Fooch's Note: Great run-down by smileyman of all passes thrown at Ginn. Speaking of Ginn, check out this video of his arrival at 49ers facilities today.

We all know that Ted Ginn is a pretty darn good punt returner and kick returner. There are some concerns about his ability as a wide receiver, specifically dropped balls. We certainly have had our share of dropped balls last year, the last thing we need is another butter-fingered wide receiver. I decided to do a little project after Ginn's 11.4% drop rate was brought up. I went through every Miami game from last year, specifically focusing on Ginn and his receptions. I noted every time he was thrown to and the result. If he caught the ball great, if he didn't I noted why.

Join me after the jump to see the results and my impressions. Lots of pictures here. Each picture is in order of the attempt and is taken from a snip of the NFL Game Rewind service. That means that some of them are great shots, and some a little blurry, and some are at bad angles because that's all the game cameras showed. 

Week 1, Miami @ Atlanta

2 receptions, 26 yards. 2 rushing attempts for 9 yards. No punt returns, 3 kick returns for 55 yards. Targeted 5 times. 

The first incomplete happened when Pat White overthrew Ginn by at least 5 yards. The second happened when Chad Pennington was rolling out of the pocket and basically threw it away, underthrowing Ginn by at least 5 yards. The third incomplete pass happened when Pennington's pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and Ginn had to go up in the air and knock it down to prevent an interception. 

Week 2, Miami vs Indianopolis

11 receptions, 108 yards. Ginn was not used on any run plays, nor did he see any action in the return game. There were three balls that were thrown to Ginn that he didn't catch. One was in the endzone and just out of his reach. One was thrown into double coverage and was knocked down. One he bobbled on his fingertips and couldn't pull down (would've won the game for Miami too). 

Week 3, Miami @ San Diego

0 receptions. No runs. Not used in the return game at all. Targeted six times and should've caught at least three. Miami's first play was a pass from Pennington to Ginn that was overthrown. Ginn wouldn't be targeted again until 4:15 left in the 3rd quarter, and by that point Chad Henne was in. The ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage and Ginn never had a chance to catch it. He was targeted again at the beginning of the fourth quarter but the ball was thrown low. He probably should've still caught it though. He was targeted again on the very next play and definitely should've caught that one. Next pass was knocked down by Quentin Jammer. The next one was overthrown and out of bounds. 

Week 4, Miami vs Buffalo

1 reception, for 4  yards. 2 punt returns. 1 for 11 yards, the other a touchback. No kick returns. One run around the end for 22 yards. 

Ginn was only targeted four times this game. First missed throw was thrown behind Ginn and would've been out of bounds anyway. The next pass was a short four yard reception. Ginn wouldn't be targeted again until the end of the first half. That was a pass that was ruled incomplete because it was caught out of bounds. 

Week 5, Miami vs NY Jets

2 receptions for 57 yards and 1 TD. No runs. Not used as a punt returner. 1 kick off return for 32 yards. 

Ginn was only targeted twice and caught both balls. One was a four yard catch, the other was a 53 yard TD catch.

Week 7, Miami vs NO

2 receptions for 16 yards. 1 run for 5 yards. 1 punt return for -2 yards. 4 kick returns for 103 yards.

Ginn was targeted 8 times this game. He caught 2 balls, 1 of the throws his way was an interception, and the other 5 were incomplete. First incomplete pass was a pretty good throw but Ginn's feet got tangled up with Sharper's just enough to throw him off balance. Second incomplete pass was knocked away by Tracey Porter. Next pass is intercepted by Sharper but this is Ginn's fault--it bounced out of his hands into Sharper's arms. Next incomplete pass was knocked down by Tracey Porter. Ginn butter fingered the next pass. Last pass was a little behind Ginn but he should've been able to catch it. 

Week 8, Miami @ NYJ

1 reception, 0 yards. No runs. 0 punt returns. 6 kick off returns for 299 yards and 2 TDs (one for 101 yards, one for 100 yards). He was only thrown at once, and that ball was over his head. 

Kick returns. 1st kick return was for 22 yards and it was actually Jay Feely who tackled him (pretty good open field tackle too). 2nd kick return was for 23 yard and it was Feely again who tackled him (this time it was a pretty solid hit). You know your coverage unit has problems if it's your kicker getting the action.

Third kick was 100 yards for a TD. Ginn didn't really make any defenders miss, he just flat out went downfield and put into a higher gear when he was already running flat out. It's his long speed that makes him special. 

Fourth kick was 101 yards for a td. Ginn made two guys miss then turned on the afterburners. 

Week 9, Miami @ NE

1 reception for 7 yards. No runs, no punt returns. 4 kick returns for 97 yards. Was only targeted 3 times, all in the 4th quarter. First pass was complete for 7 yards and a first down.Second pass was underthrown, and the third pass was catchable. Ginn would've taken a monster hit had he caught it which is why I think he bobbled it. 

Week 10, Miami vs Tampa Bay

0 catches. 1 rush for 0 yards. Ginn was targeted 3 times. He had 1 punt return for 7 yards and 5 kick returns for 90 yards. First pass to Ginn was the Dolphin's first play from scrimmage. Henne had the ball on target but I think Ginn started hearing footsteps. Had he caught it he probably would've scored. The second pass was also on the money but Ginn was hit as he caught it and dropped it. The third one was also on the money and dropped, but again there was tight coverage.

Week 11, Miami @ Carolina

4 receptions for 32 yards. Ginn was targeted 6 times, catching 4 of them. No punt returns. 2 kick returns for a total of 85 yards. The first incomplete pass was thrown way behind Ginn and was impossible for him to catch. The second complete was way overthrown. 

Week 12, Miami @ Buffalo

2 receptions for 18 yards. 1 run for -4 yards. Ginn was targeted 5 times. 1 punt return for 12 yards. 4 kick returns for 75 yards. 

First incomplete was a little off but Ginn still should've had it. Second incomplete pass was knocked down by the CB guarding Ginn. Third incomplete was also knocked down by the CB.

Week 13, Miami vs NE

2 receptions for 34 yards. Ginn was only targeted three times. No punt returns. 4 kick returns for 107 yards. Only incomplete ball was way overthrown. 

Week 14, Miami @ Jac

1 reception for 12 yards, 1 run for 16 yards. Ginn was only targeted twice. No punt returns. 3 kick returns for 66 yards. Incomplete pass might have been hit at the line of scrimmage, regardless it was way off, sailing somewhere towards the stands. 

Week 15, Miami @ Ten

2 receptions for 38 yards. Ginn was targeted twice and caught both of them. Had 1 punt that he fair caught, and 6 kick returns for 104 yards. 

Week 16, Miami vs Hou

5 receptions for 82 yards. Targeted 7 times. No punt returns. 6 kick returns for 121 yards. First incomplete was at the end of the 1st half and Henne was throwing the ball away into the stands. The second ball was thrown high and hard. 

Week 17, Miami vs Pit

3 receptions for 20 yards. Targeted 6 times. No punt returns. 4 kick returns for 62 yards. First incomplete was a little off but Ginn should've been able to bring it in. Second incomplete was in the 4th quarter and the Miami QB rotation had gone through Henne, White and then Thigpen. Thigpen was running for his life and threw it away. Third incomplete Thigpen threw it into double coverage and was picked off. 

Conclusions

1. Ginn doesn't like to get hit. I think lots of these drops happened because Ginn started to hear footsteps. Kind of odd because he seems to really enjoy the return game--maybe it's a fear of the unknown.

2. Ginn seems to get into a funk. Basically if he makes a mistake he has a really tough time rebounding from it. This is hopefully something that can get coached out of him.

3. He can get open--most of these incomplete passes to him he was open for. 

4. He has great downfield speed. His short game isn't so hot, but send him on a deep route and he'll beat his guy almost every single time. 

5. If the ball isn't exactly where he expects it he has a tough time catching it. He does a better job coming back to the receiver than catching balls in stride.