What if JJ had let Marino loose??

[vinivedivichi]

I just got done watching the 1998 Dolphins yearbook and had a few thoughts:

1. I remember at the time there were more than grumblings Marino had lost a bit, but I don't see it. His reads are amazing, and he was burning some tight passes in small holes.

2. That defense was amazing. That was year 1 of our dominance, and they were all over the place.

3. As much as i hate JJ now, the guy sure loved winning. After every win he went absolutely crazy, I almost liked him for a second seeing him in the locker room after the games.

4. OK now for the important point. What if JJ had let Marino do his thing? For the first time since '85 Marino had a top-notch defense, but it was the beginning of the JJ/Marino debacle. When healthy, he was the same old Dan. Why not maximize your chance to score points on offense by opening it up? I know JJ's philosophy was to let the offense support the defense by playing ball control football and not turning it over, but that defense didn't need any help. We beat the Bronco's (SB champs) near the end of that year handily by mixing offense with defense, but JJ didn't open it up too often. I would have loved to see what we could have done with some creative offensive playcalling to go with the awesome defense.

Instead, JJ stuck to running the ball and we eeked out our roughly four yards per carry. Running the football wasn't our strength, yet we ran and ran. It gauranteed us being a good team, but I wonder what could have been.

 

[rafael]

You may not have seen it, but Dan was definately not the same Dan. His velocity was down and his reads were never great to begin with. That resulted in increased ints. I don't think it could ever have worked. Dan just wasn't a playaction passer and that was the basis of JJ's offense. And JJ wasn't a good enough coach to adapt his offense.

 

[Way_Far_Fan_13]

The best thing for Marino would have been a good running back however I do think that if JJ would have let Marino play the Marino always did then I think he would have atleast come close to a Super Bowl....When you start telling someone they can't do something they have been very good at all there life then they start believing it and there confidence goes way down. I went to the Dan Marino Tribute and I could tell he did not want to quit. THANKS JJ!!!

 

[rafael]

Hey buddy how ya doin i live in Reno.

Great! There's a few of us Dolphin fans out here. I don't know any that post here, but I certainly run into a fair share (between niners and raider fans)
:fire:

 

[grendel]

JJ is a dufuss and I am glad he is not invited to Canton. The great thing about Dan is even though hat hair ruined his last chances for the ring, Dan is very generous when talking about his wanna be ex coach. Shula said what Danny did not want to say, " he's only had one REAL coach." I hope hat hair's boat sinks and he becomes shark bait!

 

['Deep]

1998 would have been the one year out of the JJ regime that Marino had his best shot at a ring. Once he suffered that shoulder injury in `99, it was over (save for a few miracles, like the Seattle playoff win). In `98 Marino was healthy, and he played alot like the pre Achilles Marino...and he put up the good numbers to prove it, but it just wasn`t meant to ever happen.

 

[Ohio Fanatic]

Marino was getting old and less effective. He could still win games, but not the same Marino. i.e. see Favre now. some really good games, but mostly average.

 

[Dphins4me]

I just got done watching the 1998 Dolphins yearbook and had a few thoughts:

1. I remember at the time there were more than grumblings Marino had lost a bit, but I don't see it. His reads are amazing, and he was burning some tight passes in small holes.

You were watching highlights. Of course they only showed when Marino was on.

 

[17-0]

JJ was the begining of the end. He wanted to make the Dolphins a running team, but never got us a RB. He just insisted on running the ball no matter what. There where plenty of times Dan should have taken to the air , but was not allowed by JJ. JJ sucks, he also highly recomended Dave Wanny. Looser:fire: