 67.0% of his passes. with 17 td's and only 7 int's.
And going into our final game vs. the New York Jets with the division title and our playoff hopes on the line...the most important statistic:
each year that Pennington has stayed healthy - 02, 04, and 06 - Pennington led the Jets to the playoffs!
each year that Pennington did not stay healthy - 03, 05, and 07 - the Jets did not make the playoffs!
So, in summary, it looks like this:
- A healthy Pennington = his team making the playoffs!
- A Jets team without Pennington at QB = No Playoffs!
Enjoy Sunday! And then enjoy our first playoff berth since 2001!
Go Phins!!
#1 - I cant believe that this guy is beating us! He never seemed that impressive. In fact, many of his throws when he releases them appear to be throws that have a chance to be intercepted...but they always ended up where they needed to be. So, I was always amazed that we couldnt stop him.
#2 - During all of those years, I remember wishing that the Dolphins had someone like Pennington instead of Fiedler, Huard, Feeley, Frerotte, Culpepper, Harrington, Green, Lemon, Beck (wow...its been bad!). Knowing that if we had him and the Jets had "our guy"...many of those outcomes and seasons would have been reversed!
So, the day the Dolphins signed Pennington...like many of you, I knew that we were much improved. But, I didnt quite realize how much of a winner this guy has been until I took a look at his career.
Here is the summary of his career:
The first two years dont really even count. Penny threw 25 passes combined and had no starts while backing up for the Jets.
Beginning in 2002, he became the Jets starter until last season.
Here is what I came to find out. Any year that Pennington stayed healthy, and started more than 12 games...he and the Jets have been a success.
In 02, he started 12 games. he finished with a rating of 104.2. completed 68.9% of his passes. Threw 22 td's and only 6 int's.
In 04, he started 13 games. he finished with a rating of 91.0. completed 65.4% of his passes. Threw 16 td's and only 9 int's.
In 06, he started 16 games. he finished with a rating of 82.6. completed 64.5% of his passes. Threw 17 td's and had 16 int's. (btw, this is his worst season - even this season would have been as good as the best season we got from any Dolphin qb in the last 10 years!!)
So, going into this season, I realized that the most important thing for Pennington and for the Dolphins success would be "could he stay healthy". If he could, he would probably do similar to what he has always done when healthy.
Now we are one game from the season being complete...and his numbers after 15 games are:
In 08, he has started 15 games. with a rating of 96.4. has completed 67.0% of his passes. with 17 td's and only 7 int's.
And going into our final game vs. the New York Jets with the division title and our playoff hopes on the line...the most important statistic:
each year that Pennington has stayed healthy - 02, 04, and 06 - Pennington led the Jets to the playoffs!
each year that Pennington did not stay healthy - 03, 05, and 07 - the Jets did not make the playoffs!
So, in summary, it looks like this:
- A healthy Pennington = his team making the playoffs!
- A Jets team without Pennington at QB = No Playoffs!
Enjoy Sunday! And then enjoy our first playoff berth since 2001!
Go Phins!!