Week 9 QB projections   •  MIA Stats

QB Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins

HT: 6-3, WT: 225, Born: 6-26-1976, College: Marshall, Drafted: Round 1, Pick 18

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Stats and Week 9 Projection

WK	OPP	RES	CMP	ATT	PYD	Y/A	PTD	INT	RSH	YD	Y/R	TD	FPT
SEASON TOTAL			51	74	413	5.6	1	2	3	7	2.3	0	22

Week 9 Injury Status and Other News

He was not listed on Friday's official injury report.

Week 9 Matchup Info

at New England Patriots (Bad matchup) - Chad Henne is being eased into the starting role down in Miami (he has the benefit of playing behind a stellar offensive line that helps generate 4.6 yards per carry and 153.4 rushing yards per game in the other phase of the game - they have allowed 21 sacks to date, though). Over the past four weeks, he's acclimated to his new job with 50/83 for 564 yards passing, three TDs and two interceptions (24th-best fantasy QB in the land during that time frame). There has been turmoil at the WR position of late, with Ted Ginn Jr. being demoted out of the starting lineup due to catching only four of the 11 passes that came his way during the past four weeks (4/73/1) - rookie Brian Hartline was inserted into the starting lineup, but was only targeted once in that role last week (0 receptions) while Ginn also failed to catch the only pass he saw last week. Davone Bess led the team's WR corps with 5 targets for 4/18/0 - Ricky Williams led the team last week with 2/41/0 receiving, while TE Joey Haynos caught the only score (2/20/1). Henne eventually compiled 12/21 for 112 yards and one TD, but it was good enough to beat the Jets 30-25 thanks to two kickoff return TDs posted by Ginn (of 100 and 101 yards, respectively). We'll see who gets the nod in Miami at WR this week. One thing is certain - whoever the starters are, being one doesn't necessarily guarantee passes coming their way.

New England's pass D is currently fifth in the NFL averaging 176.3 net yards allowed per game, and they have given up just eight passing TDs in seven games vs. seven interceptions and 13 sacks generated (27th in the NFL in the sacks category so far). The Patriots play good, tight coverage and rarely give up a long ball. They recently held the Titans to negative seven yards passing, with two interceptions (you read that correctly, negative seven yards passing), and followed up by choking Tampa Bay's QBs off (11/30 for 151 net yards, one TD and three interceptions). This unit is playing at an elite level entering week nine.

Henne has done a solid job filling Chad Pennington's shoes, but the Patriots are intimidating and they have home field advantage for this key divisional game - this looks like a bad matchup for the WR-deprived Henne.

Game Summaries

Week 1 at ATL - It was a frustrating day for Pennington because his wide receivers could not get open downfield and second-year "stud" LT Jake Long got abused by John Abraham and Kroy Biermann for three sacks. The result was Pennington getting forced out of the pocket multiple times. His longest completion came off a trick play where he pitched the ball to Ronnie Brown, who threw it back to Pennington and the QB then completed the ball to No. 2 TE Joey Haynos for a 21-yard catch and run. He sealed the Dolphins' fate in this game with an interception thrown to LB Mike Peterson who read the QB staring down Anthony Fasano from the time his TE released from the slot. Pennington's one score was a play action pass to Ricky Williams who sold the run fake so well that he slipped into the flat uncovered for a nine-yard score when the game was effectively over. With Jake Long struggling and the receivers unable to get open on routes more than 10 yards downfield, Pennington is a QB to downgrade even as a reserve.

Week 2 vs IND - Pennington yielded to Ronnie Brown and wildcat for 12 snaps, the most the Dolphins have ever run in a game, but he still threw 33 passes, most of them short targets to Ted Ginn, Davone Bess, and Greg Camarillo. Pennington threw a perfect deep pass to Ginn in the first half that he didn't extend for and let fall harmlessly to the ground in the end zone, and he gave Ginn a chance to win the game on a jumpball that Ginn got his hands on in the late fourth quarter. He was calm in the pocket, making great decisions, and his interception was on a desperation play to end the Dolphins final possession. This loss is definitely not on Pennington.

Week 3 at SD - Putting aside any stats or any performance issues with Pennington in this game for a moment, clearly the most significant news on him was the shoulder injury he suffered. Pennington, who has a history of serious shoulder issues after two major surgeries, was hit hard and then landed on his shoulder following a pass, and immediately left the game. He left the field with his arm hanging limp by his side, and it was known very quickly that he was not going to return to action. When he was in there, he actually showed pretty good arm strength on a deep route to Ted Ginn on which he managed to overthrow the speedy wideout. Had the ball been on target it could've been a 95 yard score. For most of the game, he had all day to throw the ball and showed good pocket presence. As the game went along, however, he began getting a bit banged up. He tried diving into the end zone at the two yard line, but was stuffed a bit short. On the hit, his helmet was knocked into his face, causing a gash to open up on his nose. Later, as the Chargers began getting more and more pressure on him, was when he suffered the hit that eventually knocked him from the contest.