'72 Dolphins - critical play?

[7DnBrnc53]

I remember when the Vikings went 7-7 in 1972, Jerry Green wrote in Sporting News that "Fran checked in with his usual 7-7 record," and repeated Norm Van Brocklin's judgment of his former QB: "He'll win games he shouldn't win. He'll lose games he should have won. He'll never win the games he has to win."

Maybe that is why the person who wrote the Viking preview for Herb Gluck's Pro Football '73 wasn't that high on Tarkenton, and he insinuated that he may be replaced by rookie Mike Wells (I think he was a 4th round draft pick) from Illinois.

[Lee Elder]

There was a play against the Redskins (now the WFT) in the Super Bowl that gets no attention but it might have been VERY important to the Dolphins effort to win that game.

First quarter, Dolphins were punting. The WFT coaching staff had noticed the Dolphins' snapper lifted the ball, then he hesitated and then finally fired the ball to the punter. The WFT practiced knocking the ball from the center's hand for two weeks before the game. On that first punt, the WFT was called for interference with the center's snap. Their point that the snap began when he lifted the ball and then hesitated was overruled.

Had the officials decided that the center was either guilty of illegal motion or that the WFT was not guilty of interference, that could have changed the way the game went. We'll never know.

Marv Levy was the Redskins' special teams coach at that time. It did not work out, but this was a nice piece of game prep.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

There was a play against the Redskins (now the WFT) in the Super Bowl that gets no attention but it might have been VERY important to the Dolphins effort to win that game.

First quarter, Dolphins were punting. The WFT coaching staff had noticed the Dolphins' snapper lifted the ball, then he hesitated and then finally fired the ball to the punter. The WFT practiced knocking the ball from the center's hand for two weeks before the game. On that first punt, the WFT was called for interference with the center's snap. Their point that the snap began when he lifted the ball and then hesitated was overruled.

Had the officials decided that the center was either guilty of illegal motion or that the WFT was not guilty of interference, that could have changed the way the game went. We'll never know.

Marv Levy was the Redskins' special teams coach at that time. It did not work out, but this was a nice piece of game prep.

Agreed. Key moment in that game. Coach Levy spotted it on film. A great "what if" the officials allowed Washington to do that the entire game? How would the Dolphins adjusted?

[Lee Elder]

There was a play against the Redskins (now the WFT) in the Super Bowl that gets no attention but it might have been VERY important to the Dolphins effort to win that game.

First quarter, Dolphins were punting. The WFT coaching staff had noticed the Dolphins' snapper lifted the ball, then he hesitated and then finally fired the ball to the punter. The WFT practiced knocking the ball from the center's hand for two weeks before the game. On that first punt, the WFT was called for interference with the center's snap. Their point that the snap began when he lifted the ball and then hesitated was overruled.

Had the officials decided that the center was either guilty of illegal motion or that the WFT was not guilty of interference, that could have changed the way the game went. We'll never know.

Marv Levy was the Redskins' special teams coach at that time. It did not work out, but this was a nice piece of game prep.

Agreed. Key moment in that game. Coach Levy spotted it on film. A great "what if" the officials allowed Washington to do that the entire game? How would the Dolphins adjusted?

The officials allowed the long snapper to lift, hesitate and snap all season, so it makes sense that there would be no penalty called in the final game of the season. But it's a fun what-if question.

[Bryan]

The officials allowed the long snapper to lift, hesitate and snap all season, so it makes sense that there would be no penalty called in the final game of the season. But it's a fun what-if question.

Another what-if is Miami's last punt of the game...Mack Alston wasn't touched, gave a half-ass effort, and still almost blocked Sieple's punt. Not sure if Washington wins (or even ties) the game if they block that punt, but it would have made for a more exciting ending than "Thatta boy, Kilmer!".

[RRMarshall]

Speaking of SB VII, how can we forget Kilmer's sure TD pass hitting the crossbar in the second half? Perhaps a tie game late in the 4th quarter at 14-14, and the first OT in Super Bowl history?

[superbowlfanatic]

There was a play against the Redskins (now the WFT) in the Super Bowl that gets no attention but it might have been VERY important to the Dolphins effort to win that game.

First quarter, Dolphins were punting. The WFT coaching staff had noticed the Dolphins' snapper lifted the ball, then he hesitated and then finally fired the ball to the punter. The WFT practiced knocking the ball from the center's hand for two weeks before the game. On that first punt, the WFT was called for interference with the center's snap. Their point that the snap began when he lifted the ball and then hesitated was overruled.

Had the officials decided that the center was either guilty of illegal motion or that the WFT was not guilty of interference, that could have changed the way the game went. We'll never know.

Marv Levy was the Redskins' special teams coach at that time. It did not work out, but this was a nice piece of game prep.

The SB VII Gamebook lists #53 LB Harold McClinton as committing this Illegal Procedure penalty for Washington on the Dolphins punt during the opening series of the game.

I did not know of this before. Thank you for sharing it.