18 Dec 10 Tyler Thigpen To Make His Case As Future Miami Dolphins Quarterback

Marc Serota/Getty ImagesThe Miami Dolphins quarterback shuffle continues.Chad Pennington will be out for the year, and that possibly could mean the end of his career.According to the Sun-Sentinel, Chad Henne will be out for the rest of the season, but according to the Associated Press, Henne's Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
injury is less severe. Thigpen will still start for the starter Thursday night against Chicago.The time is now for Tyler Thigpen.Yesterday against the Titans, Thigpen ran the offense efficiently, as he was 4 for 6 for 64 yards and a touchdown pass, with a QB rating of 141.7.On top of that, Thigpen punctuated his touchdown pass to Anthony Fasano by jumping up and celebrating like a kid opening up the PS3 he wanted so badly on Christmas morning.Maybe that show of celebration by Thigpen is a good thing. It showed poise, and that Thigpen is a sparkplug that could excite this Dolphins offense.Isn't that what we needed all along?Thigpen has been almost long forgotten by the media and most fans in the Dolphins QB controversy between Henne and Pennington. Maybe he should've been the first in line to take over instead of Pennington.Thigpen is a lot better than you may think. Yes, his season record isabominable, but the Chiefs in 2008 were a terrible team. You'll see that his stats aren't indicative of a quarterback that went 1-10 that season.Thigpen can do some exciting things on the football fieldThigpen completed 54.8 percent of his passes that season, and threw for 2,608 yards, 18 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions in 11 games.That's not even counting Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
what he did on the ground, which is necessary for the Dolphins with their banged up offensive line. There Thigpen ran 62 times (not all of those designed) for 386 yards and three touchdowns.He also had a touchdown reception that went for 37 yards. The only downside to him running is he did have six fumbles, which is still only one more than Ricky Williams that year.Yesterday we saw this offense open up as the game went on, and started to work really well once Thigpen was inserted. Is this offense more tailor-made for a Tyler Thigpen than a Chad Henne?It probably is. Because of that, with Thigpen as starter, I see Dan Henning opening up this offense and including a few plays that will maximize Thigpen's talents.Thigpen has his chance to earn a starting job in the NFL. If the Dolphins finish the season on a 6-2 clip (they already have one win), odds are Thigpen will have the starting job next season.But the time is now, and he has to show that the job should be his.Special thanks to profootballreference.com for the stats. Follow Thomas Galicia on twitter, thomasgalicia.