Around the AFC East, Week 1: Miami Dolphins

by Brian Galliford on May 15, 2009 10:00 AM EDT in AFC East Comment 35 comments

Each Friday during the off-season, Buffalo Rumblings dedicates our front-page space to learning a bit more about the inner workings of the Buffalo Bills' three biggest rivals - our AFC East counterparts. We continue our Friday breakdown of our hated enemies with a discussion of those irritating Miami Dolphins in a sit-down with Matty I of The Phinsider.

Out of every draft pick made this season, one of the best fits was the Miami Dolphins' selection of West Virginia QB Pat White. Few picks made that fateful draft weekend better combined a great college player, a perfect offensive fit and first-year opportunity than Miami's selection of White. Blessed with a rare skill set, White will likely take command of the Dolphins' "Wildcat" offense from the outset - and his big-play ability as a passer or runner from that look makes Miami's offensive attack all the more dangerous.

Exactly how much playing time will White see next season, however? And has RB Ronnie Brown taken his last snap as the "Wildcat QB"? Matty I takes center stage to address those questions...

I think the obvious question surrounding the Dolphins right now is how rookie QB Pat White will be involved as a 'Wildcat' quarterback next season. So I'll ask you this way: relative to the amount of playing time that starter Chad Pennington gets, how much do you expect to see White on the field next season? Will Ronnie Brown ever take another snap as the 'Wildcat' QB?

Matty I: That seems to be the million dollar question among Dolphin fans right now. How does this coaching staff plan on using Pat White? We know that they envision him as a quarterback – GM Jeff Ireland has said as much. But both Ireland and head coach Tony Sparano have also made comments about how much they like White’s versatility. I think he’s going to be used in a number of different ways.

But it’s impossible to predict exactly how things are going to work out in year one of Pat White’s career. Right now, the Dolphins are not surprisingly letting any info leak about how they intend to use White. And odds are that’s how it’s going to be until the regular season. But if I had to guess, I’d say that White is going to see a fair share of opportunities – likely out of the ‘Wildcat’ formation. But Sparano also made it a point to compliment the job Ronnie Brown did as the ‘Wildcat QB’ – saying Ronnie was “tremendous.”

So I don’t think Ronnie’s days taking snaps out of the ‘Wildcat” are over just yet. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some formations where both White and Brown are in the backfield together – with the snap going to Ronnie. And that’s just one way – out of many – that White might be used.

If nothing else, the offense just got a whole lot more unpredictable and entertaining when the Fins made White the No. 44 overall pick in the 2009 draft.

***

I'll be honest - I love the 'Wildcat'. I hate that the Dolphins were the team to revitalize and re-imagine the attack, but the offense itself is fun to watch. Outside of perhaps Michael Vick in his non-dog-fighting heyday, White is probably the best college quarterback to emerge that fits the skill set demanded of this offense. They'll use him - and don't forget that for four years, White was one of college's most devastating playmakers. I, at least, think he's going to be a problem for defenses last year.

Y'all, of course, are welcome to confidently disagree with my viewpoints on both the offense and the player. This is a hated rival I'm talking about, after all - and in May football discussions such as these, testosterone and team pride generally win out. What say you, Bills fans, about the Dolphins, the Wildcat and Pat White?

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I wasn't scared of the Wildcat with Ronnie Brown.

Pat White’s skill set makes it much harder to defend. It’s not “DBs stay on your guys and everybody else get Ronnie Brown.” It will take a little more pass coverage I think.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on May 15, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The two most important factors when considering Pat White’s success (as a QB) in the NFL.

1. The NFL is the anti-imagination zone. Also, it is bad for Pat White if the dolphins view him as a “gadget” player.
2. Just look at the picture. Does that look like a guy who’s going to stay healthy in a formation where he’ll get hit most of the time?

by syrbillsfan on May 15, 2009 10:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You're right on point one.

But the Dolphins proved last year that when you are desperate enough you will do stuff you’re not used to doing. They actually use the imagination.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on May 15, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is he the guy who just grips and throws the ball however it lands in his hand? Look at that photo, it appears he’s ready to throw holding it way up the middle, and without laces.

"It's not delivery, it's DiGiorgio!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on May 15, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I for one

am not overly concerned about Pat White and his capabilities. Teams will be more prepared for the wildcat offense and I don’t think White would be more of a challenge to stop. He is small and while he is quick he is not overly fast. Brown could break tackles while I don’t think White will be as successful in the pros doing what he did at WVU. Don’t get me wrong, he’ll make some plays here and there but nothing that should create panic for opposing defenses.

by gatornation on May 15, 2009 10:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

didn’t the ravens destroy the wildcat last year by just not getting beat in man coverage?

by the_prophet on May 15, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea but ur not the ravens...not even close. and if white had the ball he woulda thrown it over their heads...ronnie just had no holes to run

Phinsider Hall of Fame Class of 2009 (Highest honor on earth)
2-Time Matty Award Winner
Author of "ITM"....the original forefather to CKC
Epic 09' Predictions - JT comeback player of yr / Ronnie Brown 1500 yards

by Rzayo24 on May 15, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We may not be the Ravens but we stopped the Wildcat last year.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on May 15, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think he was likening us to the Ravens… just asking a question.

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by Brian Galliford on May 15, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, they did

stop the Wildcat cold, but technically, any offensive play could be shut down if the defense doesn’t get beat in man coverage. The biggest thing that Pat White is going to do is to make the defensive coordinators have to make a choice of whether they think the play is going to be a pass or a run. Where as before with Ronnie, they knew that 97% of the time it was going to be a run, so they could stack up defenders against the run. Pat is just adding a new level of unpredictability to what we can do making the formation more versatile and giving teams more things that they have to prepare for.

"Why don't you put that in a memo and entitle it 'Shit I Already Know'!" - Sarge from Red vs. Blue

by Chupathingy on May 15, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pat White is a fascinating addition to this team. I think he has much more potential as a QB than Ron Mexico had. Mostly because he’s not a knucklehead. Does he have the ability to read/react to NFL defenses? Maybe, after a couple seasons. Maybe not. We’ll see.

The Dolphins have good coaching, and White obviously seems a great fit for the Dolphins current offense. The biggest question is what he’ll be 2-3 years from now. Did the Dolphins pick him too high? If he’s just there for Wildcat purposes, then I don’t like this pick for the Dolphins. If he’s there for a future QB battle with Henne, then I like this pick much more. College QB’s rarely play well at skill positions in the NFL, so the Dolphins can’t legitimately assume he’ll be good “gadget” player. I see him similar to Kordell Stewart as a QB.

Because of the Wildcat, White has been drafted into a role/situation pretty much unique to every other player of recent time. It will be interesting to see how he impacts the Dolphins this year. He may be part of a quasi-transformation in the NFL. He may be the early end of it as well. He is The Pat White Experiment.

It's just a game.

by jj24 on May 15, 2009 11:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the Dolphins do Pat White no favors

if they don’t train him to be a true NFL QB. The Wildcat will make him valuable only to the Dolphins, and only to this coaching staff.

I still think Roscoe Parrish is exactly what that type of offensive scheme needs.

"It's not delivery, it's DiGiorgio!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on May 15, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m not afraid of Pat White. He’s thin and I’d have to imagine he can’t take the beating NFL defenders will be giving him. He’s not going to be breaking tackles like Ronnie Brown did/can, so will he be as effective when running? The only advantage is his ability to pass, which I question at the NFL level. He was a solid passer in college, but this isn’t the Big East now. I think he’ll work from time to time, but we shouldn’t be scared of this guy, IMO.

And what’s up with the picture? White is a lefty, so what’s he doing looking like he’s setting up to throw a pass right handed? Why is he holding it like an 8 year old would?

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on May 15, 2009 12:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think

he’s about to tuck and run…but who knows….

Dolphins….i love what they did last year…..amazing story…but with the schedule this year….i have a hard time believing they win more than 9 games….

MARVelous - "I went from America's team to North America's Team" Terrell Owens

by MARVelous on May 15, 2009 12:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think

he just took the snap and will be handing off.

by gatornation on May 15, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I won’t be worried until next year, when they draft Tebow.

Penn Staters belong at Penn State. The problem with a lot of kids is they just don’t know they are Penn Staters yet. -jesse. @ BSD

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on May 15, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This guy wearing number 6

Reminds me of another athletic QB, Ray Lucas

by Dyl on May 15, 2009 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

by syrbillsfan on May 18, 2009 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Pennington and White are the Dolphins' 1 and 2

Then that means Henne becomes the third QB and can’t enter the game without being the permanent replacement.

This is good for Bills fans in that it keeps the Dolphins QB of the future off the field, where he could be getting better.

by Dyl on May 15, 2009 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That’s a fair point… had never considered that…

The alternative would be to list White as a receiver and slap him with a number in the double digits. I’m not sure if 6 is his final number or not…

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by Brian Galliford on May 15, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The front office

has been pretty secretive about how they are going to use White. They’ve been telling people that he is going to be a quarterback, but other times when asked how he is going to be used, they are very vague and give a lot of really non-informative answers. They are playing the cards on this one pretty close to the chest, so even most Phins fans have no real idea how he’s going to be used.

"Why don't you put that in a memo and entitle it 'Shit I Already Know'!" - Sarge from Red vs. Blue

by Chupathingy on May 15, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can’t they just have all 3 on the 45-man active gameday roster? I don’t see why they wouldn’t just do that….

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on May 16, 2009 2:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.

That rule applies to someone designated the Emergency QB. If they want all three QBs active they can do it but it costs them a 45-man roster spot. Good catch Kurupt.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on May 16, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t see why they wouldn’t have all 3 active. Sure, it may cost them a 6th LB or CB on game days, but I think it’d be more important for that team to have the 3 QB’s available….

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on May 16, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dang it.

And there I thought we had something.

by Dyl on May 16, 2009 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm pretty sure

that’s what they have in mind. at least i hope so. if henne is our qb of the future, you should have him in position to come in at any time.

by ncfinfan on May 17, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pat White could be the beginning of a new era with more athletic QBs coming out due to the spread

Or he could be the end of it depending on how the Phins use him and train him up. If they make sure he has a solid grounding in being a QB rather than waste their time trying to gadget him up, this makes a huge difference in how teams will defend him, and how they play the Phins.

In some ways I am actually more afraid of Pat White than I am of Sanchez. We know the supporting cast around Sanchez is sub par at best on the O outisde their Oline and Washington (Jones is on his way to corpseville), but White along with Brown and Dime Bag makes this a dangerous offense, especially if some of the receivers actually come along in their development this year.

At the minimum, Phins vs. Bills will be two of the more interesting and possibly frustrating for fans on both sides this fall.

If the Bills were a drug, I could only hope they were like speed so I could lose some weight as well.

by WABillsfan on May 15, 2009 6:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs