Chad Henne's Potential Could Turn into a Reality with Brandon Marshall

The Brandon Marshall trade effects no one more than Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne. Having one of the best wide receivers in the NFL to throw the ball to makes all the difference in the world. 

Henne showed a ton of promise in his first season starting under center, but the Dolphins receiver core lacked the big-play potential any successful quarterback needs.

Davone Bess, Brian Hartline, Greg Camarillo, and Ted Ginn Jr. are all no better than No. 2 receivers, and the rest of the league knew that week-in and week-out last season. There's a reason Miami finished the year with the 20th ranked passing offense. 

That will all change now that Marshall is on board. He adds that missing dimension to the offense and so much more. His addition will improve everyone's game, and make life a lot easier for the other receivers and the running backs. 

But while he'll improve the play of those guys, he could turn Henne into a star. 

After taking over the helm in the third game of year after Chad Pennington was lost to I.R. with a shoulder injury in 2009, Henne displayed the ability to develop into an All-Pro quarterback some day. 

Although he played inconsistent—as most first-year starters do—he showed why the Dolphins were so high on him after selecting the former Michigan product in the second round of the 2008 Draft. 

In the 13 games Henne started, he led the team to a 7-6 record, surpassing 300 yards passing twice in his last three games. In five contests, he had over a 60 percent pass completion rate and also added four turnover-free outings. Those numbers don't dazzle, but they display the intangibles.

The three fourth quarter comebacks he led the Dolphins to victory said something about his resolve as well. Henne's a long way from catching Dan Marino—37 fourth quarter comebacks—but he proved he's in the driver's seat to be Miami's future under center. When Henne's focused, he can be lethal.

He owns the Dolphins huddle. Players have said as much since his first mini-camps back in 2008. He speaks with authority and confidence, and the 24-year-old is a born leader with a cannon strapped to his arm. His work ethic is rarely seen by someone so young; that's been passed down from Pennington.

Studying under his tutelage, Henne watched the elder Chad play for over a year and did everything the former starter asked of him. Pennington was never the most talented of athletes, but his 65 percent completion rate is the best in NFL history. 

That is preparation and decision-making. That is exactly the lesson Pennington handed down to his successor; it was part of his job from the beginning to do so. 

Now it is Henne's turn to prove that he can build off his success from a year ago, and prove that he can be just as smart as Pennington. 

Not to knock Pennington, but he never had the arm that Henne has. He could never throw bullets on the run the way his protege can. The younger Chad was blessed with more physical ability, plain and simple.

If he can build off lessons Pennington preached, with Brandon Marshall on the other end of his passes, Henne can become something truly special. His development is on the fast-track now, what could have taken years can happen in a matter of months after Wednsday's trade. 

That is the type of effect that can only happen with a star receiver. Marshall not only becomes the top offensive weapon on this Dolphins' team, he becomes Henne's best friend. 

After all, their success is directly tied to each other. 

Here's to a long and happy relationship.