Duper was a rookie the year before (only played in two games) who got himself in Shula's doghouse after he pulled a hamstring in a race against Paul Lankford. Duper and Marino was a great matched because they loved to attack defenses.
That is all I am saying, Marino helped Duper be the Receiver he became, any other QB, he might not have been as dangerous. Also the general rule is that a receiver needs 3 years to reach his potential, Duper hardly played in year one, so going into year two, nobody could expect much from him.
Moore was on the downside of his career at 32? That statement requires a DUH!!! Moore was a great compliment to the Mark Brothers and kept them from being double teammed on 3rd downs.
Then if you already knew that, why mention him as a weapon for Marino, besides, we are talking about 83, Clayton was not even on anyones mind in 83, so in anything he was a compliment to Duper.
1980- 47 receptions
1981- 26 receptions
1982- 8 receptions
1983- 39 receptions
So yes he was on a downslide, and thanks to Marino his stats went up a bit. Marino made most of this players look better, and proved it a year later, now it's Ryan's turn to prove himself to be as good.
Shula rarely started a rookie wide receiver and Clayton, like Moore before him and McDuffie after him, greatest contributions was going to come on special teams.
So you admit Marino's best receiver was not used in his 1st year, unlike Ryan who did have his best receiver there to help him.
Tony Nathan leading the team in receptions was the problem? Is that why the 1985 Dolphins only won 12 games and the division with the #4 overall offense that year because Nathan led them in receptions?
You don't get the point, the point is, Miami had no real receiver as a threat, receptions that go to the RB normally go far less of an average then if it's your top receiver. He averaged 8.9 by the way....there is a big difference between 83 where he led with 52 receptions, and 85 where he had 72 receptions, but again only 9.0, thank goodness that year Clayton had 70 receptions w/ a 14.2 yards a catch.
I'm not sure why you feel the need to disparage the Dolphins receivers in order to put Marino on a higher pedestal than which he already stands upon but...
All I said was that in 83 Marino did not yet have the receiving threat that Ryan had, Clayton hardly played, Duper was just learning his position, Moore was not the same receiver. If anything I don't get why you would belittle what Marino did in his 1st year, by having no problem seeing him compared with a QB like Ryan, that had a good year, but nowhere as amazing as Marino.
Marino played less games in 83 against tougher competition then Ryan in 08, yet he had more TDs, less INTs, and a higher QB rating... obviously. If not that he at that time did not have a true experienced #1 Receiver, he might have also had as many if not more passing yards.
Clayton to me was my favorite Receiver and best I ever saw, and even though I also was able to see Warfield play, I have better memories of Clayton, Duper was nothing less then awesome with his great hands, and speed, and as for Moore, through the let 70s and early 80s, nobody on the Dolphins offense was as athletic and exciting as him...loved our receiver, but problem was Marino got there at a very tough time.
