What can the Dolphins expect from Garrard?

Mar. 23 Opinion 12 comments ---Bill

When the Miami Dolphins sign David Garrard earlier this week, it was met with a lot of questions.  Since the signing, we heard from Garrard and from Jeff Ireland.  According to both men, the Dolphins will have an open QB competition in training camp between Garrard and Matt Moore.  Honestly, I feel like someone is messing with me.  Doesn’t it seem like the Dolphins are always entering camp with a QB competition for the starter’s job?  Last year, the Dolphins sign Matt Moore who was signed to backup Chad Henne.  Some suggest he didn’t have a legit shot in the competition with Henne, but we saw Moore’s value after he was forced to take over the starting role.  Moore guided the Dolphins to a 6-3 record.  Moore has dodged bullets this offseason, with the Dolphins missing on Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn.  Either would have been named the Dolphins new starter upon signing with the team.

Since the Dolphins were unable to bring in a clear upgrade to Matt Moore, they turned their attention to a guy who didn’t play in 2011 and is returning from an injured back.  Garrard’s contract will pay him just over $3 mil for 1 season.  He’s a low-risk, medium reward type signing.  I can’t say high reward, because Garrard does not have high reward potential.  This is not meant to diminish the value Garrard can bring.  He either beats out Matt Moore for the starting job, or he gives the Dolphins the best backup QB option in the division (except for maybe the Jets, I’M KIDDING!).

Over his last 2 seasons in Jacksonville (2009-2010), Garrard has completed 62% of his passes for 6,331 yards (7.17 yards per attempt)  with 38 TDs and 25 INTs.  Those numbers better than most backups in the league.  Oh, and did I mention that Garrard is a dual threat?  In those last 2 years in Jacksonville, Garrard rushed for just about 300 yards per year and averaged 4.2 yards per carry and 4 rushing TDs each year.  Those numbers aren’t too bad.  If healthy, I think Garrard has a legit chance to enter September as the Dolphins starting QB.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely disappointed that the Dolphins missed on their franchise QB opportunities this offseason.  I’m angry that Jeff Ireland failed, not only to upgrade the QB position, but also failed to upgrade the roster.  If you aren’t going to find a way to upgrade the QB position, money should have been spent in other positions.  I’m not sure why the Dolphins didn’t restructure a contract or 2 to clear cap space so that they could have be more active in free agency.  Even if they plan on building through the draft, they still could have added a few pieces (Eric Winston, etc).

My Take: The Garrard signing is ‘okay’, but doesn’t thrill me.  I like his signing because I like getting him for 1 year at $3.5 mil instead of Alex Smith for 3 years and a lot more money.  I will like the signing and ‘the plan’ a lot more if the Dolphins draft Ryan Tannehill or Brandon Weeden.  Taking a QB early in the draft will prove that this regime finally gets it.  If Tannehill is drafted, I can see him sitting on the bench for a year and learning…because he’s not ready yet.  He only played QB at Texas A&M for 1.5 years, so while he has potential, he needs to learn.  With Weeden, as I mentioned before, I think he has a better chance to throw his hat in the ring and compete with Garrard/Moore.  He will be 29 in October and is NFL ready.  If you are going to draft him, you have to be ready to play him early due to his age.  Weeden, unlike Tannehill, can’t afford to sit the bench for a year or 2 to learn….or he’ll be 31 by then!

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  • iam305jules

    The Gerrard signing is a cheap consolation prize for all the anticipation to a possible Manning and subsequential Matt Flynn signing. Gerrard might have been an excellent aquisition a couple of years ago, but at 34, and coming out out of back surgery with a year off to boot, my hopes for a fair chance at a winning record in the upcoming season are quickly fading, and not necessarily because of the QB position. It is the entire approach to everything. Jeff Ireland wants to run the Dolphins as if it were a monopoly bent on cutting cost in order to maximize the bottom line. Sure, there’s a need to be mindful of the salary cap, but the Ireland’s managed Dolphins are coming across as a team not interested in winning. Free agency will tell a lot more about whehere the team is headed, again under the direction of Jeffy Ireland. but… Does anyone in the NFL really want to eork/play for someone who cuts people after leading them on, 2 weeks into free agency? Or questions their mother;s past? Character is important but how can he justify the line of questions asked of Dez Bryant and go out and get a Brandon Marshall?

    • John

      Whatever happened to Tebow? Absolutely no talk of trying to get Tebow…a possible franchise player for years!
      We could count on a fairly good chance of sweeping, or getting at least one win from the Jets each year…Tebow may have turned history against us.
      I have been a Dolphin fan since the Griese studder count days and I have never been more disenchanted with the future of this organization, then this year.
      What is the Dolphin management thinking? I dont even see a hint of a plan? Maybe it’s too early and I should wait until after the draft to feel really down.
      The Dolphins used to have a reputation of finding great players that no one expected to be good, let alone great. I am hoping this talent hasnt faded away, but only has been dormant!

  • Keith

    Why Garrard?? I don’t see the logic in this. Why didn’t management push hard for Tebow. His style of play would have been exciting to watch in South Florida. But noooooo…..let’s sign a guy who hasnt played in a year and IMHO wasn’t all that great of a player when he did play. Ireland must have panicked when Manning signed with the Broncos and signed the first thing to cross his path, I’m pulling what little hair i have left over junk the Phins pull. GAWD……………….

    • Mike D

      hell no! on Tebow. Garrard is garbage also. we got an offensive minded coach so develop a qb! fire Ireland too. he is as big a mistake as Parcells.

  • Stan

    The grass in my yard is smarter than Ireland! Ireland must GO!!!!

  • rich9336

    You can expect Garrard to help keep the bench warm during those cold fridge days up north this season.Also to turn and wave to what few fans that were stupid enough to show up for a game.

    Another bottom feeder the boy wounder has signed Boycott all games.

  • omaha

    Garrard a proven loser..Ireland a proven loser!!

    Could not believe my eyes when i read this horrid news of signing Garrard.. We have a QB ..build the team..

  • wynn

    this proves that Ireland is a moron.

  • T.B.

    Would love to see Ireland and Ross on a sinking ship in the middle of the ocean.

  • Lepetit david

    I think Ireland hopes that garrard will be the next “come-back player of the year” (as Pennington ???). And, what about Kellen Moore, despite his height, he’s a left handed (pretty rare now in NFL) and knows the taste of victory.

  • J.J.

    Ireland is digging a deeper hole to climb out of. If Garrard had anything left do you think he would be signing in Miami?
    There again I agree with a lot of fans that say to boycott the team and games at least until Ireland is gone.Maybe Ross also.

  • Mike D

    it sucks being a Dolphins fan right now. the owner sucks, the gm sucks, so i got to pray my coach doesnt suck. why are they playing with Bell. keep the defense intact, upgrade or shore up where necessary. fix the offense. i like Matty Mo but i wouldnt be mad if we draft Tanneyhill to develop him. somehow i believe our joke of a gm will f… it up tho.