Pennington vs Henne

[Breed]

On the surface, Pennington has been considerably better than Henne.

Pennington: 67.6 completion %, 7.4 YPA, 20 TD passes/9 INT, 94.6 Passer Rating
Henne: 59.3 completion %, 6.4 YPA, 10 TD passes/12 INT, 73.9 Passer Rating

Other stats of interest

Drop backs per sack:
Henne: 19.5
Pennington: 19.3

TD/Turnover:
Pennington: 1.75 (21 TD/12 TO)
Henne: .92 (11 TD/12 TO)

Yards per play:
Pennington: 6.5
Henne: 5.6

Winning % as starter:
Henne: .636 (7-4)
Pennington: .579 (11-8)

Opponents winning %:
Pennington: .503 (150-148)
Henne: .500 (77-77)

Here's where it gets interesting....

Opponents (defense):
Pennington's opponents (2008-2009): 62.5 completion %, 6.8 YPA, 1.68 TD/INT (419/249), 86 passer rating
Henne's opponents (2008-2009): 59 completion %, 6.2 YPA, .92 TD/INT (188/205), 72.7 passer rating

The difference in competition is night and day. Very rarely does a QB go through such a long stretch of playing mostly creampuff defenses; likewise, it's not very often a QB will go through an 11 game stretch where he faces such tough defenses.

Also, from watching the games, it seems like we've been running the ball better and scoring more points under Henne. IMO, this is because teams can't just stack the box against Henne. I've also noticed that we're much better on 3rd down than what we were with Pennington.

According to ESPN, we converted 37% of our 3rd downs (71/192) and 66.7% of our 4th downs (10/15) last year. This year we've converted 48.4 % of our 3rd downs (104/215) and 70.6% of our 4th downs (12/17). Granted Pennington started 3 games this year. I'd be interested in seeing a more in depth breakdown regarding 3rd downs under Henne and Pennington (3rd & short, 3rd & medium, 3rd & long). I remember at times last year when it was 3 & more than 5 yards having absolutely no hope that we'd convert those downs.

Pennington may be better since last year, but the difference is marginal.

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

There's a lot of quarterbacks in the HOF who's completion percentage won't stack up to Chad Cantplayagainsttoughdefensesington's...

One of the main reasons I always made such a fuss about wanting Henne to start over him anyway was because I knew the offense would convert more 3rd downs.....along with more turnovers due to Henne's inexperience...

Henne was going to make mistakes anyway while he learns....might as well go ahead and get them out of the way so he'd be ready by the time the team is ready to make deep playoff pushes...

Henne has a helluva lot more of an excuse for throwing 3 picks in a game than Chad Myshoulderisshotington does of throwing 4 picks in a game...

 

[Breed]

There's a lot of quarterbacks in the HOF who's completion percentage won't stack up to Chad Cantplayagainsttoughdefensesington's...

One of the main reasons I always made such a fuss about wanting Henne to start over him anyway was because I knew the offense would convert more 3rd downs.....along with more turnovers due to Henne's inexperience...

Henne was going to make mistakes anyway while he learns....might as well go ahead and get them out of the way so he'd be ready by the time the team is ready to make deep playoff pushes...

Henne has a helluva lot more of an excuse for throwing 3 picks in a game than Chad Myshoulderisshotington does of throwing 4 picks in a game...

I agree, I also wanted to see Henne start the season. For one thing, I wanted to see him get some experience, for another thing, no Pennington led offense is going to be more than average in terms of points scored. I want a franchise QB, not a caretaker. It's possible to win the Superbowl with a caretaker at QB, but the defense and running game better be outstanding, especially in today's NFL. I think Henne is capable of being that franchise QB.

 

[3rdandinches]

I've never believed in sitting QB's, learning on the job is by far the best training. Surround young QB's with talent and protect them with a run game and there's no reason to sit them.

 

[jlfin]

I would also add that the Phins passing game was never going to evolve with CP at QB. The ability to have the threat of a quick strike was limited with CP.
Henne provides the offense with another dimension. A dimension that you need in order to reach the next level.
He's a young QB that needs to fine tune his game, but the raw talent (and attitude) is there. He also needs a better supporting cast at the receiver position (WR, TE)

 

[tcolli17]

It's easier to complete 3 yard passes compared to 15 yard passes. I am astonished at how many times we are completing 15+ yards a game with Henne in there. He might have more 20+ yard completions in these past 4 games than Pennington had all last year.

 

[JCane]

I've never believed in sitting QB's, learning on the job is by far the best training. Surround young QB's with talent and protect them with a run game and there's no reason to sit them.

I don't buy that. Aaron Rodgers and Matt Leinart. Yeah, there's Matt Ryan but you can't use the 1% argument. I'd much rather sit a guy and have him learn than throw him to the wolves and destroy his confidence.

 

[SeasonsMusic]

Henne has killed Penn. We would probably have 5 wins if Chad P was our QB, thank god for him last year, but we would of lost more games this year because of no arm, I love Henne & so much happier he is in this season

 

[tay0365]

I know one thing for sure, a lot of 1st down this year, have come when Miami needed 10 yards of more (most coming through the air), not many if any that I can think of from last year.

I also feel more confident this year when we need 10 yards or more, unlike last year.

 

[metalman32060]

I know one thing for sure, a lot of 1st down this year, have come when Miami needed 10 yards of more (most coming through the air), not many if any that I can think of from last year.

I also feel more confident this year when we need 10 yards or more, unlike last year.

I agree that sitting Henne last year was the best thing for him, but everyone knew Pennington was not the future QB of the franchise. And to really think we were a Super Bowl contender this year with Pennington is just looking at it through Aqua colored glasses. Henne should have started the year and gotten all the experience he could for the future, we now have a front office that knows how to draft (No-one is 100%, so don't through Turner up as an example) and I think we will find Henne some weapons in the offseason. Great things are coming, count on it.:up:

 

[Kadiddlehopper]

Unless Henne turns into another Joey Harrington next year (or this year as he seems to be regressing in the passing dept.), I'd rather stay with him than going back to Pennington.

 

[BobDole]

it's pretty clear that pennington's days as a player in miami are over. we just needed pennington to play until henne was ready to take the reigns. that day came - albeit a little premature - and now it's time for henne to do his thing.

 

[finjim]

Henne would not be the QB he is WITHOUT Penny. Penny is known to be one of the smartest QBs in recent NFL history. I can't think of anybody I would rather have mentoring Henne.

 

[Ed Norton]

How about the stats of Penny 09 vs Henne 09? The Atlanta game was a disaster!

I wouldn't mind seeing Penny as a backup in case, God forbid, Henne was out a few weeks. I'm scared to see Pat White actually start at QB and I'm not too sure about Thigpen.

 

[lucid22]

Henne would not be the QB he is WITHOUT Penny. Penny is known to be one of the smartest QBs in recent NFL history. I can't think of anybody I would rather have mentoring Henne.

I couldn't agree more. It'll be interesting to see what the FO will do with Penny next season. This guy is a class act and a great mentor. I think it would be interesting if he retired and became a QB coach and if he had success with that maybe even an offensive coordinator in a few years (for the phins of course :d-day:). It all seems very unlikely but only time will tell.