Miami Dolphins and Teams with Hopeless QB Situations

At the outset of any NFL season, every fanbase of every team is optimistic about the way they envision their quarterback playing. 

Every signal-caller has thrown the same amount of touchdowns, interceptions and has the same win-loss record—so why wouldn't there be widespread optimism. 

The harsh reality comes in September and stretches throughout the year as a small collection of teams realize their quarterback situation was more hopeless than they initially believed. 

There's a chance the quarterbacks for these three teams exceed expectations, but here are the three teams with rather hopeless QB situations in football right now. 

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are in the midst of the quarterback battle between a 34-year-old who didn't play a down in 2011, an adequate game-manager and a rookie quarterback who only started 19 games in college, thereby defining a rather hopeless situation under center. 

According to SI's Peter King, Garrard was "sharp" in the Dolphins' camp he attended, and "looks like the Dolphins starting quarterback." 

Still, is Garrard striking fear in opposing secondaries? 

Probably not. 

He's undoubtedly capable of managing an offense, but the intimidating factor is likely gone. 

If Garrard doesn't win the starting job, Matt Moore or even Ryan Tannehill will take the reins of the offense with much to prove. 

Things could turn around in Miami, but as it currently stands, there's more reason to worry than anything else. The lack of firepower in the receiving corps doesn't help, either. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Blaine Gabbert's inept rookie season is well-documented. He stands to improve in 2012 after a full offseason to tweak the areas in which he struggled, but how much enhancement in production can we expect? 

Justin Blackmon and Laurent Robinson are much more appealing pass-catching targets than the guys who started in 2011, but the passing attack is loaded with unestablished players. 

Behind him, Chad Henne, a guy capable of winning the starting job outright this August, doesn't represent a much higher level of optimism.

Yes, he has more experience, but his career has been marred with injuries and general inconsistency.

In 2011 with the Dolphins, Henne had four touchdowns and four interceptions with a 79 QB rating in four games before suffering a devastating shoulder injury.  

No team is envious of the quarterback situation in Jacksonville.

Minnesota Vikings

Thanks to a rather substandard rookie year from Gabbert, Christian Ponder has dodged a high amount of criticism from the national media heading into his second season with the Vikings. 

In 11 games last season, Ponder completed a shade over 54 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and five fumbles en route to a 70.1 QB rating. 

Far from impressive. 

He'll likely be more comfortable in his sophomore campaign, but there's not much reason to predict a drastic advancement in his game this season. 

A lot of that has to do with the weak receiving contingent in Minnesota and the fact that Adrian Peterson is coming off a severe knee injury. 

While AP may play from the start of the season, Percy Harvin, Jerome Simpson and Michael Jenkins aren't guys who'll necessarily foster the development of Ponder. 

Behind the former Florida State star is Joe Webb. He's a capable runner, but hasn't shown much in terms of being a viable NFL passer.