Dolphins have really screwed everything up since dominating in the '70s - CBS Sports

[Perfect72]

Back in May the NFL writers and editors at CBSSports.com gathered together to discuss the key figures and moments of every NFL franchise in the Super Bowl era. Before long we were discussing every team's best and worst moments, along with their most-hated players and coaches, as well as some of the more bizarre things each team has been involved in. That spirited discussion produced this series -- the Good, Bad, Ugly and, sometimes, Bizarre moments for every team. We continue with the Miami Dolphins.




The Good
Don Shula and the 1972 Miami Dolphins

The 1972 Miami Dolphins are best known for something they don't even actually do: pop champagne every year when the last undefeated NFL team finally loses a game. It's true (well, false) and Snopes proved it several years ago.

Aside from the obvious desire to avoid an obnoxious octogenarian post-bubbly headache, many members of this team just don't care that much. Don Shula was outright rooting for the Carolina Panthers -- with Don's son Mike on their coaching staff -- in their pursuit of perfection during the 2015 season.

That's the problem with aging -- reality is obfuscated by time one way or another. For the Dolphins, everyone has become less concerned with what they did in 1972 and more worried about how they act now. They're a mascot for perfection without being given the respect perfection really deserves (part of this problem is people not being, you know, alive for the team's run).

Shula's Dolphins deserve more credit for their dominance. They were outstanding on offense, despite an early-season injury to future Hall of Famer Bob Griese, thanks to 38-year-old Earl Morall -- who got an All-Pro nod with 150 passing attempts! -- stepping in and handling the passing game until Griese was healthy enough to return late.

<font size="3">[video=youtube;E1CvpZha_EE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1CvpZha_EE[/video]

It's always a tad bit easier managing an offense when you have a stout running game and the '72 Fins had it in spades. Both Mercury Morris and Larry Csonka ran for more than 1,000 yards and both averaged more than 5 yards per carry.

Miami ranked as the No. 1 offense in the NFL, scoring a league-high 385 points. More impressive was its "No Name Defense," a group of non-stars who dominated throughout the year, giving up just 171 points (12.2 per game) with just a single first-round pick (Bill Stanfill) and just one player who would go on to be a Pro Football Hall of Fame member (Nick Buoniconti).

The point differential didn't carry over to the playoffs -- the Dolphins won their three playoff games by a total of 17 points -- but, breaking news, the NFL playoffs are hard. (People should really remember this more often.)

This included a 14-7 win over the Redskins in Super Bowl VII.

<font size="3">[video=youtube;_SpLUl4Dej4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SpLUl4Dej4[/video]

These Dolphins weren't a fluke either, with Shula's 1973 team going 12-2 and winning the Super Bowl again. No one bothers mentioning that team, though. Perfection has that effect.

[video=youtube;I4k-Q0TZNbc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4k-Q0TZNbc[/video]


<font size="3">[video=youtube;JuWBZ3nrhxU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuWBZ3nrhxU[/video]

The Bad
No Super Bowls with Dan Marino

There's a subset to the idiotic "quarterback wins" debate (whereby we ascribe a win or a loss specifically to a quarterback even though they, you know, play one position): "Super Bowl wins." Yes, rings do matter. The point of professional football is to win the Super Bowl.

But Dan Marino -- one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game -- is left out of the "greatest quarterback to ever play the game" conversation because he has no Super Bowl rings and it's not really fair. I mean, it's fair -- Joe Montana and Tom Brady are the beginning and end of the discussion right now.

It just stinks Marino can't get love for the discussion. This is a guy who led the league in passing and set the all-time passing-yards record (5,084 yards, since broken) in 1984. This was his second season and at a time when only two other quarterbacks in the entire league topped 4,000 yards. By contrast, 12 quarterbacks topped 4,000 yards in 2015. He also threw for 48 touchdowns (then-record that led the league) and helped the Dolphins reach the Super Bowl where they lost to the 49ers.

More at LINK: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/the-dolphins-have-really-screwed-everything-up-since-dominating-in-the-70s/

Your thoughts...

 

[DuderinoN703]

The team's glory years came when I wasn't alive. Maybe one day.

 

[Eesti]

The fact that Marino had only ONE 1k rusher in 17 years is mind blowing. In the post-Shula era, we had....

Ricky Williams (3)
Lamar Smith (1)
Reggie Bush (1)
Ronnie Brown (1)

Even Joe Philbin managed to get a 1k rusher on 216 attempts.

 

[royalshank]

I like the writer's attempt here to defend the team but he doesn't do as much as he could. The fins were a dynasty from '70-'74 (5 seasons) until Warfield, Zonk and Kiick left for the WFL. Going unbeaten was right smack in the middle of the peak of that dynasty - losing the SB the year prior, winning it the year after. How anyone could ever say it was a fluke, or this wasn't one of the best teams of all time is beyond me. They weren't a one season wonder - their greatness had been building since 1970 and would end on a desperation Ken Stabler duck on the last play of the game in the '74 playoffs. With the guys who left for the WFL, Miami just might have won a 3rd SB in a row.

The Marino years - who says Dan isn't in the discussion for best QB ever? These guys that write now but weren't alive when he was carving up the league - or were too young to remember - are the ones who just spat off stats as though that's the way we should be thinking abou what Dan did. Fact is, he was a dominant force from the very first start of his career. There was no rookie learning curve and there never would be. He got on the field and was pretty much instantly the best QB in the game - certainly the most lethal. How many other QBs can you think of who went right on the field to first team All-Pro in their rookie season while leading their team to a division title? I believe Dan's starting record was 9-1 in '83 after the team got off to a 2-3 or 3-3 start under Woodley. He instantly changed the identity of the offense and was a trancendant player. He was better than Brady - by far. Brady plays in an era where it is much easier to pass the football. Brady couldn't have played in the '80's while Dan would shred in the 2000's.

Montana - now that always was the argument when they were playing - and I believe it should still be the argument today - I don't know who was better. I really don't. Montana was awesome. Marino was awesome. They were in their own class and no one - including Elway - was really close. One thing to consider- Marino played w what, 1 or 2 HOFers? Dwight Stephenson - I think that's it. Montana played w a who's who of HOFers on both sides of the ball. Dan in SF likely has 4 rings too.

As for the '72 team - why do writers seldom bring up that Morrall at 120 years old had to lead the team after our HOF QB went down or that we had to play the AFC championship game in Pitt? That team overcame a ton and was still perfect - instead most of the narrative focuses on the silly strength of schedule argument. Every year 50% of teams have an "easy" schedule yet no one has replicated Miami's feat. But it was just so easy wasn't it? I give this writer some credit for trying but his arguments could be stronger.

 

[Eesti]

It also goes to show how hard it is to be a great GM or personnel man. As good as Shula was at coaching, he was not as good as a GM. Most people don't realize that Joe Thomas was the guy responsible for assembling that dynasty team in the 70's.

Joe Thomas drafted QB Bob Griese, RB Larry Csonka, DE Bill Stanfill (two-time All-Pro), S Jake Scott (two-time All Pro), RB Mercury Morris (three Pro Bowls), RB Jim Kiick (two Pro Bowls) and DB Tim Foley (one Pro Bowl). He also signed C Jim Langer and OG Bob Kuechenberg (two-time All Pro) as free agents. 21 of the 22 starters on the 1972 Dolphins were players acquired by Joe Thomas.

 

[darefugee]

If they're going to include Brady in the GOAT conversation, they should first apologize to every single football player from Pop Warner on up who have never been caught cheating.

 

[datruth55]

The fact that Marino had only ONE 1k rusher in 17 years is mind blowing. In the post-Shula era, we had....

Ricky Williams (3)
Lamar Smith (1)
Reggie Bush (1)
Ronnie Brown (1)

Even Joe Philbin managed to get a 1k rusher on 216 attempts.

Part of that has to do with Marino changing running plays to pass plays at the LOS. He wanted the ball in his hands...but we also never had a capable running back in Marino's time as a Dolphins. I'm not sure we had any RBs during Marino's tenure that averaged over 4.0 ypc. Maybe Sammy Smith but then you never knew if Sammy Smith was going to fumble the ball away to the other team or not.

 

[Eesti]

In all fairness, the 1984 team was a committee and rushed for 1918 yards and 18 TD's on 484 attempts but then again, we went to the SB. Shula would never again run the ball that many times.

Shula pretty much abandoned the idea of a running game. It's as if he believed Marino could carry the entire offense. That was probably his downfall. Had he focused more on given Marino a running game (like Elway, Kelly, Montana, Aikman, etc), Marino would likely have a SB. (and getting rid of Olivadotti much earlier)

1985: 444/1729/19
1986: 349/1545/ 9
1987: 408/1662/16
1988: 335 /1205/11
1989: 400/1330/ 10
1990: 420/1535/ 13
1991: 379/ 1352/8
1992: 407/1525/ 9
1993: 419/1459/ 10 (Marino achilles year)
1994: 433/1658/13
1995: 413/1506/ 16

And then you have Jimmy Johnson who absolutely forced a running game (in 1996) with 460 attempts for 1622 yards and 14 td's. Only a 3.5 yards per attempt average.

At the same time Denver ran the ball 525 times for 2362 yards and 20 td's in 1996. The Super Bowl years of 97 & 98, they were 520/2378/18 & 525/2468/26.

I think we need to be able (4.2 ypa) to rush the ball 460 times at a minimum, per season to be successful.

 

[BlueFin]

I lived the whole thing...in simplest terms Don Shula was a great head coach...not a great GM.

The great Dolphin teams were the magnificent work of Joe Thomas acquiring players(and to lesser degree Bobby Beathard in 72' & 73')...and the amazing coaching of Don Shula.

After Thomas left...
Shula pretty much made the decisions and while we had some great players...we never had complete teams again...as we had in the early 70's.

 

[NY8123]

Part of that has to do with Marino changing running plays to pass plays at the LOS. He wanted the ball in his hands...but we also never had a capable running back in Marino's time as a Dolphins. I'm not sure we had any RBs during Marino's tenure that averaged over 4.0 ypc. Maybe Sammy Smith but then you never knew if Sammy Smith was going to fumble the ball away to the other team or not.

I really think Terry Kirby would have become special in Miami if it wasn't for that injury. He had over a 1000 yards rushing and receiving and was on his way to over 1500 yards that season before he got hurt. That really could have been a difference for that Miami offense having that dual backfield threat.

[video=youtube;h4EP01P0eAA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4EP01P0eAA[/video]

Would you look at that man in the pocket throw a football..............still goose bumps.

 

[royalshank]

I really think Terry Kirby would have become special in Miami if it wasn't for that injury. He had over a 1000 yards rushing and receiving and was on his way to over 1500 yards that season before he got hurt. That really could have been a difference for that Miami offense having that dual backfield threat.

[video=youtube;h4EP01P0eAA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4EP01P0eAA[/video]

Would you look at that man in the pocket throw a football..............still goose bumps.

and to think the gruesome injury happened on a 2 pt attempt down 28-6.

 

[royalshank]

In all fairness, the 1984 team was a committee and rushed for 1918 yards and 18 TD's on 484 attempts but then again, we went to the SB. Shula would never again run the ball that many times.

Shula pretty much abandoned the idea of a running game. It's as if he believed Marino could carry the entire offense. That was probably his downfall. Had he focused more on given Marino a running game (like Elway, Kelly, Montana, Aikman, etc), Marino would likely have a SB. (and getting rid of Olivadotti much earlier)

1985: 444/1729/19
1986: 349/1545/ 9
1987: 408/1662/16
1988: 335 /1205/11
1989: 400/1330/ 10
1990: 420/1535/ 13
1991: 379/ 1352/8
1992: 407/1525/ 9
1993: 419/1459/ 10 (Marino achilles year)
1994: 433/1658/13
1995: 413/1506/ 16

And then you have Jimmy Johnson who absolutely forced a running game (in 1996) with 460 attempts for 1622 yards and 14 td's. Only a 3.5 yards per attempt average.

At the same time Denver ran the ball 525 times for 2362 yards and 20 td's in 1996. The Super Bowl years of 97 & 98, they were 520/2378/18 & 525/2468/26.

I think we need to be able (4.2 ypa) to rush the ball 460 times at a minimum, per season to be successful.

really good post. The '84 team was able to run the clock in the 4th quarter to some extent. We'd get a big lead then use three or four backs - woody Bennett, Tom vigorito, tony Nathan, Pete Johnson (if memory serves me) more in the 2nd half of games. Another crazy thought - what if Marino didn't dial it down in blowout games ala Tom Brady in 2007 still throwing bombs to Moss up by 30? He would have had more than 48 TDs - you can be sure of that.

 

[Highzenga]

I like the writer's attempt here to defend the team but he doesn't do as much as he could. The fins were a dynasty from '70-'74 (5 seasons) until Warfield, Zonk and Kiick left for the WFL. Going unbeaten was right smack in the middle of the peak of that dynasty - losing the SB the year prior, winning it the year after. How anyone could ever say it was a fluke, or this wasn't one of the best teams of all time is beyond me. They weren't a one season wonder - their greatness had been building since 1970 and would end on a desperation Ken Stabler duck on the last play of the game in the '74 playoffs. With the guys who left for the WFL, Miami just might have won a 3rd SB in a row.

The Marino years - who says Dan isn't in the discussion for best QB ever? These guys that write now but weren't alive when he was carving up the league - or were too young to remember - are the ones who just spat off stats as though that's the way we should be thinking abou what Dan did. Fact is, he was a dominant force from the very first start of his career. There was no rookie learning curve and there never would be. He got on the field and was pretty much instantly the best QB in the game - certainly the most lethal. How many other QBs can you think of who went right on the field to first team All-Pro in their rookie season while leading their team to a division title? I believe Dan's starting record was 9-1 in '83 after the team got off to a 2-3 or 3-3 start under Woodley. He instantly changed the identity of the offense and was a trancendant player. He was better than Brady - by far. Brady plays in an era where it is much easier to pass the football. Brady couldn't have played in the '80's while Dan would shred in the 2000's.

Montana - now that always was the argument when they were playing - and I believe it should still be the argument today - I don't know who was better. I really don't. Montana was awesome. Marino was awesome. They were in their own class and no one - including Elway - was really close. One thing to consider- Marino played w what, 1 or 2 HOFers? Dwight Stephenson - I think that's it. Montana played w a who's who of HOFers on both sides of the ball. Dan in SF likely has 4 rings too.

As for the '72 team - why do writers seldom bring up that Morrall at 120 years old had to lead the team after our HOF QB went down or that we had to play the AFC championship game in Pitt? That team overcame a ton and was still perfect - instead most of the narrative focuses on the silly strength of schedule argument. Every year 50% of teams have an "easy" schedule yet no one has replicated Miami's feat. But it was just so easy wasn't it? I give this writer some credit for trying but his arguments could be stronger.

Agreed. Marino is the greatest I've ever seen. He was putting up 2016 numbers 30 years ago. He carried the team throughout his career. The 2 years we had an elite defense, we went to the super bowl and the afc title game. The problem was that we drafted numerous busts in the late 80's. He never had any elite players, beyond Stephenson, around him and yet we were always a threat throughout his career. Some qbs have been great and have won multiple Super Bowls, but there has never been a qb as good as Marino.

 

[royalshank]

Agreed. Marino is the greatest I've ever seen. He was putting up 2016 numbers 30 years ago. He carried the team throughout his career. The 2 years we had an elite defense, we went to the super bowl and the afc title game. The problem was that we drafted numerous busts in the late 80's. He never had any elite players, beyond Stephenson, around him and yet we were always a threat throughout his career. Some qbs have been great and have won multiple Super Bowls, but there has never been a qb as good as Marino.

this X 1,000,000. The lack of elite players around him was truly staggering.

 

[Czonka39]

Dan Marino played 17 years with one HOF teammate: center Dwight Stephenson for 5 years