So exactly how awful was David Woodley? | Page 2 | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

So exactly how awful was David Woodley?

I say he waited more than 1 quarter too long....but it is what it is.

Like everybody else back then...I hoped Woodley would get it done and be the QB we needed...it just wasn't in him.

The sad part was I think our 3rd world championship was there fir the taking. Just needed decent QB play. Griese was too old and done....Marino wasn't here yet(shame he never had that defense while in his prime.
 
finforlife said:
I heard Shula say years later that if Fulton Walker hadn't returned the kickoff for the touchdown, putting us ahead at the half, he was going to make the switch to Strock. But with the lead, he didn't think making the change was the right thing to do.

He waited probably one quarter too long to put Strock in.
Click to expand...

It was the Walker kick return and the long pass to Cefalo (70 yrd td) that gave the Dolphins a false sense of reality. Except for the mud bowl against the Jets in the AFC Championship game, Woddley had been very good in the playoffs that year.
 
Woodley came out of nowhere and showed a lot even as a rookie. He showed a lot of potential his first two years. He did some nice things early in Sueprbowl but one key play seemed to ruin his confidence.
A very close play was called a fumble, I thought arm was in motion but maybe its the Miami fan in me.
After that play he lost all confidence and didn't complete another pass.
Our offense couldn't move the ball and our run defense was shredded that game.
He was never the same player after that play
 
kidphoenix96 said:
For those long time fin fans on here who remember the wood-strock days why didn't Don Shula just bench Woodley for Don Strock permanently or look to find a replacement after the 81' season. I am glad he did wait so long because of Dan Marino but don't you would think that Shula would've had it with him after constantly benching him?
Click to expand...

I was a big Woodley fan...he was very similat to Tebow.
 
As I recall....our defense didn't break down or get shredded until it wore down in the 4th quarter due to the ineptness of Woodley and the offense.
 
I am envious of you guys who remembered the ear just before Dan on an in depth level. I remember watching Woodly and Strock but I wasn't old enough to know the ins and outs about them. I barely remember Griese but I do.

The biggest kick in my nuts is the fact that between Danny Boy and now I have to remember that train wreck until I die.
 
NY8123 said:
I am envious of you guys who remembered the ear just before Dan on an in depth level. I remember watching Woodly and Strock but I wasn't old enough to know the ins and outs about them. I barely remember Griese but I do.

The biggest kick in my nuts is the fact that between Danny Boy and now I have to remember that train wreck until I die.
Click to expand...

Well clueless owner and scrap heap hires will get you there although huzienga and his big hires didn't get anything done either although he did put out a winning product the majority of the time unlike our current owner
 
This is a very interesting thread. I was in junior high during that 1982 season, and have several of the games from that season on DVD's, and have seen them recently(last 5 years or so)
The Dolphins finished the 1982 season 7-2, second seed in the AFC(strike shortened season) They were not the top seed in the AFC, the Raiders were, and the Raiders owned the Dolphins back then. The playoffs that year had an 8 team tourney, and the Raiders got upset in round 2 by the Jets(who also upset the 7-2 Bengals in Round 1), setting up the 1982 rain soaked field Championship game. Had the Jets not pulled off that upset, we likely would have gone to L.A. and gotten beat. Woodley was unremarkable but decent during the season, but he got hot late in the season, and in the first two playoff games continued his high level of play. We crushed New England in round one, they weren't very good, and we got San Diego in round 2. Dolphins were looking for payback after losing to them in that 1981 double overtime game, and crushed them too. The Jets game was sloppy, Woodley struggled, but AJ Duhe and the defense had a game for the ages and go the win. But going into the Super Bowl, there was some concern about Woodley.
That Super Bowl 17 is one of my three sickest games ever(2002 week 17 loss in NE blowing a 24-13 lead in 4 mins, 1994 AFC Div round loss to San Diego blowing a 21-0 lead are the other two) because it was winnable. I don't remember the Woodley fumble(I've never rewatched that SuperBowl, or the highlights) but Miami was leading into the fourth quarter, 17-13, and had Washiington pinned deep. Theisman threw a pass that got tipped in the air, and Kim Bokamper had the pick for a TD in his hands, and would have locked up the game, when Theisman came flying in and knocked the ball away, saving the game. The Redskins running game took over, and you all know the rest. Had Bokamper scored, it would have forced the Redskins into passing mode, and they were not a passing team then. One play. That play makes me sick and I will never forgive Theisman. The irony: Shula drafted Theisman to play for Miami, but Theisman did not want to be a backup in Miami.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6PbAF0lYOo

Link to Bokamper play.
 
BlueFin said:
I still wonder what would have happened had we started Strock inSuperbowl 17.....Woodley was absolutely awful in that game and yet we still led going into the 4th quarter...thanks to the number one ranked defense in the NFL...an argument that great defense doesn't always win championships. This game was the final straw for Shula regarding Woodley....physically talented but way too inconsistent...he could look very good and very bad...never knew what you were going to get.
Click to expand...
The most vivid memory I have of that game is John Riggins running all over that #1 defense. Guys just bouncing off of him like he was made of rubber.
 
kidphoenix96 said:
For those long time fin fans on here who remember the wood-strock days why didn't Don Shula just bench Woodley for Don Strock permanently or look to find a replacement after the 81' season. I am glad he did wait so long because of Dan Marino but don't you would think that Shula would've had it with him after constantly benching him?
Click to expand...

Actually not awful at all, but he lacked one thing that you need at the QB position (Especially back then) that assured you championship success at the QB position, and that was he was, he was just an average pocket passer, he also lacked experience. He was smart, he was very athletic, but once Miami needed to get a game winning drive through the air, Miami brought in the relief QB (Don Strock).
 
The David Woodley story is really tragic....he became an alcoholic after all this and ended up with a liver transplant and died young.
 
My biggest memory was when Woodley rolled left, was looking down field, and Mark Gastineau came from the right side and destroyed him. One of the hardest hits I have ever seen. I was surprised he was able to get up.
 
The one thing I remember vividly about David Woodley is that the Dolphins had an option play installed for him. Worked every time I saw it ran except Woodley would always get hammered on the pitch. 1st time I saw the option used in the NFL. Woodley himself was a very athletic QB and fit well into the Dolphins offensive scheme at the time with the smashmouth FB, but when they had to pass here came Strock.
 
I mostly agree, but my recollection is Shula used him in the most conservative offense this side of Kippy Browns. Run Run 3rd & long...pass Repeat
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom