What a difference being on another team can do for a player’s career. The player I am speaking of is Miami’s former 2007 first round pick, whom they selected with the ninth overall pick, Ted Ginn Jr. For Dolphin fans, he was known as a bust, but Carolina Panther fans would beg to differ.
After Ginn’s first three seasons in Miami, he spent 3 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he only produced 1 touchdown. Then he spent one season in 2013 in Carolina, where he set a career high with 5 touchdowns. Then in 2014, he went to the desert to play for the Cardinals, where he once again failed to produce and did not even record a touchdown. The Cardinals quickly gave up on him after one season, and he went back to playing for the Panthers this year. This is his ninth season in the league, and he finally became the big play threat that Miami thought he could be. Unfortunately for Miami, he just was never able to do it for them. This season Ginn had 44 receptions, for 739 yards, with a 16.8 yards per catch average, and scored a whopping 10 touchdowns – nearly a career’s worth of touchdowns in one season, Ginn’s career turn around can be attributed to two main factors. The first factor is that he finally has an All Pro Quarterback throwing him the ball, which is always the largest factor because a ball not delivered doesn’t even have the possibility of being caught. Cam Newton is one of, if not the best QB at delivering the deep ball. When delivered in stride on the deep a ball, Ginn hit a home-run nearly every time. While Ted Ginn was in Miami, Chad Henne was the Dolphins QB, and every football gambling fan in the world knows that’s a huge downgrade over Cam. Ginn and Cam are actually a near perfect marriage between QB and WR as both share deep game talents.
The other main factor of why Ginn is doing better is because of better coaching. Ginn’s coaches in Miami were Cam Cameron and Tony Sparano, which isn’t very good. Neither had a clue on how to utilize Ted Ginn Jr’s unique skill set. Ginn’s main attribute is his world class speed, which means certain routes are essential to him being productive. Along with the others receivers complimentary routes freeing up the deep space, the focus on the run game is another piece of the puzzles that is essential as defenders must draw up even though they know Ginn can blow to top of the “D” just about every play. So between having a world class QB throwing him the ball, and a very good coach designing plays to take advantage of Ginn’s skill set, Ginn, despite his short comings, has had is one great asset utilized in a very big way.
Ginn has taken a lot of heat over his career, and this year he is finally living up to his potential. Ginn was always a hard worker, team player, and a nice guy, so I am glad that he has finally found a team that he can have success on. It’s funny how one Cam drafted him and started his death spiral, and another Cam has resurrected his career and been exactly what he needed all along. Who knows, he could even be a sneaky pick for the upcoming Super Bowl MVP. What is the rest of the Miami Dolphins News fans thoughts about Ginn’s career rejuvenation?