Pretty Amazing

[ravidubey]

But why the attitude right now?

What you have is rationalizing to insulate feelings. When the Boys traded for Henson and he went 6 for 6 against the Ravens, hearts thudded and various tissues swelled around here. Guys changed their avatars and he was being compared with everyone from Tom Brady to Troy Aikman to Roger freaking Staubach.

Then a mere four days later when he was benched there was sheer outrage. Parcells appeared to be systematically undermining Henson. Then the 5000 pass fiasco of a mechanics change and the less than stellar preseason made this crowd wary of a bust.

Bottom line is rooting for Henson puts peoples' hearts and nads out on the train tracks. It's too easy to get hurt, so people shield themselves with a little hate. Bledsoe made it through a massive wall of hate last year. If Henson is not mentally tough enough to wade through the hate then he likely doesn't have what it takes to be an NFL quarterback.

 

[superpunk]

Alot is being made out of the attempts thing....I know Chang has gotten his share, but weren't both games played in mud? And in rain for the most part? That could be a reason attempts are down.Also, didn't Henson play only 2 quarters the first game? Did he have 21 or 24 attempts the second game? Either way, that was pretty close to real game reps. 28-32 reps. Not bad.

 

[aikemirv]

Alot is being made out of the attempts thing....I know Chang has gotten his share, but weren't both games played in mud? And in rain for the most part? That could be a reason attempts are down.Also, didn't Henson play only 2 quarters the first game? Did he have 21 or 24 attempts the second game? Either way, that was pretty close to real game reps. 28-32 reps. Not bad.

Chang got 13 att in game 1 and 15 in game 2. It is obvious that they pass more when Chang is in the game. Just part of the plan to get each QB some reps. If the guy is only playing 1 qtr , you pass mor eto get him a decent # of reps and that is what they seem to be doing.

Henson had 24 att in game 2

Henson played 3 quarters in the 1st game and 3 in the second.

 

[Jaxonsdaddd]

Drew Henson has only thrown 35 passes so far and that is the reason why everyone is not praising him at this point.

If he is still leading the league after 200 attempts then you will start to see his play recognized.

 

[superpunk]

Chang got 13 att in game 1 and 15 in game 2. It is obvious that they pass more when Chang is in the game. Just part of the plan to get each QB some reps. If the guy is only playing 1 qtr , you pass mor eto get him a decent # of reps and that is what they seem to be doing.

Henson had 24 att in game 2

Henson played 3 quarters in the 1st game and 3 in the second.

Also might have something to do with the fact that the Fire have not trailed any opponent yet. Yeah these guys are trying to get players experience, but they want to win games, too! Drew's managing the game, doing everything asked, no reason not to be excited so far. Still alot of season left, though.

 

[Eddie]

When's the next Rhein Fire game?

 

[aikemirv]

When's the next Rhein Fire game?

http://www.nfleurope.com/multimedia/schedules/tv

Sunday at 10:00 am est
NFL network

 

[Kalyan]

Doesn't the NFLE continue play even after an incomplete pass? The games are shorter there compared to NFL games here. Probably explains why he is fewer passes compared to NFL QB's

 

[RCowboyFan]

Doesn't the NFLE continue play even after an incomplete pass? The games are shorter there compared to NFL games here. Probably explains why he is having not many passes compared to NFL QB's

Time keeps running even after incomplete pass, except in last 2 min of each quarter I believe in NFL Europe. That plus less commercials I guess, cause those games to not last more than 2 1/2 hours at most.

Pretty quick pace for the most part, since the clock is 35 secs instead of 40.

 

[aikemirv]

Doesn't the NFLE continue play even after an incomplete pass? The games are shorter there compared to NFL games here. Probably explains why he is fewer passes compared to NFL QB's

I don't really know about that part because all I do is TIVO it and FF to the offense when Drew is on the field. I can watch the game (Drew) in 30-45 minutes tops!!!

 

[Zaxor]

Drew Bledsoe had over 35 attempts in 7 games, over 30 attemps in 8 games. Hardly what I would call 35 attempts in 6 quarters... The lowest Bledsoe ever had was 23 attempts in a game.

Drew threw more in the second game than the first, and they were pitching a shut out...

The more attempts Henson gets is directly equivalent to the amount of experience he is actually getting. We didn't send him to NFL Europe to hand the ball off.

Bwahahaha:laugh2:

we didn't send him there to just throw the ball either...he is there to learn how to play QB...i.e. game management, situational down and distance, calling audibles, huddle management...heck man that to me seems a whole lot more important...

I read an interesting article the other day in my local paper how NFLE teams sometimes lose sight of the developement of players especially at the QB position because they also feel the need to win... the article quotes another reporter who talked to the Fire's coach and he is using the spread for chang because he(chang) is most comfortable with it and because chang needs to learn to see the field better...with Henson the coach said he needs to learn to loosen up a bit and play with more instinct...says he has improved practice to practice and is so willing to learn...also said Henson needed some in game experience but that he isn't in his opinion that far off...just has to keep improving his recognition (this part worried me a little bit but is to be expected but the rest was very complimentry of Henson) and be more consistent

 

[RCowboyFan]

Bwahahaha:laugh2:

we didn't send him there to just throw the ball either...he is there to learn how to play QB...i.e. game management, situational down and distance, calling audibles, huddle management...heck man that to me seems a whole lot more important...

I read an interesting article the other day in my local paper how NFLE teams sometimes lose sight of the developement of players especially at the QB position because they also feel the need to win... the article quotes another reporter who talked to the Fire's coach and he is using the spread for chang because he(chang) is most comfortable with it and because chang needs to learn to see the field better...with Henson the coach said he needs to learn to loosen up a bit and play with more instinct...says he has improved practice to practice and is so willing to learn...also said Henson needed some in game experience but that he isn't in his opinion that far off...just has to keep improving his recognition (this part worried me a little bit but is to be expected but the rest was very complimentry of Henson) and be more consistent

Good stuff, thats pretty much Tomsula has been saying about Henson for most part even during TC.

I think Recognization was the part that kept him down even during 2005 TC. Remember, JErry was saying he was graded the highest among QBs when they were 7-7 but on 11-11, Henson was lowest among the three QBs. I believe it was said due to lack of game experience which led to slower recongnization times/anticipation etc.

I think lot of fans want to see great throws and lot of TDs, but the fact is, what Henson really needs is field experience and getting used to speed of game,even if it is NFL Europe, which will in turn help him react faster etc. I sometimes wonder, if Hutchinson was developed slower, he might have ended up being at least decent backup maybe? Although Hutchinson was never the same level as Henson, other than being strong armed.

Anyway, expections for Henson should be that he is efficient. And that not having bunch of TDs or great doesn't mean much, as long as he is being efficient and putting the team in position to win for most part. He will have 1-2 more stinkers obviously before NFLE season ends, but rest of the games, as long as he has like 60+ % completion and more TDs than Ints, fans should be happy with what he did over there. Well at least for most part, the fans who care I guess.

 

[AdamJT13]

Chang got 13 att in game 1 and 15 in game 2. It is obvious that they pass more when Chang is in the game. Just part of the plan to get each QB some reps. If the guy is only playing 1 qtr , you pass mor eto get him a decent # of reps and that is what they seem to be doing.

No, Chang's number of attempts is based mostly on the game situations he has been in. In the second quarter of games, there usually are more possessions and more passing than in any other quarter. The game gets compressed because teams want to hurry up and score before halftime (two-minute offense, timeouts, etc.). So with Chang playing in the second quarters, he's been in those situations. He's had two drives in a two-minute passing offense -- Henson hasn't had one yet. He would have those situations in the fourth quarter, if his team was ever behind. But Henson has been ahead in the fourth quarter of both games, so his team has never been in a hurry-up mode or a passing mode. He's just been in a run-out-the-clock mode.

Also, Henson has been leading mostly sustained drives, giving Rhein a chance to mix the run and pass. Aside from run-out-the-clock possessions in the fourth quarter of both games, Henson has led nine consecutive drives of at least six plays or two first downs. He also is 7-for-9 on first-down passes, which either move the chains or avoid long-yardage situations when he'd be forced to pass. Chang is only 4-for-9 on first downs, which leaves him in more long-yardage, passing situations. Likewise, Chang is only 4-for-8 on second downs, compared to 8-for-12 for Henson. Again, Chang has put himself in a higher ratio third-down passing situations.

So basically, by being in more game situations that call for passing AND by putting himself in bad down situations by throwing incompletions, Chang has thrown the ball more than one might expect based on his minimal playing time. It's not a matter of Rhein wanting to throw the ball with him in the game, it's more that they have to throw it.

 

[SouthernStar]

All I can say is I hope he continues to improve and one day proves to be the long term answer for our Cowboys. Maybe he will tank over there? Maybe by the end of the year pop gun will over take him? I don't know. If so, THEN I could understand you wanting us to move on.

I hope that he continues to improve also.

But....don't discount the possibility that we might sign a veteran backup quarterback for this season and then TRADE Henson (or maybe even Romo) to a team like New Orleans. Maybe we could get a veteran free safety for him. McKenzie?
That could solve some problems for BOTH teams.....

 

[MONT17]

the only thing I wanna see in NFLE is if he can stand in there and deliver when the team is down 2 TDs, he has all the tools... IMHO ROMO is the next TRENT GREEN! and maybe Henson is the next ELVIS GRBAC!!!

 

[Established1971]

You know what is amazing about some on this board? Before Drew Henson went to NFL Europe you had guys like Nors talking about whether or not he would be beaten out by Timmy "Pop gun" Chang. You had guys saying he would tank over there.

I don't think any conclusions should be drawn from this experience after just two games, but what DOES amaze me is what we are hearing from some on this board after two games.

Lets see:

*He IS starting for his team. (No surprise there)
*His team is 2-0
*He is leading the league in passing efficiency by a 21 point margin
*He has made some great throws (the TD throw was athletic by any standard, including NFL standards)
*He has a STELLAR attitude. Nothing cocky about the guy, nothing ungrateful about the guy. Just taking this for what it is and doing the best he can.

And all some on here can do is continue to insult him. Why? I just flat out don't get it.

Actually, I think I do get it. And don't throw this garbage out about your love for the Dallas Cowboys and you want us to look elsewhere, etc, etc, adnausium.

It is plain and simple that you have gone on record against him and you want to look smart and be proven right.

All I can say is I hope he continues to improve and one day proves to be the long term answer for our Cowboys. Maybe he will tank over there? Maybe by the end of the year pop gun will over take him? I don't know. If so, THEN I could understand you wanting us to move on.

But why the attitude right now?

I completely agree that alot, and I mean alot of comments, disagreements, even arguments are rooted in people being stubborn about an early opinion which they feel must be proven right in "the end" whatever "the end" means.
Look at the Quincy situation. The guy gets cut for drugs, has a partial season as a backup elsewhere and is gone from football for good. Rarely does a situation end up that decisive. You can bet the Quincy bashers (myself one) feel vindicated and the Quincy haters are at least wincing a little bit about it, if not worse. But as far as Henson goes, for people who early on said "hurrah we got a steal of a blue chip qb and will finally have our qb of the future" or the people who early on said "oh god not another baseball player who has been out for 3 years" many of both sides have an agenda to find their original point proven right and won't adjust as time goes on. But to be honest this is just human nature, I do this myself sometimes. I bet we all do to some degree.

 

[RCowboyFan]

I completely agree that alot, and I mean alot of comments, disagreements, even arguments are rooted in people being stubborn about an early opinion which they feel must be proven right in "the end" whatever "the end" means.
Look at the Quincy situation. The guy gets cut for drugs, has a partial season as a backup elsewhere and is gone from football for good. Rarely does a situation end up that decisive. You can bet the Quincy bashers (myself one) feel vindicated and the Quincy haters are at least wincing a little bit about it, if not worse. But as far as Henson goes, for people who early on said "hurrah we got a steal of a blue chip qb and will finally have our qb of the future" or the people who early on said "oh god not another baseball player who has been out for 3 years" many of both sides have an agenda to find their original point proven right and won't adjust as time goes on. But to be honest this is just human nature, I do this myself sometimes. I bet we all do to some degree.

True to a certain degree. I mean I didn't like Quincy, after 2002 Arizona game, upto that point I was big time Quincy supporter. But I was glad when he got cut. But never really looked for him to fail though, although it did give me a smile when all those who were big time defenders of Quincy now had nothing to say.

Hey I never liked Deion but never hoped he failed when he played for Dallas though. It'll be the same with TO now. Heck even Bledsoe, I never will get used to him, and think he will never do anything great in Dallas ( well with TO, maybe I have some hope of being wrong on that), but I still cannot hope for his failure just to be proved right about that. I mean, I am Dallas Cowboys fan first.

But I guess, for some minority, their agenda comes first before team affinity.

 

[burmafrd]

I don't care a rats *** either way about Henson. I don't think he will ever be our starter- but then again he might. Stranger things have happened.
MY POINT IS THAT ITS TOO EARLY TO TELL.
BY the end of the season there we will have a lot more stats and examples to come to a conclusion on. ANYONE either hyping or attacking him at THIS point is a moron.