WR Ted Ginn, Jr. (Official Thread)

[billmac91]

Like I said, I agree with everything Bill said, including Pennington's limitations, and how it's affecting Teddy's development at the NFL level. If he had named any other WR for the comparison, I wouldn't have said anything. But I just get a kick out of the irony.

I get the point, but MAC level defenses against Pennington/Moss isn't quite the same as NFL defenses. Lobbing the ball in the air to a streaking Randy Moss at that level just isn't fair....

 

[Flocka]

The Way We Hear It - NFL pro football rumors and insider news from Pro Football Weekly

— We hear the Dolphins will be staging an open competition for both the kick- and punt-return gigs. Despite his blinding speed, KR Ted Ginn Jr. has yet to win over the staff, while PR Davone Bess’ dependability only somewhat alleviates the reality that he offers little big-play potential.

 

[jwinslow]

I sure hate players who return a half dozen for scores, when including the flag erasings.

 

[Flocka]

I sure hate players who return a half dozen for scores, when including the flag erasings.

And the at least a couple of the flags were bullshit and one happened 20 yards behind the play. I really can't see the point of taking away the best aspect of his game.

 

[dragurd]

That's one thing I never got about Sporano and Parcells last year. They took him off retrns but whenever they needed one to try a pull a Miracle out of their hat he was back there so they weren't blind to his ability.

 

[Buckskin86]

Q&A With Dolphins Wide Receiver Ted Ginn, Jr.
April 29, 2009
By Khalil Garriott
Web Site Editor
NFLPLAYERS.COM

Ted Ginn Jr. is one of the top young speedster wideouts in the NFL. The Ohio State product, who was the No. 9 overall draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2007, has served as the team's primary kick and punt returner since his NFL debut. During the 2008 season, he had 56 catches for 790 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to adding two rushing touchdowns. In this exclusive Q&A with NFLPLAYERS.COM, Ginn Jr. lists which current and former players he admires and more.

Q: Which NFL players do you admire? Who are some players you?ve modeled your game after?

A: I've modeled my game after Santana Moss, Steve Smith, and guys that are 5-foot-11 or 6 feet tall. Guys that have speed and really do their thing in the NFL.

Q: What do you think is one trait that's underrated about you?

A: They think I'm little. They think once they hit me, I'm going to fall down and take a beating. But I think having played in the Big Ten, it really helped me out because everyone in the Big Ten is pretty big.

Q: If you could point to one lesson that you've been taught over the years which has been a guiding factor for you, what would it be?

A: You only have your word and your first impression.

Q: Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently at Ohio State?

A: No.

Q: Nothing? Maybe beat Florida in the National Championship your final year there?

A: Yeah, that's probably about it.

Q: You did your part, though, with that kickoff return for a touchdown to start the game. What was that feeling like?

A: Amazing. It was a great return, and something that's never been done before.

MiamiDolphins.com - Win A Suite

 

[Buckskin86]

Q&A with Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

(On what Ted Ginn Jr. needs to get better at from now until next season) - "I think just the way that he attacks coverage's, I think the way that Ted attacks coverage's and what he is seeing out there will help him to play faster and play with a little more confidence. I think run after catch for all receivers is something that you would like to see them get better at, with Ted his ability after he catches the ball, in other words, when he is back there with a kickoff or a punt and we have seen him in some of those situations, he has the ability to make some people miss at times and be able to take it the distance. So that part of the receiving end of the deal with him catching the football and running after the catch, those type of things and really his knowledge of the coverage is what I would like to really see him grow the most with, he has done a nice job this off season, really he has done a nice job the first couple of days of doing some of those things. It's like honestly night and day from where we were when we came into this."

Q&A with Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

 

[Flocka]

Can Ted Ginn Jr. Become the No. 1 Miami Dolphins Receiver?

The race for the No. 1 wide receiver spot for the Miami Dolphins is on.

In my mind, Ted Ginn Jr. clinched the spot with his dramatic, game-clinching catch against the Seattle Seahawks last year when he was double-covered and had only inches to spare at the back of the end zone on a perfect throw from Chad Pennington.

Despite not getting the respect with Dolphin fans and the rest of the NFL alike, Ginn has made a major imprint on the return game alone since he was drafted by former coach Cam Cameron. That year alone, Ginn had four touchdowns called back because of penalties.

No one seems to mention that when they talk about Ginn taking over for a team that traded the popular and gifted Chris Chambers in the middle of the season. With Chambers having a lot of injuries since then, the trade looks good now but during a 1-15 campaign, it looked dreadful and forced Ginn into the lineup without a coach on the field.

Well now after a playoff run and a whole season at WR under his belt, it seems Ginn is poised to lead a young receiver corps that seems to thrive in anonymity. Let's go through the names and see if the average fan will know any without saying "nope."

Can Ted Ginn Jr. Become the No. 1 Miami Dolphins Receiver? | Bleacher Report

 

[Buckskin86]

Saturday, 05.23.09
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
Miami Dolphins put challenge on Ted Ginn to improve

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. (19) races to the end zone for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
DAVID EULITT / KANSAS CITY STAR

For all the talk of the Dolphins needing a top receiver, they didn't pursue Terrell Owens, T.J. Houshmandzadeh or any veteran; passed on Hakeem Nicks and Kenny Britt to draft cornerback Vontae Davis; and didn't offer Arizona a first-round pick for Anquan Boldin.

No one appreciates this more than Ted Ginn Jr. ''They didn't need to get someone else,'' Ginn said, meaning no slight to draft picks Patrick Turner and Brian Hartline. ``We already have a good receiver corps.''

Ginn said he wants to raise his game ''to another level,'' and the Dolphins have challenged him, starting with general manager Jeff Ireland's remark last month that ``it's time for Ted Ginn to really show what he was drafted here to do.''

With offseason practice under way, here is what the Dolphins want to see:

? Improvement running after the catch. Coach Tony Sparano sees Ginn's ''ability to make people miss and take it the distance'' on kickoffs and punts, and expects more of that in the passing game. The Dolphins didn't like when he ran out of bounds prematurely at times.

? ''The other thing I'd like to see him grow the most at,'' Sparano said last week, ''is his knowledge of the coverage.'' That would ``help him play faster.''

? Dolphins/former Arizona cornerback Eric Green said he told Ginn that ''getting off press'' at the line was a ''weakness'' the Cardinals identified before the teams played last September. Ginn told Green he must work on that.

? Consistency. Although he has good hands, Ginn frustrated with a few late-season drops. He finished with seven in 90 passes thrown to him, said ESPN's KC Joyner; only 13 receivers had more.

But here's what gives the Dolphins hope, besides his speed:

? Ginn is a hard worker and has improved a lot, especially route running. ''It's like night and day from where we were when we came in,'' Sparano said of his development.

? Dolphins brass believes his deep-ball skills will be maximized when strong-armed Chad Henne eventually takes over.

? Many receivers emerge in their third season, which Ginn enters. Steve Smith went from 54 catches in his second season to 88 in his third, Roddy White from 30 to 83, Santana Moss from 30 to 74 and Reggie Wayne from 49 to 68.

FYI: Ginn -- who had 56 catches, 790 yards and a 14.1 yard average in 2008 -- tied Randy Moss in yards per pass attempt (8.8, 23rd in NFL), Joyner said. (Credit Chad Pennington, too.)

Miami Dolphins put challenge on Ted Ginn to improve - Sports Buzz - MiamiHerald.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Dolphins: Ted Ginn ready for a breakout?
> Posted by Dave Hyde on May 29, 2009

Lost his rookie year?

"Oh, yeah,'' Ted Ginn Jr. said. "Didn't know nothing. Didn't know the coverages. Didn't know exactly what to do. I thought I knew everything coming in, because I did a good job at the college level."

Improved his second year?

"Yeah, you start adjusting to the system, to the coverages,'' he said. "That makes you faster. I didn't think I was fast, because it took a while to figure everything out. But I got faster."

Now, before his third year?

"Ready to go,'' he said.

NFL folk-lore says the third-year is the historical break-out year for a receiver. You can go through a pantheon of receivers from various decades who say so: Terrell Owens, Rod Smith, Steve Smith, Homer Jones, Steve Largent, Charley Taylor, Harold Carmichael, Lee Evans, Javon Walker...

Of course, that's the kind of talk that gets repeated enough that people believe it. There are just as many guys who broke out in their second year. Take the Marks Brothers. Mark Duper didn't catch a pass as a rookie and caught 51 for a whopping 10 touchdowns his second year, which was 1983. Mark Clayton caught six passes his first year in 1983 and 73 in 1984 (when the Dolphins broke all passing records).

You also can find guys just from Ginn's Ohio State who also were Top 10 draft picks who had no problem in their first year. As rookies, Terry Glenn (90 catches) and Joey Galloway (67) were impact players.

Ginn caught 34 passes as a rookie and 56 last year. That was nice progress. However, he had just two touchdowns receiving (and two more rushing), and that's the area the Dolphins want improvement. You also have to wonder how Ginn's downfield speed meshes with Chad Pennington, who doesn't have the arm strength to throw downfield much.

"Breaking down defenses ... running after the catch,'' Tony Sparano said of what was wanted from Ginn.

Dolphins: Ted Ginn ready for a breakout?

 

[Buckskin86]

on Sunday, 05.31.09
Who will be Miami Dolphins' No. 1 receiver?
BY ARMANDO SALGUERO
[email protected]

Ted Ginn Jr. has the tools to be a No. 1 receiver, but can he deliver consistently for Miami? C.M. GUERRERO / STAFF PHOTO

The Dolphins have a No. 1 receiver on the roster, no doubt about it, coach Tony Sparano and some of his players would tell you.

They say there is someone on the team who can be Chad Pennington's go-to guy, someone who can lead the offense in receptions and be there when a desperation pass needs reliable hands to finish a big play.

The Dolphins insist they are comfortable with that guy.

They just don't know that guy's name yet.

''I would say that, yeah, I would say I feel that way, sure,'' Sparano said last week. ``Who that guy is, I am not quite sure of yet. I think there are a couple of contenders out there that I am curious to watch when we get through this whole thing.''

The hope, the plan, the prayer, has been for Ginn to be Miami's No. 1 receiver from the moment he was drafted in the first round in 2007. He is not there yet and that's disappointing, only because he has had two NFL seasons to make the climb and the mountaintop is still far off.

But that disappointment would soon fade if Ginn could manage the 2009 breakout season some Dolphins coaches, players and fans believe he's capable of delivering.

''We know he has the straight-ahead speed,'' quarterback Chad Henne said. ``What we are working on is route running right now. He is doing what we ask him to do, and right now he is getting a lot of balls, doing a good job using his technique and everything.''

CONSISTENCY NEEDED

Ginn has the speed to be a No. 1 receiver. He has the work ethic. He has the good hands. If he can deliver the consistent performance, and the big numbers that come with that consistency, he will gain confidence and respect and complete the r?sum? of a No. 1 receiver.

Who will be Miami Dolphins' No. 1 receiver? - Football - MiamiHerald.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Sparano's take on Tuesday's OTA workout

Another player that is impressing coaches is Ted Ginn Jr. You know I wrote my Sunday column about the Dolphins search for a No. 1 receiver. I wrote Ginn has to become that guy. Some of you said the Dolphins don't need a No. 1 receiver to be effective.

And Sparano disagrees with you.

"It's important to me to have a clear No. 1 receiver," Sparano said. "... I'd like to find a clear No. 1 guy that I'm comfortable with and Chad [Pennington] is comfortable with that can come up with the big play."

And Ginn, I am convinced, continues to be the most likely candidate to be that guy because he is opening some eyes with his improvement this offseason -- improvement that is at or near the top of his class.

"Ted Ginn right now, if you said to me, 'Tell the me the player that in the seven or eight practices we've had has impressed you the most,' Ted Ginn is in the top two right now," Sparano said. "The way he's handling himself out there and the way the offense has started to slow down for him that way. I've seen him in some situations be pretty dominant."

Ted Ginn as "dominant." That is a welcome sentence for Dolphins fans.

"I've been impressed with what Ted Ginn has done," said Sparano, who declined to name the other player in his top two.

Dolphins In Depth

 

[Buckskin86]

Dolphins receiver Ted Ginn 'pretty dominant' at times
Dave Hyde | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
June 2, 2009

DAVIE - When the story begins Ted Ginn Jr. is in first grade at St. Agatha-St. Aloysius School in Cleveland. He's 6. He's faster than everyone on the playground and slower in the classroom. Teachers can't understand why he can't understand. He flunks first grade.

"That hurt, no question,'' he says.

By fourth grade, he arrived for the first day of school and was told by a school official they "couldn't accommodate me anymore,'' as he says. He needed extra tutoring. The school, he says, didn't want to provide it.

That morning, as his friends were ushered to class, Ginn was ushered out front to the curb of St. Clair Avenue. Alone. When his father arrived to pick him up, he was crying.

You want to get at Ted Ginn Jr.'s heart? Isn't that what Dolphins fans have wanted since he arrived two years ago? They watched him carry the football out of bounds once or twice and concluded he's faint of heart. Or saw him disappear from a game for a while and said he has no heart.

If it stung, as it might have, Ginn wasn't going to tell you where he put the pain. He'll do something else, though. He'll show what he's been through to toughen his heart so outsiders don't matter. All his life is a lesson.

By fifth grade at his new school, a teacher asked Ginn to spell a word. He couldn't. The teacher asked again. He still couldn't. He clammed up. Wouldn't say anything. The teacher became mad.

"He told me, 'Your life is going to be flipping burgers at Burger King,'ƒ|" Ginn says.

In junior high, he could only play on a sports team before the first grading period came out. His grades weren't good enough to allow him to play after that.

"Then, in eighth grade, I was diagnosed with a learning disorder,'' he said. "It was explained how it took me a longer to answer questions, to process the information. It might take someone two times to read something and understand it. It might take me six times."

Here's the interesting part: He kept working. He kept believing in himself. So did his father, then a high -school security guard and football coach who got his son into special-education classes.

By the time Ginn reached Glenville High School, he was back in regular classes. He was succeeding, too. By his junior year, he carried a 3.5 grade-point average. As a senior, he had a perfect 4.0 semester. He ended up graduating in the top 10 percent of his class.

Life, the older you get, is what you learn more than what you know. And Ginn learned the most important lessons about himself. He learned how to work and succeed despite some issues.

"All that shaped me into the person I am now,'' he said. "All the negative talk. All the people saying I couldn't do it. You don't let people bring you down. You just keep working."

Miami Dolphins: Receiver Ted Ginn Jr. has looked 'pretty dominant' at times for the Miami Dolphins this offseason -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

GINN IMPRESSES COACH

Sparano said the Dolphins need a No. 1 receiver to emerge. He didn't say Ted Ginn Jr. was that guy, but he did put Ginn at the top of the list for improvement among all Dolphins.

'If you said to me, `Tell me the player who has, in the seven practices we've had, that has impressed you the most in his growth out there,' I'd say Ted Ginn is in the top two.

``With the way he's handling himself out there, the way the whole offense has started to slow down a little bit that way. I really see him being in some situations, pretty dominant, so you can see his confidence is at a high level right now. He's running better, playing a little bit stronger and really understands what's going on around him.''

Dolphins notebook: Sean Smith getting reps with first team - Football - MiamiHerald.com

 

[Flocka]

Definitely looks bigger.

 

[Bestbuck36]

My man. I hope he sticks it in every naysayers face this season! Dont let em back on your bandwagon Ted when you're blowing by everyone on game day.

Your Buckeye family has never doubted you.