Stay On or Get Off?

I have been “On” the Miami Dolphins wagon since the start of the season. In fact, you would have to go all the way back to the 2004 season, the last for Dave Wannstedt, to find a time that I have been off that wagon. I supported Saban, I support Cameron. I have always supported the team. So now I find myself asking, should I stay on? Or get off?

I suppose I should really take the time to clarify that. Jumping off any “wagon” at this stage has nothing to do with the record that the Miami Dolphins have. This team could be 0-16 and I would still be riding. I like Cam Cameron, of course it is extremely hard to defend him to most of the other fans who no longer ride along with you. Each week the horses drawing the carriage gets a lighter load. So what gives with my sudden, “gut feeling”?

Simply put, it’s the droppings being left by the horse in regards to John Beck. I do not have a problem with Cameron sticking with Cleo Lemon, despite the fact that as a fan, I don’t care for his play. It is not that I believe that it is time to “see what Beck” has or doesn’t have. No, I still stand firmly on the ground that regardless of what Beck does, we are still not going to draft a 1st day quarterback in next years draft. No, none of that really bothers me in regards to Cameron. What does bother me in all this is the fact that Cameron has yet to make up his mind what he is going to do.

Last week was simple, he announced on Monday that the starter would be Lemon. He continued to give each QB 50% of the 1st team reps. O.k. I am fine with that. However, it was this past Mondays’ press conference in which Cameron said that he would wait until Wednesday to decide on his starter. That is what I have a problem with.

If Cameron wants to start Lemon and continue the development of Beck, then that is what he should do, not what the fans want. It is his job that is on the line and the future of this franchise, like it or not, is in his hands as well at this time. If he wants to start John Beck, then he should just plain start him. None of this, “evaluate them and see” garbage. We are 9 games into the season, does it really matter what either of them “shows” you? Probably not.

I really want to see Beck play, but not because I need to know what the future looks like, but because in reality, I have never seen him play. It’s new, it is exciting, it’s, well, not Cleo Lemon.

That being said, I still support Cameron if he decides to keep Lemon in at QB. My issue will remain if next week, he goes through the whole, “wait until Wednesday” routine again. That is counterproductive. It is counterproductive to the team, to the two QB’s, to the offensive line, and to the fans. Pick a guy and leave it at that. Splitting time with the first team unit really offers no advantage to Beck should he be named the starter. He would have only had 50 percent of the snaps. If the nod goes to Lemon, then those 50% plays are fine, it doesn’t hurt him. Beck will need at least 80 percent on game week to further his acclimation.

The second fear that I have is not how Beck will perform, but rather will Cameron stick with Beck the rest of the year if he falters badly. Imagine being a rookie QB asked to try and go out and get your teams first win. Not in the first month of the season, but 10 weeks into the season. That is a lot of pressure for a guy who hasn’t taken an NFL snap since pre-season. Understandably, Beck should struggle. Will Cameron pull him after week 1? Week 2?

If Beck starts, Beck needs to stay the starter. Not for a few weeks, but for the rest of the season. The days of Cleo Lemon in Miami should be over.

It remains to be seen one way or the other as to who will be named the starter this week. That decision is to come on Wednesday. Lemon is neither right nor wrong. Beck is not the wrong choice either. It is not this week that becomes the question if Beck starts. It’s what Cameron does in the following weeks with the QB’s that will determine that.

As for the “Wagon” and whether I should stay on or jump…well, I am on it for now. Should Beck not start and each week we play the “wait until Wednesday” game, let’s just say that I will be moving closer to the back end of it. If Beck starts, struggles and gets replaced by Lemon? Look out below.