Jean-Jacques Taylor: Henson Project Could Be Sacked

[InmanRoshi]

This time last year, Henson and Romo were on equal footing. If Romo has worked his way up through the organization and Henson's worked his way off, that has nothing to do with Parcells. This slow decision making reputation has been around since the Brady vs. Henson wars at Michigan. I thought Henson had a NICE campaign in NFLE. Not horrible, by any means. Not terrrific either. I didn't want to see his supposed cannon for an arm ... I already knew he had it. I wanted to see him effortlessly move his football team. I wanted things to look like they were coming easy for him. I wanted it to seem like he could just pick a team apart all day at this level. I wanted to see an effortlessness to his game. I never saw it. Everything looked hard. Everything looked labored. It was five minutes of ugly football interspersed with the occasional beautiful pass. Quite frankly, I don't care how many years they had been out of football, you give Troy Aikman or John Elway (and the self proclaimed QB-elitists say we shouldn't settle for anything less) two years in an NFL organization and turn them loose on the NFLE and it would be nothing short of "These guys have absolutely no business being in this league. Its a joke.'

On a side note, after being on the fence, I'm now officially against the Cowboys using a 1st day pick on Ahmad Brooks. No doubt he was a phenom at one point his young life, but like Mike Williams I think this is a guy who may have peaked at 19. As the saying goes players don't get smaller as they get older they, only get bigger. If he's at 275 at 21, he'll be 290-300 by the time he's 24. 310 by the time he's 27. He has a genetic bodytype that is going to require constant maintainence, and he hasn't exactly proven himself to be the shining beacon of self discipline.

 

[Alexander]

I wanted to see him effortlessly move his football team. I wanted things to look like they were coming easy for him. I wanted it to seem like he could just pick a team apart all day at this level. I wanted to see an effortlessness to his game. I never saw it. Everything looked hard. Everything looked labored. It was five minutes of ugly football interspersed with the occasional beautiful pass.

In fairness to Hutchinson, I mean, Henson, it is tough to do that in Europe. The quality of player is bad and it gets worse when you are dealing with backups, which he was. You have to give that handicap, at least.

On a side note, after being on the fence, I'm now officially against the Cowboys using a 1st day pick on Ahmad Brooks. No doubt he was a phenom at one point his young life, but I think this is a guy who may have peaked at 19. As the saying goes, players don't get smaller as they get older they only get bigger. If he's at 275 at twentyone, he'll be 290-300 by the time he's 24. 310 by the time he's 27. He hasn't exactly proven himself to be the shining beacon of self discipline to keep his weight down either.

I tend to agree, but we will know what to do about Brooks when the time comes and if the opportunity presents itself. We probably already know what we should do in that case. If I had to bet, I don't think we would bother.

 

[InmanRoshi]

In fairness to Hutchinson, I mean, Henson, it is tough to do that in Europe. The quality of player is bad and it gets worse when you are dealing with backups, which he was. You have to give that handicap, at least.

Dave Ragone and Rohan Davey went to Europe as the "Drew Henson" of NFLE their respective years ... mid-round draft picks who had more NFL "pedigree' and name than the rest of their peers. They both dominated the league and won the MVP award easily. It was clear they were just on another level than everyone else in the league at the position.

Obviously, that doesn't predict NFL success in either case, but it just goes to show that cream can and does rise to the top in that league. However meager that may be.

 

[Hoov]

i dont understand all the complaining about henson or romo not seeing the field. Neither one of them is anywhere near the level that bledsoe is at. Just because a guy is younger does not mean he is or will be better.

i would say it would take either of them 3 years at least of being a starter to be able to play at bledsoe's level, and that is IF they have the ability, experience counts for a lot at the QB position in the NFL. I dont want to spend 2 years finding out if either has what it takes and find out maybe they dont, when bledsoe is here now and can play well enough to win it all if other players take care of their job.

 

[bbgun]

It's clear that Henson is the redheaded step-child in Bill's "family." Only Jer can save him from being cut. Maybe.

 

[Hoov]

It's clear that Henson is the readheaded step-child in Bill's "family." Only Jer can save him from being cut. Maybe.

people that are observing camp say that romo is playing better than henson, i think gil brant recently made that observation, i may be wrong on that but i seem to remember him commenting. and others say the same.

so why are poeple acting like Bill just doesnt want to play the young superstar because its personal. it seems he is not that good and that is why he is not playing.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Can Henson pleae DO SOMETHING before we throw out the red-headed stepchild line?

 

[Alexander]

Dave Ragone and Rohan Davey went to Europe as the "Drew Henson" of NFLE their respective years ... mid-round draft picks who had more NFL "pedigree' and name than the rest of their peers. They both dominated the league and won the MVP award easily. It was clear they were just on another level than everyone else in the league at the position.

Obviously, that doesn't predict NFL success in either case, but it just goes to show that cream can and does rise to the top in that league. However meager that may be.

I never followed either player in Europe, but I think they never had to cope with how depleted Henson's supporting cast was.

 

[Alexander]

so why are poeple acting like Bill just doesnt want to play the young superstar because its personal. it seems he is not that good and that is why he is not playing.

Even Jean-Jacques Taylor said that line. When he notices it, it must be pretty obvious.

 

[InmanRoshi]

I never followed either player in Europe, but I think they never had to cope with how depleted Henson's supporting cast was.

Yeah, but Drew wasn't exactly tearing it up before the injuries to his WR's either. The first game of the season with a full staff it was just horrendous football. At no point in the season did I think he was the best QB in the league, that would be Gibran Hamdan ... who probably won't even make Seattle's roster. He looked just marginally better than Timmy Chang working with the same exact cast (another player who won't make an NFL roster next year).

Again, there is just nothing that looks effortless with him. Its never fluid, smooth sailing. Everything is a labored, uphill sprint with arms and legs wildly flailing. The ball may look pretty once its in the air, but everything leading up to that point is ugly.

 

[The Answer]

This time last year, Henson and Romo were on equal footing. If Romo has worked his way up through the organization and Henson's worked his way off, that has nothing to do with Parcells. This slow decision making reputation has been around since the Brady vs. Henson wars at Michigan. I thought Henson had a NICE campaign in NFLE. Not horrible, by any means. Not terrrific either. I didn't want to see his supposed cannon for an arm ... I already knew he had it. I wanted to see him effortlessly move his football team. I wanted things to look like they were coming easy for him. I wanted it to seem like he could just pick a team apart all day at this level. I wanted to see an effortlessness to his game. I never saw it. Everything looked hard. Everything looked labored. It was five minutes of ugly football interspersed with the occasional beautiful pass. Quite frankly, I don't care how many years they had been out of football, you give Troy Aikman or John Elway (and the self proclaimed QB-elitists say we shouldn't settle for anything less) two years in an NFL organization and turn them loose on the NFLE and it would be nothing short of "These guys have absolutely no business being in this league. Its a joke.'

On a side note, after being on the fence, I'm now officially against the Cowboys using a 1st day pick on Ahmad Brooks. No doubt he was a phenom at one point his young life, but like Mike Williams I think this is a guy who may have peaked at 19. As the saying goes players don't get smaller as they get older they, only get bigger. If he's at 275 at 21, he'll be 290-300 by the time he's 24. 310 by the time he's 27. He has a genetic bodytype that is going to require constant maintainence, and he hasn't exactly proven himself to be the shining beacon of self discipline.

You hit the nail on the head with the comments about Aikman and Elway....maybe Henson was touted as a 1st round pick at one point, but right now he's not even on the level of Tim Couch. He should have dominated the NFLE league, regardless of the talent level around him. He should have sent a message that the starting QB job in Dallas is up for grabs this summer. He didn't do any of that, he looked slighty above average at best in Europe.

The thing most of the Hensonite faithful fail to realize is that Parcells don't like Henson and favors Romo, maybe Henson just isn't a Parcells type of player for that matter either.....add the fact that Bledsoe is here for the immediate future, and it all adds up to a big no win situation for Henson.

The best thing this franchise can do for this kid right now is just cut him outright so he can sign with another team in time for training camp, learn their system, and have a chance to compete for a 2nd or 3rd string spot.

~The Answer

 

[JackMagist]

So Parcells makes one statement, "I would have liked to see just a little bit more." And now every mediot in the world is jumping to the same conclusion. There is certainly a possibility that they are right and that it does spell the end for Henson but I still see it as far from a definite condemnation by BP.

It is conveniently ignored that Parcells also said that Henson was well ahead of where he was this time last year, or that he said that the NFLE work was good for Henson, or that Henson is improved. Those statements don't carry near the weight of "I would have liked to see just a little bit more."

We all know that Parcells will almost never give praise to a QB; in fact I have never heard him praise a QB. There is always some negative that he throws in to qualify anything that he ways about any QB including his guys like Bledsoe or Testaverde.

I'm not going to really believe any of this until I see the results in training camp. Will Henson be on the team this year? I don't know, but then again neither do any of these mediots who are writing this crap. In fact this story is getting so old that I think I will just slip it into the same pigeon hole where I keep the TO and Ellis stories.

 

[iceberg]

i dont understand all the complaining about henson or romo not seeing the field. Neither one of them is anywhere near the level that bledsoe is at. Just because a guy is younger does not mean he is or will be better.

i would say it would take either of them 3 years at least of being a starter to be able to play at bledsoe's level, and that is IF they have the ability, experience counts for a lot at the QB position in the NFL. I dont want to spend 2 years finding out if either has what it takes and find out maybe they dont, when bledsoe is here now and can play well enough to win it all if other players take care of their job.

if experience counts, then we wasted 4 games of which we could have given these young qb's a shot. as for 3 years - they got it by now. if they can't play because bledsoe is "too good" then where will *anyone* get that experience and how will we ever know?

just seems like a catch 22 you just built.

 

[Alexander]

Yeah, but Drew wasn't exactly tearing it up before the injuries to his WR's either. The first game of the season with a full staff it was just horrendous football. At no point in the season did I think he was the best QB in the league, that would be Gibran Hamdan ... who probably won't even make Seattle's roster. He looked just marginally better than Timmy Chang working with the same exact cast (another player who won't make an NFL roster next year).

Again, there is just nothing that looks effortless with him. Its never fluid, smooth sailing. Everything is a labored, uphill sprint with arms and legs wildly flailing. The ball may look pretty once its in the air, but everything leading up to that point is ugly.

Doug Flutie was arms and legs everywhere. So was Kosar. Billy Kilmer was the worst looking QB I have ever seen.

The only thing that has ever worried me about Henson was his mental makeup.

I don't think his physical ability is much in doubt.

Mentally, he has yet to show he can handle the rigors of the NFL. He got out of baseball because he could handle the pressure. Now, the ball is in his court to see if he can handle football when it is just as pressure packed.

 

[The Answer]

JJT sums it up perfectly right here:

"The Cowboys like his game management and his arm, but the NFL is about decision-making, and they seem to think he doesn't do it well enough.

It's not that he throws a lot of interceptions. It's that he stares down receivers and doesn't process information quickly enough to consistently make the best read based on the play selection and the defensive coverage."

The Answer also drew this same conclusion when he wrote his thorough assessment of Henson that highlighted his strength and weaknesses.

The QB position is all about decision making and in the bigger picture arm strength, mobility, and natural athleticism have nothing to do with it.....

~The Answer

 

[silverbear]

JJT sums it up perfectly right here:

"The Cowboys like his game management and his arm, but the NFL is about decision-making, and they seem to think he doesn't do it well enough.

It's not that he throws a lot of interceptions. It's that he stares down receivers and doesn't process information quickly enough to consistently make the best read based on the play selection and the defensive coverage."

The Answer also drew this same conclusion when he wrote his thorough assessment of Henson that highlighted his strength and weaknesses.

The QB position is all about decision making and in the bigger picture arm strength, mobility, and natural athleticism have nothing to do with it.....

~The Answer

And how many of Henson's games in NFLE did the Answer actually watch??

Personally, I watched all of them but the last one, and I never saw this "staring down receivers" issue... I saw lots of him trying to find SOMEBODY who actually came open, lots of him running for his life as the pass protection failed, and lots of receivers dropping lots of well-thrown passes...

In fact, I found myself wondering exactly what it was that Parcells "didn't see", particularly since a week or so earlier, the coach admitted he hadn't watched much of NFL Europe this spring...

It was that statement that leads me to believe that his comments at minicamp were psychological motivation aimed at Henson...

 

[Concord]

And how many of Henson's games in NFLE did the Answer actually watch??

Personally, I watched all of them but the last one, and I never saw this "staring down receivers" issue... I saw lots of him trying to find SOMEBODY who actually came open, lots of him running for his life as the pass protection failed, and lots of receivers dropping lots of well-thrown passes...

In fact, I found myself wondering exactly what it was that Parcells "didn't see", particularly since a week or so earlier, the coach admitted he hadn't watched much of NFL Europe this spring...
It was that statement that leads me to believe that his comments at minicamp were psychological motivation aimed at Henson...

Exactly...In Fact I can't believe that anyone who Actually watched all his games could come away with the Idea that He Hurt Himself at all... Let alone that he would now only a few weeks after be on the Bubble...There's just no way.

You're going to cut your 3rd string guy without giving him a chance in training camp after he just had his most extensive playing time in years.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Doug Flutie was arms and legs everywhere. So was Kosar. Billy Kilmer was the worst looking QB I have ever seen.

The only thing that has ever worried me about Henson was his mental makeup.

I don't think his physical ability is much in doubt.

I don't think its about physical or mental makeup. Just like Hutchinson, I think he has all the physical ability. And just like Hutchinson I think he's a smart, tough, likeable guy who works hard and does all the right things. I think its more on a gut-level instinct for the game. A natural feel. And unlike the names you mentioned above, I suspect Henson doesn't have it (just like Chad Hutchinson didn't have it). The position is more of an art than a science. People try to project the position by adding and weighing all the variables, but its not a linear equation. Which is why QB's selected in the first round tend to bust at over a 50% rate despite the fact that organizations go over them with a fine toothed comb for four months in the draft process. If all these first round draft picks failed because they were simply noodle arms or mental midgets, they wouldn't be drafted that high in the first place. Its more difficult to put your finger on than that.

 

[lspain1]

He got out of baseball because he could handle the pressure.

Alexander, I don't know if Henson is an NFL caliber QB or not, but your comment above is just silly. Hitting a major league curve ball has NOTHING to do with handling pressure. There have been a lot of folks through the years who could not make it in major league baseball because they could not hit the curve. Henson tried to do it for a number of years and could not get it done.

Hitting the curve ball may be the single hardest thing to do in all of sports. If he had success and screwed it up from immature decisions or something like that your point would be valid but he did not do that. You can fault Henson on not having QB skills but the baseball comment is simply incorrect.

 

[Hoov]

if experience counts, then we wasted 4 games of which we could have given these young qb's a shot. as for 3 years - they got it by now. if they can't play because bledsoe is "too good" then where will *anyone* get that experience and how will we ever know?

just seems like a catch 22 you just built.

well i guess that all depends on how you feel about bledsoe. i think bledsoe is a good QB, and quite frankly right now i dont think there are that many good QB's in the nfl. so why would you bench a good QB to see if one of the unproven guys on your team can some day turn into a good QB ? that makes no sense to me.

But if you think bledose sucks, and then you think gee not only does he suck but he is old too, then i could see a push to start a young guy. i just think bledose is a good QB.

But people want to see a franchise QB, someone good, young and with tons of potential who will lead the team for years.....but how many of those types come out of college every year 1 maybe 2, and there are 32 teams all wanting that. i think more and more we are going to see the journeyman type of QB like bledsoe, a guy that has experience and can play if he can fit into the right system.

Also, i watched carson palmer play 1 presseason game last yaer and said WOW, this kid has poise, he is a natural back there, he has something. Henson hasnt shown that in preseason so why do we think he will just all of a sudden find it by throwing him into the starters role ?