Scouts Grade: 97

 

Flags: (D: DURABILITY) Player that can't stay healthy

 

Strengths:
An experienced, technically sound OT prospect with great size-potential. Is versatile; has experience at left and right tackle and could play either/both in the NFL. Also has proven capable of performing at a high level in power-run scheme and new zone-blocking scheme. Possesses excellent height, adequate bulk and the frame to get bigger if necessary. He has a massive wingspan with long arms and big hands. A natural knee-bender; he gets set quickly in pass pro, plays with good bodylean and rarely gets caught lunging. He shuffles his feet quickly and can get back inside to defend double move. Uses long arms and powerful punch to jar defenders and run them wide as pass rushers. Shows excellent awareness in pass pro; consistently gives inside help and does an great job of picking up stunts, twists and blitzes. He takes very good angles as a run blocker. Has adapted very well zone-blocking and shows the mobility to execute in a similar scheme in the NFL. He has good upper-and-lower body strength as a run blocker. Also works hard to sustain and shows a good mean streak. Great intangibles. A leader and hard worker on-and-off the field. Good student in the classroom and intelligence carries over to the field, where he picks up techniques, schemes and assignments quickly.

 

Weaknesses:
Lacks elite mobility for an elite OT prospect. Has enough quickness and balance to perform at a high level in the NFL, but he is not as nimble as former top OT prospects such as Orlando Pace (Rams), Jonathan Ogden (Ravens) and D'Brickashaw Ferguson (Jets). Lacks ideal bulk for his frame. Depending on the scheme, he may need to add some weight in the NFL. Durability is somewhat of a concern after he missed the first seven games of the 2005 season with an ankle/foot injury.

 

Overall:
Long was redshirted in 2003. During his first three seasons (2004-'06) he appeared in 30 games, making 14 starts at right tackle (2004-'05) and 13 starts at left tackle (2006). Long missed the first seven games of the 2005 season after suffering a foot injury during fall camp. Long missed more than half of the 2005 season with an ankle/foot injury but returned to form as a fulltime starter last year. He could have been a top-10 pick in the 2007 draft but he elected instead to return to Ann Arbor for his final season of collegiate eligibility. Long has outstanding experience to go along with his massive frame and quick feet. While he doesn't possess elite mobility, he clearly has enough physically and mentally to quickly emerge as a solid starter in the NFL  and remain one for years to come. Another healthy and productive campaign in 2007 should land Long a spot near the top of next year's NFL draft.

 

ESPN Insider

Positives:
Has a thick frame with good upper-body muscle tone, long arms, wide hips, thick thighs and calves...Also has room on his frame to add at least another 20 pounds of bulk without having the added weight impact his overall quickness...Shows good quickness and body control for a player of his size...Take-charge type and field leader who plays with good field awareness and is an aggressive blocker who has the knowledge to call blocking adjustments up front...Sound technically and can be a drive blocker who shows good explosion in his initial step off the snap...Keeps his balance working into the second level and has a wide leg base in his pass set...Good second-effort blocker who stays with his man throughout the whistle, but also shows the vision to locate secondary targets...Plays with a mean streak, looking to constantly finish his man off...Never takes a play off and drives through the defender with good intent and force...Easily digests a complicated playbook and makes good field adjustments to twists and games...Rarely makes a mental error and is very alert on the field...Vocal team captain who will not hesitate to take a teammate to task...Has a true passion for the game, playing with a warrior-like mentality...Hard worker who will do anything the coaches ask and is a model for good work ethic, especially in the weight room...Uses his long reach and size to neutralize edge rushers (see 2007 Michigan State, Illinois and Florida games), doing a solid job of reaching and sealing the "seven" technique...Has the ability to get under the defender's pads and dominate with his hand jolt, but does lack ideal explosion...His hand punch will consistently shock and jolt the defender...Adequate in attempts to stay on his feet moving down the line and is effective at handling the switch-off...Will jolt the defenders on contact with his hands, locking on to steer out and work his man off the line...Drive blocks with excellent leverage and is consistent at moving the pile (see 2007 Northwestern, Eastern Michigan, Purdue and Florida games)...When he stays square in his base, he shows the footwork to get in front on traps and pulls...Very good with his reach-and-scoop skills, when he sinks his weight and stays low in his pads (better at gaining advantage and sealing off when getting movement on double teams)...Can locate and land in short space but isn't as effective on the long pull...Lacks timed speed, but is efficient at locating linebackers when asked to work into the second level...Very quick to set and recoil with his hands, showing good knee bend setting up in pass protection...Has no problems handling movement and is quick to react to stunts and blitzes...Does a good job of staying on his feet working in-line, where he can wall off and position with ease...Gets good movement in his drive blocks and, while he is a little tight in his hips, he works hard to take good angles and recover in his pass set...Can run his feet, stay up and sustain his blocks, showing aggression throughout his play...Works to finish and is patient on the pull, breaking down and staying under control at the second level...Can sink his hips and redirect, coming off the double team with good balance and anchor...Uses his hands like weapons in attempts to pick up stunts and can also catch the defender with his big mitts...Sees threats quickly and stays square in his base to absorb the edge rusher.

 

Negatives:
A little tight in his hips, lacking ideal lateral agility in his kick-slide and can struggle when having to immediately change direction (will take false steps)...Has a strong hand punch, but tends to get them outside his frame, causing him to whiff a lot on a quick pass set (inconsistent placement)...Best operating in a short area, as he does show some balance issues when asked to run long distances...Needs to show better explosion off the snap when engaging defenders, but does compensate with a strong hand punch...When he gets too high in his stance, his base narrows and he will revert to over-extending in attempts to position and sustain...Must unlock his hips and explode more often into the defender, as he prefers to use his size to engulf or hands to sustain rather than blow up the defender (better earlier in games)...More effective working on an island with an edge rusher, as his lack of ideal hip swerve will see him allow inside penetration.

 

Compares To:
JAMAAL BROWN-New Orleans...Like Brown, Long is a mauler with excellent drive-blocking skills. He compensates for a lack of explosion by taking good angles to adjust to movement and has the big hands and upper-body strength to consistently walk his man off the line. He shows the kick-step to mirror edge rushers, but does allow some inside penetration with his sluggish hip swerve working in-line. In a game plan that features physical drive blocking, Long is a perfect fit. But, if you put him in a zone-blocking formation, he lacks the lateral agility needed to mirror inside movement.

 

Injury Report
2005: Missed the team's first seven games of the season and was hampered later in the year by foot and ankle problems...Was slow to recover from spring shoulder surgery.

 

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NFL.COM

Strengths:
Excellent size with long arms...Has a large frame with growth potential...Is strong, powerful and tough...Plays with a nasty demeanor and is a great finisher...Can be a dominant run blocker...Mobile and will get to the second level...Smart with great awareness...Played in a couple of different blocking schemes..Stout at the point of attack...Versatile and has played left and right tackle..Hard worker...Leader and a team captain...Nice program pedigree..Lots of experience against top competition.

 

Weaknesses:
Not a great natural athlete...Does not have outstanding quickness...Feet are just average...Can still improve as a pass blocker...Might not be able to play left tackle at the next level...Can be too aggressive at times...Susceptible to secondary pass rush techniques..Missed half of the 2005 season following surgery for a leg injury.

 

Notes:
The next in a long line of top Wolverine offensive linemen...Redshirted in '03...Lost a bunch of weight prior to the '06 season to prepare for Michigan's transition to a zone blocking scheme....Probably would've been a Top 10 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft had he come out after his junior season...Can be a very good left tackle or a great right tackle..Probably falls somewhere in between Joe Thomas and Levi Brown as a pro prospect...Not flashy but is one of the best prospects in this draft.

ESPN Insider:
The pick: Jake Long, OT, Michigan

 

What he brings: Long's not the best overall player on the board, but the Dolphins needed a left tackle. Some people say he's a better fit on the right side, but we disagree. He's fundamentally sound enough in pass protection to be a capable blind-side protector from Day 1, and while he's certainly not as athletic as Joe Thomas -- Cleveland's first-round pick a year ago -- Long is a better run blocker than Thomas was coming out of college. Long can play a similar role to the one Jumbo Elliot played with Bill Parcells with the Giants in the 1980s. A lot has been made of Ohio State DE Vernon Gholston beating Long for a sack last season, but Gholston did not dominate the matchup and freshman QB Ryan Mallet held the ball far too long. Long has simply been a model of consistency during his college career.

 

How he fits: This was easily the safest pick the Dolphins could make. They get a franchise left tackle who stabilizes the offensive line for years. The Dolphins can now move LT Vernon Carey to the right side and insert offseason addition Justin Smiley at right guard. Carey is a versatile player who fits better on the right side than left side in our opinion. Also, the Dolphins have a good young center in Samson Satele. By taking Long this offensive line, which gave up 25 sacks over the final six games of last season, instantly improves. On top of that, he's already signed and under contract.

 

NFL.COM:
With contract negotiations completed before the draft on a five-year deal worth $57.5 million, the Dolphins see Long as the answer to their most pressing of multiple needs. He started 40 games over the past four years at Michigan and should be able to make an immediate impact at tackle for Miami. His best traits are work ethic, power and toughness.

 

Draft Daddy:
Safe and steady building-block is someone to run behind. Grade: B+

 

Pro Football Weekly:
What better way to please a former offensive line coach such as Tony Sparano than to make an elite, blind-side protector the cornerstone of the franchise. Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland took the safest route in the draft with the selection of Jake Long, and he figures to be a 10- to 15-year starter for the Fins and allow Josh McCown a chance to finally realize his potential behind a legitimate NFL offensive line. Long is a mammoth man with long arms, terrific strength and great power. He plays smart and disciplined and is very tough, smart and hardworking. He's athletic, as he needs to be to match up with elite pass rushers, and could have every bit the type of career that Jumbo Elliott and Tony Boselli had on the left side after they were criticized for not being athletic enough to play there. Long has Pro Bowl potential and will prove to be an excellent selection. He will be the rock of the Dolphins' offense for a long time. With the unraveling of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Dolphins were very wise to sign Long prior to his selection, even if they had to pay through the roof. Long should be able to make a seamless transition to the pro game and start from Day One, allowing Vernon Carey to shift to his more natural ORT position and securing both edges with power players.

 

Phins.com's Chris Shashaty
Long, a massive 6-7 and 315lb. mountain of a man, is being counted on to stabilize the left tackle position for the next decade. The pick makes sense because it plays to the strength of the offense (running back) and is conducive to the success of a young quarterback. Furthermore, Long’s presence allows the Dolphins to shift Vernon Carey back to right tackle, where he’s enjoyed some good success in the past. Together with Carey, he could give the Dolphins their best tackle tandem since 1995 (Richmond Webb and Ron Heller). Add in free agent pick-up Justin Smiley (RG) and rookie center sensation Samson Satele, and the Dolphins have the makings for one of the best young offensive lines in the game. Provided that Jason Taylor is still with the team when training camp opens, look for Long to gain valuable experience early and often on handling an elite NFL pass rusher.

Scouts Grade: 91

 

Flags: (D: DURABILITY) Player that can't stay healthy

 

Strengths:
Is a well built DE with adequate height and good bulk, arm length (33.2) and hand span (9.5). Has above-average initial quickness for size and can beat blockers to the point of attack. Moves well laterally and keeps head up when scraping down the line of scrimmage. Takes excellent pursuit angles, plays with a good motor and has above-average range. Generally does a good job of getting in position, plays with discipline versus the run and will execute his assignment. Thickly built with a strong lower body. Is able to take on blocks when he plays with leverage. Plays with a mean streak. Wraps up upon contact and is reliable open field tackler that can deliver the big hit. Uses hands to protect legs, shows good balance and can fight over cut blocks though is somewhat inconsistent in this area. Flashes the ability to turn the corner and is a relentless pass rusher. Athletic enough to redirect inside after starting outside and flashes an effective swim move. Stays alert, has long arms and gets hands up when isn't going to get to the quarterback. Has experience lining up at defensive tackle, has experience dropping into coverage and is versatile.

 

Weaknesses:
Has good size for a defensive end but stands up high too much and gets driven back on some of those occasions. Has some problems shedding bocks when he lets blockers lock onto his frame. Does not show powerful upper body strength (only 17 reps on bench press). Lacks elite closing speed for an end and is going to have a harder time turning the corner at the NFL level. Relies on quickness and athletic ability too much and isn't much of a bull rusher at this point. Turns shoulders and creates running lanes too much. Doesn't always rush outside in and lets quarterbacks break contain too much.

 

Overall:
Merling played 271 snaps during his true freshman season in 2005. He started all 13 games of the 2006 season, finishing with 46 total tackles, including ten tackles-for-loss. Merling also recorded three sacks, 20 quarterback hurries and one forced fumble that year. In 2007, he recorded 78 total tackles, including 17 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks. Merling does not possess the speed of a dominant edge rusher and he needs to improve his upper body power. However, Merling is a gifted athlete for his size and he projects as an impact every-down starter in the NFL. While he could develop into a solid 3-4 end, we think his best fit is at the power-end position in a traditional 4-3 scheme. Regardless, Merling projects as a mid-first round pick.

 

* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.

 

ESPN Insider

Positives:
Well-built with thick legs and long arms, tight waist and hips, and minimal body fat...High-energy player who is best on the move, showing better ability to make plays along the edge than working inside...Flashes good explosion off the ball and has decent anchor and leverage ability to hold ground vs. isolated blockers at the point of attack...Quick off the edge and shows good hustle to the ball, utilizing his upfield burst to give him an advantage over the large, slower blockers...Extends his arms well to keep blockers off him and has the swim move lateral agility to excel coming from the backside...Shows good breakdown and body control in his tackling form, using his long arms to capture ballcarriers in space...Reads hats well and reacts to the play effectively, showing the ball awareness instincts on the move to neutralize and redirect the outside running lanes...Shows good balance in his moves down the line, demonstrating the knee bend to keep his feet on the move...Easily defeats blocks with his speed, showing the ability to dip and turn the corner in a flash...Disengages quickly from his man to move toward the ball and plays until the whistle, showing an explosive closing burst...Has that extra surge to consistently finish off his blocks, taking good angles to pressure the pocket...Still needs to improve his overall strength, but he has enough raw power to deliver pop when making contact with the quarterback and when he keeps his pads down and uses his hands, he can control the fullback and clog the rushing lanes...Has a sudden short burst to penetrate and shows the sustained speed to be effective in long pursuit...Natural pass rusher who comes off the ball with a quick twitch, body lean and leverage, but is best when operating in plays away from him, so he can redirect and give backside chase...Has the arm strength to drag down the ballcarriers and the foot speed to close on the quarterbacks and collapse the pocket...Comes off the line at the proper pad level and can burst around the corner with speed, looping through the gaps with good urgency...Has improved his hand usage during his junior year, as he played off blocks much better to work his way down the line...Gives chase with good body control...While he has the leverage to hold up, with his speed, he is much more effective on the move, where he can combine his lateral quickness and motor to keep containment on the outside...Not an explosive tackle, but will hit, wrap and secure...Has the functional leg drive to bull rush at times, but his best trait is his ability to get upfield in a hurry.

 

Negatives:
Needs to improve his hand play -- he sometimes struggles to disengage once blockers lock on -- and keep blockers off his feet...Best on the move when he sets his base, but he will turn his shoulders and get sealed off at the point of attack...Seems to recognize the ball quicker when he's on the move rather than working through a crowd inside...His lower-body frame lacks the power to take on bulky blockers with consistency, and he shows a decent anchor vs. tight ends and backs, but he can still be driven off the ball when offensive linemen go directly at him...Despite his quickness and urgency coming off the edge, he still needs to develop rush moves (club and rip are lacking, but his swim move is very effective), as he relies too much on quickness to separate...Gets caught up by double-team activity inside and must protect himself better because he doesn't have the raw power needed to split double teams...Plays with a good motor, but will get frustrated and shut down when the bigger blockers consistently neutralize him.

 

Compares To:
JUSTIN TUCK-New York Giants...Both defensive ends will make a nice living coming off the edge. They have impressive size, though Merling is best playing on the move to utilize a sudden initial step to slip past blocks. He is not a good stack-and-control type and must do a better job of protecting himself from low blocks, but he is quick to provide outside run contain and shows a quick swim-and-spin move that generally gets him into the backfield to pressure the pocket. He won't read and react in an instant, but has closing speed to seal the deal, even in long pursuit, once he locates the ball. He has to improve his lower-body strength, but there is enough athletic ability there to get by as his body continues to mature.

 

Injury Report
No injuries reported. He left the 2006 Temple game (10/12) after four plays, but no injury was listed on the final report, though the play-by-play sheet indicates he left due to an undisclosed injury.

 

NFL.COM

Strengths:
Terrific size and bulk with long arms...Great quickness...Has a non-stop motor...Is very strong and powerful...Plays with a nasty demeanor...Excellent range and he is relentless in pursuit...Natural pass rusher with a variety of moves...Can take on multiple blockers and shed the double team...Does a nice job versus the run...Has good instincts & awareness...Reliable tackler...Solid technician...Does a nice job in space...Extremely versatile...Can play a number of positions in different schemes.

 

Weaknesses:
May lack elite athleticism...Won't scare anyone off the edge...Does not have great timed speed and isn't real explosive...Might be a bit of a 'tweener...He can be too aggressive at times...Will get pushed back...Needs to work on his hand use...Has to work on keeping his shoulders square...Intelligence could be an issue with him.

 

Notes:
Uncle Chris Rumph was his position coach at Clemson...He prepped at Fork Union Military Academy...Has experience at both defensive end and defensive tackle...He can project to end or tackle in a 43 defense or end in a 34 scheme...Very different player from Gaines Adams but is a better all-around player...Not real flashy but is a very good prospect who will be in high demand...Awfully similar to Trevor Pryce.

 

NFL Draft Countdown

ESPN Insider:
The pick: Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson

 

What he brings: Merling's stock dropped because of a sports hernia injury. He's going to have a harder time turning the corner at the NFL level because he doesn't have great speed. However, he has good size and some experience lining up at defensive tackle. If he can improve his upper-body strength and learn to play lower, he could be an excellent run-stopper and effective bull-rusher. How he fits: With Jason Taylor, 33, aging, this pick makes a lot of sense based on Meling's upside. He will come in and work in the rotation with Taylor and Matt Roth.

 

NFL.COM:
Merling is recovering from a sports hernia. He started 26 games over the past two seasons with 12 sacks. In continuing the roster overhaul, Miami liked his competitiveness and quick first step.

 

Draft Daddy:
Will be solid player in Parcells 3-4, need but not a flashy pick. Grade: B

 

Pro Football Weekly:
Merling's groin injury cost him a spot in the first round. He needs to spend more time in the weight room and get stronger, but he plays big and should be able to hold the line and improve the Dolphins' run defense. With Merling having played the second half of the season through his injury, his toughness had to resonate with Bill Parcells.

 

Phins.com's Chris Shashaty
Meet the potential heir to Taylor, a player who professes to have modeled his game after Taylor. Merling was very productive at Clemson, earning ACC Player of the Week honors an amazing three times in 2007 (they only play 12 games, not including a bowl game). “Merling brings us a quality pass rusher”, said Ireland. “He’s a big guy that we like, a solid kid, competitive, tough, brings good depth to the end position.” Currently listed as 6-5, 282lbs., Merling has the frame to add more strength and bulk. While some say this pick sends a message to Taylor, what it really does is send a message to Matt Roth. Look for Merling to be in the regular defensive line rotation this season.

Scouts Grade: 90

 

Flags: (D: DURABILITY) Player that can't stay healthy

 

Strengths:
A thickly built, strong and tough QB. He can be very effective when he has time to throw. Shows the ability to lead his receivers and also knows when to change up velocity. Shows outstanding touch, timing and accuracy on vertical throws. Throws a very catchable ball but also has good overall arm strength. Arm is not elite, but he certainly can make all the necessary throws. Shows good zip on deep out and can fit the ball into some tight windows on intermediate throws between the hashes. Does a good job of reading coverage while dropping back. Keeps the ball high and generally displays good footwork. Not a great athlete but he does get set quickly and has adequate straight-line speed. He is at his best when given time to set up, make reads and step into his throws. Does a great job of selling fakes and is very comfortable working the play-action game. Excellent experience as a four-year starter at highest level. One of the most intelligent prospects in his class. Very hard worker; a film rat. Understands defenses and has made sound decisions throughout his career. Displayed great toughness senior year. Has a warriors' mentality as he played through a popped out shoulder on multiple occasions during senior season.

 

Weaknesses:
Overall mobility and athleticism are poor. His production is severely hindered when you flush him out of the pocket and force him to make plays on the move. He will never be a running threat. Height is adequate but not ideal. Has some trouble finding passing windows at times. Still improving in terms of overall decision making. Has cut down on key errors but still too streaky in that department. Pressure brings out the worst in him. While he does have good footwork when set, he needs to avoid getting sloppy when on the move. He has a tendency to throw off his back foot when rolling out or when coming off the play-fake, which takes away from his accuracy and velocity. He still needs to learn when to throw the ball away or take the sack rather than throwing the ball up for grabs (see: 1st quarter INT vs. ND in 2006). Release could be more compact, as he tends to drop down and wind-up a bit on longer throws. Durability only became an issue as a senior in 2007.

 

Overall:
In four years at Michigan (2004-'07), Henne started every game in which he played (47). He set school career marks in completions (828), attempts (1,387), passing yards (9,715) and passing touchdowns (87). He has also rushed for three career touchdowns. Despite missing three games as a senior (leg and shoulder injuries), Henne passed for 1,938 yards and 17 touchdowns in just 10 games. In addition to good size and arm strength, Henne brings to the table rare experience as a four-year starting quarterback at Michigan. He's not the type of quarterback that can carry a team but he does an excellent job of managing games and distributing the ball to his playmakers. He was considered the most durable quarterback in the senior class prior to the 2007 season. However, knee and shoulder injuries have caused him to miss significant time. Henne is the type of quarterback that will shine in pre-draft workouts because he is such a gifted natural passer when he can set his feet and throw unhurried. However, his lack of mobility and erratic decision-making skills when under pressure are legitimate concerns in our opinion. Henne should come off the board in the second round of the upcoming draft. His intangibles, toughness and work ethic will allow him to overcome some physical limitations but his NFL career could be defined by how much he can improve his feet over the next few years.

 

* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.

 

ESPN Insider

Positives:
Has a thick lower-body frame, with good muscle tone in his thighs and calves...Generally durable athlete, who started 39 consecutive games before he was sidelined by injury...Has decent quickness moving around in the backfield, showing the balance and slide to step up and away from pressure but is not a threat as a runner...Ready to throw at the end of his pass drop. He might drift some in the pocket, but he shows good upper-body mechanics...Drop-back style passer, who can throw on the move but is not a running quarterback...Throws with a tight circle, flicking the ball out with adequate quickness and does a good job of maintaining focus downfield...While his release is not the fastest (will be late sometimes), he has the arm strength to stretch the field and air the ball out...Better when he takes a three-step drop and shortens his throws...Has a good grasp of the playbook and needs minimal reps to retain plays...Puts in the extra hours after practices and in the film room...Has good command in the huddle, and is slowly developing adequate leadership skills...Does a nice job of delivering the ball over the top, but is equally effective when using a three-quarters sidearm motion...When throwing in the short area, he shows a nice, tight circle on his attempts but lacks touch when he throws deliberately or high...Has functional skills and can throw a decent fade downfield, but must do it with better consistency...Not quick to flush and hangs tough under the pass rush, but must work on getting the ball on time...Does a decent job calling the audible and is an unselfish sort who will credit teammates...His short-area touch needs improvement, as he will leave a few short, but puts good zip on throws in that area...Throws impressive fades, but will miss the wide-open streak and short throws when pressured...Has the feet to avoid the bull rush and has shown improvement maintaining focus to complete the play, doing an adequate job of running through progressions, when he has time to scan the field. However, he will force it when pressured at times...Not a big running threat, but will buy some time with his feet.

 

Negatives:
Lacks upper-body tone and does not have the ideal height you look for in a quarterback...Gets very animated making audible calls and pre-snap changes, but has just adequate judgment...Competitive, but tries to carry too much of the load and lacks the creativity to improvise...Needs to throw the ball away more, as he seems bent on forcing the ball in order to complete the play and it has resulted in several costly miscues (37 interceptions, 159 passes deflected, 20 fumbles)...Has good arm strength, but lacks a quick and explosive release...Quick to set up, but holds the ball too long and will pat it before unleashing it, lacking ideal trajectory, which has resulted in a high amount of passes getting defended on him (168-of-1,113 passes were either picked off or batted away by the opposition)...His arm strength is sometimes negated, as he takes too long to deliver the ball on deep outs...Will also underthrow when passing in the short-to-intermediate areas (better when he takes a three-step drop to throw, as he gets the ball out quicker and with better touch than when he pats the ball)...Very inconsistent on the deep-out, as he can get rattled by pressure...By holding the ball too long, he is susceptible to the costly sacks (sacked 89 times for losses of 588 yards)...Has good field smarts, making his throws into traffic befuddling...Has the strength to fire into the deep secondary, but his receivers often have to break off their routes, as he doesn't lead them well or get the ball to the outside shoulder and away from the defender...Will step up to avoid the rush, but will tuck the ball and run too early, leaving the ball exposed, resulting in a high amount of fumbles...Needs to improve his timing, especially on deep throws, as he does not hit his deep targets in stride that much (will also rush some of his throws)...Tends to get tunnel-vision and stay on his primary target too long. Must do a better job of reading route progressions and locating other targets...Needs to square his shoulders better when trying to throw downfield on the move, as he will look awkward trying to maintain balance on the run.

 

Compares To:
JOEY HARRINGTON-Atlanta...Henne is a good mechanic with the arm strength to air it out, but he needs to do a better job of timing throws, as he tends to hold on to the ball too long. He will get "happy feet" when pressured and run too early, but he lacks good ball-security skills and that has led to 14 fumbles in 39 games. He lacks ideal trajectory on his passes, as he will short-arm often, leading to 30 interceptions and 138 other passes deflected by the opposition. Like Harrington, he is an erratic performer, who can look sensational one minute, but tries to do too much and gets caught with the ball in his hands. Any general manager daring to consider him a first-round target will soon see himself on the unemployment line. Henne has too many of Harrington's deficiencies to be considered a franchise quarterback.

 

Injury Report
2007: Suffered a right lower leg contusion/ankle sprain late in the second quarter of the Oregon (9/08) game, as Henne was hit out of bounds by Willie Glasper. He stayed in the game for one more play until the first half ended, but did not return from the locker room for the second half. The injury would force him to sit out the Notre Dame (9/15) and Penn State (9/22) games...Separated his right shoulder in the second quarter vs. Illinois (10/20). Left the game, but returned in the second half. He then sat out the following week vs. Minnesota (10/27) to recover from that injury...Sprained his right ankle, but continued to play throughout the Michigan State clash (11/03) with the injury...Re-aggravated his shoulder injury and left in the first quarter vs. Wisconsin (11/10).

 

NFL.COM

Strengths:
Has a strong, solid build...Excellent arm strength and can make all the throws...Is very smart...Displays good touch and timing...Has a quick release...Pretty durable overall...Terrific leader...Has a ton of experience against top competition...Football junkie who loves the game...Throws a nice deep ball...Very productive...Hails from a program with a strong reputation when it comes to producing pro quarterbacks.

 

Weaknesses:
Accuracy is inconsistent...Struggles under pressure and needs time to throw...Will stare down his targets...Height is just average...Not very mobile and isn't a threat to run...May need to have his mechanics tweaked...His footwork is shaky...Sloppy with his fundamentals..Holds the ball too long...Is streaky and prone to mistakes.

 

Notes:
Took over immediately as a true freshman and was a four-year starter in the Big Ten...Battled through an injury plagued and disappointing senior campaign...Might be a victim of over-analysis...Should at the very least enjoy a nice long career as a backup and certainly has the talent and physical tools to be a starter in the NFL.

 

NFL Draft Countdown

ESPN Insider:
Henne has good size and very good arm strenghth, so he can find the open receiver and get him the ball. Much like Brohm, he's a student of the game; his ability to breakdown defense should improve with time. However, he's a little statuesque in the pocket so he has problems buying time in the pocket and is not a threat to scramble. More importantly, he has tendency to lock on to his primary receiver.

 

NFL.COM:
Most predict Henne to begin his career as a backup, but thrust into the uncertain quarterback situation in Miami, the rookie will have every chance to compete for a starting spot with the likes of John Beck and Josh McCown. Considered a tough quarterback, the Dolphins get some good value with a late second-round pick, regardless of where Henne ends up on the depth chart.

 

Draft Daddy:
Tough QB will provide options in passing game at a good value. Grade: A.

 

ESPN's Mel Kiper:
The pick of Chad Henne in the second round tells you Miami is not sold on John Beck; however, I'm not sold on Henne. He has accuracy issues and a long delivery and he isn't mobile. I do like his toughness and he does have some of those intangibles you look for in a quarterback.

 

Phins.com's Chris Shashaty
This was a very important pick-up for the Dolphins. Rebuilding starts with a winning quarterback and the Dolphins do not have one. While 2007 second rounder John Beck remains a work in process, there is some real uncertainty as to how he will turn out. Bill Parcells and Ireland must understand what a disaster it would be to have Josh McCown win the starting job and wisely hedged the bet. Some had Henne rated as the second best QB in the draft after Matt Ryan, and the Dolphins expect him to immediately compete for the starting job. “I bring leadership qualities. Being a four-year starter at Michigan definitely developed me into that”, Henne said. “Intelligence, being able to pick up things fast and performing on the field. Also, just my physical abilities, going out there and making plays”.