Looking at the Dolphins Wrong

[mikethewreck]

I think I have been looking at the 2009 Miami Dolphins wrong. I have looked at them through the lenses of the Cowboys (Jones influence too strong) and current trends, and NOT through Bill Parcells lenses. What worked for him when he won his two rings? Tuna won the '90 and '86 SBs. Here's an excerpt from the Super Bowl XXV (1990 Giants) Wikipedia article:

The 1990 New York Giants were built to head coach Bill Parcells' specifications of "power football": a powerful defense and an offense that sustained extremely long drives. The Giants' defense ranked second in the league in fewest total yards allowed (4,392) and first in fewest points allowed, and boasted three Pro Bowl selections: defensive tackle Erik Howard, and linebackers Pepper Johnson and Lawrence Taylor. The secondary was led by defensive back Everson Walls, an offseason acquisition from the Dallas Cowboys, who recorded 6 interceptions. The Giants' offense was unspectacular, ranking just 17th in the league in yards gained and 13th in points scored. But they wore down opposing teams' defenses with extremely long drives, thus keeping their opponents' offense on the sidelines and preventing them from scoring. More importantly, the Giants set an NFL record by losing only 14 turnovers in a 16-game regular season. A big reason for the team's offensive success was the blocking of linemen Bart Oates and William Roberts, the only Pro Bowlers on the offense. Kick returner Dave Meggett led the NFL in punt return yards (467), while also gaining 492 yards on kickoff returns, rushing for 164 yards, and catching 39 passes for 410 yards.

Here's an excerpt from the Super Bowl XXI (1986 Giants) Wikipedia article:

Simms' main target was tight end Mark Bavaro, who caught 66 passes for 1,001 yards and 4 touchdowns. Although the Giants did not have one great wide receiver, they did have several good ones. Receivers Stacy Robinson, Bobby L. Johnson, and Phil McConkey combined for 76 receptions and 1,307 yards.

Doesn't this sound like the 2009 Miami Dolphins to you? Doesn't Pennington remind you a bit of Phil Simms (tough, smart, low turnover)? During the 1990 Super Bowl, Jeff Hostetler completed 20 of 32 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 10 yards. That is a typical Pennington day! They're even still picking up players from the Cowboys! Multiple running backs (Anderson, Hampton, Meggett [Cobbs]), non-spectacular but smart QBs (Simms, Hostatler), win low scoring games? Use the tight end (3 in the 1990 Super Bowl including my fav Bavaro). No name WRs (except for Ingram). We complain about the lack of a vertical game, maybe we're not supposed to have a large one! Maybe Bill P wants to win with long ball control drives that wear out the opponent's D.

Maybe I'm slow. Okay, yes, I'm definitely slow. I never saw the imprint so clearly before. All the Wildcat stuff confused me, but it's still fundamentally "power football". And I maintain the G-men (under Coughlin who was on Parcells' freaking staff in 1990) rode this template to victory over the favorite Pats (coached by 1990 G-men DC Belichick) a little over a year ago...and Pittsburgh the year before that.

This is the Tuna's team. Maybe (until his body gives out) Pennington is PRECISELY the QB Bill wants. Maybe Bill doesn't want a high energy WR like Boldin that he has to sell the farm for. He's building the squad he wants, not the one we want. That's why they pay him the big bucks.

 

[72champagne]

ironically, the same thing was revealed to me only a few minutes ago. Behold, i saw Pat White & he told me what to write.... but you beat me to it. dang, i never git the glory.

 

[HybridPHIN 23]

people were calling us Miami cowboys last year after raiding that team..... but it was clear as day this team was going to resemble the old G-men.

 

[cafinfan408]

the nfl is a little different. But the plan seems to be nice so far.

 

[The Ghost]

Those Giants teams didn't have offensive fire power of Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, Ted Ginn Jr and Pat White.

Philosphies are similar but overall landscape is completely different.

We built our offense before our defense. Our current defense looks nothing like those LB lead Giants teams. We haven't even drafted our pass rusher yet so its hard to make comparison's between the two teams. The one dimensional Porter is also no comparison to LT.

Only real similarities are Pennington/Simms and Fasano/Bavaro.

Our OL could be better than any Parcells had in NY or possibly any we've seen in Miami the last 20 years.

 

[mikethewreck]

My point was a lot of the FO decisions that I heard hotly debated in these threads (Boldin, etc.) make more sense through Tuna-colored lenses. I do agree as a "D" we have a ways to go. I would say the receiving corps with a bunch of no-names is a similarity. It seems like Bill P is constantly looking for L.T. Maybe J.T. can be his L.T. this year...

 

[DolfanDuBbZ~]

My point was a lot of the FO decisions that I heard hotly debated in these threads (Boldin, etc.) make more sense through Tuna-colored lenses. I do agree as a "D" we have a ways to go. I would say the receiving corps with a bunch of no-names is a similarity. It seems like Bill P is constantly looking for L.T. Maybe J.T. can be his L.T. this year...

LT despite his off the field issues was as good as they come. To expect JT to be anything close to LT, is reaching abit. I still believe if you give JT the scheme to thrive in, he will still put up some numbers.
But those teams were tough period. Megget and Ingram were no push overs on offense and throw in Bavaro. That offense was steady and punishing. MIA isn't there yet. Mia still needs some health and consistency on offense to be there. And while Megget is a different type of back, Ingram was better than any to date MIA has had...so far.

And one thing, and this will tick off some. But Penny no matter what ya'll think doesn't have the arm that either Simms or Hoss had. Both had decent to good arms and they were able to utilize all parts of the field.

Linebackers

• Carl Banks
• Harry Carson
• Andy Headen
• Byron Hunt
• Pepper Johnson
• Bobbie Jones
• Gary Reasons
• Lawrence Taylor

Look at those LB's and look at what MIA has. Big difference. So MIA still has a ways to go in that dept.

 

[mikethewreck]

And one thing, and this will tick off some. But Penny no matter what ya'll think doesn't have the arm that either Simms or Hoss had. Both had decent to good arms and they were able to utilize all parts of the field.

No arguments or tickedness from me. The similarity is they were (are) all smart, accurate quarterbacks who moved the chains and made few turnovers. Always liked Simms and Hoss.

I was not a big G-men fan (during that period worked a lot, didn't catch much football) so I had forgotten what a real Parcells team looked like. Some younger guys might have never seen those men at work.

Curious where Tuna found his O-line. If most of his players came from the bottom draft rounds or UDFAs, maybe that explains the current Dolphins methodology of trawling for offensive line talent. I do think Jake Long is his J Elliott.

I don't know there will EVER be another L.T. Dude was amazing.

 

[mikethewreck]

Curious where Tuna found his O-line. If most of his players came from the bottom draft rounds or UDFAs, maybe that explains the current Dolphins methodology of trawling for offensive line talent. I do think Jake Long is his J Elliott.

Here's what I could find about the offensive linemen for the 1990 and 1986 Giants:
1990:
Jumbo Elliot (2nd round, 36th pick)
Eric Moore (1st round, 10th pick)
Doug Riesenberg (6th round, 168th pick)
Bob Kratch (3rd round, 64th pick)
Tom Rehder (3rd round, 69th pick, acquired from NE)
William Roberts (1st round, 27th pick)
Brian Williams (1st round, 18th pick)
Bart Oates (USFL)
1986:
Billy Ard (8th round, 221st pick)
Brad Benson (8th round, 219th pick, originally NE)
Chris Godfrey (USFL)
Damian Johnson (could not find)
Brian Johnston (3rd round, 73rd pick)
Karl Nelson (3rd round, 70th pick)

Lots of 1st rounders in 1990 (3!), a second, two thirds, USFL and a sixth.
1986 had more higher round picks (two 8ths, two 3rds, USFL, and a ?).

Hard to see a pattern but definitely the '86 team had some higher round picks.

 

[GoonBoss]

No arguments or tickedness from me. The similarity is they were (are) all smart, accurate quarterbacks who moved the chains and made few turnovers. Always liked Simms and Hoss.

I was not a big G-men fan (during that period worked a lot, didn't catch much football) so I had forgotten what a real Parcells team looked like. Some younger guys might have never seen those men at work.

Curious where Tuna found his O-line. If most of his players came from the bottom draft rounds or UDFAs, maybe that explains the current Dolphins methodology of trawling for offensive line talent. I do think Jake Long is his J Elliott.

I don't know there will EVER be another L.T. Dude was amazing.

I was harping and harping on this. He is absolutely the incarnation of Elliot, only, more talented. Elliot was just good enough for the job pass blocking but, a mauling run blocker. Parcells wants run blocker. Offensive linemen that are used to punching forward into space.

I'm glad Jake was reasonable in his terms, and I'm glad Miami sucked up the "Cornerstone of our Defense" for years to come.

 

[dlockz]

I was harping and harping on this. He is absolutely the incarnation of Elliot, only, more talented. Elliot was just good enough for the job pass blocking but, a mauling run blocker. Parcells wants run blocker. Offensive linemen that are used to punching forward into space.

I'm glad Jake was reasonable in his terms, and I'm glad Miami sucked up the "Cornerstone of our Defense" for years to come.

Reasonable in terms. Didnt he sign the largest rookie contract ever for an OL. we got far from a bargain, basically the same as any offensive lineman we would have drafted 10 mill a year seems like he asked for as much as he could get.

 

[DolfanDuBbZ~]

No arguments or tickedness from me. The similarity is they were (are) all smart, accurate quarterbacks who moved the chains and made few turnovers. Always liked Simms and Hoss.

I was not a big G-men fan (during that period worked a lot, didn't catch much football) so I had forgotten what a real Parcells team looked like. Some younger guys might have never seen those men at work.

Curious where Tuna found his O-line. If most of his players came from the bottom draft rounds or UDFAs, maybe that explains the current Dolphins methodology of trawling for offensive line talent. I do think Jake Long is his J Elliott.

I don't know there will EVER be another L.T. Dude was amazing.

The only comparison imo would be Derrick Thomas. He could turn the tide of a game instantly.