KB21
Club Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2001
- Messages
- 10,065
- Reaction score
- 68
The year was 2000. No one expected anything out of the Miami Dolphins, who had just lost their head coach Jimmy Johnson and their star quarterback Dan Marino to retirement.
The leading rusher for the team was Lamar Smith, who ran for 1,000 yards but averaged a little over 3.8 yards per rush. The two leading receivers on the team were Oronde Gadsden and Leslie Shepherd with 56 and 36 receptions respectively. Neither came close to 1,000 yards receiving. They had the 30th rated passing offense in the NFL and the 14th rated rushing offense in the NFL.
That team won 11 games and had the only playoff win this team has had in the last four years. Those guys rallied around the fact that expectations were low with the departure of Marino and Johnson, they pulled together, and they won the division unexpectedly.
This team isn't dead, because this defense is still intact and is better than it was back in 2000. There may be a lot of unknowns, but as is the case in many situations, players will have to emerge.
I'm telling you right now, this team will not have it's third losing season since 1970.
The leading rusher for the team was Lamar Smith, who ran for 1,000 yards but averaged a little over 3.8 yards per rush. The two leading receivers on the team were Oronde Gadsden and Leslie Shepherd with 56 and 36 receptions respectively. Neither came close to 1,000 yards receiving. They had the 30th rated passing offense in the NFL and the 14th rated rushing offense in the NFL.
That team won 11 games and had the only playoff win this team has had in the last four years. Those guys rallied around the fact that expectations were low with the departure of Marino and Johnson, they pulled together, and they won the division unexpectedly.
This team isn't dead, because this defense is still intact and is better than it was back in 2000. There may be a lot of unknowns, but as is the case in many situations, players will have to emerge.
I'm telling you right now, this team will not have it's third losing season since 1970.