Dolphins QB Situation: What Will Happen in 2011, Following a Dismal 2010?

The Miami Dolphins went 7-9 in 2010, with zero improvement coming from the year before.

A large part of that lack of change lies in the lack of offense that offensive coordinator, Dan Henning, and QB Chad Henne provided. They ranked 21st in total offense, 16th in passing, and 21st in rushing, middle-of-the-road stats at best.

Defensively the Dolphins and new defensive coordinator, Mike Nolan, were fantastic but while defense may win championships, if you can't score you can't win.

While the running game and the Wildcat offense wasn't exactly successful in 2010, Chad Henne and the Dolphins QB issues are largely to blame for their offensive struggles.

So what must be done to fix this in 2011? Well from my point of view, there are a few solutions that would end the struggling, the stagnant record, and the lack of a playoff berth.

Option 1: Entrust the Current Roster

Chad Henne, Tyler Thigpen and Chad Pennington, those are the three main quarterbacks who were under contract for the Miami Dolphins in 2010.

Pennington's career might finally be over, and if it's not it should be. Thigpen, he hasn't really been given the chance to shine but in his glimpses he has been average at best.

And then there is Henne. He would be the guy to get the job if we stay in-system. He had a rather sub-par year with 3300 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions. If they decide not to search elsewhere for a QB, then in the draft and in free agency a strong running back can be targeted, someone like Mark Ingram.

The Wide Receivers are there for any quarterback to be successful, but they'll need a solid arm throwing to them, and Henne has convinced no one.

Option 2: Scour the Free Agent and Trade Markets

If Henne is given up on, there are several different ways the Dolphins can go about having an offense, and finding an already established NFL quarterback either in Free Agency or via trade might be the top option.

Names that come to mind are free agent Vince Young, Philadelphia's Kevin Kolb, or the vocally-trade-desiring Carson Palmer of the Bengals.

Young would fit nicely into what the Dolphins want to do and I think he would add another dimension to the the offense that its currently lacking.

Kolb hasn't shown much more than Henne but he's change, and any change is productive at this point.

Palmer is the most established of the three, and he has shown he can get it done, especially with talented receivers like Chad Ochocinco, something he would have in Brandon Marshall.

While all three of those quarterbacks have flaws, all three of them would be different outlooks for the team next year, and clearly that's necessary. Also, this would allow the team to target someone like Ingram in the first round to boost the run game.  

Option 3: Draft a Top Tier Quarterback

It would be the most obvious solution other than sticking with Henne, but also the biggest risk. The Dolphins running game needs work and with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams not likely to be returning, a top RB should be drafted, and taking a top tier QB would forgo that option until the later rounds.

The top names are Jake Locker, Cam Newton, and Ryan Mallet, all of them very successful college QBs with fairly good pro prospects, but can they single handedly fix the Dolphins offense?

That's what they would be asked to do, because a name like Ingram would be taken, so the run game will definitely struggle next year, and they are certainly not going to sit and learn behind Henne, because he doesn't have much to offer in the way of teaching. If a QB is selected by Miami, he will be starting in 2011.

Option 4: Draft a Second Tier Quarterback

This option gives the Dolphins a chance to get that necessary RB in Ingram, but also a chance to get a rookie QB to start for next year. Guys like TCU's Andy Dalton, Nevada's Colin Kaepernick and the most prevalent name, Delaware's Pat Devlin.

Devlin is the most interesting of those three, he stands 6'4" and 220 pounds, has a great arm, is smart, and the last QB from Delaware (Joe Flacco) was quite successful early in his career. If the Dolphins want to get both a RB and a QB then this is clearly the right option and very possibly a very good one.

Option 5: Forgo All Passing Attack for 2011

Who could stop it? Draft Ingram, and several talented offensive lineman, trade all three quarterbacks and all of the receivers other than Brian Hartline for halfbacks, fullbacks, and O-lineman.

Sign three un-drafted rookies to play QB, or actually, to hand the ball off. Stack the line and backfield and let Ingram, and whatever other two or three running backs they bring in, run free.

All you need is 3-4 yards a carry down the field, and you can completely avoid the dreaded throwing of the football. The most unlikely option, and yet this option is my favorite.