HERALD: Dolphins have been searching for Marino — but found Csonka instead

[Perfect72]

Miami is a special place. It is about sun and fun and good times and vacations and vibrant energy. And the way people down here grew up watching football -- with Dan Marino throwing the ball all over the place -- defined a generation. It also colored the opinion of a generation.

That’s why South Florida has been so anxious about finding the next Marino the past 16 years.

That’s why even as Ryan Tannehill stepped up and played quarterback for the Dolphins better than anyone before him (except Chad Pennington for one year), everyone kept wondering when Tannehill would look more like and play more like Marino.

And when Tannehill didn’t, as he rarely has, fans have convinced themselves the Dolphins’ quarterback search has to continue.

Well, no it doesn’t.

It doesn’t because these Dolphins have done something that no other Miami team or iteration of the organization has done: These Dolphins gave up on trying to replace Dan Marino and instead are replacing Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris and Jim Kiick.

(Those guys, by the way, were so good in their day they won two Super Bowls. Just saying).

The Dolphins running game and indeed the emerging talent in the Dolphins backfield is becoming the core weapon for this team. Behind a good offensive line, Jay Ajyai, rookie Kenyan Drake and Damien Williams are helping to carry the offense now.

On Sunday, for example, Ajayi carried the rushing load again. He gained 111 yards on 24 carries. That happened against the No. 1 ranked run defense in the NFL. Ajayi’s downhill running fits the Csonka mold and role for this group. Indeed, Ajayi has become the face of the offense.

As he goes, the offense goes and the Dolphins are going to feed him no matter what.

“That’s always going to be our goal,” coach Adam Gase said. “He knows exactly how I want to call the game as far as I’m never going to go away from him. His job is to keep hammering it and wait until the fourth quarter. If teams can stay with him, and they can tackle him, then they’re probably going to win the game.”

More at LINK: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/armando-salguero/article113030943.html

Your thoughts?

 

[fisi]

Nice ! but I think they still need another big running back on that roster. just in case anything happens to jay.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

I'll skip over the Czonka comparisons as of now, they're as premature as my claims that Gase was a fraud.

I'm loving the identity that this offense has been playing with the past three. I mean absolutely love it. Nothing passive about the way we are moving the ball on the ground.

 

[daryl]

The Dolphins had physical, running cultures under both Wanny and Sparano. And it led to limited success record-wise. Lamar Smith, Ricky Williams Ronnie Brown, Reggie Bush were all featured prominently while the quarterbacks were game managers at best and liabilities at worst. I like the tough guy image more than Philbin's finesse, but I've seen where this ends up if the passing game can't produce.

 

[Blake the great]

Im all for the ground and pound offense, would love to continue building around that formula.

 

[JJM_7]

Ridiculous player comparisons aside, I think it IS a big deal that this team is starting to find an identity that goes beyond wanting a "flashy" passing offense.

Ever since we drafted Ryan and brought in Philbin to be our HC, we wanted to become the Green Bay Packers of South Florida. We have been obsessed with having this elite passing team, so much so that we've neglected our defense in the last drafts, all to give Ryan passing weapons and fix the OL for him.

With Philbin here we never really committed to the running game, and that hurt Ryan. Not having a running game is probably a QBs worst nightmare. And that was Ryan's reality for a long time: Ineffective running game + suspect pass protection = disaster.

But now this team seems to be getting it right. Having a solid running game and a great defense or a great running game and a solid defense is what wins championships.

It's time for Ross to let go of his dream of having a flashy passing offense with the next Dan Marino. We are running the football effectively and that stadium has been packed with fans LOVING that new identity. And the reason is because we are finally winning games.

Hope Gase continues to build on this new identity. And whether or not Ryan proves himself to be our franchise QB, any QB that plays for this team will benefit from this new identity and physical running style.

 

[67Stang]

This has and will continue to go as the O-Line goes. It has been the biggest issue for years and will continue to be why we win or lose. I hope they can stay healthy!

 

[Tiko377]

I started feeling like Tannehill still hasn't grasped Gase's offense or something has happened due to the injury that is limiting the playbook....probably missing Sims & having Parker hobbled with losing Stills in the 2nd half had something to do it with maybe but i did not like how the pass plays were yesterday a lot of screens & only 1st read type throws not feeling it.

 

[kcbrown]

Sims has not been missed at all IMO....love what Gray and Dominique have been doing...

But yep, I agree, we need to get the passing game to a solid enough level so that at least there is a legitimate threat to pass.

It's the only way to go from a .500 team to a .750 team.

 

[TheWozz]

I started feeling like Tannehill still hasn't grasped Gase's offense or something has happened due to the injury that is limiting the playbook....probably missing Sims & having Parker hobbled with losing Stills in the 2nd half had something to do it with maybe but i did not like how the pass plays were yesterday a lot of screens & only 1st read type throws not feeling it.

I think the return of the quick pass game was because The Jets were getting quick pressure regularly. That and our only real deep threat went out. Throw in our to 2 TEs out, Parker MIA for whatever reason and I think Gase had to change how he called the passing game. The good news is we don't see a front 4 like them again until we play them in December. That and we won!

 

[Mr.Frosty]

We still need to keep searching for Marino if we are interested in creating long term success...Ala the Patriots.

 

[tay0365]

The Dolphins had physical, running cultures under both Wanny and Sparano. And it led to limited success record-wise. Lamar Smith, Ricky Williams Ronnie Brown, Reggie Bush were all featured prominently while the quarterbacks were game managers at best and liabilities at worst. I like the tough guy image more than Philbin's finesse, but I've seen where this ends up if the passing game can't produce.

That is the thing, and eventually we will see it, Tannehill is fully capable of winning games if opponents target the run.

Miami has good talent at receiver, with a capable QB, so if the games starts to get away from them, but the O-line is doing at least OK job pass-blocking, (as he has done already plenty of times), he can have games of 300+ Yards, multi-TD games.

 

[phishxhead]

The Dolphins had physical, running cultures under both Wanny and Sparano. And it led to limited success record-wise. Lamar Smith, Ricky Williams Ronnie Brown, Reggie Bush were all featured prominently while the quarterbacks were game managers at best and liabilities at worst. I like the tough guy image more than Philbin's finesse, but I've seen where this ends up if the passing game can't produce.

Great post! I love the physical running attack but if this team ever wants to amount to anything in the playoffs, we are going to need a QB capable of winning games when the run is shut down. We had a preview of this yesterday before Drakes big return saved the day.

 

[eger]

I have respect for Csonk, but let's be serious here he was slow as mud.

 

[datruth55]

I have respect for Csonk, but let's be serious here he was slow as mud.

But impossible to tackle. He ran over people like a freakin truck...not an exaggeration. People bounced off that man like they were children trying to tackle their father in the backyard playing football.

Oh, and if we found Czonka...can we find Mercury Morris too?