Dolphins’ QB woes continue

For Miami Dolphins fans who long for the glory days of Dan Marino, the suffering continues.

Gus Frerotte is the latest in a lengthening list of should-be backups who have somehow found themselves under center on a full-time basis for the Fins. Fielder, Huard, Griese, Feeley – it’s been a revolving door of quarterbacking mediocrity since Marino retired following the 1999 campaign.Nine games into the 2005 season, the Dolphins have a mere three wins to show for their troubles. And Frerotte is hardly helping matters. Even on the heels of last week’s showing – a 360-yard, two-touchdown effort in a loss to the Patriots – Frerotte’s numbers are still subpar. Witness his lacking 68.1 quarterback rating which includes 10 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.

Frerotte’s biggest problem is his lack of accuracy and touch. In his first year at the helm of Miami’s offense, coordinator Scott Linehan’s system has been tailor-made for a team with big concerns on the offensive line. Last year, the porous unit surrendered 52 sacks. Linehan has done his best to take the pressure off of the offensive line, as evidenced by the passing game’s penchant for three-step drops and quick strikes. It’s a system that Frerotte was familiar with, having played for Linehan’s offense while both were in Minnesota.

But while Frerotte has been sacked just 12 times this year, he is completing a mere 52.5 percent of his passes. That’s not nearly enough. Frerotte has a strong arm, and can make any throw. But too often, he’s simply not on target. While it’s frustrating to see Frerotte miss on slants and hitch routes, games have gotten away from the Dolphins as a result of him failing to hit open receivers on deep routes.

Miami has left several big plays on the field thanks to deep throws that simply didn’t have enough air under them. The Dolphins have shown the ability to get receivers Chris Chambers and Marty Booker behind the secondary, but Frerotte has rarely been able to make opposing defenses pay on such occasions.

With each passing week, fans have been clamoring more and more for backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels. They might actually get him on Sunday. Though his latest effort was easily his best as a Dolphin, Frerotte suffered a finger injury against New England and is questionable for the Fins’ upcoming trip to Cleveland.

So what’s the book on Rosenfels? Might he be a worthy successor to Marino? In all likelihood, no. Though the Iowa State product has made the most of his lone attempt this season – a 77-yard scoring strike to Chambers – he hardly seems to have the stuff of a future legend. Scouts seem to like his arm strength and touch on deep passes, but frown on his awkward delivery and slow release. Coming out of college, he earned points for his smarts and competitive fire, but was criticized for not always being on the money with his throws. Now in his fifth season, his most extensive work came in 2004 and it was hardly inspiring. He completed 16 of 39 attempts – a 41 percent completion rate – for a touchdown and three interceptions. He was sacked three times.

Regardless of who is under center on Sunday, the Dolphins should have enough to hold off the lackluster Browns. The offensive line has made noticeable strides this season under the tutelage of lauded coach Hudson Houck and few teams can match Miami’s rushing duo of standout rookie Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, who is rounding back into form following his well-chronicled troubles. Though long in tooth, the Fins’ defense is still effective when it isn’t forced to spend too much time on the field.

But what of the Dolphins’ questions at quarterback? Where might the answer lie? Most likely, outside of the organization. The 34-year-old Frerotte is on the downside of a mediocre career and the 27-year-old Rosenfels has yet to compel anyone to give him a first-string gig.

In its search for the next Marino, Miami will likely need to look to the draft or perhaps a trade if someone such as San Diego’s Phillip Rivers is made available in the offseason.