Post by MizzouTiger on Jan 25, 2008 15:26:51 GMT -5
collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=766215
Henne Uncertain of Where He Stands
Sean Callahan
Special to Rivals.com College Football
MOBILE, Ala. – When Michigan quarterback Chad Henne returned for his senior season, expectations obviously were high.
After leading the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl in 2006, Henne and fellow seniors Mike Hart and Jake Long were thinking big. All three decided to stay at Michigan as seniors instead of entering the NFL Draft.
It was all set up for Henne and the Wolverines in 2007. They were the team to beat in the Big Ten, and Henne was regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in college football.
This all sounded great until Sept. 1, when Division I-AA Appalachian State shocked the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines dropped another home game the following week against Oregon, to start off 0-2.
During the embarrassing 39-7 loss to the Ducks, Henne sustained a leg injury that caused him to miss the next two games (against Notre Dame and Penn State). Henne's missed start against the Irish snapped a 39-game starting streak dating to his freshman season.
It was a difficult start to what was supposed to be a banner season for Henne, a former five-star quarterback out of Wyomissing, Pa., which is about an hour northwest of Philadelphia. Another injury, sustained Oct. 20 in a victory over Illinois, set him back more.
Henne hurt his shoulder in that win, and that injury bothered him through the end of the regular season. In his final regular-season game with the Wolverines, against archrival Ohio State, Henne was 11-for-34 (32.4 completion percentage) for 68 yards and no touchdowns. It was the only time in 47 career starts he completed less than 40 percent of his passes.
Henne still was able to end his Michigan career on a high note, as the Wolverines – a near two-touchdown underdog – whipped Florida 41-35 in the Capital One Bowl. Henne threw for a career-high 373 yards and three touchdowns. He said the bowl was the only time Michigan was operating at full strength this season and it came at an opportune time, because the Wolverines were able to send coach Lloyd Carr out with a victory in his final game.
"It was a difficult season, there's no doubt about it," Henne said. "Losing those first two games at home was hard, but we bounced back and won eight straight. We didn't finish the way we wanted to against Wisconsin and Ohio State, but we definitely had a great game against Florida.
"We expressed how if we were healthy how good our team could've been. We really played well in that game just so the seniors could go out with a win and also Coach Carr."
This week, Henne has been in Mobile with several of the nation's top seniors trying to improve his NFL stock. His senior season definitely left the door open for criticism, and that's why he feels strong performances here and at the February NFL Scouting Combine will answer some questions NFL teams have about him.
"I don't really know where I stand," Henne said. "With the injury I suffered, the scouts seemed to forget about me during the season. I'm just here now at the Senior Bowl to prove myself and hopefully I've done that."
Purdue wide receiver Dorien Bryant is one player in Mobile who's familiar with Henne through their days in the Big Ten. After working with Henne this week, Bryant said there's no doubt Henne is the best quarterback on the North squad, which also includes USC's John David Booty and Delaware's Joe Flacco.
"I said that (Wednesday) and I stand by it again," Bryant said. "He's not really separated himself, but to me he's shown more than the other guys.
"I think all the guys have done really good, but I'd say he's stood out the most. He's had a great week. He's thrown some real good balls and made some real good decisions. I know from hearing stuff about him during the season – people would say he just throws the deep ball and (receivers) go get it. This week, I think he's shown his versatility."
Draft analyst Frank Coyle of www.draftinsiders.com is a Henne fan. Coyle said the rich tradition of Michigan quarterbacks will get Henne drafted, but he also said Henne's play this week may have moved him up a round or two.
"Henne's been throwing a nice ball," Coyle said. "You're not going to see too many Michigan quarterbacks sneak through the middle rounds. If you can breathe, they're going to draft you. … (Henne has) nice size. He had some injury problems this year, but he's a pocket passer and he's got the frame to withstand some pounding. He's got good mechanics, good footwork and a good arm."
Besides the obvious physical attributes Coyle mentioned, Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin – whose staff is overseeing the North team at the Senior Bowl – said Henne's leadership ability is what really has impressed him this week.
Kiffin had a good knowledge of Henne's abilities as a player from the 2007 Rose Bowl, when Michigan squared off against USC. Kiffin was the Trojans' offensive coordinator in that game.
"I thought Chad's velocity on the ball has been really impressive since Day One," Kiffin said. "That's really the first thing I noticed about him, but he is a good athlete and he can move around and he has a good pocket presence. He's been throwing the ball extremely well through some really small holes. I think he's going to be a great pro player, I really do.
"With his command in the huddle, he just takes charge and the players respond to him really well."
Henne Uncertain of Where He Stands
Sean Callahan
Special to Rivals.com College Football
MOBILE, Ala. – When Michigan quarterback Chad Henne returned for his senior season, expectations obviously were high.
After leading the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl in 2006, Henne and fellow seniors Mike Hart and Jake Long were thinking big. All three decided to stay at Michigan as seniors instead of entering the NFL Draft.
It was all set up for Henne and the Wolverines in 2007. They were the team to beat in the Big Ten, and Henne was regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in college football.
This all sounded great until Sept. 1, when Division I-AA Appalachian State shocked the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines dropped another home game the following week against Oregon, to start off 0-2.
During the embarrassing 39-7 loss to the Ducks, Henne sustained a leg injury that caused him to miss the next two games (against Notre Dame and Penn State). Henne's missed start against the Irish snapped a 39-game starting streak dating to his freshman season.
It was a difficult start to what was supposed to be a banner season for Henne, a former five-star quarterback out of Wyomissing, Pa., which is about an hour northwest of Philadelphia. Another injury, sustained Oct. 20 in a victory over Illinois, set him back more.
Henne hurt his shoulder in that win, and that injury bothered him through the end of the regular season. In his final regular-season game with the Wolverines, against archrival Ohio State, Henne was 11-for-34 (32.4 completion percentage) for 68 yards and no touchdowns. It was the only time in 47 career starts he completed less than 40 percent of his passes.
Henne still was able to end his Michigan career on a high note, as the Wolverines – a near two-touchdown underdog – whipped Florida 41-35 in the Capital One Bowl. Henne threw for a career-high 373 yards and three touchdowns. He said the bowl was the only time Michigan was operating at full strength this season and it came at an opportune time, because the Wolverines were able to send coach Lloyd Carr out with a victory in his final game.
"It was a difficult season, there's no doubt about it," Henne said. "Losing those first two games at home was hard, but we bounced back and won eight straight. We didn't finish the way we wanted to against Wisconsin and Ohio State, but we definitely had a great game against Florida.
"We expressed how if we were healthy how good our team could've been. We really played well in that game just so the seniors could go out with a win and also Coach Carr."
This week, Henne has been in Mobile with several of the nation's top seniors trying to improve his NFL stock. His senior season definitely left the door open for criticism, and that's why he feels strong performances here and at the February NFL Scouting Combine will answer some questions NFL teams have about him.
"I don't really know where I stand," Henne said. "With the injury I suffered, the scouts seemed to forget about me during the season. I'm just here now at the Senior Bowl to prove myself and hopefully I've done that."
Purdue wide receiver Dorien Bryant is one player in Mobile who's familiar with Henne through their days in the Big Ten. After working with Henne this week, Bryant said there's no doubt Henne is the best quarterback on the North squad, which also includes USC's John David Booty and Delaware's Joe Flacco.
"I said that (Wednesday) and I stand by it again," Bryant said. "He's not really separated himself, but to me he's shown more than the other guys.
"I think all the guys have done really good, but I'd say he's stood out the most. He's had a great week. He's thrown some real good balls and made some real good decisions. I know from hearing stuff about him during the season – people would say he just throws the deep ball and (receivers) go get it. This week, I think he's shown his versatility."
Draft analyst Frank Coyle of www.draftinsiders.com is a Henne fan. Coyle said the rich tradition of Michigan quarterbacks will get Henne drafted, but he also said Henne's play this week may have moved him up a round or two.
"Henne's been throwing a nice ball," Coyle said. "You're not going to see too many Michigan quarterbacks sneak through the middle rounds. If you can breathe, they're going to draft you. … (Henne has) nice size. He had some injury problems this year, but he's a pocket passer and he's got the frame to withstand some pounding. He's got good mechanics, good footwork and a good arm."
Besides the obvious physical attributes Coyle mentioned, Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin – whose staff is overseeing the North team at the Senior Bowl – said Henne's leadership ability is what really has impressed him this week.
Kiffin had a good knowledge of Henne's abilities as a player from the 2007 Rose Bowl, when Michigan squared off against USC. Kiffin was the Trojans' offensive coordinator in that game.
"I thought Chad's velocity on the ball has been really impressive since Day One," Kiffin said. "That's really the first thing I noticed about him, but he is a good athlete and he can move around and he has a good pocket presence. He's been throwing the ball extremely well through some really small holes. I think he's going to be a great pro player, I really do.
"With his command in the huddle, he just takes charge and the players respond to him really well."