ret2ski
12-11-2007, 10:07 AM
God, I hope our QB situation doesn't come to this.
By TIM GRAHAM
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
DAVIE — Dolphins coach Cam Cameron fielded the question. Then he paused five seconds, smiled warily and turned to club spokesman Harvey Greene for help.
"Did I say that, Harvey?" Cameron asked.
Greene nodded.
Cameron four weeks ago did, in fact, state the plan was for rookie quarterback John Beck to start the remainder of the season.
That plan evidently has changed.
With only three games left in the club's most miserable season, Dolfans are left to wonder who their quarterback is anymore.
"It's not as cut and dry sometimes as you'd like for it to be," Cameron said Monday.
Cameron yanked Beck after eight snaps in Sunday's 38-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Cleo Lemon came off the bench and did a few good things, a few not-so-good things.
Now Cameron has a quarterback decision to make one month after he thought he ended the debate.
He either didn't know or didn't want to reveal who will start Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens in Dolphin Stadium.
An update is expected Wednesday.
When the Dolphins were 0-9, they took Beck for a test drive to see what the second-round draft pick from Brigham Young could do.
At 0-13, the Dolphins remain desperate and are running out of chances to avoid infamy.
"Even when we made that change (to make Beck the starter last month), we felt like we needed a spark." Cameron said, "And we were going to play the guy that we felt, at that time, gave us the best chance to win."
Beck has failed to mount a touchdown drive through his first four NFL games, and Cameron clearly is fed up with turnovers the past two weeks.
"We've not only turned it over, but turned it over right where they're knocking at the door," Cameron said. "We've put our defense in a tough position, and no team can do that."
Cameron said it's important for Beck to consider his removal enlightening. No matter how much Beck had pined to make his NFL debut, at least his development was viewed as moving forward behind the scenes. Sunday was his first public regression.
"It gives him another opportunity to grow," Cameron said. "He's obviously not the first guy it's ever happened to, nor is he going to be the last."
Beck didn't have an interception or a fumble in his first two starts. But over his past 12 possessions, going back to the 40-13 collapse against the New York Jets, he has thrown three interceptions and lost three fumbles. The Dolphins let the game clock expire on two of his six non-turnover possessions in that span.
Beck's last error in Buffalo led to a touchdown the other way and a permanent spot on the sideline. The ball squirted from his hand as he drew back to throw, and it landed in the hands of Bills safety George Wilson.
Lemon came in and threw a 54-yard pass to Ted Ginn Jr. that preceded Samkon Gado's 12-yard touchdown run and helped the Dolphins pull within two touchdowns in the third quarter.
Lemon still finished the game with two interceptions, a fumble and a 49.8 passer rating to give Cameron enough reason to contemplate.
"We needed a spark," Cameron said. "We needed someone. Let's see if Cleo can get us down the field and get us in the end zone, and that worked out. ... We gave ourselves a little hope. Then we started making some plays on defense and really gave ourselves a chance."
Lemon has been the quarterback for Miami's last 12 offensive touchdowns, accounting for seven of them himself. His four rushing touchdowns tie him with Ronnie Brown for the team lead.
Lemon's mobility also could prove beneficial behind an offensive line that lately has had trouble keeping defenses at bay. The Dolphins have allowed 12 sacks the past three weeks.
By TIM GRAHAM
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
DAVIE — Dolphins coach Cam Cameron fielded the question. Then he paused five seconds, smiled warily and turned to club spokesman Harvey Greene for help.
"Did I say that, Harvey?" Cameron asked.
Greene nodded.
Cameron four weeks ago did, in fact, state the plan was for rookie quarterback John Beck to start the remainder of the season.
That plan evidently has changed.
With only three games left in the club's most miserable season, Dolfans are left to wonder who their quarterback is anymore.
"It's not as cut and dry sometimes as you'd like for it to be," Cameron said Monday.
Cameron yanked Beck after eight snaps in Sunday's 38-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Cleo Lemon came off the bench and did a few good things, a few not-so-good things.
Now Cameron has a quarterback decision to make one month after he thought he ended the debate.
He either didn't know or didn't want to reveal who will start Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens in Dolphin Stadium.
An update is expected Wednesday.
When the Dolphins were 0-9, they took Beck for a test drive to see what the second-round draft pick from Brigham Young could do.
At 0-13, the Dolphins remain desperate and are running out of chances to avoid infamy.
"Even when we made that change (to make Beck the starter last month), we felt like we needed a spark." Cameron said, "And we were going to play the guy that we felt, at that time, gave us the best chance to win."
Beck has failed to mount a touchdown drive through his first four NFL games, and Cameron clearly is fed up with turnovers the past two weeks.
"We've not only turned it over, but turned it over right where they're knocking at the door," Cameron said. "We've put our defense in a tough position, and no team can do that."
Cameron said it's important for Beck to consider his removal enlightening. No matter how much Beck had pined to make his NFL debut, at least his development was viewed as moving forward behind the scenes. Sunday was his first public regression.
"It gives him another opportunity to grow," Cameron said. "He's obviously not the first guy it's ever happened to, nor is he going to be the last."
Beck didn't have an interception or a fumble in his first two starts. But over his past 12 possessions, going back to the 40-13 collapse against the New York Jets, he has thrown three interceptions and lost three fumbles. The Dolphins let the game clock expire on two of his six non-turnover possessions in that span.
Beck's last error in Buffalo led to a touchdown the other way and a permanent spot on the sideline. The ball squirted from his hand as he drew back to throw, and it landed in the hands of Bills safety George Wilson.
Lemon came in and threw a 54-yard pass to Ted Ginn Jr. that preceded Samkon Gado's 12-yard touchdown run and helped the Dolphins pull within two touchdowns in the third quarter.
Lemon still finished the game with two interceptions, a fumble and a 49.8 passer rating to give Cameron enough reason to contemplate.
"We needed a spark," Cameron said. "We needed someone. Let's see if Cleo can get us down the field and get us in the end zone, and that worked out. ... We gave ourselves a little hope. Then we started making some plays on defense and really gave ourselves a chance."
Lemon has been the quarterback for Miami's last 12 offensive touchdowns, accounting for seven of them himself. His four rushing touchdowns tie him with Ronnie Brown for the team lead.
Lemon's mobility also could prove beneficial behind an offensive line that lately has had trouble keeping defenses at bay. The Dolphins have allowed 12 sacks the past three weeks.