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10 Best - Running Backs in Miami History

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Who are the top running backs in Miami history? Here's my liste.

1. Larry Csonka -- He epitomized Miami's power football game of the 1970's.
2. Ricky Williams -- One of most impressive individual seasons in Dolphins history with 1853 yards rushing in 2002.
3. Mercury Morris -- The lightning to Csonka's thunder. Led NFL with 6.4 yards per carry in 1973. Four consecutive years over 5.0 yards a carry (1970-73).
4. Tony Nathan -- Had more than 7,000 yard rushing and receiving for Miami.
5. Lamar Miller -- Had nearly 3,000 yards rushing in four years with Dolphins.
6. Karim Abdul-Jabbar -- Went over 3,000 yards, once over 1,000.
7. Ronnie Brown -- Three times went over 900 yards in a season for Dolphins.
8. Mark Higgs -- Twice over 900 yards in a season.
9. Andre Franklin -- Was solid in early 1980's with 701 yard in strike shorted 1982 season.
10. Delvin Williams -- A short Dolphin career was highlighted by 1258 yards rushing in 1978
 
Andra Franklin's time on the team was shortened by injury. Wish he could have played more.

Delvin was a great back, but was derailed by drugs. Always wondered what could have been.

Higgy was one of my all time favorites.

Really wish that Tony would have been able to play with Dan more, he was the perfect complimentary RB.
 
DKphin said:
Andra Franklin's time on the team was shortened by injury. Wish he could have played more.

Delvin was a great back, but was derailed by drugs. Always wondered what could have been.

Higgy was one of my all time favorites.

Really wish that Tony would have been able to play with Dan more, he was the perfect complimentary RB.
Click to expand...

David Overstreet might have been great as well.
 
Good job with the list. I definitely agree on ranks 1-3. Morris had more power than people realize - he was speed and power w tree trunk thighs for a fast guy. Love that you have Ricky as no 2. He was THAT good and we squandered a couple great years from him under Wanny. Some things I'd consider:

- not sure Jabbar was any good. JJ gave him the ball a zillion times and yes he went for 1,000 buy if I recall his YPC was in the 3's. I don't think he was better than any of the guys listed lower on the list.

- delvin Williams was a stud. If he stayed out of trouble he could have been top 5.

- I think a miss here is the very versatile Jim Kiick. I would put him in the 4-6 slot - perhaps swap for Jabbar.

- Andre Franklin (RIP) doesn't get as much love as he should / could have. In '82 he was a beast and carried our offense to the SB. We rode him to no 2 or 3 in the league in rushing yards that year. Would have had a 1300-1500 yard rushing year if the thing went 16. As mentioned his career was cut short by injury - way too short. Great power back w deceptive speed.

- I liked Higgs but not sure he was a top 10. I think he belongs in same group as Bernie Parmalee, Don Nottingham, Benny Malone, Troy Stradford, etc. That said, coming up with 10 backs is tough!

Once again, nice work.
 
I would put Reggie Bush over Higgs or Abdul Jabbar. Maybe ahead of Lamar Miller. Reggie averaged 1,000 per season during his brief two year stay in Miami.
 
Lamar Smith should be on this list, if only just for his game against the Colts in the playoffs.

And yea hard to leave off Parmalee for me.

Keith Byars?
 
I'll never forget the spigmomonometer game...speaking of Andra Franklin
 
royalshank said:
Good job with the list. I definitely agree on ranks 1-3. Morris had more power than people realize - he was speed and power w tree trunk thighs for a fast guy. Love that you have Ricky as no 2. He was THAT good and we squandered a couple great years from him under Wanny. Some things I'd consider:

- not sure Jabbar was any good. JJ gave him the ball a zillion times and yes he went for 1,000 buy if I recall his YPC was in the 3's. I don't think he was better than any of the guys listed lower on the list.

- delvin Williams was a stud. If he stayed out of trouble he could have been top 5.

- I think a miss here is the very versatile Jim Kiick. I would put him in the 4-6 slot - perhaps swap for Jabbar.

- Andre Franklin (RIP) doesn't get as much love as he should / could have. In '82 he was a beast and carried our offense to the SB. We rode him to no 2 or 3 in the league in rushing yards that year. Would have had a 1300-1500 yard rushing year if the thing went 16. As mentioned his career was cut short by injury - way too short. Great power back w deceptive speed.

- I liked Higgs but not sure he was a top 10. I think he belongs in same group as Bernie Parmalee, Don Nottingham, Benny Malone, Troy Stradford, etc. That said, coming up with 10 backs is tough!

Once again, nice work.
Click to expand...

Just looked it up...Jim Kiick had 3644 yards rushing in his career for Miami. That's good for 5th place all-time on the Dolphins list. Yes, he could easily be in the top 10.
 
SF Dolphin Fan said:
Who are the top running backs in Miami history? Here's my liste.

1. Larry Csonka -- He epitomized Miami's power football game of the 1970's.
2. Ricky Williams -- One of most impressive individual seasons in Dolphins history with 1853 yards rushing in 2002.
3. Mercury Morris -- The lightning to Csonka's thunder. Led NFL with 6.4 yards per carry in 1973. Four consecutive years over 5.0 yards a carry (1970-73).
4. Tony Nathan -- Had more than 7,000 yard rushing and receiving for Miami.
5. Lamar Miller -- Had nearly 3,000 yards rushing in four years with Dolphins.
6. Karim Abdul-Jabbar -- Went over 3,000 yards, once over 1,000.
7. Ronnie Brown -- Three times went over 900 yards in a season for Dolphins.
8. Mark Higgs -- Twice over 900 yards in a season.
9. Andre Franklin -- Was solid in early 1980's with 701 yard in strike shorted 1982 season.
10. Delvin Williams -- A short Dolphin career was highlighted by 1258 yards rushing in 1978
Click to expand...

In their prime...for 1 ballgame I'd take Merc over Ricky...Delvin Willams would move up that list also.
 
Sam Bam Cunningham?
Troy Stratford?
Terry Kirby?
Ronnie Brown?
Overall it shows how thin the dolphins were behind the greats -

That's why we have sucked for decades
 
I'd put Ricky and his raw talent over Csonka, but I understand why he's ranked ahead
 
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