By: Randy Campbell (OLD DOLFAN)
GAME 3: NEW ENGLAND @ MIAMI. SEPT. 30, 1973
The 1973 Miami Dolphins football season started with more of a whimper than a bang. The offense, ranked #1 in the NFL in 1972, was struggling. They accounted for only six points during the first three quarters of the opening game victory over San Francisco (a game Miami eventually won 21-13 in the deadly heat). Things got worse for Miami’s offense in the second game. Oakland’s outstanding defense held Miami scoreless until Griese hit Jim Mandich with a touchdown pass with only 1:08 left to play in a 12-7 Raiders’ victory. The offense appeared virtually dead in the water.
But head coach Don Shula did not panic. He cast aside calls to start 39 year old Earl Morrall at quarterback. He rejected those who wanted to install more trick plays into the play book. Shula believed that more hard work and better preparation would turn things around. Getting Paul Warfield back on the field was also a big key to improving the offense. And playing the struggling 0-2 New England Patriots wouldn’t hurt, either.
Shula and his staff knew that the Patriots had given up an astounding 360 yards rushing to O.J. Simpson and the Buffalo Bills on opening day. And they also knew that New England was vulnerable to power sweeps and runs around the periphery.
Shula’s game plan called for Csonka to bulldoze between the tackles to soften up the middle of the Pats’ defense. When New England made adjustments to stop Csonka, Griese was instructed to call Mercury Morris’ number for a series of power sweeps and end runs. All-pro tackle Larry Little was licking his chops at the prospect of crushing New England’s undersized cornerbacks and safeties while Morris danced downfield. And returning all-pro wideout Paul Warfield was ready to deliver several of his devastating crack back blocks at the knees of unwary New England linebackers.
On the day of the game, Miami’s defensive captain, Nick Buoniconti, told Mercury Morris that New England was going to try to knock Morris out of the game with late hits, cheap shots and dirty play. Buoniconti, who had been acquired from New England in 1969, told Morris he still had several friends on the Patriots team. And they allegedly said that Morris was #1 on their “hit list.”
Morris’ response? That’s “the kind of thing I respond to. I won’t retreat from anything like that. What Nick said psyched me up!” Was this a manufactured ploy used by Buoniconti to further motivate Morris? Or, was he reporting real comments from Patriot players? It really didn’t matter. As kickoff approached, Mercury Morris was determined to put on the performance of his lifetime.
Those seated around me expressed varying opinions. Some worried that the Dolphins just weren’t the same team they were in ’72. Some wondered if Warfield was too banged-up to be a factor. “What’s wrong with Griese” asked another fan.
I was not worried at all. “We kicked the livin’ crap out of these guys TWICE last year” I told my brother-in-law Jim. Indeed, the 52-0 and 37-21 Miami beatings COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE had the starters remained in for all of both games. And new head coach Chuck Fairbamks was still learning about life in the NFL after his team started 0-2. I firmly believed this agitated Miami team would crush New England again at the historic Orange Bowl.
Miami home wins over the Patriots were becoming a common occurrence. From 1970 to 1986 the Miami Dolphins would win 17 consecutive games over New England at the asylum on Biscayne Bay. New England’s hopes rode on the strong right arm of third year quarterback Jim Plunkett. The wide receiver corps was led by ex-Brown Reggie Rucker, Randy Vataha and the ill-fated Darryle Stingley. Tight end Bob Windsor was a very reliable receiver. And Sam “The Bam” Cunningham put some punch into the Patriots’ running game, along with veteran John Tarver. The offensive line was led by future Hall of Famer John Hannah, perhaps the best guard of his era.
On defense, the Patriots had DE’s Julius Adams, Ray “Sugar Bear” Hamilton, and not much else. I was confident Miami would run up a lot of points on this defense Sunday afternoon.
However it was the Patriots who started strongly on offense. But cornerback Curtis Johnson recovered a fumble in the end zone to stop New England’s first drive. Their second drive likewise ended in frustration when Miami’s Lloyd Mumphord blocked a Bill Bell FG attempt.
Miami’s offense rolled into high gear in the second quarter. A 40 yard Yepremian FG was followed by a 36 yard 3-pointer. Then, the Mercury Morris show began in earnest. A long 73 yard drive ended when Morris scooted wide, cut back behind a Warfield block, and scored from 24 yards away. Garo’s conversion made it 13-0.
The Pats’ next drive produced a three-and-out. On the very next play from scrimmage, Morris exploded around end and broke free for a 70 yard touchdown sprint as gasping Patriot defenders looked on in amazement! THIS was what the capacity crowd at the Orange Bowl came to see, a Dolphins offensive explosion! The “ROAR” was back! Miami led 20-0.
New England narrowed the gap to 23-16 in the third quarter, thanks to two touchdown runs by John Tarver. Once, again, Morris responded. His 35 yard touchdown jaunt early in the fourth quarter gave Miami a comfortable 30-16 lead. A 17 yard TD pass, Griese to Warfield, was followed by a Nick Buoniconti 13 yard return of a fumble for yet ANOTHER touchdown! When the smoke cleared, the Miami Dolphins had found their offense. AND they had rediscovered their championship swagger. They had just crushed New England once again, this time by a 44-23 margin.
On the day hard-nosed Larry Csonka rumbled 80 yards on 18 carries. Jim Kiick had 4 carries for 15 yards plus a couple of key pass receptions. But this day belonged to Mercury Morris. He had 15 carries for a whopping 197 yards, breaking the Dolphins’ single game record set by Abner Haynes in 1967. And his 70 yard touchdown romp was the longest in Miami’s brief 8 year history.
When asked if his pre-game chat with Morris had anything to do with Miami’s victory, Nick Buoniconti chuckled and said “We won the game, didn’t we?” —Next up, a key AFC East showdown in the historic Orange Bowl against the hated New York Jets.
The 1973 Miami Dolphins were now 2-1.
Team Stats
| NWE | MIA | |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 21 | 16 |
| Rush-yards-TDs | 39-143-2 | 38-301-3 |
| Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT | 16-30-230-1-1 | 8-12-74-1-0 |
| Sacked-yards | 2-17 | 3-21 |
| Net pass yards | 213 | 53 |
| Total yards | 356 | 354 |
| Fumbles-lost | 4-2 | 1-1 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Penalties-yards | 4-36 | 5-41 |
Passing, Rushing, & Receiving
| Passing | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tm | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int | Lng | Att | Yds | TD | Lng | Rec | Yds | TD | Lng | |
| Jim Plunkett | NWE | 16 | 30 | 230 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| John Tarver | NWE | 17 | 66 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Reggie Rucker | NWE | 3 | 71 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Josh Ashton | NWE | 13 | 65 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Darryl Stingley | NWE | 3 | 53 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Randy Vataha | NWE | 2 | 46 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Bob Adams | NWE | 3 | 18 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Mack Herron | NWE | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Sam Cunningham | NWE | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Bob Windsor | NWE | 1 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Passing | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||||||
| Tm | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int | Lng | Att | Yds | TD | Lng | Rec | Yds | TD | Lng | |
| Mercury Morris | MIA | 15 | 197 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Larry Csonka | MIA | 18 | 80 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Bob Griese | MIA | 8 | 12 | 74 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Paul Warfield | MIA | 2 | 26 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Jim Kiick | MIA | 4 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Marv Fleming | MIA | 2 | 19 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Jim Mandich | MIA | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Howard Twilley | MIA | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
Defense & Returns
| Def Interceptions | Fumbles | Kick Returns | Punt Returns | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tm | Sk | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | FR | Yds | TD | Rt | Yds | Y/Rt | TD | Lng | Ret | Yds | Y/R | TD | Lng | |
| Mack Herron | NWE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 60 | 20.0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Reggie Rucker | NWE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 42.0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Darryl Stingley | NWE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 16.0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Def Interceptions | Fumbles | Kick Returns | Punt Returns | ||||||||||||||||
| Tm | Sk | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | FR | Yds | TD | Rt | Yds | Y/Rt | TD | Lng | Ret | Yds | Y/R | TD | Lng | |
| Dick Anderson | MIA | 1 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Charlie Leigh | MIA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Mercury Morris | MIA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 48 | 24.0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
Kicking & Punting
| PAT | FG | Punting | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tm | XPM | XPA | FGM | FGA | Pnt | Yds | Y/P | Lng | |
| Bruce Barnes | NWE | 4 | 144 | 36.0 | 0 | ||||
| Bill Bell | NWE | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| PAT | FG | Punting | |||||||
| Tm | XPM | XPA | FGM | FGA | Pnt | Yds | Y/P | Lng | |
| Larry Seiple | MIA | 3 | 126 | 42.0 | 0 | ||||
| Garo Yepremian | MIA | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Finsmob Unleashed 
Nice work OD. We can only hope to have this success again someday.
Thank you, Brian. If the Dolphins can, somehow, plug the holes in the offensive line, this year might be the year we’ve been waiting 15 seasons for. THIS might be the year we FINALLY end the 15 year drought and WIN A PLAYOFF GAME!! – – Hope to talk to you guys after work.
———–
THANKS, as always, to Herd for the extra work she put in on this article. She’s the one who dug up the images of the old-style Patriot and the old-style Dolphin logo at the top of this story. –And thanks to Miss Gigi for all her help, too, when this series first ran on the other site.
RIP DVP. Eight Is Too Many!
Nice job OD. I love the inclusion of the box score as I am bit of stats geek for those type of things.
I find these stat lines crazy. Rush for 300 and pass for 74 and score 44 points. LOL
It’s the opposite of what happens now with our team in some games.
When is the last time we scored 40+ points? I’d like to see that again.
Excellence OD! Great read today. Sad to see Darryl Stingley’s name in the boxscore. Such an unfortunate and unnecessary injury, but that’s sports. Some guys just play all out all the time, and I can understand that. Still, it’s a shame an injury like that had to occur in a meaningless preseason game.
That was a preseason game?
Almost positive
Yes, confirmed.
Injury
In a preseason game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum on August 12, 1978, Stingley was hit by Raiders defensive back Jack Tatum. As Stingley and Tatum collided, Stingley lowered his helmet, which made contact with Tatum’s shoulder pad.[4] The hit compressed Stingley’s spinal cord, breaking his fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae. He eventually regained limited movement in his right arm, but spent the rest of his life as a quadriplegic.[5] The injury came just after Stingley had finished negotiating a contract extension that would have made him one of the highest paid receivers in the NFL. The new contract was to be announced when the Patriots returned from the West Coast. Instead, it was never signed.[6]
Good job once again, OD.
Tim
Not so much scoring 40 points, just the lopsided passing/rushing ratio. All those games we just gave up on the run. I think with Miller and Ajayi, those days are over!
I hope so. I’d rather see 250/150 than Tanny throwing for 350.
I think at one time, when it seemed like the NFL was going in that direction, I thought it would be OK. Despite all the changes, you have to be able to run the ball well to be a playoff team. Can’t be one dimensional.
The game was a different game back than. You like at the stats from games and seasons at that time and it was heavily dominated by running. It was not uncommon for a QB to average about 150 yards passing a game in that area and be considered elite. The rule changes to expand the passing game in 1977. By 1978 Dan Fouts and people like him started to obliterate the previous passing records and 3k yards started to become the norm.
Very true.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/dale-earnhardt–junior-both-criticized-confederate-flag-165220032.html
Based on some stuff I’ve read and heard in interviews, I believe there is a big focus on running the ball better and more often by the coaching staff.
2014 Ajayi
1,823 rushing yards on 347 Att @ 5.6 Yd Avg & 28 TD’s
535 receiving yards on 50 Rec @ 10.7 YPC & 4 TD’s
2014 NCAA Rank:
1st in Rush Attempts
1st in Rush TD’s
1st in Total TD’s
1st in Total Points = 192
1st in Total plays from scrimmage = 397
2nd in Yards from scrimmage = 2358
Can you say WORKHORSE!
Yeah but for how long? I wish the guy the best obviously.
Well, his knee obviously wasn’t an issue in all of last season touching the ball 397x on a college schedule. WOW
…and he seems fine now, there were no scopes or clean up procedures following that grueling amount of carries last season. Sooo, the future looks bright right now.
I agree, im nervous for him and find it callous to say “well we got our money’s worth” if he goes down in a couple years.I understand its his decision, and the pick was at great value but i worry for his longevity.
In the NFL ya got to worry about any players longevity, especially RB’s.
I know but its kinda like the feeling you get handling something valuable you know its been broke before and had a note below it saying EXTREMELY fragile vs an identical object that doesn’t have those warnings or previous breaks. You are gonna be nervous with it in your possession.
True, but hey, we got him in the 5th when no one else had jumped yet. Imagine drafting Gurley that early in the 1st and he doesn’t last long….he’s a bit fragile at this point too.
D, it’s up to Ajayi and how much he can deal with the discomfort once the knee starts to wear down more. Curtis Martin played with the same bone on bone issue late in his career until he couldn’t do it anymore.
Miller is in a contract year….
Depending on how Ajayi plays & holds up, as well as Williams….then you have to question if we let Miller test FA? Even if he has a big year himself.
Remember we’ll be Cap tight with guys like Vernon to pay, plus the big contracts of Suh, Tanny, Wake, Grimes.
Albert and Pouncey as well.
Yup, and I see us definitely drafting a LT early next season, now that we got most of the skill positions set.
If we don’t at least show signs of playing Turner at LT some in TC, then yeah i believe that’s rue, they will be getting a LT next year. There is a really good one at Ole Miss i have been keeping a eye out for.
I could see Miller, Vernon, and at least one of Wake/Grime being gone next year. RB are replaceable these days, especially in a system like ours. Id prefer the continuity at the position but you can bet they aren’t going to load up a big contract there. Vernon is in a similar position, they will opt for a replacement over paying him big to stay. Wake/Grimes will be about if eaither of them show signs of slipping, and especially Grimes who has some young pups nipping at his heels is suspect for being a cap causality.
Agreed especially at RB. Some teams are willing to pay RBs but I don’t get the feeling that our brass is one of them.
If we lose both Wake and Vernon that is a tough blow
This is why Dion Jordan being a bust is such an ugly blow
If we have losing season a lot bigger changes are in store. All these guys might be gone depending on what system the new regime runs
D, I can see Miller not getting a top offer to stay, so it’ll be up to him to take a hometown discount to stay a Phin. RB’s are more readily replaceable in today’s NFL.
DE’s that can sack the QB are not, so I disagree on letting Vernon walk unless he can’t improve upon last season, especially with Suh, Mitchell, Mosley, Jordan crushing the interior.
Grimes & Wake will likely take pay cuts to remain due to their age. They know it, and they’ll likely do it if we are showing something special and getting into the post season. 🙂
^Jordan Philips^
Piggy, Wake is signed through 2016. That’s why we need a guy like Fede to emerge. Also I feel McCain can be what Jordan was suppose to be, at least I’m hoping he can. 🙂
We need another DE to make some noise.
Fede needs to have a breakout year to minimize the Dion Jordan sting.
Shelby playing up and beyond his tender would be nice too, but he’s undersized to me.
I look for another young buck to flash in camp like Ray Drew or Kendall Montgomery, that would be nice!
Shelby is a lunch pail guy who’s not overly skilled but works hard and plays hard. I think he’ll always be a role player. He is bigger than both Wake and Vernon though.
Wake is 6’3, Shelby is shorter, I like my DE’s to be at least 6’3+ with long arms.
from PFT:
Veteran wide receiver Greg Jennings had plenty of suitors this offseason, visiting the Saints, Panthers and Jaguars before settling on a deal with the Dolphins.
And Jennings credited new Dolphins exec Mike Tannenbaum with the call that brought him there.
Via Ben Goessling of ESPN.com, Jennings expressed some initial concerns about Miami, which Tannenbaum was able to smooth over.
“There were just a few things I had that I wanted to share with him personally, because everybody has a pitch. Everybody has an angle,” Jennings said. “Shoot straight, because I’m going to shoot straight. Every visit, I shared my heart. This is what I’m looking for: I’m looking to be a leader in the locker room. I’m looking to be respected as a man of God, as a football player. Those are the things that are really important to me — and moreso, who I am, not what I can provide. Those were some of the things we cleared up. That’s really Mike and I.”
The 31-year-old wideout signed a two-year, $8 million deal, but where he fits remains to be seen. The Dolphins remade their receiving corps this offseason, bringing in Kenny Stills and first-rounder DeVante Parker to go along with Jarvis Landry and now Jennings.
Sounds like Jennings was looking to embrace the role as mentor as much as WR. And that’s just what we needed with this young crew.
I saw an extended version of this online the other day, pretty good read, he talked about how he knew during the season last year it was done for him in Minnesota, he talks about some of the decisions he made and why, pretty good behind the scenes look at how things like being cut, and picking new teams etc affect them on personal levels.
Awesome as always OD. 310 rushing yards………wonder when the last time we got that many in a game. Might have been that one.
Cliff notes version of the Jennings piece …
Greg Jennings: “I never would have signed with Miami if that douche bag Ireland was still there”
GD, yes Wake is an inch taller but Shelby weighs in the 280s.
Yup, and there is always exceptions.
LOL @ Bat
Ian Wharton @NFLFilmStudy · 27m27 minutes ago
Miami overhauled their WR group because the group was bad and expensive. That’s all. Any other storyline is bias and inaccurate
That’s pretty much what’s been said all along. Wallace and his speaker Gibson pretty much showed us at the end of the season last year.
Doesn’t he mean “biased”? And no that is not all there was to it. As Tim says, there was dissension by at least two of them against the good of the team. DOCUMENTED.
Miami Dolphins Cheer @MDCheer · 2h2 hours ago
Pic of the Day: Welcome back Estefania to the squad for another year!
I dunno … one of her cheeks is a little too oblique for my tastes, noumsayin’? She seems like she’d be ok to talk to though, so … she can stay!
Apparently Brady did more of the same Yesterday
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/24/leagues-reaction-to-tom-brady-testimony-not-as-glowing/
In order to buy what Brady is selling, you have to believe that these two low level schmucks took it upon themselves to tamper with the footballs and Brady and/or Belicheat had no idea what was going on. Believing this makes you either a complete moron, a delusional Cheatriot fan or an employee of the NFL network or ESPN.
Bat
Heath Miller beleives it….lol
I see him as all 3 😉
Yep Bat — Brady’s defense is essentially, “yeah the guy was killed in our cell overnight, but there where other guys in it too……can’t prove I did it.”
Piggy …LOL ..Heath Miller is blinded by a deep and passionate love … …
Man — and this is from a Boston Sportswriter not even some comment board Pats fan, pointing out yet another way in which they are trying to “wicked screw our Tommy Boy.”
—————————-
Brady’s appeal was filed May 14.
Huh.
On that date, the NHL and NBA playoffs were still in full swing. Memorial Day weekend would have been within 10 days of Brady’s initial request for a meeting, but May 26, the Tuesday, following, also included a battle between the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning, not to mention the Cleveland Cavaliers’ domination of the Atlanta Hawks.
What? You expect the NFL — the illustrious National Football League — to deal with its internal matters when there is competition for media coverage?
Whatever happens with deflategate we all know they knew and nothing is done with that team that Belichick doesn’t know about.
But often tough to prove the Mob Boss gave the order. Guessing the Evil genius knows how to not leave a text message trail too.
Tim,
The weird thing about Miami’s run game is that it was quite efficient. Wasn’t used right it seemed in certain situations but that’s another debate.
According to footballoutsiders.com, Miami’s run game was 2nd most efficient in the NFL last season but breaking down the data I guess and looking at footballoutsiders data on offensive line efficiency, you see where some of the problems remain.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol
Here you see Miami rank #1 in 2nd level yards (runs between 5-10 yards from LOS); #9 in Open Field yards (runs past 10 yards from LOS); 12 in Stuffed Rank (RB tackled behind LOS); and 17th in Power Run (1st down/TD conversions on 3rd/4th down runs with 2 yards or less to go to goal/1st down; includes 1st/2nd down for goalline situations). Miami RB (includes QB runs) had the 3rd best adjusted yards per carry in the NFL according to football outsiders analyses (data adjusted for down, distance, game situation, opponent, etc).
You look further down and look at the directional running success and Miami ranks 32 (run yards) on runs over the left end (outside of LT); 10th on runs over the LT position; 2 on runs between the guards; 10 on runs over the RT position; 8th on runs over the right end (outside of RT).
I guess its safe to say that the TE problem is visible here in the data over the left side of the line LOL. Hopefully the Fins can find a balance and get someone opposite Sims who can seal runs better on that side. I guess you can also throw in the WR blocking situation there as well.
The Fins averaged 2 yards better per carry over the middle to right side of the line than outside of the LT.
Speaking of overall offense, here’s some data on seconds per play under different scenarios
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/pacestats
Joe Philbin I’m sure wants Miami to improve in this area.
Good stuff, I always felt we abandoned the run too often. I hope we utilize it more and execute it even better.
He likes the cereal Bat
Piggy … LOL .. I love that meme .. Evans looks like the severely retarded cousin who shows up at family gatherings and frightens the smaller children …
LOL
This is how I picture Heath Evans
Omar Kelly ✔ @OmarKelly
“Brice McCain is a crazy athlete. Super fast. He [mentors] the younger guys,” Chris McCain said of the Dolphins nickel cornerback.
Guess the McCains stick together.
Bpbby McCain has similar qualities as Grimes as well. Maybe the McCain’s will all make an impact for us.
I think we brought all these CBs in, because we plan on using a lot of them when playing the cheats. Just play those assholes man to man when they go 4/5 wide, and when they try the rub BS grab them, let the officials have to make the call, but don’t give them 20+ yards on those rubs.
In the NBA cheats for the home team they usually allow them to play a more physical brand of D, and it’s a huge advantage. The cheats are allowed to do this home and away.
2015 NFL Travel Miles (Road games where team travels over 2,000 miles)
1. 49ers: 27,998 (4)
2. Dolphins: 26,452 (2 — including London) (17,568 miles for 8 road games)
3. Raiders: 26,336 (3)
4. Seahawks: 25,086 (1)
5. Chargers: 24,274 (2)
6. Cardinals: 23,652 (1)
7. Chiefs: 21,640 (1 — including London) (12,920 miles for 8 road games)
8. Ravens: 20,550 (3)
9. Lions: 20,272 (1– Includes away game in London)
10. Jets: 19,866 (2 — Includes away game in London)
——————-
Obviously London is going to pop you up the list.
THANKS TO ALL for the kind comments on this episode of “FOLLOWING PERFECTION.” –One of my goals with these two series was to stimulate discussion about exactly how Shula’s team in the early ’70’s achieved an unprecedented 32-2 record over a two-year run to glory. The key word was “run.” The Dolphins record shattering running game (most yards rushing in a single season by ANY NFL team in history in 1972) made it possible for Miami to dominate the time of possession and thereby give their defense a rest. –If you control the clock for, say 38-40 minutes of a 60-minute game, you SHOULD have a significant advantage. THEY DID!! NOT to say Griese and Morrall could NOT pass. –THEY COULD AND THEY DID!! But Shula’s boys just dominated the time of possession in most of the games in 1972 and 1973. And everybody from Nick Buoniconti to Manny Fernandez certainly appreciated it. It kept the defense fresher in crunch time!!
If brady has nothing to hide why can’t he just answer the questions, instead he has to Lawyer it and bring up some other angle to try to get himself out. I did not have inflating relations with that football. We know you didn’t the ball boys did.
Heard Brady’s lawyer offered up a pic of the ball boy to blame.
Brady – yes you’ve made great plays and you have won a lot of games.
BUT you were throwing a ball that was easier to catch and handing off a ball that was easier for backs to hold on to.
These are facts.
You’re a punk – face it.
Great stuff OD,
The 74′ Dolphins were a formidable unit as well until the dreaded “Sea of Hands” play happened. The Raiders were a tough out for us but we had the lead and 3 players around the ball and they made the play – DEVASTATING!
Had Csonka, Kiick and Warfield not left for the WFL we may not have even heard of the Steelers dominance in the late seventies. And that sucks.
Point to our Mike Webster…
Point to our Lyle Alzado…
The time was – Man Up and Play.
Y’all don’t even need to respond – Son is on point right now.
Suck it!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday’s Forecast – Sonny with lollipops!
Suck it!!!!!
Alright one more beer
Joe Greene himself served as a coach under Don Shula.
Suck It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uggg I just watched the sea of hands play its traumatizing, send help son is down
Wait Cam Wake is on NFLN whooping the Chargers ass. Remember that game, that’s when we were firing on all cylinders, no one could have beat us for a short period last season, the key is to find that zone again and stay there.
Suh is here everything is different now.
1975 in blowout 43-0 over stej here is Joe Namath’s stat line:
Joe Namath NYJ 8comp 24att 96yds 0 TDS 6ints 21long
I don’t remember that game, and I saw them all when I was a kid.
Maybe you were sent to Grandma’s so as not to see the carnage this day
I really hope the FO knows what they’re doing with the OG situation. I’m still in the “go get Mathis camp.”
http://www.thephinsider.com/2015/6/24/8839391/trouble-brewing-for-miami-dolphins-at-offensive-guard
That’s the narrative when everything is compared to a 2014 status quo. When you factor in the growth of players over a season, the drafting of proper fits, the acquisition of similar fits combined with the coaching abilities of our staff you have to look at the situation as positive.
Suh is here everything is different now. (Don’t take that as simplistic either, think it through, that’s all I ask)
So Miami won’t have to worry about where Jared Odrick is next season, what a relief. Hey J-ville I’ll watch the APB’s. Maybe he’ll be in the Ocala Forrest, maybe Silver Springs, maybe on the Swanee River?
Suh is here everything is different now.
I just saw Jared Odrick at the Sanford Zoo!!!!!!!!!!
Oh nevermind it was just an Ape, just smelled like him…
son,
We seemed like a contender last year until Albert went down. It changed the whole team.
We also had 2 heart breaking losses to detroit and green bay. Those were huge IMO.
The difference in the season, absolutely. I think we turned the corner with personnel and got beyond those heartbreakers. We should be a better running team and we should be and maintain being a shut-down defense.
He streaked across the middle virtually untouched – Jordan Cameron scores again for the Dolphins!!!
Tannehill fires deep and long on the outside running under it is Kenny Stills and the Dolphins strike from deep…
It’s late in the game and Dolphins have a small lead it sure would be nice to see the investment in NDominant Suh pay off,
OH there he goes on a jail break sack, untouched Suh sacks wait is the ball loose, YES ITS LOOSE there goes Chris McCain streaking down the right side – He may score…YES YES YES
Miller takes it over the right side , He might go
He’s gonna go
He’s going
40 no one near him
30
20
10
Touchdown
Miller from 56 yards out
and it looks like a Dolphins romp…
Oh my
LOL, gotta luv your enthusiasm when you’re drunk there SOS. 🙂
Go ahead, give a call on a score
3rd and goal at the 2 Tannehill takes the snap fakes the give to Ajayi and lofts it to the corner for Sims who is all alone for the Touchdown
Fins to the left, Fins to the right
Woot Woot
WOW, 9 yrs w/o missing a start…Wish we’d be so lucky @ LT. Hope Vernon eats him alive this season.
________________
The Newark Star-Ledger reports “there are legitimate concerns” about whether LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson is entering his decline stage.
Ferguson hasn’t missed a start in his nine-year career, leading to concerns that his below-average 2014 is a sign of breaking down. The Jets owe Ferguson $39.9 million over the next three years after restructuring his contract in two of the last three offseasons. Ferguson’s future could be in jeopardy if he doesn’t rebound under new OC Chan Gailey.
Mangold and Colon are also entering their 10th season
Sturgis for the game winner from 46
It’s up
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand
Doink it hits the crossbar…
Oh wait I wasn’t supposed to post this one!
But wait, the defense was offsides….kick again.
LOL, all likely scenarios for sure…good stuff.
I guess Son is in the house tonight.
Man I am jonesin for some real football
I’m ready too, the reruns aren’t enough anymore.
I did see some cool Dolphin stuff tonight, whooping on Richard Tood, Wake destroying the Chargers, and various other stuff that appeared today, I was kinda glancing at NFLN all day while I was getting some work done.
Oh this might be the Special Teams play of the year, Tony Lippett comes ALL the way around the corner to block the punt, it’s up in the air, Lippett snares it and rumbles 37 yards for the score.
All Right Miami!
Son’s posts are exactly why people on this blog come here… to.share their love of the Fins and hope we see a playoff and Super Bowl contender. Thank you Son and OD for the great memories.
I’m blushing right now 🙂
🙂
Did anyone hear the story about the UCLA strength and conditioning coach getting into a fight with PDiddy? The coach’s name was Sal Alosi. Wasn’t that the shit head from the Jets that tried to trip one of our players on the side lines?
It is and Diddy is facing attempted murder charges for going after him with a kettlebell, not sure what size.
Too bad Diddy didn’t finish the job. JK well sort of. I hate that fuck Alosi but PDiddy is an ass as well.
LOL
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/06/sal_alosis_brawl_with_sean_diddy_combs_didnt_shock.html
The Blackwood Bros.
Lyle and Glenn
Why not?
Glenn and Lyle as shown
I wonder if they ever switched jerseys during a game?
That’d be funny
Alright. Super busy at work so I better get some sleep. Have one for me Son. Peace to you all.
Tannehill on play action fires out left to the rookie
Oh what a catch, behind the corner and right out of the hands of the out stretched Safety, Parker turns and has extra yardage,
he could be
He might
He did
Touchdown for the rookie Parker his 7th of the season – so far!
Last one-
Second year receiver Jarvis Landry just made a terrific catch in traffic across the middle. He had the safety coming up and stopped his route just short of the linebacker, what a play by Landry as he breaks free for extra yards, Landry puts his head down and bulls forward he might have the goal line, the far side ref holds up his hands. Folks, I don’t know how he got in but Landry scores! Landry scores! And the Dolphins are out in front…