Try NFL Sport Channel Seach:
Selected searches:
NFL Football Players Draft Injuries Rookies Season Superbowl
Items by
Miami Dolphins: Shades of Shula?
Published: July 31, 2009
No Comments
You have to ask yourself, what gave Don Shula’s teams the consistency to have the best winning percentage in the NFL?
We can refer to the Butch Cassady and the Sundance Kid era, with the five plus yard average per carry.
Or the no-name defense, the killer bees, and even the most innovative passing attack in the history of football with Dan Marino at the helm.
But with all the diverse ways to win, what was the overriding factor?
A Pro-Bowl offensive line.
The ’72 Dolphins had the most dominating line in football. Everyone knew they were going to run, and couldn’t stop it.
When you average over five yards per carry when the defense knows your going to run, is quite a feat.
Remember the Dan Marino era with Pro-Bowlers, Richmond Webb and Kenneth Simms anchoring the left side. Didn’t they set an NFL record for the least amount of sacks? Whether your running the football or passing, nothing happens unless the “O” line does its job.
Tony Saprano gets it.
Even with the rule changes over the years, and the play innovation, it still comes down to the offensive line. Jamming the ball into the endzone with a running attack is still the most consistent way to score in the red zone.
I for one am in Tony Sparano’s corner. Over the last 10 years none of the coaches paid much attention to the offensive line.
Like lots of others in the NFL, they were trying for the quick fix with the superstar player.
How many times has it ever worked—Cleveland gave up how many draft picks to get Brady Quinn?
Dave Wannstedt tried to sell the farm for questionable players.
I even hear sports writers talking about getting superstar receivers and quarterbacks to improve the team. Didn’t Michael Vick spend most of his time running for his life?
Coach Sparano like Don Shula, you make that line the best in the NFL and you will reestablish a perennial winning team in south Florida.
P.S. Throw in a Super Bowl once in a while.
