Miami Dolphins: Pat White presents interesting gameday dilemma
> Posted by Ethan J. Skolnick on April 26, 2009 04:23 PM
Pat White's presence could change the way the Dolphins operate.
That's what I just learned after getting some clarification of the inactive rules. (And after further clarification, I've corrected this entry.)
"Teams will be permitted an Active List of 45 players and an Inactive List of eight players for each regular-season and postseason game. Provided that a club has two quarterbacks on its 45-player Active List, a third quarterback from its Inactive List is permitted to dress for the game, but if he enters the game during the first three quarters, the other two quarterbacks are thereafter prohibited from playing."
Remember, the Dolphins view him as a quarterback, not a receiver. So that, to my understanding, is how they plan to list him on the roster. And John Beck will probably be gone. That will leave just three actual quarterbacks by the time the season begins, including White.
Before every game, teams must submit their inactives. One of those must be the inactive "third quarterback," as that is defined in the quote above.
White will not be the "third quarterback." That's because the Dolphins will want to use him every game, regardless of whether Chad Pennington is hurt.
Will Chad Henne be the "third quarterback," or will he be a third active quarterback, with some other non-quarterback designated as the "third quarterback"?
Probably the latter.
Here's why:
Let's say that Pennington gets nicked in the first three quarters, not enough to knock him out for its entirety, but enough that he misses a couple of series to get treatment, x-rays, whatever. If Henne is active, then he probably takes the snaps, and Pennington still has the option of returning.
But the Dolphins will probably try to get White ready to take regular snaps quickly, because it would give them more flexibility on gameday. That way, they could deactivate Henne, and they wouldn't have to deactive an eighth non-quarterback, something that could hurt on special teams. Remember, if Henne was the "third quarterback," and he had to come in during the first three quarters, then neither Pennington or White could return.
Either way, White is going to be groomed to play like a real-life, non-gimmick quarterback.
That's clear.
> Posted by Ethan J. Skolnick on April 26, 2009 04:23 PM
Pat White's presence could change the way the Dolphins operate.
That's what I just learned after getting some clarification of the inactive rules. (And after further clarification, I've corrected this entry.)
"Teams will be permitted an Active List of 45 players and an Inactive List of eight players for each regular-season and postseason game. Provided that a club has two quarterbacks on its 45-player Active List, a third quarterback from its Inactive List is permitted to dress for the game, but if he enters the game during the first three quarters, the other two quarterbacks are thereafter prohibited from playing."
Remember, the Dolphins view him as a quarterback, not a receiver. So that, to my understanding, is how they plan to list him on the roster. And John Beck will probably be gone. That will leave just three actual quarterbacks by the time the season begins, including White.
Before every game, teams must submit their inactives. One of those must be the inactive "third quarterback," as that is defined in the quote above.
White will not be the "third quarterback." That's because the Dolphins will want to use him every game, regardless of whether Chad Pennington is hurt.
Will Chad Henne be the "third quarterback," or will he be a third active quarterback, with some other non-quarterback designated as the "third quarterback"?
Probably the latter.
Here's why:
Let's say that Pennington gets nicked in the first three quarters, not enough to knock him out for its entirety, but enough that he misses a couple of series to get treatment, x-rays, whatever. If Henne is active, then he probably takes the snaps, and Pennington still has the option of returning.
But the Dolphins will probably try to get White ready to take regular snaps quickly, because it would give them more flexibility on gameday. That way, they could deactivate Henne, and they wouldn't have to deactive an eighth non-quarterback, something that could hurt on special teams. Remember, if Henne was the "third quarterback," and he had to come in during the first three quarters, then neither Pennington or White could return.
Either way, White is going to be groomed to play like a real-life, non-gimmick quarterback.
That's clear.
