Chad Pennington Named Miami Dolphins QB, Chad Henne Benched: Five Reasons Why

Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano just shocked south Florida by naming Chad Pennington the starter for Miami's Week 10 match up against the Tennessee Titans.

Whoa.

Speculation that such a move might be made has been looming since the Preseason, but few expected the Dolphins brass to bench their young quarterback so soon.

Despite the additions of Brandon Marshall and the emergence of Davone Bess, Henne has amassed a measly 78.2 quarterback rating, throwing eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Rumors that Henne could be benched peaked after the Dolphins loss to the Baltimore Ravens last week, and consequently, those rumors have become fact.

At this point in time, Chad Henne just does not appear to be the type of quarterback the Dolphins want leading their offense. Meanwhile, Chad Pennington, as evident in the team's 2008 playoff run, is exactly what they want.

#5: Chad Pennington Does Not Turn The Ball Over; Henne Does

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CINCINNATI - OCTOBER 31: Chad Henne #7 of the Miami Dolphins looks to throw a pass during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The key to the Dolphins 2008 Chad Pennington-led playoff run was the quarterback's refusal to turn the ball over.

Pennington tossed just seven interceptions throughout the entirety of the '08 season. But, at the midway point of the 2010 season, Chad Henne has already thrown 10.

Granted, Henne is on pace to at least double Pennington's passing attempts, he has not shown the poise and accuracy that the Dolphins want out of their quarterback. Miami wants to play uber-conservatively, but when they turn the ball over, they fall behind, and are forced to abandon their game-plan.

#4: The Dolphins Want to Run the Ball Effectively

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CINCINNATI - OCTOBER 31: Ronnie Brown #23 of the Miami Dolphins runs with the ball during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

All season long, Tony Sparano has voiced his desire to reform the Dolphins offense back to a ground' n' pound scheme. And it appears as though the coaching staff believes that with Chad Pennington back at the helm, the running game my thrive again.

Miami's running game, which is supposed to be their bread and butter, is currently ranked 16th in the NFL.

Chad Henne's turnover issue has forced the Dolphins to abandon their game-plans early and often. Pennington, however, brings a veteran savvy to Miami's offense.

He is not going to turn the ball over, and may have a more keen eye to audibles and check downs.

#3: This Will Be a Wake Up Call to Chad Henne

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MIAMI - OCTOBER 04: Quarterback Chad Henne #7 of the Miami Dolphins throws against the New England Patriots at Sun Life Stadium on October 4, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Heading into the 2010 season, Chad Henne was pinned with sky-high expectations.

He performed admirably after taking over for Chad Pennington in 2009, finishing the season with a 7-6 record as a starter. But those expectations were still premature.

Henne is now in just his second year as a starting quarterback in the NFL. He is still in the infancy of what we all hope will be a fruitful and long-lasting career. Just because he has hit a few speed bumps does not induce that the Dolphins have given up on him.

Rather, this may just be a wake up call for Henne. Obviously, the team believes Chad Pennington gives them a better chance to win right now, and they may be correct in their premonition.

Henne may not play again this season, but he will now be forced to truly work out the kinks and shortcomings that landed him back on the pine.

#2: This Might Work In Brandon Marshall's Favor

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - SEPTEMBER 12: Brandon Marshall #19 of the Miami Dolphins stands on the field during the NFL season opener against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on September 12, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. The Dolphins won 15-10. (Photo

The immediate reaction to Chad Henne's benching has spurred the question: Where does this leave Brandon Marshall?

The answer to that is simple: It does not affect him. In fact, it might work in his favor.

Brandon Marshall does not specialize in the deep ball. He specializes in catching short and mid-range passes, and turning them into huge plays. He specializes in shedding tackles and racking up yards after the catch.

Occasionally, yes, Marshall burns cornerbacks and gets behind defenses, but that is not what he has built such an illustrious career off of.

And who is better than completing short and mid-range passes than Chad Pennington?

Pennington might actually be a better fit for Marshall than Chad Henne. Pennington will get Marshall the ball often, and perhaps will be able to use his veteran savvy to find Marshall at the right times. Do not expect Marshall to suffer.

#1: The Dolphins Have a Specific Offensive Vision and Chad Pennington Suits It

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - AUGUST 21: Quarterback Chad Pennington #10 of the Miami Dolphins attempts a pass during the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on August 21, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty I

The offense that the Dolphins showcased during their 2008 playoff-run is the exact offense that Miami wants to replicate today.

They want to run the ball, wear out defenses, pass conservatively, control the clock, and protect the football.

Chad Pennington allows the Dolphins to do exactly that.

Chad Henne is a very talented, young quarterback. However, that style of play does not suit him. Henne needs to spread the ball around, throw it deep, and utilize his cannon-arm to take chances and squeeze the football into tight windows.

It seems as though the Dolphins coaching staff simply does not want to mold themselves around Chad Henne, but rather wanted Henne to mold himself around Miami's ridiculously inefficient and overly-conservative offense.

Henne's big arm keeps Miami alive in every game, but Pennington's restricted arm strength places a far heavier emphasis on the defense to keep opposing offenses in check. This move could backfire, but it might turn the Dolphins slumping tide and land them in the playoffs. If this move fails, though, Tony Sparano might be on the unemployment line after this season.